that girl

cover of the new Land's End catalogue

Perfectly simple and oh so clever. The hallmarks of great graphic design and advertising. Sigh. One of the many, many things that girl and I have in common is a love (love, love) of fleece. We love the colours, we love the softness and we love the warmth and coziness so this image seemed a perfect one for today - and of course we also share a love of the oh so simple and tres clever design. Sigh.

Yes that girl's arriving again for another visit. Uh Huh ! MLou is due here at 29 Black Street along with Missy J and sugar donuts oh anytime past 8:30 this morning. She's putting her husband on a plane, back once again to his job overseas and since the airport is located kind of, sort of, on the way to our house it's about (1/10th of the 2 hour drive in the proper direction) and she knows that this busy designer girl has recently had another 2 cords of fire wood dumped in her front garden.

She and I pitched and stacked 2 cords of wood in 2.5 hours two weekends ago and that with a fair bit of chatting thrown in for good measure. Her rational for today - she's in the car, Jigs is with her, she's pointed in the right direction and she's up very early and drinking coffee - so why not keep on drivin', have a visit and pitch and stack a little wood, ensuring that there's another large item removed from my ever long list of winter prep must do's ... how could I argue with that I ask ? We also have the loan of my neighbour Roger's big maroon pick up truck, if we like, so that we can load up all the neatly piled and bundled small logs and branches (yard and garden debris) from les recent chainsaw extravaganza.

Yet another two more potential contractor handy men (what am I up to now ? 5 or 6) have fallen by the way side . They say that they're coming although they never, ever will give you a firm when (which is completely irritating when you yourself are a busy person working always to deadline) they don't show up, they never call and they're unable to give you even a ballpark estimate of the cost of the job. Who needs them ? I think to myself ... imagine if I ran my business that way. I shudder to think. I have decided from now on - I am only working with contractor - handy men types who conduct themselves in a professional manner. Who run their business as I run mine. Two strikes and they're out. I am SO tired of having to pester and beg people to do work for me ... or to have to call and remind them of my job. If my job isn't important to them ... then ... Zzzzzzz! I will zap them with my disappearing ray gun and they instantly will be gone forever from the dark recesses of this ever busy mind. Smug smirk.

So ... this early morning I say a big Amen and thank goodness for friends and neighbours, do-it-yourself guides and for the one or two handy men contractor types that run a tight ship - with a big shout out to Vinney our local Chimney Sweep. You rock Vinny !

... and Shari is the winner of our most recent giveaway. Congratulations ! Please email me and let me know which item from les shop you would like. Happy Saturday all.