Sometimes It Takes A Week and an Interesting Event
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
Canada
December 10, 2016 10:36am CST
It takes too long for me to get back to my friends on myLot after posting a discussion.
NOT FAIR...this is supposed to be my slow time for my home based business. But the good news is when the store that sells my art moved to the main street in a tiny tourist town they now keep me really busy. I'd rather spend time here but the money I make on my art wins.... I delivered another dozen to them, special orders for Christmas and some stock. Truly I am not COMPLAINING..
Money talks...
Today I will catch up with myLot.
Today I will be decorating our Christmas Tree. We found one we liked yesterday. Christmas get closer every day.
The Interesting Event - I crossed over the border for gas and groceries a week ago. I think it was December 1st. I enjoyed myself, got the things I went over for and tried to cross the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. Since the crowds are gone I thought I'd get some photos of Niagara Falls. That didn't happen.
The bridge was closed... WHAT??? The security people were indicating I needed to turn around and get moving...and the same for all the cars behind me.
I had to figure out what to do - I needed to cross the border to get home...
So I went back to the area that shopped in and got on the highway to ANOTHER bridge and another way to get back to Canada. Thankfully that bridge was open and not busy so I asked the security guy what was going on at Niagara Falls Bridge. He shook his head and said I was not the first to ask but they had no idea why the bridge was closed...
Once home I googled it and found nothing. No news for the day and still no news of the bridge closing on that day. There were other dates where the bridge was closed for a few hours because of jumpers. But I hope no one jumped that day, it was cold and Christmas is coming...
If I ever hear why it was closed I will let you know.
My Christmas Tree is calling so I'll see you later...
The photo was taken at Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario on a very cold and windy day. So windy I didn't notice the ship in the photo until I got it on my computer...
20 people like this
22 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
10 Dec 16
I was in Niagara Falls earlier this year, and saw Rainbow Bridge, though we stayed on the American side... I was very disappointed to discover that the bridge isn't actually a rainbow connecting the two countries.. 
3 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
11 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Yes, twice! We went up for our anniversary weekend just hubby and I and did all the touristy stuff, then we went back a few weeks later with the kids and did some of the same touristy stuff. I'd love to go on the Canadian side and do the journey behind the falls.. but we don't have the proper ID to cross the border.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
thanks for the laugh...did you take the boat ride? I did this fall for the first time and there were a lot of rainbows...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
@katsmeow1213 Passports were right after 9/11. Because I live here and am an American too I have to have them and had them before 9/11. The majority of my family in the states don't have passports so can't visit us....
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
10 Dec 16
I guess going to 'another country' to shop has some downfalls - Niagara Falls LOL
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
I've been here almost 40 years and this was the first trouble I encountered. Traffic is the problem in the summer but fall and winter its is usually easy peasy... The money saved makes it worth while to cross occasionally ...
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
11 Dec 16
I have found similar incidents when I never could find anything online about why a road was closed, very annoying in this age when everything is out there all the time.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
I agree, just imagine how many people had to find another way into Canada and never knew why... I am curious and I want to know.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48437)
• Canada
10 Dec 16
It does take us back when we realize that there are people out there who are so depressed that they feel that this is their only alternative, and of course it hurts all that much more when we realize it at Christmas.
I love your picture taken at Port, we've had a few picnics there, over the years while our son attended Brock University. That is a really nice place to relax and cook a nice little meal on a grill and enjoy together as a family.
Have fun decorating your tree today. We're going to my husband's family's Christmas party. I'll be able to meet the newest edition to the family, Oliver Matthew, born a little over a week ago. So we'll both have a special day today-enjoy yours!
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
10 Dec 16
Have a great time with your family. There is an event going on in Port this weekend, I might wander down to it tomorrow...
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
13 Dec 16
That is a great photo. It must be really cold there now too!
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
13 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Not a fan of winter or snow. Need the sun and some warm weather soon!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
@PatZAnthony a couple of years ago we were spending some time in Myrtle Beach in the winter and we were stuck in our time share for days after a ice storm. Who know you didn't have the machines and chemicals that we do to make the ice go away...we had to wait until it melted..
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
13 Dec 16
It is. We had a dump of snow over night and then rain on top that made it impossible to shovel (way too heavy), It will be very cold until Spring now,,,Probably March...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
I have no idea what happened, nothing on the news and nothing on the bridge web site... Thanks, I like the photo too...
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
14 Dec 16
The picture looks cold! Funny that the bridge was closed. Glad to hear that your business is doing so well.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
18 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I can never take pictures with my gloves on. I need to buy a pair of those gloves that the fingers can be removed. Whenever I am out shopping, I seem to forger.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
I didn't have gloves that day, my hand suffered it was so cold. Thanks, I'm happy too.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
18 Dec 16
@Shellyann36 I have finger-less mittens, the mitten part has Velcro that attaches to the flip up finger cover part and under the mitten flip is fingers covered to the knuckles....I think it might have been a hunting mitten but I use it for my camera too... when I remember to take them with me.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
11 Dec 16
You took me back to my memory when I crossed that bridge from Canada to the US while my niece was driving. She took me to Canada and we had a look at the Niagara Falls. I had already seen the Niagara Falls from the US side.
That photo you have uploaded is heavenly
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
11 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate I particularly enjoyed when we were taken down the elevator to the bottom of the falls
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
@allknowing I've never done that but someone else here on myLot suggested it so the next time I will do it too. (not in the winter)
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
The views from Canada are so much better so I'm glad your niece took you to the pretty side. I had relatives this summer come to the NY side and I met them there. Since 9/11 you need a passport to cross the border and my cousin didn't have one so we stayed on the NY side.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
10 Dec 16
. I love the picture! It does look cold, but it's a gorgeous shot. I'm glad you are doing so well with your sales! I know everyone at myLot understands when other activities interfere.
Enjoy the Christmas tree!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
It is just frustrating not to be around to comment on my comments but I haven't had time to read and comment either, now I can. I am a happy camper...
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
10 Dec 16
i'm glad that'cher keepin' busy, hon. that's great 'bout the success with that store. oft times when one moves, schtuff jest goes downhill. what a bummer 'bout that bridge bein' closed. most odd that there's been no news 'f why, eh? i hope that nobody jumped neither, though this time'f year can really take a toll'n a tortured soul :(
i aint e'en a tree 'p yet, still waitin' fer the hubs to do his end...perhaps by 2020? ;)
big hugs! love the pic! i've taken a few myself'n then wondered how i'd missed certain thingies - like a lil bonus :D
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate i'm glad that'cher takin' a wee break (with the 'xception 'f tendin' to those coasters fer yer daughter 
). i seem to've sewed myself out 'fter hittin' such hot'n heavy fer o'er a year. lost all motivation fer such.
). i seem to've sewed myself out 'fter hittin' such hot'n heavy fer o'er a year. lost all motivation fer such.1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
I'm trying to not paint now that the stores are filled. I have something my daughter asked for and it will be fun doing it. Someone gave me slate coasters and they have been just sitting in my studio for a few years, my daughter latched on them and asked nicely if she could have them and I said yes, then she suggested I paint on them for her
and of course I said yes. it won't take long to do, I just need to do it.
and of course I said yes. it won't take long to do, I just need to do it.1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
15 Dec 16
@crazyhorseladycx we all need a break . enjoy yours!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38657)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Dec 16
I had to go look again myself. I thought that ship was a building in the background or on land that I can't see.
If you ever wonder whether you'll get your notifications done before they fall off the page a week later one thing you can do is do a screen shot or two and that would give you a bit more time to get them done. I've done this since bubblews, although I don't need to do it that often right now. I use the free evernote to save pages for later looking at, but sometimes the print screen function will work too and maybe even copying and pasting the page to a document, but I've not tried that yet.
Our business is slowing down too, but I'm trying to get some cleaning done and have been wanting to tackle some of my bookkeeping which I've piddled at here and there. I thought today was the day and it may be, but I only have about an hour or so before heading to work.
Great that your painting business is doing so well this year at this time. Probably after the holidays things will slow down again.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
I've never had them disappear, they are always there ... I go back every once in a while to check if there were late comments, and often they show up in the notifications...on really old posts.. I have not picked up a brush for the last few days and realized I have a gift to paint for my daughter...that will be easy, a gift from the heart...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
Lake Ontario is a big shipping area, (part of the Welland Canal) some days just driving down the highway we can see a dozen in a few minutes. I never saw this one but it was so cold I didn't stick around for the view....I wanted the waves and the light house and got them plus a freebee. My art will stay local, I have no intention of getting bigger. I've downsized down to three outlets, I can handle that.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
12 Dec 16
Thank you, I like it when my art sells...
, I didn't like not being able to cross over that bridge...
, I didn't like not being able to cross over that bridge...1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate So near yet so far!! :)
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
10 Dec 16
Glad you made it back safe and sound. What would you have done if you could not find a bridge to cross back? it sounds really cold there.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
@Gita17112016 Not really, I've been across the border a billion times and this time was the only time there was a problem.. getting to the other bridge took me about 20 minutes.
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
I was asking myself that same question as I drove to the other bridge...but it was open. I would have to just stick around and hope it opened sooner than later... I do have a credit card with me so i could have stayed over night if I had to, but it would have not been fun with it being just me...
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
11 Dec 16
@PainsOnSlate Ah, then you took a risk? Did you know there was a risk crossing over?
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
I did! There is more than one bridge to get home on, it just happened the one I planned to use was closed.
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
18 Dec 16
I agree, pains! I can't find anything about the bridge being closed on December 1st, either. I also tried a couple days either side of December 1st, just in case your memory was a trifle foggy... Nothing there, either
.
It's really weird when I can't get some data I'm looking for
, but I am having no luck with this!
How did your tree turn out? (I'm sure it's beautiful!)1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
18 Dec 16
I searched and searched too and found all kinds of interesting and sometimes scary info about the border crossing but nothing on that day.... Thanks for looking for me
The tree is awesome and here is a photo I took with my ipad, it a bit fuzzy but you can get the idea..
The tree is awesome and here is a photo I took with my ipad, it a bit fuzzy but you can get the idea..
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
The lake is huge..It does look like the ocean. We used to live on the shore and our house guest from the states thought it was an ocean... then I'd ask what ocean? Oh yah, its a Lake... On a clear night we can see Toronto's lights, but the daytime it looks like an ocean.
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
We just got our tree yesterday and I am now watching my husband put the lights on. Then it will be my turn to put the decorations on. Haven't heard of the reason for the closure.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
Our tree is beautiful and just got the news there is supposed to be a big storm Christmas eve and Christmas Day. That means two of my children will be plowing and we will postpone the family get together until the snow stops...which could be April.... I hope it doesn't happen but you never know for sure with snow.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
11 Dec 16
Interesting. I've never come to one of the bridges to find it closed. Interestingly, on 9/11 my parents were heading to Lewiston to pick up their mail. They found the border closed. Then they turned on the radio and discovered why it was closed. We have friends who live in Canada and work in the US. They were stranded in the US and had to make child care arrangements. What a headache that was.
1 person likes this
