Journaling May

Whew, almost didn’t make my deadline.   

This is going to be a very short journal entry! 

I can’t believe where the month of May went but it’s gone.  I haven’t had time to work with any furniture re-dos or anything.  

I opened an Etsy shop, which to me was a huge step forward, only to not have time to fill the store with my creations.

The reason for all of this is WE ARE MOVING!

 

 

I’m very excited that the day has come when we actually put our house on the market and it’s public knowledge.  Today, we took part in a town-wide garage sale.  It was fun to visit with some neighbours participating and it was a HOT day!  We were quite pleased with the sale and even showed the yard to quite a few interested parties.  Some were curious where we were going and some didn't know us but were very nice people.  After almost a year of working things thru and hoping this will all come together, it’s a huge sigh of relief to get the ball rolling.  Now that that’s done, the road from here only gets scarier, more exciting and busier.  So many, many options regarding our house sale and the purchase of a new home lie ahead.  But that will come later in another blog.

 

It makes me thrilled to know that we will be closer to our children and families.  I’ve missed birthdays, yard parties, anniversaries, shopping sprees, Sunday brunches, funerals, family get-to-gethers and Mother’s Day brunches’.  These two cuties were and I believe still are great friends.  Both are grown and married and very happy. Next May, I’m planning to see them on Mother’s Day. 

I’ll have to step up to the plate and help care for my parents who are in a Lodge.  Someday I won’t hear the same stories over the phone again but we’ll still chuckler over that. 

So, it’s time.  Time to go back home.

Till next time (and I hope it won't be another 31 days). I'm off to bed.

Journaling March

 

The biggest news for March was my MOM & DAD 60^th ANNIVERSARY.

A lot was wrapped up into one weekend so here it goes.  Are you ready for a lot to read about my life and my family?  If you make it to the end, there is some other news.

Friday the 14^th

Took the day off work and drove to Calgary.  Up bright and early because somehow your internal alarm clock never fails but you know you have to set the alarm otherwise you’ll constantly wake up wondering if you’ve overslept. We couldn’t leave our dog, Meeka, at a kennel this time so we took him along for the trip. That always makes getting ready a lot of fun.  He gets so excited when he knows something is happening that’s not a regular routine, like packing and suitcases.  In the morning we had his bed ready to take sitting by the front door and he just sat in it as if to say “I’m going along guys”.   I feel sorry for him when we take him and then leave him in a semi-strange house to go do our stuff when we get there.  He really needs a lot of activity to burn off his energy. 

We are so glad to stay at Crystal & Mick’s home when we’re in Calgary and it sure has been cheaper on the pocket book.  They have a dog too, ‘Harley Winston III’, which is company for our dog when we’re out.  We have our own room there and it’s just so comfy and cozy.  I’m sure we may owe them a nice house gift eventually.  Anyways, it’s always great to arrive there.  We always have so much fun!  We ordered pizza for dinner after Luke & Craig came over as well.  It’s just a mini family reunion.  It’s just so good to catch up in person.

Saturday the 15^th

Mick cooked a great breakfast, that’s definitely his thing.  We so love his breakfasts!  The boys came back for breakfast and we had more visiting and laughs while we ate.  We left for my parents Anniversary at noon and all drove out together to Linden.  My family moved to Linden when I entered grade 8 and I met Greg in grade 9.  Our kids went to school in the area from K-12.  Everytime we drive out, well mostly everytime, we take a tour of the town and reminisce about the old days.  I believe we moved, well let’s count –

1.     Apartments in town where Craig was born
2.    Mobile Home on Greg’s parents Poultry Farm – Crystal was born here.
3.    Duplex back in town.
4.    Purchased new bungalow in town and Craig started Kindergarten.
5.    Mobile Home (newer) on Greg’s parents Poultry Farm – bus rides to school began.  I think they were in grade 2 & 3.
6.    The Big Farm House – as Greg’s folks were travelling with the African Children’s Choir (the original choir) and we were preparing to purchase the farm.
7.    Mobile Home again as Greg’s folks missed the big farm house when they returned from the choir.
8.     New house in town that we built, actually Greg’s Uncle Evan built.
9.     To Calgary
a.     Bungalow close to Confederation Park.
b.      Duplex on Center Street
c.      Townhouse in Ranchlands
d.     Purchased home in Sandstone
10.To Morden, Manitoba – and we’ve been here 5 years.  Time for a change J

So you see why there’s a lot of history in Linden and Calgary for me.

Now back to the weekend events.

 

 

The big festivities began when mom & dad arrived at my sister’s home.  I couldn’t believe how great my mom looked!  She gets her hair done at the Lodge now and I don’t think it’s ever looked better!  She was dressed in a blue dress, which I hadn’t seen in a while, with pearls and high heels.  Dad looked good too of course, but he just never changes really. 

We had cake and took lots of pictures.  Speaking of pictures, we gave mom & dad a digital frame so they could keep the photos running all day of the family.  Then my dad talked about when he met mom because some of the new family members had never heard these stories.

After a fantastic meal, things started to wind down but the wee kids seemed to have a burst of energy.  After hugs and sad good-byes to my parents and family, we drove back to Calgary.  After we arrived back at Crystal & Mick’s, we had a night cap and re-capped on the day’s memories.  These are the moments I cherish a lot.

 

Me and my hubby, Greg with Mom & Dad

Dad must be looking at the deer on the front lawn.

 

Hey, that’s my family!

 

Crystal & Mick

 

Luke & Craig

 

Me and my lovely daughter. 

Don’t know what happened to me though.

Me & Greg with my sister Brenda and husband Larry

 

 

 

All the grandchildren and spouses with Grandpa & Grandma

 

Sunday the 16^th

Breakfast at Cora’s has become a regular for us on Saturday or Sunday mornings.  Its menu is full of a healthy dose of fruit along side your regular breakfast menu.  Because Craig owns Calgary Hot Yoga, he had to teach a noon class so we wandered to a few stores before dropping him off at work.  The weather was pretty nice so we decided to take the dogs for a walk at an ‘off-leash’ park.  I’m not a city folk right now so I’m always a little nervous letting our dog just run, mainly because he’s such high energy.  Crystal & Mick’s dog, which is a miniature pincher of some kind and I know I’m getting that wrong right now, walks nicely down the path.  But he does have small feet so even walking in mud is no big deal. Our dog on the other hand is sniffing everything, walking thru everything from mud to water.  He is a mess and his belly is soaked.  Did I mention he’s a cocker spaniel.  That should explain it all.  Sorry Crystal & Mick for the mess in the back of your car. 

Back at their place we wait for Craig and then head out for dinner.  I really miss these times with our kids.  We watch a movie back at Crystal & Mick’s and just enjoy relaxing for our last evening with them.  I don’t think we finished the  marshmallow peeps.

 

Monday the 17^th

It’s back on the road again for 13 hours.  The trip is uneventful, which I suppose is good.  I feel like I’ve been on another planet.  It’s a very strange feeling to leave family, almost like you’re abandoning them because you know you can’t ‘be there’ in a minute should something happen.  I leave a lot also to my sister to care for our mom & dad.  Is it fair?  No, but that’s the cards life has dealt and we’re hoping time will be on our side to change this. 

I’m very thankful for all the ways we can keep in touch today.  The ways are endless so I’m not even going to begin naming the ways.  When we moved to Morden I was without internet for 3 weeks.  It was horrible!  Now I can Facebook, email, text, twitter or Instagram any news and know I’ve connected with someone and it feels good.  There’s nothing however like an old-fashioned phone call to hear a real voice and laugh and chat about life to make me feel like I’m close again to my loved ones.

 

So if you’ve read this and been totally bored, take one thing from it and that is to cherish the closeness of family and friends.  Love everyone. 

 

ON OTHER NEWS

I’m quite excited about selling my re-painted goods at a consignment store in a neighbouring town.  I’ve just made a portfolio and the store owners were vey excited to see some of the things I’ve done.  I’ll be bringing her some product next weekend.  We also chatted about some new things she’d like to see in her store and she asked if I would consider doing or making these for her.  So the challenge is on and Greg & I will be pursuing these ideas immediately.  So I’m excited!  

 

GETTING ORGANIZED

It’s not news to myself that I need to have lists and be very organized to feel productive.  Otherwise the world just spins and I accomplish very little.  March has been a practice month so see if I could stick to a schedule for the week and so far it’s actually been great.  Because my interests are in re-painting furniture, home décor and staging, sewing and blogging, I NEED to have a clear mind at all times. 

Now I can go to my 9-5 job and when I come home I feel like my real passion begins and I see what’s on the schedule for that night!  May sound crazy, but life is crazy and if we don’t take control and do what we can, we’ll be bumbling around and accomplish very little.

 

I’m hoping you enjoyed a peek into my life for March.  The month has gone very fast and I’m hoping April will see green grass and warmer temperatures for walking the dog.  New Spring pictures soon of my house décor too as I’m still buying and making my home warm and cozy for the warm season ahead.

 

Hopefully no April Fool’s jokes on you tomorrow.

Decor in 1954

Happy 60^th Anniversary to my Mom & Dad!

 

 

MARCH, 60 years earlier and I wonder if my mom ever thought about décor when she was setting up her house when she was newly married.  I’ve never asked her what the style was in March of 1954.  I don’t ever remember her spending a lot of time changing curtains with the seasons, buying pillows or arranging flowers in a vase.  I do know she spent a lot of time sewing so I believe this was her passion.  I know she kept us girls clothed in dresses and she made blankets and aprons and I don’t remember all the things, but I remember the sewing machine was always open and there was material around it. 

Technology today sure plays a big role in showing and recording our passions.  If I could take a peek at a color photo of my mom & dad’s first home in 1954 or see a photo of mom holding a quilt she had sewn or sitting at the sewing machine, THAT would be awesome!  Then I wonder,  are we way off course today spending too much time DIYing.   There seems to be so MUCH stuff and ideas that we could get a little off course.  When I look at old family albums, I see photos of reunions and holidays all containing people.  People are what’s important and we need to remember them.  Maybe I should take more photos of my passion in décor with a live person in the shot so that it would make a better keepsake.  Can you image how much more meaningful our photos of DIY projects would be if we made sure there was a loved one captured sitting at the table we just re-finished.  I think I may concentrate on making this a goal for 2014. 

 

Now for a few pictures of my living room and the new colors for spring.

Thank You IKEA for a good start!

 

You’ll notice there aren’t any people in these photos so I’m going to try to be better at creating memories while photographing my passion for décor.

 

 

I don’t think I’m done with Spring in our home but It’s only March and we still have snow so just wait.

What colors are in your living room this Spring?

Rock On'

 

Journaling about Life. 

 

 THAT is going to be my focus for blogging this year.  While furniture and accessories are pretty, they cannot replace family.  You cannot refurbish a loved one into something else. 

 

 

(Ok, so we all know there are those loved ones we’d like to put some varnish remover on, then sand down and finally add what we want for color and shine) 

 

 

We’re looking for realness, for honesty and for sharing.  That’s why we’re drawn to reality shows.  My life is a reality show too and yet no one is filming here in Morden – at my house.

YET these photos you’ll see of a simple Rocking Chair has a story behind it.

I once wrote a blog about our daughter and husband.  About their love for each other and adoption.  It’s been a long journey for them but they are so strong and I believe have grown stronger and closer together.  That doesn’t mean the tears haven't flowed.  I witnessed that myself and deep heartache for a little one that was to be welcomed into our family, all to fall to pieces in just a few moments.  Talk about life changing!

Then I deleted the blog and hate myself for it.  It was tastefully and wonderfully written, if I say so myself.  So never, never erase journaling life.  If it’s painful, put it away for a while.  Then over time, it will be a blessing to read how far you’ve come and what has changed in your life, and made you stronger.  Kind of like using stain remover on yourself and sanding and then applying a coat of finish.  Ahhh . . .

NOW for some pretty Rocking Chair photos. 

 

Starting at $10 from an ad online.

I painted it white because it’s clean and bright and would go in the baby room décor.

Not looking so great, it just wasn’t working for me. 

 

Blue or Graphite should I say.  Someday I’ll do one with the spindles a different color.

Ta-Da.  I love it and I hope they will love it too and put it to use A LOT!

Make sure you journal this week.

Journaling for January - A Look at the end of 2013

 

Happy New YEAR! 

I’m thinking I can still say that. 

But when should you stop saying “Happy New Year!” ?

I was hoping to begin to blog more regular and had an idea to

enter ‘some’ kind of status on my Facebook page every day. 

We all have new year resolutions and now I’ve heard it

changed to 'new year GOALS'.

Well, it’s already Day 16 and I haven’t done either of my new year goals.

But this blog is certainly a start.

Here’s a look at the end of 2013 and a peek into 2014.

October

We moved my parents into a Lodge and today if you ask them,

they are happier than ever. 

Like two peas in a pod. 

That’s kind of what their little apartment is too, a little pod. 

Hey, maybe that’s what we’ll call it ~ the ‘parents pod’.

Take note of the boxes on the right.  They were 

labeled and as the day went on, there were 'added' items

in your box that you yourself did not put it.

That was part of the fun that day.  There was some fun for sure. 

 

Every child worries what to do when their parents can’t quite do the daily things on their own anymore, where shall we put them.  Sounds aweful actually.  My parents had no want or need to leave their home.  When we mentioned perhaps going to a nice Lodge, they dismissed it entirely.  UNTIL, mom fell and broke her wrist.  To go back a few months, it started when dad fell while repairing  the carpet on their deck.  He took a tumble and cut his forehead as well as the bridge on his nose from his glasses.  Mom laughs now when she recalls him laying their.  “What are you doing?”  Oh I can hear her saying that.  After mom got fixed up with a cast, dad had to do ALL the housework and meals.  He was doing a lot of it before because mom just has too many aches and pains in her arms.  I believe it was wearing on him a lot and the thoughts of moving were changing, they didn’t dismiss it anymore.  One evening I got a call from dad saying they had a meeting with the Lodge administrator and they could move as early as November 1^st.  Really, it was like October 1^st when he called me.  So a few weeks later we were on our way to Alberta to help move my parents into the Lodge in their home town.  Same town I met my husband and our kids grew up in.  Was I truly excited?  Maybe not excited but happy that this move was going to go smooth.  A little apprehensive?  Yes.  As I thought how things were changing.  All the memories in their home(s) in the past and gatherings of all kinds.  They were done and would take on a different feel.  We now meet at my sister’s home with her family and we’re so thankful for her big heart!  Some day it will be my turn.

 

 

November

As far as I can remember we were waiting for snow and starting to think about Christmas.  As usual it crept up slowly and I procrastinated again and Christmas décor  went up the first week of December.  Some year I will start mid November and plan for parties and gatherings before the middle of December.

December

Baking.   Butter Tarts and Carmel Popcorn and Florentine Bark. 

That’s pretty much all I did as our daughter has a table spread with goodies when we arrive at their home for Christmas too. 

Shovelling.  The snow finally came and the shovelling began.  We know when we have a lot when we can’t heap the snow any higher on the sides.  The cul-de-sac gets nasty with ruts, much like a lot of city roads, and getting anywhere is fun.

Shopping.  I usually love shopping but because we’re an hour out of Winnipeg, we don’t go often and truth be known, we don’t really like Winnipeg.  When we finally did go, it was brutally cold and leaving the car for more than 3 hours was taking a chance on it starting.  So a lot was done in our home town of Morden. 

Decorating.  Click here to see how our house looked this year.

Gatherings.  In the past, we always gathered at Mom & Dad’s home.   Didn’t matter where they actually ‘lived’ but the gathering place was there.  

 

 

One item is pretty significant to me still to this day.

The Coffee Table in the center of Mom & Dad’s living room. 

Always full of their treasures and mom’s latest gift or some ornament they bought. At Christmas, it was full of candy!

Now, all that’s left in their home is the outline of the Coffee Table in the carpet.

 

When I saw this imprint on the last day of moving their belongings, it hit me that this part of life and celebration is over and will never look the same again. I cherish those photos a lot and now look to new photos of new celebrations in a new place.

January

It’s a slow go but there’s lots of things on the horizon. First and most important is Family. I’m hoping for good surprises this year and lots of good family times. Me and my hubby will continue to plug thru the winter months in Manitoba in anticipation for some new ‘spring’ events. My projects are piling up in the basement. It’s a glorious site really. You know when you get excited about finishing your 9-5 job just to go home and do something you really love, that you’ve found what you should be doing 9-5. So that’s my goal this year – to do what I love 9-5. I’m ready for that to take whatever shape and form it does. On that note, I must get ready for work so I can get home and do what I love so that this perhaps can become the real thing.
PS - watch for the 'Coffee Table' in a future post in a new look.