About Me

June 30, 2018

The 2nd Half.


Today is the last day of the 1st half of the year. Tomorrow begins the 2nd half. How did this year go by so fast already? I wish life would slow down. I have so many things still to do, some many things to try, so many moments to live. Stop!! Please!!

Rant over. I'm officially on holidays by the end of today. I'm looking forward to not working until the 11th of July. For the next 10 days, I'll be pulling weeds, moving stone, sorting rocks, stringing peas, hanging pictures, sorting the garage, sorting the art studio, sorting my Christmas storage room, writing, purging, donating, visiting and I'm sure, a bit of napping here and there. I'm looking forward to this time off to catch up on the projects we've been working on. Soon, once it's all done, we'll be able to truly sit on the new deck or hang out in the hammock or work in the sweet picket fenced veggie patch and know we're truly home. Exciting to get it all done. 

What are your plans for the 2nd half of this year? 
What are your plans for this long weekend?

The Meadow.

 

Our landscape designer and a contractor
we used last year taught us the basics of
permaculture and we've adapted some of
our land to be a natural meadow. All
around the garden and where we have
our grass is getting in to place and will
eventually look very manicured and
set. But around those areas, the natural
meadow will grow at its own speed,
without any plan. Our own meadow.

A Day in the Life ....

I have one of those crazy jobs that make life, on a daily basis, very interesting and definitely never boring. Actually, to tell the truth, I have 2 contracts. My full time job at our local hospice and my part time job at the charity we created as a family over 22 years ago. With the first position, I am the manager of the family bereavement programs ~ we provide counselling and groups to families, including children, teens and parents, as well as education and support to the community at large. My second position is the Executive Director for our charity. Prior to all of this, I was home with our children for just over 20 years. My position at our charity started in a voluntary capacity and eventually turned in to a paid contract. The hospice position is just 14 years old for me, and started out part time, but became full time after a few years and that is when dh came home (we still had kids at home who were homeschooling) so that I could concentrate on that position, to grow it to what it is today. I will forever be grateful for his dedication to our family and though he went back to work once our youngest was 18, he is still a large part of our home life and to this day, still makes dinner on a daily basis. Alright, enough of the mushiness. On with my post:


6:50 a.m.    
Dh wakes me up to say goodbye. I go back to sleep for a while. Way too early for me!

7:30 a.m.    
Up to shower, dress, make the bed, do my face, do my hair, gather my backpack.

8:00 a.m.    
In the car to drive dd to her job and then head to the Community Centre for a meeting.

8:30 a.m.    
Dd at work, car parked and I'm registered and having a tea at my table with others.

9:00 a.m.    
The Community Hub Meeting begins and continues until 12 noon. Loved every moment!

12:00 p.m.  
I drive to Hospice in the Big City. Eat my yogurt covered raisins, drink water on the way.

12:30 p.m.  
At Hospice, I meet with a colleague, then do some case notes while I wait for a family.

1:00 p.m.    
Family arrives and we have a one hour counselling session with art and journals.

2:00 p.m.    
More case notes, emails, phone messages and impromptu meetings with colleagues.

3:30 p.m.    
I water my plant before gathering my backpack to head to another community meeting.

4:00 p.m.    
Meeting at a local funeral home for an event will all be participating in this August.

6:00 p.m.    
Back in my car and call dh to let him know I'm on my way. This is a late night for us.

6:30 p.m.    
Home for dinner and Coronation St. I weeded, watered the veggie patch, folded laundry.

10:30 p.m.  
We head to bed to read for a bit. I can't keep my eyes open and soon fall sound asleep.

Most days, I pop into our Centre when I drop dd off to check voice mails, pick up the post and to see if my staff needs anything. Some days, I also have to drive our little guy in to his school. Then I either head to Hospice, to any schools I'm visiting or home if it's a day to work from home or a day off. If it's a work day, I usually leave the Hospice or the schools by 3 to head back to the Centre. Many days I have counselling or errands or case notes or program planning. Either I or dh will then drive dd home with us, stopping for groceries or gas as needed. Evenings are full of gardening, tidying, laundry, dishes, sweeping, plant care, art studio work, writing or a nap, if I'm super tired! I'm so glad and so lucky that thankfully one item not on my list is to make dinner each night. Dh loves to cook and I have no issue with his commitment to this task. After a busy day, if it was just me, I'd likely munch on a bowl of cereal. Cooking after a busy day is not in my ability at this time in my life.

So there you have it, my day in the life ....

Deck Decisions.


We've finally figured out how we want
to add a deck to our back porch. It's
been a long haul trying to make sense
of what we have and what could be.


Working with our contractor, we've
come up with a very simple 12' x 16'
deck that will be just 2' off the ground,
connecting the porch to the ground. In
our potting shed is the Pergola bought
last year during a great Costco sale. It
will attach to just under the top of the
porch and our contractor will construct
3 boxes to support the 3 columns of
the Pergola. Next year, if our budget
allows, we may then add 2 additions
on either side of the simple deck to
expand the space even more. I can't
wait to see all this come together.

June 29, 2018

Sports Day.


It was Sports Day at our little guys
school this week and I helped out.


There was a thunderstorm scheduled
for the same time as my shift (1 to 3).


But despite this enormous clouds, the
wind, rain, lightening and thunder held out 
until we ran to the car at the end. And
that is the moment the thunder started ....


Just before the skies opened, a local radio
station showed up with enough popsicles
for the kids, the teachers and all the
family volunteers. It was a great day.
The storm on the way truly wasn't fun
at all but his ribbon made it all worth it.

Lost Tooth.


The little guy finally lost his first
upper tooth, on the very last day
of Grade 1. He's pretty proud but
is finding it hard to talk clearly!

June 28, 2018

Summer Sun.


I've often said my favorite part of the
day is when the sun shines in the west.


Illuminating our little cottage with
its bright light and warm presence.


I love how the sun dances on the wood
floors and makes the paint change shades.


In time, this time of day will come sooner
and not last as long. I'll miss these days.

Anniversary #3.

 

And just like that, we've lived in the country for 3 years. It still feels like we're the new neighbors, with the brand new house. But truthfully, we've now been on this little piece of land since the weekend of June 26th, 2018. So much has happened since then. Great things and bad things, and everything in between! We were not sure we'd actually enjoy living out here. We wondered if we'd "chicken out" once Winter arrived that first year. After just a day and half, we knew it was the right thing. And we haven't looked back. 


Since moving in, we've done a lot. We've unpacked, decorated, hung art work, created our art studio, stained the front veranda and began our landscaping. There is still much to do, including finishing our landscaping (will it ever be finished!), creating curtains, putting up the crown moulding and wainscotting, and redoing our master bedroom closet with a custom closet system. The deck will begin off the back porch the week of July 23rd and the veggie patch is in but we still have to put up the pickets for the fence. It's all coming together but we know it will take time to feel like it's finally all complete. And then maybe, just maybe, we'll start all over again in a new location, with a new house plan. Or maybe we'll just stay here. Or even better, find a little spot on our favorite island. The future is unknown but our time here has been our dream and we've loved every moment!

June 27, 2018

Our Booth Remodel.


It was time to make some changes in our
booth at the antique mall for Summer.


We added in the upper shelf to show off
some lovely items and added in the small
bookshelf on the right side. It looks a bit
crowded right now, exactly how we don't
want our booth to look but we've decided
to try and sell a piece of furniture each
month. Our first is this so sweet vanity
dresser with mirror and seat bench. It was
on a local sale board off FB and we paid
just $60. It was painted white so we did
a quick coat of ivory chalk paint to smooth
it out and added glass knobs for the drawers.
Fingers crossed it attracts a buyer. We do
sell a lot of "smalls" but want to now try
selling furniture and dh's collection of
old radios. He's sold a few already. A
hot item for sure. I have some ideas to
make in my art studio as well. Fun!

June 25, 2018

To Blog or Not to Blog?


I've read quite a few blogs recently, within the last week or so, questioning if they should continue to blog. Personally, I do understand the frustration. Lately I'm not been as sure if blogging is the best tool right now for me to share our life. Is anyone reading? I've not had many comments at all in the last few months but I know that I don't blog every single day. I'm trying to blog more often but maybe need to step it up a bit. If I blogged every day, would you read? Would you comment? Would you share your life with me? 

Maybe my readers are bored. Maybe their taste is different than mine - English Country Cottage, Craftsman, Victorian, Eclectic isn't every one's cup of tea. Maybe I write too short. Or too long. Maybe I'm not interesting enough. Maybe my occasional reference to the grief we carry as bereaved parents is too much. Is my blog too dark? Too light? The new colors I chose are maybe not quite right? The spacing I'm working on is maybe too off? 

What is it that attracts you to certain blogs? Or turns you off from others? 

Truthfully, I love to tell stories, to share bits and pieces of daily life. Maybe that's not what blog readers are looking for. I choose blogs that do this, but there does seem to be a shift. I honor that many bloggers are able to carve out a living by blogging and some have ads on their blogs. Some have a process of "clicking" in to their post, generating funds. Mine is simple and with no ties to any other entity but my own thoughts, ideas, words, pictures and questions to inspire or debate. 

I'd love to know your thoughts. Please post and share. Or send an email. It will help me decide whether I should continue to blog or not to blog. 

Love to you all on this stormy Monday!

June 23, 2018

Cozy Foyer.


In our last few houses, the front foyer
always seemed so small and crowded.
If we had company that numbered just
two, it was a tight fit as they arrived.
But if we had more than two, it was a
true complication ~ we had to do it better.


So when we designed our house, we
made sure there was room for at least six
to eight people to stand in the hall. And
we added in a good sized closet along with
a small vestibule for the old radio that
holds some small fabric roses, a sweet
and tiny topirary, a container of fabric
plants and our guest book for all to sign.


We found this tiny bunch of fabric
roses at the charity shop for $1 ....


.... and this sweet brocade covered
guest book as well, for another $1.
Sweet finds that make our cozy but
spacious front foyer a welcoming spot.

Welcome.


We picked up this sweet print at
our local charity shop for the hall.
I love the vintage frame and the
soft, muted colors ~ perfect for us!


I love this tiny girl reaching up to
the door knocker. Here are the words:

"Hospitality is the greatest cheer,
for a friend walks in when the
whole world walks out."

Anonymous

"Let your door be always open and
a warm welcome be in your heart;
For he who looks outside is dreaming
and he who looks inside awakes."

Anonymous

"The wise teacher points us to the open
door, but you must have the courage to
enter for yourself."

Old Chinese Proverb

June 17, 2018

Our Secret Garden


I love taking pictures of our little "Secret Garden"
after the rain has finally ended. A work in progress.


But progress is happening. We planted
these sweet perennials last Spring. A
combination of purple, blue, pink and
white. I love how they are flourishing.


Our teeter totter survived another cold
Winter and looks so playful in the trees.

Wind and Rain, Light and Dark.


Outside as the rain fell, we were safe
and dry, but the crack of thunder were
too loud for my comfort. At least it
wasn't a night time thunder storm.


Still we had to put on some lights as
the sky was so dark, it was hard to see.

Scary Skies.


Driving home the other day was a bit
scary as the skies became dark and windy.


Lightening started to appear and the thunder
soon followed, booming across the landscape.


We had to quickly pull in and make sure everything
was secure before retreating into our sweet cozy home.

My Gardner.


He's been such a big help this year as we
planned out then began to put our first ever
veggie patch in. You can see the fences are
not in just yet, but the boxes are full now.
We'll be putting the pickets up next weekend
and then the pea gravel to cover up the
landscape fabric and the netting to keep our
deer friends from munching on all the veggies.
I truly appreciate how helpful this guy has
been in making sure our veggies are all
planted, then watered and fertilized well.
I love how he is so excited to see growth!

Flowery Gifts.


It's been a crazy few weeks and we have
more events coming up. One of our final
celebrations is our year end family BBQ.
And this year, I was presented with a
basket of pretty flowers and chocolates.
A surprise but so very much appreciated!

Quiet Veranda.


Not a sunny evening but still my favorite
place to sit at night, when it's so quiet.

Hospice Tea.


We had a high tea celebration the week
after Harry and Meghan were married.


Everyone dressed up, complete with a
variety of fascinators and bow ties. We
enjoyed viewing the wedding while
sipping tea and eating scrumptious
treats. Then it was time for our feast
at lunch, then back to the family room
to watch the last part of the wedding
celebrations. Fun day for all at hospice.

Frosty Tree.


I decided to leave this one last little
Christmas decoration up. There are
two and they hand on either side of
the front door. Too sweet to hide away!

Full Moon Rising.


Look what I spotted a few weeks ago.
Yup, a full moon above the clouds.
This one is called the "Flower Moon."
I hate full moons but this was pretty.

Our Local Park.


Recently we spent some time in our
local park that is in the centre of town.


It features a lake, complete with a couple
of bridges and even two little islands.


The landscaping is so colorful. Pretty
pink flowered trees and gorgeous bushes.


A fountain in the middle and geese
and ducks all over. Love this place!

June 9, 2018

Stormy Days.


We've had weeks of hot, dry and sunny weather but this has finally changed and we're in the middle of some strong, stormy days. When I went to the doctor the fountain was hit hard from the wind. Blowing water all over! The clouds do look quite light in this shot but they were in fact very dark. We had some thunder this morning but tonight we have lots of wind wreaking havoc on our forest and tons of promises of hours and hours of rain. Hoping for the rain so our garden continues to sprout. Hoping the thunder and lightening stay away, far, far away. Hoping for a quiet night and rain tomorrow.

June 1, 2018

Hello June.


The last month of school before a well
deserved Summer Break. A month of
blooms and growing gardens. A month
of sunshine and warmth, thunder storms
and late nights. A month of a birthday for
our second son. A month to truly celebrate.