This Week

Here we are again. The end of another week. It's cold and gloomy and pouring rain outside as I write this. It's the side of the fall season that I don't like. Any day now the leaves on the trees will fall and the raking will begin. Or the mulching. We don't rake or bag or blow leaves; we mulch them into our lawn. And add some into the flower beds, as well. Good eatin' for the garden.

Have you watched any good movies lately? We've been watching some older ones. A few days ago we saw 'Brubaker' starring Robert Redford. It's a prison drama about newly arrived prison warden, Henry Brubaker, who attempts to clean up a corrupt and violent and abusive penal system. It's pretty good. I always enjoy films that Robert Redford is in; he's a good actor.

While watching 'Brubaker', the most amazing man in the world commented on how young Robert Redford is in this film. Of course he is. This movie dates back to 1980. I was young then, too. Only 15. I didn't have grey hair, a mortgage, children I worried about or any other grownup responsibilities. I wasn't dealing with menopause and all its madness. My vision hadn't begun to deteriorate, therefore I didn't have to hold reading material out at arms length (in bright light) or wear reading glasses daily or carry around a mini magnifying glass to read the fine print on products that at my age is one big blur. I didn't have to kick my metabolism in the ass (once upon a time it was a powerhouse) to keep it from spending the day napping. And my body didn't make creaking, popping and rattling sounds. Some of you know what I'm talking about. Some of you are still too young to understand all this but you'll get there one day!

Moving on...

I've been listening to a lot of music lately as I continue to paint furniture, which I'll share photos of eventually since some of you requested some. But not today. Today I will share the video below of the song Renegades by the band X Ambassadors. Maybe you'll like it, too. Or not. Doesn't matter. What does matter is that the weekend is here again and I'm going to wish you all a good one!

Read More

Friday Again

It's Friday again and here we are at the start of another weekend? Where did the week go? What's been keeping you busy? I've been - surprise! - painting. I'm working on an old bookcase right now, which has been around since the beginning of time. Well that's not true. It's actually been around since my kids were very young. And so was I. When I'm finished with it, it'll look so much more...I don't know...youthful. If only a simple thing like paint could turn back the clock for us, as well. A light sanding, a bit of primer, a couple of coats of a bright colour and - voil� - 20 years younger.

These painting projects are fun (minus the cleanup and preparation) and I've been tackling one at a time from my list of "old furniture that needs a new lease on life". To date I've completed two nightstands, a console table and a rocking chair. I've got three pieces to go, including the one I'm working on now, and then I'm going to walk around the house and see what else I can freshen up with paint. Or what else I can do. I've been visiting a lot of crafting blogs/sites and painting blogs/sites and renovation blogs/sites lately to learn as much as I can. There is no end to the amount of projects one can do when you head down this road. Trips to the hardware store are always a joy and I've even run out between coats of paint because "there's something I need for this job!". Yesterday it dawned on me that I'm becoming one of 'those' people. The DIY people. My dad would be proud, of course, since he was a cabinet maker and such a handyman in just about every type of renovation job. With the exception of electrical work. He never touched that.

Anyhow, that's what's going on with me lately. It's enjoyable and I've been singing while I've been working. Literally. Because there's always music playing. Like this song that has me dancing around my workspace with the paintbrush used as a microphone.



What's up with you? I'll wish you all a wonderful weekend while you answer that!

Read More

My Tuesday...

...has been a whole lot of this:

What does your day look like?

(I'll be by to visit your blogs later today or tomorrow. )

Read More

So Much To Be Thankful For

It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. I have so much to be thankful for that I don't know where to begin. At the top of the list are the people I love most in this world: my daughters, my husband, my mom and brother. I couldn't ask for a more amazing bunch.

Then there are the usual suspects like living in one of the most beautiful place in the world, not to mention one of the safest, and having a roof over my head, clean water to drink and plenty to eat.

And in addition to all these blessings, I end up coming home with a gift basket like this earlier this week that made my day:

It was given to me by the wife of my hospice client. He is an elderly man that I look after each Wednesday while his family is away. I've been volunteering with the local hospice organization for the past 18 months or so, and for over a year I've been assigned to this wonderful family. The wife is the sweetest, kindest lady on the planet and she is always trying to give me something as a gesture of gratitude. In the beginning, she tried giving me things like gas cards and money, which I promptly refused. I explained to her that we are not permitted to accept anything that didn't fall into the organization's motto, which goes something like this: "If you can't drink it, eat it or grow it, you can't accept it". I explained to her that if I broke this rule, I would be dismissed and couldn't help her family anymore. She understood but because she's the type of person that needs to show appreciation, she decided to work with that motto. Since then, I've been sent home, now and again, with things like jugs of milk, butter, cookies, bottles of Bailey's Irish Cream, fruit juices, fruits, chocolates, candy and so on. When her son takes her shopping, she sometimes picks up something for me. One week, papayas were on sale and she got one for me. I swear. I've told her many times that all this is not necessary and to please stop because I don't want her spending money. She waves this away, bags whatever she has for me and sends me on my way. She is adorable.

This week she stunned me with the fruit basket that is filled with all these edible and drinkable goodies. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. It felt like my heart was being hugged when she handed it to me and said "just a little something to show you how much we appreciate all you do for us." I'm tearing up just writing about this.

Yes, I have so much to be thankful for. I am truly blessed. Especially because of the incredible people that I cross paths with in life. Including all of you!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone. And Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canucks!

Read More

Painting

The past couple of weeks have been busy. Mostly cooking type busy. I've prepared some old recipes and tried some new ones like the most delicious lemon bread in the history of delicious lemon breads and the most amazing brownies in the history of amazing brownies. And because it's autumn season, which means apple season, lots of applesauce and apple butter; two things that you should never buy store bought because they're ridiculously easy to make. Not to mention much healthier and tastier when homemade.

Yesterday I put down the wooden spoon and picked up a paint brush. I'm back to painting again. Not walls but furniture. This week's project includes two natural/maple-coloured nightstands (yawn) that are going to be sporting a bold yellowish shade (English Daisy by Behr) by tomorrow morning. Once that's done, I'm going to tackle a rocking chair, two bookcases and an office storage cabinet. All of them will get a colourful facelift. Then we'll see after that.

I love taking old stuff and giving it a brand new look. And pops of colour. The way IKEA (the best store in the history of best stores) does with some of its products. Painting is a wonderfully affordable way of getting new furniture into your home without actually buying anything. And because too much wood in the house makes me nuts, painting it away on some pieces will solve that problem. My preference in home d�cor is minimalistic, youthful, bright, bold and sleek. So something like this really appeals to me:

(source)

The most amazing man in the world, on the other hand, would have no problem at all with something like this:

(source)

I swear I would suffocate in a room like that. Even lose my mind. Much too dark and heavy.

How do two people with such differing tastes get along? Well, the most amazing man in the world doesn't really care. It's just not that important to him. And if painting something colourful and bright makes me happy, that's great. He even helps me choose punchy shades for my projects. He's amazing for so many reasons.

Have you been tackling any projects lately? Do you like painting (aside from preparation and cleanup, which totally sucks)?

Read More

And So It Begins...

Summer has come and gone, ladies and gentlemen. It is now time to enjoy the autumn season, which can be incredibly beautiful when the weather cooperates. The leaves haven't changed shades yet nor have they started to fall (well, maybe just a few here and there), but it won't be long before we are enjoying the most magnificent display of colour.

I love this time of year as long as it isn't rainy and cold. Some years it is that way and others it's an extension of summer. It is completely unpredictable from year to year; you just don't know what you're going to get. I'm hoping the weeks ahead are glorious, so I can snap some photographs.

Do you like this time of year?

Read More

Blogroll Cleanup

This morning I spent a little time cleaning up my blogroll on Blogger and on Bloglovin'. I use the latter to check for new posts on blogs I follow but I have lists on both. I unsubscribed from blogs that are no longer there, blogs that seem to be abandoned and blogs whose owners never followed or stopped following mine. How anyone can leave this lovely blog is beyond me, but alas, sometimes we are just not compatible. If you are a follower of mine and I've deleted your blog by mistake, please let me know!

Do you follow a lot of blogs? My list is not terribly long, and because not all of the sites I visit post often, it's fairly easy to keep up with all of them. Plus, I don't comment everywhere. I typically do that on blogs whose owners comment on my posts regularly. I consider these individuals blogging pals and I enjoy the exchange with them. Leaving comments can be fun but receiving them is even more so. People write the most interesting things sometimes. So, if you are a regular commenter here, you'll find me doing the same over at your place. If not, well, no need to explain...

Have I missed any of your blogs? Perhaps you are following privately or have never commented or there is no link to your blog from your profile picture on my 'followers' list. If that's the case, step forward and leave a comment below so that I can visit your blog, even follow it. Go ahead; don't be shy. We're a friendly bunch here!

Do any of you ever do blog cleanups? Do you enjoy leaving comments?

Read More

Questions, Questions...

I�m stealing borrowing this set of questions from Debra because it�s lots of fun. Debra is one of my favourite bloggers. If we were in high school, I�d want to sit at her table in the cafeteria. I�d even share my cheesecake with her. And that says a lot. Because only a select few have that privilege. Anyhow, go visit Debra�s blog if you haven�t yet. But wait! Do it after you read my blog post.

Okay, here we go...

1. Are you named after anyone? My maternal grandmother.

2. When was the last time you cried? I�m all choked up right now as I watch - and listen to - the video below (for the gazillionth time) while working on this blog post. It�s about my favourite sanctuary for farm animals. And it's run by two of the most wonderful Canadians! My eyes well up with tears every time I view it.



3. Do you like your handwriting? Yes. My handwriting is quite nice. I went to school at a time when penmanship was taught.

4. What is your favourite lunch meat? I�m not really a fan of any.

5. Do you have any kids? Two amazing daughters.

6. If you were another person, would you be friends? We�d be like two peas in a pod.

7. Do you use sarcasm? Always. I have inherited the sarcasm gene from my father.

8. Do you still have your tonsils? Hold on while I check... They seem to be there.

9. Would you bungee jump? Over my dead and decomposing body.

10. What is your favourite cereal? Guilt-inducing, sugar-laden, oh-so-bad-for-you Honeycomb.

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Not if I can help it. I actually have a pair of running shoes that I just slip on and off. Touch the laces on them and I will cut you!.

12. Do you think you're strong? Yes.

13. What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Chocolate chip! Nom nom nom...

14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their eyes. The windows to the soul tell all.

15. Red or pink? Blue :)

16. What is the least favourite thing you like about yourself? I sometimes procrastinate.

17. What colour pants and shoes are you wearing right now? Black shorts and black flip flops.

18. What was the last thing you ate? Guilt-inducing, sugar-laden, oh-so-bad-for- you Honeycomb. [hangs head in shame]

19. What are you listening to right now? Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding. (see question #2)

20. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be? Turquoise.

21. Favourite smell? Vanilla.

22. Who was the last person you talked to? My husband who also happens to be the most amazing man in the world.

23. Favourite sport to watch? None.

24. Hair colour that's real? Yes. I have dyed my hair in the past but now it�s all natural.

25. Do you wear contacts? Nope.

26. Favourite food? Pizza!

27. Scary movies or happy endings? I love me a happy ending. And if it makes me sob with joy, even better.

28. Last movie you watched? TV mini-series �Kane and Abel�. It�s based on the book by Jeffrey Archer.

29. What colour shirt are you wearing? It�s some shade of orange. Or pink. Or orangey-pink. It's a weird colour.

30. Summer or winter? Summer all the way! Staying true to my Mediterranean roots.

31. Hugs or kisses? If I really like you, you�ll get both. If I don�t, you might get the stink eye.

32. Favourite sweet food? Ice cream. And cheesecake. Ice cream with cheesecake...oh my...

33. What book are you currently reading? I�m 1/3 of the way through �A Good House� by Bonnie Burnard. I�m not sure if I like it yet.

34. What is on your mouse pad? A mouse :)

35. What did you last watch on TV? The first part in a three-part series of the JonBonet Ramsey story.

36. Favourite sound? I love nature sounds, but I'm especially fond of the sounds of the ocean.

37. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Rolling Stones!

38. What is the farthest you have traveled? Greece.

39. Do you have a special talent? Because of some (not very pleasant) past experiences, I can detect toxic people, bullshit and manipulation from a mile away. I consider this a superpower.

40. Where were you born? In Montreal, Quebec; the second most populous municipality in Canada.


That completes this fun set of questions and answers. I hope you enjoyed it. And I hope you all join in. Come on, do it. Just do it! I'd really love to read your answers.

Read More

This Day

This morning I'll be hanging around at a warehouse, checking out what books are available at the annual book fair. It's a fundraising event held by the volunteer committee of the Kingston Symphony Association. The community makes donations and then this event sells them back to the public at very cheap prices. Like a couple of dollars cheap.

I attend every year and bring along a list of books I'm interested in. Sometimes I really hit the jackpot and scratch off many titles. Other times I just come home with a handful. It doesn't matter. Just being there is a thrill. When I first walk in, I hyperventilate for a few minutes. Because I'm a bookaholic and being surrounded by so many books at ridiculously low prices gives me a buzz. I know I shouldn't be feeding this addiction but I'm weak when it comes to reading. Weak, I tell you.

There are always a lot of people attending this event, so it's important to sharpen your elbows before you get there. And practice being assertive for when you need to say "EXCUSE ME". You really want to say "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY". But it isn't polite. And when someone bumps into you or you squeeze into a section to check a title and disturb someone, you find yourself saying "sorry". That's the Canadian way. But your eyes say otherwise. Because in your head you're thinking "you've been hogging this area for too long. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE". Yes, it's quite a patience-testing event! But no matter what, everyone behaves rather well.

I wait for this book fair all year long. It's going to be a good day. A very good day.

Do you like reading?

Read More

Friday

So the weekend is here once again. What are your plans? Ours include a visit with my baby girl who is all grown up and getting ready to start her second year in university. She never returned home after year one; opting instead to live year round in Ottawa. I miss having her here, of course, but she is very happy in her new city. We'll be driving up to see her this weekend and I'm very excited about that.

I asked her earlier this week if she was free for a visit and we worked out a time where she could fit us in. She's a social butterfly and you have to schedule a visit!

She asked me at one point: "Is there a particular reason you're coming?"

Me, in my head: "Because I miss you terribly and the house is not the same without you and the vibrancy and energy you added here is gone and it seems like forever since we've seen you and as a new school season begins I reminisce about when you were little and it tugs at my heart and I wonder where all those years went and miss waiting for the school bus with you and making your lunch and putting your school artwork on the fridge and reading you a bedtime story and kissing you goodnight and I just can't believe how grown up you and your sister are and that you've both moved out and that we're truly empty nesters and most of the time I'm okay with it because this stage of life is kind of nice but occasionally I'm not okay with it all..like today..."

Me, out loud: "We just want to see you, sweetheart."

My daughter: "Okay."

Motherhood. No one said it was going to be easy.

Well, at least I'm not doing this to my cats:

Yet.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Read More

Feeling Hot Hot Hot

Ah, the dog days of summer. We've been getting our fair share over here. It's been very hot and humid for quite some time now. The city has issued heat health warnings to all residents, but particularly to more vulnerable ones like the elderly, infants, young children, individuals working outside, people with chronic illnesses, etc. I think they should include menopausal women. Because extreme heat on top of hot flashes doesn't bode well for them...or for the people around them!

It's been quite extensive this hot spell and it wouldn't be that bad if only we'd get some rain now and again. But nope, no rain. None. It has been so dry for so long that gardens and lawns everywhere are struggling and really suffering. My own plants are barely managing. And I've lost a few that just couldn't deal with it anymore.

The most amazing man in the world and I have also been sleeping in my daughter's room in the basement for a few weeks now. When she moved out, she took the furniture from our spare bedroom instead of her own and this has turned out to be a blessing because we've got a bed to sleep on in a room that is wonderfully cool. So cool that you need a blanket. And because the foundation of our home is concrete, it is also very quiet. Cool, dark and silent; the ideal setting. I haven't slept this well in ages. It's no wonder she loved her room so much when she was here.

So we have been dealing with extreme heat and extreme dryness. If you've got some rain to spare, send it right over!

And speaking of heat, here's a fun song from all the way back in the early 80s when I was oh-so much younger. Enjoy.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Read More

Helping A Wee Critter

This past Sunday was like any other day in July: hot and sunny and very dry. With the exception of this visitor:

Yes, it's a bat. It fell onto our driveway in the middle of the day when the heat was high and the sun was beating down on everything. My husband was out front when this happened and he called for me to come out and take a look.

The poor thing looked exhausted and somewhat dazed. The most amazing man in the world (who is also one of the kindest) filled a container of water and poured it down the driveway, in case this wee one was dehydrated. Well, sure enough, he crawled over immediately to the water and started gulping some down.

And when he had his fill, he crawled up against our car's tire to take a nap.

Well, we couldn't just leave this poor critter on pavement that would be burning hot when the sun reached it. And certainly not out in the open where the neighbourhood cats and dogs and people would find it.

So, we scooped him up, moved him into a shady area in our garden among the plants and placed a couple of shallow bowls of water nearby.

He spent the day resting and rehydrating and sometime during the night he went on his way!

Here's a short video I took before we moved him to the bat cave.



It was a very interesting and unique experience!
I'm glad we were able to help this wee critter.

Read More

Like Zombies

When my best friend was in town last week, we took her downtown for dinner and after we ate we headed over to popular, waterfront Confederation Park, which is located across the street from City Hall.

And all of a sudden, 'they' began to arrive...

Gathering in groups.

Huddled together. Staring down at their phones.

Not paying attention to their surroundings, only what was happening on their screen.

It was surreal. And pretty creepy, too.

The most amazing man in the world and I have been to this park countless times in the seven years we've lived in this city and we've never seen anything like it. Masses of people being directed - and controlled - by a game!

Has the Pok�mon Go craze invaded your area? That game that has people walking around in a zombie-like state? And searching for imaginary creatures? Are you a victim of this?

Read More

Yesterday

Yesterday I wanted to take some pictures, so I reached under my desk to pull out my camera bag (that is where I always keep it) and discovered that it wasn�t there. I stared at the empty space for a few seconds as my brain tried to make sense of the scenario and then I said to the most amazing man in the world �my camera is gone�

�What do you mean gone?�

�Gone� I said. �I left my camera bag somewhere and everything in it is now gone. Everything.�

I told him this calmly. But it was an eerily type of calm. You know what I mean. The type where your voice sounds haunted. The type that is accompanied by a cold sweat. The type where you realize suddenly that something has gone terribly wrong.

So, here�s the story.

On the weekend we stopped in at a coffee shop. I had my computer bag with me, which isn�t unusual; after all, photography is a favourite pastime. Except instead of placing it on the floor between my feet like I always do so that I can constantly be aware of its presence, for the first time ever, I placed it on the windowsill. And then forgot it there when we left. And everything in it. A DSRL camera, an 18 � 270 lens, a macro lens (the love of my photography life), a flash, filters, extra batteries, a remote release and a whole bunch of other handy items. All gone.

Just.
Like.
That.

My initial reaction was denial, which was followed by disbelief, which was quickly replaced by shock. And as I paced all over the house with panic and grief and a whole bunch of tears and probably a whole lot of wailing threatening to kick in, the most amazing man in the world calmly dialed up the two coffee shops we go to regularly (we had visited both on the weekend and couldn�t be sure at which one this happened). I heard him say �no, eh?� to the first one. They had not found a camera bag. Then he telephoned the second place, the last hope, and he explained his reason for calling. A few seconds of silence as he listened.

Inhale. Hold breath. Heart pounding.

Then �Oh, you do! That�s great!�

Exhale. A little hyperventilating. Relief. Tears of joy.

The most amazing man in the world drove me to the coffee shop and waited in the car as I went in to retrieve my bag. I asked for the manager and when she came out with my most beloved possession, I wanted to hug her and sob like a baby and tell her that I love her and ask to be her best friend. I didn�t. Instead, I thanked her profusely. She said �You are so lucky! There are shady characters and this equipment could have disappeared.�

There are good days and there are great days. Yesterday was one of the great ones. And one of the luckier, too.

I should play the lottery...

Have you ever lost something really special to you?

Read More

My New Creative Outlet

This:

Adult colouring books.

It makes me feel like a kid again. And I love it. It's also a great way to unwind and get rid of stress.

Are any of you doing this?

Read More

It's Like Going To The Fair

IKEA. Some love it; some hate it. I belong in the former group. Let me loose in an IKEA store and I'm a happy camper. A very happy camper. It's one of the few shopping experiences I enjoy because I typically cannot stand shopping, especially clothes shopping. Hate that. Ah, but IKEA...

When we were living in Montreal, there was an IKEA store a few minutes drive from our home that I would visit occasionally. I usually didn't buy anything; most of the time I'd go there for a leisurely stroll and to enjoy the colourful displays. But at least it was always within reach.

Things changed in 2009 when we moved to Kingston where there is no IKEA. [insert sad face] Those strolls came to a screeching halt and in order to visit one of these furniture warehouses, we have to drive to Montreal, Toronto or Ottawa.

Ottawa...the big city closest to us...and where my younger daughter is now living. Oh my... [insert big goofy grin] Do you see where this is going?

So, in addition to helping my daughter move her things to her new apartment two days in a row at the beginning of this month, we also went to IKEA on both days. [insert me jumping up and down...and almost hurting myself]

The first day we went with my daughter and I bought her a few things; her favourite being a stand up mirror for her room. On the second, the most amazing man in the world and I stopped in on our way back home where in addition to buying some office furniture, we also enjoyed a wonderful late lunch.

Two trips to IKEA. I was elated. Whenever I go there, I feel like I'm visiting the fair. There is food and interesting attractions and pops of colour and bouncy rides and exciting displays. I get the urge to skip with joy all the way through. Because...sigh...IKEA...

How about you? Do you like IKEA?

Read More

So We Finally Settled On A TV Series

As I've stated before, I haven�t watched anything on TV at its scheduled time since my younger daughter was a year old. That was almost 18 years ago. The most amazing man in the world and I typically enjoy movies or binge-watch long running series, many times older ones; the most recent one being the X-Files right after we wrapped up Seinfeld.

But we've been searching for something more recent and exciting and captivating to tune into. And after much consideration, we finally settled on one. I'll let you guess which one (for those who have been following it).

Here's a hint:

Here's another one:

And here's what we established about the character, Joffrey Baratheon, within a couple of episodes:

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we decided to watch every episode of every season of Game of Thrones until we've caught up to the rest of you who are tuning into this. Only two shows in and we're already hooked. It's not like we (especially me) didn't know about this. My two daughters have read the fantasy novels by American author, George R. R. Martin, that this TV series is based on.

And my older daughter even named her cat that she adopted from the local humane society when she stayed with us for a few months in  2012, Daenerys.

My daughter's cat, Dany (short for Daenerys)

But now we're actually seeing what it's all about. And enjoying it. We are just at the starting line but we'll catch up to the rest of you in no time!

Are you a fan of this TV series?

Read More

Weather Mania

This is what it's been like for quite some time around here. Technically, spring has sprung but it means something different every day. We don't know whether to put our boots away or leave them by the door. Welcome to Canada in the spring...

What's it like where you are?

Read More

(Holiday) Sunny Side Up

Below is a video that I have to share with my bloggy pals. In it, some dogs and a cat sit down for a holiday feast. You heard right: a cat, as in singular. Because guess who's got to be at the head of the table?

Even the cat is amused.

If this isn't the funniest thing you see today, it'll surely be the most unique.

Don�t I take good care of you all?



Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Last weekend before Christmas! *squee*

Read More

Sunny Side Up

�With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.�

- Max Ehrmann, Desiderata -

So here we are at the end of another blog week, and I�d like to end it with something uplifting. Because the news is so full of crap all the time that you�d think there aren�t any decent human beings on earth or any good news. But there are. And there is. There are many good people in this world doing great things. We mustn't lose sight of that.

And this planet we live on? It�s spectacular. We need to remind ourselves of that regularly. So, slow down. Breathe deeply. Look around. Reflect. And be amazed by this beautiful thing we call life.

A couple relaxing by the lake as the sun sets. Things like this make me smile.

Need some more motivation? Here�s an uplifting video to help restore your faith in humanity.




Wishing you all a fantastic weekend! Enjoy...

Read More