Weekend wrap up

Not a whole lot to share since my last post, or at least I didn't think so, until I started writing! Then this post kept getting longer and longer. 

Eli - checking for rain, look at this dirty little feet. 

Last Friday morning I drove out to Melville to visit my daughter and grandson.  D had been experiencing a toothache for a week or so and had reached her limit.  She was able to get an appointment with the local dentist for Friday afternoon.  I arrived about 10 a.m. and after a trip to the local Canadian Tire for play sand, she headed to bed for a nap while Eli and I played outside.  I had brought the sand box with me, and he was quite excited when I opened the bags of sand and filled the box.  The sand had been sitting outside the store, so was quite wet but that didn't bother him in the least.  When we were ready to go indoors, I took the hose and cleaned his hands and feet a bit.  (He's much like his grandmother that way, he'd rather be barefoot!)  

I stayed the night as D was still in a fair amount of pain, though it was lessened once the tooth was removed as it was abscessed.  The next morning I left around 9 as I'd forgotten my phone charger and had plans to meet a friend who was driving in from the Saskatoon area.  She wouldn't be able to get in touch if the phone wasn't charged.  Good thing I did as I was home and the phone in the charger for only a few minutes when she called.  She was leaving for Regina and let me know she'd be in town in a couple of hours.  We agreed to meet at a nearby Perkins.  This was convenient for both of us, as she was heading out to Manitoba after lunch.

We realized we haven't seen each other in 2 years!  We have, however, talked on the phone many times.  After catching up we got down to the business of planning a our girl's trip.  She and I have been talking about getting away together for awhile and this October we'll make it happen.  We've picked our dates but haven't yet settled on a particular destination except that we know we're going to B.C. to one of the mineral spas.  Yesterday I had a call from her and I shared some research I've done thus far, and it was decided our first choice might not be the best option.  So back to the internet for more research.  I've created a spreadsheet outlining options for accommodations, including pricing, distance from the pools, and amenities, as well as nearby restaurants and shopping.  I'll refine the spreadsheet adding alternative destinations and when she's in the city on Thursday we'll meet again to make some decisions.  I'll be flying to Edmonton to meet her, but will wait for another seat sale to book.  Or I might use my AirMiles points though no decision needs to be made just yet.

Sunday we had another showing that was a little more promising than any other, though no offer came of it...yet.  This was a young couple with two small children under 3  They live in a rented townhouse and this would be their very first home.  This is also the very first and only house they've looked at, so no preconceived notions coming in.  Plus anything else they look at, if they do, will be measured against mine.  They both really liked the house due to the proximity to the school and the little girls loved the little playhouse out back and the toys I have here for Eli.  They were in the house for well over a half hour so the kids had time to play! Best of all, neither they nor Curtis could smell the cats.  Go Febreeze! 

They haven't yet been to the bank to pre-qualify for a mortgage though so I'm not certain they aren't looking a little beyond their means.  My agent seems to think they'd qualify and indicated he'd be working with them on that.  



Look at this cutie.  He and his brother were dumped on the side of a highway outside of the city.  My nephew and his girlfriend were on their way to the camp they will be working at this summer and spotted them.  Of course, they brought them to the farm.  The first little guy, now named Rider, has found his home with them.  The second, now named Whistler, is likely going to live with a friend of theirs.  Lucky pups, because it could have been a much different story!

I told my brother I hope the losers who dumped the puppies have something awful happen to them.  Best guess we assume they are about 8 weeks old.  


Later this week, my friends K and J will be returning from the States where they have been visiting friends and doing some sightseeing in Virginia.  K and I have plans to meet for lunch on Friday and catch up.  In retirement, my social calendar is a heck lot busier than when I was working.  I guess, in large part, that is due to not being around people all day.

One final photo and I'll sign off.  I finished sewing Eli's shirt and took it to him last Friday.   The little stinker wouldn't let his mother put it on him so I'll have to get a photo of him in it another time.  It is large, as I made a size 4, he's currently in a size 3 so he should get some use out of it.

I tried using the button-holer on my sewing machine and could not figure out what I was doing wrong despite reading the manual and watching various You-tube videos.  So I gave up and hand sewed the buttonholes.  They aren't perfect, but as my dad would have said, "A blind man riding by on horseback wouldn't notice the difference."  

I've more (different) material to make shorts for him but haven't cut anything out as yet.  Instead I'm working on crocheting a border for a blanket that one of D's friends knitted for Eli.  It will fit a single bed and is multi-colored, red, yellow, blue, and green.  That will keep me busy for few days yet!  I did finish a pot holder using some scrap cotton yarn, nothing special, just something to keep my hands busy.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Welcome March

Despite the change to the calendar, March hasn't yet been any kinder to us than February was.  It's cold, yet again -31C this morning, and that is before the wind is factored in.

Yesterday morning was much warmer, thankfully, as snow had fallen overnight.  I was out early clearing the driveway.  Glad I did as the temperature began dropping throughout the day.

There is some relief in the forecast, but it will be several weeks yet before spring truly arrives here.  In the meantime, I'm looking forward to my next getaway in mid-March.  

It's been a busy week, as I drove C to and from work Tuesday through Thursday.  We had cleared out the Cobalt on Monday, and he got the news on Friday we were expecting, the car has been written off.  Tuesday, after work, we headed to a car dealership to test drive a Toyota Corolla.  The test drive went well, so after a bit of discussion on tires and block heaters, we met with the finance guy and completed the paperwork for a car loan.  C got the word on Thursday the loan had been approved, and I drove him to the dealership after work to finalize the purchase.  He is now the proud owner (or partial owner since the bank still owns most of it), a 2017 Toyota Corolla.  I drive an older model, a 2007 that I purchased from the same dealership back in 2010.  It's been a very reliable vehicle, so I'm hopeful C's will prove to be the same.  

Meanwhile at home I kept busy with my chores, my projects, and bit more packing.  I've nearly finished the baby blanket, just ends to be woven in, complete the edging, and block it.  I'll tuck it away for the next baby as I have no one in particular in mind...I just had the yarn.

Next up, I want to crochet a cat bed.  I found several free patterns on the internet and I bought the yarn at least two years ago with good intentions!  It's quite thick yarn so it should work up quickly.

On Friday, I met a friend for lunch.  We met nearly 42 years ago, and have kept in touch throughout the years, generally through Christmas cards and more recently, through Facebook.  I think the last time we actually saw one another was likely 15-20 years ago.  It was great catching up with her!

Later in the evening, there were just two of us for the Friday night dinner as four of the group are currently in sunny Jamaica.  We had a good visit, with a wide range of topics, before I headed home to watch the wildcard game of the Brier.  Yes, there's more curling!!

Today is a big day for this little guy.  Eli turns two today.  I had thought I might drive out for a visit but with the cold weather, decided against it.  I called this morning for a video chat just before 7.  He immediately grabbed the phone from his mom and took me up to his playroom.  While D and I chatted he showed off his mini-trampoline skills.  Then he headed back downstairs. Thankfully, his mom had the phone because he likes to slide down on his belly...it's a race to the bottom.

Next up I was introduced to his new toys, a talking Elmo, a talking Chase (this was my contribution) and a talking Octopus.  I confirmed with D that none of these toys were coming to G'ma's house.  :)

I snagged this photo off D's Facebook account.  He's watching his favorite program Paw Patrol, while enjoying his juice.  D said he's had his breakfast, a bowl of cereal and she's mixed up a batch of cinnamon buns as a special treat.  I'm sure he'll have a wonderful day, and I'll see him when they are here in mid-March.  We'll celebrate his birthday then too, though I'm sure he has no real clue what it is all about!

Have a great weekend everyone!  I'll be hibernating, watching curling, and working on my projects.  Sounds good to me.

A work in progress

I'm embarrassed to admit how dirty my house is/was.  But it is too true.  I can't entirely blame it on my daughter, though having a second household's worth of furniture and belongings did tend to fill the place.  Add to that her propensity for clutter, the grandson's lack of control, add in a few cats and the spills and messes were hidden from view.  The main areas (kitchen, living room, my bedroom and ensuite) I've managed to keep up while she was here but the rooms that she used (two main floor bedrooms, the main bathroom, and the basement rec room and storage area) tended to be a free-for-all.  I just didn't realize what that really meant.

Friday, I started off the day at the tire shop, having my tires changed over for winter driving.  It may seems like good timing, as we're getting a bit of snow today, but the forecast is for temps in the mid-20's (70-75F) later this week.  However, the shop is incredibly busy and it is only going to get worse; better sooner than later.  I had thought to walk home and pick up the car later but they assured me the car would be ready in about an hour...which turned into 90 minutes or so.  After my appointment, I headed over to Safeway to pick up some groceries for the week, and then it was home to start the clean-up.  

First up was the main bathroom,going through the cabinets for items left behind in her packing, cleaning the sink and counter and scrubbing the toilet and tub. I moved onto Eli's room next, where I discovered that the floor and lower walls were covered in spilt* milk.  There were other mystery spots as well, perhaps from socks walking through said milk?  In any event the floor and walls needed a good scrub.  It took three pails of hot sudsy water - though I must admit I was making certain I got it all with that last pail.

About this point, I started feeling unwell.  I don't if it was something I ate earlier in the day, or if I had picked up a bug but it ended my cleaning as I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening, either in the bathroom or curled up on the couch with the cats.

Saturday, I woke feeling much better and ready to tackle the rest of the main floor, and with hopes of getting to the basement.  D's room was next and again the floor was a disaster.  I've never been a proponent to eating in one's bedroom but she did it all the time and it showed.  It took a couple of pails of hot, sudsy water to get it clean to my satisfaction.  Then I opened the closet and found a whole pile of stuff that ought to have been moved; I found an unused box in the garage, taped it up and filled it.

I found several bags of mail, some of which was a couple of years old.  Since I wanted a break, I watched an episode of CSI while I sorted and shredded what I could.  My brother called as well, and we had a good chat about his work and family.

Meanwhile I was waiting for my travel agent to call. She'd e-mailed on Friday to let me know that my flight booked for March 13 had been cancelled, requiring a change.  I was making myself some lunch when she called to let me know that I will need to fly out a day earlier (with the same flight times as the previous booking), but that she was able to get me an even better flight home AND best of all the cost is nearly $200 CDN less, which should cover the costs of hotel and meals.  She is looking into hotel options for me; we decided I'll likely stay near the airport as I'll be taking the cruise ship shuttle to the port the following day and it departs from the airport.  I'm not certain if I'll see much of Santiago but to be honest, the cruise is the part I'm most looking forward to.

Once my travel plans were settled, I'd finished lunch, and it was time to get back to work.  I headed back into Eli's room to check the closet there. I found only a few more items that needed packing. From there, it was off to my bedroom to move my sewing table and other items back into that room.  

D took the little end table I had in the room for the items in the tray on the floor, so I'll have to find something else (temporary as I have no plans to buy new or more furniture).  I will be moving another small folding table into the corner below the bulletin board to use for sewing as I need the other for cutting. Yes, I'm finally planning to get some real sewing done in the near future!  It just hasn't happened with everything piled into my bedroom. 

It is so good to see that the main floor of the house is finally clean.  There is still a bit of clutter, some odds and ends that don't have a real place, and I need to do a sort through my own closet.  In addition to Christmas presents I've stored old bedding, purses, and such.  I'm going to pack these latter items and send them off to Community Living. I've no spare bed any more as D gave it away, thus that room will remain empty.   

The next stop was the basement, so I gathered up my laundry and headed down.  Since C was using the shower upstairs I used the time to vacuum the rec room area before I started my wash.   I had to pick up bits and pieces of garbage and a whole pile of cat toys before that could be accomplished!  This is where I found the leftovers from earlier cat dinners.  Ewww!  D had a large couch, an ottoman, two armoires and a dresser in that area.  It was used mostly for storage, and it was rare that she and Eli spent time there...obviously the cats found it the "purrfect" place to regurgitate using the carpet for traction. I do have a carpet cleaner, but decided to leave it until I have more time (and when my son is at work).  Both the laundry room and cat litter room (in the furnace room) got a scrub down between loads of laundry.  

I still have the storage area in the basement to clear out.  She left a few boxes of garbage (one I knew about), an elliptical (she even tried to give it away free but had no takers), and an office chair which will probably end up in my sewing room.  That area also houses my bookshelves which could use going through and a good dusting. Last of all, the garage also contains items that were left behind - I'm not certain if on purpose or were forgotten in the last minute rush.  There isn't a lot, and I'll probably wait until warmer weather to get at it.

It is definitely a work in progress, as I clean I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment, in attention to a few aches and pains from the bending and stretching.  By the way, I'm well aware that when I get this round of cleaning done, it will require on-going maintenance but now at least I have access to it!


This morning, I've been relaxing, having a cup of coffee, and enjoying the peace and quiet.  I'll get back to the housework later, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the morning.

I'll leave you with this photo of Sheldon in his new home.  D found him sleeping on the stairs and he woke when she went to take his photo.  I miss him around here, but I suspect Sasha and Saku are not.  I had worried that Saku would show some anxiety, as he did when Sami passed away last fall, but there has been none. 

Have a great week everyone!



*which the grammar police want me to write spilled - apparently the latter is the modern spelling. Apparently I'm just old. :)

Beginnings and endings

The countdown continues!  We are less than a week away from moving day and the packing is nearing the panic point.  This morning, D is busily packing up the masses amounts of clothing from both her and Eli's rooms.  The sheer volume amazes me.  She's already filled two large suitcases, two 2 cubic foot boxes (one for shoes), and is now working on a third, plus a smaller box.  One of the boxes is filled with items from when Eli was a baby; his first sleeper G'ma bought him, his first pair of sweatpants, his first pair of two piece pj's, so on and so forth.  I suggested she might want to limit the "firsts" to one or two special outfits, but was immediately rebuked that they all have sentimental value.  That may be true, but sadly there will come a time when no one wants those items. I know this because I have a box of items from my children's early years.  D used her first sleeper and a few of the receiving blankets for Eli, but the outfits mean nothing to either of them.  Sentiment is a lovely thing but it only lasts as long as the owner of it.

I suppose when I start the packing up here I'll find I have far too much clothing as well. I do intend to rid myself of most of my work clothing.  I'll keep a couple of pair of dress slacks, dressy blouses and sweaters, specifically for those times when I need to attend a formal event (rarely) or funeral (if this year is any indication more frequently).  I also have clothing that is specific to cruising, which I plan to use for several years yet.  Then there are the everyday items...yes I suspect I have more than I need as well.

This reminds me of a story one of my co-workers told us this week.  She is currently in the middle of helping her parents move from the farm to the city.  She and her brother were helping with the sorting and packing one weekend, and discovered her father had nearly 200 pairs of socks, 150 dress shirts, and a similar number of belts.  (If she told us how many pair of pants he had I don't remember though I suppose there must have been at least as many).  They also found three decanter sets in the china cabinet, though neither of their parents drink.  It turns out Dad is a habitual auction sale attendee and has the purchases to show for it.  They have moved some of the items to her garage here in Regina, but at least five loads were taken directly to the dump.  I don't think they've told him so hopefully he has a short memory as well.

By the way, Carole, I never did get to those closets last weekend.  I don't remember what I did instead.  

********
This week I made the call to the Pension Centre and by Friday, I had my paperwork in hand.  I left the envelope unopened on the island until today, when I had a few minutes to review it.  I got about half-way through the letter and decided it is a job best left to a time without interruptions.  The documents won't be looked at by the Pension folks until I actually retire so there is no hurry.  There is a reminder they need the official notice of the acceptance of my retirement notice.  I'll submit the notice of retirement tomorrow or Tuesday, and should have the official response shortly thereafter.

It will be an interesting week, as I'm in the training room for much of the week with two new employees.  I'll be doing their orientation for the first couple of days, then we'll be joined by a few other more recent hires (last fall) to review material I've developed especially for this session at the request of my manager.  It is nice to be able to share some of the knowledge I've acquired in the past 21 years, though whether it sticks I'll never know.

There is some likelihood that my replacement will be named by the end of October.  That would give me some opportunity to spend some time with her/him and hopefully give them a good start.  I've also been asked to attend a learning circle with the new supervisors and share some of the lessons I've learned.  The timing of that will depend on when the individuals are appointed.  

There are a mere nine weeks left before my final day in the office.  The jar last week held just four marbles, one of which will be pulled when I get to work tomorrow morning.  Bum-in-seat days total about 32.  I'm not yet down to counting hours and minutes but I suspect that won't be long in coming!

*******

This week Eli reaches his 19 month milestone.  I see the little boy he is becoming everyday.  He's recently come to understand that G'ma's television has the capability of rewinding his favorite show, Paw Patrol.  If his mother or I happen to be in another room, he'll bring the remote to one of us when the show ends.  As a result, he watches the same episode several times before the 2 hour time limit ends that option.

Friday marked the end of life for my brother's mother-in-law, Phyllis.  She had fallen at home and was unable to get up on her own.  Her daughter L found her and Phyllis was admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago.  I don't believe anyone thought she was near death though.  In fact, Thursday evening she was visiting with her grandson M, joking with the nurse, and complaining about her doctor.  All was normal.  But the following day she was to be released from hospital and moved to a nursing home.  She definitely was against that idea, and I have to wonder if she simply willed herself to die that night.  The nurses checked on her at 4:30 a.m., she was sleeping peacefully, but when they went in again at 5:30 a.m. she was gone.  As my brother said, she checked herself out on her own terms.

*******
Fall is full on here now, with the leaves rapidly turning yellow.  We've had frost in the morning most days this past week and more forecast this week.  It's a bit unusual as we would normally see some warmer days at this time but perhaps they'll come a little later in October.  I cleared out several containers yesterday but left the geraniums as they are still going strong.  I planted three mums in the front containers - I'm sure my neighbours think I'm beyond mad but they should last a few more weeks.

I have lots yet to do, moving all the critters and the other garden items to the back shed.  Perhaps this afternoon after the Riders football game.  Playoffs are nearing and they can't possibly win without my cheering them on, right?  Oh, and there is curling too.  It's a wonder I got any chores done this weekend. :)

Have a great week everyone! I'll likely be late posting next weekend but will be certain to update on the move.  

Weekend wrap-up

This will be another boring post*, where not much is new and I'm simply documenting the mundane and benign moments of my life.  Of course, there will be a little of Eli...which makes it much more fun!  In fact, why don't I just start there?  That way, if you choose you can read this portion of the blog and skip the rest.  I'm thoughtful that way. :)

Eli is rapidly approaching the 18 month mark (September 2), and is way smarter and creative than most.  Of course, he's the only nearly 18 month old I know so I might be a bit biased.  

But just look at that face (hidden by the sunglasses as it may be), is that not a bright looking boy?  I call this his gangster look ...he loves G'ma's sunglasses and if I don't tuck them in my purse, they disappear with a little help from him.

This week he's continued to discover climbing.  I hear him giggling in the sun room and spotted him on the cat tree earlier this week.  Sheldon was hiding, or rather attempting to hide, in the top of the tree.  Eli climbed up and when I first saw him was leaning into the little house talking to Sheldon.  When he saw me, he showed me how he climb down safely on his own.

Eli has also discovered he can reach the telephone on the counter.  We'll occasionally find him with the phone to his ear...so far he hasn't figured out how to dial it.  Good thing I have a good long distance plan for when he does.  

The next thing up is doors.  A few nights ago, D and I were watching television in the living room when we heard the door handle turning in the front hall.  We found Eli there, standing in his little shopping cart trying to open the door.  Thankfully it opens inward so he and the cart were in the way.  The door to the garage is another matter as it opens up from the front hall into the garage but so far he hasn't tried it.  There is a lock at the top of the door left over from the previous owners.  They ran a foster home so I suspect it was needed then.  And I'm guessing we'll be using it soon too.

However, as we learned this weekend his ability to climb can be dangerous as well.  I was making dinner on Saturday night, D was in the garage on her phone in an argument with J (a far too frequent occurrence), and Eli was quiet.  I went looking for him and found him in the bathroom sink.  I took a quick pic on my phone and sent it to D as the pizzas had just come out of the oven.  I wanted to cut them and get rid of the pans as they were hot and within Eli's reach.  Not seconds later I heard the water running in the bathroom and a yell from Eli.  I rushed to the bathroom, followed quickly by D, and my son C.  He had turned the hot water tap on and was trying mightily to get himself out.  I pulled Eli out of the sink and we stripped him of his pants.  Both his legs were red but it turned out we were fortunate as only his one foot was scalded.  With lots of aloe vera, a soaking of tea, and some Motrin for the pain, he was back playing within the hour.  That first giggle was wonderful to hear.

He slept well during the night and this morning there is one large blister on the side of his foot, the others have popped and are healing up nicely.  It always amazes me how quickly little ones heal.  He hasn't shown any discomfort at all, and when D slathered some aloe vera on his foot he giggled as it felt cool.  

His vocabulary is growing as well.  Apple and football were two new words I heard this week.  I still love hearing him babble, and watching him get excited about his bath, ice cream, and Sheldon.  He really loves that cat, even if Sheldon is less enthusiastic about him. Eli is definitely a ray of sunshine in our lives and I'll miss having him here everyday.  Though I won't miss the mess that accompanies his progress.  Well, not a lot anyway.

******
Okay, onto the mundane.  Friday was ordinary with a nail appointment, grocery shopping and dinner with friends.  The only thing out of the ordinary was how quickly the temperature dropped that evening.  It was 32C in the afternoon, and cooled off to 15C by the time we left the restaurant at 7:30 p.m.  With the wind, it actually felt "cold".  Of course, it's not and at another time the temp would feel balmy.  Just not then!

Saturday meant housework.  I'd done my laundry on Friday but hadn't  put things away.  Oh that reminds me, I did make a quick stop at Value Village last weekend and found two pairs of denim capris for $16, one of which were brand new with tags at an original cost of $30. I had a pair I'd bought in the States several years ago which have worn thin...good enough for putzing around the house but I can't go out in them. 

I spent a good part of the morning cleaning the kitchen.  D was busy baking this week, buns and cookies.  While she is an excellent baker she's a lousy cleaner-upper.  There was flour spilled down the front of the cabinets, the counters hadn't been properly wiped down of sugar and flour, and the floor badly needed a scrub.  In the midst of these chores, D got a message from a woman interested in buying my kitchen table and chairs on Facebook Marketplace.  We'd had it listed on Varage sale; although we had one couple take a look, there wasn't much interest except for one low ball offer.  D posted it this morning, the woman and her son were here less than two hours later and I had the money in my hand just minutes later.  

They bought for the son and his wife, who have recently returned to Canada from South America.  They spent 15 years there, mostly in Brazil and Argentina as missionaries.  Their mom, who I'm guessing paid for the table, lives here.  The family is moving to Brandon to work with the Spanish community there.  I wouldn't have realized there would be that many Spanish speakers there but apparently there is.  They were both very nice people, and we had quite the visit as D and the son took the table apart and moved the pieces out to the van.

I chose to put this up for sale now, mostly because my daughter is so much better at posting items for sale, and the table was a heavy beast so having her help the purchasers was much appreciated.  In addition, it's one less thing (well, seven when you count the six chairs) that I'll eventually have to move.

The space looks bare now and the kitchen looks twice the size it once was.  I've moved a card table into the spot for the time being and covered it with a table cloth.  We don't often have sit down family dinners - generally we grab a plate and eat in the living room, though if Eli is having his meal, G'ma does join him. 

Sunday, has been much less busy.  I got up early, before anyone else, other than the cats, was stirring.  After feeding the clamoring hordes, I made a pot of coffee and put away the dishes that I'd left drying last night.  It is so lovely to sit in the peace and quiet.  It won't be much longer before that is the norm.

It is a cool day here, with clouds and possible rain forecast for later in the day.  Today is the final round of the LPGA which is being held at the Wascana Golf Club here in Regina.  I have no intention of going to the course, but will watch some of it on television.  There is vacuuming to be done and the living room floor needs to be scrubbed at some point too.  Don't you wish that housework would just stay done?  I do!

Have a great week everyone! 


*I started writing this prior to the excitement of Saturday evening but decided to leave it as originally written.

Spin, spin, spin

I usually start the post with a title and go from there.  Today I know what I want to write about but have no clue how to title it.  So I guess I'll just start writing and see where this goes.

Have you ever been worried and stressed about something, and when it is finally resolved, you feel the weight of the world is off your shoulders?  That is a rhetorical question, as I'm sure everyone has.  Today, I'm feeling such relief that things are mostly settled with my daughter.  (48 more sleeps to moving day!)  She has booked the movers and has packing well under way.  This morning she told me she's realized that she doesn't need to keep much out, just clothing and personal items, and the toys that are currently cluttering up my living room. Yippee!

The garage is beginning to be cleared of the extra stuff.  She's taken several bags full of items to Value Village (more to go today), and consigned a bunch of toys and clothing at a local children's resale outlet.  There is a pile of boxes and bins in the garage about the size of my car that is packed and ready to be moved.  There is still lots to go though as she's brought home crap stuff that J had at his place for sale.  There are tools and blinds and god only knows what else.  I don't know if she is planning to take it with her or if she'll donate it somewhere...either way she knows it has to be out of my garage.  When I informed her of that, there was a bit of a melt-down on her part.  She has to realize my home is not a storage unit.

Knowing all of this is coming to end means I can begin return to planning for the future.  I've just over three months before I'm finished work, hooray!  Yesterday, I had breakfast with two former co-workers.  We had a wonderful visit, talking about travel (C just returned from a short trip to Ottawa and area), future travel plans (all of us), the benefits of retirement (the two of them), and a bit of work gossip. ;)  I am so looking forward to the day I join the ranks of the retirees and don't have to plan my life around the weekends and a few weeks a year.

My son C and I have been talking about his plans as he is about ready to move out as well.  He's interested in finding a condo as he is not a yard work guy, likely a one bedroom, but possibly two, with parking, and hopefully an in-suite laundry.  I don't think he cares as much about the laundry but communal space can be such a nuisance.  In his case, mom won't be the bank as he's done a great job of saving money for a very nice down payment.  I may have to co-sign, however as he is still working a term position.  By then he'll have nearly 4 years in, and he must be permed up by the 5th year.  There has been some movement of those who are temporarily positioned outside his area...fingers crossed that every one is permanently moved so there is position available for him.

I've convinced him to wait until spring for selfish reasons.  I mentioned previously that I have booked two cruises for the period after I've left the office and before I officially retire at the end of January.  Just as a reminder, the first is in early December, a 10 day western Caribbean cruise out of New Orleans, with four days in NOLA before I come home, just a few days before Christmas.  The second is a 12 day out of New York to the southern Caribbean - lots of sea days at the beginning and end.

AND then...I found a 16 day re-positioning cruise on the Star Princess out of Santiago, Chile to Los Angeles, California in March.  The price was a steal even for someone travelling alone - just over 50% of what the same itinerary would cost on a different ship a week later..which wasn't a bad price itself.  Traditionally, re-positioning cruises are quite a bit less than the traditional cruises, I think because there are lots of sea days, less ports mean less port fees.  Still, there are sufficient ports on this cruise along with the sea days to make it interesting and enjoyable.  I've booked my air through the cruise line as I don't want to take the chance of not arriving in time and scrambling to get to the next port.  With Princess, if for some reason, the flights are delayed the ship will often wait or if that's not possible, they are responsible to get the guest where they need to be. 


By booking these cruises, I've taken care of most of the winter.  I suspect I'll hate the almost two months of cold weather between my return from New York and my departure for Santiago.  But there will be much to do, with readying the house for sale in the spring so I'll stay warm indoors. I'm thinking the for sale sign should go up by the beginning of May but if it is a few weeks later that will be fine.  To be honest I'm not really in a hurry to sell - the more I pay off the mortgage the more I should be able to get out of the sale proceeds.  There have been three houses on the market (with a fourth sign go up this week) in this particular neighbourhood.  Of the three, two have sold within 2-3 months, while the 3rd is my next door neighbour.  I think they are over-priced in this market and have had one price drop thus far.  Based on the size, location, and upgrades I suspect they will need to come down quite a bit more.  I do know they spent a pretty penny putting in a new driveway and garage floor but I doubt they'll recoup those costs.

I'm not making any definitive plans beyond spring 2019.  When I move to the island is truly dependent on the sale of the house, my son finding a condo of his own, and the availability of property where I want to be.  There was a perfect condo that went up for sale this summer, but of course, I'm not ready.  Hopefully when I am ready I'll find something similar.  

In the meantime I'm enjoying the time I get to spend with Eli.  At this moment, he's off visiting with his mom at a friend's home.  They had planned to go to the spray park but her 2 1/2 year old woke up with a cough this morning.  She also has a little one a month or two older than Eli.  I bet they are having a blast!  

The little stinker has learned some new tricks this week.   On Thursday, D called me at work to tell me that she heard some noises in the kitchen and went to see what was happening.  She found Eli sitting on the table eating from the cat food dishes!  We had been putting the dishes on the table out of his reach.  No longer...now they are on the counter, which so far he hasn't figured out.


From these photos you can see he has mastered climbing onto the chair.  From there it is an easy transfer from the chair to the top of the table.  

His mom scolds him, saying "feet don't belong where we eat".  He doesn't seem to care...but of course, he has his own high chair with a tray.  

His climbing doesn't end with the kitchen table though.  He discovered that if he moves a stool to the back of the couch, he can climb over the back, onto the couch, scoot off the front of the couch, race around to the back and do it again.  And again, and again, and again.  It's quite the game!

This little monkey has no fear.  

The other trick he learned is spinning.  He'll stand in the middle of the living room and spin until he's dizzy.  Then he tries to walk and it's a hoot watching him stagger around. You'd think it would be uncomfortable but he seems to enjoy it.  I've had vertigo before...I can state that I don't enjoy it at all. 

Okay, I've got my title now.  Things are moving along with D and Eli's move, the days are growing fewer to my vacation and retirement, and little Eli...well, he just getting bigger and smarter and if I say so myself, cuter by the day.

Have a great week everyone!

One day at a time

I started this post last evening after what felt like a very long day and a bit of a rollercoaster week. Today, I'm still feeling a little out of sorts but just the act of writing this out has been helpful.

I'm in a bit of mood tonight.  It is soooo hot and although I have air-conditioning, the poor thing seems to be struggling to keep up.  Of course, I keep it a few degrees above normal room temp so it is warm in here.  The poor cats are annoyed as the sun room has been off limits for the last few days and keeping out of the way of young Eli can be challenging for them.  He does love to chase them, especially Sheldon, and fails to respect nap time.  

As frustrated as they are with Eli, I am with my daughter.  I arrived home this morning from Saskatoon (more on that in a moment) to find that my garage is chock-a-block full of stuff.  There is more crap than was there a couple of weeks ago even though D has assured me she has been getting rid of stuff!  When the door opened, there was barely space to walk through to get to the inside door.  She has been painting again, spray-painting that is, this time a lamp for her bedroom in Melville and another coat on a table for Eli.  She was so proud that she'd found cardboard to contain the paint...until I pointed out the large splotch on the driveway.  Sigh....  Anyone know how to remove paint from concrete?  No worries, I'll google it.  

On a happier note, the sale of the house was finalized yesterday.  It was a bit of a scramble as the first mortgage company declined due to the age of the house so we had to start again with a second.  They needed some additional information, I was out of town, and for once in her life my daughter wasn't answering her phone.  I texted her to call me and found she was getting my calls but ignoring them as she was on the line with someone else.  She eventually called, and we were able to put the info together.  Then there was a glitch with the counter-offer as the previous owner has been renting it out.  The mortgage company wanted a notice to vacate - however the owner/tenant have nothing in writing.  He did re-word the counter-offer to indicate the property will be vacant on possession date.  He too, was out of town and the deadline to remove the conditions was yesterday.  It was tight, but in any event, it was straightened out and by 8:40 p.m. Friday I had the confirmation letter.  Another countdown ...55 sleeps until moving day. 

My trip to Saskatoon wasn't planned, but came about when my cousin E called to let me know her sister J had passed away on Monday morning.  J has been battling cancer for a number of years so it wasn't entirely unexpected but still sudden. She was only 57 years old and is the first of our generation of cousins to pass.

Actually, J is my second cousin, her father M is my dad's sister's son (or my dad's nephew if that makes it easier).  But my aunt married young, while my dad was in his 40's.  So M's oldest children, J and her twin sister (also J) are between my younger sister and younger brother in age.  They lived on the farm here in southern Saskatchewan, while we grew up on a farm in the north-eastern corner of the province.  As a result, we didn't meet until we were teenagers.  For some reason, no longer in my recall, my younger siblings and I spent a weekend at their home about the time the J's graduated from high school.  I don't remember if we kept in touch then...I'm thinking there may have been some letters back and forth but for the most part it was M and his wife who visited my parent's home.

J did attend my dad's funeral in 2008 with her parents, I saw her again at her  mom's funeral in 2012, and a year or so later when I was travelling to Saskatoon for work we met for dinner fairly frequently.  Once my work trips to Saskatoon ended, we kept in touch via Facebook, infrequent telephone calls, and a visit some months ago when J was here for an event for her niece.  I recall we had such a nice visit at dinner and she shared the book she had made for her family.  It was a scrapbook style, but published in a format that was professional and polished.  There were photos of various relatives including her grandmother (my aunt) that I'd not seen previously.  She had written the story of her parents from marriage through to great grandchildren.  I'm certain it will be treasured by all who received a copy last Christmas.

She was on leave from work due to her illness but looked healthy and happy.  We talked about her recent cruise with J2, her plans for future trips including one to Ireland, and family memories. In all of our conversations we never discussed her cancer.  I knew she'd been diagnosed (her brother T is close to my brother R) and she knew I knew but it was never something that either of us brought up.  When I left her at the hotel I told I'd be sure to be in touch and we'd get together again in Saskatoon but that didn't happen. There is definitely  feelings of guilt over that.  

Yesterday, I learned that she had a seizure earlier this year, and was subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Her original cancer was in the colon and she was close to 4 years into that battle.  She was hospitalized, refused radiation, but did agree to a gamma knife procedure.   After treatment J returned home, and she and J2 made a road trip to Ontario to visit friends and family in June.  In early July she had a PET scan and discovered that while the brain tumor had decreased in size, the cancer was back in her colon and had spread to her liver.  Even so, she was able to be at home until she had another seizure when she was moved to respite care.  After three weeks, it was decided she was well enough to go home again.  Even so, on Wednesday, she told her friend Linda she was afraid to go home and really would prefer to stay in the care home. 

This past Sunday, J2 arrived from Calgary and plans were made for her to stay at J's apartment with her for a period of time.  But on Monday morning, when she was walking into the home, she received a phone call to say that J had passed peacefully in her sleep during the night.  The family was told the staff had poked their head in the room a couple of times that morning, but thought J was simply sleeping as she preferred to sleep late.  I think it was as much a shock to the staff as it was to the rest of us.  

J was the oldest of 7 children, she never married, but had numerous nieces and nephews (including some grands).  She left home after graduation and moved to Saskatoon for school and never left.  She obtained her B.Ed but decided teaching wasn't for her and eventually found her way into communications for a couple of federal departments.  When I read her obituary I thought it truly captured her spirit so well, that I wasn't surprised to learn she had written it.  She also wrote a good portion of her eulogy, though as her niece said the family tweaked it.  There was some laughter and many tears shed yesterday.  

Let me say this, cancer sucks!  This is the third funeral I've attended this year and every one was due to a battle with cancer.  First was a co-worker who battled brain cancer for over 20 years. The second, was the stepfather of a friend who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 2 years ago.  And, then of course, J.  I keep thinking that surely, with all the funding and research, there must be a cure soon for this insidious disease in all forms.  

Oh, and let's not get me started on gun violence, shall we?  If you haven't heard there was a shooting in Fredericton, New Brunswick yesterday.  Two civilians and two police officers were killed.  Why, oh why does this happen?  I have no answers.  We boast of stronger gun laws here in Canada, but the number of shootings resulting in multiple deaths keep growing.  

My brother, his wife P and daughter L are currently in Fredericton for a basketball tournament. Her team (Team Sask) were in the bronze medal game today; although they lost to Team Quebec to finish 4th out of a pool of 11 teams is pretty darn good in my books.  I'm so proud of L and all of her accomplishments.  She's a amazing young woman at the tender age of 15.

Speaking of proud, I'll end this post with another photo of Eli.  His mom took this photo of him after he climbed up on my chair.  He's holding the remote in his right hand and looking at a book of photos in his left.  He's often seen me reading in my chair and the remote is never far away...what a little mimic!

He's now 17 months old, 27.2 lbs in weight, and just a sweet little boy.  Not to say, he can't have temper tantrums and be a brat - that happens too!  But when I come through the door and he yells 'Ma-'Ma and comes running to me all of the frustrations of the day fall away.  

I'm reminded that even when we lose someone, life continues.  Finding those moments of joy, not only in memories but in the present is what sustains me.  I am blessed to have been part of J's life and equally blessed to part of Eli's.  

Despite the mess and chaos.

Have a great week everyone!

It's a waiting game

I'm one of those people....I hate having to wait for someone else to get back to me. I want to know now! Or better yet, 10 minutes ago.  However, with the long weekend, we're in a bit of a holding pattern with the house in Melville.

The broker found two different mortgage companies willing to finance the property. That was a positive as it more difficult to mortgage a second property, and especially one that is in a small town coupled with a low mortgage amount.  The interest rate is slightly higher, but just a 10th of a percentage point.  I've conservatively calculated the mortgage payments to be $120 bi-weekly.  It seems such a crazy small amount, but of course there are other costs associated with owning a property.

Oh, is that last statement true!  We had our inspections (mostly) completed on Friday.  D, Eli, and I drove up on Friday morning, arriving just after 9 a.m.  The selling real estate agent and the inspector were there.  She was busy putting pads on the bottom of the chairs and the table legs, while he was checking out the laundry.  Later, she left and he headed back down to the basement.  

I'm sharing a few of the cellphone photos D took - they are dark as her flash doesn't work since Eli threw it in the tub.  The kitchen is quite large but long and narrow.  The refridgerator is to the right of the sink, and the washer/dryer combo are directly across from the cabinets to the left of the stove.  That is a small deep freeze on the far left hand side.  



The flooring has been redone on the main floor with the exception of the bathroom and small porch.  The door you can see on the far left opens to the small porch with the bathroom to the left of that.

The wall between the kitchen and dining room/living room combo has been opened up (though the door to the original living room is still there as well).  

This photo is taken from the dining room into the small living room.  There would be more  room to get past the couch but the owner has an old grandfather's clock against the wall.  

D plans to turn the dining area in to a play area for Eli.  The current tenants are also using it for storage, so I suspect it won't look much different...though a little messier when Eli is through with it.  At the bottom right of the photo, they have a blender set up.  The little stinker figured out how to turn it on!  
He loved the space and ran back and forth between the rooms and then discovered the stairs to the second level.  

This is the view looking into the house from the front porch door.  The living room is on the left, the stairs on the right.  Being an older house, they are fairly steep and on his first foray, Eli was pretty cautious as he climbed (crawled).  But after he went up and down a couple of times he wasn't the least bit afraid.

I have no photos of the upstairs as the photos D took were just too dark.  It was clear the tenants have just moved in, and we were told they are there for two months for a firefighting course.  It was good to see their items in the room as it gave us a better idea of the size.  All rooms look big when empty, I think.

While the inspector completed his work, we took some measurements of windows, doors, the bathroom vanity and other spaces.  D's friend A arrived, and they took Eli outside where he ran back and forth in the front and side yards.  There was a pregnant kitty who came to check him out and the poor thing was chased about until she decided enough was enough.  

Meanwhile a locksmith came by to try to open the garage as it was locked and the realtor didn't know where to find a key.  However, he needed a drill that he didn't have with him, and the inspector had to leave so rather than go through the report, the inspector left it incomplete and headed out.  He was to meet with the locksmith today (though I've let him know Tuesday is soon enough) so I expect I'll hear more at some point.  

So the inspection report....I'm not entirely certain how much I can rely on it as he missed some things we noted - the flashing above the front windows and the broken window in the front porch for example, and put a lot of emphasis on the fact the house has sloping floors. He did, however, note there is some rotting at the bottom of the posts in the basement though assured me the house won't fall in on itself.  The plumber's report was separate and while I anticipated the recommendation to have a sump pump installed, there was one surprise.  Apparently when the water heater was put in, the chimney insert wasn't changed out to a smaller width as required.  The plumber doing the inspection was the one who installed it and he indicated the owner didn't want to spend the money.  I thought he would fail it, but he didn't....I guess he didn't want to be negative about his own work.  

I'm going to give him a call Tuesday morning and request an estimate of the costs to install both the sump pump and the chimney insert.  Maybe, just maybe he'll give me a bit of a deal?  At that point, I have a decision to make as depending on the cost I anticipate we'll be going back to the current owner for a price reduction.  I'm quite willing to share the cost, but I really think he should be on the hook for the chimney insert because he should have had the work done already.  If Google is right, the cost will be between $65 and $100 a foot - with a two story house it is going to cost a pretty penny.  I've been in touch with my realtor's co-worker (he's on vacation this week) and she is prepared to go back with a revised offer.  

There was also another surprise, this one a good one.  The inspector discovered that the entire house has been re-wired.  Between the new windows, the newer room (5-10 years), the furnace and water heater (10 years), and the wiring, I'm confident that much of the expensive repairs have been done.  Yes, there will need to be more money spent - I'd be foolish not to think so but I'm happy to know so much has been done to bring the house up to current standards.  

D is getting quite excited and packing is well underway.  The garage is starting to empty out of all of the extra items; although that is happening less quickly than I would like, she assures me it will be done in the 60 days or so before the move.  She's got a quote from a local moving company as well - we've used them before in the move to this house, the cost was reasonable and they were very efficient.  

So the finish line is in sight...

******

I've spent the rest of the weekend, thus far, doing regular weekend things - grocery shopping, laundry, washing floors (gosh this kid drops things and mashes them into the floors), and cleaning my bedroom and bathroom.  This morning I relaxed in bed and read with a cup of coffee.  My brother lent me a book he'd recently read, "The secret diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 years old".  The book was written by an "inmate" of a nursing home in Denmark - his word, not mine - about a year in his life. It starts off with the caution "Another year, and I still don't like old people." The almost daily diary entries are amusing, hilarious, sad, poignant, and sweet as he shares tales of bad food, the many complaints of the inmates, the escapades of the "Old but not dead" club, and the inevitable health issues that arise with age.  R brought it over on Friday and I finished it this morning - it's the first book in a long time that I've had difficulty putting down.    

We've been having lots of rain, but hopefully tomorrow will be clear and I can get out into the yard.  The lawn is in desperate in need of a mow and good weeding, and the containers need to be dead-headed.  I'm looking forward to the time when I don't have to squeeze chores into a certain day but can do a little every day (as long as the weather cooperates).

My wait won't be much longer though - just four months until the end of November!  The marble jar is looking very low.  

On that note, I'm off to make pasta salad for dinner this evening.  Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

Heat wave

We're on day 2 of a mini heat wave here in Saskatchewan.  Normally overnight the house cools down and the a/c doesn't start running until mid-afternoon.  This morning it kicked in at 7:30 a.m.  The cats aren't happy with me, as I've already closed up the sunroom for the day.  But they've all found somewhere to sleep so they'll be fine.

I can't imagine living through a heat wave for days on end, as has been the case in Ontario and Quebec.  The latest article I read reported 54 heat related deaths in Quebec alone.  Most of those individuals were over 65 with chronic health issues, living without air conditioning, and in multi-story buildings.  I heard a fellow on one of the news channels suggesting that we may need to consider that not only heating is a necessity for adequate housing but cooling as well.  I know I lived without a/c for many years, but I don't think I could do it now.  Is it because I'm getting older, or because the temperatures are higher?  I think it's a little of both.

Today is day 11 of my daughter's trip to B.C.  Things got heated there last night and I had a call from her saying she's was getting on the next flight home. After some convincing (and perhaps a couple of stern comments) she agreed not to drive off into the pouring rain for what would be a 4 hour (or more) drive.   I've talked to J's mother this morning, and learned that things settled down after that call, and D and J are supposed to going to Nanaimo today to visit his grandmother.  I know that D was excited that Eli would meet his great grandmother so I expect the crisis has been averted and she'll be back here on Thursday as originally planned.  Sheesh!

I've made good progress cleaning up the house while she and Eli are away.  Yesterday I spot washed walls, cleaned the carpet on the stairs to the basement, finished cleaning windows including the front and screen doors.  Apparently I wasn't paying attention to what was happening at my feet though, as after I'd put away the cleaning supplies I noticed Saku hanging around the front door.  Then I heard a loud noise at the door and suddenly thought, did I let Sheldon out?  No, that wasn't the case, but I had trapped the cat between the two doors.  I think he's learned a valuable lesson, as have I!  

Today, I'm planning to clear up the desk and perhaps tackle a couple of closets.  But I also agreed to drive out to the farm to check on it as my brother and his wife are away this weekend.  P (his wife) is in Portland, Oregon with their daughter L for a basketball tournament.  L is part of the Saskatchewan under 17 team this year, quite the accomplishment for a 15 year old, I think.  R is in Alberta - I believe near Crowsnest Pass for an ultra race of 100 kms.  He's NOT doing it solo, but is taking part as a relay team of 7.  The e-mail I had from him this morning, suggested he'd be running about 2 a.m. tomorrow morning, for leg six.  I think he's nuts but he loves to run and I'm sure the scenery would be gorgeous....except he'll be running in the dark.  He did walk the trail yesterday to check it out.  The temps there are quite reasonable, about 19C(70F) right now with overnight low of 7C(45F). Sounds a bit cool to me, but he will be running so I guess it will be nice.

******
I decided to take a break and make the drive out to the farm before it got any warmer today.  In the two hours I was gone the temperature rose 4 degrees from 24C to 28C, and with the humidity it feels like 33C(91F).  That may not be extreme heat, especially for those in lower U.S. but it is plenty warm for me.  Funny, though because when I got home I noticed several of my neighbours out working in the heat.  That's funny because I so rarely see them outside any other time.  So they pick the warmest day of the year???  


I have a couple photos I took with my cellphone - forgot to take my camera.  After feeding the cats (wet food, as they had lots of dry), I wandered around the side of the house to look for a watering can and found this little guy/gal.    

There is a bird feeder just to the south of the a/c unit.  I suspect he/she was trying to get to the food supply.  It appeared to an immature squirrel as it was quite a bit smaller than others I've seen.  He/she didn't move even after I took the photo.  I think it thought if it didn't move I would be able to see it. ;)

I stopped on the gravel road to get this shot of the wild roses.  There were mounds of these flashing pink as I drove along.  I don't remember seeing so many in the past.  I also spotted wild yarrow (white) though I didn't stop to take a photo.

The route I take includes a short cut between grid roads along a narrow gravelled road.  As I came up to the corner where I turned back onto the grid I stopped to get this shot.

I was pretty much shooting blind as it was so bright out there.  But this to me is quintessential Saskatchewan.  Gravel road, rural mailboxes, the ditch is full of weeds, a canola field in the back ground and the blue sky with just a few clouds.  It is what I grew up with, sans the mailboxes as we had to go to town to the post office.  

I didn't bother using the car's a/c but left the windows open in the car.  The smell from the fields was incredible...well, at least until I passed the pasture with cattle in it.  

When I got back to the city I took a drive out to the new Save-On Foods grocery store that was opened close'ish to my house recently.  The chain stores are only located in Western Canada and the Yukon.  The first store opened up in Regina a few years ago and this is the second.  I really like some of their products but it seemed too far to go to very often.  I'm pleased to see it opened nearby, as it carries products not available at Safeway/Sobey's, Co-op or Superstore.  

One of my favorites is in the deli - Popeye's mac and cheese salad.  It contains spinach, feta and Parmesan cheese, with shell pasta and a light mayo dressing.  Today I picked up a small container of it as well as an 8 bean salad.  I had the latter with my lunch...oh, it was good!  It was similar to other bean salads with a vinaigrette dressing, red pepper, onion, and various beans.  B.C. cherries were on sale too so I grabbed another bag...I've already polished off one bag that I picked up at Safeway last week.  

Well, I suppose this isn't getting the desk or the closets cleared of clutter and I wouldn't be surprised if you are tired of the blather.  Besides Saku has decided that he needs some lap time.  

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend everyone!