Mainly, the Grandkids

It's been over a year since I retired and began writing this blog.  The purpose of doing so was to be able to keep my friends, colleagues and family abreast of my activities and in doing so I have made a whole new, wonderful, interesting, talented group of friends out there in Blogland.  I still hope that my older connections are interested in what I am up to and read my blog along with the "Followers" who often write to me and leave delightful comments.  That being said, you will remember from my last post that I was leaving on a nine day trip (out of town) to visit my family and my two darling grandchildren.

I would love to load up this page with oodles of photographs of my darling Grandson Rhys and even more darling Grand-daughter Katherine but I will refrain and only post a few.  Grandmas will appreciate how difficult this is going to be for me to restrain myself, LOL, but here goes.............

Here's Katherine....

And Katherine with ME........

And now for my favourite Grandson, Rhys.......

Getting a haircut.....

After the haircut.....

As Superman for halloween.....

In his raincoat............

No more photos Grandma......

I could keep going on and on, but I think I had better stop before I start losing friends, LOL  It's hard to believe that I have been and come back from visiting them.  When you arrive you think that you have so much time but it quickly passes and before you know it, you are back home.  The weather was awful, rained and I mean RAINED, most every day.  It seems that "Sandy" affected many areas.

Another VERY important occasion whilst I was visiting my family was that I attended another son's graduation.  He just received his MBA (this was his third degree).  Am I proud? you bet I am.  Getting a photo was very difficult considering the size of the auditorium but this was better than not getting one.........



Now to get back into the swing of things.  I managed to finish a small picture yesterday, it's a combination of painting and crafting.  I think it turned out okay.......

And this is a piece of pottery which I purchased from The Potters' Guild on Saturday.  Wawa, a small town situated north of here was hit by terrible rainstorms which resulted in quite a bit of damage.  A fellow potter who lived there had lost his entire livelihood, home and all his pottery equipment when his studio/home began sliding into the river.  Our Potters' Guild had a table set up at their Open House with items for sale (made by them) and all the proceeds were going to this gentleman and his family.   This is the item I purchased...........



Well, it's getting late and I am running out of things to say.  I'm meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow (Dawn) - that will be nice - I have been looking forward to doing this for a few weeks but we couldn't seem to pick a suitable time, so tomorrow it is!!

I hope you all have a great week.  Thanks to all those who said prayers for my brother and sent good thoughts.  You are the best.  Big hugs, Chris

When I did this post last night I forgot to mention that any friends of my friend Laurie who followed her blog "In my dreams I see" can now find her new blog at....   http://iloveacloudyday.blogspot.ca/

How blessed am I.

I am so delighted to tell you that my darling grand-daughter graced us with her presence on Wednesday, 28th March 2012.  Her name is Katherine Anne and she weighed in at 8lbs. 10ozs., a beautiful, bonny lass.  Here's a photo of her and I can't wait to go out of town (on the Greyhound bus - I picked up my ticket today), to visit and hold her in my arms....................

Unfortunately, her poor mum didn't fare so well.  After having a C-section, she became very ill, in fact very seriously, and they had to take her back into surgery where they found that she had blood clots.  She was in so much pain and had trouble breathing and spent the next couple of days in I.C.U. and the first night on a respirator.  We were all so very worried, especially my son and his mother-in-law who fortunately was visiting and stepped in to help with everything.  A girl needs her mum at a time like this and what a great mum she is.

They are home now and everyone is doing very well, thank the good Lord.  There were so many people praying for her - who says prayer doesn't help????  Big brother, who is going to be three in June, is going about his day quite unconcerned about all the excitement and every now and then will approach his little sister and give her a gentle pat on the head and then take off, LOL  Typical male.

Last Saturday I put on a Shabby Chic Craft Show here in my apartment building (forgot to take a photograph of course) and sold a few of my recently made crafts.  I have so much fun making all these delightful things but I really don't like selling them, I would rather give them away, but you really can't continually do that sort of thing.  You have to recoup some of the money you spend, as you all know, materials are not always cheap.  For the longest time we, here in my city, have been looking forward so much to having a Michaels store and one recently opened.  It was such a shock to find out just how expensive it is, even with their 40% off coupons, etc.  I was so excited to be able to purchase some mod podge, but not excited about the price and after using up my first bottle, I decided to go online and find out how to make my own, which works just as well and only costs pennies to make.  Here's a link just in case you would like to try making some for yourself.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_make_mod_podge_at_home

Yesterday I did very well.  A local store had closed and the owners of the building decided to use it for a couple of weeks to have a basement sale.  I guess for years they had stored personal possessions in the basement, including children's toys, unwanted furniture, etc. and decided to find homes for all that "junk".  I didn't realize just how good the "junk" was until my friend Laurie came home with a large, beautiful mirror made of wood and sporting some hooks for hanging a jacket, a hat or some other lightweight article.  (I noticed that she has already bugged her hubby to put it up on the wall in her entrance way and it looks great.)

These are some of the items I picked up dirt cheap for me to work my magic on and hopefully resell them..............

The items below are prints by Canadian wildlife artist Glen Loates, still in their original packaging.  I wonder if they are worth anything???

I also picked up something really spectacular for my darling grandson but I can't show it here just in case my kids read my blog.  It is my intention to present it to little guy when I go to visit and I don't want the surprise spoiled.

Last, but not least, I am excited to show you my first real work of art.  I have been attending an art course the last few weeks and today we finished.  Even though I say so myself, I think the end result is pretty good for a beginner and couldn't wait to go and get prints made of it so that I could give one to special people in my life, e.g. my friends at the Library where I used to work and my special friend Laurie who puts up with all my crafting nonsense and actually encourages me in my habit.  Here it is..........................

It's entitled "Gone South".  The print I gave Laurie, who is a wonderful artist, she has framed in a gorgeous frame with a lovely dark green matting.  I like hers better than mine, LOL  I will have to look out for a better frame because this one really doesn't do it justice, hers looks SO much better.

Well, I guess that's that for now - oooh, almost forgot, yesterday I met up with a few delightful ladies and had an Easter lunch with them at the Senior Centre, aren't they beautiful...............

and tomorrow I am having lunch at a local restaurant with another group of delightful ladies.  This retirement is getting better and better.  Forgive me if I boast and say that I am enjoying it, or should I say, "Loving it".  God bless, talk to you again soon.

All's well that ends well.

Well, this is going to be my most recent acquisition.  I can't wait for it to be refinished.

Still at the store

Pat, owner of "The Queen's Cupboard" has been encouraging me to buy this and of course I said if the price was right and if it were painted cream (LOL), I would consider it.   Obviously it wasn't difficult for Pat to agree to my terms so now I am waiting for it to be painted and delivered.  I had to move a few things around to accommodate it but I'm pretty sure it will fit in with all the other lovely pieces I have purchased from her.  Normally I would paint it myself but living in an apartment and it now being winter, doesn't lend itself to painting on such a large scale.  Also, Pat will do a better job than I in taping around the glass.


I'm typing this in WordPerfect at the moment because my internet is down and has been for over 24 hours.  I am not happy, in fact I am a little lost without being able to keep in contact with all my lovely friends.  When I got up yesterday my internet and phone were both out, then later in the afternoon the phone came back on so I thought, yippee, everything is back to normal, but no, the internet wasn't back on and a little while after that the phone service went AWOL again.  Later in the evening the phone came back on yet again, but still no internet and of course without a phone or internet how can you inform your Internet Provider of the problem.  Laurie (down the hall) did send off an e-mail on my behalf but it being the weekend, did they even see it yet?  Anyway, I now have a call in to my IP and the waiting time is upward of 2 hours to get a reply.


My son, Gareth and his sweet lady, Chelsie took me to the movies this afternoon.  We went to see the new Tom Hanks movie (mmmmmmm, he gets better as he gets older), "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close".  It was okay but not having researched it, didn't realize that it was about a young lad's search for answers for what happened on that most terrible day.  I thought it had more to do with the event.

"Oskar is convinced that his father, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother and driven by a relentlessly active mind that refuses to believe in things that can't beobserved, Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key he found in his father's closet. His journey through the five boroughs takes him beyond his own loss to a greater understanding of the observable world around him"  It was enjoyable.

This is a photograph of one of my son Dave's most recent pieces of art.  I love it - it fits in perfectly with my decor.

I acquired a few more bits and pieces to add to my Parisian theme.  I can always count on Pat for having something different with which to tempt me.

Bought some new coasters for myself and my son Gareth and Chelsie, his lady.  They were on sale and I didn't realize until I got them home how they also fit in with the rest of my junk treasures.

I've seen many postings of cloches and wasn't really aware of what they were or were used for.  The new kitchen store in the mall had some in their after Christmas sale and I thought it would be cute to own a couple, or three.  At present I'm kind of experimenting with them to find out how best to use them and at the moment I have little birds sitting inside them, poor little things, looks like they are imprisoned in Alcatraz!!

So all my dear blogging friends, what else can I use these for? They would hold about three normal sized cupcakes, so they are not very large, but the etched designs on them are so pretty.

I'm back on the Internet, oh how I missed it, but all is well - I think the problem was caused by the router for my wireless internet which could have been caused when the power went out in our apartment building recently, just for a minute, but perhaps enough to dislodge the connection?  I don't know because I know nothing of the weird and wonderful workings of computers.

Talk to you again soon, in the meantime, here is another adorable photo of my darling grandson.

It's about time

I have been so very busy with moving from one apartment to another (just across the hall) that I haven't had time to sit down and "blog" and I still haven't finished with organizing things at this end, but I thought I should "touch base" with you and let you know how things are going so far.  I'm waiting on the delivery of my new couch and will then post pictures.  I have really done a job on my accommodations, cut down on possessions and the new furniture I have purchased has been much smaller than my old.  It's a good feeling to purge - I don't know why I was keeping all this stuff because none of my sons want my "junk".

Anyway, whilst I was still in the process of moving "across the hall", I would leave both apartment doors open to make it easier to cart things back and forth.  I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new bed, which turned up on time, and I proceeded to attach the headboard and get it all set up and then make the bed up with all new linens, etc.  Imagine my horror when I went into the living room to get the new sheets and pillows only to find that the sheets, still in the original packaging, had been stolen.  Can you believe that?  Sometime in the previous couple of hours, someone had walked in and taken them.  Well, I was pretty ticked off by that and had to go out and purchase a whole new set of linen, so - so much for the bargain I got the first time around when I found lovely double sized white sheets with a satin stripe throughout on sale.  Having to purchase two sets of sheets, new comforter set and a mattress cover cost me a small fortune and then yesterday, I bought another set of sheets 'cos you can't just have one set!!  Boy, do I go on and on, but that's not the end of the story.  Eventually, at the end of the day, I gratefully snuggled in my new bed and dropped off to sleep, only to wake in the middle of the night wondering where the new key I had cut (to give to my son) was - I didn't recall seeing it all evening where I had placed it ready to take to him.  Of course, I had to get up and check and that was missing also, so I can only assume that whomever stole my sheets also took the key.  Now of course I can't go back to sleep thinking that someone is going the sneak into my apartment and steal my cookies, which made me almost want to toss mine, LOL  Of course I had the lock replaced that morning, but what nerve people have.  Here's a picture of my new bed.  I'll say TTFN and will post again when I have more pictures of the work in progress.  Hugs to all.

Moving is a sweaty business!!!

Well, I've been working so hard for the last couple of days moving the small items out of my apartment into my new apartment across the hall.  You would think that it would be very simple, but I haven't stopped sweating, "glowing" for those of gentle disposition, but for me right now, it's SWEAT.  I nearly suffocated myself with the fumes from the oven cleaner, but I sure did a good job.  It seems a shame to leave it now for someone else, LOL  I can't wait to share some photos of my newly fitted out place.

Took a break and went for a walk along the River.  It was beautiful.  I had hoped that the trail would have extended to Bellevue Park but it stopped just after the old hospitals and I didn't fancy walking along the Main Street til I got to the Park.  I was having trouble walking that far anyway but at least I made the effort.  I moved a few other small things and am taking another break and walking in the opposite direction to the Mall to pick up a few items.  Be back soon.

It's now just after 9.00 p.m. and I have been at it most of the day, moving stuff, that is.

I started this a week ago but have been too busy to finish it off, so this evening I am going to add a few words and then post it.  It has been a very busy week with sorting, cleaning and disposing of many items.  It's not something anyone can help you with.  At least this way I will not be carting unwanted or dusty items to my nice clean apartment.

First thing this morning I walked all the way to the furniture store where I bought my new goodies last week and found a lovely glass coffee table with two end tables.  They are quite small and will give a fresh look to my living area.  My old ones were large wooden ones, beautiful at one time, but they are a little old-fashioned now.  I just can't wait for it to all come together and I will post some photos.  Thanks for following my blog.  Have a great weekend.

Home, Sweet Home

Well, I'm certainly glad to be home, but I'm sure I will miss my darling grandson terribly.  It's hard to believe just how much he has changed in the last six months, gone from a baby to a little man.  What a personality he has.  I had the pleasure of sharing in his second birthday - he was a perfect host to his friends and even entertained the adults later in the day.........

Anyway, the trip (13 hours) wasn't really that bad as I had the Sony e-Reader that my fabulous co-workers at the Library bought me as a leaving gift, but the trip back was very long and tedious and I didn't have anything to read as the books that I had downloaded before I left home had expired.  You have to have access to a computer to download more or extend them.  I think I just might invest in a laptop for future trips so I can blog, e-mail and download books.

My two sons and my precious daughter-in-law were very hospitable (I'm sure I must have been a pain in the butt some of the time, LOL) and they tried to make my vacation enjoyable.  The highlight of course was seeing Rhys and getting all the cuddles and kisses I could handle.  I shall certainly miss that.....

Okay, that's enough showing off.  You'd think I was the only woman in the world with a fabulous grandson........

When I returned home, there was a message on my machine from the doctor's office and my blood is still low, so have to go for more bloodwork in about a month.  I certainly hope this can be sorted out and I get more strength back.

Also, my super called and asked if I could be out of my apartment by the 15th July (I thought it would be by the end of July) so that the new person can move in on the 1st August.  Of course that is fine with me but I now have a big push on to arrange for the moving of my "stuff" across the hall and call the utilities people, etc. and I also had planned on buying new furniture and finding a home for the old, so I had better get cracking.  I also have a Craft Show to prepare for all in that time span, so it's going to be pretty hectic for a while.

Last but certainly not least, a very BIG thank you to my buddy Laurie from "How my time flys" for looking after things whilst I was away and watering my plants on the balcony.  She did such an excellent job of taking care of them that even my Christmas cactus is blooming again - I think it was only two months or so ago that it was in full bloom.  Kudos to Laurie.

That's all for today - hope I haven't bored you silly - I really have to find some fun stuff to write about but I had to share about my recent trip.  Talk to you soon.



Me, My Sony E-Reader and the Greyhound Bus

Today is the day I head out of town to visit my grandson (he will celebrate his second birthday whilst I am there), and his family.  I am getting very excited.  I've decided to travel light for a change as I have in the past taken far too much with me, forgetting that they are civilized, they have washers and dryers, even if they do charge me $2 a load, LOL  I'M KIDDING!!!!  It's a long trip on the Greyhound bus (13 hours) but it will be worth it at the end of the road.

Managed to get a walk in yesterday (actually a couple) - it was a gorgeous day.  Went to Sears and bought a couple of pairs of sandals.  I thought it was about time I tried being cool and wearing sandals without socks (panyhose).  I have very sensitive feet and get blisters very easily but these new sandals are great and I wore them to the Mall and back and my feet were fine.  So, here's to a new me, LOL Then in the evening I happened to glance out of my window and the local yacht club was out in full force.  What a beautiful view I have......

Well, I had better get back to packing my suitcase.  I'm starting to get a little nervous but I will be fine - I have my e-Reader, my cell phone in case... and a snack for when I get stuck in Sudbury for an hour or so tonight.  I probably won't blog again until I come back home.  I hope you will all be well whilst I am away.  Talk to you again soon.

Yippee, it's working

I don't believe it, it's working, Yippee. Now you are all going to be sorry when I get into the mood to write. I have to learn how to link and invite the other delightful people to view my blog. I have read so many of Lauries that I almost feel like I know you anyway. TTYL