Today is NOT like any other day of the year! It's special. To me, it has a special ring to it! The number 24 stands out. March 24 is special. It's the day I was born and, I am told, the day my mom almost died. The doctor asked my dad what decision he would make, if things got complicated with my birth (which they did) and although I was never told, I am pretty sure (and would strongly have recommended it myself) that dad should choose MOM over me. She had two other young children to look after and though she had lost one little girl a few years earlier at 10 months, she was still needed to be a mom to the boys. It would not have been an easy choice but it would have been the right one.
Nevertheless, I am happy to be here. All the more reason to love this day! I count myself very lucky and on a higher plane... blessed!
The sun is shining today and there is a blue sky and warm weather. Spring like feel in the air! Unfortunately, my husband is 'under the weather' which is rare for him. Our intent to celebrate today is to go to the movies and hopefully, he will be feeling better by then. If not, it doesn't really make a big difference to me. I am still HAPPY with the day!
I kinda wish EVERY day had the same feel to it. But then it would be a normal day and I would miss out on this great feeling! Yes, today is special. It's my birthday!
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Melting
I am sitting and watching snow melt on the roof of our garage. The heat is circulating in white smoke-like air off the shingles. It is mezmerizing. The wind or breeze continually changes and the smoke wafts one way then the other. Almost like Someone is softly blowing on it and playing in this spring-like weather.
The temperature is still cool but in March the sun is a bit higher and stronger and is asserting it's power on the snow covered roof. Melting and vapor are now in the place of snow.
Still too cold to sit outside on the deck. Soon. But not yet. It's inviting ... but not yet.
The temperature is still cool but in March the sun is a bit higher and stronger and is asserting it's power on the snow covered roof. Melting and vapor are now in the place of snow.
Still too cold to sit outside on the deck. Soon. But not yet. It's inviting ... but not yet.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Oregon Bound
Today is Day 2. Yesterday we left at 9:30 am and drove to Leduc Fountain Tire to torque our new trailer tires. Then headed out to Red Deer to meet up with Taits. They got tied up with something in Edmonton so we carried on. A nice leisurely drive through southern Alberta and on to Yahk park in BC near the US border. Taits arrived couple hours later and by then..a few minutes of chatting..what time to leave in the morning and we all went to bed bushed! Looking forward to our next leg toward Oregon.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
NEW DAY, NEW COMPUTER!
I took in my laptop on Feb 11 as a number of keys were not working properly. They told me that I could go online to the manufacturer to fix it or they charge $75/hr to check it out. So I took it home and did just that but didn't get any satisfaction. I took it back that Monday and said - you can look at it and see if you do anything and I will pay. Well...it turns out I had a warranty (which so happens to expire next month Mar 20/17)! Now it became their cost!
They sent me home with it a few days later but the same day, the same thing started happening again - although I could use some of the letters off and on - then not at all again. So I took it back.
Now it was Saturday (again). The tech just happened to be there (it was his day off) and he told me to leave it there and he would look at it again to see if there was some small thing he could do, otherwise he would have to order a new keyboard which would be another week. I left it. He said he would call me on Monday to give me the low down.
So, Wed I called to find out what was happening (no call from the tech). The new guy said they had till Thurs to fix it as they have a 5 work guarantee plan. He should call me by then or they would have to get me a new computer. Yikes! who knew! He called back a few minutes later saying that it was '5 working days' so that meant they had till Friday! No problem, just fix it I said.
Friday afternoon they called to say they could't get a keyboard for this unit. So...looks like I have a new laptop. Only thing is I will have to reinstall all my programs. Thankfully, I did do a backup of all my documents and photos. But, now I have to remember all the programs I had on there to do that. Also, need to find where I put all those software disks etc.
A little computer knowledge is dangerous. I have my new computer. In the long run, I think it will be better. I certainly like the new keyboard. Much more sturdy and not so fussy! It has a little red dot in the middle of the keyboard which I am getting used to - not so distracted as I first was! I have begun setting up my printer and also my google connection etc. It's amazing how many passwords you accumulate! My biggest challenge is going to be downloading the Office program, Norton and then reloading my stored data. I can only hope that it all will work together for good!
My new laptop has Windows 7 so all seems to be working so far. It actually printed to my wireless HP printer too. I must be doing something right though I can't tell you what it is! A few days ago, my husband bought a new printer for his desktop because his old Dell printer was not working. It turned out to be the identical printer that I have also which really throws a wrinkle into listing my printer as they both say the same thing. Wouldn't you know it. The day before he bought this new printer, I successfully connected him to the home office network for his documents to be printed off my upstairs printer. Now he has the same printer downstairs and as I am trying to set up my new laptop upstairs, I thought for sure there would be problems. However, so far...so good!
My new laptop is a lenovo. Never heard of it. But...I love the keyboard. Start with something positive and keep going!! It's going to be a super day!
I took in my laptop on Feb 11 as a number of keys were not working properly. They told me that I could go online to the manufacturer to fix it or they charge $75/hr to check it out. So I took it home and did just that but didn't get any satisfaction. I took it back that Monday and said - you can look at it and see if you do anything and I will pay. Well...it turns out I had a warranty (which so happens to expire next month Mar 20/17)! Now it became their cost!
They sent me home with it a few days later but the same day, the same thing started happening again - although I could use some of the letters off and on - then not at all again. So I took it back.
Now it was Saturday (again). The tech just happened to be there (it was his day off) and he told me to leave it there and he would look at it again to see if there was some small thing he could do, otherwise he would have to order a new keyboard which would be another week. I left it. He said he would call me on Monday to give me the low down.
So, Wed I called to find out what was happening (no call from the tech). The new guy said they had till Thurs to fix it as they have a 5 work guarantee plan. He should call me by then or they would have to get me a new computer. Yikes! who knew! He called back a few minutes later saying that it was '5 working days' so that meant they had till Friday! No problem, just fix it I said.
Friday afternoon they called to say they could't get a keyboard for this unit. So...looks like I have a new laptop. Only thing is I will have to reinstall all my programs. Thankfully, I did do a backup of all my documents and photos. But, now I have to remember all the programs I had on there to do that. Also, need to find where I put all those software disks etc.
A little computer knowledge is dangerous. I have my new computer. In the long run, I think it will be better. I certainly like the new keyboard. Much more sturdy and not so fussy! It has a little red dot in the middle of the keyboard which I am getting used to - not so distracted as I first was! I have begun setting up my printer and also my google connection etc. It's amazing how many passwords you accumulate! My biggest challenge is going to be downloading the Office program, Norton and then reloading my stored data. I can only hope that it all will work together for good!
My new laptop has Windows 7 so all seems to be working so far. It actually printed to my wireless HP printer too. I must be doing something right though I can't tell you what it is! A few days ago, my husband bought a new printer for his desktop because his old Dell printer was not working. It turned out to be the identical printer that I have also which really throws a wrinkle into listing my printer as they both say the same thing. Wouldn't you know it. The day before he bought this new printer, I successfully connected him to the home office network for his documents to be printed off my upstairs printer. Now he has the same printer downstairs and as I am trying to set up my new laptop upstairs, I thought for sure there would be problems. However, so far...so good!
My new laptop is a lenovo. Never heard of it. But...I love the keyboard. Start with something positive and keep going!! It's going to be a super day!
Monday, January 16, 2017
January post
Hard to believe it is mid-January already! Where did the last 2 weeks go? I guess part of it is the fact that I am not working right now. Days kind of blend into each other. I understand now why my dad would always 'X' off the calendar days. Helped him to know what day it was! At the time, I wondered why he wouldn't know that. Now I do.
Retirement can be a very active life, or a sedimentary one! It's our choice. We have the time! However, for me, since working all the time, most of my life, I find being 'at home' very cathartic! I love my little home. I love my little work desk and all the papers and files that surround me. Perhaps that is an indication that I miss work! I don't know. But I enjoy being able to simply 'putz'. It does not mean that I have to accomplish anything (and I often don't). But it means I can do 'a little of this' and a 'little of that'! I like it.
Sometimes, however, I will think to myself that I SHOULD DO MORE. Not sure what that MORE looks like. But I should DO it!!
Today, I have scheduled some ironing and some emails to make my day more productive. We'll see if that works!
Yesterday we went trailer shopping - only window shopping really - at the RV Wars year-end trailer sale with our friends. Out of a RONA-sized show room, we found ONE trailer that suited us the most - even it had a few flaws. Who can afford those huge trailers? and why would you spend that much $$ to go camping?!! Anyway, we did not buy!! We postponed any selection till we go to the RV sale in February. Maybe they will have something new for 2017! Doubt we will buy but it's a nice 'day out'!! So far, nothing has outdone our little trailer (thank goodness)!!
Retirement can be a very active life, or a sedimentary one! It's our choice. We have the time! However, for me, since working all the time, most of my life, I find being 'at home' very cathartic! I love my little home. I love my little work desk and all the papers and files that surround me. Perhaps that is an indication that I miss work! I don't know. But I enjoy being able to simply 'putz'. It does not mean that I have to accomplish anything (and I often don't). But it means I can do 'a little of this' and a 'little of that'! I like it.
Sometimes, however, I will think to myself that I SHOULD DO MORE. Not sure what that MORE looks like. But I should DO it!!
Today, I have scheduled some ironing and some emails to make my day more productive. We'll see if that works!
Yesterday we went trailer shopping - only window shopping really - at the RV Wars year-end trailer sale with our friends. Out of a RONA-sized show room, we found ONE trailer that suited us the most - even it had a few flaws. Who can afford those huge trailers? and why would you spend that much $$ to go camping?!! Anyway, we did not buy!! We postponed any selection till we go to the RV sale in February. Maybe they will have something new for 2017! Doubt we will buy but it's a nice 'day out'!! So far, nothing has outdone our little trailer (thank goodness)!!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Christmas 'Present'
Merry Christmas everyone! This is Christmas Present as opposed to 'Past'. I like the past and reminisce about it a lot - the long gone past and the recently past! Both are great. This year though we made a new 'past' with a different Christmas. We were not with our daughter and family but instead we were with John's niece and husband where they live in Osoyoos on the mountaintop! What a beautiful view!
John's sister from the Island and her husband joined us and there was just the six of us - adults!
We did a creative thing for gift-giving. On Christmas Eve day, we went to the Home Hardware store in Osoyoos. It is huge and has everything!! We only gave ourselves 1.5 hours to pick out gifts for the other 5 of us to a maximum of $20 each! It could be one - $20 gift or 10 - $2 gifts! Our discretion. We then wrapped the gift and put them in the individual's stocking and it was 'from Santa'! Of course the fun of it all was also guessing who gave it to us! Most of the time, we got it right! What a hoot! No, pre-planning on what to get - just the pressure of the moment trying to find something - the 'right' something for that individual person! Maybe it was no pressure for the guys - but it sure was for me! In the end, it was all good fun and we all liked our gifts - both given and received!!
The weather was great. About -5 C and sunny as it had snowed the day before we got there. Lots of it! It was wonderful to go out for a hike with the group and Emmit - their 80 lbs bull dog! It took awhile for him to 'warm up to us' but in the end, we were ALL family!!
Our traditional Christmas dinner was on Christmas Eve and we did a number of courses over a long period of time: borscht soup; herrings with rye bread (I skipped that one); pyrogies with sour cream & onion buns; nalysnky (or wrapped crepes with cottage cheese), then our wonderful turkey with dressing and cabbage rolls. Or something in that order. It was nice to sit and have a break inbetween the different servings. Made for a longer relaxed evening.
Christmas morning was fun as I said with the gift giving. We all got such unique things! Really different than how we have done things in the past.
Emmit even got a few gifts and enjoyed the special day as well.
On Christmas Day we went into town to a restaurant which had Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. It was nice to just sit and talk and not worry about all the prep being done!
With no young kids around, the boys did their best to entertain the girls with their crazy antics! They succeeded. It was a fun time. They also have a hot tub, so with the beautiful warm weather (only -5 or so), some people just had to get into the outside tub!!
It was a long drive there and we had some challenging road conditions and then, as I said, it snowed the night we arrived. On our way home, it was just 'lots of snow' on the road as we went back through Kelowna and then onto Revelstoke / Golden / Banff. We made it home in one day on our return. Some views of the mountains are gorgeous.
Blessings to all of you this Christmas and hope it was as wonderful for you as it was for us. Looking forward to a great 2017.
John's sister from the Island and her husband joined us and there was just the six of us - adults!
We did a creative thing for gift-giving. On Christmas Eve day, we went to the Home Hardware store in Osoyoos. It is huge and has everything!! We only gave ourselves 1.5 hours to pick out gifts for the other 5 of us to a maximum of $20 each! It could be one - $20 gift or 10 - $2 gifts! Our discretion. We then wrapped the gift and put them in the individual's stocking and it was 'from Santa'! Of course the fun of it all was also guessing who gave it to us! Most of the time, we got it right! What a hoot! No, pre-planning on what to get - just the pressure of the moment trying to find something - the 'right' something for that individual person! Maybe it was no pressure for the guys - but it sure was for me! In the end, it was all good fun and we all liked our gifts - both given and received!!
The weather was great. About -5 C and sunny as it had snowed the day before we got there. Lots of it! It was wonderful to go out for a hike with the group and Emmit - their 80 lbs bull dog! It took awhile for him to 'warm up to us' but in the end, we were ALL family!!
Christmas morning was fun as I said with the gift giving. We all got such unique things! Really different than how we have done things in the past.
Emmit even got a few gifts and enjoyed the special day as well.
On Christmas Day we went into town to a restaurant which had Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. It was nice to just sit and talk and not worry about all the prep being done!
With no young kids around, the boys did their best to entertain the girls with their crazy antics! They succeeded. It was a fun time. They also have a hot tub, so with the beautiful warm weather (only -5 or so), some people just had to get into the outside tub!!
It was a long drive there and we had some challenging road conditions and then, as I said, it snowed the night we arrived. On our way home, it was just 'lots of snow' on the road as we went back through Kelowna and then onto Revelstoke / Golden / Banff. We made it home in one day on our return. Some views of the mountains are gorgeous.
Monday, December 5, 2016
December is upon us. All my Christmas shopping is done and the Christmas lights have now been up for a month. Christmas in November took place here for my ladies group as one of the women now lives out of town and came in for a few days to spend an early Christmas with her family. What better time to have our ladies event than when she was here. So, up went the lights and the tree and the decorations. We have been 'living' Christmas since Nov 11! What a fine group of ladies too!
It's different this year though as we are not going to be with our daughter and family. It is the 'in-law's" year to visit. Our son-in-law was here Nov 30th for his father's 80th birthday so I took the opportunity to get all their gifts purchased and we were able to get them packed into a suitcase so that he could take them back to the coast with him for Christmas. Also in that suitcase were packed the birthday gifts for two of the grandkids as well! Talk about the Christmas rush!! Thankfully, there were still some Thanksgiving sales happening so I lucked out in a few purchases. But I did not have a lot of feedback from everyone as to what their Christmas desires would be this year. Guess they will have to just like what Gramma bought for them!
We were at our daughter's place for Thanksgiving and to celebrate John's birthday but who had time to buy Christmas gifts then? I had to wait till I got back home before I event started thinking about Christmas!
We've decided to go to our niece's place for Christmas this year as something totally different since we are free this time to do whatever we wish. John's sister and husband will also be there so it will still be a family deal! Looking forward to a little 'different' style of Christmas as no kids there - just adults! Hope we can still have fun!! Just kidding. They just moved to the Interior from the Island so it is a different view..but just as beautiful!
And the sunsets are beautiful there as well!!
My younger, older brother was housesitting in Calgary for 6 weeks so we had opportunity for an 'early Christmas' with them as well since they head back to the USA on Dec 18. We had a bit of a gift exchange and had a great time together. My oldest brother is already in the USA enjoying warm weather in Texas for a few months. I guess it is just me that hangs out in snow during winter!!
Well, a quick update as this year draws to a close. I may just do one more post for a 'year at a glance' kind of thing but will have to figure out just what 12 pictures best represent each month.
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| Early Christmas in November with the Girls! |
We were at our daughter's place for Thanksgiving and to celebrate John's birthday but who had time to buy Christmas gifts then? I had to wait till I got back home before I event started thinking about Christmas!
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| Birthday celebration! |
We've decided to go to our niece's place for Christmas this year as something totally different since we are free this time to do whatever we wish. John's sister and husband will also be there so it will still be a family deal! Looking forward to a little 'different' style of Christmas as no kids there - just adults! Hope we can still have fun!! Just kidding. They just moved to the Interior from the Island so it is a different view..but just as beautiful!
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| Beautiful front driveway but the backyard is the best! |
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| Backyard view and fire pit! |
And the sunsets are beautiful there as well!!
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| Beautiful Sunsets! |
My younger, older brother was housesitting in Calgary for 6 weeks so we had opportunity for an 'early Christmas' with them as well since they head back to the USA on Dec 18. We had a bit of a gift exchange and had a great time together. My oldest brother is already in the USA enjoying warm weather in Texas for a few months. I guess it is just me that hangs out in snow during winter!!
Well, a quick update as this year draws to a close. I may just do one more post for a 'year at a glance' kind of thing but will have to figure out just what 12 pictures best represent each month.
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