Practice Wedding Photo Shoot

Finally,  not too a bad weekend. We've been waiting for somewhat of a dry weekend for some time, a weekend where the ground is not mucky. The girls chose some fun, pretty, cheap, wedding dresses what seems like ages ago. Every weekend my stepdaughter arrived, terrible weather showed up too..
This weekend looked no different, but around at noon on a Saturday, it was a now or never moment. After just hollering up the stairs to them to get their butts moving, as we have tons of yard work to catch up on, the sun looks as though it may pop through, or at least chase away the clouds.
Now the girls are upstairs putting on their grungies. They are almost ready to go into the garden. Hmmmm, something wrong with this photo image. Getting ready to garden??!! Mom thinks, well they must be ready now, and yells upstairs, change in plans, we are going to do the fun wedding shoot. C#@*&$, what the heck, "she is so random". Grumble, grumble, wash, curl, straighten, make up, totally different than gardening. Mom thought by the time they get ready, it will be raining.
We are now loaded in the van, with all camera equipment. This is a practice shoot, for the real shoot on October 1st when my neice is getting married, and we are the photographers of the day. Thank goodness for digital.
Three lovely ladies, and three lovely wedding dresses crammed in the van. Mom asked why didn't you wear the dresses, 'cause now you have to change. A short drive, 4 minutes and they are changing in the van. The one dress has a gazillion buttons to do up, and undo on each change, and all three girls had to wear all three dresses. The shorter one without train which started out as the more unloved dressed, soon became the favourite, easy to walk in, one zip and you're ready.
Let's see where can we shoot. Gazebo on William Street. Mom loves Coldwater, the old homes, the government dock and old bridges. We head there, and are greeted by a ton of cars, (note to self), read the paper when traveling to a photoshoot. It was the annual Duck Race, which totally crowds the streets of Coldwater for a fun cause. We arrive at 1:30, the ducks are swimming at two. Change dresses, damn buttons. Hurry off to the first bridge. Off to the town dock. Change dresses. Damn buttons. Heading to Severn Falls, not sure why.... Mom sees a very cool railroad crossing and knows it is a perfect photo op. Snap, snap, snap, u-turn,  that railroad crossing hosts one friggin' bump when you hit it at seventy, as the girls heads hit the ceiling. Guess that is why you slooooow down at crossings. whoops, giggle, giggle.
Skip through Severn Falls, not much here, and head to Big Chute, girls are getting a little tired. Three hours later, man it is going to be one long day at the "real" thing. Stop at Waubaushene for an ice cream, pick up some supper, relax by the fire with a few cool ones. Done Day! Oh yes, don't forget three hours of processing the shots. Enjoy.

Sometimes God has other plans

It's been awhile since writing. Nothing too exciting going on I suppose. Just the same ol'.

Although, three months into the new job, and a posting came out for the position I originally applied for, hmmm, should I move?
At first I thought, this new program is so new... it's just a baby, and has been fun to start up, then I thought, why put your life on hold, are you feeling challenged?, are you learning? ...send email to the Executive Director who replies, why are you not applying for case manager here?
Ask myself, why AM I NOT applying for the job I originally wanted. So I do.
And I study, study, study preparing for the interview.(s) three in total, and one huge homework section.
Last Wednesday, I was given the fantastic news, welcome to Case Management. I don't start for a month, which gives me time to continue to build supports in the community for the Senior Program. Along with this, I'm hoping to take some courses towards certification in Psychosocial Rehabilitation. I am working with an organization that truly appreciates their employees, and offers wonderful educational opportunities, a very positive change in my career life.

Eldest daughter has now settled on a college, Canadore in North Bay. We even began to pick up the odds and ends a college student may need. Picking up pots and pans really set some reality into her. She'll likely have to throw them out after one year from burnt bottoms, unless she learns how to stay with the cooking thing and watch it... Good news is my neice is also going in that direction. Happy to have a big sister looking out for her. She may even continue with volleyball.

Youngest is getting a little nervous about heading to Secondary School next year. She now has a job, assisting with a Get Set volleyball program. She is thrilled to making money doing what she loves. If only everyone could do the job they love and be paid and appreciated.

As for the reno's, the ceiling is up in the bathroom, no walls, that is next, and then the mirrors and little decor. A few set backs financially with volleyball weekends, College down payments, graduations, upcoming Gr. 8 Ottawa trip. Those kind of things seem to drain your bank account. Yet again, next weekend, shuffle off to Buffalo.

I did stop into my sisters' yesterday on a lovely Saturday afternoon, delivering surprise bouquets of flowers for "an appreciate your sisters moment". Both were quite surprised.

Happy Spring, and may life continue to Blossom for you,

Still shabby

Help Rachel Ashwell or Mr. Holmes:
I tend to be getting no where fast.  Clutter, clutter, clutter, Could someone please bring me one of those huge dumpsters. I've got bits and pieces of what I want, and lots of what I don't want. They say Feng Shui lets energy flow through your home, My goodness it is blocked solid. I can't wait for Spring to just escape to the backyard for a change.
I did pick up some nifty Brass lamps with a very sweet design, and some Baby Pink shades with beading. for the new office. As well, I hit up Kijiji for a round Pedestal Dining table $25.00 with four chairs, that is now covered in stuff until things get situated. When?? a good question. A few more pieces of furniture need to be switched up, from upstairs to down, but this can't be down until the "rooster" border is torn down. Not my favourite job. Ode to self, "I will not put up borders, EVER again". The French Patio doors need a coat of paint, but warmer weather must arrive first.
The desk is now White, as well as the the two $5.00 End tables. They need the edges sanded and then distressed. Add that to the list. Maybe add myself to destress.
Now for a back track. The lovely little shelf unit created where we had to tear out the kitchen wall due to the flooding from the upstairs bathrooml did not take well to the primed paint purchased, Re sand, and re paint.
The swap out of Kitchen dishes are pretty well all Vintage White with small flower detailing on some, or just Embossed edges.
Most plastic cups are gone to work for water cups for painting replaced with a mix of glassware. So far so good, not a broken glass yet, well at least nobody has told me of the mishap. I guess the little ones are growing up. Problem is the youngest tends to take the biggest cup, fill it, drink half and leave it.
Changed passwords on computers, as it seems this addiction to facebook, has taken my youngest way off track from her bedroom as well. She seems to have claimed my laptop.
Then there is shift work. Over to afternoons for the next few weeks. Perhaps the daylight hours will assist in getting some things done. It seems weekend hours are sucked up taking kids to volleyball tournaments the next four weeks.
As for the eldest, still hasn't decided about college choice. The latest---"wouldn't it be cool to live in North Bay with my cousin, she could do Nippising, I could do Canadore". Such a big choice for them at such a young age.
As I take a peek out the French Doors into the garden, I give a second thought to escaping to the garden, as I see the hot tub cover needs replaced, the drainage from when we first moved in, is still in disrepair,
So, Rachel, Mr. Holmes, could you please bring a concrete drain specialist, a hot tub technician, as the pump is gone in the hot tub, as well as a representative from Better Homes and Gardens. I will leave for a well deserved vacation, and come home to a completed, home. Isn't a home for relaxing at some point?
You gotta wonder,
Yours in reno's...

Shabby, not so chic

Kitchen is coming along nicely, (will post a few photos soon) once Randy figured out that the crown moulding goes on the top, and the square side goes along the top. (ruined the first one, but managed to salvage the majority of it). I then thought the shelf/pantry we modified would look absolutely fabulous Shabby Chic, (kind of a washout barnboard) I purchased a Creamy White paint with primer in it, thinking this should do the job. Hmmm, shabby, not so chic. But I like it anyway.
The bookcase/pantry shelf purchased from Canadian Tire, one of those Veneer jobs, didn't take too kindly to being shabbified. I got a feeling, it won't be long before we have to sand that shiny painted veneer off, and redo, as the paint likely won't last, but until then.......it will do. It is really very charming with my two daughters photos, one on each shelf accompanied by some sweet little birds and a few Springlike items. Even better, counter top space has reappeared.
Randy is getting quite worn out with all the reno's, dare I tell him he really hasn't finished....the upstairs bathroom, hiding all the cords from that HUGE television he just had to have, and to try to make the laundry room that I just cleaned walkable again, and tidy up the mess in the dirt floor basement where he quickly piled things to get to the plumbing disaster. Aww, the joys of a 'reno' home. We'll take a break now, though, as I don't get paid for a little bit. Lots' of year end stuff impending at work. Seems everywhere I work, year end is in March.

House That Jack Built

Life goes on. Another five days roll by, weekend is here again, Saturday morning rolls around, and I should be getting this place together, ........more.  but, Saturdays are for relaxing.
These are the morning you just want to sit in bed with a Timmies coffee, check out your favourite blogs, all of which are Shabby Chic reno ideas, and squander away this rainy, soon to be, fingers crossed Spring Day.
This week in "the house that Jack built" ever so crookedly, we exposed the bottom half of the chimney in the kitchen, that leans a little to the right. It doesn't lean as far right as the upstairs portion of course. Now to fix the hole in the wall from the last shower that poured down into my kitchen from the plumbing issues upstairs.  Let's see how do we attempt that one.
Canadian Tire had Sauder book cases on sale last week. They had 24" shelves. That was a little large for the opening created from cutting through cast iron pipes, so all had to be trimmed back to 17" lengths.  Done, and now to just plop it into the space for a set in pantry. On to the framing.
Here is where the blog ideas come in. I'm falling in love with the Creamy White colour. We have decided to leave the chimney exposed and frame around the pantry and chimney.  Cheap pine bead board painted the fantastic colour, framed with some pretty moulding, good mould this time....
and, while we are at it, Creamy white Crown moulding to seal the deal. Randy thought I was buying floor board, and couldn't figure out why we needed some wide trim on the top of the walls. Tried to explain that a crown is worn on top of your head, hence Crown goes on the top of a wall. We all know who the Queen is around this house that Jack built.
My painting is done, but think I'll also repaint a few walls, in the kitchen, Creamy White. Jack is now gone to start the framing. (I thought, the bugger went to the other computer, and is delving into his favourite hobby photography, I guess it is framing, but not the framing he left the room to do) The problem is he knows all the tips, but hasn't got the balls to ask those he is shooting to actually "move" to make a better photo.
The real framing should take him about six hours for a one hour job, but he'll get it done. Luckily Jack doesn't charge by the hour.
I'll give him a little while, finish my "Tim's", and try to understand and enforce Oprah's motto, "if you don't absolutely love it, get rid of it". The garage sale that was supposed to happen last Fall, has to happen this Spring,
....have a great weekend,
Queen Darlene

Promise to self to spend more time in Garden this year.

......and for those of you who have Spring Fever, let me remind you not to go anywhere need HomeSense this time of the year. Your bank account will drain drastically.
Spring is absolutely my favourite time of the year to visit Home Sense. I simply cannot avoid the cascading colours of pinks, blues, light green, mauves, bird houses, lanterns, etc.
Yesterday, I found the most wonderful Solar lanterns, they are huge, of course I had to get them. When you see others putting two of them in a cart as quickly as possible without even thinking twice about it, we say to ourselves, "that must be the thing that everyone is going with this year", and promptly drop two into our own cart as well. They are fabulous. Oh, and I just must have that mauve bird cage for the garden too, a great companion for the Ivory one I already own. I could have gone over the top, as I fell in love with 80% of the store.
Ah, the colours of Spring. I adore the Shabby Chic look, and the time worn look. This would be the look I'd love to capture in my humble Abode. So far, I have the Shabby and time worn mastered. It is the Chic part that is missing. Note to self, if you bring something new into the home, you must get rid of something old. Definitely a hard lesson to learn, remembering that old is part of what makes a Shabby Chic decorator.
Now on to Winners, not only decorative, but fashion to boot. I had to hold the reins here a little tighter, and ended up walking out with two clearance sweaters, ten bucks for the two of them. Now that is a steal.
Next stop, Michaels Craft Store. They have the sweetest little Spring collection called Ashland. Once again, pinks, blues and greens, with birds, flowers, and the Shabby Chic feel.  Gotta haves.... Hmmm, the Valentine section is reduced 90%, they are giving them away. Funky little red glass, and clear vinegar bottles with vintage labels adorned with tiny roses. They would make the prettiest little fresh flower holders. .33 cents a piece. Being that its March, the calendars are now .15 cents. They would be wonderful for scrapbooking, and look this one even comes with frames. For you avid scrapbookers, Tim Holtz inks are 40% off today, suppose I should add a few colours to my collection that I never use.
Now, I must run.
Remember that nightmare bathroom, it still isn't done. Off to purchase 2x4's and some bead board at Home Depot, or was it Rona? Seems like ages ago when we started the reno. Shabby yes, chic, not yet.
Eight more weeks, Spring will blossom in Ontario, I hang my lanterns, wait for the birds, and maybe even sit on the crapper in the updated Shabby Chic bathroom, without the tub.
.........and what are you planning for your Spring Garden reno's?