Graduation Week, and the Reno's continue

     Little Red is about to graduate this Thursday, and of course has many plans in store, like a party four nights in a row. She was voted by the class to be the Valedictorian, as long with another classmate. In the beginning she was not sure she wanted this title, but now claims she is not as nervous now that they have prepared the speech. Naturally she needs the grand makeover for this important evening. The graduating girls are presently waltzing around the school in their high heels so they will not trip going up on stage. Of course, my daughter forgot her shoes, and Mom had to once again return to the school after just getting home from the school. Some things never change.
     Meagan also graduates next week, and will be off to Canadore College come Fall. She was disappointed not to get a year book this year. My girls are really quite different. Meagan weighs out what to ask Mom for, while Cassandra just shoots for it all. Meagan wanted a year book, but didn't ask, therefore didn't get. They did end up printing more, she stood in line, and let three exchange students run in front of her, who grabbed up the last three editions. She is now making her own, and quite content to do so. Cassandra on the other hand would just take it for granted that she is getting one. She would not in a million years, put the effort into her own hand made year book. Guess that is why we love them for their own unique ways.
     Finally got around to white washing the office space, and was able to bring in the old door from the garden for the back section of my desk. This will be my bulletin board. I did lose a window in the last wind storm, so now have an empty spot.  The huge shelf mantel is not going to work after all above the desk. It would be too much staff. Reminder to self, the idea is to downsize.
     Speaking of which, I need a garage sale this Sunday, can't do Saturday, as I now work 9-5. I have got to get rid of the Sassifrass stuff. Too much just sitting around, and too much to just simply give away. Luckily, I live on a well traveled road, and should be able to get rid of a good portion. I did develop the best of the black and whites of the wedding shoot, which will proudly hang from sweet little hooks above my old door.
     Haven't saw hide nor tail of the three little kittens, but have saw Momma around a few times, Kind of a worry, or she has just said adiose to them, and they are now on their own. Won't be long until she is pregnant again. I've been snapping a few garden shots daily, and will include a snap with my writings.
.....the dreaded bathroom is shaping up. I hated the white ceiling, so took it down, and will now go with  tongue and groove. I'll be so glad when that is done. Randy thinks another plan is lurking. He is well aware, that I am not content for too long, like an hour max.
     The neighbors hired a tree company to dispose of a large tree. I asked them to slide this way and remove some limbs that were bothering the view from the upstairs window, and giving the raccoon full access to the roof. One hundred dollars later, limbs are down, and dragged to the backyard for burning. A few scratches in the process.
     One more week of training and then I'm on my own with the new job. I'm sure I'll be calling or running upstairs with questions for my trainer.
     Today we are starting "lunch with Mommy days". Even though our family all lives in the same town, we don't see enough of each other. Somehow life takes over, and we begin to take things for granted. Each week, we will choose a different restaurant, enjoy some comfort food, and a few good laughs. We should have done this years ago, but like I said, time just keeps getting away from us. We have to actually book life in, if we want it to happen. Reminder to all, schedule your family in........they are what make us.

Transitions

I have begun my new rotation, no longer having Friday/Saturdays off, and now beginning the Sunday/Monday off rotation. Can't say I'm extremely thrilled with the days off shift, but I'll get over it. It is now 5 o'clock somewhere, and a beer sits infront of me. ...........it really is 5 o'clock.
Tuesday brings yet another transition. I have just completed training the "new" girl for my position, and am about to embark on a "one year" adventure of being the "new girl", the "new boss", "the delegater", the "coordinator", the "cook", the "organizer", the "facilitator", the "coach" and I am sure many more titles. This is my ONE steady career, instead of juggling six. I have now resigned from three positions almost, one more to resign, and only relief work with the long standing agency of sixteen years.
I've been told this is one BIG workload, and that it will take me one year to get accustomed and to revamp. Yes, a BIG challenge.
With Sunday, Monday off, it gives me time to think of the questions that need to be addressed in regards to the routines, the mission, what is lacking, what the challenges are, etc. Two weeks to ask questions job shadowing, and then...........you are on your own girlie. Luckily the one that is training is just moving upstairs.
I'm sure volunteers will have to be accessed, anyone???
As I finish the old, and begin the new, my van ran over an Electric staple, causing a flat tire, I ask myself what does this signify in my life, "3/4's full", almost there?, or "about to blow". ......"the tire" ladies........... Lucky for me a fellow was working and patched it up for ten bucks. On the road again, and I'll just keep pressing the gas.

A change will do you good

Return to work this a.m., like I haven't been working around here the last four days. I have not had four days off for a really long time. not having to take off to a volleyball tournament, a pleasant change, although sun and beer go together too well. I'm supposed to be feeling rested, but need a good night's sleep. Meagan set her alarm for 5;45 am., so guess who is up,..........not her.
One more weeking training a co-worker in my present position then off to orientate for the Clubhouse coordinator position. Looking forward to a change and challenge.
Renovations continue, the beachy panelling and crown moulding is purchased and sits upstairs for the wall portion of the bathroom. This has got to be the longest renovation project.
The Rooster border is down in the office. A fresh coat of Cottage White will grace the walls, perhaps the next few days off. I dread dragging everything away from wall. Luckily it is a small room. I will then take an old door and use it for back of my desk, insert three black and white photos of the girls, and use the rest as bulletin board. The Crown moulding shelf purchased in Cookstown will then go up, and I'd better be hitting the studs, as it is a heavy brute. Atop this will be a plain Pewter curtain rod, from which I'll hang more photos by little clips. The Patio doors will also get a coat of paint, perhaps spray paintedif I can do it evenly enough without drips. The corner of the room is brick. It too will be painted a cottage white. The gas fireplace will remain black.
The "boyfriend" garden that Meagan is working on, is coming along slowly. It has been very hot to do gardening, and she has been at her father's this weekend.
Finally, I will take photos of some of my costumes and see if I can unload them on kijiji. Never ends.
Anyone have time off work, and really take time off?
Just love old pick ups, wishing we could have used one for the wedding gown shoot,

I think I broke my ass, severely bruised

Off today to find a house insulated with Straw. Kijiji brought me to Oro Medonte to purchase yet some more flowers, perennials, Dalia's. Naturally on the way, you have to pass Freskiew Farms. $77.00 later, I sit at home, well try to sit, as my ass throbs.

You know those windows I was bragging about yesterday, well.......Randy says take apart these old rusty chains and you can hang your windows from there. He is off picking up a bolt on his motorcycle at this point. Window number one is hung. Now I must inch my way along the window box, balancing my feet while hanging onto this window. Window is up hanging. While I'm here, I may as well hang the clay fish window charm. Fish is hanging, I'll take down the Solar now, as I'm replacing it, and putting it elsewhere. This is where it all goes wrong.

I am facing East, I step North. The window box goes West. I spin mid air, drop three feet, and reach for whatever the hell I can grab, which happens to be a decorative hose holder with sharp metal vine looking things on top.

I am not a light weight. I land on the corner of the window box, that really is a corner nowwith many sharp points, as the whole edge has given way. I am hanging on to the sharp metal hose thing. My ass is throbbing, but my hand is aching more. No bloody wonder, as blood seeps from my hand as I pull my hand off the hose holder which only causes blood from my hand to cascade further. I catch my bearings, remembering my hands are covered in rust from doing the chains up in the first place. I dash for the hose. But wait, I just changed the hose head to a wand type and can't get it on. Finally hurriedly, trying to rinse the bloody rust from my hands. Not working so well, apply pressure, go to washroom to find bandaid while applying pressure. My head is feeling kind of vacant and dark, and spinny. Sit on toilet now, before I hit the floor as well. Breathe. My cat is wondering what the hell is going on.....

Now I will capture the sequence with film, to show you my predicament. I was walking on the far side of the patio on the window boxes, duh, It is at least a four foot drop, so really smarts when the poundage makes contact.The window is crooked, but I'm not going up there again. Lesson Learned.
The other photo is the not so cute raccoon who has decided to take up residence in the Facia. Trapper Mike, come rescue me please.
5:30 a.m., the little bugger is outside, rush out in my nightgown to block the hole, and say a little prayer that he/she doesn't have little ones,

Wing Ding

For years, I have reserved the date of the annual Wing Ding in Coostown, and never actually been able to go. Saturday morning brought a downpour of rain all morning. Some guy forecasted better weather for the afternoon, so we ventured off anyway hoping he was correct. Chilly as it was, the weather did improve Prior to this, and before it did stop, we checked out home improvement centres, Home Depot, Lowes, and Rona, not likely a good thing to do, as Gardening departments seem to just draw you in.
Lowes, the sweetest little frog decor, watering wand, as well as more solar lights.  For $2.99, they seem to reflect almost a star pattern throughout the evenings. Home Depot, a Toro weed trimmer, toy for Randy. With so many gardens, we must keep them trimmed up.
Now venturing down the highway, let's take #27, for the scenic view, we come upon a gorgeous home that we've never been able to get close to, and they are hosting a garage sale.
The Annual Wing Ding is held in Cookstown, Ontario. This event brings all the neighbourhood together for a gigantic garage sale, seems they all have a ton of very good junk. People have wagons and bags, and just walk about the town visiting tons of garage sales thinking up new ideas for upcycling their finds..
My Finds: five old windows to be used hanging from Gazebo
                Crown moulding shelf for computer room, very heavy, hmmm will it hold?
                Perennials, 2 whole flats of an almost lime green ground cover, $1.00 flat
                           Morning glories, shasta daisies, columbine
                Iron curtain rod with clips
                Weathered little tea cart for flowers
                2 white iron hooks for garden
                Booth china plates, so pretty pinks/greens
Lunch at the Simcoe Theatre, side note, a very good place to see theatre, Footloose is playing in November.Their Christmas show is a great seasonal uplift. The lunch was really neat, many different types of sandwich samples with different fillings and breads, a few pastry samples, and a few fruit pieces. $5.00 plate, well worth it.
Fantastic finds, I'd definately explore Cookstown again at the WingDing, as long as it is held the first Saturday of the month, as I now work every Saturday, but the first one.
Friday was spent replacing all those clothes that accidently were dontated to the Salvation Army.
Sunday, today, hmmm, Doors Open Huronia, free. Perhaps we'll visit some historic local homes in the area. I've heard from a little bird, someone in Coldwater is dividing perennials, which would mean garden expansion. Should I, or should I not?
Oh yes, nature at it's finest has returned to our home, in our home, that damn raccoon,, a fellow at work is a trapper. We will be seeking his services REAL soon.
Hope your weekend was a good one...

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,