Tube Tops & Turtlenecks

A Practice in Patience How exactly do you practice patience? Is it considered practice when you have to really go to the bathroom but you don’t want to leave the event you are in and so you just wait and wait and hope that by some absurd miracle, your bladder will simply dry out – evaporate perhaps? Is it when you have one amazing Miss Vickie’s Applewood Smoked BBQ chip and then just refrain yourself from eating another one? Is it when you are waiting for; cupboards to be scr

Here we are at week 12ish or something – since we have left Shepton Bay. It’s been about just shy of 7 weeks since we started renovating at Byrn Mawr. Wow. 12ish weeks living in LaSalle – Six adults – all in one home. It’s been an interesting journey. There will actual be a sadness when we end up moving. Grandparents have gotten to know their granddaughters in a way that many grandparents do not get. Granddaughters have learned to talk slower and louder when with grampa. They

It has been awhile since I have blogged. One reason is that I do not have a laptop/computer at home and my IPad is not compatible with the blog site so I cannot use it to update. The 2nd reason is that usually by the time I get home I simply crash – no words leave my lips nor my fingertips. Today is a day full of some anticipation and some dread. Dad visits the surgeon today to see what the next steps are. We are hoping that he receives a map of the road ahead so that we can

Today is a quick update on my pops. We got some very optimistic news yesterday. Dad still has to battle cancer, but the CT shows that the cancer hasn't spread - it is contained and is at the base of his esophagus next to stomach. Apparently that means that surgery is much easier - still surgery - but it sounds better than our worst fears! So how do we celebrate this great news? You betcha - we renovate! SUch good times. ****** I did get to celebrate at my job. My co-worker, D

We are getting closer to move in ready!! Honestly, I am tired but excited. I am riding this tension rope between delight in seeing my vision coming to life and tired of seeing the slow progress of my vision possibly coming to light!! We have gone through WAY more paint than anticipated. Brushes, rollers, soap, skin - all thrown or washed away!! We hadn't quite anticipated that this reno would basically touch every fibre in the interior of this house. But... it has and we trud

Yesterday we celebrated my parent's 49 years of wedded bliss! 49 years! That is a long time to live with someone and learn their every quirk, foible, nuances. Well, I am very proud of my folks. Many people don't make 49 years of marriage so Frank and Lynda are ever so fortunate. What have I learned from observing their marriage? Well I have learned stuff (but I also learned stuff in high school - doesn't always mean I use it!) Let's try the top 5 things i can think of right i

Well, we managed to push through last week and between tears, hugs, coffee breaks, and prayer we got some stuff done. Right now my dad is very happy to be behind a hammer, drill, scraper, mud, tape, screwdriver and dust (all simultaneously by the way)! Keeping busy is good. Laughter is good. Coffee out on the front lawn wearing dust laden clothes and saying hi to people walking by is good. Watching a funny movie leaves 'no ragrats!' (Not even one letter!) (If you haven't see

What defines normal? Would my life be considered normal? Does my rising in the morning, driving to work, coming home, eating meals, visiting, painting, sleeping constitute normal? Does my renovating world, living at my mom and dad’s equate to normal? There are thousands of Facebook posts about it. There are hundreds and hundreds of videos talking about it. There are countless stories being shared about it. There are many people who have gone through it. I have walked with and

Didn't expect this to happen - but while we are waiting for some larger items to occur on the main level, we decided to tackle the basement. This was not on our agenda till winter or next year!! But Rayzanna and Jozanna and Dexter and his girlfriend Maddy all got going and we have progress! It looks fantastic. Yes - you heard her correctly - she referred to our pre-painted walls as pee and poop! That video was taken Tuesday and since then we have started painting the kitchen