Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

from our family to yours

Not exactly my family but they have better vocals. 😀

Second thoughts?

How to convince an organized packrat to declutter. That was my dilemma. I love him but not all his, being polite I’ll call it stuff. 

So I had to come up with a rule. If you haven’t used it in 10 years, out it goes. Every rule needs a little bending. After all, I had some ‘stuff’ too. But not nearly as much. So if the item held sentimental value, it could stay. I crossed my fingers on this one. Hubby can justify almost anything. But like a good lad, he began sorting through the storage room and making some calls. I’m so proud. 

He found a home for a lot of old stuff and made some people super happy. You know the saying. One person’s junk is another’s treasure. We didn’t actually send anything to the dump. That isn’t quite true. We broke one old shelving unit apart and put the pieces into the garbage.

The standing joke. Hubby packed the storage room (mostly his stuff) helped me with the garage and helped with the shed. I packed everything else. I know, that doesn’t sound fair. Well, in the end, we packed the same number of boxes. Scary, I know. If you’ve ever put things into storage you know they want boxes filled to capacity. The corners filled. So packing actually takes time. It’s a big, tiring thought process. 

I began a month before moving day and was certain we’d be done a week before the big day. After all, we didn’t own that much stuff. We would be able to sit back and relax. In hindsight, how foolish of me. Hubby made a trip to his sister’s home with a carload of breakable items. My nephew arrived and we packed his truck with items my sister offered to store. Thank goodness for family. Mom and Dad offered to look after their granddog.

Time sped by like cars in an Indy race. It was the quickest month of my life. I got so tired of looking at boxes. Ugh, how I craved a major cleanup. Monday morning, the week of the move, my parents arrived and we packed outside decorations, some perennials, and the dog into their car. 

Molly was glad to go. She wasn’t impressed we’d cluttered her house. We packed both cars with stuff Monday night and set off for the apartment, our short-term rental on Tuesday morning. After five hours on the road and unpacking, we crashed onto the sofa when we got home. Wednesday we continued packing. We went to bed that night admitting, ‘we didn’t start packing early enough’. 

The movers arrived on Thursday. We were close. Honest, we were and 6 guys began loading boxes into two trucks. Diesel, the foreman dog, kept everything organized. 

During the course of the month, we’d cleaned cupboards as we emptied them. But the darn dust seemed to accumulate behind the boxes stacked against the walls. The joys and pitfalls of an entire month. Crap. I had to clean again. 

Wiped, we climbed into the car knowing we had to return Friday morning to finish cleaning. That threw my schedule out the window. Sheesh. After spending the night with my parents we headed back to the house.

With the car loaded to capacity, again, we held hands and took a leisurely stroll around our empty house. I must admit it didn’t seem like our home without the furniture. The darn bugs turned our stroll into a quick jaunt around the property. Still, it hit me with a tender moment. After 20 years, this wouldn’t be my home anymore. We had created a lot of memories. But, we had started a new adventure that I was looking forward to.  We returned to my parents' place, had a quick lunch, and set off to Stratford with hubby following behind in the second car. 

Thankfully hubby heard his cell ring because I didn’t. Gotta love calls from the lawyer. The house closed. The money would be deposited into our account. Yippee. We’re rich, for a month or so. If I wasn’t so tired, I would have kicked up my heels and danced in the street. Molly would have disowned me on the spot.

We lugged the last of the boxes up the set of stairs to the apartment, left one car parked, and headed back to Shelburne to see the dog. Saturday morning we loaded the suitcase into the car and encouraged the dog into her travel crate. I don’t think she trusted us and who could blame her. We headed down the highway to our temporary home. We should have gone on a holiday and returned when everything was ready. 

Did I tell you we’re having a home built?  Super exciting. Molly has been with us every step of the way as we picked out everything needed in a house. She crawls up on the blanket or towel we bring with us and has a sleep, sometimes. She visits the employees in their offices and greets customers at the door. I really think the dog needs a SIN number so they can hire her. 
Official greeter knowing the typical comment is ‘she is so cute.’

She loves our temporary home. Well, all but the steps leading to our second-floor apartment. 

But she loves the walks and all the sniffs. I think she thinks we’re on a holiday. Molly has travelled with us in the past and stayed in some nice condos. 

She has a few weeks to get used to this place before we pack up, again, and move to our forever home.

Adventures in...realestate

I worked for years in a bank and helped a lot of people get their first mortgage. 

“You’re approved!”

Their faces lit up like a Christmas tree. I couldn’t help but smile back.

I’ve also worked with couples who were seeking a new home to upsize or downsize. But that didn’t mean I’ve ever really considered the effort involved with moving. Nope.

The time had come for us. Yikes.

Pat, our real estate agent connected us with a stager… and a warning. Bland neutral colours. Ugh! Penny arrived, walked around, and began giving us suggestions. 

‘Move this. Move this.’

Fussy…fussy…fussy.

‘No,’ I wanted to scream like a kid. ‘Are you trying to tell me our home is cluttered? It isn’t. But apparently, we had too much ‘stuff’. I must admit, doing (mostly) as we were told made the rooms appear a bit bigger. Penny one, Heath zip.

For the life of me, I don’t know why Penny had a problem with the sun-dried tomato paint on the living room walls. Or the shade of suede in the dining room and caramel colour on the master bedroom walls. I know, I know, we painted eons ago, but still. I liked the colours. Why wouldn’t potential buyers like it? We bit our tongues and agreed to have it painted.

Thankfully, Penny connected us with Chris, a painter. 

Bye-bye caramel, suede and tomato walls. Hello, creamy off-white. Not my preference, at all. Even Chris preferred the other colours. I like her. Penny arrived with some ornamental plants and some pillows. I wasn’t too interested in the ornamental stuff, but I bought the pillows from her. They will be great in the new house. I gave the white pillows to my mom. 

I bought new towels. A bit of a rebel, I was told to buy all white, but couldn’t resist the teal combo. 

The photographer arrived complete with a drone. Woohoo, he captured the solar panels.

The sign was hung at the front of the property and we crossed our fingers and toes. Nine showings in fifteen days. Not bad knowing the rural housing market was slow. We had a showing on Saturday morning and Pat contacted us on Saturday afternoon, from her niece’s wedding, saying we were to expect an offer. 

Fingers crossed, again, keeping the house staged was a bit of a pain. No, it was almost impossible. Did I tell you the neighbours across the road were dumping truckloads of dirt five days a week? The dust! Ugh. I was told to keep the windows clean. What an impossible task. They say timing is everything. Horrible timing on our part. No, the neighbour’s part. Couldn’t they have done this a year or two ago? Sheesh.  

Our home had a conditional offer. They wanted a water sample. Not concerned, we celebrated. 

Now the real work was about to begin.

Did you see that?

It's been a while since I've blogged. I've been busy. I know...I know

Excuses excuses. But it's true. 

I've always loved the water so I took lessons and began kayaking.  

Me with friends, Kathy and Sue.

 

We decided to move. Well, we made that decision a while ago. 

Looking for a new home meant a lot of road trips and a ton of picnic lunches.

This little gem was a perfect spot.

It took a lot of searching but found a lot we love. We listed and sold our home. Great job, Pat. 

Now, twenty years of love is getting packed into boxes.  

Apparently, having a new home built is hard work

I hadn't been in a canoe in more years than I can think about. 

The wind made kayaking a bit challenging so I jumped at the opportunity to go out with this group. 

Hubby and I were in St. Mary's for the taping of the Canadian series Murdock Mysteries.
I thought they might use Molly as an extra, but they didn't ask. Silly producer.

"Quiet on the set!"

We hadn't been to the horse races in a while. 

So hubby and I had a date night with friends at Georgian Downs

My sister gave me two tickets to a Blue Jays Game.

I wasn't about to pass up on a girls day out.  Besides, it was my first live game of the season. 

We must have brought them some luck

The Jays won and the crowd went wild. 

A little piece of Canadian history. 

Gander Newfoundland opened their community to airline passengers during 911.

It's the Canadian thing to do. 

If you haven't been, get tickets. "Come From Away" is fantastic. 

You will laugh and you may shed a tear or two.

 I read that Terry O'Reilly, a renowned marketing expert was speaking locally. I've always wanted to hear him, so we got tickets. A small venue, we got fantastic seats. What a speaker. His passion comes through in his tone. 

His wife, my good friend Debbie keeps him organized. You know what they say. Behind every successful man...

I've recently taken up Stand-Up-Paddling. But I haven't got a picture of that. 

I haven't fallen in, touch wood, but my camera doesn't come on the water with me, just in case. 

No wonder I haven't finished packing yet.  There aren't enough hours in the day. Time is ticking on. 

  

Retiring my Coaching Hat

If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you’ll know I’m a curler and I’m a coach. Ten years ago, I offered to help a friend with our local league. Seven years ago I stepped up and began administering the league.  There is no way I would have done it without the help of my friends, Kathy and Willie offering to help on the ice. 

I email parents with an upcoming event and track who wants to take part. There are weeks it takes multiple emails, reminding parents I need a firm answer or a form signed and returned to me. I communicate with coaches with other clubs and of course, I communicate with our board of directors. Never a dull moment. 

My gosh time goes quickly. 

Carrie was in a serious car accident and had to step away from coaching.  Cindy and Steve’s daughter’s both decided to try other sports so I lost two coaches.

Mike, Mark, and Don offered to help when their boys decided to give curling a try. I will never turn down a coach. 

Every autumn the kids enter the lounge after the summer and we say ‘Wow, have you ever grown.’ I have watched 8-year-olds grow to graduate elementary school, get their licenses and graduate high school. What an absolute honour to see these kids mature into responsible adults. 

When I began, our membership numbers dwindled as the season progressed. This season began with twenty-two kids and the season ended with twenty-six young curlers. Not a single curler got bored and left. That is a huge compliment to my coaching team.

 .      

But, like all good things, the time has come to hang up my coaching hat. So, this autumn I announced it would be my last year. My sidekicks, Kathy and Willie have also announced they will be taking a step back. They will coach, but not every Sunday. 

  Thankfully, one Mom has offered to step up and take my place. One father has offered to step in as the main on-ice coach. I will miss working with all of you, no question, but our league will be in great shape. 

So a big thank-you to the coaches, parents, and the kids. You made the winter months zoom by over the past ten years. I’ve enjoyed spending most Sundays, a great deal of Saturdays with you. 

2018

The New Year has arrived.  We make resolutions, but this year, I truly hope that change is in our future. 

So many issues and challenges have surfaced, we can’t even count them. 2017 certainly brought a few to the forefront. 

Women’s issues. My word it’s 2018, not 1918. The time has come that all females should be treated as equals. Thirteen women run countries, according to an online search. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany is just one. 

Our Canadian Prime Minister made a cabinet with equal numbers of men and women. Not because he had to, but because he had qualified females to fill the role. Chrystia Freeland in Foreign affairs is a force on the world stage. She would have my vote for prime minister.

It’s time to introduce respect for men, women, children, animals, ethnic beliefs, and our environment. We are born with brains. Let’s use them. Treat others the way you want to be treated. We have different opinions. We won’t always agree, and that’s okay. Respect the difference.

So my News Year’s hope is that people gain patience and understanding. That men and women stop abusing their power and treat subordinates with respect. That people realize that money and greed will not buy happiness. I’m reminded of the F. Scott Fitzgerald movie ‘The Great Gadsby’. 

People flocked to his parties, but not to his funeral. I want to be remembered as a good, caring person when my time comes to an end. Do you?