A celebration day...

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

38 years ago today, Garry and I made our wedding vows. So much time has gone by, so many hills and valleys, but I'm happy to say that our vows are as deeply felt today as they were 38 years ago. The "for richer or poorer" and the "for better or worse" portion of our vows have had their work out, but we chose to work through it all together and I'm glad we have. We chose to work together to honor each other and our vows and as a result we can look back over the years and say "we have been blessed".

Yesterday saw more "to do" list progress. Garry was able to get the back and front lawns all thatched, raked and looking good. Because of the rain yesterday morning, we have to wait until today to reseal the back deck. Quin is going to help out today in (finally) getting the new flooring into the computer/craft room. We have been trying to get it done for over a year now. Each time it would get to the top of the list, something else would need to take priority. Today is the day!
We also made the decision to re-structure the double closet in the living room/dining room area (crazy place for a closet to be built anyway). We have been using it for an extra pantry area, but are now going to turn it into a built in buffet and hutch type area. The people that did our kitchen are coming over on the 16th to have a look and offer us some creative ideas. We want to tie the look in with the kitchen if possible...but we will see what they come up with. Once we know what we are going to do, we can get the painting done and the new flooring in there. I can hardly wait to get that major project off of the "to do" list.

My pantry and extra food storage will go downstairs into my newly created cold storage room. (Well, it will be newly created when the restoration is done in the basement after the flood). I have a smaller pantry for everyday things in my kitchen. Having the extra storage all in one stop in cold storage will be wonderful. All my canning will now be able to be stored properly. YAY.

My positives:

Progress on the "to do" list.
Quin's offer to help us get some of our "chores" done.
Kaeli and Quin joined us for supper last night. It was lovely to have them stop in.
A beautiful lily plant from the kids for our anniversary.
The rain yesterday, we hope, will have softened the ground and make it easier to dig the holes for planting my two new apple trees.
Extra calories burned yesterday as I made trips up and down stairs moving things from the computer/craft room up to the one of the spare bedrooms.
Having the opportunity to be the best person that I can be each day.


Have a wonderful day,
Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LEXIE63 5/5/2011 7:44PM

Happy Anniversary to you both! Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 5/4/2011 1:52PM

Happy Anniversary! It truly is an accomplishment to be celebrated. You and Garry have created a beautiful family life together. It's a nice positive sign of hope for the world. Have a great celebration. Congrats on getting so much accomplished and have a wonderful day. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

Amazing what you can accomplish....

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have the time to do things.
Garry has this week off work also and together we are hoping to make great head way through our "to do" list.

Yesterday was a perfectly beautiful day. Lots of sunshine, we made it up to the low 20's for temperature and no wind. A perfect day for power washing the back deck and getting all the "incorrect" coating we had put on it two years ago all off. We are now back to the original wood and if it doesn't rain today...we can put down the proper sealant. It took us most of the day yesterday to get it all done, but it sure was great to cross that chore off the list.
Laundry room project DONE, power wash the back deck and regain original wood DONE. Outdoor projects yet to do 1. reseal the deck with water resistant sealant 2. build tiered planter 3. build two more raised garden beds 4. plant my two new apple trees that we purchased yesterday. (that's just this weeks list *grin*)
We won't even look at the indoor list of "to do's". We have so much to do in preparation for the family reunion this August.

My positives:

Striking up a conversation with a couple of ladies at Costco yesterday that allowed me to gain some very valuable information about apple trees. It turned out that one of the ladies owned her own greenhouse and was able to steer us in the best direction on our purchase of apple trees. Amazing what you can purchase at Costco! The two varieties of apple trees that we purchased came highly recommended by these lovely knowledgeable ladies. They were out shopping and browsing through Costcos garden center the same as we were, so really appreciated their willingness to share information.

Knowing that I personally do not have to have all the knowledge, that God provides the information as I need it. I just have to be willing to be open to receiving it.

Garry and I both having this week off to spend time together and to accomplish together out "to do" list.

The gift of life.

have a wonderful day, appreciate all that you have and be grateful for all that you don't have.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NJMATTICE 5/3/2011 9:54AM

Happy Tuesday. I look forward to tomorrow's list of accomplishments. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

MOMMA_BEAR_69 5/3/2011 9:53AM

Glad you got the deck back to the original wood. Great positives. So happy the you ran into the knowledgeable women and purchased your apple trees. Enjoy your time off with Garry and accomplishing your "to do" list. Have a great and blessed day! Hugs, Helen Report Inappropriate Comment

May 2nd

Monday, May 02, 2011

I officially shut the furnace off yesterday. It was a wee bit chilly in the house when I got up this morning, but seeing as the temperture is supposed to climb into the high teens again today, it shouldn't take long for the house to warm up. I'm hoping that I can leave the furnace off now until the fall, but with the strange weather that has been around, how knows!

Yesterday, Garry and I finished off the laundry room project. My cupboards are all hung and I now have a clothes hanging bar. We might add a counter over top of my machines just so I have a nice work surface, but that wasn't something in the original plans so not sure if will be added or not.

Today's project...moving outdoors. Pressure washing the deck and re-coating it. Getting it all ready for the summer. Quin is going to help Garry and I get my tiered planter built at the end of the deck as well as help us get the new raised garden beds done. I've only got about 3/4 weeks now to complete them so that I can plant my (expanded) garden. It will be nice to get all my little seedling and planters outdoors. At the moment they are taking up lots of room in my kitchen and living room.

I'm anxious to get the basement finished so that I can get all the basement stuff back downstairs and put away. Not sure when it is going to happen though. The basement still has that damp smell to it, but that could be because we haven't put the lid back on the sump pump hole as yet, so there is always open water. Soon that will happen.

One more week of holidays. Yep, being retired from my job would be something I could really get used to. There are so many things I would like to focus on outside of working. I just have to keep reminding myself "patience".

My positives:

Laundry room project is now finished.
Dr. Makus is supposed to have the results of my MRI sometime this week...I'm hoping so.
Sunshine this morning.
Once the deck is re-coated, I'll be able to put out the patio furniture and sitting out on the deck will be my new pass time!
Garry and I will celebrate our 38 anniversary this week.
Life...we are so blessed.

Have a wonderful day,
Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

YOYONOMORE1 5/2/2011 3:17PM

Sounds like you are really enjoying your time off from work and getting things done. Happy Anniversary to you and Gary. That's nice that your son is giving you all that help. It's not as warm today as it was yesterday, if they wind would settle down it'd feel warmer, I hope we are not going to have a cool summer. Hope you get your results soon from the MRI. Enjoy the rest of your time off. Hugs, Shirl Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 5/2/2011 10:35AM

Good Morning, Wanda. It sounds like "retirement" does agree with you. You're accomplishing lots of good stuff. I keep thinking about building some raised beds. I hope that you will add some pictures so that I can get some visual inspiration. Good luck with the projects du jour. Enjoy. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

LEXIE63 5/2/2011 10:34AM

Sounds like things are moving along nicely. :-) Congrats on your upcoming anniversary! :-) Hugs, Lex xxx Report Inappropriate Comment

Yay, woke up without a headache!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Surprising enough, very little sleep last night, but woke up without a headache this morning. I had trouble shutting down my mind last night and going to sleep. Of course was surprised to get up to discover that all the world's problems had not been solved...seeing as I did such a good job of solving them before finally fell asleep *grin*.

It's the last day of April, we have overcast skies, but the snow that was supposed to fall on us yesterday took a turn south and fell on Calgary instead! It's still on the cool side, but I've been able to leave the window cracked open slightly at night for some "fresh" air. It does appear as though rain might be in the forecast for today, but that beats snow any day.

I'm anxious to get out in the garden area and start preparing the soil. We hope to get two more raised garden beds built this year. Did pick up a couple of nice large pots at Costco yesterday for planting my potatoes in. Garry is going to drill some holes in the bottom of them to allow for some drainage. I can hardly wait to get my seedling into the garden. It will be 3 to 4 weeks though before that is possible. It still drops down to almost freezing at night.

Garry picked up a power washer machine at Costco yesterday. He wants to power wash the deck and then re-coat it and seal it once again before all the summer furniture finds it's way out of storage. It will be so nice to be able to sit in the sunshine once again.

My positives:

My MRI is complete, I'm told I should have some results by next week.
No headache this morning.
Our son is back home for a couple of weeks before heading back up north for the fishing season. He moved all his stuff into storage for the next few months. It's nice to have him around once again.
Shyra stopped by for a quick visit after she got off work yesterday. Brought me some books that were on hold for me at the library. Yay...stuff to read!
Being alive...what a wonder thing to wake up each morning knowing that I have a new day to be creative in.

Have a great Saturday,
Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

YOYONOMORE1 4/30/2011 7:06PM

Nice positives. Glad the headache is gone so you can enjoy your weekend and time with the kids. Hugs, Shirl Report Inappropriate Comment

LEXIE63 4/30/2011 1:03PM

I'm glad your MRI is done. I really hope they can figure out a solution to your problems now. :-) Hugs, Lex xxx Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 4/30/2011 10:38AM

I'm glad that you are headache free this morning. Enjoy you time with your son. It is nice to have those big kids hang around for a time. Happy Saturday, Wanda. Love, Nancy Report Inappropriate Comment

A beautiful wedding...

Friday, April 29, 2011

I did not get up at the bright and early hour that many did to watch the wedding, but instead turned on the tv at 7am this morning to watch the entire thing repeated on TLC. So impressed with the classiness of the whole wedding. Kate looked amazing. Although, I'm not a strong monarch supporter, believing that once our Queen departs, that the monarchy should also, I could almost be persuaded to reconsider if it was Kate and William stepping up as next in line. If it is Charles...not at all. I believe him to be a puppet and although I do know that he has done much good, I don't believe in him. William on the other hand, by all appearances is his own man.

My MRI was an interesting experience yesterday. I'm hopefully that some answers will be the outcome. It was incredibly loud and did leave me with a major headache which has lasted even to now. You will have to excuse my lack of being on line today. It is just too much trouble to really concentrate and think.

My Positives:
Life.

Hugs,
Wanda

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FOSKED 4/29/2011 6:02PM

Wanda, I really hope you find the cause and SOLUTION to your headaches soon. They can be so debilitating. Thinking of you --- B. Report Inappropriate Comment

YOYONOMORE1 4/29/2011 2:10PM

Glad your MRI is over with and that you do get some answers from having it done. I watched a slideshow on the internet of the event, Kate was beautifull and they are such a cute couple and I hope they have a lifetime of happiness. Hope your headache goes away and you can enjoy the weekend. Hugs, Shirl Report Inappropriate Comment