“It was one of those days – one of those crazy, crazy days.” Remember that tune? It was playing in the back of my mind all day yesterday; with good reason.
My first call came early in the morning. My youngest son, Jo, wanted to tell me there was a new baby on the way. Yippee!! That was the good news.
After 2 hours of frustrating traffic, I walked late into an office where 4 stagiares were sitting waiting for me to give them work. My fault. I hadn’t amply prepared before leaving on Friday, nor did I follow-up during the weekend. I already had a full agenda for the morning, so it was rock and roll trying to get everything in order. Throughout this havoc, our one toilette blocked and “runneth over”. The janitor pulled a no-show, and by the end of the day those of us who had not gone knocking on our neighbour’s door to borrow their service were doing the “gotta-go” dance.
I had an appointment at the vet for Bud, my oldest pit. He had a big swelling on his bum and on his paw – it looked like abscess – and I could tell it was hurting him. With all the stern at the office, I left late, endured another long trip in traffic, and rushed as best I could to get home, pick up the dog, and get to the vet’s in time. That, of course, wasn’t going to happen. I finally got a very mucky dog (it has been raining here for the past few days, and Bud loves mud!!) into my clean truck, and was nearly at the destination when my cellular rang. It was Fran telling me that my brother, Bird, was running a high fever, and she was worried. She had called the hospital and they told her to bring him in, but he was refusing to go.
It was a torturous hour before we got away from the vet’s, an episode in itself about which I will tell you more later. Suffice it to say that Bud does NOT like the vet, and the vet no longer likes me, there was pain involved, and Bud astounded everyone with his strength! Let your imaginations work on that one, lol!
I raced back home, released the dog from of my previously clean truck, and then stopped at the pharmacy before running to my brother’s apartment. By this time his temperature was close to 103 – not good!! He was still refusing to go to the hospital, and I don’t really blame him. With our Quebec nurses drastically overworked, none of his experiences in there have been good ones. Fran and I dosed him with fever reducer, covered him with ice packs and cold cloths, then we waited. Slowly, the fever abated. I was to meet a new employee to go over her contract that evening, but called her to postpone to the next day – I didn’t want to leave until I was sure Bird would be okay on his own. That actually happened earlier than expected, and I finally crawled into bed, the telephone beside me just in case, thankful that the panic was over. But it wasn’t.
My 18 year old grandson, driving to work in the wee hours of the next morning, had a tire fall off his newly purchased car, fought for control, and ended up smashing into a guard rail, totally scrapping his automobile. The miracle is that neither he nor his passenger was hurt; they came within an inch of going over the rail and rolling down the side of the mountain. Being young, he was more upset about now having to make payments on a vehicle he can no longer use, but, of course, his mom and the rest of us see it in another light. To hell with the car! To add insult to injury, that same afternoon he discovered that his bank debit card had been cloned, and the thieves had emptied $300.00 from his bank account. And I thought I was having a bad day!!
The update in this soap opera of our lives is that I really am going to be a grandmother for the sixth time; Bird is feeling much better (must have been the 24 hour flu); my grandson was reimbursed the $300.00 by the bank, and is shopping for a new car and will never, never again buy one without it being thoroughly inspected; the janitor left a message saying he repaired the toilet last night; and Bud is easily taking his medication, albeit wrapped up in cheese. The crazy, crazy day is back to normal...for the moment.
Sending you all a big warm SMILE, and wishing you an exciting (but not crazy) Wednesday!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
GRANNY GA-GA? NOT ME!
I loved it! Babysitting the grandchildren is not a regular occurrence for me, so last night was a bit of a novelty. After an evening of dancing and laughter and cuddling, the kiddies were tucked safely into bed. Their parents, who arrived back earlier than expected, sat and chatted with me for an hour or so. We were discussing the different characters of the children, and the way they each reacted and behaved. My son, who is MY baby, paid me a high compliment.
“Everyone tells me I’m just like my Dad,” he said. “That may be, but when it comes to raising my kids, I think I’m alot like you.”
My daughter has remarked the same thing, albeit in different words. Why do I consider it a compliment? Because, like my children, each of my five grandchildren is exceptional. Yeh, I know. All grandparents swear the same. But I’m not talking about beauty or talent here, although they have that too. It’s about their outlook, their understanding, and how they are learning to live true in a world composed of many “me-myself-and-I” attitudes. They are being taught, and absorbing the lesson well, that, although the possibilities are limitless, there are limits as to how these possibilities can be attained. Does that statement make sense?
An example: N, the oldest who will be 5 in December, is an avid Spiderman fan, and a whiz at children’s video games. When he started practicing the kung-fu moves on his friends at daycare, his dad warned him that these were fantasy games, and not a thing to do in real life. N did not heed the warning however, so Spiderman and the video games were put out of his reach. He was told that they would be kept away until he could understand the difference. His attempts to convince daddy that the lesson was now learned were unsuccessful. There is an imposed timeout for reflection. A subtle lesson; he is learning that his extraordinary ability in playing the games is praiseworthy, but there are limits on how and where he uses his ability. Ignoring the limits causes unhappy consequences.
B, who turned 2 in June, is a type ‘A’ personality. A going concern, he pushes the envelope to the end whenever he can. He has also noted that a cute pout, created by lowering his head then peering up at you with his big, blue eyes, can occasionally get him off the hook. Woefully for him, those occasions are rapidly getting rarer as he gets older. Consequences WILL be paid if his actions threaten to hurt or disrespect something or someone, (himself included). So - he can drum on the pots and pans, and M’mere will keep him company by dancing to the erratic beat. Throwing them against the wall or down the stairs will cause damage, and is not allowed, no matter how amusing it seems to be. The pouting charm didn’t work (I turned my back so he couldn’t see my grin), nor did his refusal to put the objects away. He wasn’t allowed to move from the designated space until he helped right his mess. M’mere wasn’t screaming or yelling, just calmly determined...and she was bigger than him, LOL! It was done, there were no hard feelings, and praise and kissing and cuddling were the reward for the job completed; another subtle lesson on the existence of limits and the result when you don’t respect them.
Do I sound like a harridan? Believe me, I’m not. I believe that we should give our children as much as we can, and that they should be encouraged to ‘paint outside the lines’ if that is their wish. ...to a certain point. They are, after all, children, and we, as adults, have the responsibility to impose limits; limits to be stretched as they get mature enough to intelligently handle what comes next. After all, our kids are eventually going to be in charge of the world. I’m just trying to insure that my old age will be treated with intelligence, respect and compassion. Oh, and I wouldn’t say no to lodging in a luxurious nursing home.....
Sending you all a huge SMILE – I’ve been wearing mine since spending time with those adorable little scamps, so it’s time to share it. Hope you’ll share yours too!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
“Everyone tells me I’m just like my Dad,” he said. “That may be, but when it comes to raising my kids, I think I’m alot like you.”
My daughter has remarked the same thing, albeit in different words. Why do I consider it a compliment? Because, like my children, each of my five grandchildren is exceptional. Yeh, I know. All grandparents swear the same. But I’m not talking about beauty or talent here, although they have that too. It’s about their outlook, their understanding, and how they are learning to live true in a world composed of many “me-myself-and-I” attitudes. They are being taught, and absorbing the lesson well, that, although the possibilities are limitless, there are limits as to how these possibilities can be attained. Does that statement make sense?
An example: N, the oldest who will be 5 in December, is an avid Spiderman fan, and a whiz at children’s video games. When he started practicing the kung-fu moves on his friends at daycare, his dad warned him that these were fantasy games, and not a thing to do in real life. N did not heed the warning however, so Spiderman and the video games were put out of his reach. He was told that they would be kept away until he could understand the difference. His attempts to convince daddy that the lesson was now learned were unsuccessful. There is an imposed timeout for reflection. A subtle lesson; he is learning that his extraordinary ability in playing the games is praiseworthy, but there are limits on how and where he uses his ability. Ignoring the limits causes unhappy consequences.
B, who turned 2 in June, is a type ‘A’ personality. A going concern, he pushes the envelope to the end whenever he can. He has also noted that a cute pout, created by lowering his head then peering up at you with his big, blue eyes, can occasionally get him off the hook. Woefully for him, those occasions are rapidly getting rarer as he gets older. Consequences WILL be paid if his actions threaten to hurt or disrespect something or someone, (himself included). So - he can drum on the pots and pans, and M’mere will keep him company by dancing to the erratic beat. Throwing them against the wall or down the stairs will cause damage, and is not allowed, no matter how amusing it seems to be. The pouting charm didn’t work (I turned my back so he couldn’t see my grin), nor did his refusal to put the objects away. He wasn’t allowed to move from the designated space until he helped right his mess. M’mere wasn’t screaming or yelling, just calmly determined...and she was bigger than him, LOL! It was done, there were no hard feelings, and praise and kissing and cuddling were the reward for the job completed; another subtle lesson on the existence of limits and the result when you don’t respect them.
Do I sound like a harridan? Believe me, I’m not. I believe that we should give our children as much as we can, and that they should be encouraged to ‘paint outside the lines’ if that is their wish. ...to a certain point. They are, after all, children, and we, as adults, have the responsibility to impose limits; limits to be stretched as they get mature enough to intelligently handle what comes next. After all, our kids are eventually going to be in charge of the world. I’m just trying to insure that my old age will be treated with intelligence, respect and compassion. Oh, and I wouldn’t say no to lodging in a luxurious nursing home.....
Sending you all a huge SMILE – I’ve been wearing mine since spending time with those adorable little scamps, so it’s time to share it. Hope you’ll share yours too!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
This afternoon I am going to babysit my two little dudes, Nalou and Bali. Because of my work schedule, I don’t get to do this often, so I am really looking forward to it. I imagine I will have alot to write in my Blog tomorrow!
I don’t know where you are sitting with your morning coffee, or what you can see. I was up at 5 AM, and am lucky enough to have a view of my mountain as it welcomes the sun; a riot of autumn reds and oranges and golds, running in and around the darker, constant hues of the evergreens, all a silhouette against the clearest blue sky...it's simply breathtaking! Would that I be a painter, or a photo genius, so that I could capture it forever...but I’m not, so I try to keep the picture in my memory. Fortunately I get to see it from day to day, renewing it each morning. It’s another of my blessings for which I am extremely thankful.
Maybe I’m doing the sympathy thing for my friend, Kilroy, who wrote in his blog that he has a sore back, because both my legs are painful today. Because there has been no extreme exercise to merit these aches, I’m beginning to get worried. It’s not normal, and I haven’t yet managed to get the results from the x-rays or visit to my doc & his grumpy receptionists. If I don’t get a return call next week, I’ll have to take the time and drive over to his office. In the meantime, I’m swallowing anti-inflammatory pills (and whining), something I hate doing (the pill taking I mean – I’m okay with the whining, lol).
I have a few errands to run before going to see my grandsons, so will sign off now. Maybe I’ll come back in and post the sure-to-be delightful anecdotes after I’ve put my little rug rats to bed tonight.
Sending you all a big SMILE, and hoping you are out there enjoying this great fall weather.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
I don’t know where you are sitting with your morning coffee, or what you can see. I was up at 5 AM, and am lucky enough to have a view of my mountain as it welcomes the sun; a riot of autumn reds and oranges and golds, running in and around the darker, constant hues of the evergreens, all a silhouette against the clearest blue sky...it's simply breathtaking! Would that I be a painter, or a photo genius, so that I could capture it forever...but I’m not, so I try to keep the picture in my memory. Fortunately I get to see it from day to day, renewing it each morning. It’s another of my blessings for which I am extremely thankful.
Maybe I’m doing the sympathy thing for my friend, Kilroy, who wrote in his blog that he has a sore back, because both my legs are painful today. Because there has been no extreme exercise to merit these aches, I’m beginning to get worried. It’s not normal, and I haven’t yet managed to get the results from the x-rays or visit to my doc & his grumpy receptionists. If I don’t get a return call next week, I’ll have to take the time and drive over to his office. In the meantime, I’m swallowing anti-inflammatory pills (and whining), something I hate doing (the pill taking I mean – I’m okay with the whining, lol).
I have a few errands to run before going to see my grandsons, so will sign off now. Maybe I’ll come back in and post the sure-to-be delightful anecdotes after I’ve put my little rug rats to bed tonight.
Sending you all a big SMILE, and hoping you are out there enjoying this great fall weather.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Friday, September 25, 2009
CYBER JUNKIE
I am the only person to use my computer at home, so whenever anything appears on my screen that was not put there by ME, it freaks me out. Who has been in my house touching my stuff??? I tend to forget that it is always connected to the Internet, and now and then those cyber-authorities out there shove something in my face when I log on. The other night was one of those times. I sat down at my desk to find that my beautiful,winter scene had been replaced by BING_BING_BING written in bright orange letters all over my screen. GRRRR! I vainly attempted to restore the original background. My lack of talent for resolving anything technical is no secret – nothing I did worked, of course. This “update” thingie kept flashing, so I clicked and accepted and clicked and accepted.....and succeeded in putting my computer out of commission...totally. All I had to do was touch any key and it froze up tight.
It was too late in the evening to call my puter-doc, and my frustration attained a level where the machine was in very real danger of being thrown through the window, so I headed for the jacuzzi instead.
My regular ‘wake-up’ procedure of grabbing a coffee, saying good morning to the doggies and my mountain, reading Kilroy’s Blog, checking Facebook for activity from my offspring, looking at posts in Blogit.....it was not going to happen. Being a creature of habit, my inability to complete my morning routine threw me into confusion. I’m not sure how early it was when I picked up the phone and speed-dialed my puter-doc, but I could tell from his voice that he hadn’t been awake. He knows me well. He calmed mentioned some of the many things I had probably done wrong, told me he would be out of town until next Tuesday, and suggested that I use one of the laptops from the office to calm my addiction. Now why hadn’t I thought of that?
The answer to that question is easy. It was pure panic. I couldn’t fathom spending down time without access to the net. Great Scott!! I have become a cyber-junkie!!!
Obviously I followed his advice. I brought home one of the laptops last night, managed to hook it up so that it works, and this morning was able to read Kilroy’s Blog, check out my young ‘uns on Facebook, and and am writing this post. I’m reconnected to the world again, my face is all SMILES and life is good.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
It was too late in the evening to call my puter-doc, and my frustration attained a level where the machine was in very real danger of being thrown through the window, so I headed for the jacuzzi instead.
My regular ‘wake-up’ procedure of grabbing a coffee, saying good morning to the doggies and my mountain, reading Kilroy’s Blog, checking Facebook for activity from my offspring, looking at posts in Blogit.....it was not going to happen. Being a creature of habit, my inability to complete my morning routine threw me into confusion. I’m not sure how early it was when I picked up the phone and speed-dialed my puter-doc, but I could tell from his voice that he hadn’t been awake. He knows me well. He calmed mentioned some of the many things I had probably done wrong, told me he would be out of town until next Tuesday, and suggested that I use one of the laptops from the office to calm my addiction. Now why hadn’t I thought of that?
The answer to that question is easy. It was pure panic. I couldn’t fathom spending down time without access to the net. Great Scott!! I have become a cyber-junkie!!!
Obviously I followed his advice. I brought home one of the laptops last night, managed to hook it up so that it works, and this morning was able to read Kilroy’s Blog, check out my young ‘uns on Facebook, and and am writing this post. I’m reconnected to the world again, my face is all SMILES and life is good.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Monday, September 21, 2009
THE VITAMINS
It was a quiet weekend. On Saturday morning I started taking the vitamins that are so touted – I’m expecting to feel like a million bucks by the end of the month. It seems that the first few days of this therapy involves a lot of toilet time. Cleansing, they call it. Whatever it is, it’s working. I’ve also been warned that I will feel sleepy until my system gets used to absorbing all these natural boosters. That’s working too. I did a lot of snoozing over the past couple of days. For insomniacs such as me, it was like winning a jackpot! It was nice, deep sleeps, only waking to continue the other part – the cleansing, LOL!
I wanted to see my grandson, Raphael, to give him his birthday present, so I ran into town for a few minutes yesterday. I had some grocery shopping to do too. Not much, which was fortunate, because the cleansing was still going on. I was third waiting in line for my things to be rung up, and was very relieved to see another girl open her cash and beckon me over. I was still doing the ‘gotta-go’ dance while she checked out my few articles. I think she noticed, and was sympathetic, because she was quick about it. When it was done, I raced over to Bird’s, and I must have visited his bathroom at least twice during our short visit. When I made it back to the house I had another short snooze, did some cooking, and then worked for an hour or so before a short stint in the Jacuzzi, and bed again. I woke this morning at 3:30 AM, bright eyed and bushy tailed! Will it carry me through the day? We shall see; I have a meeting tonight at 6 P.M., so will be home late. Those vitamins have their work cut out for them.
The box of licorice cigars that both Bird and I were anxiously anticipating were hard as rock, and had a whitish film on them. My daughter had bought them in a Sweet Shop in Montreal, paid enough for them too, so I sent a complaint by e-mail to Hershey (the manufacturer). I’m wondering how long it will take them to respond, if they even do so. To be continued….
That’s it for now, folks. I have a few things to finish up before braving the traffic to the office, so send you all a big, warm smile and wish you all a good day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
I wanted to see my grandson, Raphael, to give him his birthday present, so I ran into town for a few minutes yesterday. I had some grocery shopping to do too. Not much, which was fortunate, because the cleansing was still going on. I was third waiting in line for my things to be rung up, and was very relieved to see another girl open her cash and beckon me over. I was still doing the ‘gotta-go’ dance while she checked out my few articles. I think she noticed, and was sympathetic, because she was quick about it. When it was done, I raced over to Bird’s, and I must have visited his bathroom at least twice during our short visit. When I made it back to the house I had another short snooze, did some cooking, and then worked for an hour or so before a short stint in the Jacuzzi, and bed again. I woke this morning at 3:30 AM, bright eyed and bushy tailed! Will it carry me through the day? We shall see; I have a meeting tonight at 6 P.M., so will be home late. Those vitamins have their work cut out for them.
The box of licorice cigars that both Bird and I were anxiously anticipating were hard as rock, and had a whitish film on them. My daughter had bought them in a Sweet Shop in Montreal, paid enough for them too, so I sent a complaint by e-mail to Hershey (the manufacturer). I’m wondering how long it will take them to respond, if they even do so. To be continued….
That’s it for now, folks. I have a few things to finish up before braving the traffic to the office, so send you all a big, warm smile and wish you all a good day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
MY TREES AND ME
The clock on my night table told me it was 4:30 A.M.. I lay in bed for a moment, gazing out through the wide, glass French doors, letting my mind slowly come back to earth. My bedroom is situated high up on the east side of the house, affording a splendid view of four tall, beautiful trees; their bushy tops stretching up into the sky. It’s the last thing I see at night, and the first thing in the morning. Even if it is dark outside, the garage spotlight, strategically placed, allows the luxury of this awesome sight. It is one part of why I end and begin each day with a heartfelt ‘Thank You!”.
I could see the tree tops swaying wildly, much as they do when a storm rolls in. I frowned. Hadn’t the Weather Network predicted two nice, sunny days for the weekend? What was this? I had no sooner finished the thought when the movement stopped. Everything became still. I waited, watching….Minutes passed, but the stillness remained. Wondering, I got out of bed and padded over to the doors to get a better look. The sky was dark but clear, the stars quite visible. No clouds, no sign of wind. Puzzled, I stood there, staring out at the trees. Had I imagined it? No, I didn’t think so. It was too real.
Have you ever experienced moments when a sight, or a sound, triggers a memory so profound that all you can do is accept it? All of a sudden I saw myself as a child, standing at my bedroom window, much the same as I was doing now.
The child-me, with her vivid imagination, had named every tree surrounding the old farmhouse where we lived. They were my friends, and I endowed each of them with character traits; most of the cedars lining the driveway were motherly and kind, except for one whose branches resembled a grouchy old man…and that he was! The birches with slim white trunks and lighter green leaves were all flirty dancers – the first to bend and sway when Mr. Wind showed up. The Maples were somewhat clannish, but most friendly to the birds, and the majestic Firs were mysterious and wise; their sound in the wind telling stories as old as time itself. I never went to bed without going to the window and saying goodnight to my friends, calling them each by name, wishing them a calm night, or warning them to stand strong when we could feel an approaching storm. Each morning I would speak to them again, and I could sense their chorus of “Good morning!” in response. Except for the grouchy old man, but I knew he loved me in his own way, so I would smile at him none the less.
My vision this morning lasted all of ten seconds, but it was enough. Now there was no need to speculate on what had made my trees move, because the reason was clear. They were wishing me “Good Morning!”. Appreciating the greeting, and the flashback that helped me understand, I smiled and bowed to them in turn. It WAS going to be a gorgeous sunny day, and I know we will all enjoy it. Life is good.
I’m off to the office for a couple of hours, so sending you all a big smile and wishes for a great day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
I could see the tree tops swaying wildly, much as they do when a storm rolls in. I frowned. Hadn’t the Weather Network predicted two nice, sunny days for the weekend? What was this? I had no sooner finished the thought when the movement stopped. Everything became still. I waited, watching….Minutes passed, but the stillness remained. Wondering, I got out of bed and padded over to the doors to get a better look. The sky was dark but clear, the stars quite visible. No clouds, no sign of wind. Puzzled, I stood there, staring out at the trees. Had I imagined it? No, I didn’t think so. It was too real.
Have you ever experienced moments when a sight, or a sound, triggers a memory so profound that all you can do is accept it? All of a sudden I saw myself as a child, standing at my bedroom window, much the same as I was doing now.
The child-me, with her vivid imagination, had named every tree surrounding the old farmhouse where we lived. They were my friends, and I endowed each of them with character traits; most of the cedars lining the driveway were motherly and kind, except for one whose branches resembled a grouchy old man…and that he was! The birches with slim white trunks and lighter green leaves were all flirty dancers – the first to bend and sway when Mr. Wind showed up. The Maples were somewhat clannish, but most friendly to the birds, and the majestic Firs were mysterious and wise; their sound in the wind telling stories as old as time itself. I never went to bed without going to the window and saying goodnight to my friends, calling them each by name, wishing them a calm night, or warning them to stand strong when we could feel an approaching storm. Each morning I would speak to them again, and I could sense their chorus of “Good morning!” in response. Except for the grouchy old man, but I knew he loved me in his own way, so I would smile at him none the less.
My vision this morning lasted all of ten seconds, but it was enough. Now there was no need to speculate on what had made my trees move, because the reason was clear. They were wishing me “Good Morning!”. Appreciating the greeting, and the flashback that helped me understand, I smiled and bowed to them in turn. It WAS going to be a gorgeous sunny day, and I know we will all enjoy it. Life is good.
I’m off to the office for a couple of hours, so sending you all a big smile and wishes for a great day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
PENNY CANDY AND LIQUORICE CIGARS
My daughter called me today to tell me that, while in the city yesterday, she bought me some liquorice cigars – a WHOLE box of them!!! My mouth started watering immediately! They are hard to find now, the real ones, I mean. I’ve tasted some imitations in the past years, but the texture is not quite the same, nor is the strong pernod taste that my brother and I so loved (we both still do!) as when we were young’uns.
The general store was at least a 7 mile walk from the foster home where we did most of our growing up. On the rare occasion, during the summer months, our foster mom, or Grandma, would allow us to walk the long dirt road. Each of us jingling two dimes and a nickel in our pockets, we’d run one telephone pole, and then walk two, in an effort to reach our destination faster, chattering with excitement, shouting out what was on our potential goodie list. We’d calculate over and over just exactly how much we could get for the enormous sum of twenty-five cents, and change our minds many times over before the store came into view. Then there it was – that special, wonderful place!!
When we pushed on the wide, metal ‘Fanta’ bar, the bell above the door would jingle loudly, beckoning the owner from somewhere inside his house. He would smile down at us, his eyes jolly behind eternally smudged glasses. It had been a sweaty trip, so of course we would ask for our 10 cent bottles of pop first. He would deftly whip them out from the cooler, dripping with water, and use an old piece of towel to wipe them off before prying the tops with the opener inserted in the cooler’s side. The paper straws were inserted, and we’d suck on them slowly as we pondered the splendid candy assortment under the glass counter. Let’s see…chocolate covered gooey honeymoons; sugar-coated colourful gumdrops; humbugs and assorted hard candies; jawbreakers and Popeye’s candy cigarettes; jellybeans and gum, and little chocolate bars, those favoured liquorice cigars with the red sprinkles imitating fire on the ends…..
There were so many enticing sweets that all our careful planning flew right out of our heads! We’d usually decide to pool our money, and then share. We’d get lots more that way! The 30 cents we had left bought a 5 cent bag of chips (we would carefully count them out later), two of each different kind of candy (mostly 2 for a penny), a 7 cent bunch of lollipops (5 big round ones in the pack – pay dirt!!!), and, last but definitely not least, 2 liquorice cigars. We always wondered if the owner had ever been to school, because he sure couldn’t count. When he had done splitting the balance of 30 cents worth of candies into two small paper bags, he would often tell us “You can’t forget the ice-cream! Such a hot day it is!” then hand us each a 7 cent size with a large, cold, chocolate, creamy ball pushed firmly down into the crispy cones. We’d glance at each other silently, thank him profusely, then get out of there quickly!
The walk home was much slower of course. We were so busy chewing and savouring, and counting out those chips, LOL. The cigars were the best, so eaten last. Mmmm…that liquorice taste melting over the tongue and sliding down the throat and seeming to last forever!!
Uh-oh! It’s happening again...the mouth watering……
Well, here’s a big SMILE out to y’all! I think I’ll go visit my daughter now…..then maybe drop in on my brother….Ciao!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
The general store was at least a 7 mile walk from the foster home where we did most of our growing up. On the rare occasion, during the summer months, our foster mom, or Grandma, would allow us to walk the long dirt road. Each of us jingling two dimes and a nickel in our pockets, we’d run one telephone pole, and then walk two, in an effort to reach our destination faster, chattering with excitement, shouting out what was on our potential goodie list. We’d calculate over and over just exactly how much we could get for the enormous sum of twenty-five cents, and change our minds many times over before the store came into view. Then there it was – that special, wonderful place!!
When we pushed on the wide, metal ‘Fanta’ bar, the bell above the door would jingle loudly, beckoning the owner from somewhere inside his house. He would smile down at us, his eyes jolly behind eternally smudged glasses. It had been a sweaty trip, so of course we would ask for our 10 cent bottles of pop first. He would deftly whip them out from the cooler, dripping with water, and use an old piece of towel to wipe them off before prying the tops with the opener inserted in the cooler’s side. The paper straws were inserted, and we’d suck on them slowly as we pondered the splendid candy assortment under the glass counter. Let’s see…chocolate covered gooey honeymoons; sugar-coated colourful gumdrops; humbugs and assorted hard candies; jawbreakers and Popeye’s candy cigarettes; jellybeans and gum, and little chocolate bars, those favoured liquorice cigars with the red sprinkles imitating fire on the ends…..
There were so many enticing sweets that all our careful planning flew right out of our heads! We’d usually decide to pool our money, and then share. We’d get lots more that way! The 30 cents we had left bought a 5 cent bag of chips (we would carefully count them out later), two of each different kind of candy (mostly 2 for a penny), a 7 cent bunch of lollipops (5 big round ones in the pack – pay dirt!!!), and, last but definitely not least, 2 liquorice cigars. We always wondered if the owner had ever been to school, because he sure couldn’t count. When he had done splitting the balance of 30 cents worth of candies into two small paper bags, he would often tell us “You can’t forget the ice-cream! Such a hot day it is!” then hand us each a 7 cent size with a large, cold, chocolate, creamy ball pushed firmly down into the crispy cones. We’d glance at each other silently, thank him profusely, then get out of there quickly!
The walk home was much slower of course. We were so busy chewing and savouring, and counting out those chips, LOL. The cigars were the best, so eaten last. Mmmm…that liquorice taste melting over the tongue and sliding down the throat and seeming to last forever!!
Uh-oh! It’s happening again...the mouth watering……
Well, here’s a big SMILE out to y’all! I think I’ll go visit my daughter now…..then maybe drop in on my brother….Ciao!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
RAPH'S BIRTHDAY AND BIRD'S UPDATE
Today my once-upon-a-time ‘little’ grandson Raphael, is twelve, and started high school!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAPH!!! I won’t see him until the weekend, but his mom has a football party planned for him and his friends. Raph is our sports-minded member, much like his Uncle Bow, so will have a great time, I’m sure.
The hospital visit went well, although the docs are still ragging Bird about his smoking. Of course! Still, it is a hard thing to quit, and he has been a smoker since he was 12 – way before they came out with all the danger warnings. Now that he is not able to do much except sit around, it isn’t like he can keep busy to keep his mind off the habit. They did some blood tests after doing the camera down the throat thing, and next time he has to get chest x-rays too. They did say that things are looking good through the camera, considering all the radiation therapy he went through.
We stopped off at my place on the way back to pick up some water. He checked out a few things that needed repairs in the house while he was here, and we sat and chatted for a bit. It was nice to spend some quality time with him. I gave him some of my homemade cure-all soup, and he told me this morning on the phone that it was the best he’s ever tasted. Uh-huh – and full of good vitamins too! Maybe I’ll do one a week and try to fatten him up some!! He was quite delighted to hear that I got custody of the last jar of chokecherry jelly made by the cuz, Wicked Wendy!! LOL!!
When I walked into my office this morning my desk was much as I expected it to be – overflowing! Miss a day, and pay and pay, LOL! One of my old employers dropped in – I hadn’t seen him for ages – and he was happy to see us so busy. What with the regular employees, the new stagiaires, the computer technician, a dude measuring for new desks, two of my associates, and interviews every half hour – yep! I would say it was busy for sure!!
I finally convinced the associates that we needed a meeting for the financial update of our new companies; one to be held in the evening with all cellular phones turned off!! Maybe it was something to do with my wildly shaking my head every time they mentioned money…LOL! It’s to be held tomorrow night, and I have an appointment in the city at 7 AM with a client, so we’re in for a long day!!
My friend, Kilroy mentioned in his Blog that he saw some of our Canadian geese winging south this weekend. I didn’t see them, but I did hear them flying by during my walk with the doggies on Sunday. It’s sad to see them go, and it is also the sign that autumn is here, no matter that the official arrival day is September 21st. Eh bien, we look on the bright side…nice warm fires each evening, beautiful scenery, and soon CHRISTMAS, my favourite day of all!
And with that, I say goodnight, folks. Sweet dreams to y’all! I’m off to the Jacuzzi and, hopefully, will curl up in the arms of Murphy! Sending you my SMILE!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
The hospital visit went well, although the docs are still ragging Bird about his smoking. Of course! Still, it is a hard thing to quit, and he has been a smoker since he was 12 – way before they came out with all the danger warnings. Now that he is not able to do much except sit around, it isn’t like he can keep busy to keep his mind off the habit. They did some blood tests after doing the camera down the throat thing, and next time he has to get chest x-rays too. They did say that things are looking good through the camera, considering all the radiation therapy he went through.
We stopped off at my place on the way back to pick up some water. He checked out a few things that needed repairs in the house while he was here, and we sat and chatted for a bit. It was nice to spend some quality time with him. I gave him some of my homemade cure-all soup, and he told me this morning on the phone that it was the best he’s ever tasted. Uh-huh – and full of good vitamins too! Maybe I’ll do one a week and try to fatten him up some!! He was quite delighted to hear that I got custody of the last jar of chokecherry jelly made by the cuz, Wicked Wendy!! LOL!!
When I walked into my office this morning my desk was much as I expected it to be – overflowing! Miss a day, and pay and pay, LOL! One of my old employers dropped in – I hadn’t seen him for ages – and he was happy to see us so busy. What with the regular employees, the new stagiaires, the computer technician, a dude measuring for new desks, two of my associates, and interviews every half hour – yep! I would say it was busy for sure!!
I finally convinced the associates that we needed a meeting for the financial update of our new companies; one to be held in the evening with all cellular phones turned off!! Maybe it was something to do with my wildly shaking my head every time they mentioned money…LOL! It’s to be held tomorrow night, and I have an appointment in the city at 7 AM with a client, so we’re in for a long day!!
My friend, Kilroy mentioned in his Blog that he saw some of our Canadian geese winging south this weekend. I didn’t see them, but I did hear them flying by during my walk with the doggies on Sunday. It’s sad to see them go, and it is also the sign that autumn is here, no matter that the official arrival day is September 21st. Eh bien, we look on the bright side…nice warm fires each evening, beautiful scenery, and soon CHRISTMAS, my favourite day of all!
And with that, I say goodnight, folks. Sweet dreams to y’all! I’m off to the Jacuzzi and, hopefully, will curl up in the arms of Murphy! Sending you my SMILE!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Monday, September 14, 2009
FIGHTING THE BUG.
What about this weather, eh? In spite of the frequent visits to the bathroom, and the other uncomfortable virus symptoms, I was able to admire the picturesque spread provided by Mère Nature during the weekend. The maple leaves have just a touch of red and gold, their colours a perfect contrast to the evergreens. The same pattern was visible here and there on my mountain, whose majestic reach touched the bluest of blue skies. From my gallery I watched two little chipmunks scurry back and forth from ground to trees, losing them in the bright, yellow mustard weed, then spotting them again…the autumn preparations of gathering and storing before the snow falls. Bud ignores them, his experience telling him the chase is a lost cause, but the youngest pit, Grump-puppy, does his best to be their major pain in the butt. He tries to climb the tree where they have taken refuge. They chatter down at him loudly. Now and then he’ll let out a short bark, drowning out their incessant scolding. I was curled up on my swing, rocking lightly, taking it all in. I pulled my bare feet in under the warm, fuzzy tiger throw and let the medication and the relaxing sounds of a beautiful day outdoors do their thing; push me gently into the arms of Murphy. What a wonderful atmosphere in which to snooze!
By Sunday I was feeling better, although still slightly shaky. I decided to make a huge pot of soup, the renowned cure-all for any illness. Cooking relaxes me, and the creation of soup is one of my favourites. I call it a creation because there is no set recipe – you just throw whatever is on hand into the pot as you go along. This time it was two chunky butcher bones, saved beef stock, strips of round steak, lots of chopped, fresh veggies, a cup of noodles, a bit of barley and rice, some herbs and black pepper…and voilà! Add a couple of pieces of fresh buttered bread, and you have a feast fit for a king! The aroma filled the house, and the doggies made regular stops by the kitchen door, noses in the air, tails wagging hopefully. I treated them to a ladle each poured over their dry food, and the three of us dug in. Mmmm….good!
My brother, Bird, and I will be heading to the Cancer Clinic this morning. Because of the long drive, and the time spent there, I won’t be going into the office. I expect we will stop off at my home on the drive back to fill his water bottles (he prefers well-water to the town stuff), and, of course, a soup care package. Afterwards, I’ll hopefully be able to do the revision of our Healthcare project that I was supposed to this weekend before the virus so rudely interrupted my plans.
Here’s wishing you all a good Monday with nice surprises and warm SMILES, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Ciao!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
By Sunday I was feeling better, although still slightly shaky. I decided to make a huge pot of soup, the renowned cure-all for any illness. Cooking relaxes me, and the creation of soup is one of my favourites. I call it a creation because there is no set recipe – you just throw whatever is on hand into the pot as you go along. This time it was two chunky butcher bones, saved beef stock, strips of round steak, lots of chopped, fresh veggies, a cup of noodles, a bit of barley and rice, some herbs and black pepper…and voilà! Add a couple of pieces of fresh buttered bread, and you have a feast fit for a king! The aroma filled the house, and the doggies made regular stops by the kitchen door, noses in the air, tails wagging hopefully. I treated them to a ladle each poured over their dry food, and the three of us dug in. Mmmm….good!
My brother, Bird, and I will be heading to the Cancer Clinic this morning. Because of the long drive, and the time spent there, I won’t be going into the office. I expect we will stop off at my home on the drive back to fill his water bottles (he prefers well-water to the town stuff), and, of course, a soup care package. Afterwards, I’ll hopefully be able to do the revision of our Healthcare project that I was supposed to this weekend before the virus so rudely interrupted my plans.
Here’s wishing you all a good Monday with nice surprises and warm SMILES, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Ciao!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Saturday, September 12, 2009
THE ATTACK OF THE BUG
Ugh! I feared it would happen. People around me were sick off and on during the week. Even with two of the girls staying away from work, and continual hand washing, the bug managed to anchor itself into my system. Yesterday I woke with a scratchy, slightly sore throat, then last night the fact was laid bare. I had to force myself to stop off to say goodbye to Suzie on my way back from the office; she was leaving for Detroit at 4 AM this morning. I arrived home early enough (for me), dragging my body behind me. My bed had never felt so good…but the euphoria was short-lived. To make a long story (or long night!!) short, I spent most of the remaining hours bowing to the ‘porcelain god’ in one position or another. So this morning I’m seeing at all that beautiful sunshine outside and feeling extremely sorry for myself. I’m still feverish, have hardly enough energy to stand up straight, and it’s the weekend. Bah! Humbug!
I was to go visit the Bird today, but we’ll forget that idea. The last thing he needs is a virus. I’m to take him to the Cancer Clinic for his monthly check-up on Monday. I hope to be better by then, but have heard it lasts from 3 to 5 days. Just to be safe, I will warn him so that we can plan for an alternative driver if I’m not up to snuff. He can’t miss that appointment.
I was also supposed to go over the details for our project book on Health Care for the elderly. Most of the points were written out in longhand by a head nurse, and then typed up by one of our stagiares, but there is some revision to be done before retuning it to the nurse for final approval. Our agency is to provide special healthcare workers for senior residences in the city, and the training is to start in October. I tried reading it over this morning, but nothing is sinking into this foggy brain. The nurse will receive my second telephone call.
But I can still write – you see that? The truth is that I feel too awful to sleep, and my head spins worse as soon as I put it down on the pillow. So I decided to come in here and whine; misery loves company, etc... I’m signing off now though, because just these few paragraphs took me at least two hours to complete. I’m going to try sitting out on the gallery for a bit now. Hugging one of the doggies usually helps.
Enjoy your weekend, folks. My SMILE is a little weak, but still visible, so I’m sending it out to y’all. It should be safe – I don’t think this kind of bug has learned to ride cyberspace yet.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
I was to go visit the Bird today, but we’ll forget that idea. The last thing he needs is a virus. I’m to take him to the Cancer Clinic for his monthly check-up on Monday. I hope to be better by then, but have heard it lasts from 3 to 5 days. Just to be safe, I will warn him so that we can plan for an alternative driver if I’m not up to snuff. He can’t miss that appointment.
I was also supposed to go over the details for our project book on Health Care for the elderly. Most of the points were written out in longhand by a head nurse, and then typed up by one of our stagiares, but there is some revision to be done before retuning it to the nurse for final approval. Our agency is to provide special healthcare workers for senior residences in the city, and the training is to start in October. I tried reading it over this morning, but nothing is sinking into this foggy brain. The nurse will receive my second telephone call.
But I can still write – you see that? The truth is that I feel too awful to sleep, and my head spins worse as soon as I put it down on the pillow. So I decided to come in here and whine; misery loves company, etc... I’m signing off now though, because just these few paragraphs took me at least two hours to complete. I’m going to try sitting out on the gallery for a bit now. Hugging one of the doggies usually helps.
Enjoy your weekend, folks. My SMILE is a little weak, but still visible, so I’m sending it out to y’all. It should be safe – I don’t think this kind of bug has learned to ride cyberspace yet.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN'...
I don’t know if I’m running slower, or if time is flying away faster. Maybe a little of both? It seems I turn my head for a second and the next thing I know, I’m at the end of another day…then week…and now summer. Whether we like it or not, the leaves are already changing colours, the night air is friskier, and the grandchildren’s birthdays are here.
My daughter’s children were all born in the fall. Today Erika is 17, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA! From a cute little girl – ‘sugar & spice’ - she has become a beautiful young lady; attending Dawson college, working at a grocery store, and has bought her first car. Shan’s youngest, Raphael, will be 12 next week, and has entered high school this year, another fact that has me shaking my head in wonder. Her oldest, Fred, turns 19 in October. He now has fulltime employment with a good company and is pulling in a salary higher than either his mom or grandmother….how about that?? Scattered among the grandchildren’s dates are the B-days of my god-daughter, who will also be 19 on the unforgettable date of September 11th; and my deceased sister’s only grandchild, who turns 11 just before celebrating Fred in October.
Yes, the two months put a bit of a dent in the wallet, but the realization of how they are children no longer is what really floors me. Mind you, I’m not complaining. They are all great kids, and I realize how lucky our family is that our offspring are happy, and safe, and building their own lives as quasi-adults. It’s just that I can’t shop for them in the toy section now, and this granny, who always considered herself pretty hip, finds herself at a loss when choosing their gifts. It used to be so easy with the dolls or the Tonka trucks or soccer balls. Now these kids are rattling off names of boutiques that I’ve never even heard of. As a teen, I’d have been highly insulted if anyone bought me clothes from a ‘Garage’. And how many types of shoes does ‘Puma’ make, for heaven’s sake? Then there’s the Wii, which, when my kids were little, meant find a bathroom, and quickly! I hate to admit it, but I usually cop out and just hand them a card with money, or fall back on my daughter’s knowledge (because she HAS kept up with the times) and hand her the envelopes and the power of choice. No way will I be accused of being like my own grandmother, who would show up with gifts like bloomers and pink ankle socks when I was already a derisive teen in bell-bottoms and Jesus sandals, LOL!
So the beat goes on. Because I also find that it takes me longer to make myself presentable in these early hours, I had better get a move on if I want to get to the office in time. One thing I don’t have a problem with is finding my SMILE, so I send mine out to y’all as I wish you a great day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
My daughter’s children were all born in the fall. Today Erika is 17, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIKA! From a cute little girl – ‘sugar & spice’ - she has become a beautiful young lady; attending Dawson college, working at a grocery store, and has bought her first car. Shan’s youngest, Raphael, will be 12 next week, and has entered high school this year, another fact that has me shaking my head in wonder. Her oldest, Fred, turns 19 in October. He now has fulltime employment with a good company and is pulling in a salary higher than either his mom or grandmother….how about that?? Scattered among the grandchildren’s dates are the B-days of my god-daughter, who will also be 19 on the unforgettable date of September 11th; and my deceased sister’s only grandchild, who turns 11 just before celebrating Fred in October.
Yes, the two months put a bit of a dent in the wallet, but the realization of how they are children no longer is what really floors me. Mind you, I’m not complaining. They are all great kids, and I realize how lucky our family is that our offspring are happy, and safe, and building their own lives as quasi-adults. It’s just that I can’t shop for them in the toy section now, and this granny, who always considered herself pretty hip, finds herself at a loss when choosing their gifts. It used to be so easy with the dolls or the Tonka trucks or soccer balls. Now these kids are rattling off names of boutiques that I’ve never even heard of. As a teen, I’d have been highly insulted if anyone bought me clothes from a ‘Garage’. And how many types of shoes does ‘Puma’ make, for heaven’s sake? Then there’s the Wii, which, when my kids were little, meant find a bathroom, and quickly! I hate to admit it, but I usually cop out and just hand them a card with money, or fall back on my daughter’s knowledge (because she HAS kept up with the times) and hand her the envelopes and the power of choice. No way will I be accused of being like my own grandmother, who would show up with gifts like bloomers and pink ankle socks when I was already a derisive teen in bell-bottoms and Jesus sandals, LOL!
So the beat goes on. Because I also find that it takes me longer to make myself presentable in these early hours, I had better get a move on if I want to get to the office in time. One thing I don’t have a problem with is finding my SMILE, so I send mine out to y’all as I wish you a great day!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Friday, September 4, 2009
A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU...
Any person applying for a position in accounting at our Agency is required to complete a short test. It helps us to determine the level of ability and allows us to be as accurate as possible when matching the applicant to a potential employer. For those who need it, we offer a one-day revision course, and our first was held on Wednesday past. Because he works mostly from another location, my associate’s mouth fell open when he dropped by the office. There were two ‘stagiares’ labouring, plus all the people in the reunion room for the course, our own employees, and another two persons in the process of being interviewed. It was a definite mix of nationalities, of gender and age, and a bevy of activity. He agreed that the ambiance in the place was exhilarating – full of hopeful excitement and, even though the work was serious, there was much laughter and good humour. So far, each ‘stagiare’ who has spent the temporary two or three weeks with us has mentioned that a job within our agency, in our office, would be first choice. It warms my heart, and affirms my belief that work and pleasure CAN be mixed, as long as it is done intelligently. We all know that a happy employee is more productive, so everyone wins. There IS stress and long hours when building a business, but those kind of days, and there are many of them, make it all worthwhile.
For a change of pace – the Dunany Demons have been extremely kind this week. Sunshine brightening the days, cooler night air for sleeping, and the Weather Network is predicting the same for the long Labour-Day weekend. Suzie will be returning to Detroit next Wednesday, so we plan to celebrate by attending the annual Cuban Festival in St-Sauveur. It’s a gala of smiling friends, great music, good food and, of course, plenty of ‘mojitas’. However, before that can happen, I need to get through the list on today’s agenda. It’s one of those 8 ½ by 11 inches books. I really need to look into buying a smaller one for next year, LOL!
So I’m off to brave the traffic and the world of business. Y’all have a great day; do whatever you need to do with a SMILE and with as much enthusiasm as you can muster. This is where we build the memories – make them good ones!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
For a change of pace – the Dunany Demons have been extremely kind this week. Sunshine brightening the days, cooler night air for sleeping, and the Weather Network is predicting the same for the long Labour-Day weekend. Suzie will be returning to Detroit next Wednesday, so we plan to celebrate by attending the annual Cuban Festival in St-Sauveur. It’s a gala of smiling friends, great music, good food and, of course, plenty of ‘mojitas’. However, before that can happen, I need to get through the list on today’s agenda. It’s one of those 8 ½ by 11 inches books. I really need to look into buying a smaller one for next year, LOL!
So I’m off to brave the traffic and the world of business. Y’all have a great day; do whatever you need to do with a SMILE and with as much enthusiasm as you can muster. This is where we build the memories – make them good ones!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
AUTUMN AND STONE WALLS
That large, yellow orb is showing up later and later each morning. Once it finally does take its rightful place in the sky, it creates a mist over my mountain. The chill in the air sticks around longer; all signs that summer is bidding us farewell, and autumn will soon be painting a splendid picture on which to feast our eyes. And the beat goes on.
My good friend, Kilroy, was wondering in his comment why I would need a stone wall. For those of you who have not yet seen my house, it is situated on top of a hill. In fact, coming up my winding lane in the winter can be quite a challenge. The earth and sand find it much easier to slide down same hill, even more so since we’ve been getting bouts of torrential rains. You know the ones I mean – the drops are huge and fast and furious. The stone wall, besides being attractive, does much to thwart the weather’s effort to sent those numerous (and expensive) loads of earth and gravel to the bottom of the steep incline. Unfortunately, Mr. Heinz the perfectionist, has built it up and taken it apart more than once because a certain stone ‘didn’t look right’, so the area surrounding the house is constantly mucky from the disturbance. It does wonders for the floors, especially with two doggies who DON’T wipe their feet! LOL.
Shan is finally into her new place. I felt so sorry for the previous owner, who was moving out with the help only of a small pickup truck, a car, another lady, and her elderly father. I offered the services of our movers, but she refused. Suzie came down, one of Shan’s friends showed up, and between us all we got the biggest part spic ‘n span and settled in. I don’t envy my daughter who, this morning, will wake up to numerous bags and boxes waiting to be unpacked. It’s a very nice home, with a beautiful, big flower and shrub filled backyard and, much to her dog’s delight, another in ground pool. Just that alone convinced Dixie that this place will be okay, as long as her family was with her.
My son, Bow, started his new job (but with the same company) yesterday and I was anxious to hear if he liked it. He seems to think so, at present anyway, from his comments on Facebook. He was never an avid driver, and this position requires mostly driving. so that worried me. Not mother hen at all, is she?
It’s that time again – shower and rush hour. The students are back to universities and college, a fact clearly demonstrated on the main routes into the city. More traffic, hesitant drivers, and the need for good music to keep down road rage, LOL!
The weather network tells us the sun will be around for the whole week, so who can complain? I’m sending you all a big SMILE, and reminding you that your own is important to whomever you will see today….let it be the first thing you put on each morning! C ya!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
My good friend, Kilroy, was wondering in his comment why I would need a stone wall. For those of you who have not yet seen my house, it is situated on top of a hill. In fact, coming up my winding lane in the winter can be quite a challenge. The earth and sand find it much easier to slide down same hill, even more so since we’ve been getting bouts of torrential rains. You know the ones I mean – the drops are huge and fast and furious. The stone wall, besides being attractive, does much to thwart the weather’s effort to sent those numerous (and expensive) loads of earth and gravel to the bottom of the steep incline. Unfortunately, Mr. Heinz the perfectionist, has built it up and taken it apart more than once because a certain stone ‘didn’t look right’, so the area surrounding the house is constantly mucky from the disturbance. It does wonders for the floors, especially with two doggies who DON’T wipe their feet! LOL.
Shan is finally into her new place. I felt so sorry for the previous owner, who was moving out with the help only of a small pickup truck, a car, another lady, and her elderly father. I offered the services of our movers, but she refused. Suzie came down, one of Shan’s friends showed up, and between us all we got the biggest part spic ‘n span and settled in. I don’t envy my daughter who, this morning, will wake up to numerous bags and boxes waiting to be unpacked. It’s a very nice home, with a beautiful, big flower and shrub filled backyard and, much to her dog’s delight, another in ground pool. Just that alone convinced Dixie that this place will be okay, as long as her family was with her.
My son, Bow, started his new job (but with the same company) yesterday and I was anxious to hear if he liked it. He seems to think so, at present anyway, from his comments on Facebook. He was never an avid driver, and this position requires mostly driving. so that worried me. Not mother hen at all, is she?
It’s that time again – shower and rush hour. The students are back to universities and college, a fact clearly demonstrated on the main routes into the city. More traffic, hesitant drivers, and the need for good music to keep down road rage, LOL!
The weather network tells us the sun will be around for the whole week, so who can complain? I’m sending you all a big SMILE, and reminding you that your own is important to whomever you will see today….let it be the first thing you put on each morning! C ya!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
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