On Saturday we surprised J with a visit from his Western Cousins (and my Sister of course). It was all I could do to keep it a secret from him for two weeks, but I didn’t want to live through two weeks of him not focusing and asking a million times when they were getting here. I think these photos say it all.
And that progression of silliness pretty much sums up my Saturday and Sunday. And we have a whole week to go…
Back in December, I wrote about how my Dad, Sister and I take care of an elderly Brother and Sister. Apple and I went and put up their Christmas Tree. J and Apple brought them some homemade cookies. And my Sister took it all down after New Year’s.
The care for them continues and each time my Sister decides to go on a little trip (she is almost 26 and has zero responsibilities), I fill in for her. Which means that I have to go once a day, make sure that the Sister, H, is up and at ‘em ready for breakfast. G can get himself up and ready and then proceeds to make breakfast, lunch and supper all day long until it is time to retire again.
Usually, I leave Apple with my Mom, it makes it so much easier to help out when I am not chasing a two year old through a big house, but I had to bring her yesterday and today. Yesterday wasn’t a good day, H was a little confused and didn’t seem to know what was going on. And she kept wondering who Apple was and why was she bouncing every where. But, today, today was a good day. When Apple and I arrived, H was bright-eyed and raring to go. We talked about our swimming lessons this morning, which thrilled H to bits since she once was a Mermaid (Synchronized Swimming Club in Toronto) back in her day. She also taught swimming to high school students in addition to English.
Apple helped H with her clothes, shoes and walking stick, which really seemed to please H. And Apple well, she isn’t afraid of old people, which is great because next week H will turn 87. Apple was running and dancing all around H’s bedroom. Singing songs and telling her stories. Then, it was time for H to brush her hair. So, I sat down in a chair and put Apple on my lap. And then there was a moment. One of those moments when you realize that you love somebody. Here I was helping them (H&G) out. Just wanting to make sure that they can continue to live on their own as has always been their wish. And now I find myself loving these guys. As H was watching Apple and brushing her hair, I just broke my heart to think that she may not be with us for much longer. And then what would G do without his older Sister? I really am not sure how everything will play out. But, I do know that slowly and surely this Brother and Sister have made their way into my heart and it really breaks every time I have to think about the reality of the situation.
Time will tick on and we will continue to go and hang out with them (an expression H just doesn’t understand given that she was an English teacher, “What do you mean we will just hang out?” she asks me.) and make sure that they have what they need to continue on their own. And should the time come for one of them to move out of the house, I hope I have the strength to keep visiting, I have never been very good with nursing homes, but I have also never been very good at saying good-bye.
Tonight at 5pm, out of the blue our doorbell rang. When the doorbell rights at that time of night it usually means a door to door salesman of some sort. I won the draw to answer the door. And was I ever thankful that I did! A girlfriend of mine was standing there, with a plate of Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. She remembered that I told her I loved them when I was a kid. So, when she made some today she packaged some up for me and dropped them off.
What a wonderfully thoughtful thing to do for me. It brightened my day for sure. They are like little drops of heaven and bring me back to my childhood when we would make them all the time.
I am not sure if this is her recipe or not, but this is the one I grew up making, straight from my Mom’s recipe card. And if you decide to make some, perhaps you should drop a plate off for an unsuspecting friend or colleague just because.
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Bring above to boil & add
Drop by teaspoon on wax paper. Refrigerate and Enjoy!
Friday night marked what I believe is the first of many “40th” celebrations to come. This is the year that myself and quite a few of my friends are turning 40. Not that I mind, as I still only feel like I am 20.
My girlfriend, who won’t be 40 until August, married her high school crush. Of course as the usual story goes, they didn’t start dating until after high school, but they have been together for well, a few more years than Hubby and I and we have been together for almost 16 years!! It was her husband’s 40th yesterday.
They actually live in the Cayman Islands (I know, I know..) but were in London visiting his Mom so they decided to come up to the homefront to celebrate his 40th with a few close friends and family. The truth is that his wife and I are very close friends, but he put up with us tagging along so his wife and I could see each other and our kids could have a couple of hours together until the next visit.
If they were even thinking of coming back to Ottawa, coming here on the coldest day of the winter so far (-34C/-29F with the wind chill) will certainly keep them Island bound for a while.
As our children were playing together, our two Hubby’s were reminiscing about how small a world it really is as they actually grew up together when they were quite small. Only going their separate ways when they got a bit older and houses were moved and what not. It really is a small world when you think about it.
Their youngest who turned 2 just before Christmas was starting to get a bit cranky. One of their other friends, being an awesome Dad himself, pulled out a firetruck that he had brought as a gift. Whatever crankiness that was starting was quickly forgotten and it was all firetruck for the next half an hour or so.
It was truly a wonderful night. He and his friends have all been hanging out since before high school as well, so seeing some of the old gang is really quite fun. And sitting there looking at them with all their kids is even funnier. Then I turn and look at my own little girl, who refused to take her coat off, playing with a toy at the table and realized they probably all think the same of me.
I am not sure when exactly I grew up, but my children are surely a reminder to me that I have. No, I am not 20 anymore, but it sure feels like I am.
“I will sing, sing a new song. How long to sing this song?” Bono
I will state for the record before I even begin. I have NEVER owned a Toyota. I do not work for Toyota nor do I have any association wtih them and the following is my opinion and my opinion alone.
For eight years I drove a Geo Metro Convertible LSI in white. This is not my car, I have only film copies of me and my sweet ride and they are in Apples room and she is asleep. This photo is courtesy of Wikipedia .
As much as I loved my sweet convertible and the fact that it only cost me $15 in gas for two weeks worth of driving, it wasn’t without it’s faults. For a three cylinder I quite often found myself driving on only two. The locks would freeze up for most of the winter, causing me to have to crawl in through my trunk to unlock the doors. But, in the summer when the roof was down and I was tanned and loving my ride all the winter faults were long forgotten.
With all the recent talk about Toyota and their stuck gas pedals, I feel that I should come out and share my experience with stuck gas pedals. It used to happen to me with my Geo, all the time. Yes, ALL THE TIME. Mostly in the wintertime when the throttle would get frozen. But, there is a safe way to get yourself out of this situation. Turn your car off. It didn’t matter if I was still in the driveway or on the highway when my gas pedal would get stuck and the engine would redline, I would turn the car off, coast to safety and put on my hazards. I am not saying this is fool proof, but when your car is speeding out of control, instead of going into panic mode and trying to beat red lights, just cut the gas to the engine and coast yourself to safety as best you can.
Too many drivers these days don’t know how to get themselves out of situations. I am not sure if it is because they grew up driving new cars or what but, my Dad always had beaters and us kids learned how to drive in them. Over the course of the last 23 years of driving I have had my share of strange situations. Stuck gas pedals are just a small part of it. I have had to change my alternator on the side of the highway, too many flat tires to count, open the hood to spark the starter, timing belt blow out on the 416, power steering cut out on me, clutch cable snapping (Downtown in Winnipeg and yes, my Dad can drive without a clutch) and many more that I am sure I am forgetting. Back in High School my Sister and I were known for the beaters we would show up with, but it never stopped anyone from asking for or taking a ride. Just remember not to panic and you can usually get yourself out of a situation.
So be gentle on Toyota if you own or were thinking of owning one of their cars. And remember that the company that makes those apparently faulty gas pedals?? They don’t just make them for Toyota.
This photo has nothing to do with working out, but since I love Apple and I love putting photos in it stays and it matches my mood.
I missed posting last week due to the EMOttawa Launch, which was so great. But, a week later and I feel like I am crashing. I have been on a good exercise kick lately. I have been walking 3k 4 out of 7 mornings, swimming on Fridays with Apple (yes it is still exercise to keep your child above water and drag her all around the pool) and I have been running 5k twice a week. I am doing pretty good.
I have also been back on track with my good eating habits, cutting back on excess carbs, adding in extra protein, vegetables and fruit.
So why the crash? Well, everything that is up sometimes comes down. And today that is me. I have been riding a good high for a couple of weeks, good food, good exercise, good business, meeting new people but, today that came crashing down. I felt a little blind sided but, these things happen and when they do we just have to pick ourselves up again and keep on going. So for today I am managing a crash, a little extra carbs and no running for me tonight. And tomorrow when the sun comes up, it will be a new day with new direction and hopefully I will be on the upside of the crash. If nothing else I hope to lace on my running shoes and run through some of this crash that I am experiencing.
We all have them, but the key is to get up from the crash and keep on going.
So here I go a walking down memory lane again. Now, to you guys this is a new thing, but to me it happens almost every day.
When I drive down a certain stretch of Merivale Road, every single time, I am reminded of when we lived at 81 Pineglen Crescent. And most of my memories of Pineglen are of Thanksgiving and Winter. We lived there from 1973-1978 (minus the year in England). I don’t remember sitting at the dining room table and eating Thanksgiving dinner, but I remember the leaves in the Fall and dressing up warm and the feeling of Thanksgiving. And Winter, oh you all know me as BeachMama, but back then I was a Winter Baby, my Sister and I would spend hours and hours and hours playing outside in the snow, with our best friends across the street. They had a hill behind their house that we would toboggan down all day long, only stopping for lunch and bedtime.
I have no idea who took this photo of my Dad, but here he is in front of Pineglen.
The house looks exactly the same now as it did then, same colour and everything. Only the pine tree by the front door is now so big that you can’t actually see the front door. And they made the back porch that we had bigger with a huge deck. This house sits on an acre of land, pretty good for the size of properties now a days. The man we rented from still owns it, or at least his son does and still lives there. Every now and then, I take a drive down Pineglen and wonder what it looks like inside and if it is as big as I remember or just a teeny space.
Here is a fun little series. The first photo is of me and my best friend Keith. We spent every day together playing and having fun. The last time I saw him was back in the 1980’s we were both in high school and so not into being friends anymore. But, as far as best friends go, he was awesome. Maybe that is why I have always gotten along with guys, my first best friend was one. In the second and third photo Keith and I were wrestling with my Unlce Merf, my Mom’s brother and his daughter is in there helping. And in the last photo my Grandma and Step-Grandfather were watching on in all their Scottish glory.
Here is another shot in the backyard, with my Sister and I in matching outfits, that I totally remember wearing. I even got hers when she grew out of it, two for the price of one my Mom would say. My Grandma was in all her glory with the girls. Not sure where my cousin Jeff was, perhaps he was just born at this time or almost born.
This last photo is a little more special because my Grandmother in this photo was only with us for a short time (for us kids as she was actually 76 when she passed away). She passed away in 1976 and this photo is probably 1974/75. My Sister and I are here with our other Cousins who were visiting with Grandma from Montréal. This is the only photo I have of Grandma. And the few extra there are stay with Mom and Dad. Yet another reason I became a photographer at such a young age.
Looking at my Sister and I, I can totally see Apple in me and my two nieces in my Sister, funny how it works that way.
Thanks for walking with me down that lane… I may move into the ’80s soon, but it is a little more scary as I had a camera!
Wednesday night was the Launch for the Ottawa Chapter of Entrepreneurial Moms. And WOW what an awesome group of women. The room was full of gorgeous successful Moms, Moms-to-be and Moms of the future. I am so excited to be a part of such a wonderful community. I was asked to bring along my camera and capture some of these great Moms.
Here is just a sneak peek (to be fair, I don’t want to list names because I can’t remember everyone’s names, so I would just be sprinkling names here and there but, feel free to leave a comment on my flickr page or below if you are in one of the photos):
Our Hosts and Chapter Co-Directors Carolyn Mehdi and Janet McCausland.
Isn’t that an amazing looking group? Lagos was a lovely venue to meet, although if we get any bigger we will need to move to a bigger room.
I should also include a shout out to Erin Blaskie, our inspiring speaker of the evening. Erin shared with us tips on using Social Networking to help our businesses grow. If you ever get a chance to hear Erin speak take it, she is really wonderful.
I feel like blogging about our family and fun is so wrong at a time like this. There are so many people in Haiti that would be happy with some clothes and food and here I am trying to think about what to write. Trying to keep on going like nothing is going on in the world. That is what I usually do, I keep on going. I can do my small part by donating money and supporting charities. But, it doesn’t help the helplessness that I feel.
Far away from our land of ice and snow there are children without parents. Babies without their Moms and Moms without their babies. If I could bring them into my home, make them some soup and clothe them put them to bed and tell them all will be OK tomorrow, I would. But, I can’t and it won’t all be OK tomorrow. It will be a long time before these peoples lives are even remotely normal again.
So here we go on with our daily adventures and I hope in these adventures, I can use some of these fun times to remind J and Apple that we are truly Blessed. We have a warm house, food, clothing and quite frankly, more toys than most children should ever have. And even more important is that we are safe here in our warm homes.
So as you look at these photos of us at the Canal on Saturday taking the kids for a skate and a Beavertail, know that we truly feel Blessed in all that we have and know that we are trying in our little way to play a part in helping those in Haiti get through this tragedy.
It’s funny how the smallest thing can take you on a ride down Memory Lane.
Here is my Memory for today.
Today, I warmed up some Mac n’ Cheese for Apple. Hubby had put some hot dogs cut up in it for the kids last night, a little extra protein and a little more fun. The smell of the hot dogs just took me right on back. Back to an era when the only time we had hot dogs was at the beach cooked over hot coals. At least that is how I remember it.
The picture up top is actually on our cross Canada trip one summer and we are at Lake Superior , back when we only had ourselves and the scenery to keep us company on long drives. Mom was taking one of a few shots that we would have from this trip. Back then film and developing was expensive. They bought a roll and took a photo a day or a stop. One roll served the whole trip, I believe, maybe two. That table cloth was plastic, but it made it to every trip to the beach and I don’t mean the Beach by the Ocean, I mean Lac Philipe up in the Gatineaus only an hours ride from our house. We dont’ go up there too often because with pollution the beaches get closed after too much rain, and we have had our fair share the last few years. Back in the ’70s and ’80s we went up almost every other weekend all summer long. We would stop at the chip wagon for a fresh chip and soda on the way home, Québec may have a few difficulties, but they make the best chip wagon chips anywhere.
This next picture is at the beach at a Church Camp we used to go to every summer, my Dad was the pastor and I remember how much fun we had. I remember this photo being taken. I remember that yellow shirt and my Mom’s t-shirt, which later became mine and is in a memory box in the basement. I remember that we used to drive in the car down the dirt road to Lac Philipe. Dad would drive, Mom would be in the front seat and us girls in the back, and on the car… yes ON the car, would be all the youth. Guys would be sitting on the hood, the roof, the trunk and Dad would crawl along the dirt road transporting the youth to and from the beach. You could never do that now, but back then, it was the ’70s nobody cared. The youth would be dangling their bare feet in front of Dad’s face to see if he could see and we would all be laughing and giggling and it was just a hoot.
And when we would get back to camp the guys would break out guitars and sit around a circle and sing Church songs. They were all hippies back then so they would be drying out their long hair in the sun. And Mom, she would be cooking up some hot dogs over the hot coals singing along with the rest of us.
