Friday Potpourri

It's me ~ back again 

and on a Friday no less

Credit: Tetra Images Tetra Images Getty Images

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I am finishing up a week of vacation and if I learned one thing this week

having time for myself really recharges my soul

I need down time ~ time to do absolutely nothing

or whatever I want is good for my well being

last weekend was Thanksgiving here in Canada

and we spent Sunday at the camp

it was damp and raining off and on

but that was ok as it was the people who we were with was what mattered the most

Trev's Mom cooked the turkey, dressing and pie

and then we all brought sides

it made things easier for Barb and took that pressure off just one person

trying to do it all

my brother and his girlfriend joined us

and even though we have had some issues in the past

we have come together since Mom's passing

and have been not only civil but supportive of one another

it was one of Mom's wishes and I am thankful that things have worked out that way.

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holiday Monday I was alone

as hubby had to work

it was windy, cold and raining

as we caught the tail end of hurricane Matthew

Molly and I snuggled on the couch

and watched tv ~ drank tea and read

I caught myself as I picked up the phone to call Mom

then stopped ~ I know this will happen now and then

and I am ok with the feelings that will come over me

truth be told I have been feeling quite numb

not a lot of tears and being the way I am

it freaked me out a bit ~ you see I am an emotional person

not a drama queen or diva ~ but things do affect me

so the numbness is not something I am used to

so part of my new normal is realizing that I am ok

and that the stages of grief are there and different for everyone

and each parent as I am learning

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last week leading up to vacation I had 2 things on my list

that I wanted to get done while I was off

I completed one last night and still contemplating the other

too funny as I am a list girl all the way

but apparently I require a deadline

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I had planned to take a photography drive yesterday

up early ~ I had my route planned out

where to stop for lunch and then an alternate route back

then my baby girl got sick ~ we went to the vet on Wednesday

and I really did not want to leave her alone for a full day

when she was not feeling 100%

so maybe today I will go on a little drive

with my camera in hand ~ the sun is shining and I do believe

it will be the perfect day to get some fall shots

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we talked last night about the weekend and we decided it is time to

head to our little cabin in the woods and close it up for the season

then Sunday ~ who knows what the day may bring

until next time

Lori 

Sunday Thoughts

So hello there and happy fall

I am just finishing up a week of vacation

my errands are complete

I have a banana bread in the oven and getting ready to make some muffins too

last I posted other than the news about Mom was in May

can you believe it!  yeah I can

so much has happened and I wanted to throw this one out there

as life has not been all bad over the summer

the weekend before my surgery I finally took the leap and did my gallery wall

I have since changed the mats out from white to a linen colour

and I do like it much better

I like things all in a row so I was not sure how I was going to react to all

the different frames ~ but when all was said and done

I do love it.  I added some red as we have a red recliner now

and some other red details in the room so it all works together

Rocky, Tracey, Nancy & Lori

my bestie turned 50 in June so we gathered the girls

and headed off to a local vineyard

so much fun!

when Tracey turned 50 last year, Rocky and I got her a cuff bracelet that read:

"A good friend knows all your best stories ~ A best friend has lived them with you"

it only seemed fitting that I get one for Rocky for hers

and while I was at it ~ I picked one up for myself as well

and had to get a pic of the 3 of us

the end of June brought another proud Auntie moment

when Katrina graduated from college

I love this little one that has grown into such a beautiful person

she has come such a long way

sorting through things at Mom's apartment over the summer was emotional

but some of the gems I came across were priceless

this is me with my Grampy and my Dad

a party at the cottage and I dare say this 3 generation shot

we were singing like nobody's business

such sweet memories

the junior high gang got together again in July

loads of laughs and catching up as the guys joined us this time around

another fun night

a day at the shore and a visit with one of Trev's Aunts

we sat on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine and the salt air

more beach time was had the long weekend in August

but this time on the Northumberland Strait

we walked and walked the beach at low tide

looking for treasures and splashing through the water

it was down time that was needed and appreciated

Rocky, Tracey, Kim & Lori 

this night was so much fun

we bought the tickets back in June

and the girl's were worried I would not be ready to go out for a night of fun

well they were wrong ~ we danced and sang like it was 1980

to the music of Loverboy

a good time was had by all

we got to the cottage again on Labour Day weekend

it was so nice and full of beautiful sunsets,

bonfires, fireworks and relaxation

date night with this one, this past week

she is a high school senior this year!  I can't even think about it.

We went to see Bridget Jones's Baby

so funny!

Trev and I got out on a little road trip as well

it's nice to just jump in the car and go for a little afternoon trip

go somewhere you have never been

top it off with a great cup of coffee and a treat

and still be home for supper.

I have some things on my heart but will save them for another time

much love,

A Mother's Love

So I didn't mean to be away this long

I thought about posting a few times

over the month of July ~ but things have been busy

and time that I did have were not spent in front of the computer

I am here today to document maybe more for myself

than anyone who may read my words

that my Mama gained her angel wings last week

she had a rough Spring

in and out of the hospital 3 times

and a couple of pretty bad falls

because she had COPD ~ she would get fluid on her lungs

then end up with pneumonia

but she would bounce back and come home after a week or so

when she landed in the hospital in June

the doctor said that she was no longer safe living by herself

so we started looking into an assisted living facility

there were many meetings at the hospital

and going to look at rooms for her

getting things set up for the move and the task of

cleaning out her apartment ~ what to keep

sifting and sorting through your memories can be a 

daunting task yet I was thankful that she sold the house 10 years

ago as there was only a fraction of things to go through

I found a room in a home in my sub division

it was perfect ~ Molly and I could go for a walk and visit

and we did ~ the residents loved seeing the pup come

I posted this on Facebook after we got her moved in

So this is how parents must feel when they drop their kids off at university. 

Leaving them in a dorm room with all their stuff in a house full of strangers. 

She loved her new room and is settling in ~ thankfully I am just a stones throw away #helicopterdaughter

Tuesday she asked to go to the hospital

and I went in after work to see how she was doing

she was sitting up ~ not feeling herself

but not critical for sure

around midnight the phone rang

 she had taken a turn for the worse

so in we went ~ called my brother

and stayed all night

she passed peacefully on Thursday morning

born July 18th ~ passed August 18th

she had just celebrated 70 candles on her cake

today I am still kind of numb

so much to do ~ finalizing things for her apartment

then this afternoon I will go over to her room

and pack up the rest of her things

the power of friendship is an amazing things

I am truly surrounded by the best people

the cards and messages ~ phone calls and visits

my solace now is that she is with the love of her life

she has not truly been happy since Dad passed and that was 15 years ago

while making calls I heard this over and over again

she is with your Dad

they have been reunited

I would have loved to have seen Dad scoop her up and twirl her around

upon her arrival in heaven.

xo

Singlehandedly

It's Sunday afternoon and I am sitting here with my to do list

and wondering when I may have time to sit down again before dinnertime

I make it sound so drastic don't I!

reality is I am finishing up a week of vacation

and although it was a busy one ~ we did have some down time too

you see I am having surgery on my hand on Tuesday

so I wanted to get all my planting done and the house cleaned

you know ~ all the things you want to get accomplished

while you still have use of both hands

so while I sit here and watch a squirrel hop along the fence

I know this will be my spot for a week or so 

I have meals pre-made and some shows on the pvr

I have covered most of my bases so to speak

but enough about that.....

last month a group of girls from junior high met on a Sunday morning for brunch

and just to catch up ~ oh what fun we had!

our church celebrated their 50th anniversary and we attended the celebration

the guest speaker was the minister that was there when Trev was growing up

I had heard so much about this wonderful woman and I know now why she was a favourite

it was a beautiful service and the fellowship afterwards was jam packed with people

these girls have a huge chunk of my heart ~ after many failed attempts to get together

we finally got to dinner and I am so glad we did

my gallery wall!  Yes!  I finally bit the bullet and did it

and happy to say that I really really like it

I wanted some pops of red to compliment our new red recliner

and the pops here and there throughout the living room

last time the old gang from the neighborhood got together it was for a funeral

so we made a pact that the next time we got together would be for joy and not sorrow

we made it happen a couple of weekends ago

I have known these 2 since I was five ~ the roots run deep

although we did get to the cottage to open it up for the season

we did not spend the night

we did make it to the camp though as it was already open for the season

there is something about taking your coffee out to the deck in the morning

and just sitting ~ listening to the river and watching the hummingbirds

it was some down time that was required for both of us

so that's pretty much me in a nutshell

all photos taken with my phone because that's the way we roll nowadays

actually big girl camera coming out today as there are some lilacs I have my eye on

vacant lot ~ you know I am coming for you!

Happy Sunday

Friday Potpourri

Friday ~ and exhale........

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I am actually on day 3 of a 5 day stretch of time off

and it was welcomed and needed

I knocked off a couple of projects and prepped for others

working on my gallery wall ~ painted some frames

choosing photos

and then there is the coverlet for the bed ~ summer weight

so when we take the quilt off for the summer

there will be something pretty to replace it with

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today is a little painting project ~ some touch ups that I have been putting off

and then some curling up on the couch as we have a freezing rain mix

going on right now so we are staying put

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feels good to be back after a little time away

busy as mama was in the hospital for a little spell

she is home and fine now but it was a busy couple of weeks

I picked the girls up this week after school ~ we grabbed supper and 

took it over to her place

we all enjoyed our girls night and caught up on the latest news

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some other things are heavy on my heart yet 

I feel if I write about it here it is like airing my dirty laundry

let's just say I do not like conflict and you can choose your friends

but you can't choose your family!

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my mother in law is hosting Easter dinner tomorrow

always yummy ~ looking forward to it

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Happy Easter ~ Happy Weekend