Visitors, Friends and Apples

Its nearing the end of September and less than a week away from Brit's 33rd birthday.
Pat and Dave made it down for their vacation. They stayed for a week in PEI then a week here at Greens Point lighthouse cottage. They enjoyed it so much they booked this cottage for their entire two weeks vacation next summer! I stopped by the cottage for a visit and it really is an amazing place. Perched right on the cliff beside the lighthouse overlooking the Bay of Fundy. The sunsets are beautiful and dolphins and whales were spotted while watching the Deer Island Ferry passing by in the distance. We enjoyed some nice meals together and lots of laughs.

Brit, Billy,  George, Melody and I went apple picking st Mackays orchard on Kingston Peninsula. It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed the trip while listening to some great bluegrass music on the drive.

The following week we put those fresh picked apples to good use making our traditional apple dumplings and caramel sauce. With the help of our new friend Amy Leblanc, Melody,  George and myself made 85 dumplings. So much fun working together, sharing the experience and making memories.
I also managed to squeeze in some time to make some new friends, spent another afternoon on the trails with Carrie and Jeff where we had so many laughs listening to my new friend tell jokes. We all need friends that make us laugh like that!!!
Next month is my busy month. Brit, Billy and I all celebrate birthdays in October as well as Thanksgiving and Halloween.
I am trying my best to sneak in a mini vacation for myself to reset and reenergize before the Christmas season is upon us.
So that's it for September. Enjoy your Fall everyone💖

August Already??

Wow this summer is flying by! What a great summer it's been so far though with perfect weather and great times spent with friends and family.
I got my trip to Montreal over with. That was an experience I won't be needing to repeat anytime soon. The company was fun and the drive there and back was great but Montreal itself was a mess of construction. Thanks to Debra Vincze for telling me about the WAZE app for a GPS so I was able to find my way in and out of there!
I also snuck in a day trip to visit my friend Pat in PEI while she was on vacation there. We didn't stay long as it was so hot there. It was good to return to the cooler temps  of the Fundy coast!
I spent a day out biking the trails with friends and need to do that again soon. Such a great time!!

 Was so glad to have this bandanna...it was a dusty ride!!

Crazy summer hair but Frankie loves me anyway :) 

Next week we head out to Ontario for a week. Can't wait to hug my grandbabies, see my kids, parents, family and friends.  We will be bringing the lawn chairs for evening parking lot parties, always a good time😎! My plan is also to bring back lots of tomatoes, corn and peaches to put up for the winter.
September will bring my sister and brother in law to the area so I also have that to look forward to.
Not much else has been happening. Still loving the good life and trying to stay out of trouble. Some days it's easier than others  hahaha!
See you next month💖

Back Again

I can't believe it has been since Christmas since I last posted. I have been blogging for 10 years and have never let more than a couple months pass between posts.  This past winter was a difficult one for me and I am happy to say I came through the other side of it, once again stronger and still positive.
I did manage a trip to Ontario in March to visit my family travelling with only my dogs. It was a great week and I got to spend time with my kids and grandbabies as well as my great nephews 💖.

These kids kept me laughing whenever I spent time with them!

Billy and Britni are doing very well, healthy and happy. Brit had to have her appendix out the week after Christmas which was scary at the time as it had burst so she had some post op complications but in the end recovered completely and now knows she has nothing to fear at the hospital.

For Christmas my kids got me a new baby.  We named him Frankie and he is just the cutest little dog. He is a Chihuahua Pug mix (Chug) and a best friend for Copper too. They both provide me with unconditional love and hours of entertainment. 

The spring brought new love into Brooke' s life. Makes my heart happy to see her being treated so well.

I have a few painting projects on the go after a long break. It's been a struggle to get back into that groove. Some things just require a little inspiration and the beautiful weather has helped in that area.

I just returned from a quick trip to North Bay, Ontario where I enjoyed a couple days with my friends Christy and Grant Patterson. Although it was extremely hot the company was delightful and we had lots of laughs.

This was a hoarders house downtown North Bay.

  After three nights I packed up and made the 15 and 1/2 hour drive home. It's so nice travelling this time of year when I can make the entire trip in daylight otherwise I would have to stay overnight half way. I don't like night time driving due to all the wild life, better to be safe than sorry.

So now I am back home planning our next adventures. Coming up this month I am taking a Romanian woman and her daughter to Montreal to obtain their new Visas as well as a quick trip to PEI to visit some Ontario friends who are vacationing there. 

So that's a quick over view. I am still here, single again but happy and healthy, grateful for the blessed life I lead.  

Love and sunshine to all.💖

Season's Greetings

Here it is, just over a week before Christmas once again.  Happy to say I am here for another year!
It's been a busy fall with painting classes, road trips, birthdays and so on.  Unfortunately there was an incident of excessive drama that came into my life causing me great stress and the result was that I contracted shingles and was out of commission for the most part of 6 weeks.  I am still numb from the waist down on the left side but at least it is now tolerable, the unnecessary stress has been removed and I am feeling great again, thankfully in time to prepare for Christmas!

My good friend Elsie and I had a girls weekend away in Old Quebec City.  Everyone we encountered was so friendly and accommodating.  It was a very charming and interesting place to visit, cobblestone streets lined with a wide variety of unique shops to wander in and out of.  The tantalizing aromas wafting from the restaurants mingling with the fresh fall air made me wish it was supper time!  We took a horse drawn carriage ride around the town which was very informative.  The weekend was a success, we both had a good time and came home well rested.

Brooke, Mel, George and I got busy with the Christmas baking once my shingles healed up and we are gradually getting all of our containers delivered to friends and family.  Christmas cards have been sent along with any parcels that needed to be shipped as well.  I got to watch my grand babies open their Christmas presents this year via Facetime (thanks Kristie), which was really special.  Brooke has been in Ontario for almost a week and will be home on the 20th with my special Christmas gift...I am as excited as a six year old!!!  I can't wait until Christmas morning when everyone opens their gifts!  George keeps going through the ones under the tree trying to find his and seeing if he can guess what they are.  I love that Christmas never gets old in our house no matter our age.  Tonight Brit, George and Billy got dressed up to attend the program Christmas dinner and dance...what a great looking group they are!

We had snow for one day last week, then the rain and high winds came and took it all away.  We are still green a week before Christmas but Ontario has enough snow for them and us too!

I guess that wraps up October, November and most of December. 
Merry Christmas to all of my family and friends, near and far!
See you back here after in the New Year!

Have a Nice Trip??

I simply can't wrap my brain around the fact that it is September already.  School buses are rumbling down the roads, leaves are starting to turn and the crisp morning air tells me it's true.  What a fabulous summer we had at my house, so much activity, visitors, trips, new adventures...and I would say that I'm sorry it's over but guess what?  The fall is looking just as jam packed full of things to do, places to go and people to see!

With the great success of our Yardzee fundraiser we were able to make awesome trips happen for six folks that wanted to travel.  The first three went to Halifax in June and in August three more people had some of their dreams come true.

Rosie, Marilena, and Britni were excited to be heading to PEI for two nights.  We stayed at the Dutch Inn, Cornwall, PEI.  This Inn had an indoor pool and a nice breakfast.  The rooms were great with kitchen, living room and two bedrooms in each so everyone got to sleep on a bed...no cots or couches for us!

The first day we went to Sandspit Amusement Park where Marilena had her first experience on a rollercoaster and all the other rides.  Once she overcame her fear and went on the first ride there was no holding her back.  She laughed her way through all the rides!!  Rosie was a little less adventurous but did ask to go down the big slide and smiled all the way down.  Brit enjoyed all her usual favorites as well.

The next day we ventured down to Souris, it was a rainy day but it didn't dampen our spirits.  After a short walk we enjoyed lobster rolls for lunch and bought a few souvenirs. 

Chef Michael Smith from the Food Network shows Chopped Canada, The Inn Chef, Chef at Home etc... had a gift shop there where we spent some time visiting with the sales person.  I mentioned that we wanted to drive by his Bay Fortune Inn to check it out and she told us to stop in and look around, assuring us that we would be welcomed and might get a tour.  You didn't have to tell us twice so off we went.  

Just as we were told, the receptionist welcomed us in, and Britni noticed cook books for sale!  I went to go back out to the van in the rain to get my debit card and here is where things took a turn for the worse.

I walked carefully across the slick deck (there was no railing) and as soon as I stepped down onto the first step, my foot went up in the air followed by the other foot and I came down on my spine right on the edge of the step!!  The pain was crazy and went right to my head even though I didn't hit my head.  I managed to get myself up and when I looked around I saw Michael Smith himself!!!  OMG!  I didn't know whether to be embarrassed or cry from the pain.  The next thing I know the receptionist is beside me asking me if I was ok.  I assured her I was not but I could not let Britni know or it would upset her and ruin her visit and possibly the trip.  So we got to the van, I retrieved my debit card and went back inside to finish the visit.  To be honest I don't remember much other than taking pictures of everyone with Michael and him inviting us to come back later that evening for the Oyster Hour as his guests which was a once in a lifetime opportunity for these girls.  I kept the smile on my face as far as I know and as soon as we wrapped things up there I got Carrie to drive me to the nearest hospital.  From Souris I had to travel by ambulance to Montague where I had xrays and some morphine.  They didn't see anything broken so I was allowed to leave 3 hours later.  While I was having this done, Carrie had taken everyone else back to the hotel for a swim so they didn't know what had happened and wouldn't worry.  They picked me up just in time to make it back to Bay Fortune Inn where we wandered around the property trying all the appetizer stations.  We all had our first oysters which were surprisingly delicious!  He signed all of our cookbooks before we left.  What a great experience for this group!!!

This is a picture of my back the next day...it was a long drive home for me but and of course getting in and out of the van everyone knew I had been hurt and they all took great care of me.  

I was feeling pretty good after the first week with a lot more range of motion but for whatever reason today I am back to not being able to move much due to the pain.  I guess it will just take time to recover so I will have to take it easy.  My incentive to take it easy is that I am looking forward to a final fund raiser trip at the end of October to take a group to Woodstock for a night of bowling with friends they have made up there.  

So there is a bit of my summer...see you next time!!

A Feeling of Urgency

I wonder if I am alone in this or if any of you have had the same experience. 
A few months ago I started with this feeling that something big was going to happen, I didn't know if it was good or bad but there was this fluttering in my gut that motivated me to get out and start something.  This was the time that I offered to go back to the program to work until they could find a full time staff that they desperately needed.
During my time at the center I started teaching classes on Personal Outcomes...looking at 21 different areas in a persons life that they seek satisfaction.  The response to these classes was amazing, people discussing their rights, their dreams and desires and what kinds of things they felt they were missing out on.  They chose travelling as their goal and discussed barriers and solutions.  Money, always being an obstacle was addressed by a desire to fundraise to help out the situation.  After making over 70 Yardzee games and holding a very successful yard sale we raised over $1200 dollars to get started on our adventures.

Our first trip was last week to Halifax.  Three folks from the program signed up to go for the one night stay.  We visited the Atlantic Maritime Museum and the Nova Scotia Art Gallery, Peggy's Cove, the school for the blind and Citadel Hill.  As two of the folks are part of our art class, the exhibit in the Art Gallery of Maude Lewis, her house and her works was very interesting.  Her work is very simplistic in nature and proved to us that some forms of art, such as folk art which is what her style is, can be achieved by the most basic of painters.  There is no need for expensive education, tools, paints...just a desire to create!

We enjoyed meals together, lots of laughs and side conversations and learned so much about each other that you can't learn in a large group environment.  I can't stress enough how rewarding it is to take someone away from their everyday, humdrum lives and see their reactions to new and exciting experiences.  I could go on and on about how behaviours that you see at home magically disappear when away but that is for another day and another post.

Now, back to my feeling of urgency.  I now think it was my need to give, to do something, to make a difference.  It's easy when you work from home, to get set in a routine and before long it seems you are doing nothing but merely existing.  Of course that's not true because you are maintaining a home and looking after folks but sometimes you just need more.  I guess what I am saying is that I was draining my cup and not doing anything to refill it.  By volunteering, getting involved and helping people experience new things I have begun to fill myself up again.  I have learned that volunteering at something you actually love adds depth and meaning to your life, it doesn't drain you.

Our next trip is to PEI in August with three young ladies from the center, one staff, one parent and myself. 

Now, as for me personally, I am heading back to Ontario in July.  The opportunity came up unexpectedly to stay at the Normandale cottage and I couldn't be happier.  I love that place, so relaxing and a great time to visit with friends!  Of course it really wouldn't be complete without taking Brit, Billy, George and Mel with Brooke and myself and they are all eager to see their new extended family as well as some of their friends they have made over the years.

My feeling of urgency has subsided into an enjoyable and fun filled life once again and I continue to explore new ways to give back and reap the benefits of contributing to others.

See you back here soon.

Spring Has Sprung??....Yeah, Right!!! Grrrr!

Spring seems to be having a hard time breaking through this year.  We have had a few very nice days, warmer than normal and then a couple days later the ground is covered in snow!  Nothing that lasts for very long or needing shoveling so there's no sense in complaining.

I went straight back to work after our March getaway to Ontario.  The month of  April started out sad when we lost a dear friend Corey.  He was such a bright light at the center, always full of mischief and smiles.  I especially loved watching him paint and hearing his input in our discussions.  What a big, kind heart he had and beautiful eyes with lashes that any woman would be envious of.

I also started a blog for the folks at Community Living Center to share what they are learning and accomplishing.  You can read it at http://www.clivingstgeorge.blogspot.com .

The rest of the month has been quite busy with Easter, preparing class lessons, finally getting back to some painting and spring cleaning the house.  Paul gave Billy's room a facelift with new paint and carpet!  Looks great and so much brighter.

One nice sunny evening we loaded up the van to go for our usual drive.  When we got to Lepreau, I noticed at sign saying "Old Saint John Rd".  I said I had never been down that road before but had heard there was a road from Lepreau to Lake Utopia, so let's go on an adventure.  The road was paved and we were enjoying the new scenery, then the road turned to gravel so I started looking for somewhere to turn around.  Before I knew it we were on a mud road with no where to go but forward, every place I thought I could turn around was flooded or oozing thick mud.  So onward we must go!!  WELL!!!  The road only got worse as we pushed forward, going through deep ruts filled with water up to the wheel wells.  I could feel the van sliding under my death grip on the steering wheel.  Britni was in the back saying, "Oh God, Oh God..."  George was calmly reassuring her by saying, "No need to worry Brit, Peggy's a good driver, isn't that right Peggy?"
So I joked around with them to keep everyone calm, all the while trying not to pee my pants.  Brooke's knuckles were white while she grasped the "Holy Crap" bar by her window and was frantically searching her google maps to see how far we would be on this logging road from hell!!  We must have been on it at least a half an hour before finally coming to the end and back to paved road near Lake Utopia.  Everyone cheered and George pipes up "See Brit, nothing to go on about, Peggy knew what she was doing!!!"  I was never so happy to get home in my life, it took awhile for my heartbeat to return to normal and we can all laugh about it now. My only regret is not having video taped that...could have won on Funniest Home Videos!

That's the thick and thin of what has gone on since I got back from Ontario...never a dull moment.

I spent the weekend home alone, having a nice quiet break and some time to get the paints out.  I am starting a painting class next month here at my house and wanted to try out a couple ideas.  Here's the results.

See you back here next month!

Back With An Update

It's been some time since I have sat down to blog. First time in almost 9 years I have let three months slip by!  I guess I've been busy...well first tired after Christmas then things started to pick up again in February.  I started back to work at the end of February at the Community Living Center where I used to work.  Then Billy, Britni,  Paul and I packed up and headed to Ontario for a couple weeks.  We had a great time visiting with family and friends, taking the Go Train to Toronto one day to visit the hockey hall of fame and travel to the top of the CN Tower. Thanks to my daughter, Kristie for coming along to help her mom out. Couldn't have done it without her!!
Mom and dad are doing great.  I was able to bring dad's truck home with us.  Billy affectionately calls the truck Jack after my dad. He likes to say "let's take Jack out for a drive!"  He sure does love my parents!
While we were in Ontario, Copper decided to run off from Brooke's to have an adventure of his own. For four nights he was out in the bitter cold and yet somehow managed to survive. Many kind people in St George were out day and night searching and finally on the fourth day someone spotted him running along the highway.  They pulled over and Copper hid under their car until Brooke was able to get there and coax him out.  Many prayers were answered that day!!
So now we are all back home and back to work.  I am happy to be back at the program and feel good about teaching lessons what I hope will help inspire the folks and help them in making decisions about their lives.
Now there is three months in a nutshell. If this winter ever decides to move on into Spring it will be a welcomed time for new adventures!

Here are some pics from the trip.

Billy pretending to drive!!

My awesome great nephew Rhys

Brit and Paul with the Stanley Cup

First time on a train!

A quick painting I did for Rhys who loves sea turtles

Brit and Billy with their new friend Sherisse 

The Windmill store

Wow..almost Christmas and I see I haven't posted since September! Billy and Brit are doing awesome and are eagerly awaiting the big day. Billy insisted on putting the tree up on Rememberance Day and last night was my first opportunity to wrap and get some gifts under it.

I have had a busy few months painting both canvases and wood signs. sold a few, gifted a few and hope to keep a few.  Paul is setting up a table at the flea market in St John again this Sunday to sell some.  He seems to enjoy all the people that stop by. I can't put into words how it makes me feel to know that he is so proud of my work..just fills up my heart.

We had a fun day painting signs at the Community Living Center last month. Everyone had the chance to make a sign to gift this Christmas and they were all proud as punch with their achievements.  This Friday is their Christmas dinner and dance so I volunteered to prepare the meal.  Today I am roasting two of the three turkeys and every day this week I will do something else in preparation. Glad I got my wrapping done last night...lol!!

And then....

It appears I got side tracked in my blogging once again and it is now New Year's Eve!
The dinner for the program went off without a hitch. Everyone had full bellies and then danced the night away, great time had by all!
Next was our own Christmas dinner. Britni was able to spend a night at her mom's and came home Christmas eve. Billy was invited to his brother Ricky's house for Christmas dinner which was his first family Christmas  since his mom passed away many years ago.  You can only imagine how excited he was...he was vibrating waiting to be picked up!
We had our dinner on boxing day. Kristie, Brooke and Brandon gave me a new laptop which not  only surprised,  but overwhelmed me. I think I was just tired from the busy month and had to shed a few tears to let go of some of the tension...lol.
Next was Paul's family Christmas dinner on the 28th. It was held in their church hall which worked great. Lots of room for visiting and for little feet to run off their pent up energy.
I squeezed in a painting party with his sisters the next day, it was a nice afternoon and even more special since all 5 of the girls were home and able to get together.
So now it's time to ring in a new year. I don't know how 2017 can be much better than 2016 but I am looking forward to whatever is in store for me.
I wish you all joy and happiness in the upcoming year. I will raise a glass to good health and great memories!
Cheers!

Answered Prayers

I make plans every day for one thing or another.  Plans for today, this week, next month, even sometimes a year in advance.  It's nice for me and most people to know what is coming up, helps us stay organized and can give us something to look forward to.

I wish it was that way for the girl that lives with me. (I won't say her name for privacy reasons even though she did want me to write about her on my blog).  Her life can be turned upside down just by telling her we are going grocery shopping after lunch.  Once she has been told this, nothing else matters.  She can't stay focused on anything else and constantly asks, "What time are we going, can we get lunch stuff, am I going to see one of my family or friends, can I put my shoes on now?"  It goes on and on until I want to pull out my hair.  I have learned over the past three years not to mention anything until I have my keys in hand. Sometimes I slip up or she will overhear me mentioning an errand to Billy so if I plan on leaving in an hour I tell her we are leaving in three hours which usually buys me time, it's usually the last hour that her anxiety builds.  When I call her to get her shoes on an hour later she is happy and excited to be going!

Now I am making plans for a trip to Cape Breton in July for her, Paul and I.  If I tell her, it will be three months not only of anxiety for her but time for her to try to sabotage the trip.  It's not that she doesn't want to go, I think she knows if her behaviors become too much I won't be able to take her, the vacation will get cancelled and she won't have to think about it anymore.  I can never be sure exactly what she is thinking because she can't seem to explain her feelings except through her behavior.  So, I won't tell her, the night before we leave I will cautiously pack her bag and put it in the van.  When we are on our way out for a drive the next morning to get a coffee I will tell her where we are going and she will be thrilled.  She really does love surprises, which when I think about it, for someone with autistic tendencies is rather unusual.  Just goes to show how each person with a disability can not be defined by the label some doctor gives them.

Now when things do go haywire and the behavior explodes what do I do?  At this point there is no talking to her, she has gone beyond the ability to think clearly and to understand what I am saying.  As calmly as I can, I redirect her to her room away from anyone or anything she can harm.  Since I am human some days are easier to maintain my own control during these situations than others. There is absolutely no point in trying to explain anything to her at this time.  The only thing I say is "when you are calm we will talk".  She wants me to say something, anything to keep the drama going.  I Do NOT physically restrain her, just quietly redirect her back to her bed when she comes at me arms flailing.  Eventually she wears herself out and when she has calmed enough I sit with her on the bed and give her a hug.  Even though she is still calling me every name in the book and babbling nonsense I know its almost over and soon she will be filled with remorse and I feel she needs to know I care about her.  I understand she hates acting in this way but for whatever reason has no control over it, so I wait, and let my own heart rate return to normal.  I wait sometimes hours, sometimes as long as a day before discussing the outburst.  I wait for that teachable moment, in the calm when I can be heard and she can think clearly.

She really has changed in leaps and bounds and I am so proud of her for making progress. I often hear from people that I am special for doing the job I do.  It takes a special kind of person to look after those guys, people say.  It takes patience, understanding but most of all I think it really just boils down to wanting someone who came from chaotic beginnings to just have some peace.  Maybe I just want to be the answer to someone's prayer.  What I know for sure is that the folks I care for may come with some challenges but it wasn't until they came into my life that I felt like I was really doing something special and that they are the ones that answered my prayer.

Playing Catch Up

It's not surprising that I have not posted for August.  I knew it was going to be a busy month with visitors from Ontario,  a trip to Ontario and then more visitors. Add to that having my kitchen renovated and all the disorganization that comes along with it there was no time left for blogging.

It was a great time though,  spending lots of time with friends Debra and Randy Vinzce, Elsie and Donny McCurdy and then a visit from a lady I used to take care of when I worked for Community Living Brant.

After returning from Ontario it was a rush to preserve all the peaches, cucumbers and tomatoes I brought back. Melody, Britni, Billy and George were great helpers and in two days we put up 24 quarts of dill pickles, 26 pints of chili sauce, 26 pints of tomato butter, 10 bags of freezer pickles and 18 bags of peaches!!

When my guests from Ontario arrived it was a great 5 days of relaxing and traveling around. We followed it up with an overnight stay in PEI doing some shopping and having a blast at the Sandpit amusement park.  Billy and George especially loved the go karts!

Now that my kitchen is almost done, just waiting for new flooring to be installed life is getting back to normal.

Yesterday I spent an enjoyable afternoon painting with Paul's sister Denise.  It's no surprise to me that she did an awesome job on her first painting. She is a very crafty and talented girl! I hope we get to do it again soon 😀!!

So now it is time to relax a bit before October and everything that month has in store. Three birthdays, Thanksgiving and Halloween.  I do still have a couple days trips in mind for September but to me that is included in relaxing...hahahaha!!

See you back here in October!