Training Day

Disclaimer: This post is not about the movie "Training Day" rather it's about my 'training day' at Huron Ridge Acres. For the past several years I've been working at the greenhouse in the evenings for the month May while the green house extends it's regular hours from 5pm to 8pm. This allows customers more opportunity to purchase all the flowers, veggies and any other gardening item needed.

The retail staff gathered for a refresher course in customer service, using the cash register and learning a little more about the products/plants that we're selling. And on Friday, I'll start at my other job; so if you're looking for me, I'll be over at the green house, busy ~ planting, cleaning, and thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the spring season.

Blessings

something new - again

After having the house full on the weekend with everyone home, it's back to empty, well close to empty, Darcy has moved home for the summer. Kyle on the the hand didn't. He's staying in Orillia for the summer since he found work there. {another adjustment ~ sigh}

With the holiday long weekend, it felt like a mini-vacation with everyone home having fun and now it's Monday - and back to reality. To help keep the blues at bay, I keep myself busy with cleaning and laundry. Which with an emptier house isn't much, I need to find myself a hobby. Any suggestions?

Blessings

Family

As I write the title to this post, my heart swells with emotion. My family.. . ... ironically our most recent family photo was taken on Krystle & Gerard's wedding day. Today was the first day in many months that the whole family was together. Both Kyle & Darcy have finished their first year of college and are able to have a little down time before summer work starts. Once I knew they were both going to be here, I invited Krystle and Gerard to come over as well. It's funny how alive the house seems when they're all here.

Family is a very important part of our everyday life. It helps us in improving our personality. It also helps us in shaping our lives. It teaches us the value of love, affection, care, truthfulness and self-confidence and provides us tools and suggestions which are necessary to get success in life. It's the place where you can be yourself, where you are accepted for who you are. Family encourages you when you are surrounded by problems and is willing to help you through the tough times and can bring joy and happiness into your life.

It seems that in today's society, most people don't realize the importance of family. They prefer to spend most of their time with their friends. But when they are surrounded by problems, it's their family that they turn too. So it is very important for each and every one of us that we give importance to our families above anything else and enjoy spending time with our family members.

Friendships can come and go, however, family is here for life.

Blessings

Sticks & Stones

Remember the childhood rhyme "sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt me"? Well, here's an interesting little story.

The other day my son Darcy and I were at a shopping mall in London. As we're walking together side by side, someone coughed the word 'cougar' to us as we passed by. {side note: for those who are unfamiliar with that term it means "a woman in her 30s or 40s who actively pursues casual sexual relationships with young men"}. I was dumbfounded. Not that I was called that but that they were making such an assumption of us, not even knowing us or knowing our story. And even if I was a cougar; who are they to judge us? Which led me to this thought. How quick can we be to judge others?

In Matthew 7: 1 & 2, it says "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

This is something I know I need to learn. As I am at the grocery store, in line waiting for a tea at Starbucks, or even at the mall, I know that I am quick to judge others for the way they dress, or how there hair is, or even with who they are with. It's not until we are willing to get to know those around us that we can care for them and then. .. .. not be so quick to judge. The American Indian Proverb "Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins"; can be helpful to us as we remember that it's only until you know their story that you can truly understand the journey they are on.

Blessings

Puppy's holiday

While Wayne & I were away, Sasha had a holiday of her own at our dear friend Jane's. As we were packing our things, gathering Sasha's stuff and loading the vehicle we found our little puppy patiently waiting to go. After we returned home, Wayne quickly went over to Jane's to bring Sasha home. Sasha was sooo excited to see us that she ran around and around and around until she tuckered herself out and went to rest in her crate again. I think she was glad to get back home.

Blessings

Flight Delay

The last few trips that we've gone on we have flown with sunwing airlines. To say that they are a great airline company is an understatement. From take-off to landing this company cares about the comfort of its passengers. With complimentary champagne cocktail, to full course meals, the flight is a great way to start any holiday.

On our return trip we found out that we had a flight delay. Thankfully we found out before we were at the airpport giving us more time to rest in the beautiful Dominican Republic. In fact our initial flight time was at 9:30 pm, which had us leaving the resort at 6:25pm. Since the restaurant doesn't open until 6:30pm we were would not have been able to have eaten supper. Now with the flight delay and not leaving the resort until 9:00pm, we enjoyed a leisurely final meal and soaked up as much sun as we could. The reason I post this, is to remind myself, that in this past I would have become very frustrated with a change in "my" schedule. After all I had plans...... however as I've grown older I've realized that all things happen for a reason and there is no sense in getting anxious about things you cannot change, but to look for the best in each situation. As we landed in Toronto much later than anticipated, we learned that the delay was caused by mechanical difficulty on a previous plane which delayed many other planes as well.

Wayne & I were both very thankful that if a delay had to occur atleast it was on the end of the trip and not at the beginning. However I hope that if that ever happens on a future trip that I would be able to be as understanding as I was this time.

Blessings

24/7

On our recent holiday, Wayne & I were together 24/7, that's 24 hours a day.. . .. for 7 .. .. straight days. It was not something we were used to. However as each day passed and we got in to a new routine together, it got me to thinking that this is probably what retirement will feel like. Mind you Wayne is far from ready to retire, me on the other hand, with all the health issues I'm struggling with I'll be ready to slow down soon. {but that's for another post} I love the song "Happy Together" by The Turtles, I find that it had become very appropriate for us. {Unfortunately I cannot embed the youtube video so if you want to listen to the song just click on the title.}

Blessings

?photo?

Needless to say, Wayne is technologically challenged. Usually I am the one taking photos on our holidays and normally I don't mind. But every once in a while I like to get my photo take too. So, I had asked him to take a photo of me while I was doing the water aerobics. After he's taken what he thought was a photo, we looked at it and nope it wasn't a "photo" but a video and unfortunately I cannot get it uploaded onto blogger for everyone to enjoy it with me. So I guess I'll post another one of Wayne. This is one of the many times he sat with his legs in the pool, chatting with someone new. He met so many people on this holiday, that one night at supper he had so many people say hi to him that he couldn't remember then all. {smirk!} too fun!

Blessings

Just Another Day in Paradise

Each day on our holiday we had pretty much the same routine. {see previous post} The weather too didn't change much, it was absolutely beautiful.... warm and sunny! Definitely no complaints, although living there and working or resting on holidays are two totally different scenarios. Not sure how well Wayne would like the hot sun and heat if he was working. The Dominican's though, didn't seem to mind. Each person working that we met, always, yes always, had a smile on their face, no matter what their job was. I would highly recommend this vacation destination to anyone looking for a great venue, friendly people, amazing food and of course a little bit of paradise.

Blessings

R & R

This holiday gave me the much needed rest and relaxation I had been looking for. Each day our routine was the same. Wayne & I would go for our morning walk throughout the streets, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast, relax by the pool reading a book, (while Wayne played beach volleyball, pool volleyball, enjoyed the crazy pool games...etc.), have a light lunch, return to the pool to sunbathe, go for a walk along the beach, head back to the room to get cleaned up, eat a scrumptious supper, and stay to watch the evening showtime. Yeah, it was pretty tough ^.^

Blessings

Impressions

Over the past months, I've been challenged more and more about living a life well lived. Opportunities come and go...at work, in my home, when we're on holiday, with my acquaintances. How do I reflect life in my ordinary world, with boldness and confidence? Am I living my life well? How do others see me?

When I look in the mirror. What do I see? It's just plain old me... . .. getting older. How do I look to people who only see me and never interact with me? They may pass me in the grocery aisle, see me at church or bump into me at the airport. Which ironically happened on our recent holiday. As Wayne & I were at the airport waiting to begin our holiday to the Dominican Republic at two different times, two different couples approached us and remembered us from our holiday to Cuba in November. With my spiky red hair and Wayne being bald I realize that we might be a more memorable couple. But what kind of impression did we make? Did we come across as snooty people? a couple in love? or do they see the light that hopefully is so evident that those who see us actually see HIM.

Blessings

..... and we're home

After a full day?, I mean, after an over-full day of travelling, Wayne & I made it safely back from our wonderful holiday to the Dominican Republic. We stayed at VH Gran Ventana, the all-inclusive beach resort, where we enjoyed the beautiful weather, the warm sandy beach and re-acquainted ourselves with the resort, as this was our third time to this destination.

Blessings

Tax-time

The Saying: "nothing is certain but death and taxes", was said by Benjamin Franklin in 1789. He was an American-born statesman, scientist, and writer who frequently corresponded with the prominent international figures of his time. In 1789, at the age of 83, Franklin was still corresponding with Jean Baptiste Leroy, a French physicist and writer. Many of Franklin's personal letters contained simple maxims - the kind found in his Poor Richard's Almanack - and they prove that his wit and wisdom were not impaired by age. One of these comments was: "Our Constitution is in actual operation. Everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."

Our accountant was here last week to finalize the 2010 year and file the income tax for both Wayne & I and the farm business. And it got me to thinking.. . ... It's really frustrating that we work so hard making money only to have to give a percentage or portion of all dollars earned to the government. Which then led my thoughts to the Disney's movie "Robin Hood". At least we're not taxed as harsh as the residents of Nottingham.

While death and taxes may be certain, thankfully we don't have to die every year.

Blessings

Think Spring

Sometimes, it's a good idea to stop and smell the roses. During stressful times, the ability to retreat to a restful environment is important to maintain perspective. Whether we set aside a secluded area in the garden or gazebo, line a pathway with fragrant ground cover, or simply fill planter boxes with fragrant flowers, we can benefit from a feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Our sense of smell has the powerful ability to retrieve memories we may think we've forgotten. The pungent scent of a freshly mowed lawn after a spring rain, the earthy aroma of a newly ploughed field, and the delicate fragrance of daffodils blowing across the rolling country side recall the breath of fresh air that comes with the emergence of spring.

Despite the mud and mucky boots at the back door, I know the spring bulbs planted late last fall will do their best to usher in warmer days. Soon, the lingering scent of lilies and apple blossoms will fill the air. At this time of year it can be difficult to imagine the garden in full bloom. However we've begun dreaming already of all the different veggies we plan to plant in our garden. As winter reluctantly departs, I settle down by the corn stove with a hot cup of tea and look forward to the return of longer days, more sunshine, and inevitably, the sweet smell of spring!

Blessings