Cafe World

Yes, I must admit I have become addicted to the face book game of Cafe World. It's Krystle's cafe really, she just lets me play. A few weeks ago she was home and playing the game and I teased her about it, so she told me to take a turn and immediately I was hooked. Now as we've advanced up the ranks of the game her friends are quite astonished since they know that Krystle is super busy with school, placement, RA business, meetings and such. She likes to reply that the cafe is 'under new management'. ^.^

This gives me a small taste of what it would be like to own my own cafe..... I mean a real cafe. I have this grandiose idea of opening a bookstore & cafe, kind of like a Chapters/Starbucks franchise.

As a young girl when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I thought it would be cool to be a stewardess. Today I find this to be quite funny as I am terrified to fly.

My response to that question was that I wanted to be a mom. As my kids get older and are not in need of a mom per se, I find myself trying to decide again, what is is that I want to do. I actually have loads of ideas bouncing around in my head but I can't quite settle on what it is that I should do for the next stage in my life.

Blessings

Pouting Puppy

Tonight Sasha was patiently waiting for her Darcy. He works a couple evenings a week at the Little Inn of Bayfield and each time he leaves for work, Sasha waits, looking out window for his return. Upon his return I say to Sasha, "Darcy's home" and she runs in a frantic circle to the window, to the door, back to the window and then out the door running to greet him.

Admittedly she greets everyone who comes to the house with her puppy exuberance, but ahhhh what a wonderful welcome home feeling.

Blessings

Library Club

Tonight we discussed the book 'Any known blood' by Lawrence Hill. Reviews
"Any Known Blood is an intricate but not a complicated novel. Hill is a wonderful storyteller, never a reformer or a preacher, and despite the novel's meandering length its narrative line is clear and purposeful and translucent, imbued with a richness that enriches."
The Montreal Gazette

"Any Known Blood illuminates 150 years of little-known black experience on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. At the same time, Hill's characters remain deeply realized creations who exert a strong imaginative pull…It is Hill's subtle treatment of the contemporary obsession with group identity that gives Any Known Blood its power."
Maclean's

"Lawrence Hill masterfully threads the history of the five generations of men named Langston Cane into an engaging commentary of changing times…Hill's depth, skill and objectivity come to the fore…allowing him to weave a story of prejudice, segregation and slavery without slamming it into a sermon."
The Toronto Star

We (the library club) too would recommend this novel. We enjoyed a great discussion about the characters and the rich historical information. Soon the talk began to turn to other books that are good reads interjecting with personal life stories. As the 'new' member of this group I don't have the close relationships that the other members do, but it certainly is a unique opportunity to watch an eclectic group of women who are connected only through their love to read, develop deeper relationships.

Blessings

Tea Time

Regularly I meet up with my dear friend Maria for tea. A time for us.... to chat together and find out what's been happening since the last time we were together. We met about 6 years ago, while I was still working at the bookstore and somehow we just connected. After leaving the store I was a little worried about losing some of the friendships I had made and I did lose some. Others, like Maria, have it a priority in their life to stay connected.

What determines friendship? Some of the women we see every day we would no sooner call our friends than fly to the moon. Then there are other women that we have just met and there's something there you can't define. Something inside clicks. We can't specify it ahead of time, but we know it when we feel it. If you have one close friend consider yourself blessed. If you have two friends, stand up right now and cheer!

Most of us aren't looking for just any friend. Life is too busy, and we don`t carve out time for anything that doesn't impact us. We are looking that special person with whom we can pour out our hearts. A safe place where confidences are held carefully. Husbands do not make good girlfriends. Sounds a bit obvious, doesn't it? Girlfriends bring out so much in us that no man ever could. They understand us, cry with us, shop with us, laugh-`til-we-pee.... no man does that! Viva la friendship!

Blessings

Farmer's birthday

We celebrated Wayne's birthday today. After enjoying a wonderful family dinner at Crabby Joe's in Goderich we had cake & presents back at home. Amongst his presents, Gerard got him an inflatable cane & walker. too funny!

With everyone's crazy busy schedules, it was great that we were all able to celebrate together. Blessings

Dress Shopping

Today Krystle & I went dress shopping. Mother of the Bride dress shopping! oh gosh it was so much fun. Trying on all those elegant gowns made me feel like such a princess. Now the tough decision of which dress do I wear. I realize that most of the focus that day will be on Krystle & Gerard, but I still want to look nice.

As we check more and more things off the wedding 'to do' list, I get more and more excited, I can only imagine what Krystle feels like. ^.^

Blessings

Bookwork

ugh! just hearing that word sends a shudder through my entire body. i hate doing bookwork. i am the business manager for hidden haven farms, which means i do the accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconcile bank statements and anything else relating to keeping books in good order for the accountant. sounds fancy huh? it essentially means i do the bookkeeping for our farm business.

with us just completing another year end, i find myself swamped more so this year as i let a few months (okay 12) slip by without doing anything relating to the business side of the farm, double ugh! what was i thinking? did i really think it would go away or that the magical bookkeeping fairy would find my house and do it for me? please find my house, little tinkerbell

each time i sit to the computer i have this sense that i really shouldn't be doing anything else until i get the 2009 bookwork recorded and yet..... here i sit blogging.

well, until the bookkeeping fairy can find my house, i'll be a little swamped for the next few days.

blessings

Renovating

We've been renovating a few rooms in the house. With Krystle's up coming wedding we started to have a good look around us and noticed that we had let a few things go.

Just like we were updating the outside of the property during the summer and fall, we're now updating the inside too. We had renovated the family room in October 2008, and were planning on doing the main bathroom, Darcy's room and the back room before the wedding. Well we've got the bathroom done, and we're in the midst of renovating Darcy's room. I should learn to do a few less reno's at a time. I do not do well with chaos. While the bathroom was 'under construction' we had all the contents in every other place but which they belonged. ugh! Needless to say I was quite happy when everything finally got back to the proper place, bringing a sense of order again. Now, with all the contents of Darcy's room in the upstairs hall, my room, and some in the dining room, it seems as if their all over the place. Did I mention I don't do well with chaos?

Thankfully this too is not a huge renovation and everything should back into his room by the end of the week. Then... the back room, we're hoping to hire someone to give us a hand as we need to completely gut the room and start from scratch. I'm not really looking forward to it, but I know it will be worth it in the end.

Blessings

Winter Wonder - land

Walking today was awesome. I love walking almost all the time, but today with the crisp cool wind, the bright shining sun, and the stillness that was the air, made today's walk memorable.
I finally remembered my camera so I could catch a glimpse of the wonderland around me. I just love this weeping willow tree at the neighbours. With the gloomy, dark, long days of winter, I used to find this season somewhat depressing. I've since learned to look for the beauty during this time. Time to nestle in with family, to 'hibernate' and spend time regrouping for the busy seasons to come. While Autumn is still my favourite season, I'm learning to appreciate winter too. After all, where else would you see weeds looking this nice.

Blessings

check-up

Each year Pastor Phil gives those who attend Zurich Mennonite Church a 'spiritual check-up'. Taking the 4 statements of the churches mission statement he proceeds to help us look back through 2009 and to look forward to 2010.

1) No one gets left behind...helping us to remember those babies that were born and those who were gathered to the Father;
2) Our Leaders Lead...teaching us to remember to pray for our leaders, to remind us that we are influenced by those around us and that we influence others too;
3) I am a disciple of Jesus and I contribute to His kingdom...to grow into spiritually mature followers who share of our gifts and talents;
4) We exist for the world our Lord came to save...that we are not to be complacent of the goings on in our community but to be the change we want to see in the world.
The questions asked are thought provoking and a one hour church service does give enough time to process all the answers. So I'll be spending a little more time at that.
Meanwhile my physical health had been slowly deteriorating, so much so I finally had had enough. I started to do some research hoping to find the answers, even ended up getting blood work done, but to no avail. The medical profession couldn't or wouldn't (so it seemed to me) find anything wrong with me. I have started seeing a naturopath and after my first visit (two hour), I learned a few things. Some good, some not so good. I'm now on several different combinations of things to get my body back into responding properly. The Dr. told me that for next five weeks I have to give up all dairy products, eggs, all nuts but especially peanuts, oh yeah and sugar. Excuse me - did you say sugar? yep he did! Talk about a complete dietary change. oh well, I guess there are two good things that will come out of this 1) I will start to feel better and 2) I'll likely lose weight. !hoorah!

Blessings

Stormy weather

"oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is mhmm delightful and since we`ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" It has been so stormy these last couple of days, that it makes me ever-so thankful for the stove we have in the family room. Which makes not only that room, but most of the house is warm and toasty.

Knowing that my family is home safe and sound, I really don't mind the weather. In fact most times I enjoy the excuse to not have to go anywhere, I could stay home for days on end.

Blessings

2010

A New Year....I get excited when I think of all the new things that will happen in the next year; like our cruise vacation; Krystle & Gerard's wedding; our annual holiday at Chesley Lake with the family; celebrating my moms **th (let's just say it's a biggy ^.^) birthday, to name only a few. As much as I or any of us like to plan we cannot even begin to know what this year will hold, or how much things can change in the course of one year.
As each new year begins, I'm delighted to look back throughout my journals, seeing how much has changed in my life and those I love. It gives me great joy that I take time to record memories, journal my prayers, and write down my thoughts, it's like giving myself a gift that can be opened again and again.

A few highlights of 2009: we celebrated with Darcy as he graduated Grade 12 at CHSS; we had a rootin' tootin' good time at Krystle & Gerard's engagement party; we rejoiced with Kyle that even with all the cut backs at work, he was/is valued and given a significant pay raise; and of course having Sasha join our family.

In Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version), it says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." While we may not know what the future holds, we do know the ONE who holds it and in that we can put out trust.

Blessings