Although spring has officially arrived, we are being inundated with snow !! Another snowfall warning early this morning. I can't see anything beyond the tree line.We have another 6-8 inches since last night. YS was out in the hot tub last evening and so the top was completely cleared off so it is clear to see the snowfall amounts. [ He set out the gardening bench so he could place his ipad on iti and continue to watch a show while he soaked ! ]
Yesterday we decided to go to St. Albert to find some pants for DH. We counted at least 10 vehicles in the medians as we ventured forth ! I'm glad we went yesterday and didn't put it off til today. I"ll be hemming four pairs of pants - so it was a good day of shopping. Picked up two new tops for me as well.
Before this dump of snow, my tulips were up about six inches, the irises and day lilies were showing new growth and two hollyhocks were showing 3-4 new green leaves. Granted they are all in a southfacing bed next to the house, but it was so nice to see ! Hopefully the snow will keep them warm. We may not have had as bad a winter as the east coast, or even central Canada, but it has been loooong !! We are all so ready to see some green and get out into our gardens !
Food prices are continuing to rise and I can't see it changing any time soon. We need to grow as many vegetables as possible and process our fruit. DH found a unique project to build to increase our growing space vertically . I have found the perfect spot for it. We are also looking into keeping a beehive . Projects abound !!!
I've nearly finished the 'Rainbow scarf' . With this weather, I might even be able to wear it this week ! And it is a short week as we start our spring Break Thursday night. It is Book Fair and Parent Teacher interviews so it will be a long week. Funny how short weeks can be so long !
Housebound today, but that is just f ine with me !
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Karma
Last weekend I had a very interesting conversation with YGS's maternal grandmother. Listening to her describe her daughter's living conditions, I couldn't help but giggle. Rude, I know.... but
This is woman from a wealthy family who has traveled to Scotland for family visits; whose parents were going to buy her a house !; who were going to sign their restaurant over to her to bring in extra income; who is, by her mother''s own words, haughty and snotty.
Her living conditions were described as so bad one wouldn't want a dog living there ! Black mold, weeks worth of dishes, garbage thrown out the door - not even in bags ! Abandoned cars in the frontyard. No car, no phone, a job cleaning hotel rooms when they need her, maybe one or two days a week. A far cry from her $54 000/yr job .
There is no ' bond' between her and her daughter.The father has a court order that he has full custody and she is not allowed to be taken out of the little town. Supposedly this has all been done through the courts says the other grandmother, but who knows ?
All those lies, all that stealing and she has boyfriend that ' isn't very swift' and that her mother hopes figures out what S is all about before too long. And what of that poor little girl- men and women in and out of her life. It's criminal.
However, YGS's other grandparents have been talking to him about his half sister without asking permission of my son. I know they want to bring her out this summer and want the two of them to meet, but that is all up to my son and he says no. He's the one who will have to deal with the repercussions. So they will be told. And if they continue or try to tell YGS that it is a secret, then contact will be cut off. YGS is stable and secure with the life he has. I fully understand why ES doesn't want anything to upset the progress he has made. "They' have said how both ES and YGS are like two different people so why do they want to mess it up ?
Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.l
This is woman from a wealthy family who has traveled to Scotland for family visits; whose parents were going to buy her a house !; who were going to sign their restaurant over to her to bring in extra income; who is, by her mother''s own words, haughty and snotty.
Her living conditions were described as so bad one wouldn't want a dog living there ! Black mold, weeks worth of dishes, garbage thrown out the door - not even in bags ! Abandoned cars in the frontyard. No car, no phone, a job cleaning hotel rooms when they need her, maybe one or two days a week. A far cry from her $54 000/yr job .
There is no ' bond' between her and her daughter.The father has a court order that he has full custody and she is not allowed to be taken out of the little town. Supposedly this has all been done through the courts says the other grandmother, but who knows ?
All those lies, all that stealing and she has boyfriend that ' isn't very swift' and that her mother hopes figures out what S is all about before too long. And what of that poor little girl- men and women in and out of her life. It's criminal.
However, YGS's other grandparents have been talking to him about his half sister without asking permission of my son. I know they want to bring her out this summer and want the two of them to meet, but that is all up to my son and he says no. He's the one who will have to deal with the repercussions. So they will be told. And if they continue or try to tell YGS that it is a secret, then contact will be cut off. YGS is stable and secure with the life he has. I fully understand why ES doesn't want anything to upset the progress he has made. "They' have said how both ES and YGS are like two different people so why do they want to mess it up ?
Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.l
In Like A Lamb
A new month !! It's a beautiful day up in Alberta. -4* going up to 0 with beutiful blue skies. OF course as typical Albertans we worry what the weather will be by the end of the month. Our winter, especially in comparison to Central Canada and the eastern seaboard has been relatively mild.
Today we are having the whole family over to celebrate YS's birthday. It is hard to believe that our youngest is 32. Friday night he was out with friends; yesterday we all did housework and relaxed. Today we have YGS as is usual. We went out to do a few groceries and the chilli is on simmering away. I'll just have to make a salad, cut the French bread and stick a candle on the cake.
The pink scarf is finished and I've started another with 5 different colours of cotton wool. By the time I finish that there should not be any need for a scarf ! Here's hoping.Slowly, slowly my stash of wool is decreasing.
When I am at work, 80% of my time is spent in an inner room with no windows. Even when walking the children back to their classrooms, I don't notice the sunshine. It has been susch a delight to be home and about with the sun's rays getting stronger and stronger. It will be another 3 months before plants will be put into the ground. We have a lot of landscaping to figure out for the front yard after the foundation was dug out to replace the weeping tile and install a sump pump. I am already imagining what I'[m going to move, from where and what we will need to save for. Imagining is all we can do as there is still 2 feet+ of snow on the ground. We normally get a good dump of snow right around the Spring Equinox so even if all this would melt, there is always a promise of more to come.
Many years ago, Canadians used to buy Canada Savings Bonds which now pay only 0.4%. We just got a letter from the Bank of Montreal that they are raisign their interests rates on Mastercard to over 19% ! Quite unbelievable ! We have only used MC in an emergency and it was an easy way to pay the lawyer . Even a cheque is now so expensive to write. Cards are a necessary evil if you are traveling or booking on line; They make a fortune for the banks while they rob people !
Oh well, the boy isn't having quiet time today.He was just going off when his Dad arrived. He has to go back to work later tonight. Now he's ready for another snack. Off I go !
Today we are having the whole family over to celebrate YS's birthday. It is hard to believe that our youngest is 32. Friday night he was out with friends; yesterday we all did housework and relaxed. Today we have YGS as is usual. We went out to do a few groceries and the chilli is on simmering away. I'll just have to make a salad, cut the French bread and stick a candle on the cake.
The pink scarf is finished and I've started another with 5 different colours of cotton wool. By the time I finish that there should not be any need for a scarf ! Here's hoping.Slowly, slowly my stash of wool is decreasing.
When I am at work, 80% of my time is spent in an inner room with no windows. Even when walking the children back to their classrooms, I don't notice the sunshine. It has been susch a delight to be home and about with the sun's rays getting stronger and stronger. It will be another 3 months before plants will be put into the ground. We have a lot of landscaping to figure out for the front yard after the foundation was dug out to replace the weeping tile and install a sump pump. I am already imagining what I'[m going to move, from where and what we will need to save for. Imagining is all we can do as there is still 2 feet+ of snow on the ground. We normally get a good dump of snow right around the Spring Equinox so even if all this would melt, there is always a promise of more to come.
Many years ago, Canadians used to buy Canada Savings Bonds which now pay only 0.4%. We just got a letter from the Bank of Montreal that they are raisign their interests rates on Mastercard to over 19% ! Quite unbelievable ! We have only used MC in an emergency and it was an easy way to pay the lawyer . Even a cheque is now so expensive to write. Cards are a necessary evil if you are traveling or booking on line; They make a fortune for the banks while they rob people !
Oh well, the boy isn't having quiet time today.He was just going off when his Dad arrived. He has to go back to work later tonight. Now he's ready for another snack. Off I go !
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Continuing the Ordinary
The last four weeks have passed quickly although soe days seemed extra long ! Work every day, babysitting YGS every Sunday, sleepovrs with all the grandchildren. An ordinary life filled with ordinary events...... and I like it like that !
Another dog sweater was knit , two more scarves [ I'm almost finished a third ] and a couple of other projects are et to go. The weather has been up and down. Lots of rain and freezing rain which I detest. I think weve had moreee rain that thiss area has ever had before. Compared with other areas of the country, our winter has been quite mild. Course wht we consider mild, other areas of the world would consider frigid. However we are all waitingn for Spring !! It's a long way off as March can be a cruel month. who am I kidding there hav been some years when we have had snow ev ery month exxcept for July.
School is going well. I'm a lot more tired working with my Grade One students as we have dropped the Grade Three FI children. They keep me hopping ! Interestingly over 90% of the students that have been targeted as struggling are from broken or blended families. It has been startling to find out what they do not know - where they live, their birthdates, etc. Their lives are very limited and we wonder-- what have the parents done with their children for the first 6 years of their lives ?
I had my dental appointment this month and a filling had fallen out. So on the day that I went to have it replaced, my time was bumped later as my EGS was in having a tooth repaired. He bumped into another boy in gym and his front tooth broke off ! It was 'glued' back on - must be mighty strong glue. My GD was in a Cheerleading competition in red Deer - she's 4 ! They won in their division.
We are expecting our YGS around 11 today. He spent the day and night with his maternal grandparents. I imagine that they are tired as they are not used to having a grandchild around for that length of time. Nor do they have toys for his age level. Should be interesting as I have not talked to the grandmother for 14 months + I had told her then that my son would let them see YGS although she didn't believe me.
Yesterday ES was a little lost not having his son around. H went over and played some games of pool and then they hung some curtain rods and curtains~~~ black out ones for YGS's room ! The days are lengthening and soon it'll be light til 11 at night and by 3 dawn is breaking.
Time to plan this week's menu and gather the laundry. I did the Health Spending Account before I went to the Italian Centre with ED. Some of the vegetables were quite a bit cheaper than our grocery store so stocked up a bit. Prices are climbing weekly. Thank goodness I am still working !!
The sun is shining brightly and it is to warm up to 0* . We''ll enjoy the day !
Another dog sweater was knit , two more scarves [ I'm almost finished a third ] and a couple of other projects are et to go. The weather has been up and down. Lots of rain and freezing rain which I detest. I think weve had moreee rain that thiss area has ever had before. Compared with other areas of the country, our winter has been quite mild. Course wht we consider mild, other areas of the world would consider frigid. However we are all waitingn for Spring !! It's a long way off as March can be a cruel month. who am I kidding there hav been some years when we have had snow ev ery month exxcept for July.
School is going well. I'm a lot more tired working with my Grade One students as we have dropped the Grade Three FI children. They keep me hopping ! Interestingly over 90% of the students that have been targeted as struggling are from broken or blended families. It has been startling to find out what they do not know - where they live, their birthdates, etc. Their lives are very limited and we wonder-- what have the parents done with their children for the first 6 years of their lives ?
I had my dental appointment this month and a filling had fallen out. So on the day that I went to have it replaced, my time was bumped later as my EGS was in having a tooth repaired. He bumped into another boy in gym and his front tooth broke off ! It was 'glued' back on - must be mighty strong glue. My GD was in a Cheerleading competition in red Deer - she's 4 ! They won in their division.
We are expecting our YGS around 11 today. He spent the day and night with his maternal grandparents. I imagine that they are tired as they are not used to having a grandchild around for that length of time. Nor do they have toys for his age level. Should be interesting as I have not talked to the grandmother for 14 months + I had told her then that my son would let them see YGS although she didn't believe me.
Yesterday ES was a little lost not having his son around. H went over and played some games of pool and then they hung some curtain rods and curtains~~~ black out ones for YGS's room ! The days are lengthening and soon it'll be light til 11 at night and by 3 dawn is breaking.
Time to plan this week's menu and gather the laundry. I did the Health Spending Account before I went to the Italian Centre with ED. Some of the vegetables were quite a bit cheaper than our grocery store so stocked up a bit. Prices are climbing weekly. Thank goodness I am still working !!
The sun is shining brightly and it is to warm up to 0* . We''ll enjoy the day !
Sunday, January 25, 2015
That Week Went Fast !
Another mild week although we did have some horrid freezing rain. There are bare spots on the lawns as the temperatures are so mild and the sun is getting stronger. Alas, we know full well up here in Alberta that it won't last and eventually we'll be back into the deep freeze.This morning I spotted a Pielated Woodopecker in the green elm and counted 9 species of birds at the feeders. YS spent 2 hours yesterday chopping channels so the huge puddles of water could drain into the ditch. Many years ago we had a manhole cover and sewer at the end of the keyhole. when the city changed the configuration and joined our street with a new road, they took out the sewer ! All the water is supposed to drain into a ditch, theoretically ! Who has heard of a ditch in a developed city in the middle of town ! Well it is right next to a farmer's field that is due to be developed this sumer, so here is hoping something will be done.
School was good . I did some testing of the children in my program and there has been progress !! So many years I had worked with behaviour children and honestly saw very little, if any, progress. On Friday I went with a class of grade six to Bennett Centre to learn all about flight, not one of myfavourite science subjects . But a day out of school is a nice treat.
This morning I performed ' surgery' on YGS's teddy bear. He had left it at his day home and Winston the dog had grabbed ahold of it. We're calling it Scarface now !
Probably meatloaf for supper tonight. Maybe some oatcakes for Robbie Burns Day.
The freezer is very slowly going down. It needs defrosting, but I'm sure it will be March before that gets done. too much food !! How lucky we are !
School was good . I did some testing of the children in my program and there has been progress !! So many years I had worked with behaviour children and honestly saw very little, if any, progress. On Friday I went with a class of grade six to Bennett Centre to learn all about flight, not one of myfavourite science subjects . But a day out of school is a nice treat.
This morning I performed ' surgery' on YGS's teddy bear. He had left it at his day home and Winston the dog had grabbed ahold of it. We're calling it Scarface now !
Probably meatloaf for supper tonight. Maybe some oatcakes for Robbie Burns Day.
The freezer is very slowly going down. It needs defrosting, but I'm sure it will be March before that gets done. too much food !! How lucky we are !
Monday, January 19, 2015
The New Year
We've had a pretty good start to the new year. The weather right now is like March ! We'll enjoy while we can as no doubt we'll plunge back into the -30*c range soon.
School has been good; the ELI program is going well and plans are being made for next year ! Good news for me. This is the best assignment I have had in over 20 years.
This past weekend ED and YS were snow boarding in Jasper. It was YS's staff weekend and since he had 2 queen sized beds, ED and her friend were able to crash for the weekend. A good time was had by all according to all the stories being told. We had YGS , as usual, on Sunday. Then the other two grandchildren came over, everyone came home from work, or the gym, or the mountains so the house was FULL !!! and LOUD !
ED has been nominated for a scholarship which is quite funny as she doesn't have to pay for any of her courses or books for her Master's Degree.
OH has joined the Tri and is going to exercise daily . He has just been diagnosed with Asthma and is finally realizing that he needs to get out and do something. While he hasn't noticed a difference with the ew medication, I certainly have. Now if I can only get him to dust regularly !
Just waiting for EGS and OH to come home from the pool. EGS is in competitive swimming. His Mom is teaching Yoga and his Dad has a dinner meeting.
We've had some terrible tragedies in Canada the last few months; one quite close to home. Tonight a RCMP's family is saying goodbye as the 42 year old officer has no chance of survival. Yesterday in our quiet neighbourhood, there was a lot of police activity. In fact the increased traffic woke me up . Turns out it was an armed robbery at a convenience store, but it made me realize we rarely lock our doors as we have been so 'safe'. That changed yesterday morning as it was obvious the RCMp were looking for someone. Sad how society is changing.
School has been good; the ELI program is going well and plans are being made for next year ! Good news for me. This is the best assignment I have had in over 20 years.
This past weekend ED and YS were snow boarding in Jasper. It was YS's staff weekend and since he had 2 queen sized beds, ED and her friend were able to crash for the weekend. A good time was had by all according to all the stories being told. We had YGS , as usual, on Sunday. Then the other two grandchildren came over, everyone came home from work, or the gym, or the mountains so the house was FULL !!! and LOUD !
ED has been nominated for a scholarship which is quite funny as she doesn't have to pay for any of her courses or books for her Master's Degree.
OH has joined the Tri and is going to exercise daily . He has just been diagnosed with Asthma and is finally realizing that he needs to get out and do something. While he hasn't noticed a difference with the ew medication, I certainly have. Now if I can only get him to dust regularly !
Just waiting for EGS and OH to come home from the pool. EGS is in competitive swimming. His Mom is teaching Yoga and his Dad has a dinner meeting.
We've had some terrible tragedies in Canada the last few months; one quite close to home. Tonight a RCMP's family is saying goodbye as the 42 year old officer has no chance of survival. Yesterday in our quiet neighbourhood, there was a lot of police activity. In fact the increased traffic woke me up . Turns out it was an armed robbery at a convenience store, but it made me realize we rarely lock our doors as we have been so 'safe'. That changed yesterday morning as it was obvious the RCMp were looking for someone. Sad how society is changing.
Friday, January 2, 2015
The Start of the New Year 2015
Well, where did the seventh and eighth day of Christmas go ?? Darned if I know !!
We are in the middle of a winter storm. It has been snowing since 5 yesterday afternoon. The wind is blowing, temperatures are plunging and the windchill is near - 30*C. A good day to stay inside. I haven't seen one neighbour out moving; all the cars on the street are almost invisible with all the snow.
I managed to finish another afghan for Marley. She now has a blanket for her kennel. We looked after her on Christmas Day as ES had to work and ED was sleeping over at a friend's. It just reinforced my feelings that we should not get another dog. Too much work !! and worry !! She's a good little pup, but doesn't bark to go out ; she's so little I worry about her escaping under the fence. And she is a shadow which I fear I'll trip on. She hasn't been eating very much of the food she was sent with, nor does she eat out of a bowl, only off the ground ! So I put her food on a saucer, sprinkled it with about a teaspoon of turkey and she gobbled it all up ! When ED picked her and brought her home, she slept for 4 hours - either due to the turkey or the fact that she was outside so much ! They came back after supper to pick up her second afghan for her kennel.
Today we are supposed to be having EGS and GD over for a sleepover and pizza. We'll have to wait to see what the roads are like as they live out on an acreage and the highways are a mess. No matter we'll be watching the hockey game against Finland this evening and there is quite a lot of roast beef left over from yesterday's supper. We won't starve !
I'm sorry that the Christmas Holidays have come to an end. I do like my job and I am so fortunate to be able to work past retirement. But I have so enjoyed tinkering and doing projects at home. By the time I get home from work, I am beat after working with children all day. I only have one day 'off' as we have YGS on Sundays so much is ' put off '. Holidays are catch up times for me and it has been fun.
We are in the middle of a winter storm. It has been snowing since 5 yesterday afternoon. The wind is blowing, temperatures are plunging and the windchill is near - 30*C. A good day to stay inside. I haven't seen one neighbour out moving; all the cars on the street are almost invisible with all the snow.
I managed to finish another afghan for Marley. She now has a blanket for her kennel. We looked after her on Christmas Day as ES had to work and ED was sleeping over at a friend's. It just reinforced my feelings that we should not get another dog. Too much work !! and worry !! She's a good little pup, but doesn't bark to go out ; she's so little I worry about her escaping under the fence. And she is a shadow which I fear I'll trip on. She hasn't been eating very much of the food she was sent with, nor does she eat out of a bowl, only off the ground ! So I put her food on a saucer, sprinkled it with about a teaspoon of turkey and she gobbled it all up ! When ED picked her and brought her home, she slept for 4 hours - either due to the turkey or the fact that she was outside so much ! They came back after supper to pick up her second afghan for her kennel.
Today we are supposed to be having EGS and GD over for a sleepover and pizza. We'll have to wait to see what the roads are like as they live out on an acreage and the highways are a mess. No matter we'll be watching the hockey game against Finland this evening and there is quite a lot of roast beef left over from yesterday's supper. We won't starve !
I'm sorry that the Christmas Holidays have come to an end. I do like my job and I am so fortunate to be able to work past retirement. But I have so enjoyed tinkering and doing projects at home. By the time I get home from work, I am beat after working with children all day. I only have one day 'off' as we have YGS on Sundays so much is ' put off '. Holidays are catch up times for me and it has been fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)