A travel outfit and Costa Rica

In case you are still around and wondering and its not obvious ... my house updates have slowed down; I still have one wall in the dining room to paint, a 4ft x 2ft section in the kitchen to paint, the stairway hallway, etc.  I need to make a trip to an Ikea (4+hrs) to get the last bit of cabinetry, a pantry. The upper, open shelving needs to be put up and a  chimney vent for the oven.  It goes on, the list.

Perhaps my motivation slowed while I wait to hear about the work contract; perhaps its the lazy summer days where routine changes weekly.

What I have been able to do is watch the garden grow. YUM Snow peas. Hang with my kids - bike, swim, bike, soccer.  And do some personal growth stuff.

Polka dot shirt, Forever 21

It's hard to make time for yourself when you are solo w/ kids.  So during these past few months of "no work",  I actually had one day of work a week. And I kept Lucy in day care for a 2nd day and made it a Me Day.  A wonderful few months of not working; I look happier, feel carefree, and I have slimmed down.  Thank you time. Time for running and biking.  Time to lay on the couch and watch a movie in the middle of the day.

Feeling blah for the past couple years and wondering why I kept gaining (age?) I hadn't bought clothes for myself for several years. Sad. I like cute clothes.  BUT now, feeling super fit, cute things actually look cute on! Amazing what running does for your thighs, butt, waist, arms,  (my calves have always been fine ;) and .... mental state.

Red, slim chinos. A perfect deep red. Cute. Thank you.

Courtesy of H&M.

Another thing I did to distract myself from the unknown, was buy tickets to Costa Rica.  (Long in the planning, I just had to decide whether I should go ahead with it or not). I was there 20 years ago for three months and wanted to go back, take a look around and show my children the jungle.

So I just wanted to tell you I am still here, I bought a great travel outfit, and we are off for a week in the cloud forest and then a week on a pacific coast beach.  And when I return, there will hopefully be good news on the contract, more painting and house updates and a travel post!

Parker bench

A while ago I found this bench and fell in love.

The colour of the upholstery, the wood, the engravings, legs, wheels ... All.  I have never been to a World Market store, but I would take a chance on this a buy online.

While I have been painting my dining room one wall at a time (one wall completed with two coats, two halves of two walls completed. Now to shove the furniture all to the other side). I just shove the furniture aside and get to work. One shove too many and the leg on my bench fell off. Sucks because I wanted to use the bench as "scaffolding" to reach the higher areas. Sucks because the broken bench leg revealed its cheapness.  The leg was just nailed on rather then screwed on. The bench is low and eventually I was going to replace the legs with higher ones, so reaching ones plate on the table would be easier. Blah, fake legs. fake bench. (hammered back on w/ wood glue, but I'm skeptical of its strength)

BUT Yay for new bench.  IF/when my contract resumes the Parker bench is the first thing I'm buying.

Yard Sale

Tomorrow, in the high heat, my neighbour and I are attempting a yard sale. Five years ago a friend and I got together and tried the yard sale thing and although it was fun, I neither made much (30.00 dollars) nor got rid of enough to make it worth while.  And people seemed to want things priced for 0.00 dollars???

I'm pumped and hoping for a better haul and purge.  I imagine if I had to pack up and move, what would I rather like to unload first and that's what is getting hauled out tomorrow.  I have amassed many trinkets (from around the world, thanks Sun for all the key chains???) and extra dishes that I just don't use.  I have come to terms with my age and different body shape so selling off sundresses, some still with tags. My stuff has grown to the point where I am reluctant to buy other people gifts in case they have the same animosity towards the gift "oh no, more stuff {{grimace}}". I don't know, its like kids with toys, the more they have the harder it is to appreciate each one, to the point where they dont even see what they have.

Lucy is helping, checking things out and vetoing some items asking in disbelief "You CANT sell this". Maybe she is right, I find that after I give something away, a few years later I am looking for it and think why do I always give away the wrong things. I let her take back what she thinks we should keep (even if it is a bib that we no longer use, or really cool blundstone softie infant shoes).

Most things I'm happy to exchange for a few bucks, but I will attempt to sell one high priced item, an antique over dyed Turkish rug. I packed it up a year ago and have enough other kilim's packed up (cannot use due to dog hair). Downsizing at least one will be worth it.

What I really need to do is open my OWN store. I appreciate pretty things, I'm selective, and I like to buy. Selling things is also a good feeling, having someone else appreciate your taste.

So good luck to me!

Snapshots around the house

Just a collection of updates around the house. Most have been posted before, but its nice to see them all in one spot.

Sprouts

Lavender, Daisy and Echinacea; Blue and Orange exotic poppies,
Red & Blue morning glories; Zinnia, & Mother of Thyme

Little greenhouse seeds are working hard and turning into buds, soon to be transplanted. Tulips and other spring bulbs are sprouting in the garden, but its well before the last frost date in my little spot on this world.  I recall last year, just as our Magnolia trees and other flowering shrubs and trees were about to beautify frost hit and killed them all.  I'll give them their due attention this year and absorb their beauty and not take it for granted.

Happy Easter, Happy travels! (Yep, that's an empty Easter basket and the side of a pineapple, amongst the paint cans!)

Fresh fresh

Senses awaken! It has been a long time since I have fallen a sleep and woken up to the beautiful aroma of Hyacinth (or any flower).  I'll be sure to add these bulbs to my garden next fall.

Deep freeze

This is what -5F (-20C) looks like in my town. Fireplace and woodstoves churning wood to heat, smoke exiting the chimney, into the cold air.

A cat or dog attempted to go outside when I opened the door to take a picture. They did a 180 back in.  My dog puts up his nose to this temperature and wont even lift his leg to pee outside.   Although we received a PSA announcement to dress kids accordingly, extra sweater, scarf around face, they didn't close down the schools.  I recall -20C was regular temperatures long ago and where I grew up.  A few hours south of the border and a few degrees warmer, we rarely get -5F.  At least the sun is shining.

A change in wardrobe

Lu decided she didn't want to wear a dress. Lets see what else is in here.

Hmmm, not these pants, or these or these.

There we go; much more festive!

While Lu was putting an outfit together, I finally hammered up some needlework art, framed nursery rhymes from my childhood room to hers.