Home Base

Late last year we purchased our first home.  It was such an exciting/terrible precess.  Exciting because, oh man, do I love to shop and dream what it would be like to live there.  Terrible because dealing with banks and lawyers and all that is stressful..  At times i felt like scrapping the whole idea and renting for life.  Which definitely has it perks.  But after a few stressful weeks were were home owners.  And I was so in love with my two story cottage.  I could already see where everything was going to go.

Our house was pretty move in ready.  Except for a few things..  The walls, while they had been freshly painted, were a crisp white like I love so much.  So I brought in my Dad and a few(to say the least) extra hands to help paint the main level.  And Presto!  The white dream. HAHA.  The second floor will come later.  I should say, I did paint my room too, as I'm in it quite a bit...

Can I take you for a little tour?... Follow me...

This picture is my entry way.  I inherited the antique sewing machine from my sister when she moved.Im not super in love with the picture set up I got goin' on here, but itll do.  Tell me you've done that a time or two in your home?

The next 3 pictures are of my living room.  You cant see it well, but I love my bay windows.  I just need curtains, especially to keep the heat out, since the blinds dont cut it.  I will likely do a plain white(surprise, surprise)  but when your a first time home buyer, well, money for curtains arent really that important.  Paying the mortgage is! hah! I should add too, this is all my old couches.  (bought off kijiji) and that little gold table was bought this summer at homesense-on clearance, from a gift card i received.(aren't they the best)

Love that I have a fire place.  And super happy we decided not to mount the T.V. about the mantel.  Its a nice focus now.

We made this little corner our media area.  Thanks to Geoff, no cords showing!  I LOVE that.  I wish they sold white T.V.s.  hmmmmm

This is my tiny dining room.  The chandelier was bought recently with money and gift cards we got for our anniversary.  I love it.  And maybe one day down the road I will spray paint it white, but for now I really like the contrast.  I got that china cabinet for free.  I was so excited.  I might paint it down the road, but for now \i like it as is.

While I like that I have main floor laundry, I don't love that its right at my back door.  It makes getting in the door for all three of us at once, quite tricky.  And I really have to be on top of keeping our shoes organized around here.  I love that we hung hooks here on Graces level.  That way she can help keep organized, right haha

I have big dreams to wallpaper this little room in black and white floral.  But, again, I like paying the mortgage, for now!

This is the other view of my dining room.  I love my windows here too..  If it seems i talk about my windows a lot, keep in mind I lived in a basement suite for almost 8 Years. One day I will put up a heavy white denim curtain on these 3 windows, Add wainscotting and wall paper in a bright floral.  One day.

My kitchen was our other project..  While we had the actually doors and drawers painted professionally, we did the bases our selves with the help of a good, hard working friend.  Then we added glass knobs.  Sigh.  But I do hate my black appliances.  But I barely think of them now.  Sorta.

I like this cute little stair area.  Although our stairs are quite deadly and I almost went through that giant window falling down the stairs the first week, in socks.  That window used to have a blind.  Until I ripped in down falling.  It hurt as bad as it sounds, if your wondering.

This is My room.  Our room, I guess.  We grabbed my sisters King mattress when she moved and I found the head board for free on kijiji.  Free, my friends, free.  That little sign just went up...I want to add to it.  I got that the other day thanks to a gift card I got in the mail for our anniversary( thanks Lora)

AGAIN. Love my bay windows in our bedroom.  But I need better curtains.  I bought that provincial dresser off kijiji.  Its a real beaut.  Well, at least I think so!

And Last for tonight is this little corner I use to do my make-up and such.  Geoff is gonna add some make-up lights for me.  And you can see my en suite a little here too.  Had to buy the medicine cabinet too.  All that stuff adds up to hey?  

Anyway, Thats that for now.  Gracies room is for another day.  I really want to paint and then I'll show you.  And our guest room is always in use so far, haha, so that's for another day as well.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by!

Every 38 years or so...

My parents have been married thirty eight years today.  Can you even believe that?  I a world where walking away is made just so easy, they stayed.  Not only did they stay, but they seemed to enjoy themselves.  Sure they probably want to kill each other from time to time, but walk away, never.  My mom and dad always seemed like friends, and I think that's one of the best example they could of set, at least in the the marriage department.

My family lived the traditional lifestyle.  Mom got up before the sun to get the animals feed and breakfast on the table for us.  Every.  Single.  Morning.  She had supper on the table when dad walked through the door.  Every.  Single.  Day.  Dad worked every day 8-4.  Come home and straight to the dinner table.  You could count on it.   The only break they got from the day is when us girls did dishes.  And If you know me at all, or remember me back then, I made sure they got NO break.  EEk.  Sorry about that by the way, just remember I gave you Gracie.

While we could never afford the big elaborate vacations, we always camped all summer long with our friends and family.  They made sure of that.  And you know, that's were some of my best memories came from.  To. This.  Day.  Every winter they took us to a hotel with our family and friends, where we ate junk and swan and played games for 3 days straight.  Those were some of the best days of my childhood!

While our lives out on knightville road were far from glamorous, we lived a small quiet life that was just ours.  Ok We made sure it wasn't quiet. Belinda cranked her Cranberries on the stereo, I screamed that I was misunderstood(remember I gave you Gracie) and dad played the old country songs on the guitar.  Come to think about it mom was the quite one.  Anyway, they made sure my sister and I were cared for and that we knew exactly where home was.  Where ever they were...

The good and bad of it all...

In this continually changing we world we never know what's gonna be put before us.  Or who, for that matter.  It can be so bad or so good, and sometimes it can be both.  The trick there can be to recognize it.

One night a couple months back, Geoff and I were watching tv.  It was such a typical night.  8:30, grace was just put to bed, our feet were up, ready for a couple episodes.  Then my phone rang.  The next few minutes were panicked and sickening.  The voice on the other end was terrified and over whelmed.

My friend, and her two babies were in accident on their way home from vacation.  The momma and oldest child(5 years) were air lifted to a local hospital here in edmonton, and the youngest (2months) was driven by ambulance to the Jasper hospital.  My friend drove off a 40 foot embankment near jasper.  In short, ( and many painful hours later) the family was all reunited, including the dad that flew in from Prince George with just the clothes on his back.  Momma survived, broken back in 2 places, ruptured spleen, damaged liver, and a fractured neck. Baby ended up with fluid in his head building up that needed to be drained.  And the oldest, she walked away with some bumps and bruises and the odd nightmare.

That's all The details I can tell you, it's not mine to say, anyhow.  And I know momma will read this and I know just how painful it is to relive.  Trust me, I know, my friend!

In Amongst all this, did I tell you we had the privilege of homing most of their families and one or two of their friends?  If you have been in a situation like this, you know how good it feels to be able to do something. Anything.  Now, I,don't want you to think Geoff and I swooped in and saved the day.  We didn't, in fact, we should of done more.  But at that point in our life we gave what we had.  A clean bed ( minus that cat hair) to sleep in. They stayed with us about 3 weeks, even celebrated their anniversary with us( thanks for that by the way) .  We feel head over heels in love with that ENTIRE family.  I hope they know that.

They came back and stayed with us already for some quick appointments and even surprised us, along with our friends, on our anniversary (that's another story entirely).  These friends of ours quickly became our family.  Their family and their friends, ours.  We shared some of the hardest moments of the year with them.  They saw how Geoff, Grace and I live.  We shared so many good visits.  Sigh.  I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Well, they, too, have struggled.  And they will continue to.  I know this from my own experience.  But I hope some moments they remember the good.  I know how impossible that will be some days.  Trust me, I know.  But the pain will lessen one breath at a time. It will come crashing in  On you again when you least expect it.  But it will pass. I just know it.

In the mean time, they have such a little army surrounding them.  This was such a tragic event.  But look in your corner.  There will be reminders right there, waiting for you, when you need. The truly   Good, Amoungst the bad.

Calories don't count.

In Amoungst my crazy life, I mentioned earlier that there is some good.  Oh how good those things can be.  The bad makes the good so much sweeter, doesn't it?  And all too often, what makes those sweet moments, well, sweet, are the people you shared them with.  And I know just the best people.  And the best of the best make you forget the worst.  They have to ability to make you escape the everyday.

Well this spring we were able to take a two week getaway to California.  The weather was incredible. The shopping was so great.  The views where unforgettable- but can I tell you the best part? The 4 other people I shared those 2 weeks with.   It wasn't the perfect trip on paper, mind you.  There were sickness that were shared.  That nasty cold came for a visit.  But  it was a small hiccup compared to the visits we were able to have.

I love vacation.  For some many reason.  Number 1?  Starbucks trips.  And the calories dont even count.  Did you know that?  So everyday.  Carmel macchiato on ice. Everyday.    Oh, and waking up and know your on vacation?  And being somewhere where you can pull open the blinds and see ocean and warm air that hits your face?  It's no wonder I can't sleep in on vacation?! 

One of my favorite memories, was sitting out on our patio, sharing drinks and snacks, and such ridiculous conversations.  The ones where you laugh because your laughing. Laugh till it hurts, until you no longer know why your laughing.  All the while the sun has set and the sound of the waves come from a distance.  I remember that moment frequently.  And I immediately start planning my next getaway. Haha.  But in the meantime, I have good people all around me here.  With inside jokes that no one else could ever understand, even if we explained.. And I wouldn't dare . Cause those things belong to just us. ... And are remembered on days like this.....

My saddest song.

In my life time, I've seen a lot of good and bad things. While I can appreciate my life isn't the worst, it's been the hardest in this last year.  If I were to tell you all the bad things that have happened in the last 12 months alone, it would sound like a really sad song,  but friends, I know all the words by heart.  It comes as a dull ache on nights like these.  I'm sitting here taking sips of coffee at 2 a.m., wondering why and I can't sleep and just thinking how nice it'd be to have a visit with a friend.  Who, besides me, is awake in the world?  Then I remembered my blog.  Maybe if I put words to paper, I'll sleep better.  Maybe not.  But I felt like trying...

In the last year, I've had a grandparent die, an old room-mate die(within 1 week of each other), my child had emergency surgery, twice(within 1 week of each), my sister moved across the world,  a family member was diagnosed with cancer, my father had a series of health issues (including melanoma) and a dear friend and her family were in a tragic accident.  All where so painful in there own precise way.  All of that happened within 6 months of each other.  Truth be told, I think I haven't processed much.  Sometimes I try to sort through the wreckage on nights like these.  But sometimes it feels too fresh and too heart breaking and too much.

Sometimes one thing hurts more than another.  And it's not always what you'd think.  It's not always what I'D think.  In the past, I remember looking at peoples situations and saying, I don't know how they do it, I could never...but during one of my worst days I had a good friend text me.  And what she sent stuck with me.  It was a picture and it said, "You never know how strong you are, until you have to be".   And that's the truth of it all.  We get thrown these awful situations in life and what's remarkable is, we survive.  Sometimes, afterwards, it hurts so much it takes your breath away(literally), but we survive.  It's really remarkable if you actually think about it.  I heard it said just yesterday, "sometimes surviving the day is a miracle." I know that to be true.

Now it's looking like the dust has settled in my world.  At least to outsiders. But I know it to be different.  We.re picking up shattered pieces and trying to make sense of it all (one paint project at a time😏)  I wonder why things can't be spaced out a little farther apart.  I wonder if that'd would make a difference. I wonder if  I feel like this, who else is in the exact same boat.  I wonder if I should pour another coffee...😬

Did you hear my sad song? I told you.  Now with all that being said, I want you to know , , all said and done, my life isn't all bad.  And I'm not always up all night thinking about the bad.  Sometimes I on-line shop. ...😏