The Big Squeeze 2017

It's been a continuation of the whirlwind called renovations but I had to take time out to have my annual mammogram.  I was really trying to keep my mind calm.....I tell others not to worry about things until there is something to worry about so I was trying really hard to heed my own advice.  The requisition from my Dr doing the Brachy Therapy (sp? I can't remember how to spell that!  LOL) gave me the request for the mammogram stating to also do an ultrasound 'if necessary'.  I went back to the radiologist in Okotoks who found my spot last year......why mess around and go to someone who is NOT the Dr with the highest breast cancer detection rate in all of Alberta??  When I went in for the mammogram the technician said that more often than not, once you have had a diagnosis you will need an ultrasound after the mammogram (wow, does that mean most people get "it" back again??) so I was prepared for that.  After the big squeeze, which once again wasn't near as bad as I had imagined even in the boob with the scar tissue, the tech went to find the radiologist to make sure she didn't need to take more images before I went for an ultrasound.....so I sat and waited.....knowing that an ultrasound meant there was something there they would want a better look at.  When the tech came back, with a big smile on her face, she said Dr Lo said there was no need for an ultrasound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He would send his report to Dr H (at Tom Baker who I will see this week.)
  I wanted to jump for joy!!!!!  

Because my appointment was early Friday morning I went and stayed at my friend Sue's the night before.  We had a great visit and she brought me to my mammogram because afterwards we were heading into Calgary to go to a quilt shop (turns out we went to three!)  I celebrated my "victory" by doing a bit of shopping and treated myself to a few goodies!!  LOL  

When I got home Friday I was expecting the flooring, trim, etc would be getting finished and we could get the main floor of the house back.......nope.  But the one guy came back yesterday and it is all DONE!!!!  (I'm supposed to be cleaning so I can get started on painting our bedroom but I haven't started yet....not that it will take me long to clean this tiny house!  LOVE IT!)  So we took the dogs and went for a drive....and went to the Dickson Dam.  I didn't get many pictures but it is freaky driving on a road where the water is high on one side and waaaaaaaay down low on the other.  Here's a pic of the actual dam and the low side.  

I have finished painting the living room, kitchen, hallway, kids room and bathroom.  I had a vision and sent my dad a picture of a project off of Pinterest and voila it's done!  We will hang our towels on the pipe and decorate the rest! Can't wait to pick it up this weekend when we head north.

Saturday we went into Red Deer to Home Depot and found a light fixture for the bathroom (I love it!), a new ceiling fan (I love it!) and a fixture for the back entry (Love it).  (they aren't hung yet because nothing is simple around here!) We still need to find a few more light fixtures to replace the dated ones here and a ceiling fan for our bedroom.  Slowly but surely it will all come together.....ssssslllllooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy!

Drywall hanging should start in the basement soon.  Some drywall was delivered yesterday........I might bring out a sewing machine, etc and sew at the table in the sun room soon......once the remaining two rooms are painted.  :o)  I need to feel fabric and hear the hum of my machine!!!  Soon!!!!!

Renos....Can We Be Done???

As promised I have some progress pics for you.  (This will be a long post!) This seems to be taking forever but the guys doing it come after work so instead of taking two full days they are doing a few hours here and there.  Besides helping these young guys out with some extra money and the fact they are doing a very nice job as they are fussy, it's a bit of an inconvenience because they arrive here at 5:30 and, up until after yesterdays shift, I wasn't able to use the kitchen then which is when I would be preparing supper for Hubby.  They are here until 8:30 pm and afterwards there is clean up for me which is not what I want to do at 8:30 pm.  Whining aside, it is coming along and should be 100% done by Thursday night! Tonight is the rest of the hallway and bathroom and then trim.  

   In the listing for this property it said there were hardwood floors under the carpet...fir. I am so thankful we decided to change the floors instead of refinishing because, yes there was hardwood under most of the living room and down the hall, but there was a HUGE patch job and plywood in front of the stairs to the basement and the kitchen.

What a mess.....self levelling stuff was needed and our carpenter even did a bunch by hand...literally spreading it with his hand.....then it had to be sanded.......well....THE DUST WAS EVERYWHERE!!!  I seriously wanted to cry............I'm sure I will be finding dust in nooks and crannies for awhile......

Here is the flooring we have chosen.  I need to do a lot more painting (I'm finishing up the second coat on the hallway today and will do a second coat in the kitchen when I am done this post) then the bathroom.....then two of the bedrooms as I haven't found a color I like for the spare room.  I can then paint some of the furniture......the oak wall unit and bookcases and then the kitchen cupboards.  Oak be gone!!!!  HAHAHA! (I've never really painted furniture before...yikes!)

My accent wall.....where the two bookcases and "desk" will go.  The floor is done there now.

I will be so super happy when this painting is done.  My poor carpal tunnel hands and arms are taking a beating.  Drywall for the basement will likely happen next weekend....then taping, then more painting and more flooring!  Will I be ready for Thanksgiving????  :o)

This little dude went to his Daddy's stylist and had his hair cut.....pretty fancy!

This little princess came for a visit last weekend.  She loves her car!

She LOVES her quad rides with Papa!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon I popped into Olds to get paint.  Before I stopped at the paint shop I went to a quilt shop.....I was looking around for a bit (for fabric for a valance in the kitchen and curtains for the bookcases as they will be holding office stuff, etc....I'm sure I have suitable stuff in my stash once I can get to it!!!).  Anyway, I was going to take one more look around the front of the store, came around the corner and there were two gals I knew from my old home town!  They were coming back up from their trip to Montana and Idaho (I believe).  We had a quick visit because they were going to be driving all the way home yesterday and I knew they wanted to look around the shop.  It was nice seeing them and catching up on a bit of hometown news.

When I got home I had a headache (NOT from the visit....I was starving and hadn't drank any water all day!).  The guys came and were sawing and pounding so I wanted to find a nice quiet spot......well, I tried here but it's on the side of the house where the sawing takes place!  I ended up going way out to the "pond" and had a nice sit-down with a couple of magazines.

When Hubby got home we had supper outside at the back of the house, had a fire in the fire pit then decided to take the dogs to the river.  Of course I had to look at rocks and these are what I found!

This one is so neat.....I could not get the small rock out of the big rock!  I wonder how long it's been in there and how it got there and got stuck!!!!  

Off to paint.........*sigh*  One day it will be done but it won't get done unless I do it!  LOL!

Grandparenting, a Furball and Some Work on the Weekend!

Good Monday morning!  Well, afternoon now I guess.  I'm still in my pjs....had a late start to my day and one has to clean in their pjs or it's just not right!  LOLOL!

Haven't accomplished much as far as the house goes.....Thursday I went to pick up Miss Lyla from High River.  I made a day of it and stopped to do some shopping in Okotoks (I had gift certificates to use up!)  I stopped at the thrift store and found these 'vintage' goodies!  Who can pass up vintage Tupperware?  I remember my Mom having the sugar bowl.  It is now washed and filled with sugar in my cupboard!  I keep my sugar in a big (new) Tupperware container and when a recipe calls for a tsp it was a pain!  Now I am all set!!  The little pitcher is so cute!!!!!  I'm sure I will find a use for that too!  Had a nice lunch and visit with my friend Sue as well.  Not sure how often I will get back there now.......it's not too far I guess!  

So this little monkey came and stayed with us for the weekend.  She kept us on our toes!  She slept in every morning......not up at her usual 5:30 am which I was thankful for!  Saturday she spent the day with her other grandparents who have a lake lot about 15 minutes from us!  Hubby and I got a lot of things done around here while she was there having a blast!

On Thursday I also picked up this furry thing!  Twix will be living with us now....she is 10 or 11 months old (Daughter2 couldn't remember!) and is so small!!!!!!!  And skinny!  I don't know if her dogs ate all this cats food or what???  Of course WE have to have her spayed!  That will be done soon!!!!  I'll let her get used to the place first.  She is my shadow today!

My electrician!  LOL  He worked very hard in the basement this weekend.  Tonight we will rip up the carpet here on the main floor and flooring should be installed starting tomorrow....I hope!  Shouldn't take too long (fingers crossed!!!)  

Here is Son1 on the weekend with my other little monkey!!!  I am hoping they decide to come down on the weekend!!!!!!!!  (not on the motorcycle!!!!)

Driving her home to her new place yesterday.  She didn't sleep a wink and Grammy should have sat back there with her......I don't know how many times I had to contort my body to grab a water bottle or something else she dropped!!!  Papa was driving!!

Lyla LOVES rocks and of course with having a gravel driveway it provides hours of entertainment.....I asked her if I could have this one though.......thinking of you Erica!  <3  

Hope to have some progress pictures on my next post!!!!!  Have a great week all!!!!!

So Much To Do....and I Need Motivation!!!

It's so hard to believe we got possession of this new place three weeks ago today!  It was a hot sunny day and we would be unloading the U-Haul truck and trailer right now.  A flurry of activity!  Today is quiet....as I sit in the sunroom with my lap top and coffee.  Not a sound to be had.  :o)  I have so so so many things I could be doing....and I know that all of a sudden I will be kicking myself for not getting these jobs done!  Painting....I have so much painting to do.  I know I should be painting the living room while the old carpet is there but I can't decide on a colour.....I think it will be easier when the floors are done.  But I have three bedrooms and a bathroom I could be doing now!!!  I may have colours picked out for them.......I need to get the painting done up here so that when the basement is done (more painting down there later) I will be able to organize my sewing/craft stuff and I will want to get busy doing those kinds of things instead!

On Saturday I headed into High River, bright and early, to grandparent this little monkey!!!  Here she is telling the dogs to "shhhhhh".  Her and her parents will be moving closer on the weekend....to north Calgary.....so it will take an hour off the commute!  We get to bring her here for the weekend to keep her out of the way.....and it will be so much more fun here for her!  Just have to figure out when to get there to pick her up.  I thought nothing of a two hour drive years ago....but now!  LOL!  

While in High River I went to Chinook Fabrics' Christmas in July sale....and to have a quick visit with Mavis.  Then I stopped by my friend and former neighbour Deb's house....she is packing for her move next week!  It was weird to drive by our old house and not park in the driveway!  LOL  

This dog is in her glory.  Every day she is outside roaming around.....looking for squirrels!  I have seen her sit at the base of a tree watching (and listening to a squirrel chirp at her) for a long, long time!!!  She must think she sees/hears something here as she is ready to pounce!!!!

It's funny how you can tell by her personality how much happier she is here.  Likely because she can roam and also because her Dad is home every night.  I think all the dogs are happier!  I'm happier because it took me maybe an hour to clean the house yesterday!!  (as opposed to 3 at the old house!)  I'm happier because it's so quiet and peaceful here.  I'm happier because Hubby is home every night.  But I think it could get lonely if I don't get myself busy.  Talking to dogs all day is okay but......hahaha!  Thank goodness for the internet and text messages and emails!  Again, I do have enough things to keep me busy.....I just have to start!  Off I go!!!!!!

A Tiny House, BIG hail, and Renovations

Well, we are here.  :o)  I've hardly heard the dogs barking...it's been nice.  We were not able to move in early so we had to entertain all the kids on Canada Day weekend.  Son1, Jenna, Jude, Hubby and I all walked to George Lane Park in High River on July 1st.  There was music and events and we stopped for pie at Evelyn's Diner.  We could see the fireworks that night from our backyard.  Sunday we played cards outside and just relaxed.....I twisted or pulled something in my back Saturday and it was not fun!  I had a hard time getting comfortable or doing anything.  Daughter1 took another week off and continued to pack while the guys moved things....we have a utility trailer and rented a big U-Haul truck (for only one day but in hindsight we should have kept it for at least two days!).  Monday they were both loaded right up ready to go bright and early Tuesday morning when we did get possession.  Long story short....it all got here.  Hubby's shop is almost all organized and the other garage is FULL of my stuff.....mostly quilting.  This is where some of the renovations come in......the unfinished basement will be finished....a bedroom, bathroom, utility/laundry room and the rest will be left open...so basically half of it lengthwise.  That will be my sewing area.  Hopefully there will be room for a bit of a sitting area on one end and a tv.  The framing is starting next weekend.  Flooring upstairs will be replaced.  Off white carpeting does not work for us and the dogs although it is nice and cozy!  LOL  Light fixtures, painting, and little things here and there to make it our own need to be done.  Nothing major upstairs!  This is a (bad) pic of our little bungalow on a rare cloudy day.  (the sunroom is on this end...my favourite room)  We haven't had many cloudy days since we moved but we have had a couple of thunder storms.......

 ....which included HUGE hail last Sunday.  Thank God they weren't all this big but I have never in my life seen hail this big!  The sound on the roof was awful!  Hubby and I wondered if we were jinxed as far as the weather goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!  No damage...can you believe it but I think it was because of the direction it came from and that we are really well protected here with trees.

At the end of the week we moved, it had been so hot so we took the babies to Little Red River...lots of people were floating down the river...it's shallow (where we went), warm and sandy.  The babies LOVED it! (I think Son1 and Papa loved it too!!!!)

Here are these two digging in the driveway!  We will have to get a sandbox one day!

Jude turned one year old this day!  Oh these two are growing up way too fast but are getting more and more fun!!!!  

So one day, when I can get my sewing/quilting room all set up and all the major renovations are done and I'm done painting....I'll be able to really relax!  (and SEW!!!!)

On The Move!

Just taking a moment to write an update.  I laughed at my previous post about renting! That idea didn't last too long.  We had decided to go north of Calgary to look at houses...Didsbury or Olds, as it would be half way for the kids to come and see us and Hubby would be able to come home every night from work.  When doing a property search an acreage came up even though I hadn't ticked the acreage box.  (was someone sending this to us???) We had arranged with a realtor to look at places and added the acreage to the list......long story short, the acreage will be our new home!  Here is a google earth picture of it.....it's the one on the far left...top one...nice straight driveway.  Wish I knew how to circle  it!!!  There are two garages/shops on the property and Hubby is beyond happy about that!  The house is a little bungalow....when I say little, I mean little.  We will be going from over 3000 square feet to just over 1000 square feet!  But the area is so peaceful and quiet and everything is immaculate!!!!  An older Ukrainian couple own it and you could seriously eat off the unfinished basement floor!  This place is about 35-40 minutes from Hubby's work so he is also looking forward to coming home every night and sleeping in his own bed!  

I have been packing like crazy because we get possession of the new place July 4th (but they are letting us in early...likely this weekend)  I know I am packing waaaaaay too much stuff!  I had a garage sale last Saturday and got rid of some stuff but still have a ton leftover to be donated.  This picture is a tip of the packing iceberg!

Daughter1 has taken the week off to help me pack and this little munchkin goes to daycare and then comes for supper.  I will miss these impromptu visits but will have to make the most of long weekend visits!!!

Son2 is coming tomorrow and then Son1, Jenna and this cutie patootie are coming on Friday!  Can't wait to see this little walking machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So things are falling into place.......I hope.  Have to get to the lawyers to sign papers soon.  I met the buyers of our house the other day.  Super nice couple with three kiddos.  They will liven up the neighbourhood for sure!!  

Well, off to get ready for the day.....Daughter1 will be here soon!  

My Head is Spinning!!!!!!!!

These last few days have been CrAzY!  Let me fill you in!  

But first off I treated myself to some peonies.....LOVE this flower....they are beautiful and they smell wonderful!  They are all open now.

Daughter1 surprised me with this mug!  <3 

My friend is in the hospital in Edmonton....recently diagnosed with leukaemia (AML) and is undergoing chemo....her treatments are finished but she has to stay in hospital for a total of 30 days.  She sent me this picture....the bird picture is something I painted for her...I also made one for her daughter.  I was so touched that this is something she will be looking at for 30 days.......I hope my prayers and positive vibes come through it.  I need her to get better......

This morning I popped into the kindergarten class I was working in.  They presented me with this adorable picture!!!!!  Each grape was a picture made by the children.  The purple ones were from the class I worked with the longest and who I saw today.  They were to be pictures of them and I.  I think the kids were surprised I was there and I received many great hugs!!!!!!!!  I hope to pop in again before the end of the year.

I have signed up for this class that starts tomorrow night.  If you can, zoom in on the flowers in the basket.....cute! I really shouldn't take the time to go to this class but it's only for two evenings so I should be able to manage.......because........

We found out today that our house sold.......here's where the craziness comes in.  My friend Pam came for a visit and arrived Wednesday....she came with me to my Dr appointment in Calgary Thursday.  While at our stop at a quilt shop I got a call from the realtor we have had show our place a few times.  He asked if one of his associates could show our house....I said "sure"  So Pam had to withstand me cleaning and us driving around for over an hour on Friday only to find out our realtor had told me the wrong day! The showing was to be Saturday....and what else was Saturday???  My purging sale!!!!!  So I bumped the sale time up to end at noon, Pam left around 11, my friend Sue helped me at the sale and I quickly tidied up and Hubby, the dogs and I left again.....Lonnnnnng story short, we have accepted an offer but we have to be out by July 10!!!!!!!  Conditions are to come off next week......I am kind of panicking thinking of everything I have to do!  We are hoping to just rent for a bit while we figure out what and where we want to be!  Saying my head is spinning is an understatement.  We hadn't listed officially and had kind of thought we would wait until next spring!  LOLOL  Oh what is life if not unpredictable!!!!!   Here is my celebratory drink at supper tonight with Daughter 2

I will work on purging unwanted stuff and by then the conditions should be lifted and I can start packing!  Garage sales will be happening for the next few weekends.  I've got this!  hahaha (wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!)