Happy Homemaker 2025-01-13

Good morning!

Last week was another busy one at work, hoping it calms down to a standard level soon.  Had to work part of my Monday once again and a few hours more each day.

Had Xavier here Thursday and Friday as his earache has worsened even with antiobiotics.  He has a new antibiotic now with ear drops too.  Both grandkids slept over Thursday night.  DH drove Anne-E to daycare on Friday while Xavier stayed here.  DDIL was out of town for work Thursday and Friday and ds had a hockey game on Thursday night.  He had supper here with grandkids on Friday night. 

Saturday was lots of regular housechores for me.  DH went to help out at sil's, they are redoing half the main floor - getting old ceramic out and putting in a new one and a new counter and backsplash in the kitchen.  He also went to hockey game with neighbor Saturday night.  I took out my new advent calendar puzzle that I had not done and started on that.

Sunday was a lazy day, didn't do much.  My eye is bothering me (I remember last year was at this time of the year that I had infection upon infection).

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom . , 

The weather

We have a light spray of snow on the ground as of last night.  Very rare for us no snow in January.    A little each day in the forecast but just 1 cm per day.

Mon

-6°

-8°

Tue

-4°

-11°

Wed

-8°

-18°

Thu

-14°

-18°

Fri

-6°

-6°

Looking around the house

Received my TEMU order for more fairy lights and battery-operated candles.  So now in the evening we have a soft glow in every room.

I picked up alot during the weekend so it looks nice... except for my office where I have summer clothes out ready to be packed.

Thinking and pondering

Dad put away the doll I had brought for mom.  It is hard for him to so see her with it.  she was saying it had started walking, he feels like she goes on to another world when she has it.  He will take it out again later if need be.

Deep-cleaning has to be started

Prep for end of February 1-week trip to Florida

Will try to be in good health before leaving (starting up vitamins, being careful with my food, etc...)

TV this week

Regular programs will resume

• Indéfendable (saison 3)
• Stats (saison 3)
• L'oeil du cyclone (saison 4)
• Dumas (season 1)
• Cerebrum (saison 3)
• Alertes (saison 5)
• Mea Culpa (saison 1)
• Sorcières (saison 2)
• Veille sur moi (saison 1)
• Portrait robot (saison 3)  (got to binge-watch it last week)
• Détective surprenant (saison 1)
• Passez au salon (saison 1)
• In Memoriam (saison 1)
• Vestiaires (saison 1)
• Le bon docteur (saison 7)
• L'amour est dans le pré (saison 13)
• Doc (saison 3)
• CSI: NY (season 1) was filling up my dvr so cancelled it.  when I decide to watch it I can just go to netflix
• Les petits tannants (saison 4)
• Épique: Massif de Charlevoix
• La Galère (saison 3)
• En direct de l'univers (saison 16)
• Big brother (saison 5)

Oh my, can't possibly watch all that, will have to choose

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Toute la lumière que nous ne pouvons voir - Anthony Doerr - WWII story

On my to-do list

Last weekend

• Wash main bathroom
• Vac main floor
• Mop main floor
• Vac basement
• Start prepping clothes for trip
• Filed papers in my night table

Monday

• Post here
• Exercise (did a 20-minut stretching sequence)
• Plan for in-town work on Tuesday
• Wash all my bedroom drawers and armoire and try to declutter stuff while at it
• 
  

Decluttering 

Nothing

Upcoming this week

Tuesday - in town work

Xavier's funny

Friday I had work over my head for the office and dh was babysitting Xavier and they kept arguing so I closed the door a few times so I could concentrate.  At one point the door was open and Xavier came in to close the door saying this way Grandpa would not bother me for my work hahaha

From the camera

Nothing

Picture / quote of the week

Happy Homemaker 2025-01-06

Welcome 2025!

NY's festivities - 30th we went to my parent's house for supper (I brought chicken pot pie and cabbage soup).  Sis, bil, brother and family came for supper with us.

31st we were invited to sil's sister's house where we stayed for lunch.  Supper was at my sis's house and evening (My other brother and sil came by for a few minutes too).  We got to meet grand-niece Romy for the 1st time - she is 3 weeks old, so cute!  All left after supper except us.  We stayed until 11:00 when bil fell asleep so we went back to parent's house where dad was waiting for us so we watched bye-bye 2024 together and waited until midnight to wish each other a Happy New Year.

1st - sil, bil, brother and children came by.  I had brought cabbage rolls and dessert.  We left at 1:00 pm.  There was snow most of the way back home so took us 3:45 to go back home instead of 3 hours.  Supper was at sil's house - pizza.  Bil's sister, cousin and husband were there too.  We left at 10:00.

I have taken notes for 2025, what worked and what didn't.  Figured out my phrase for 2025.  I DO MY BEST

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom . , 

The weather

Mon

-12°

-13°

Tue

-2°

-8°

Wed

-9°

-12°

Thu

1°

-1°

Fri

0°

-9°

Looking around the house

All Christmas has been taken down.

Have taken out fluffy / furry cushions and put them in LR.  Have left fairy lights everywhere - warm white.  

I did leave wood Christmas tree on the wall, not sure if it'll stay up or down.

Changed mantel frames from Christmas paintings to snowy ones.

Thinking and pondering

I had bought a doll for mom since she loves children and with her Alzheimer thought it would help.  At first she said it's a doll and didn't seem to care too much except to say she was beautiful.  Afterwards she forgot it was a doll and would talk to it and hug it.  It was the only time she seemed happy during the days we were there, otherwise she is always angry.  However it is very hard for all of us see her react to a doll as if it were a real baby.  Dad finds it very hard, not sure if he'll keep the doll or not.  Mom kept asking who's baby it was, that it wasn't one of her children.

DDIL has decided Xavier will go to French kindergarden instead of English. I understand because English is far, however it is sooooo important to learn English (our mother tongue here is French).  She said next year she'll send him to English school at the same time as Anne-E.

Thinking all that needs to be done in 2025, goals, habits, ...

Upcoming vacation in Florida Jan 28 to Feb 3rd - prep for this

TV this week

Regular programs will resume

• Indéfendable (saison 3)
• Stats (saison 3)
• L'oeil du cyclone (saison 4)
• Dumas (season 1)
• Cerebrum (saison 3)
• Alertes (saison 5)
• Mea Culpa (saison 1)
• Sorcières (saison 2)
• Veille sur moi (saison 1)
• Portrait robot (saison 3)
• Détective surprenant (saison 1)
• Passez au salon (saison 1)
• In Memoriam (saison 1)
• Vestiaires (saison 1)
• Le bon docteur (saison 7)
• L'amour est dans le pré (saison 13)
• Doc (saison 3)
• CSI: NY (season 1)
• Les petits tannants (saison 4)
• Épique: Massif de Charlevoix
• La Galère (saison 3)
• En direct de l'univers (saison 16)
• Big brother (saison 5)

Oh my, can't possibly watch all that, will have to choose

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Marie-Tempête (intégrale - 3 tomes) - Dominique Demers - finished this morning need to find a new book to read

On my to-do list

Last weekend

• Dust all main floor
• Wash main bathroom
• Print list for deep-cleaning of all the house during the year
• Print a January calendar (now I need to fill it with exercises, self-development, goals, etc...)
• Finish putting away Christmas
• Taking out winter decor
• Planning for 2025
• Did my 1st Temu return - they will reimburse on my card but told me to keep the article which worked just fine (a bird lamp) but I thought it was a bit bright.
• Worked for the office 1 hour on Friday

Monday

• Post here
• Plan for in-town work on Tuesday
• Do more paperwork and planning for 2025

Decluttering - I did a special post for all that was decluttered in 2024 (see older posts)

• 2 pens
• 3 paint brushes
• PJ top
• 1 marker
• 2 reindeers
• 1 baby mirror for car
• From mom's: 1 bag of wool (did not keep as it smelled of humidity), 5 Christmas cups (will be given to dd), 1 bag of clothes of niece and nephew givent back to them, 2 mini-muffin pans (given to ds)

Upcoming this week

Tuesday - in town work

Xavier's funny

For some time, Xavier has been asking me to get a full table of food so did a mini-buffet on the 4th for supper (deviled eggs, ham and chicken salad sandwiches, chicken wings, nachos, sausages wrapped in bacon, cheese plate, fruit plate, veggies and dip.  When he saw the set up he said 'wow' and his eyes lighted up.  I asked if it was what he wanted and he said yes. haha, so funny.

From the camera

Nothing

Picture / quote of the week

Decluttering 2024

 I started my decluttering journey a few years back but it is an ongoing process.

Resumé of 2024 decluttering  (will help me stay focused)

Going through old posts and copying here (and looking at my calendar where I write down things)... of course many more were decluttered that I forgot to note... especially paper!!

January

• 1 pair of socks
• 2 sweaters
• 1 game (ds took it home with him)
• 1 pair of pants
• Reindeer ear muffs
• 1 sweater
• 1 8 X 10 painting (had taken pics of paintings I had done and put in a FB family group to give to any who wants them).  Sis will be taking the penguins,... she says it'll be her bday gift...win-win.
• 1 phone case
• 2 hair products (did not like the smell everytime I used them)
• 1 body cream (did not like the smell either)... 
• 1 trivia calendar will be given to dnephew
Given to ds:
• 1 watch - his he can do whatever with it I do not need it here
• 1 stop watch
• 1 front-open frame for kids' drawings
• 1 small wood box given to Xavier.. he says it is his treasure box... he is SOOO happy
• 1 bracelet cheap
• 4 batteries
• 5 dvds
• 1 sweater (given to ddil)
• 2 erasers
• 5 pencil stubs
• some garbage bag ties
• 1 bookmark
• 1 work spiral notebook (2021 work notes)
• Papers in office drawers
• 1 hair conditioner (stinks)
• 1 capri legging
• 3 tighs (nylon)
• 1 pj top
• 1 pair of socks (new but I know I will never wear them)
• 1 underwear
• 1 puzzle
• 1 pair of pants
• 1 paint tube
• Papers from financial file
• 1 mini plastic container
• 1 empty pill bottle
• 2 curtain panels

February

• Hockey game (was ds but missing pieces)
• Universal tv remote
• 1 glass container with lid (broken)
• 2 bags from mom's
• 2 curtains (voilage)
• 2 bags from mom's
• 2 curtains (voilage)
• 1 pj top
• 3 veneer boards (dh sold on Marketplace)
• 1 pair of earrings

March

• Old computer (dd had given her old one to dh... but it was not working so he took it to a repair place and they said not worth it).

April

• 9 veneer planks from garage yay!
• 1 baloon pump (did not work)
• 1 pair ski socks
• 1 bath towel (made rags)
• 1 hair brush
• 1 sweater
• DH sold 9 more veneer planks on Marketplace (yay for garage space).

May

• DH sold 4 tires on Marketplace last week
• 1 pen
• DH sold a trailer hitch on Marketplace
• A pack of wood baseboards sold on Marketplace (add has been there for over 1 year)

June

• 1 pair of baby dinosaur slippers (almost brand new)
• 1 baby high-chair
• 3 capris
• 1 jeans
• 1 exterior door (yay more space to open the doors of the car in the garage)
• 1 hedge cutter sold on Marketplace
• 1 bra

July

• 1 children 3D puzzle
• 2 pens
• 1 roofer mat dh sold on marketplace
• 1 water bottle
• 2 children food toys

August

• 3 shorts
• 2 carpets 2 X6
• 1 wood door (dh sold on marketplace)
• 4 concrete lengths (sold on marketplace)
• Sandals
• 1 metal pansheet
• Sent a big plastic toy car (the ones where they get in and get it to advance with their feet) to thrift store
• A big wooden door sent to eco-center

September

• A children toy of colored rings 
• Sandals
• 1 old sink (dh took it to recycling center)
• 2 old usb keys
• 1 sweater
• 1 small watering can (bought a new one at Ikea the other week)
• Rubber mat sold by dh on Marketplace
• 1 pen
• Instructions for old tv remote
• Instructions for old cable terminal which we don't have anymore
• 2021 IKEA catalogue
• 1 Tupperware container 
• 1 tea bottle (not watertight)
• attachments for food chopper (have never used them in 30 years)
• 3 cans of spray paint
• 2 baby bottle tops
• 1 pen
• 3 small tupperware 
• 3 big tupperwares
• 1 pen
• Veggie brush
• 1 baby spoon
• 1 long sweatshirt
• Plastik fork
• 1 small plastic bowl
• 2 shoe racks

October

• 8 sweaters
• 2 plastic bedding bags
• 1 small ceramic elephant
• 2 old razors
• 1 pumice stone
• 1 sinus bottle (just wanted the salt envelopes and was sold with it)
• Toy four-wheeler
• Toy gun
• 5 food toys
• 2 toy block parts
• 1 police car
• 1 pen
• 2 plastic train wagons
• 6 magazines (given to niece)
• 2 small McD toys
• 1 rolling cart toy box
• 1 plush toy
• 2 bathing caps (given to ds for grandkids)
• 1 marker
• 1 pen
• 2 empty cardboard game boxes

November

• 1 broken plastic container
• 1 old paint bottle
• 1 broken plastic container with lid
• 1 plastique tub with lid
• 1 small Christmas tree
• 6 Christmas ornaments
• 1 string of Christmas lights
• 3 strings of Christmas lights
• 1 pair of boots
• Did some decluttering at mom's (got Christmas dishes out, 1 bag of big towels and dishtowels, 2 bags of random clutter was thrown away)

December

• 1 cloth for drying dishes
• 1 big coffee wood table from basement sold on Marketplace
• 3 wood puzzles will be given to sis - grandkids are now too old for these
• 4 clothes for drying dishes (from mom's not mine)
• Got 3 of the 4 boxes of Christmas dishes (from mom's) out of the house and in dd's car (we'll bring the last box when we go at Christmas, she had no more space)
• 3 sets of string lights
• 1 poinsettia
• 1 Christmas metal pail
• 1 bag of gift bags (from mom's) sent to the thrift shop
• 1 tupperware container (too old is starting to smell)
• 1 Santa (gave him to a cw)
• 2 plate heater will be taken to dd (it is hers but was here and she needs it for Christmas so will stay there afterwards)
• 1 pair of shoes 
• 3 sets of string lights
• 2 Christmas garlands
• 1 wine bottle bag

Happy Homemaker 2024-12-30

Happy New Year to everyone this week! Health and Happiness

I posted on Sunday night in case I don't have time before we leave on the 30th.

24th was at dd's with all my family.  We were 24 for supper and only 4 left in the evening.  We all slept over and left on the 25th.

25th ds and family came for supper and slept over.

Rest of the week was relaxing with housechores mixed in there and 1 hour of work for the office.

It was a nice Christmas week.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom . , 

The weather - 

Mon

5°

1°

Tue

3°

-1°

Wed

2°

0°

Thu

1°

-9°

Fri

-9°

-13°

Looking around the house

Christmas tree and wall tree and lights are still up but the rest has been put away.

Thinking and pondering

We booked a trip to Florida from January 28 to Feb 3 with sis and bil.  Will have to start prepping

for that

    

.

Tv this week

Christmas special programs

Christmas movies 

A friend of the family series

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Plus jamais malade by Denis Fortier - have put this on hold but need to get back to it.  

Rentrer son ventre et sourire   by Laurence Beaudoin-Masse

On my to-do list

After New-Year's

• Put away Christmas
• Regular housechores

Decluttering 

• 1 pair of shoes 
• 3 sets of string lights
• 2 Christmas garlands
• 1 wine bottle bag

Upcoming this week

New-Year's Eve and New Year, we will be out of town at my parent's house (3 hours away from home)

From the camera:

With mom and Dad, brothers and sis

With 4 grandkids

Picture of the week (from the web)

Happy Homemaker 2024-12-23

Good morning and Merry Christmas to everyone this week!

The last busy week of the year at work. I did not go in to work Tuesday as I was wayyy too busy so got to work from home with no distractions (boss was ok with that). Yay vacations (will have to go read emails a few times but mostly done for 2024).  woot!woot!

Grandkids came over for supper one night this week.

Friday late-afternoon  muffler broke on the Rav4.. all is closed for Christmas... so dh tied it firmly and we will be going to dd's for Christmas eve like that.

Saturday dh made individual meat pies (I helped out) and I did a few household chores. Sunday dh made cabbage soup and I made 2 casserole of stuffed cabbage rolls. Soup and 1 casserole are in freezer to bring to dad's on the 31st.  A few more chores and got to take a small nap in the afternoon!  Supper was pizza with sil, bil and neighbors.

Did not sleep well and woke up with stomache ache, feeling a little better now but very tired.  Might nap with grandkids this afternoon.  DH wants to take Xavier skating for a bit this afternoon but it is very cold outside.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom . , 

The weather - Almost no snow on the ground but a little for Christmas.. 

Mon

-13°

-13°

Tue

-7°

-15°

Wed

-8°

-18°

Thu

-8°

-12°

Fri

-6°

-9°

Sat

Looking around the house

How can we accumulate so much stuff in a house? geez.. guess I'll keep on decluttering for 

2025!

Thinking and pondering

Hoping I can get some rest in between Christmas and NYear's Eve.  Will probably our last 

Christmas with mom still at home.

Tv this week

Christmas special programs

Christmas movies 

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Plus jamais malade by Denis Fortier - have put this on hold but need to get back to it.  

Lucides  by Adrian Stoltz... not sure if I'm like it or not, got 1/3 read

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Vac main floor
• Cooking

Monday 

• Post here ✅
• Prep sausage / bacon to take to dd's ✅
• Pack to go to dd's on Tuesday morning
• Grandkids are here for the day
• DH will try to get car fixed otherwise it will get repaired after Christmas.

Decluttering 

• 2 plate heater will be taken to dd (it is hers but was here and she needs it for Christmas so will stay there afterwards)

Upcoming this week

Christmas!

Christmas prep

All ready! 

From the camera:

Teaching grandkids to play Kerplunk this morning

Picture of the week (from the web)