Happy Homemaker 2023-06-05

Good morning

Wednesday was dh's 67th birthday so he picked up grandkids for supper and they spent the night.  DH drove them to daycare next morning.

Thursday was to be a picnic with grandkids, ds & ddil but storms during the day so we went to McD's and followed it up by going to see ds play baseball.  It was a nice evening (no rain in the evening).

Friday was a day off for me (had worked on Monday which is usually my day off), did not even go to see emails, I need a break.  Did housechores and rested.

Saturday was a local race.  DH was working as volonteer.  I did housechores then cheered the runners outside when they passed - had my bluetooth speaker out with 'we are the champions' playing.  Then I went to the center of our town to see the festivities.  DDIL came with grandkids so they could play in the airblown games.  They came back here for lunch and left for their nap at home.  She was going to see her stepmom with them for supper, but her stepmom's boyfriend had a scooter? (trotinette) accident and broke his shoulder, they had to call ambulance as he passed out.  We had supper here and dh wanted to go out (I didn't but I know he needs to go out sometimes as he is retired), so we were debating what to do when ds called (he had a golf tournament in the afternoon, followed by supper & evening), he had a spare ticket for supper... so dh went to that and we were both happy ;)

Sunday was a more relaxed day, some picking up and then a nap in the afternoon.  We had sooo much North wind during the weekend.. it was fall-like temperatures.

Today I might go look at work emails (will deduct my time from tomorrow), and I'd like to craft a little.  

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

The weather

Should be around 17-18-19C all week, so it will depend on the winds if it's nice or cold.

Looking around the house

Main floor is looking good.  

Thinking and pondering

About summer vacations.. our plans have gone on the wayside, so need to figure out something

Tv this week

Local Survivor

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

Things on the menu this week

No idea

On my reading pile

Les années de plomb by Jean-Pierre Charland.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Laundry
• Dusted and swept all main floor
• Went up in the attic and brought back down a few Rubbermaid totes with puzzles for the grandkids and stuff to be sent to thriftstore
• Went through my too-tight clothes in dd's old basement room drawers and closet
• Set up the Monash application on my phone for Fodmaps
• Paid cellphone bill
• Washed main bathroom
• Deep-cleaned bathroom armoire
• Called dentist ... pffff... will be in October only

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Telework - 45 minutes - DONE
• 30 min. walk - DONE
• 20 min. stretching - DONE (and NO I am not good at doing this everyday since covid nor the walk)
• 
  

Decluttering

• 1 baby pj
• 4 pairs of jeans (too small)
• 2 pairs of pants (too small)
• 1 pj
• 2 bras
• 1 underwear
• 2 pairs of socks
• Expired medication
• 6 big boxes that used to have toys (dh keeps boxes for years!)
• 1 bib
• 2 folding chairs with bags (they were dd's but in storage here, she took them back with her last week)
• DH's old skates
• 20 milk bottles (had a whole box up in the attic!)
• 1 lunch bag
• 1 diaper bag
• 2 baby spoons
• 2 baby plates
• 4 baseball caps
• 4 pants
• 1 skirt
• 1 blouse
• 1 belt

Upcoming this week

Nothing

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

ICAD combined with sketch-a-day

My simple pleasure

Staying home

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:

• • The average tongue is about three inches long.

From the camera:

Just love this picture of Xavier jumping in the air

Funny of the week

Happy Homemaker 2023-05-29

Good morning

Work - don't want to talk about it - just too much

Health - my ibs/ibd still not getting better.  had to stop fodmap tests until it is better.  Tired.

We had grandkids for supper and to spend the night on Thursday night.  DH drove them to daycare Friday morning.

Saturday my sister, bil, and parents arrived for lunch - dh had made chicken pot pie.  We left around 2:00 to go to ds's house where dd, boyfriend & 2 children had arrived for lunch too.  Spent the afternoon outside with the kids and had supper there (celebrated dh's 27th bday at the same time).  DD slept over there , while sis, bil & parents came back here around 9:30.

Sunday, everyone met here for breakfast and they all left around 11:00 am.  Was nice to see everyone.  

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

The weather

Warm temperatures last weekend but today is 19C very windy and north wind.  cold this morning. Should warm up during the week... and then be too hot with 30C ;) 

Looking around the house

Lots to do.

Thinking and pondering

I need to write down a to-do list of what we want to do / visit during the summer  -- have only a few things written down.

Tv this week

Local Survivor

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

Things on the menu this week

No idea

On my reading pile

Ma bucketlist by Sylvie G.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Planted flowers
• Laundry

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• telework (working today as I have too much that needs to be done before the 31st) .. will try to take friday off instead.

Decluttering

• 1 pair of running shoes (dh)
• 1 old blanket (tearing to pieces)
• 1 acrylic painting given to my sister

Upcoming this week

Telework Monday (my day off) and taking Friday off instead - busy week as all has to be done for the 31st.

Next weekend there is a local sports event (running) in town here - dh will be volonteer for a few hours.  will check it out if I can.

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

will try to do sketch-a-day

My simple pleasure

Having a cozy home

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:

• Fleas can jump 350 times its body length

From the camera:

Funny of the week

Happy Homemaker 2023-05-22

Good morning

Work - was just LOTS - too much last week.  I can barely keep my head of the water - did more than 9 hours day.. as a result I have too much time accumulated so took Friday afternoon off (did laundry and washed main bathroom and relaxed), since it's a long weekend lots were absent so it was less of a disturbance to take that day.

My brothers arrived around 9:30 Friday night - we all went to bed around midnight and up by 5:00 am on Saturday - they were going to help a friend redo his roof and dh went with them (about 1:30 from here).  So my Saturday was pretty quiet I got to do some things I was behind in for paperwork and computer.  I took a walk, sat outside to read and the prepped veggies, potatoes & potage for supper.  The guys came back around 3:45.  Then they repaired the 2 top corners of our roof... our roof will be due to get redone either this year or next year but for now, with the repairs, it'll be ok.  We had supper later (bbq coq au porc).  We went to bed around 10:00 as they were all tired.

Sunday got up at 6:00 (was awake at 5:00 as usual) with one of my brothers and we chatted until dh and other brother woke up.  My brothers left around 8:30 am.  I then picked up a bit and vac'd main floor.  Ds, DDIL and grandkids arrived after swimming lessons for lunch.  Leftovers and I did an omelette too.  After their nap, we went on a walk with them and played outside.  DH & DS picked up some lobster and steaks at the grocery store and we had that for supper.  Was the final of a local hockey team so they watched that on tv while the grandkids took their bath.  They left around 6:45.  I did dishes and then dh & I went for a walk.  Stopped at one sil's for a cup of tea and then stopped at other sil's for a little chat. 

Today is a holiday here.  We got up a bit later.  DH went to sil's house for a 2nd coat of plaster (he took the a/c unit out of the wall last week and patche up outside of the house, now he is doing inside) - he is now gone to the grocery store to pick up a few things.  He wants to do chicken pot pie today - we will freeze for next weekend.

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

The weather

Today will be 16 c with sunshind and wind.  Tomorrow is a nice sunny day with 22C.  Rain and wind for Wednesday and Thursday with highs of 13 C and 14 C.  Friday is back to sunshine with 18C. 

Looking around the house

Righ now, I have already started my day, main floor is looking good... Now I need to go in the basement,  we will be having guests next weekend too, so need to pick up a bit.

Thinking and pondering

I need to write down a to-do list of what we want to do / visit during the summer .

Tv this week

Local Survivor and some dvrd movies

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

More ideas for a Christmas ornament I could make for friends

Things on the menu this week

Lunch today will be leftovers and probably the same for supper.  Then we use up what we have in the freezer

On my reading pile

Le culte by Camilla Lackburg ... almost finished.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Washed main bathroom
• Vac'd main floor
• Laundry
• Updated ebooks on excel and got it copied on hard drive
• Sent more photos to be printed out 
• Practiced a few simpled drawings
• Lots of small things
• 
  

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Sweep kitchen, kitchenette and bathroom (saw a few mini-ants last week... nope don't want those in the house.
• Mopped kitchen, kitchenette, bathroom and hallway
• Washed bottom of patio door (was dirty)
• Washing bedding used by my brothers over the weekend and need to redo beds for guests next weekend (dd, dsil, 2 grandkids, sis & bil, mom and dad)
• Need to finish deep-spring clean of staircase (shouldn't take too long)
• Pick up in basement (vaccum, dust...), wash bathroom (might get done during the week)
• ...

Decluttering

• 1 old fridge (yay clears up space in the basement)
• 2 big things from the garage that dh gave to his cousin
• 1 pair of work gloves given to dh's cousin

Upcoming this week

Next weekend sis, bil, mom, dad, dd, dsil & 2 grandkids are coming to spend the weekend.  However ddil is having us all at her place for supper Saturday night so one less thing to think about.

A big workweek.

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

All my CIJ blogposts are written and scheduled.  I do want to start working on Christmas ornament but missing some craft items.

My simple pleasure

Using my new outside swivel-rocking chair

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:

• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

From the camera:

Nothing

Saying of the week

Happy Homemaker 2023-05-15

 Good morning

Monday, dh picked up grandkids from daycare and they had supper here.

Daycare was closed on Tuesday so dh babysat.  Parents were in town so they left around 7pm.

Went in town on Thursday for work and for lunch for 2 departing cw's..we are a small team... one was sick, other one did not want to come in town and boss had an emergency at noon... so just me and the 2 girls... we did have alot of fun and laughed alot.  Boss had beautiful bouquets sent to them with some chocolate.  Was my last day IN-town work for some time, will be 100% telework, yay!  I do have LOTS of work though with everyone leaving.    

Saturday was housechores as kids & grandkids were at ddil's dad for the 5th birthday of her little sister.  We also went around town - it was garage sale weekend... not many and not much.  I did get a beautiful tulip bouquet from a flower farm.

Sunday was a relaxing day.  Had a Ftime with my family - they were all at my sis's house for mother's day brunch (a 3 hour-drive from here).  Since we couldn't go I staged a breakfast in bed picture to send them hahaha.

We went to see grandkids at their swimming lesson and then they all came back her for lunch... eggs salad sandwiches, ham sandwiches, and potato salad.  After the grandkid's nap we went to the park and stopped by another garage sale where I bought some silk rudebekia flowers (now I need a tall slim pot), and a Santa.  We had chicken from rotisserie for supper.  After the kids left we took a walk but definately cold out there... It was windy all weekend and still is this morning.

Lots of babies last week - my cousin's daughter had her 2nd boy and 3 of ds's best friends all had their babies (1 was premature and was due at a later date).

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

The weather (in celsius)

Mon

20°

9°

Tue

13°

4°

Wed

11°

1°

Thu

16°

4°

Fri

22°

11°

Looking around the house

Had picked up on Saturday so not too bad but I do need to vaccum main floor and basement.

Thinking and pondering

Since I am now 100% telework for a little while, hoping I can discipline myself to a better routine healthwise and for housechores and all I have to do around here.

Tv this week

Local Survivor, transplanté and I watched a hobbit movie over the weekend.

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Looking for ideas for Christmas ornaments for friends...    Was thinking something like this , but not decided yet.  Might be a gingerbread man too. 

Things on the menu this week

I have meatballs in the freezer so need to use these up, hamburgers, soup....

On my reading pile

Le culte by Camilla Lackburg

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Washed main bathroom
• Dusted all main floor
• Got bank stuff done
• Sent fodmap class documents to nephew
• Sent some pictures to be printed
• Put button on black capris
• Cleaned out my bedroom armoire
• Updated 'alien invasion' notebook with passwords and bank info... and got a new book as other one was falling to pieces.
• 
  

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Vac main floor
• Vac basement
• Wanted to do a painting but not feeling it right now and since it's free 7 days might just watch it for awhile and take notes.  I could order the video too ($5 during the free week to keep as long as we want).
• Transfer some $$ to sis (wanted an outdoor rocking-swivel chair but none around here so she bought it and will bring it when she comes in 2 weeks)
• ...

Decluttering

• 6 magazines to dniece
• 1 pair of socks
• 1 underwear
• 1 bathing suit bottom
• 
  

Upcoming this week

My brothers are coming up next weekend to help a friend with a roof so will try to get them to stop by for supper and to sleep over.  dh will go help them (it's a little over 1 hour drive from here).

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

Nothing crafty is getting done these days but I do need to plan Christmas in July blogposts and start the Christmas ornaments.

My simple pleasure

I'd like to organize myself for free drawing classes and work on them outside.

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:  

• The Eiffel Tower can be 15 cm taller during the summer, due to thermal expansion meaning the iron heats up, the particles gain kinetic energy and take up more space.

From the camera:

Santa I bought at garage sale

Staged breakfast in bed (as you can see I am all dressed underneath the covers)

Saying of the week

Happy Homemaker 2023-05-08

Good morning

Last week dh picked up grandkids after daycare on Wednesday and they stayed over for the night.

Friday, after work, we did the groceries and talked with sis and BIL on FTime, as happens often on Friday nights.  We also took a short walk.

Saturday was outside chores as weather was pretty nice.  Grandkids arrived around 3:00 and stayed the night.  Parents had a party and it was specified no chicldren.  We went to the park with them for awhile and wanted to take them to the restaurant but Xavier wanted sandwiches in the gazebo on their small table, so we did that.

Sunday grandkids left at 11:00, they had swimming lessons at 11:25.  We did housechores for awhile before sitting down to relax in the warm weather.  Supper was pizza with sis and bil at a local joint.

Today is sunny but not as warm, so I'll be working inside, at least in the am.

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

The weather (in celsius)

A nice week in the works for us with sun: 15C today, 17C tomorrow, 19C Wednesday, 22C on Thursday and maybe some rain for Friday but still balmy.

Looking around the house

Lots to do.  Regular housechores did not get done over the weekend.

Thinking and pondering

I'm tired these days with all the goings-on at work, all the spring jobs to be done...

Tv this week

Not much... it's going to be sunny so will go outside at noon instead of watching some tv.

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

Things on the menu this week

Sheppard's pie, leftovers, potage, ...

On my reading pile

La charmante librairie des jours heureux by Jenny Colgan

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• I weeded side and front of the house.  
• Finished washing the gazebo (had only done half a few weeks back when it was nice), 
• Washed all outdoor furniture.  
• DH washed the car, went back to grocery to get some ground meat (none yesterday), and picked up outside.
• Spaghetti sauce in the crockpot outside (so it didn't smell up the whole house)
• 2 lasagnas for freezing with the sauceand had one tupperware container with just sauce.  
• veggie potage
• cooked up the rest of the ground beef (dh had bought 3 packs).  
• DH washed outside front windows (he lowered the dirt in front last year and now I have a hard time reaching) while I washed inside front windows.
• Aired out the last of the curtains that needed to be done for deep-spring cleaning
• Washed & remade my bed
• Put away winter bedding
• Washed Anne-E's bedding ....
• Laundry, laundry, laundry

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Wash main bathroom
• Vac main floor
• Deep-spring-cleaned my bedroom closet - DONE
• Pay bills
• Might look into updating antivirus for computer
• Get prescriptions at pharmacy
• Cook a pan of veggies
• Fold towels
• Dusting
• Relaxing...

Decluttering

• 
  
• 
  

Upcoming this week

• Thursday - in-town work as it is departure lunch for 2 cw's
• 
  

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

• Start a crochet cowl or a new pair of knit socks
• Drawing classes

My simple pleasure

Enjoying the warmer days

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:  

• The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is believed to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

From the camera:

Saying of the week

Happy Homemaker 2023-05-01

Good morning and welcome May!

Last week dh picked up grandkids after daycare on Wednesday and we did a few quick errands with them before taking them for supper at the restaurant.  Parents met us there to bring them back home.

Saturday we went to dd's house and ds, ddil and grandkids came too.  We were celebrating Anne-E's 2nd birthday, Eli's 2nd birthday and dd's 32nd birthday.  Grandkids had lots of fun being together.  We all slept over.  

Sunday on our way back we stopped by my uncle's house (2 of them live near each other) so we got to see my aunt and cousin too.  Had lunch with them and were back home by 5:30.

Today is one of the big spring tide days... LOTS of rain and very big winds.  Housechores it will be.

Workfront:  2 weeks ago we were told one cw is leaving after 3 months with us (a great loss she was very good and a nice person) and last Friday we learned my friend-CW will be put in another team (our old one before reorganisation), so we will be 3 left out of 9 people.  A new cw has been there one month, our secretary has been there 1 year and me.  I was pretty discouraged.  Boss talked 5 minutes with me on Friday and she will be giving me TEMPORARILY 100% telework until she hires someone else (I HAVE to go next 2 weeks anyways - tomorrow they are changing my computer and next week is lunch for departure of our 2 cws)... so don't know if I will really be able to profit the 100% alot.  Today I need to work a little in telework for emergencies.

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

The weather (in celsius)

Rain and wind today... lots of both.  

Looking around the house

Lots to do.  Regular housechores and I still have some spring jobs to do.  I've made to-do lists for today, for the week, for inside and for outside (depending on our temperatures).

Thinking and pondering

Kids are starting to talk about summer vacations, so we need to start planning.

Tv this week

Just whatever is on the dvr

Listening to or interesting blog I saw this week

Followed a few days of the food revolution summit.

Things on the menu this week

No idea

On my reading pile

Scrupules by Danielle Steel

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• 
  
• 
  

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Prep for in-town work on Tuesday + unplug all computer accessories and take notes to plug new computer and box in.
• Wash main bathroom
• Laundry
• Vac main floor
• Start putting away winter clothes and taking out summer clothes maybe
• Wash entry closets maybe
• Have lots to chose from on my to-do list
• ...

Decluttering

• 
  
• 
  

Upcoming this week

• Tuesday - in-town work
• 
  

To relax this week or In my crafting basket 

• Finished cushion cover
• Start a crochet cowl or a new pair of knit socks
• Drawing classes

My simple pleasure

Enjoying the warmth of our house when the outside temperatures are so cold, wet and windy.

Lesson learned in the past week or good to know

Fun fact:  

• A shrimp's heart is in its head.

From the camera:

Painting I did last week from a Jesse Robertson tutorial

Grandchildren

Supper: Smoked rib eye, potatoes and carrots - delicious!

Saying of the week