Happy Homemaker 2026-05-04

 Good morning and bye-bye April

Goodmorning!

Another non-routine busy week.  Grandkids left Wednesday morning (had been here 1 week) while parents were away on vacation.  Wednesday night we dropped off their dog. 

Thursday was a very very rainy day so dh vac'd everywhere and mopped floors while I went to town for work followed by supper for a collegue (friend's) retirement.  we worked together for 23 years.  Got home at 9:30 pm.

Saturday morning we left at 6:00 am to go to see mom (3 hour ride).  She was sick a few days last week and it really was not going well her hands and arms were getting blue.  They had to give her oxygen and something for the mucus.  She had a virus.  She is fine now.  Afterwards we went to parent's house to finish emptying all kitchen cabinets and wall-to-wall tv unit as well as the 2 closets in which we had left a few things and all bathroom cabinets, and take all paintings off the walls.  We have a renter at parent's 2nd house who will come to live there as soon as the 2nd house sells (should be soon as we accepted an offer).  He will use the main floor but he's a family friend and brothers made an arrangement they will still use office on main floor.  he will also have access to basement bathroom.  we have not emptied all basement yet but it will be done when he leaves (he says he is moving back to his hometime in 1,5 years when he retires).  He is renting furnished so no getting rid of furniture.  He is bringing his bedroom set (we gave away our parent's set to one niece).  Had lunch there and supper at sis'.  Nephew, girlfriend and their daughter joined us for supper.

Sunday sis made a big breakfast and a cousin joined us.  Afterwards me sis and cousin (Luc) went to see mom.  Then we went back to parent's house to get rid of a few more things.  Luc got some souvenirs (an old camera, an old very small tv my dad used to have in his taxi console, a rosary from my grandpa and a picture from grandpa).  Brought a few things here but very few.  We left around noon but had the new electric car so had to stop to recharge and since it was our first time was a bit complicated but we got it now (did not have the card for recharge stations).  Last night was 7th game of hockey finals and our team won!

Today is putting away stuff we brought from mom's (mostly things to use up) and go through  to give away at thrift store.

DH bought some plastic for a gazebo window (it was ripped) and is replacing that this morning.  I've decided to clean oven and work in kitchen today.

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

Weather this week

Mon

12°

2°

Tue

17°

8°

Wed

10°

6°

Thu

13°

6°

Fri

12°

3°

Looking around the house

Warm (heater is on this morning as it is 4C) and cozy.

Thinking and pondering

Can't wait to get rid of 2nd house and get that off our minds.  

Need to schedule a dentist appointment but need info from insurance first.

Got my retirement scenarios and I could leave early Fall but thinking more late Fall (taking vacation time until January so end date would be January).

TV this week

• Lots of recorded stuff we didn't watch last week.  Mostly nature and renovation shows for summer.
• Big Brother Quebec edition
• Hockey

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

It Starts with us - Coleen Hoover - I'm liking the 2 book series

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• DH had vac'd and mop on Thursday
• I washed main bathroom and did laundry on Friday

Monday

• Prep for in-town work tomorrow
• Clean oven
• Clean Jenn-Air
• Laundry
• Go through stuff from mom's
• ....

Decluttering

• 1 boot tray
• Cardboard
• Outside solar fairy lights
• 2 car cushions
• Car seet covers

At parent's house:

Filled 2 big garbage containers, 4 other industrial size garbage bags, 1 carload to thrift store, 1 carload to family friends for a youngster going to an appartment, brought 4 bags here but 1 is mostly things to send to thrift store but have to go through it first. things I brought are mostly cleaning products.. just a few serving dishes (mom had tons and some very nice ones), and craft stuff for grandkids. sis took 2 bags and brother 2 bags. Other brother had 3 bags. 2 big rubbermaid tubs for 2 nieces. Cousin came by (he lived with us with uncle for 3 years when young so we are close), he took vintage camera (he is a good photographer), mini tv dad had in his taxi way back when, grandpa's rosary (made from flowers from his funeral - we already each have one), a picture of our grandpa.  Also a rocking chair was given to family friend.

Simple pleasure

Routine!!  books, tea, a clean house

Upcoming this week

Tuesday - In-town work 

From the camera

coworkers and friends

Web picture of the week

Happy Homemaker Monday 2026-04-27

Good morning and bye-bye April

Busy busy week.  Grandkids arrived Tuesday evening with ds to spend the week.  Wednesday morning dh will drive them to school and daycare and their parents will pick them, and the dog, up.

It went well, no problem putting them to bed, they'd both fall asleep in my bed and we moved one of them out ... each of us sleeping with one of them in different beds because lack of space. Morning prep is quite busy with lunch, snacks (for Xavier) and hair for Anne-E (long hair that is ALWAYS tangled).  In the evening after supper, we'd get them to play outside for an hour before bathtime and bedtime.  Anne-E went to a friend's house (ddil had arranged that) from Saturday 4:00 pm and the friend took her to daycare this morning), so she was gone part of the weekend.  She spent Sunday at sugar shack with her friends.

Saturday was Xavier's baseball evaluation, so dh left with him at 6:30 am and they came back at 10:00 am.  I was with Anne-E Friday night for her dance practice and then dance recital Saturday morning.  got there at 10:00 and left at noon.  In the evening went to another town for nephew's hockey game (my brother's son and for once they were near us so had to go.. took us 1 hour to get there but to their home is 3 hours).  He played really well but got knocked at one point and he was hurting when he got out.  will call today to see how it's going.  There was a man there taking notes to draft them for a school in another province and he said in 1 year he had improved alot... nephew takes this very seriousy he practiced his skating every day before school this year and has been exercising alot too.  we'll see if he goes or not, not easy to let them go elsewhere for 1 year.

Yesterday afternoon Xavier said he was tired so he went in the house and fell asleep from 2:45 to 4:30 in my bed!  a little longer to fall asleep last night though but it did him good.  lots of outdoor time during the weekend.

Today will be some outside work, picking up income taxes, groceries, etc...

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

Weather this week

Beautiful weekend

Mon

19°

5°

Tue

18°

6°

Wed

14°

7°

Thu

9°

4°

Fri

7°

0°

Looking around the house

yuck.... lots to do but waiting until we are back to just dh and I.  Dog hair everywhere and kids running in and sometimes forgetting to take off their shoes / boots.  ah well, it's life ;)

Thinking and pondering

No time for that with the grandkids and dog here.

TV this week

• Les petits tannants
• TLMEP
• Ça finit bien la semaine
• En direct de l'univers

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Le patient anglais - Michael Ondaatje.   for now stopped that one, it was kind of boring.

It Ends with us - Coleen Hoover

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Laundry
• Deep spring-clean 2 entry closets and get winter stuff in 2nd closet
• Vac'd main floor 
• Picked up here and there as I go
• Wash a few section of patio railings
• Weeded all flower beds

Monday

• Pick up income taxes
• Drop off bag at thrift store
• Amazon return
• Groceries
• Wash last section of patio railing
• Laundry
• Take a walk, have to start taking walks again, had a rough icy winter so it's been awhile

Decluttering

• 1 children's pants
  1 marker
  1 highlighter
  1 pair of mitains
  1 lost glove
  1 lost mitten
  1 pair of boots
  1 children's coat
  1 hanger
  1 pair of children's socks

Simple pleasure

Having a child in bed next to me, wonderful moments or the grandchildren saying they love us and hugging us.

Upcoming this week

Monday - Pick up income taxes and probably PAY them :( - DONE and paid

Thursday - In-town work (instead of Tuesday), followed by supper for a cw who is retiring.

From the camera

Web picture of the week

Happy Homemaker 2026-04-19

Good morning 

Still have my sinusitis but it isn't as bad, depends on the time of the day.  Slow telework week but people had weird attitudes, hoping this week will be better.

DH helped out on Monday at ds' house to get stuff to recycling.  Did not see grandkids this weekend except for a few minutes when they picked up the bikes to go to the park.

Was Anne-E's 5th bday on Friday, will give her her gift this week when they come to spend the week while parent's are on vacation.  Was dd's 35th bday on Saturday too.

Got a new haircut on Friday, all summery, shorter and mainly thinner.

Spent weekend on regular housechores and some more deep cleaning and Saturday afternoon went outside on patio to read, got my outdoor rocking chair out to use.  Did a few classes from the sketchbook revival site.

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

Weather this week

Saturday was a beautiful sunny 20C day... we skipped from winter to early summer in 1 day..

and it lasted 1 day.  Sunday was rain all day and this week will be colder.

• 20

  

  3°-4°
• mar. 21

  

  6°0°
• mer. 22

  

  11°2°
• jeu. 23

  

  8°0°
• ven. 24

  

  12°2°

Today is to be 2C with snow flurries (right now at 8:30 it is -2C)

Looking around the house

Looks fine for now, now next week will be another thing ;) with 2 little tornadoes spending the week with their dog.

Thinking and pondering

Family situation is not getting better, how can it be if the other person refuses to communicate?

Dad had a 2nd house which will be put up for sale this week.  His income taxes are done and there is quite an amount to be paid.. yikes! you work all your life and then a big chunk goes to govt when you die.

Busy week ahead...

TV this week

• Les petits tannants
• TLMEP
• Indomptables
• Ça finit bien la semaine
• En direct de l'univers

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Le patient anglais - Michael Ondaatje... not sure about this one, have 70 pages read and for now it is boring.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Laundry
• Deep spring-clean kitchen and kitchenette (outside kitchen cabinets and top, woodwork, blinds, windows, walls, frames, furniture - chair covers will be washed when it's nicer so I can take chairs out to dry, curtains will be aired when it's nicer too), still have oven and fridge to clean but these get done regularly.  Inside of cabinets get done in Fall to be ready for the Holiday season.
• Vac'd main floor (dh)
• Dusted all main floor
• Washed main bathroom
• Did quite a few sketchbook revival webinars (limited time for it to be free)
• Finished assembling and stuffing the Christmas felt ornaments I had stuff for... now I need to buy more felt.  Got 13 done.

Monday

• 10:00 dentist appintment
• Get parking for next month - DONE at 2:00 am
• Sketchbook revival sessions to view
• Make a menu list for this week with grandkids and list for lunches, snacks, desserts and go to grocery store for these.

Decluttering

• 1 bicycle
• Some pieces of metal sheets
• 
  

Simple pleasure

Being able to talk with a friend about things on my mind.  Spring decor coming out slowly around the house, colors...

Upcoming this week

Monday - 10:00 dentist appointment

Tuesday- In-town work -Grandkids arrive for the week

Friday - general dance repetition for Anne-E

Saturday - Anne-E's dance recital - I'll be going with her.  DH will be going with Xavier to his baseball evaluation.

From Thursday to Saturday or Sunday - my brother and nephew are in town for hockey tournament hopefully we can go to at least 1 game to see them.

From the camera

Nothing

Web picture of the week

Wish it worked that way...