It's been a long time!

It has been a very long time since my last update. I have been up to my eyeballs in boxes. Thankfully, I'm only up to my knees now. The move has been crazy, to say the least. I've had lots of help (THANKS ELSIE!) with unloading the many, many boxes.

We really love it here. I never want to leave home. Going to work in the mornings is very hard! Soon, I will try to post some photos. I don't spend very much time at the computer - hence why I haven't updated.

We enjoy meeting our new neighbors...Mr. Moose, the duck family and listening to the frog clan.

We're in!

At long last, it seemed as if it would never happen...we spent our first night at our beautiful new house! Now all we need is furniture. That's all being delivered on Sunday. Yay! (insert happy dance).

Things are coming together!

Things are all coming together finally! We take possession on Tuesday 22nd (hopefully!!) and the movers will be bringing our stuff the next day! Then the fun really begins - unpacking!!

The following are some shots of details. Once again, the tile work is just amazing.

The first picture is the great room fireplace

Main entrance using the night shot with the outside lights on

Island with the sink, butcher block and cool tile

View of the great room from the front entranceDining room light as seen from laying on the floor Toilet paper holder in the 1/2 bath (mudroom)Island with the cut out (whole) in the butcher block for the garbage

my mom's pet duck

She's not really a pet, but she's in my mom's front yard everyday.

Changes everyday now!

More light fixtures have gone up and the plumber has started to do his thing...

Lots of little changes!

Hardwood and cork flooring, switch plates, light fixtures...the very visual finishing touches are beginning to emerge.

Outside

These are just some outside shots from yesterday. It was such a nice day, we

drove around the area, saw this horse all by his lonesome. The picture on the right is of our house from a long distance away. The mound of dirt is the house being built behind us.

Nanton & VINCENT'S 2nd BIRTHDAY!

The three of us went to Nanton yesterday to do the "antique walk". The weather was perfect for wondering in and out of stores. Each of us found something for ourselves, and we didn't spend too much.






Later we went to Vincent's 2nd birthday party at Olive Grove in Midnapore. He's such a cutie. Just like at his 1st birthday - he got blue icing from his Nemo cake all over his face. Julie looks great also, with #2 on the way!





Then we went to Gyula & Jutka's place (our old place) for a housewarming party. It was funny, some people greated Attila and me by saying "nice house you HAD". It didn't feel strange to be in our old house because the "things" (furniture, etc.) wasn't ours so the house didn't feel like ours.

Moving Day - March 27th

Bye "76"

Tile! Tile! Tile!

Bob the tile guy and his wife...WOW! What an amazing job they did. Take a look...

Getting Old

This was forwarded to me by a good friend of mine and I thought it was beautiful. Even though I still dread getting old, this made it seem o.k.? Enjoy! This says it all!!

"The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement turtle that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 am and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day."

Author Unknown

Tile!

front entrance
steam shower
tub

The tile looks great! The couple doing the work speak French only, so communicating with them can be a challenge. They do really nice work. Everything still needs to be grouted and sealed.

March 25th

Moving OUt!

I'm deep into the final stages of packing up the few things we have left sitting around. Movers are coming on Tuesday, and from that day forward we'll be staying at Anyu's for a few weeks. This past week, Elsie has been helping me...ALOT!!! She is the greatest! Thank you sooooo much.

New house?...very soon - we hope!

Wedding!

February 10 was Julie Ann and Gyula's wedding.

It was really beautiful! Congratulations to them!!

Consumer's Choice Awards

February 24th we attended the Consumers' Choice Awards along with Dalton and Sandra, Mark and Corey. Harding's Painting won for best painting contractor in Calgary for the second year in a row. The event was hosted by Barb Mitchell and Jimmy Hughes of Global TV. It was a fun and elegant evening with an awesome dinner.