Looking back on 2013

it's been a funny old year with all sorts happening.

Obviously the highlight of our year has been the arrival of the two "N's."  Miss Nora who arrived on November 16th and our little Princess who arrived on January 12th.  Both have put so much love in our hearts and are such a blessing.

We were also fortunate to be able to go away on vacation in September to our beloved Smokies.  It was a break we both needed and it made us realize how much we missed going away, and that along with a number of other things also made us decide that this house is too much for us, which triggered another big decision to put the house up for sale in 2014.

Also due to some ill health and even some people dying both close to us and passing acquaintances in 2013, it made us realize we need to embrace every day we have left on this earth.  You just never know when it's your time to be called away.  

We did try earlier in the year to replace Molly with Milly, but that just didn't work out and we haven't felt the need in our hearts to look for another dog, although we have been tempted a time or two.  I never knew an animal could affect me so much and we/I think of her nearly every day.

I will not be seeing the New Year in, haven't done in a number of years now.  We do go out for dinner tonight, no where fancy.  I will clean out my coupon wallet today and will write down all the important dates and birthdays on my 2014 calendar before I throw out the 2013 one.

I will talk about our plans and hopes for 2014 tomorrow.

A Happy New Year everyone.

This smart phone will be the death of me, I swear......

I know you're saying, "now what's happened?"  So here is the latest episode in how me and cell phones should never be in the same room as one another.

When I got my smart phone I just went with what the guy at the store told me.  It turns out according to the kids I have a crappy plan.  They tell me that every time they see me.  So ds told me to get this other plan with unlimited minutes and texts for $65 a month.  On Christmas Day it once again came up about my bloody phone and one of them was looking at my phone and told me I had over 500 messages?????  Who on earth has been calling me and leaving me messages???

Turns out they are emails.....okay so that's not bad..........as I was worried I had missed 500 + phone messages.  Also turns out I didn't even have my voice mail set up..........I didn't even know I had voice mail and unless one of the family set it up I wasn't doing it.  I think Our Little Princess' mum found this all quite funny as we are arguing back and forward over this bloody phone.

Then our little Princess' dad was saying how I must be signing up for everything and how he has different passwords for everything.  I pointed out I only have a couple of different passwords and it takes me all my time to remember them!!!    Dd installed the PC Plus phone app on my phone which was good as I can check how many PC Points I have.  However it turns out I should only have it attached to my credit card not a separate card...........gosh it must be nice to be a know all when it comes to technical things!!!

So back to the bloody phone, I called Bell and changed my plan to the $65 one.  They were going to charge me $75 but I told a super rep called Lovely; yes that was her name, that no the kids had said $65.

So now I am paying $65 a month and am now in a 2 year contract rather than a 3 year contract.  Between you and me I have no idea what the plan entails until I get the paperwork and/or email.  Told ds I would forward the email on to him and he can make sure I got the right things.

Lovely did show me where my voice mail is though I need to set it up.  She muttered on about data, but was confused about that.  The main thing I use my phone for is taking photos, sending texts and checking my email and if I have to using the phone.  

By the way I have a Sony Xperia, and as per the kids I should have an I Phone not an Android phone {{{SIGH}}}  Next time I need a new phone I will make the kids come with me, so if there is an issue it's their bloody fault not mine!!!

Some days I feel so bloody old you know!

P.S. the phone did NOT come with a manual, you have to download the bloody thing???

Shopping in the sales

I have been shopping the sales and anyone who knows me I am a Wedgwood fanatic.  So of course I picked up another Christmas ornament to add to my collection; my first beige one.

 Saw these two jugs on Clearance, again Wedgwood, Nature's Canvas.  The small jug was $6.25 plus taxes and the larger one $10 plus taxes.

 Perfect as "objects d'art," and also useful.

Now the home stager "suggested" that we needed white dinner ware to display on our Welsh Dresser in the kitchen?  I have been eyeing up dd Sophie Conran Portmeirion dinner ware, but knew she would give me a hard time if I bought that.  So I went with the Gordon Ramsay Royal Doulton Maze set instead.  I got a fantastic deal  Each box contains 16 pieces, 4 large plates, 4 smaller plates, 4 bowls and 4 mugs.  They were on for $99 a box, and then I got an extra 25% off, I picked up two boxes.  Plus I got the dish and platter set for $25 after the discount.  The big bowl will go on the middle of the kitchen table with fruit in it, like the home stager wanted and all can be taken with us and used again.

Between me and you this was no hardship buying all of this!!!

Another of my good deals was a couple of photo/picture frames from Michael's, regularly $60 each, they were on for buy one get one free, plus I got another 25% off, totaling less than $50 for the pair.  The photo I had enlarged to 12" x 18" and that cost just over $12 (another one is on order).  So for under $75 I now have two original pieces of art work, that we will take with us to remind us where we used to live.

 With the photo being behind glass it is hard to get a decent photo.

A couple of photos from Christmas Day..........

Nora in her Christmas outfit, we got her the outfit at Cracker Barrel when we were on vacation.  Top fit okay, but the pants were too big.

At one point both Nora and her Grandad were out for a count!!  Both managed not to snore though!!!

 Here's our little Princess in all her Christmas finery.  She was such a good girl and took a shine to the Santa.  She even ate some potatoes, gravy, turkey and mashed carrot and turnip, her first Christmas Dinner.

 We had a Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake for dessert Christmas Day.  Between me and you I think the cake decorator must have been tired or "something!!"  Those eyes are creepy.

No photos today, just catching up with you all.......

The only sign of it ever being Christmas in this house are the Christmas cards still hung up and the Christmas lights on outside.  Everything else has been packed away for another year.  Why, well we need to get back into the swing of things in prepping the house to put it up for sale.

We had a lovely Christmas day with the family and the little ones, and other than a gravy mishap (it boiled over) it was perfect.  We all got lovely presents and had a great time enjoying one anothers company.

We were fortunate that the weather was kind to us and we did not suffer like a lot of people in Southern Ontario.

Dh and I hit the sales on Boxing Day and I got some great deals, which I will share with you in another post.  I have all my Christmas cards and wrapping paper bought and put away for next year.

Dh is working a lot at the moment, and has had very little time off at the moment.  We are basically down to the mud room and a couple of other jobs to do before the end of January.  Mind you the mud room is a big job and will take all of the month of January to complete.  

The dining room looks good and just has some finishing touches to add to it.  I will take various photos tomorrow as it's easier to understand how everything looks in a photo.

After the ice storm

We were lucky as we got a combination of snow and ice.  Our biggest inconvenience was that there was ice on the satellite dish so we couldn't get a lot of tv channels.  For some reason dh wasn't too keen on hauling out the 32 ft ladder to go up on the high roof and knock the ice off...LOL

Been busy today decorating the parlour/dining room.  Will spend a lot of tomorrow putting the room back together.

My two beautiful Grand Daughters........

Miss Nora was a squirmy one on Friday.  Poor thing's other eye has now a blocked tear duct. Little Nora's hair is getting lighter.  Her mam is holding her and we expect Nora's hair to be as light as her mam's.

Our Little Princess was in her prettiest dress.  Soon had that taken off though as she couldn't crawl around as fast in it!!!  Just look at her eyes, they are stunning.  She loved the Christmas tree and her parents bought her a small Christmas tree at home.

Some photos of Nora and our little Princess.......

Our little Princess was 11 months old on December 12th.  Just look at her eyes, they are stunning.  I do not refer to our little Princess by her given name on my blog at her parents request.

 Dd is taking slightly different monthly photos of Nora.  She is laying her on different coloured material backgrounds for her photos.  Here is the newborn one, take notice of the outfit she is wearing.

Here she is at her month old photo, again wearing the same outfit; yes she is growing.  Can you believe her first month has already passed?

 Here she is with her favourite toy.

Life is so flipping busy at the moment and will be until the end of January.  So I won't be posting too much.  I am usually around on Facebook; let me know if you want to be friends on there.

It's the cookie exchange party on Friday, so will take lots of photos of the babies then. 

Look what (who) was under our Christmas tree last night.......

Yes our Miss Nora.  Mind you she was out for a count as she had just been fed.

 Poor little thing has a blocked tear duct in her right eye at the moment so her eye is all puffy and swollen.

That didn't stop her grandparents for giving her a long cuddle.

Never heard of this song sung by Cliff Richard before thought it was good:

Before and after photos of the kitchen

A couple of before photos first:

Here is the after photos, can you see a difference!!!

It feels a lot more modern and of course lighter.  It was a lot of work but well worth it I think.

Love this song:
 

Some random photos.....

I was sitting by the fire in the living room looking at the Christmas tree and thought the room looked nice so took a photo.

Just before dh started caulking the tiles, thought they looked good.  Will show more kitchen photos in the next day or two, as it is 95% finished now.

 Miss Nora's head is growing and this little hat finally fits.  No idea who she looks like in that photo, she changes every time I see a photo of her.

 

One of my all time favourite Christmas Songs:

Christmas Tree and painting....

Got the first coat of paint on the kitchen walls.  Can't say it looks much different to me; hopefully will look better when I do the second coat today.

I decided to decorate the Christmas tree on Monday after I finished painting.  This is my new ornament from my mother.  It's by Belleek and it's a snowman holding an umbrella.

 My first ornaments to go on the tree are all my Wedgwood and Waterford ones.

 Here it is in all it's "frothy" glory!!!

Can't wait for our Little Princess to see it, as they don't have a Christmas tree at their house.  Miss Nora will probably be asleep so she won't care!!!  And yes the Christmas crackers are huge!!!  The one small present under the tree is for Miss Nora it came in the mail on Monday.

I thought this song was appropriate for today's post:

Thanks for your opinions yesterday.......

I will catch you up with what I changed out etc., in a day or two's time.  Got a busy couple of days ahead of me painting the stair treads and painting the kitchen.

We got the tiling finished in the kitchen, only have to put the silicone around the edges now.  Got the Christmas tree up, but not decorated.  Have decided to down size the Christmas tree if we move as it is so bloody heavy that tree, even when it is splint in three each piece is heavy.

Did want to ask you all something else.  Is anyone still on allergy pills this time of year and do they know why they need them?

I went off my allergy pills the middle of last month. as I ran out and as the weather had turned cold and we had snow figured I was fine.  Three weeks later my poor nose is itching again and is full.  Under my eyes are sore, as though I have a minor sinus thing going on.  My ears are filling up and I feel as though I have allergies again?  I have no idea what too though?

Is anyone on allergy pills year round?  I am on blood pressure pills so I cannot take any sinus medication.  I really don't have the time to go back to the doctors, but don't want to go back on allergy pills again if I don't have too.

One of my step-father's favourite artists, Doris Day:


Also stumbled upon this video, what a beautiful voice this girl has:

Photos need opinions.....

First the before photo of our bedside lamp (dh has the matching one on his side)

 

 This is the after photo, I like it and it's big enough, although the stager  said to put a couple of hardback books underneath them to make them higher?

 The girly things I picked up for the spare bedroom.  The stager want's a white flower in the vase.  I am not a fan of the vase so may take it back.  The white thing is a jewelry holder and I think I would be able to use that in our next home and the little Scottie dog is cute.  The stager liked all items.

 The mirror in the bathroom I think needs to be bigger and dh says another colour.  What do you think?  The white things on the corners are the packing as I haven't removed any of the packing so I can take it back if I want to.

Got the back splash in the kitchen tiled yesterday, today is grouting day which neither me nor dh like, but the sooner it is done the sooner it is over with!!

Out and about on Friday

I left the house just before 9 am on Friday and it was after 2 pm when I got back in.  Who knew shopping could be so stressful and tiring?  Oh and expensive.  I got most of the things on my list but still have some things to get.  Shopping used to be fun when I was younger, now it's just another chore.

I am too tired to post photos, but will get to it. 

Today's a fun Christmas tune:

Busy, busy

Busy, as always with one thing and another.  Got all the stairs prepped on Thursday ready to paint the first coat on Friday.  I have taken a before photo and will take an after one when I get the second coat painted on Monday.  Also helped dh with tiling the back splash in the kitchen.  It's coming along slowly but surely.  Even made a start on taping the kitchen ready to start painting that on Monday as well.  We are hoping to have the remainder of the tiling done in the kitchen by end of day on Sunday and the kitchen painted by end of day Tuesday.

I am hitting the mall and Barrie today to finish my Christmas shopping and see if I can find some things that are one my list for the house staging.  Homesense will be my store of choice I think.  I need towels, a large bathroom mirror, a couple of bedside lamps and some "girly" knick-knacks for the spare bedroom???

Talked with dd and Miss Nora is up to 6 lbs 9 oz, so she is putting weight on nicely.  Also dd blood pressure is back to normal, so that's good as well.

Something a little light hearted for today's Christmas tune:

More photos of Miss Nora.....

This is the birth announcement:

 Miss Nora has such a hard life as shown here!!!

She is a cutie; I know I am biased.  Won't be seeing her again for a couple of weeks.

On a totally different subject, poor dh has been chosen for jury duty AGAIN.  This is his third time; he's not happy!!!

Today a very classic Christmas song:



And because we are a bilingual country, here it is in French:

More about moving.....

A couple of you have been asking why we are moving.  I wrote about it in this post.

I know I was whining about the home stager yesterday and am still not 100% happy but I am coming to terms with all the ideas and what needs to be done.  Dh however is still very stressed at getting all the jobs done in time.  I do think it will all be completed in time it's just going to be work, work, work until the house is ready to put on the market.

The very first sentence of the Home Staging book she left say:

"Staging is always less then the first price reduction."

That is oh so true.  The one reason we need to stage this house as we have a country property and it's not as easy to sell a country property.  At one time you had to bargain on having your house on the market for up to a year or two.  We're hoping it will be on the market three months at the most with having this lady stage our house.  She seems confident it will be sold in that time frame.

I did go out on Tuesday and look around a couple of stores for things I need to purchase, but other than the paint for the stairs I got nothing.  However dd called and we talked through everything we need and she is going to lend me her Sophie Conran Portmeirion white pieces so that will be good.

We need to purchase a dining room set as we are making the "parlour" into a formal dining room.  I found a set on Kijiji that I am going to follow up on.  It's on for $250, has nice lines and will fit the period of the house fine, but hoping to only pay $150 at the most for it.

Our kitchen table is 8 feet long and too big for the room, but suits us fine and I want to take it with us when we move.  So have spoken to the people who did our kitchen and they think they can cut it down and use what they cut out to make leaves in the table.  We also need 16 feet of custom baseboard/skirting board made for the parlour/dining room, as some is missing, so they are making that also.

We fortunately have nice art work, so that isn't an issue.  Everyone who has been through the house these past few days have commented on that and the lights in the kitchen.

We are on tiling the back splash, as as soon as that is done and I have re-painted the bloody kitchen walls again I will take photos of it all finished.

So that is where we are at, at the moment with the house prep.  

Very, very overwhelmed....

We had a home stager come through the house yesterday, and she was a whirlwind of a woman.  She did write things down but not everything and by the time she got to the family room, she had gone through the rest of the main floor, my poor head was pounding.  So I said I will not be able to remember all of this, how much do you cost per hour to come in when we get the photos done.  She costs $125 an hour and would probably be here all morning {SIGH}

HOWEVER, she is one of the best around and when she stages houses they sell.  I had to laugh though I am re-painting the bloody kitchen again as she didn't like the colour I have painted it, just like dh; it makes the kitchen too cold looking she says?  I will also be painting the mud room and the living room the same colour; Benjamin Moore Fogmist OC31

So I need to go shopping for odds and ends that she wants either changed out, replaced or added.  I will say she recommended Wal-Mart, Homesense and Giant Tiger for everything.  Her vision was great and what she has in mind was good, but how on earth we are supposed to live here is beyond me while we sell the place.  Also we have a lot of work to do in such a short time as we hope to have it on the market by mid-February, depending on the weather.

I will write another post about putting a house up for sale and especially a country property like ours, as it is a totally different kettle of fish from selling a house in the city.  Dh and I need to sit down and go over everything and decide a plan of action as neither of us could even be bothered to talk after she had left last night.

Should say the real estate agent paid for yesterday's appointment, not sure if she will pay for her to come in before the photos are taken?

Enough of selling the house, lets here a bit of Christmas music.  I hadn't heard this Celine Dian version of this song before, enjoy:

I forgot it was December?

I was so busy with one thing and another yesterday I forgot to post my daily Christmas tune on my blog???

So I will post two today.  First a classic that everyone knows and loves:


 Then here is a not so classic song sung by the Dixie Chicks and Rosie O'Donnell:

Hoping to have more time in the coming days to fill you in on all that is going on.

The sky is on fire!

Our sunset on Saturday, just gorgeous.......

Makes you glad to be alive, don't you think?

New photo of Miss Nora:

This photo was taken on November 27th.  She is back to her birth weight and is even sleeping through the night up  to a five hour stretch at a time, which is really good.   She is more alert and aware of whats going on around her.  Her hair looks darker but I think it's the way the light is.  Can't wait to see her tomorrow!!!

 Isn't this a super cute outfit?  They were gifted it and its from Gymboree  It's a six month size so goodness knows when Miss Nora will wear them as she is still in newborn sizes.

I will catch you all up with what has been going on, on Sunday.  It's been a super busy week around here and probably won't slow down for a while.

Just popping in.........

to say it cost me $39.25 for all the postage for this years Christmas cards........so far!!  I am hoping it won't be anymore.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon cooking; for both us and dd.

I made dd a sausage risotto, Swedish meatballs and gravy, and a couple of bags of mashed potatoes.  

For us I have two meals of Swedish meatballs and gravy, plus a meatloaf all ready to cook in the freezer.  Two portions of mashed potatoes and three small bags of ground beef and onions all fried up ready to add to a meal.

Today I am making sweet and sour chicken and rice; one meal for us and one meal for dd and son-in-law.  Plus I want to make a carrot cake and get the ingredients together for a Loaded "Baked Potato" Soup for Wednesday's lunch while I am at dd.

I am on making a Sour Dough Starter as well at the moment.  I wanted to see how easy/hard it was to make my own Sour Dough Bread. I am using this recipe.  I am day five of making the starter and won't get chance to make any bread until Thursday at the earliest.  

Do any of you make Sour Dough Bread?  Any Tips if you do?

I am also getting my winter tires put on the car this afternoon and this morning I want to get the bathrooms cleaned and all the attic tidied up.  I got the new basement all sorted out so that's one job off my list.  

I guess I had better get on with it all as it will soon be 2:30 pm when I have to leave the house to go to town to the garage.

Have a good day!

Before and after photos of the family room.........

Finally giving you an update on the family room.  What a difference is all I can say.   This is the before photo:

 After:

Before

 After:

Before:

After:

So what we have done:

Painted the ceiling white and the wood paneling cream.  Added trim (baseboard) and painted that white.  Put in a carpet over the 1974 hardwood floor. 

Added wall lights.  Replaced the iron railings with a drywall half wall, and topped it with stained pine.  All the electrical has been updated with new fittings, and new sockets have been added to the half wall.  We moved the computer and it makes the room seem bigger.

We have taken the sofa from the living room and put the green sofa down in the new basement.  When the house goes up for sale we will also put the matching green chair down there as well.

This was not a cheap reno, but really cheap compared to doing the attic or the new basement.  However the difference it has made was well worth the expense.