All Settled In?

I know it has been a while. It is true ... Time flies!
We are slowly getting settled in our new home. The appliances are hooked up, the boxes are unpacked and the pictures are slowly finding a new perch.
I am trying very hard to tick off the jobs to be done 1 at a time. Problem is in this household we run on 2 speeds --- mine and Don,s. I am working on tomorrow .... He is trying to catch up on yesterday. Together we will have this place feeling like home in no time.
Our main project this week was assembling a Murphy Bed. We bought it from Costco and it came in pieces. The bed part is now complete and we just have the side shelves to assemble. Anyone contemplating this project should have some carpentry experience and have at least 1 assistant --- this can,t be assembled by 1 person. We are happy with our project so far. We purchased a nice firm mattress from Sears so our guests should sleep well when they visit.
We did take time off this week while our daughter visited from California. We had a wonderful few days exploring the area so alive with vineyards , fruit farms and busy marinas. It is a treat to walk the canal (just minutes from our house by foot) and see the freighters pass by. Niagara-on the Lake is just a 10 minute drive past lush farms of peaches and cherries. Hard to get back to work now with so much to see and do.
Moving has its ups and downs. Everything is new but it takes time to make new friends and feel part of a community. People however are friendly here so we look forward to soon sharing a glass of wine or local adventure with the locals nearby.
We also hope friends and family will make time to share this new location with us.
Till then I will keep wine chilled and the BBQ primed.
Days are made for sharing.
Always new adventures awaiting.

A Cottage Essential

OK ----- who recognizes this ----

Found this in the cupboard here. No one knew what it was! Everyone thought it a fire hazard. To me it is one of those items every  "real" cottage has.
If you know what this is you have given away your age.
It is in great shape and ready for action. Yup --- I can smell the toast burning at breakfast already. Can't wait.




Simon was in charge of the morning entertainment.

The kids ran up and down the hill outside the cottage trying to keep up with Simon's new toy. They chased it! It chased them. Can you see it?

This little car provided  hours of fun. So glad you brought it Simon.

We spent most of today at the boathouse. If I had a cottage this building is all I would need.
 There are 3 very stable kyaks available for our use. Life jackets are available for every size. The kids enjoyed being paddled around the lake.
Animal sightings have been few here. Squirrels and chipmunks seem to be the main residents although a family of Canadian Geese did pay a visit today.

Tomorrow there is promise of fresh fish ........!!!!
A photo shoot is being planned........
Cottage uniforms are being  created .........

Never a dull movement.

This is the best!!

Cottage Resort

 We arrived at the cottage after a beautiful drive through northern Ontario. As you can see " cottage " is a debatable  description ..... Not like any cottage I have been to. We are very comfortable with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in the main house plus 2 bedrooms and a bath in the Boathouse.

Main house has 2 cozy rooms with fireplaces and a large sun room. The kitchen is gourmet .... Love the double wall stove and oversize fridge. (There are 2 other fridges on premise)

The kids are enjoying the boats and beach but wondered why we arrived by car when the neighbors flew in this morning .... way out of our league but we are trying to get used to this life-- 

The kids have adapted no problem. So great to see them all together....amazing how well they  get along.

I am getting tons of decorating ideas for our new house .... I'm thinking cottage chic!

Weather is great.Sunny but not too hot.
Time spent with my girls and their families ..... this is the best!

Life is good.

No plans to do much but enjoy....and why not.

Back to reality ..........soonish

For today I'm lov'in it!

                 So cute...... a walk down country roads.

 

Our boathouse quarters ---- away from early risers!

This one is for Sherri

Surprise surprise .... I am back ...... Sherri keeps nagging me and being busy really can't be an excuse (although that is the one I have been falling back on!)

Life has become VERY busy ..... sometimes we make our own busy-ness I think.
Anyway in March I left my computer power cord in Ottawa so had no computer to blog on until May 24 when we retrieved it. During the time without computer we sold our house in London and purchased a new one in St Catharines. For the past 5 weeks we have been homeless  spending most of out time in Oakville with 3 busy little people .......never a dull moment.
Next Wednesday we move into our new home...... exciting but uncertain since we really don't know anyone in the area.However we will be in a great location nearer to Oakville and visits to Ottawa.  Also just blocks from the water, wineries, peach groves, Niagara and Buffalo. Life is an adventure so we look forward to exploring this new area and hope  family will enjoy visiting when they are able.
Today we are packing up and heading to Huntsville for 5 days. Kari and Alastair have rented a cottage for everyone to stay in so it will be extra special to have the whole family together for a few days.
I look forward to this mini vacation before returning to southern Ontario and plunging into the joys of unpacking .... co-ordinating deliveries...confirming utility hook ups and generally just  getting settled.
Will try to be more regular with updates on life on the move.
Watch for pictures of cottage life ......
Change is inevitable ..... enjoy each day.
Thanks for the encouragement Sherri .... you inspire me!

Ron

We are in Florida visiting cousins. I talked about Anne yesterday so only fair I report on Ron today (don't want him feeling left out)

Ron is a work in progress! He needed some work .... I think we made progress.

Where Anne's T-shirt reads ---- DETERMINATION
Ron's reads ---- been there - done it all -- don't anticipate much more!

Life has become one big "take away" --- his boat / his truck / his motor scooter!

Ron does have some serious health issues. He will undergo surgery early April.  His blood report right now isn't good so his energy level is low.

When we arrived I thought  Ron and his chair were permanently attached --- everything he needed for the day was at his finger tips. Not good.

He needed motivation.
It was parked in his driveway. He has just purchased a new Lincoln MKX SUV --- beautiful.

Funny how we managed to find somewhere we just had to go --- every day. Don would drive and Ron would navigate (no way was that car leaving the driveway without him in it). At our various destinations there was shopping to be accomplished. Ron walked Costco - Sam's Club - Walmart - and the Deli. We did let him snooze while we bought groceries. Point is ----- he was out and about and getting exercise.
As we age it gets harder to do what we know is good for us --pacing our day -- eating properly -- regular exercise -- proper rest. The effort however is worth the reward -- we feel so much better.
I hope you enjoyed all the exercise Ron. I know you appreciated being out and about.
Hope your surgery goes well.
Thanks for the hospitality.
Keep moving. We will be back --- we owe you a picnic!

Courage and Defiance

My cousin Anne is a lesson in courage and defiance.
For the past 5 years she has  waged her own battle with health issues.
Her days have been filled with treatments, Dr visits, medications and hair loss. There have been days when I don't know how she finds the energy to even get out of bed. Through it all she faces each day with a positive attitude and a sense of moving forward.

This past September she had surgery. Her recovery has been slow. She now has a "drop foot" to deal with above other issues. Mobility has been compromised.
A drop foot means she has no control over movement from the ankle down on her left foot.A brace is necessary to hold the foot at a 45 degree angle -- as it should be. A brace was made for her.

Looks pretty complicated and definitely isn't comfortable.
Anne's daughter (made from the same genes) wouldn't accept that this could be the only solution. She went online and found a much better alternative.

Anne ordered this brace and finds it not only works great but is quite comfortable.

Against all odds she continues to improve.

Life now has new props. This is "Rollie"

Many in Ann's position would opt for a mobile scooter. Not Anne. She says she needs to stay in shape!
She has a love hate relationship with this prop. Although she hates depending on support she realizes a fall would be devastating so she forges on without complaint.

New shoes were also necessary. Something to give plenty of support and allow the brace to do it's job.

Voila ---- mobility!
We may move a little slower but that's ok .... who needs to rush anyway.

Ann's comfy sandals are packed away ...... for now.
She is optimistic that she will be able to wear them some day soon.
She hopes to get back to pool exercise classes soon too.
No boundaries to hold her back.
Life is what you make of it. Anne deals with the lemons and the roses!

She is an example for us all.

Thanks for a great visit Anne and Ron.
Hope we can do it again soon.

Tomorrow we head north.

Snow will be fun .... right??

New Shopping Experience

The weather in Florida although warm has been cloudy.
We had an early start today because Ron had a doctors appointment. Once that was over the day was free.

Most cities have those special little haunts known only to locals. Ft Myers Beach is no exception. Our shopping destination after lunch was an Italian Deli/Grocer on Pine Island -- Paesanos ----- how Italian is that!
It is a great little spot. The aroma of cooking garlic and oregano greet you at the door.

Lots of pasta --- prepared or dry. Breads and pastries. Wines ---  from Italy of course. And

olive oil of such variety it was hard to choose.

Anne and I had a hard time deciding what we needed.

Ron likes the hot stuff! Olives were his next stop.

We decided on chicken pasta for tomorrow and bought everything we would need.

Must be getting old cause we headed home shortly after our shopping extravaganza.

Tomorrow is our last day here this visit.
Still lots to see and do.
Maybe we will get out for that picnic yet!

No matter ------ always a new adventure.