SPRING AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.....

One of the many wonderful things about spring, aside from the weather, is getting outside and reconnecting. In my neighbourhood, as in most, people are now out raking, mowing, cleaning yards, and just relaxing outside.
You see your neighbours and you may go across the street to say 'Hi' and catch up on their family, you may see your neighbour out mowing his/her lawn and wave, and you see many of your neighbours just out for a stroll in the warmth of the day.
We all kind of hibernate in the winter. We may call a neighbour once in a while, but Canadian winters are not conducive to outdoor chats.

Today, as yesterday, I was out raking, pulling and doing general clean up of my 78 ft. rock garden. What a mess! I'm eager to get it finished as the crocus are up, the dwarf iris are just starting to bud out, the muscari are almost ready, my rock cress varieties are just in bloom, and the creeping phlox is just showing signs of blooms.

I love the gardening, although my body feels it more these days. It also takes a bit longer to accomplish a task because one's neighbour's do stop to chat and we get caught up on each other's lives. Sometimes, you get a bit of gossip as well.

When I was working today on the rock garden, my neighbour's dog came to say 'Hi' to me. She is the most beautiful dog and she loves attention. Her name is 'Kit'. She'll run around you and sometimes bark with excitement. She loves to eat carrots, so of course, I got her a carrot! Best friends forever! I appreciate most dogs, but I've never really wanted one of my own. I had a Samoyed at one time, but way too high maintenance. They seem like so much work after having cats! Cats are just so independent.




This week, I managed to get six plates made and will post one or two on my blog within the next day or so. I'll also post to my Facebook wall.

My problem, so to speak, is I'd much rather be making plates, doing photography, and gardening than the mundane chores of housecleaning and cooking these days. I really do get so lost in my own world when I'm doing what I love. It's quite cathartic for me!

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be rich enough to hire people to do what I would rather not have to do....hmmm! It's never going to happen so I should just quit wondering! I learned a long time ago that wishing doesn't make it happen.

LAUGH............FIND SOMETHING

We all have ups and downs in our lives, but I believe if you can find SOMETHING to laugh at, SOMEONE who makes you laugh, it's a pretty good day!

My cousin has two sons who have VERY creative minds. Last night I went on my Facebook account around midnight and they had posted a small video of themselves that absolutely cracked me up! I'm not going into the craziness, but it was goofy, silly but f-u-n-n-y! These two come up with the craziest ideas to make others laugh AND to make themselves laugh. Each has such a wonderful spirit, but I must admit they border on the weird at times. I'd love to be inside their heads just once. Actually, maybe not! By the way, these two are in their early twenties.

My daughter just after Christmas sent me a daily calendar with thoughts and quotes written by women. There is at least one quote a week that really makes me smile and even laugh sometimes!

Then, I was driving to Hastings last night to attend a photography get together and webinar by Niksoft. There was one of those message boards on the side of the road which was suppose to be selling something. Someone had changed the lettering and as I drove by and read, 'Boobs' for sale, it gave me such a chuckle. It's country surroundings and farm area. How out of place is a sign with that wording anywhere, much less on a country farm road. I may drive back there with my camera and take a picture....funny! I'm still trying to figure out what it was really suppose to say. Hmmmmm!!

I went out to have a coffee with my brother today. He always says something to make me laugh or I him. At times, I'm sure we're the only two that would find our discussions funny.

I'm crafting tomorrow morning with my cousins and we ALWAYS find something to giggle about or downright belly laugh about.

I LOVE to laugh!! I LOVE people who can make me laugh! Find something every day that either makes you smile or makes you downright laugh until you are in tears!!!

RUNAWAY TRAIN.................

Do you ever feel like you're on a runaway train! At the moment, that's me!
I have SO much that must get done and SO much I'd like to get done, I'm feeling overwhelmed at the moment.

I need to get my craft room reorganized as it's completely out of control. People who know me, know I don't function very well in chaos. My craft room is in chaos. I'm working on new decoupage plates so there's paint, glass plates, etc. etc. all over my work surface. I'm trying to go through photographs to do a collage for my niece to present to her at a bridal shower I'm planning for her in May, I have to get some photos framed to place in a shop downtown, I have decorative items for glass blocks that need to be put in the appropriate boxes and so on and so on! Crazy!

I'm trying to market my photography to various restaurants, etc. to hang and sell on consignment. I'm really hoping to get more exposure locally, but I'm also struggling with learning how to use the social networking sites. Two teams of Trent University students have written social networking marketing plans for me. They did an amazing job! Now, all I have to do is figure out how to actually implement their plans. I get frustrated that technology gets the better of me. Being a hands-on learner doesn't bode well when you have to rely written instructions.

I'm involved in a 12 person arts project for Artsweek in September which entails meetings, writing, photography and some design.

It's also the time of year to begin cleaning up all the gardens on our property and we have many. That's a one week job, for sure. Windows need washing as well, which usually falls on me, as my husband is afraid of heights.

Hmmmm, I don't handle time as well now compared to when I was younger. For some things, it takes me longer to accomplish than it should.

I'm always amazed when I actually get everything done and wonder to myself why I got so uptight at the list of things to do. I am getting better at sorting 'must do's' from 'want to's.

Well, back on that train!

FITNESS.........MENTAL AND PHYSICAL......

There are some people who I believe L-O-V-E working out and being physical 24/7. I am NOT one of those people! I certainly respect and admire them, but I've known some who are almost obsessive about this part of their life.
I, on the other hand, must conscientiously plan and commit to this aspect of my life.
While away, I wasn't very good.
I restarted my workouts at the Fitness Centre on Monday. Trust me,I paid for slacking off! Every part of me ached on Monday night! I went again yesterday and it was a little easier to get through the entire workout routine. For something that is suppose to energize you, I was exhausted last night! It will get better! Four months into this process and I haven't lost one pound or one inch. Discouraging is the word that comes to mind. At this point, I need to see just a little progress to keep me motivated and encouraged. I set a one year goal and will definitely stick with it,
but the mental part is the toughest for me right now. Oh well, I'll just keep on keepin' on!

ROAD TRIPS OVER....BACK TO A ROUTINE......

Well, I arrived home on Friday night revitalized and really feeling great after time with my oldest daughter, my son-in-law and of course, my little man. My timing for this trip was perfect as Marlo was off Good Friday, the Saturday and then Easter Sunday. We got to spend some quality time which I so enjoyed!

Mason loves to play 'drum and flag corps' so I brought him an Olympic flag which he loves to twirl and pretend he's in a marching band and drum corps. He's actually very good at the movements using the flag! He was quite excited to have his own Olympic flag. He had watched some of the Olympics with his Mommy and knew they had been held in Canada this year....BUT, he really only cared about the flag.

Being Easter, Mason went on two different Easter egg hunts and 'Grammie' got to be at both. He is such a special boy and I get so much pleasure spending time with him. We had a 'Grammie and Mason' day and we went to the Aquatic Centre and spent over two and a half hours just having fun in the water. Mason's request was to go to McDonald's for lunch as he's collecting all the dragons from the kids meals.
He's taking piano lessons so Grammie got to attend one of those as well. I told him some day he'll be a 'rock star' and maybe be star piano player in some band...maybe. He will be what he wants to be, but it sure will be interesting to see where his life leads. Both his Mom and I feel he's destined for Broadway. He's very theatrical. The kids musicals that are out on DVD, he has most of the songs and words memorized...amazing ability for that type of thing!! Talent galore!

I then headed on up to Ohio and spent a day and a half with our friends there. Deb and Doc are so easy to be around and Deb always sends me away with gifts. They are not needed but so appreciated. This time I was blessed to receive two different sets of custom jewellry that a friend of Deb's makes. I wore one set today to two different family gatherings and received many compliments. These are two very special people!

I have been slack with my exercising and will start over again beginning tomorrow. I don't feel quite so bad because I hadn't lost a single pound or inch exercising every day for two months before I left...darn it!

Now, it's reality time again for me. I have SO much to get done and need my nose to the grindstone in order to catch up. It always amazes me how much one can accomplish when push comes to shove. Well, that will be me over the next while. It is SO worth the hard work ahead to have had time with my daughters and their families over the past month. I love them more than they'll ever know and my pride in them continues to grow with each passing year.