Good Days and Not So Good Days

We have been keepong very busy. Our plan is to move my mother-in-law into our home a little after Christmas. It was not a decision entered into lightly. Our reasoning, based on what we have seen at her current location, is that we can do better. We can give her the one-on-one she needs to re-develope her motor skills. We can provide more active entertainment to enrich her life. We have the time. She needs the care. We can do this. So, we've been doing some renovation to make things more wheelchair accessible.

The old bathroom was completed gutted. Now Hubs is starting fresh with clean and safe materials. I've still been drawing and knitting. More of my focus is on school at the moment. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to Napoleon. His hips just gave out the other morning. My decision process is to make sure my fuzzy children are not in pain. He was eating and drinking up to the end. His vision had long ago vanished but, he was managing. When he could no longer walk, my heart broke and we both it was time. The hardest part is him not being there. Napoleon had been with me for 19 years, enjoying hockey games, cuddling in whatever knitting project I had going, and just hanging out next to me when I was struggling with my homework. I really miss him.

Happy October!

We are still enduring the pandemic. To be honest, I hadn't really thought it would last this long. To be fair, our lifestyle has not changed very much. We have never really enjoyed dinning out. While we love watching films, it just seems more enjoyable at home without all the distractions of fellow movie goers. Work has also kept us rather occupied. I have been working more hours but, the change to an evening shift from a night shift has been so rewarding. I have actually been sleeping. Soundly. At night! What a wonderful experience! I have not had a solid sleep in a succession of nights for 10 years. I had no idea how much I was missing, healthwise, mentally and physically. It's like I have finally emerged from this overwhelming funk. The dogs and I have been walking a lot more. It is at night, after my shift. It is more satisfying for all of us. Very rarily do we encounter other humans. We have come across a variety of wildlife. I have been struggling to explain to the girls, we do not need to befriend every being we see like the skunks and foxes. I really do not need that sort of adventure! With a more restful existence, I've been able to draw and paint more! I missed this! I have been playing more with pastels, charcoals and pencil.

I have also kept up with my knitting.

As the clock strikes midnight, we find ourselves a bit sleepy.

Time to retire. I hope you are all looking after yourselves. Talk again soon!

Wonderful Days

I seem to have taken an unintentional hiatus. A few changes. For the better. As I sit here listening to the rain we desperately needed, I was thinking about them and remembered I've been pretty quiet. A few months ago, I was approached by another nursing home, in need of personal support workers. At first, I declined. I just wasn't ready for any change. I was much too comfortable. A few months passed and I was again asked to reconsider. I thought, why not? I could visit. If it doesn't feel right, I can say thank you but, no. I found my courage, drove to meet the proprietor and decided to see what the vibe was like. It was a good vibe. The proprietor and I got along well and I said yes. Now I work an evening shift and enjoying sleeping at night. After 10 years, it was time! Our garden has produced a wonderful harvest with a surprise as well!

This is a cucuzza. The seeds came in a pumpkin seed packet. Imagine my surprise when all these sprouted!

This photo was taken at the beginning of summer. The leaves and vines from the cucuzza travelled quite far. To the chicken coop! My tomatoes also yielded a feast. I have already made and froze three types of sauce, bruschetta and a few BLTs!

Needless to say, the garden has been a success. My knitting needles have also been clicking away. I finished my Bloody Mary socks!

Now I'm working on my Garia socks by Erika Lopez.

It is actually knit inside out to make it a bit easier. I'm using a yarn by Schachenmayr Regia, Bamboo. It is a very nice yarn to work with and a lovely knit to help decompress. Hubs built me a fantastic cabinet to store all my supplies!

Ignore the child safety lock. It's the only way I have of keeping someone out of my yarn! She may look innocent but, she is actually a ninja!

School is going well. It is a bit weird to say I have homework in my 40s but, I enjoy it! I hope you are all keeping well. Just think, Autumn is just around the corner! Take care and talk soon!

Thinking an Awful Lot

I recently celebrated my 43rd birthday. That is what started all of the thinking and reminiscing. At this age, my father was diagnosed with Cancer. He died six months later. I have no fear of mortality. I try to do what is right and most of the time, I succeed. When my father was thus age, the world was quite different. Our telephones had cords. Cable was a huge deal. Divorce was an isolating way of life. A woman's worth was whether she could work and be a housewife, quietly. Feminism was really starting to become noticed. I think of all these things and reflect on my life. I'm overall, happy. I have been divorced. I'm nit able to have children. I can pursue whatever career I wish. I have met a lot of people that have made a great impact on my life. I have the relative freedom to do whatever I wish. I believe if my father was still on thus Earth, he would be proud of who I am becoming. I have gone back to school tomearn my BBA. I am doing well in my courses. I struggle but, I am learning all the time. I am so grateful.

I Was Jabbed

Yesterday afternoon I received my first dose of the COVID vaccine. To be honest, I can't tell whether the effects I am experiencing are side effects, pyschosomatic, or side effects from when I'm about to get my period. I've had a headache all day. Felt tired. I've been sneezing a fair bit. That may just be allergies. Either way, I'm all right. I have my mid term tomorrow. This is a nerve wracking experience for me. My mom reminded me that when I was little, every time you put the words test, quiz, exam, in front of me, my mind would just shut off. I would know and understand the subject, backwards and forwards. Toss in thise scary little words, my mind would just blank. I am trying really hard to just downplay it, It will be fine, Even if things go horribly awry, what is the worse that can happen? Maybe I have to repeat the course. Maybe I get kicked out of the program. At the end of the day, I will kniw that I did my best and I have lits of other skills and hobbies I enjoy. Those are worse case scenarios. I have no intention of failing. But, if it happens, I keep going. Between studying, I try to venture outside. The girls remind me how important it is to step away once in a while. I'm glad they did or we would not have met our newest resident!

She seems quite content with her selected home. I'm glad she chose our ladder to construct her nest. I will keep you updated. It was a long day. I am iff to bed. Keep safe!

Happy May!

I am so pleased with myself. Normally, I am my own worse enemy. Second guessing most of my choices. It's ridiculous really. Even the tarot cards I enjoy, lean towards the belief that I should follow my gut instinct mire often. It's true. I should. Very rarly, do I ever regret a decision made with my natural instincts. I have completed my first month in my business program. It has been challenging. I expected that. It has afterall, been sometime since I was in a scolarly position. My only regret is not doing this sooner. Then again, I would have been a much different person earlier. It would have been a different experience. At least now, I can fully appreciate my efforts. You know what prompted this return to school? A video game. I was playing The Sims. I have always enjoyed this game. Something about choosing a path for a fictional character, watching them trudge along, sometimes encountering obstacles, sometimes going rogue, either way, it's loads of fun. Anyway, I was playing this game and thinking why don't I level myself up? With the pandemic going on, evrything is remote. It would be so much more accessible than having to go to a camous in person. So, I jumped in. I am truly enjoying myself. I go through these bouts of insecurity, then I dust myself off and keep going. I'm not able to really give a lot if time to my hobbies but, I do the best I can. I have been enjoying the garden with Jackie and Charlotte. Lots of plants have returned!

Every day, something new pops up. It's always such a plesant change after the long, cold winter. I haven't been painting as often but, I managed to get into my shop this afternnon.

I will look at these tomorrow in fresh light and see if I am pleased with their progress. I am actually quite sleepy. I will read a little bit and then head off to bed. I hope you are all well. Take care of yourselves!

Good Morning!

I have gone back to school! Turns out it wasn't just happy nostalgia. I really do love the smell of new school supplies. Maybe that's why I enjoy creating art? I am pursuing a BA on business. It will be a two year adventure that will hopefully find me in a another realm of employment. At the moment I feel a bit overwhelmed and rusty. It's difficult to believe this is the same brain that helped me graduate over 20 years ago. Now I have to train it to remember other things besides 80s song lyrics. The gardens has seen so much new growth these past few weeks. Some things I am unable to identify. Other things I recognize and am so happy to see them return! They're my little friends.

To help my drawing, I've been trying to sketch and paint a little each day.

We started some seeds in containers to transplant into the garden when the weather warms. I should have taken photos of the seeds. Hard to believe something so tiny can grow into these large plants! They are already starting to emerge and it's been less than a week.

I was quite successful at baking March's cake recipe from Food & WinePorter Bundt Cake

Jo absolutely loved it! I hoped he savoured it because I don't see me making another any time soon. It was a great learning experience. I just do not enjoy spending that long amount of time in the kitchen. It did taste amazing. Put me in mind of a soice cake. I'm off to study a but more. I can't believe how much I have forgotten. Keep safe. Stay well.