What A Week!

It has been amazing. I have never been so dusty, dirty, tired or happy in my entire life.

OnMyWay2Paradise came with me last Tuesday when I took possesion of my new home. Suprise, suprise, the previous owners were still there! And so was alot of their stuff unfortunately. We managed to unload my tv and computer which needed to be there for the cable man the next day. We then did some shopping at Home Sense and Home Depot. (One store for fun, the other for practicality!). About nine pm the interlopers had left and the house was mine.

There was (and still is) a huge amount of junk left  here. We filled about twenty garbage bags that night alone and there is much more to be done in clearing out their stuff before I can clean properly and start or organize my own things. Still, it was good to be "home". After our cleaning we shared some wine and went to bed. The air mattress was a bit of a puzzler until we figured out how to inflate it. Not the comfiest thing in the world to sleep on, but better than the hard floor.

Next morning we went for breakfast at the local pub up the street from me called the "Down'Omer". On the way we dumped two bags of perishable garbage into their dumpster that I removed from my fridge. So much for taking posession of an empty house!

We then headed back for Toronto. I met up with the old hound and we went to Home Depot to rent the machines for refinishing the hardwood floors. Unfortunately I lost my cel phone while I was there, but fortunately when we were finished with the machines two days later I checked their customer service and it had been turned in. Very lucky indeed.

Floor sander, hand sander, ear plugs, masks, sandpaper. This is a huge job and I am thrilled with how great it turned.out. I have no experience in renovations so this is all very new to me! It was a hard, long, dirty, dusty, fume filled job but with the old hound's help I probably saved over a thousand dollars by doing it ourselves.

There were some glitches along the way. His vacuum gave up so I bought a new one. It didn't pick up, so I had to return it (in a very dusty condition too). I bought another vacuum that worked much better. Sanding took a long time. Once all the dust was swept up for the final time we could start applying the varethane. We decided on water based instead of oil. Three coats were applied.  After each coat the floor had to be sanded by hand and then hand washed with a damp rag. All in all it took five days to do three rooms. I think it was a remarkable undertaking and couldn't be happier with the results. The floors are 75 years old so are never going to look perfect, but the character of the wood is lovely.

During our breaks we sat in the back yard and enjoyed the solitude. We also spent some time at the above mentioned pub, "The Down'Omer". The food was good and they even had live entertainment. Everyone I have come into contact with here has been very friendly. It really does have a different "small town" feel to this area that I like alot.

Today the old hound helped me remove the wallpaper from the dining room. This was a huge job that took all day. Layers of paper and glue all had to be scraped off of the walls.We used a paper "tiger" to score the walls, then soaked them with a removal solution. Some parts came off, some parts had to be coaxed. I mean really coaxed! Next I will repair the damaged part of the walls, wash them and paint them with primer. That will have to wait awhile though.

The old hound worked so hard this week and I do appreciate it. I could not have done it without him, and had much more fun doing it with him!  

Trish dropped in while we were in the midst of our mess and said hello. I'm sure she'll notice a big difference next time she comes over.

I don't get my things in here until Wednesday, but already it feels like home. I am becoming quite the handywoman now - I am the proud owner of a ladder, a toolbox and am acquiring a collection of tools. I have taken lots of photos of the progress so I will have a record of how it looked before during and after.

Now, I am going to stop typing because the computer is sitting on the floor and this is killing my back! I am also dead tired. I am going to have a hot bath, crawl into my air mattress bed and dream about the future!

This is it........

I'm pulling the plug for now!!

Before I do I had to get up early before they disconnect my cable and thank everyone for the suprise birthday party last evening at work. I was feeling a little blue at working last night and as usual everyone's spirit lifted me right back up to where I belong. (sounds like a song!  )

Balloons everywhere! People singing with passion! Pizza, wings, sushi, salad and Sparkling Raspberry Non Alcoholic Champagne. Do we know how to live or what!!?? Not to mention the fantastic wild blueberry cake that Yvonne baked. It was beautiful.

My patients got involved too, wearing their birthday hats and joining in the festivities. Thanks so much for the beautiful necklaces. Lets see if the egg really is a fertility symbol! Thanks for the books, I am sure I will need something to make me laugh when I am pooped from painting and from all I have heard Terry Pratchett is the author to do it. I will use the Dr. Seuss for wisdom and to keep my inner child alive in the weeks to come.

I also thank Yvonne's daughter for the unique gift wrap and for my new name : Peof which is how you spell Lilly when you are tiny and insist you don't need any help and can do it yourself! The portrait she drew of me brought out my "inner mouse" and captured my true essence. 

 Thank you for the nurse mug! I didn't have one with my profession on it and  I will use it with pride when having my life saving, soul satisfying coffees.

The proverbial "icing on the cake" was when I checked my email at work and saw one from my brother and sister-in-law. It was wonderful to hear from them and I hope to see them soon!

Thank you for the beautiful cards with the wonderful sentiments. I am truly blessed in this life to have such thoughtful and kind people around me!!

This blog is finished for now.....this chapter of it anyway......it will be back up and running soon............TO BE CONTINUED.....From Mulberry Manor!!

To Me!!

Officially it's tomorrow, but the old hound and I celebrated last night.

We had a nice dinner at East Side Mario's which had the famous Italian Wedding Soup. I say famous because I had mentioned it while visiting his family and they had never heard of it. (and they are Italian!). It is chicken broth with confetti pasta, meatballs and spinach. I love it.

I had a cheese tortillini pasta dish and the old hound had another dish that had been mentioned on our last visit to his home town: Pasta Arrabiata - angry pasta! I tried it and it was a bit too hot and spicey for me. Our wine was a nice red Masi. At the end of the meal the sneaky old hound snuck away and told the waiter it was my birthday. He brought a huge piece of chocolate cheesecake and asked me if I minded everyone singing Happy Birthday. I said "YES" so managed to squeak through without the total embarrasment of a group of strangers surrounding me and singing!! The cake was great though, and plenty big enough for two to share.

The poor waiter was having a difficult night. He broke one of our soup bowls, dropped a fork and almost slipped and fell. It's just amazing this effect I have on men, isn't it......!

After dinner we went to see the movie Sin City. I thought it was great. Visually stunning and full of action. It kind of reminded me of Kill Bill, but was much more visually artistic. Very few people were in the theater and I overhead the people behind us saying that they were the only people in the theater last night. Amazing!

The old hound can be very sweet and romantic and the card he gave me was wonderful. He also gave me a beautiful set of glasses. I have never seen any quite like them, with a design etched and embossed on the outside. They are tasteful and elegent and I look forward to setting a wonderful table with them.

This morning we took a ride out to Home Depot to pick the brains of the experts on floor finishing. The young man working there was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of good advice. We also took a quick look at some paint chips, although the floors will be our first priority.

I get the key to the house () Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning we will pick up the equipment and see what happens. It will be a challenge, but I think it will be fun. One of the good things about buying a place that is in such bad shape is that you can't really hurt anything and can feel free to experiment and try different things. It gives you a certain freedom that I don't think would exist in a pristine perfect model home.

I will be disconnecting the computer tomorrow morning to have it at the house Wednesday for the cable guy so this will probably be my last entry for a while. It is all happening now! It's finally here and I can hardly believe it!! Woo Hoo!

The Trick About Life Is To Make It Look Easy!

I came across this poster while packing. I had bought it many years ago and somehow it survived my last move and made it to this apartment. It seems appropriate with the tasks that are looming up ahead of me.

Sometimes I think how we approach a task has an effect on how it turns out. If we can do something, even something we dislike, with grace and finesse the final result will be so much more rewarding than if we have to be dragged kicking and screaming and do it oh so begrudgingly.

A nice bit of irony as I end this session of packing procrastination:  I found an old Ellery Queen mystery novel I had started reading soon after I moved into the apartment here. I had lost it and couldn't find it anyplace, much to my chagrin because I wanted to know "whodunnit". I came across it fallen behind my bedside table. Now I will have to start again because I can't remember all the details. Mystery solved!

Here We Go Round The Mulberry.......Tree?

MULBERRY:
.... The botanical name is MORUS, from the Greek MOROS, a fool; so
called, we are told in the HORTUS ANGLICUS, because "it is reputed to be
the wisest of all flowers, as it never buds 'till the cold weather is past and gone."

I am blessed to have one of these beautiful trees in my new back yard. Apparently they produce a massive quantity of berries that can be eaten as is, frozen, made into pies or jams or jellies. This is what the berry looks like:

Kind of reminds me of a blackberry, but on a tree rather than a bush. There is a certain joy and bonding with nature gained from nourishing yourself and your loved ones from something you have tended to and grown with your own hands. It seems to reinforce the miracle of life that surrounds us every day and sadly is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of every day life.

MULBERRY
O, the mulberry-tree is of trees the queen!
  Bare long after the rest are green;
    But as the time steals onwards, while none perceives
      Slowly she clothes herself with leaves--
        Hides her fruit under them, hard to find.
          . . . .
            But by and by, when the flowers grow few
              And the fruits are dwindling and small to view--
                Out she comes in her matron grace
                  With the purple myriads of her race;
                    Full of plenty from root to crown,
                      Showering plenty her feet adown.
                        While far over head hang gorgeously
                          Large luscious berries of sanguine dye,
                            For the best grows highest, always highest,
                              Upon the mulberry-tree.
   Dinah Maria Mulock (used pseudonym Mrs. Craik)

OH BOY!!

I drove out to my house today. I didn't have any clear plan or intention in mind, I just thought I'd pull up and take a look, and maybe a peek at the back yard. As luck would have it, Rachel and Leo(the owners) were home and saw my car pull up. They kindly invited me in.

Well, I must say they have done a very good job at emptying out the house considering how jam packed full it was. Looking at it sans furniture, shelving etc. my first thought was "Oh boy!!". Now, was it a good oh-boy like "oh boy, now the fun starts!", or was it a not so good oh-boy like "oh boy, what were you thinking woman!!". Quite honestly? A bit of both.

What a monumental, colossal task I have taken on! Of course on the plus side, there is no agenda. I have all the time in the world, but my goodness.......

On the plus side, the living room is a lot larger than I thought. On the minus side the dining room is a lot smaller. There is probably no wall surface or ceiling in that house that doesn't need repair and painting. The hall and kitchen floors will need some definite attention. None of this is news to me, but somehow standing there in the sunshine in an empty (well, almost empty) house I suddenly felt very overwhelmed and very, very small. This is not a little weekend reno, this is a major investment of time and hopefully with my bargain hunting abilities as little cash as possible. I am going to do as much (hopefully all) of the work without having to use professionals so I will only have to pay for materials.

I think it is just the reality of it all finally sinking in. It isn't a faraway fantasy any more, it is a brick and mortar reality. This is going to be HARD work. I have been working all my life and I have never been afraid of hard work but a little tiny part of me has a little tiny seed of doubt that is whispering in my ear "You'll never do it. You've bitten off way more than you can chew this time." Of course that just makes me even more stubbornly determined to succeed!  This is going to be the biggest, hardest thing I have ever done, but it is going to be fantastic by the time I am through.

I can't think of any room in that house that doesn't need some major work, but just imagine when it is all finished. Just imagine sitting in my back porch when it is all repaired and not falling down. Just imagine walking on a floor that you tiled yourself, looking at walls that you repaired and painted yourself. This house is going to become an extension of me. It is going to house my heart and soul and I am going to make it beautiful. One day (probably twenty years from now  ) when it is all complete (is a house ever complete?), I will sit back and sip my coffee and feel very proud. I think it will have much more meaning than if you just handed out some cash and had some stranger come and do it for you. Let's see if I still feel that way six months from now!!

The back yard is a jewel in the rough. There is a crabapple tree, two pear trees and a mulberry tree. Grape vines surround a gazebo. Patio stones surround a rock garden. It feels peaceful and calm and I envision many a quiet morning sitting outside reading and drinking a cup of tea. It is like a little secret paradise back there.

All in all I am glad I went over today. I was fretting over what it might look like. I was afraid that once I saw it again I would hate it. Rachel has kindly left a box with all the instruction booklets for the appliances and maps of the area. She even included some pizza delivery flyers! I am sure I will be using those during the weeks to come until the kitchen is brought up to steam! This is truly going to be an adventure!

Got a birthday card from my parents today......

I have spent the morning packing 14 large boxes of records (yes, the round thingies that go on a machine and play music!  ) and books. My arms and back are aching, I am hot and ready to take a break before I head to work (!). I am going to include in this entry my favourite poem for the simple reason that it makes me happy every time I read it!

Enjoy! And if you ever get the chance, try travelling those lesser used roads. You never know what you might find!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

AAArrrggh!       

There, that feels better. I just had to get that out of my system.   Why is it with this move I keep feeling that I am going one step forward two steps backwards!?

Two Words Designed To Make misslill Cross:  Bell Telephone!!

Why is it that the company that basically runs most of the phones in this country cannot manage their own system. Every time I call them and manage to get past their cyber bouncer/announcer "Emily", they cut me off in the middle of my transaction.

I called today to inform them that I am moving. Got halfway through the process and boom - cut off. Call back, repeat all the same information and 1/2 hour later finish transferring my service - but with a BIG catch.

Here I am, living in an old rental apartment. I have a phone jack in my kitchen, in my living room and in my two bedrooms. No problem. In the 2000 square foot house that I have just purchased, what do I get? 1 jack. That's 1 jack. If I should happen to want a phone upstairs, or downstairs or someplace other than where my 1jack is located, it will cost me 79 dollars per jack to install! They are only activating 1jack and I don't even know where it is. This seems rather unreasonable to me! At this point I feel like I should just withdraw whatever money is left in my account and toss it off the balcony!   No, I'd better not do that, I'll need it to pay for my PHONE JACKS! (damn phone company). I'll just have to use my cel phone more and the land line less.

Bell then had the audacity to ask me about my tv and internet service. Good thing they couldn't actually see the steam emitting from my ears as I told them I would prefer to stay with rogers because if I went with Sympatico I'd have to have more than 1 Jack!! Besides, Rogers actually comes to see you and puts THEIR jacks wherever you want them. They even hook up your equipment for you.

Speaking of Rogers, I must say I always have great service dealing with them. They have great patience when dealing with my technical problems and are always prompt in fixing a problem. They have talked me through many computer woes and got me up and running again.

Since Rogers is coming to the house on Wednesday between 2 and 5 I will have to get my TV and computer there on Tuesday. That will mean no internet after I disconnect and pack it up for the move on Sunday until Wednesday night.

I signed the last of the one million pieces of paper on Wednesday at the lawyers office. I also handed over the largest cheque I have ever written. It was stuffy and somber and very.......legal. I find that kind of thing very intimidating and scary. It suddenly made it all very real and imminent. For a brief moment I wanted to jump up and say "wait a minute, it's all been a mistake, I've changed my mind!!". But.....the moment passed. Sometimes when I am sitting in those deeply SERIOUS places doing deeply SERIOUS things I wonder what would happen if I did something odd and completely incongrous to the situation. Would they keep on droning on in their monotonous-monotone, barely glancing up from the mountain of papers? Or would they be knocked out of their complacent little socks? I'll never know, cause I'm just not the type to do it, just to think about it!!

I still have a mountain and a half of things to pack, and really this blog entry is my effort at procrastination in the extreme. Work has been particularly busy and difficult, which means I don't sleep as well when I get home at midnight, which means I am tired when I try to get up at 730am.

I am excited though, it isn't all "POOR MISS LILL". I am happy to be moving from this apartment. I am happy to be moving to what I hope will become "my home". I am looking forward to the adventure of renovation and the peace of locking my door at night and sitting in front of my fireplace. (Yes, I know it will be summer but too bad!!). I look forward to cooking in my own kitchen, bbq'ing in the back yard. I look forward to waking up in a morning and feeling safe and secure. I look forward to this newest chapter in my exciting life!!

Something Nifty!

I admit to being a shameless internet thief!! I saw this and thought it was very interesting. Stretch your creative muscles and give it a try!

http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/