Oct 26

It’s been just a week since I took the major step of unpacking the books. Our living room has one full wall of bookshelves that we have carted across the country and to the east coast of the USA and back to the prairies again. My books are my way of carrying home with me. Unpacking them and putting them back on the shelves signifies coming home in some sort of meaningful way for me, no matter our location.

Each book is associated with a memory, experience or time in my life journey. They remind me of good times and and comfort during all the different phases of my life. Yes, there are some books on the shelf I’m sometimes embarrassed to continue to put back there (*cough* Twilight series! *cough*). Some that remind me of my years of dogmatic religious legalism, some that remind me of projects I started and never finished or goals I have yet to accomplish, and some that just sit there, year after year, still unread.

But there are other books that hearken back to childhood and squirming around on the bottom bunk with my sisters while my mom read aloud. The books I read when I was expecting my first baby. The novels that have made me laugh and cry. The recipe books I use when I cook for my family. The biographical stories written by my Oma before she passed away. The textbooks from various university classes. The volumes that have shaped me and changed me and have been there along the way, part of who I am, like old friends. Letting any of them go feels like a betrayal of the worst kind.  (My husband probably wishes I would get in the betraying mood a little more often – at least when it comes to books!)

We’re home, friends. For real now.

Oct 21

Once again, it’s been many days without an update. Renos continue to be the consuming thing in my life. But we continue to make progress. We have spent a couple of nights staying up way later than is healthy. The man has this amazing stamina. I don’t know where it comes from but if you could bottle it and sell it as an energy drink you’d be rich in short order. I tap out and he keeps going for hours. So here are some pictures to show you what we’ve been up to.

Our first breakfast actually sitting at a table, in the house! Up until that point we’d been sitting on the floor. The dirty, dirty floor. Please avert your eyes.

Newly laid tile floor and brand new bannister for the stairs. Cleaned up just for the picture.

My sex-ay kitchen. We just finished the grout on the backsplash yesterday! I am in love with it!

Jen inspired me with this post to take a break from renos and spend some time getting my craft on making this Christmas wreath. I love it and I want to make one for every single season and holiday.

Let’s see…what else is going on? Mostly unpacking and a total lack of order and cleanliness. Don’t be fooled by the pictures. We are just a hair above living in complete and utter squalor. The bathrooms have colonies of new life growing in the sinks and toilets.  I have vowed to do something about this before the week is out.

Also, I have booked a holiday. A holiday just for me. The first trip I have taken since Kieran was born over three years ago. How did three years pass without me spending a single night away from mah baybee? I don’t know. Actually I do know. We moved. Three times. Starting when Kieran was still a baby. But here I am finally going away for several days in a row! To visit my best friend and her baby who was born last spring.

I have been spending every waking moment planning and dreaming about sitting on a plane for hours with no one to entertain or be responsible for except myself! Imagine that! And then getting to spend some time snuggling my pseudo-nephew! I am a happy woman!

I apologize for the lack of posting. Unfortunately I can’t yet promise that it will improve right away, but the blog is not forgotten. I’m constantly thinking I *should* post about various things and then the next thing I know it’s days weeks later and the great idea is forgotten. Thanks for hanging in there everyone!

Oct 7

The scene: Two intellectually challenged adults, one man and one woman, are on an outing with another adult who seems to be a care worker of some kind. They are enjoying a lunch at the Golden Arches while Kieran and I dine nearby. The chaperone leaves the table for a minute and in his absence this dialogue takes place…

Intellectually Challenged Man: *BUUUUUURRRRP!!!*

Blind and Intellectually Challenged Woman: What do you say Richard?

Man: …

Man: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Woman: -no! That’s not-

Man: *BURRRRP!!!*…HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Scene repeats several times.

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That’s got to be one of the most rewarding things about working with disabled people. The lack of inhibition can result in some hilarious situations.  I’ve been snickering about it all day and next time I feel the need to belch I’m totally going to shout “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”.

Oct 6

This morning was monumental in terms of progress. We ate breakfast at our very own kitchen table, sitting in REAL CHAIRS! It’s the first time in five weeks that we’ve eaten a single meal in our house at a table and not sitting out on the deck (when the weather was better) or on the floor inside. Nothing else has been moved into the house but at this point we’re celebrating small victories.

In other news, Saskatchewan’s claim to being the sunniest province in Canada has apparently been a gigantic lie. Because the last week has been a salute to climate change. Clouds, rain, cold, more clouds and more rain. Holy hell Saskatchewan! Other than the people, the sun was the one thing that made us willing to put up with the nasty winters.

I know, waa-waa! Enough whining already! I did get an award recently from the lovely Jen at Harried Mom of Four.  It was especially flattering to get this when my posts have been so few and far between lately. So thanks Jen! 

No strings attached here. We are just supposed to pass on the love to four people who give great blog! My four are:

Anne Nahm

Shannon at Charming Bitch

Karly at Wiping Up Snot

Susan at Trout Towers

Go check them out. You can thank me later. And I promise – more pictures of the renos coming soon!