The Perks of Being a Mother

My health regime has been paying off wonderfully. So far, I've lost my evening heartburn, most of the arthritis pain in my hands, some of my back pain AND a total of 14.8 lb! Skirts and pants are fitting me well again, and I'll have to replace some of my blouses and shirts as they're now too big. I haven't cut anything out (I don't believe in diets), but I'm eating healthy food and paying attention to what my body says. For instance, it complains quite loudly when I eat too many carbs: so I limit my bread and pasta intake to a couple of times a week. It's really sluggish and achey when I eat sugar: so although I haven't cut sugar completely out of my diet, I save that intake for high-quality or homemade items worthy of indulgence. And this weekend, I shall get to indulge myself. 

My youngest daughter, her future mother-in-law and I are headed across the province to shop for her beach wedding next summer. We'll have a day and a half of dress appointments and a day for personal shopping and food indulgence. I'm so excited to sit in a (comfy?) chair for hours at a time to repeatedly watch my baby try on white gowns so that I can cry! 😂 (I do hope there'll be lots of tissues ... and a little champagne provided!) I'm pretty stoked!

The next few days are, of course, devoted to my baby and her shopping expedition. But I've been assured that we'll have a day that's put aside for our own personal shopping desires. Value Village is on my list, more for the thrill of the chase than need. And next on my list is Sephora, the only place I can find my desired brand of mascara. 

After that, my thoughts go to the various wonderful food establishments that this coast is missing. I'm dreaming of a Starbucks coffee, a few loaves of good sourdough bread from George Street Bakery, and breakfast at Rocket Foods. 

That plus the opportunity to spend 4 whole days with my baby should make for a wonderful extended weekend .... no matter what the weather should bring here in Newfoundland.

I hope your weekend is a great one too!

Shelia carried a HUGE brush this year!

We were hit with a huge winter storm this weekend. Two feet of snow fell overnight Sunday and all day Monday. We had a dilly of a blizzard, just like the ones when I was a kid: snowing constantly, blowing, blizzard conditions, the sound of the wind whistling through any crack or cranny it could find. It was wonderful to be indoors and listen/watch what Mother Nature was doing outside. She's not a lady to be messed with.

In Newfoundland, we expect to have a visit from Shelia's Brush*.  But gol darn it, Shelia! That warn't no brush: it were a bloody big broom!

* Sheila's Brush is an idiom used in Newfoundland and it refers to the last big storm of the winter season, a storm that occurs around St. Patrick's Day. The term comes from an Irish legend which says that Sheila was the saint's wife (or sister or mother) and that the snow is a result of her sweeping away the old season. 

I was quite content to sit indoors with my blessed electricity and cook, clean and chillax. 

I made soup, of course -- a red lentil with delicious bits of bacon, carrots and a touch of lemon juice at the end. Yum! Then I baked a delicious batch of Partridgeberry Streusel Muffins. 

(Partridgeberries are like a tart cranberry and Newfoundlanders love them. The jam is divine on a slice of freshly baked bread and topped with a wee spread of thick cream liked canned Fussels or Nestles. OMG!) 

There was lots of housecleaning, some rearranging of furniture and plenty of Netflix. I discovered a really good sci-fi series last weekend called Sense 8. Besides the sci-fi portion of the storyline, it takes place in several locations around the world with  characters from different ethnicities, beliefs, social/financial backgrounds and sexual preferences with a large emphasis on LGBTQ+ issues. This makes for a deeply compelling and eye-opening show. I like to be challenged, especially in my thinking, so I'm really enjoying it. Sadly, now that I'm almost at the end of Season 2 and am completely hooked, I find out that there will be no Season 3!

I can take the extra snow, Shelia! 

But no Season 3!!! 

Whatever shall I do!

Rx = Sunshine

Yes, my friends, I did try snowshoeing this weekend. And no, I did not fall as anticipated.  But I decided to snowshoe at Margaret Bowater Park rather than on the trail as I was visiting my Dad and it was on the way. It was a gorgeous sunny day!

I had no trouble putting on my showshoes. I tromped around and got comfortable with them -- made sure I could walk without falling down. But as I started on the trail, quite a few people passed me coming the other way; and I found that the trail was so well trodden, that snowshoes weren't necessary. I didn't want other people to have to dodge my wider 'n' longer than normal feet! So, I went back to the car and took them off in favor of a 'walk' in the park.

Glenmill Inn in the distance.

It was so beautiful! The deeper I walked in the forest, the quieter it became; I stopped and sat on a snowy bench before I began the mostly uphill climb back. All I could hear was the Corner Brook stream bubbling past me and several birds chirping. And I must have scared a tiny squirrel because he sure scared me when he suddenly began loudly screaming at me to move on. 

Back in the car and on my way to my dad's house, I grabbed a quick lunch snack -- something that I haven't had since early December -- a large order of french fries.  

Then as I drove along the Humber River, mountains on either side of me, sun streaming from the Heavens, happily munching fries, I listened to Newfie music on Uncle Tom's Shed, a weekend local music program. As we say here on The Rock, "Sure I was only in da car and I was already havin' a toime!"

Sometimes, a little sunshine is just what the doctor ordered. It was a real boost for me, and I can approach the rest of winter with a bit more of a spring in my step. 

THRIFTING ON THE ROCK.

Newfoundland is an island:  a veritable rock in the north Atlantic where the people are known to be cheerful, generous, fiercely proud and extremely resilient. History shows the extreme hardships that we have overcome and how tough life continues to be for many in this fair isle. Winters are long and harsh: not much of fall is seen and spring is often by-passed. And then comes our short summer season, or what we like to call black fly and Nipper weather! 


I still wake every morning rapturously happy to be where I am. And I often feel a mixture of awe-struck surprise and perplexity at some of the other differences between my 41 years in Nova Scotia and my new life here. So many changes! Most are wonderful -- the proximity to family, my new job, my wee little apartment, the scenery, little chubby hands holding me saying "You okay, Nanny B, you okay?"  My new life is grand!

But one thing that makes me sad is the lack of thrift stores, especially here on the West Coast. Newfoundlanders are not "happy thrifters" like Nova Scotians. Many of the people I know would not be caught dead in "someone else's clothes"! I think it comes from years of Newfoundland being the "have-not" province and the pride that people feel at not just making do here on this literal rock in the Atlantic but at prospering. But I've got a few friends as well as my eldest daughter who love a good bargain. And although the local Salvation Army Thrift Store is not a large one, donations are large and it's well attended. I try to check it out once a week (just so I won't lose my thrifting mo-jo!).

They closed last week for 2 days to pack away summer and put out the fall/winter inventory. I visited a couple of days later and scored big time AND I only spent my allotted amount!

I bought this pretty black & yellow blouse (Northern Reflections) as well as a 3/4 sleeve teal, black and white cardigan (Ricki) and a navy blue with white polka dot cardigan (Old Navy). 

       

 I also bought a pair of brown dress pants and a fantastic cream and yellow Colombia jacket, perfect for fall. (Just needed an Oxy super-soak and a wash in hot water and it's looks good-as-new.) 

 (PS - The color is not true in these pictures. Sorry!)

The Sally Ann here as well as the 2 others in a 50 km radius have helped me replace things I sold before my move like my rice cooker, mason jars and jigsaws & paperbacks. My sister and I purchased most of the incidentals for her very small, informal upcoming wedding. I found a really cute, opalescent glass boudoir lamp for $2 (with just a temporary shade on it at the moment).

But the thrifted item I most love is this fantastic lamp from the early 70's with an antique brass filigree foot and an amber globe with black felted pattern. Now, I've been searching for years for a colored glass globe-style lamp base; and although this is not exactly what I had in mind, it kept calling to me until I paid the $5. I proudly marched out of the store, while the locals stood mouths-agape in shock and horror. "Wass dat daft woman totin' outta here, for da love a God? Das h'ugly as sin, my dear!"  But beauty is in the eye of the beholder; and this beauty has won a place in my heart as well as on my end table.

$30 for the shade (EGAD!), another $4 for the tri-light; not as thrifty as I'm used to but still an excellent price for this sized table lamp.

Plus, when you turn the switch, you hear the sounds of angelic voices. 

Ahhhhhhhhh!

How's your thrifting been going?

Things that Make Me Happy .....

The things that make me particularly happy today are:

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The wonderfully kind and supportive comments left on my last post. Light ALWAYS overcomes dark! And the hearts and hands of friends always helps.

Receiving a video of my gorgeous grandson walking! What a clever and beautiful boy he is. 

My delicious weekly latte treat from Lahave Bakery across the street. (And finding out that if I bring in a larger mug, I get a larger latte!)

A momentary lapse in the rain -- 2 days so far and a forecast of 3 more to come including today -- and a chance to inhale the freshness of the sea air outside my office door and see what is probably the last of the color on the trees and covering the street.

One of my favorite days is here again!

Have a wonderful weekend y'all!

My First Autumn Apple

On my drive to work, I pass Mainline Market.  Some of you more "mature" readers may know the kind of local shop I mean:  the kind that smells like a food market -- a mixture of whatever produce is in season at the moment and whatever meat or poultry is being cut and packaged in the back room.  It takes me back to the early 60's when I'd run to the shop for my mum after she'd phoned in an order, $5 clutched in my hand and the promise of a nickel to spend.  

Although Mainline rebuilt a couple of years ago from the original smaller building, it still smells like their old-fashioned shop, a homey type of smell, not like the sterile, perfect supermarkets that we usually shop at.  They have great weekly bargains and a few little oddities like peewee eggs.  (They're so cute; ya hardly want to eat them.)

Today I went in for the local newspaper and milk for my tea.  As I walked through the door, my olfactory senses were hit by the scent of fresh apples.  It's a little early in Nova Scotia for most apples, but they had some Ida Reds and a variety I'd never heard of before called Sunshines.

"They're good" said the produce manager.  "Do you want to try one?"  whereupon he picked one up, shined it up real nice on his clean shirt and handed it to me.  Delicious!  A tiny little apple with a soft skin and a juicy 'n' delicate sweetness. (I bought half a dozen of each.)

And for the first time this year, I smiled as I thought about Autumn and what it brings:  cooler weather, longer walks, colorful leaves, jackets and sneakers; Canadian Thanksgiving, my birthday, Halloween, and crisps 'n' cobblers 'n' soups 'n' hot biscuits 'n' cocoa with marshmallows and ....... APPLES!

• What's your favorite kind of apple?
• And what's your favorite thing about Autumn?

Thrifty Thursday

Wow!  Another post this week!  Must be the lack of children 'cause it's certainly not the lack of things to do.


But I wanted to share some of the treasures I found during my vacation.  


Because I have more than enough clothing -- enough to garb the entire mature, plump women in a small town, actually!-- I did not shop for clothing.  (That's not to say that I didn't find or buy any more clothing ..... just that I'm too embarassed [and lazy] to tell you about them!)


My thrifting this summer focused on concentrated on household goods.  Household goodies like these.

Something I've been searching for several years (but wouldn't pay the reg price of $20-$30); my patience has been rewarded -- $4 at Frenchies.

The perfect lampshade for my antique lamp ($6) and the perfect pillow for my favorite chair in front of said lamp ($4)

A couple of lovely vintage items:  a Canadian centennial 1867-1967 water pitcher (a big WOW at $4) and a depression glass milk jug at $6.

This gorgeous little depression era jam pot was bought at a little antique store; the "50% Off Everything" sign had me screeching to a halt.  I paid a scandalous $12 for this -- but I fell in love.

More depression glass -- 2 little dresser jars:  1 with a tin lid for $9 at the Halifax Value Village; and when I crossed the Harbour into Dartmouth, I found it's pretty cousin with the bakelite lid (I don't think it's original to this jar) at their VV for $1.  They shall live happily together on my dresser holding cotton balls and safety pins ..... or perhaps Skittles and M&M's!

My best buy all summer has to be this quilt top.  Isn't that an amazing price at $10!  It's block optic pattern and perhaps was intended as a lap quilt; the blocks are all hand quilted, and it has real wool batting.  But I want to find a co-ordinating fabric and increase it's size to fit my double bed.  
(This winter, I shall turn OFF the heat and let my little Asian girls freeze as I stay toasty warm while quilting and being covered by this sweet guy!)

Your turn now.  Did you find some wonderful thrifty finds this summer that you haven't shared yet?

Rabbit, Rabbit!

Ahhhhh!

Joyous, happy, welcome  month -- month full of change!  

 JUNE!

Outside of work, here are just a few of the wonderful things that are in store for me this month.

All this .......... and it's Friday.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Start as you mean to End

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I spent a relaxing New Year's Eve watching movies. With popcorn in hand, I saw the quite lengthy 2011 version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". (Well done Hollywood!)

Later at home, with Kir Royale in hand (see pic), I re-watched the 2009 Swedish version - my second time. You don't have to bother with subtitles in the 2011 Fincher movie. It also does a wonderful job of clearly and accurately telling the story and doesn't stray too far nor too often from the original book written by Stieg Larsson. It easily holds your interest and keeps you glued to your seat. However, it's a little more more raw and, therefore, slightly more violent than the 2009 Oplev film.

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After watching both, my preferance is still for the Swedish version of the film. I like that it sticks to the original story; and in my opinion, Noomi Rapace's portrail of Lisbeth Salander is more true to her character as Steig Larsson presents her. She's socially inept, disconnected from the people around her and gives little or nothing of herself away. She is a product of her upbringing and a definite survivor! (And, of course, it helps that I can watch the next 2 films based on Larsson's next 2 books in the Millennium series.)
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We had rain last night. But my new year began today clear and warm. After a wonderful church service thanking the One who loves me and provides for me, I had tea on the deck -- 5 degrees celcius (41 deg F). January 1st!

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And just to cross all my "t's" and dot all my "i's", I took a page from the ole South and cooked black-eyed peas and greens (well, green beans) to ensure prosperity and luck for 2012. .
And as I like to start the new year as I hope to end it (warm weather, worship and good food), I'll go back to relaxing on the couch in my warm, comfy home ..... and I'll finish watching the Millenium Series films.
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Have you seen either or both of these films? Read the books? What did you think?
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