Hey Barb..thanks for the perfect day...we got it. Mid 80's and sunshine!
Sounds like it was a great time. Isn't it the best when you can have a crowd that big get together and you can just enjoy everyone with out too much fuss. Just being able to kick back and appreciate everyone is such a blessing!
So you're off again huh? Man your something else.
Hey I have to tell you that September is going to be a really busy month for me. I feel badly but that weekend won't work. I have 2 parent weekends and I'm going back to New England. Can we see if maybe we can move it? If that doesn't work for everybody I totally understand!
We may have to postpone till next Spring but at least the place will be ready this time. I've done enough reno to last 10 years at least!
Yesterday WAS gorgeous AND hot! I went to Toronto. Josh had told me he had a surprise for me. It was liquid. I assumed it was wine. He gave me a gift bag (wine sized). Asked me what I thought it was. "Wine". Well, yeah, wine, but what was special about it? I couldn't think of anything, just said "maybe the wine from our first date or something?" Well he knew I had bought several bottles of Dan Akroyd's wine (his winery is nearby) and really liked it. I also gave some to my friends out west. Well guess what? It was a bottle of Dan Akroyd's Cab/Merlot but Dan had signed it!!! "To Barb love Dan Akroyd!!!" I guess Josh was wine shopping and ran into him in Toronto!!! Woo Hoo! Now that's a keeper!
Had a nice visit with Josh's family (remember when I thought I'd never meet them)? We had shopped earlier for gifts and got the cutest stuff for his 4 year old niece. He got his sis Symphony tickets for a performer she loves. He really is quite thoughtful.
And just a reminder if you're in a new R. Remember to ask for what you want. One thing I've always noticed is that Josh is VERY focussed on his work. I never call him at work and rarely email. But a week ago I texted him on his way home from the cottage (to tell him I found my camera - we'd been looking) but got no reply. On Friday I had emailed him at work asking him about Sun plans - what to wear - if he wanted me to bring anything etc. But got no reply. When I hadn't heard by Sat night I was a bit miffed. And kind of worried that he might decide I needed to bring something & I wouldn't have time to make it or buy it. So I just emailed a "HELLO??" email. He did call me late, worried that I was ticked and I just said that I usually like a response to my messages. But it was not said nastily, just matter of fact. Then he told me about a surprise (the wine) and of course I forgot I was angry.
But on the way to the cottage today he called on my cel while he was at work - just to say hi, wish me a great day. WOW - that little gesture really made my day.
Anyway, got here and have many things to take care of for work. Have to get on with it, but wanted to post and say that today was a PERFECT DAY too!
Another perfect day here in paradise! My "cottage kittens" are climbing over my computer while I sit outside on the swing. The sun shines brightly although it was quite cool last night. In anticipation I put the electric blankies on the bed. I'll never forget out first winter visit here. I bought myself one. Tossed it on the tobbogan (we can't drive to the door in winter). Both kids (Brandon then 15 and Ash 9) called out "I'm sleeping with Mom!". I ended up buying them for all the beds and they've been a Godsend for sure.
The lake is like glass and there is but one small boat out there quietly fishing. No one else in sight or earshot. I am at one with nature here.
Dealt with more work stuff last night. Some people just want it all and even when you accomodate them - they still want changes. But it is my job to make everyone happy (best that I can) and we made some progress. It will all work out and I now know that I can get away without teaching this year and the world will not stop. But I will be seeing more of it as a result. And I have now realized that I will NOT suffer a paycut as a result. And in addition, I stopped paying my son's car insurance ($150 A MONTH!) so I should feel less pinch this winter. Good thing - because I overspent this summer on cottage fixups. I only had 2 months to "gitterdun" so I don't regret it - but the bills will be arriving.
Last week I found the most gorgeous dresser and night table for Ashley's cottage bedroom. Brand new - buttercream yellow and very French provincial. We have a store here called Home Sense (across Canada) and it is my alltime fav. They carry thie nicest in Home Decor and everything is unique. The runover is amazing. If you snooze you lose. And they will not hold anything for you. I had to BEG for them to hold these pieces since they were enroute the cottage and I needed to have Ryan's car (PT cruiser with hatchback and fold down seats) in order to transport them. Plead my case to a couple of managers and they did it! I am ecstatic about the look. Now of course I want a new headboard for her room too. I would love a scrolled iron one that I could paint yellow to match. And I want to paint her room too - but that will be next year. She will HATE the dresser but I told her it was time to change the kids rooms to guest rooms. Neither Bran or Ash spends much time here at present so I want one feminine and one masculine guest room. Hers will be Cottage Shabby Chic and his will be Woodland. I think I will paint her room white to resemble beadboard walls and his in a sage green. Found a colour called Woodland Mist. Perfect. His bedding has bears and deer and wolves on it. Hers is floral. I'm glad I have embraced what I already owned and made it nicer. I LOVE this place!
And on I ramble. Those of you who are not into decorating will probably think I'm nuts. But I love to make things prettier both in real life size and in miniature. And on that note - that is what I'm going to do today. Work on some miniatures for some swap groups I belong to on the table on the beach.
It certainly does sound perfect. It's nice for you to be able to have this time to think of nothing but the "fun" stuff. Let's face it, how often do we get to just enjoy with no worries? Have fun because the real world is just around the corner!
Today Paradise is getting a new sink in the bathroom. The old one was ripped out a month ago and I've been using a bowl of water and a bottle of Purell - LOL.
So, its like the little tap that could.
My tap dripped. So my handyman friend decided I might want to get a new tap. So off I went to the hardware store. Do you have any idea how many different taps you can choose from? And the prices go from the sublime to the ridiculous. I ended up with a brushed stainless Moen.
Back at the cottage, the handyman said he thought maybe I should get a new sink too. Hmmm.... it was getting pricier. But the sink was a mocha colour and had a chip in it when I bought this place. We painted the chip but it didn't quite match. Then we got another chip in it. Oh well - it's a cottage. And you know - I never liked the vanity. I had painted a whitewash over it when I wallpapered the bathroom 10 years ago and replaced the hardware. Maybe that should go too....
So, I ended up ordering a new vanity. And a new granite countertop with sink. And a linen tower to match. And even a new mirror with lights to replace the old mirrored medicine cabinet. And I convinced my handyman to rip out the old pieces. And he did. That's when I found out that my pieces were on backorder for 3 weeks. And then my handyman decided it was too big a job for him!
So, in the meantime I had a new bathroom floor installed. Nice! I had to pick up the bathroom pieces a bit at a time. I brought Ryan's car up in order to do this - and they finally all got here. I called not 1 but 4 different plumbers and eventually one of them returned my call. Only cancelled one time (unlike the carpet/flooring guys who cancelled 3 times). And he is here today. And as long as things continue uneventfully - I will have a working sink in a couple of hours. I've been told our electricity will be cut off this morning for 3 hours of testing. This could be a problem. My luck! So far so good and it is an hour late in testing now. I'm on a roll.
After buying the countertop I learned the original tap was wrong for that style. So it went back. I got a new one. The vanity, countertop and tap all came from different sources. I measured and tried to educate myself on bathroom matters. I pray I got it all right. It does look good! I mean - pretty is what it is all about, right?
So the little tap that could at app $120 has turned into a $2000 plus job BEFORE paying the plumber. And not counting the floor!!!
And I'll be the darn thing leaks - LOL!
But if it gets done without hassle - it WILL be a perfect day!
This made me laugh and remember all the turmoil while remodeling MG's house!!! We did some of the work ourselves (floor tiling, painting, etc) and hired someone for the rest. I had to pick out everything cuz MG just wanted me to be happy. What a guy, huh??? But....everything is done and it all looks great.
I don't understand contractors not showing up and all. Must be they have all the money they need!!!!
I don't want to mess up your perfect day thread and add something dreary, but if you could be so kind as to pop over to Cinder's thread I would truly appreciate any advice you or others in Surviving could offer in regards to financial settlements and agreements. Thank you so much.
There can be no testimony without a test. I am praying to go through this test and come out the other end with a new and better marriage then before.
