My grandmother, my mother and myself on my wedding day

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY EVERYONE!

Coming from a family that enjoys eating, it is only fitting that Mother’s Day (and Father’s day) is celebrated by going out to brunch. For the past few years, my brothers, sil’s, nieces, nephews and my parents have been going to The Lady Slipper restaurant for brunch. It’s nothing fancy, fruits, salads, sausages, pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs in a basket, seafood chowder, veggies, lasagna etc, etc, etc. But boy are we STUFFED when we leave! The food is delicious and the desserts would blow your mind!!!! There are cheesecakes, mousses, trifles and pies to name a few. Word really gets around quickly in our little town and now I usually make the reservation 3 weeks in advance to be sure we get a table. Poor hubby had to work today so he missed out. He did leave me a sweet mother’s day card from him and the kids and called and left a message wishing me a happy mother’s day.

I’ve always enjoyed my mother’s day, but the past two years I always seem to spend some part of the day in tears thinking of my grandmother. She passed away two years ago while I was pregnant with Gabby. She truly was an amazing woman and meant the world to me. I knew the day would come when she would no longer be around, so a few years ago I wrote her a letter telling her how much she meant to me. She was very hard of hearing, so writing a letter rather than trying to communicate my feelings made much more sense. I know the letter touched her because she showed everyone what I had wrote. The letter was suppose to be for her eyes only, but I didn’t mind. That’s who she was. She loved talking about her family; how many grandchildren and great-grandchildren she had. At last count, she has 32 grandchildren, 50+ great grandchildren and a few great-great grandchildren. The hardest part about her passing was selling her beloved cottage. The cottage meant the world to her and I know she would be absolutely devastated to know that it had been sold. Though it was old and run down, it was her heart and soul. You couldn’t think of the cottage without thinking of her. I’ve saved a few pictures of my grandmother at the cottage and plan to frame a few to put them up at my parents new cottage. I know it would mean alot to my mother and it would be like having a little piece of my grandmother still with us.♥

So today I wish all the mother’s, grandmother’s and mother’s to be a very happy MOTHER’S DAY!

Doris Mary Morrison Jan 3, 1912 ~ June 27, 2006

“Miss you Nanny!”

Mom and Braeden ~ 1994

If you haven’t heard, the PEI gov’t has pulled the school buses off the roads for the next two days leaving parents with the responsibility of getting their kids to school. Westisle high school was missing half of the student population because it is located in a rural area and some of the kids have to travel 30 min to get there.

“I’m disappointed,” said Dale Sabean, superintendent of education with the Western School Board.

“It’s not a wise choice” considering there’s just six weeks left and exams are looming, not to mention the loss of more than two weeks due to fierce winter weather.

“It’s sad to say there doesn’t appear to be the commitment to attendance on the part of students (at Westisle).”

If they have working parents and don’t have access to a vehicle, how do they expect students to get to school?

The thing that bothers me the most is that this didn’t just happen overnight. In a report written by the PEI Auditor General (Colin Younker) back in 2006, he stated that older buses should receive periodic inspections for structural integrity and that regular inspections on the buses were NOT being performed.

Of the 20 buses examined during a routine inspection, 16 of them had serious structural problems. My son travels on a bus to and from school and hearing those results infuriates me!

In 2006 school bus maintenance was no longer the responsibility of the school boards and was transferred to the provincial department of transportation. In a 2007 report, the PEI Auditor General noted there was staffing problems within the transportation department and has been “calling on the Department of Education to develop a long-term plan for school bus acquisition, which considers the cost-benefit of maintenance versus replacement, as well as the optimum size of the bus fleet.”

I’m sure if they took half of what government officials receive for travel/misc. expenses, we would have safe buses for our children.  It’s no wonder that people lose faith in their government!

Today is the first day on PEI that carbonated beverages have been sold since 1984.  While at the grocery store this morning it was a little odd to see canned beverages everywhere.  I’m not much of a pop drinker myself, but every now and then I do get a craving for a cola (pepsi of course!).  But honestly, I really don’t understand what all the hype is about?  They are after all just cans people!  Personally, I prefer glass bottles to cans because if I wanted to have the taste of tin in my mouth, I would go lick a metal pole!

Then of course there is the Sunday shopping issue.  I work in retail, so I’m not sure if that’s the reason I’m opposed to Sunday shopping or not.  I just think there should be one day a week that people can spend with their family.  If you need to pick something up that badly, you do have 6 days a week to go shopping.  What about locally owned convenience stores?  How much will Sunday shopping affect their business?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for progress when it comes to PEI.  But bottled pop/beer and Sunday shopping is something I can definitely do without!

the confederation bridge

Today I had to go to Sussex, N.B. for work and I must say I was looking forward to the drive and a change of scenery.   I downloaded some tunes last night to take with me on the drive over.  There is nothing better than a nice drive while singing along to your favorite tunes!  I was hoping to spot one of the MANY deer everyone has been talking about, but no such luck!!  Instead, I came across a MOOSE on the side of the highway.  After taking a quick pic, I hightailed it out of there and continued on toward Sussex. 

“bullwinkle”

say cheeese!!

I missed the turnoff to Sussex and headed into Moncton.  I KNEW I should have taken the exit to Fredericton/Saint John but I am always second guessing myself when I travel.  I really need to pick up a GPS for the car!  Once I knew I was heading in the right direction, I turned the tunes back on and continued my “singing”.  The sun eventually came out and I actually had to turn on the air conditioning.  It was a beautiful day for driving (or so I thought!).  When I left PEI, it was raining and misreable.  The weather seems to change at the drop of a hat!

Once I arrived in Sussex, I met up with a co-worker to go over some “work” stuff.  We went out for dinner to a place called J.J’s.  I had a chef salad with grilled chicken and then a slice of cookie and cream cheesecake.  I love my cheesecake!!!   (sorry, no pic)

I was in Sussex about 3 hrs and then headed home around 1:30pm.  It was still sunny and warm.  Again I had to turn on the air conditioning.  After an hour of driving the sun went in and it started to rain.  I missed the turn off to Shediac and ended up going all the way into Sackville and then heading for PEI.  I wasn’t in any rush so I took my time and enjoyed the drive.  It started to snow and I clicked a few pics.  It was actually kinda pretty.

 new brunswick

Wait a minute…it is the 1st of May right?   The weather quickly turned nasty and I was getting a little nervous. I could feel the car slip every so often so I slowed down and just took my time.  Besides,  I was only about 30 min from the bridge.  I’m soooo glad I left Sussex when I did!

getting caught in a blizzard

It took me a little longer to get home, but I made it safe and sound!  After a quick call to hubby to let him know I was on the Island, I stopped by Sobeys to pick up some sushi for supper.  Hubby is going to see “Ironman” tonight and I am renting “27 dresses”.  I love Katherine Heigl!!!  Grace is outside as we speak making a snowman and “Boomer”Gallant, our local weatherman just announced we are going to have a warm weekend…22 degrees C…GO FIGURE!!!!

gotcha!!!

We finally got to see the Backyardigans today.  As many of you may know, the first show was cancelled because the performers were trapped on a ferry that was stuck in ice in the Sydney harbour for 2 days.  Unfortunately, I did not find this out until we arrived at the Confederation centre for the show (the first time).  Today was the rescheduled show and they actually put on 2 shows this time.  I think they dealt with ALOT of upset parents the first time around.   The show was well worth the wait.  Grace had an awesome time.  She was up on her feet dancing and singing and really getting into it.  I enjoyed the show too.  I took a few pics even though they announced at the beginning that cameras were NOT allowed.  Who are they trying to kid? We are talking about the Backyardigans here and the lights flashing from people taking pics was unreal.  I tried to limit it to a few pics while other people were really going camera crazy!!  There were alot of younger kids there and I must say I felt a little guilty about not taking Gabby.  Then again, if I did take her, I would have to put up with Grace picking at her every 5 minutes and Gabby screaming in frustration.   It was nice just to have a few hours alone together, just Gracie and myself.

After the show was over, we went to Mcdonalds for supper and then headed home.  What a great day!

Grace enjoying the show.  The sound guy was right beside us!

Me and Grace before the show

It’s time once again for spring cleaning.  There is sooo much to do, I don’t know where to start.  I found a great website article entitled streamlining spring cleaning that will give me some guidance.  I know the basics of spring cleaning, but having a list and a deadline to complete the task makes things much easier.  I also signed up for CPO’s 28 day boot camp challenge for decluttering and I am in the process of making up a “sparkle kit” of my own.  Great job Cara on your sparkle kit!

Making your own sparkle kit

Below is a list of tasks I will be working on in the next month.  I’m giving myself plenty of time!   

Step 1: Cleaning Windows 

Save this job for a cloudy day (the sun’s rays cause streaking) and start indoors. Just spray the panes with water and wipe clean with one of the versatile new microfiber cloths, which work by trapping dirt between the fibers. When the cloth looks dirty, rinse it in warm water. (If your water is hard, substitute distilled water.)

We have a pressure washer which works great for cleaning the exterior of the house.  Our house is white, so you can really notice the dirt.

 Step 2: Cleaning Blinds and Drapes

Begin by dusting the valance and frame, then vacuum top to bottom, using the upholstery attachment for drapes, the brush attachment for blinds (close them first). 

Our blinds are very dirty, so I am going to soak them in the tub with a bit of vinegar and then wipe clean with a cloth.

Step 3: Cleaning Kitchen Cupboards

Start by emptying the contents onto a cleared table. Wipe the shelves with a damp micro-fiber cloth or, if they’re extra-dirty, attack them with a multipurpose cleaner and a scrubber sponge.

If you use liners, fit food shelves with a washable, strippable liner; for shelves holding glasses and dishes, try a resilient plastic mesh liner, to reduce breakage. Wipe down the cupboard exteriors with a microfiber cloth and you’re done.

This will allow me to reorganize everything in the cupboard also.

Step 4: Cleaning Upholstered Furniture 

If you’re dealing with mostly superficial dirt, home cleaning can work a big improvement. Remove all cushions and, with the crevice tool, thoroughly vacuum nooks and crannies; use the brush attachment to clean and smooth any fabrics with a nap; use the flat attachment for smooth fabrics.

I put blankets/covers on our couches.  A trick I learned from my mother.  If there is an accident, I just take the blanket, wash it and put it back on.  A blanket will definitely help protect your furniture, especially when there are kids and pets in the house.

 Step 5: Cleaning the Computer

First, shut the computer down and unplug it. With a standard mouse, unscrew the bottom and remove the ball; blow dust from the casing and wipe the ball and interior with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol. Let dry, replace the ball, and close.

Now turn over the keyboard and gently shake it; clean between the keys with a special computer vacuum or a few blasts of compressed air, then wipe with a microfiber cloth moistened with all-purpose cleanser.

Give the same wipe-down to the computer exterior, and finish by wiping the screen with a cloth moistened with plain water.

You can purchase cans of compressed air at your local Walmart in the stationary section.

Step 6: Cleaning Bathroom Grout

Ordinary cleansers won’t make a dent in mold or mildew. Spray with a specially formulated mildew treatment, then scrub with a grout brush or a toothbrush. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and repeat if needed. When the walls are dry, give the grout a final misting with the mildew formula for prolonged protection.

You can prevent mold buildup in damp bathrooms or those in humid climates by running a squeegee over the tile after a shower. The same trick will eliminate soap buildup on glass shower doors.

The biggest challenge we have is getting rid of hard water stains on the tub and sink in our bathroom.  If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way!

 :)

___________________________________

So there you have it! My spring cleaning plan is underway.  It’s a pretty simple guide and will hopefully help to put me into”springcleaning” mode.  If you haven’t signed up already, be sure to check out CPO’s 28 day boot camp ~ a guide to decluttering.  

HAPPY CLEANING/DECLUTTERING EVERYONE!!

Wow, I am sooo exhausted! What a trip! The conference was amazing. It was a leadership training course and we covered such topics as diversity, culture and leadership essentials. It “sounds” boring, but it was pretty interesting. The instructors were a hoot and we played some practical jokes on one another. I learned lots and met alot of great people. I was also lucky enough to meet up with cpo’s one and only ladybug_mom aka Cara. Let’s start from the beginning shall we?

MONDAY

We left PEI at 9:00 am and made it to Fredericton a little after noon. It took us 15-20 min to find the Delta after arriving in Fredericton. We were only blocks away too….I wish I was a little more familiar with the city!  We spent the afternoon learning about diversity and then headed to Franks diner for supper. I had the “quick catch of the day” which consisted of fish (haddock), fried clams, french fries and coleslaw. It was delicious! We followed supper by a tour of the new store on the other side of the bridge. It sounds weird, but any time we are away for conferences, that’s the first thing we do!! It’s actually interesting to see how other stores are set up and how the differ from your own store. After leaving the store, we got lost. We must have circled the same area for more than 30 minutes. I was starting to get car sick, but there was just NO WAY I was giving up my delicious supper!  After driving circles for what seemed like hours, we FINALLY made it to the hotel. Our district manager has a GPS for travelling, unfortunately for us it was NOT in the car!

TUESDAY

After what seemed like an endless day of learning, we heading to the Regent mall for supper and a little shopping. I had Japanese at the food court. It was delicious!! I love sticky rice. I wish I knew how they make it. Once we were through, it was time for another quick tour of the older store in Fredericton and then my favorite…..SHOPPING!!! My first stop was the Children’s Place. I really hope we get one on PEI soon!

WEDNESDAY

We were a little more active this day of our conference. It’s nice to get up and move around a little. Sitting for 8 hrs straight is agonizing! After the course, I met Cara in the hotel lobby and we headed to the Diplomat for supper. It was funny to find out we both LOVE lobster. She ordered the lobster sandwich and I had lobster chowder. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the waitress brought our desserts. M-m-mmmm……cheesecake. It was soooo good!!! I had cappachino and Cara had turtle cheesecake. They even drew a pic of a turtle out of choc/caramel sauce beside the slice of cheesecake.  You’ll have to check out her blog for that pic!

After taking a few more pics, we said goodbye and discussed getting together over the summer. Feeling absolutely stuffed, I decided to go for a walk to work off some of my supper. It was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t get over how warm it was outside. I took pics of the saint john river, a bald eagle and a very curious grey squirrel.

I headed back to the Regent mall for more shopping. I was a little leary of how to get there and decided to take a cab. BIG mistake. I ended up getting this creepy guy named Kevin, who asked me to refer to him as “LUCKY” because he could “get er done!” I’m not sure exactely what he was referring to nor was I going to ask. He told me to be sure and ask for him when I called for a cab to go back to the hotel….ah, no thanks!!!! I used a totally different cab company who perceeded to take all the back streets. Made me a little nervous, but he was very pleasant to talk to and I made it back to the hotel safe and sound. I didn’t sleep very well the night before so a few of my co-workers headed down to the pub for a brewski (coors light)…..mmmm, did that hit the spot!! I think I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow!!!

THURSDAY

After another day of learning, we headed back to Franks diner for some more delicious grub. We didn’t get AS lost this time and narrowed our driving time down to only 10 min of confusion. I guess the saying “the third time’s the charm” is true, because we made it back to the hotel without a hitch!!

FRIDAY

Our last day! It was nice to get away, but I was really starting to miss my family.  I had a great week getting to know my fellow peers and we had a blast!!  Next month, we have a district meeting for our division only. It’s only one night away, but I am REALLY looking forward to it.  We are a pretty crazy bunch, so I am definitely bringing my camera! Not only to record some funny moments, but I figure I may be able to use the photos for black mail at a later date…BAAHHHAAAWWW!  

Below is a pic of the whole crew!

Cara aka “ladybugmom”

us outside the hotel

the bald eagle

nosey squirrel

saint john river

Tomorrow I am heading to Fredericton for a week and even though the trip is work-related…I AM SOOOO EXCITED ABOUT GETTING OFF THE ISLAND!!  Don’t get me wrong, I love my little island.  But being here all winter and seeing SO many pictures of exotic vacations lately (I manage a photolab ;) ), I am completely stir crazy!!!!

I’ve started to pack a few things, but I plan on finishing up this afternoon.  The weather here is dismal, so I can pack without any distractions. If it were nice outside, I would be heading to my parents place at the beach.  I’m hoping I don’t forget anything. I’m the type of person that will overpack, just so I know I haven’t forgotten anything.  I will be taking my laptop also.  I would be going thru serious withdrawals if I was without my computer for a week! 

I’m nervous and excited to go away and be on my own.  Sure I will miss my family terribly, but I know everything will be looked after. Hubby is great that way.  The housework will be done, the kids will be looked after and the animals will be fed.  The only thing that concerns me is that he will forget to water my plants. So i’ve given them some water today and I’ll try to remember to water them again tomorrow morning. That way if he does forget, at least they will still be alive when I get home on friday.

It’s been so long since I’ve been to Fredericton.  Almost 6 years to be exact.  The last time I was there was when I was pregnant with Grace and it was also a work related trip.  Gotta love free trips!!!  I have cousins that live in the city and I’m hoping I can see them while i’m there.  Cara and I are getting together also which I am REALLY looking forward to especially after seeing mandi’s pics. You guys look like you had a blast!! 

I am a little nervous about the drive over. My sil was there last week and mentioned there were alot of deer on the highway.  I love wildlife, but I’ve seen what kind of damage a deer can do to a vehicle. So i’m hoping the deer will be content to stay on the side of the road and not venture out into the highway.   I’ll have to make sure I have my camera in the car, because I will DEFINITELY snap some pics.  There are no deer on the island, so I consider it a treat to see them in the wild! ;)  If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a total NATURE NUT!!

Stay tuned for my next blog entry which will include the details of my trip and meeting up with CPO’s one and only ladybug_mom, Cara!

Spring, in my opinion is the best time of the year. The days get longer, the weather is warmer, the birds are out and about and….the dairy bars open for the season!!!!  Where else but in PEI would you find a parking lot full of people freezing their butts off standing in line to get ice-cream!!

Last night my friends and I went for a walk on the board walk. It was a great night for a walk.  It was a little chilly by the water, but we kept a steady pace to keep ourselves warm.  Afterward the girls wanted to head over to the dairy bar for ice-cream.  Ah, hello? i’m trying to LOSE weight… but if you know me, it didn’t take much convincing to get me to tag along.  I endulged in a soft serve “baby-cone” while the girls splurged on a brownie sundae.  As long as I’m exercising, I don’t feel there is anything wrong with a little “splurge” now and then.  The tricky part is to keep the splurging down to a minimum, which is difficult for me sometimes.   Especially when you have a dairy bar located only minutes from your house.  I can see the local dairy bar from my front window and the smells that come from it during the summer are divine!!!! My favorite is the fries with the works (minus the peas - blech!!!) and the scallop dinner.  I wouldn’t be a true islander if i didn’t love seafood!

So for any of you gals visiting this summer, make sure you get a chance to dine at one of the local dairy bars.  You are in for a real treat!!! Oh and just a little heads up….some of them don’t accept debit, so make sure you have cash with you! ; ) 

The frosty treat ~ Kensington, PEI

Scooter’s Dairy Bar, Miscouche

My cousin’s funeral was today and while it was a sad day, we shared some laughs during the eulogy.  A family member wrote the eulogy and he did an amazing job. He shared some great stories and really captured the essence of who my cousin was. 

After the funeral I drove to the sitter’s to take Grace to Kindergarten. On the way out the door she was complaining her stomach was sore. So I’m thinking, “does she not want to go or is she really sick?”  I decided to play it safe and took her home.  Thank goodness I did because within half an hour she was throwing up.  I put her to bed with a bucket and went in to check on her every half hour or so.  When she fell asleep I changed into my bathing suit and went outside on the deck for an hour to enjoy the sunshine. I left the patio door open so I could hear her if she called out for me.

When Braeden got home from school, I went back into town to pick up Gabby and some ginger ale for Grace.  After arriving home, I took Gabby out to enjoy the fresh air. It was just too nice to stay inside!! The snow in the front yard is almost melted, but it will be a while before the snow in the backyard is gone.  Hopefully we will have much more of this gorgeous weather. It’s too bad Grace is under the weather. She loves playing outside. : (    I hope that she will be feeling better tomorrow.  

the front yard:

the back yard:

my little artist:

posing for the camera:

a close up ( i love this one!)