The Birthday that just keeps on happening..

So, today is my birthday... well, actually last Tuesday was. I am writing this quite late in the week. Who had time to blog when you were constantly looking over my shoulders. !!

The day started with a Happy Birthday from Terry and a couple of early morning family phone calls. When I arrived at work, I wasn't sure what I was going to walk in to.. but it was all the same.. The big 50, the throne.. the jewels...etc. Today, I gladly put my tiara on, just for fun, but no funny outfit today. No jewels, scepter or cakes. I moved the throne to a new spot and found my own comfy office chair... It was a good day. Being a school secretary at an Elementary School allows us to wear funny hats whenever we want, because kids think its cool. Wearing my crown today was just as normal as wearing a scarf..

Terry arrived at breaktime with a little bouquet of yellow roses, red berries and gold "stuff" that made it all look very festive. We chatted for abit and he left and back to work I went.. Just before noon, all areas' of the office was full of people, noise and mayhem.. kids on detention, staff with questions, & the school photographer and I were trying to solve some picture mysteries. I was on the phone, leaving a message to a parent with picture problems and I scanned the office to make sure all was in good order, when who do I see standing in the door way... but MY SANDRA..

There is something very WRONG about My Sandra being in my office on a weekday... well in my office ever. She lives in Moncton.. thats 4 hours away..... and she is like the busiest person I know... and what is she doing here.. meanwhile.. I am in the middle of leaving a message on the phone about some sort of picture size.. and blah blah... I finished some sort of message and hung up.. and to everyones confused surprise...I lept up and put a strangle hold on Sandra's neck.. with both arms... wow... My Sandra, if you have never heard me mention her is like my cousin/sister and we have been best friends since we were 10 years old. We hardly ever get to see each other but we are connected always.. sometimes eeriely..... My Sandra, for my 50th birthday, took the day off, drove 4 hours to have lunch with me.... We went to the Aurora Inn for the best Spinach Salad ever, and chatted more than we ate and then back to work.. and Sandra was back on the road at 1:30 for a 4 hour drive home!!!! Like, how fun was that!!!! I call her MY Sandra because she is like my very own Sandra... not like anyone elses.

When I arrived back at work.. there was a beautiful yellow birthday bouquet delivered from my the kids and it was bright and cheery (except the 50th ballon floating above it). Such a sweet thing and they were just the right size for my desk... And that was it.. the day done... I was bushed.. and couldn't really think straight and was happy to head home.. to be greeted by those same 50 bras... and it was almost dark when I got home, but I could still see them...

When I got home, Terry was giggling because he knew that Sandra was going to surprise me... and as I climbed the stairs and telling him about my day... I was greeted by 4 new couch/chair cushions, my couch cover for the sofa all neatly installed on my couch, and some people fabric draped over the red chair. What a lovely site to see... the couch cover was purchased on the weekend but I hadn't a minute, nor the energy to do the sofacover aerobics to get it on there. also, on Saturday when I was shopping for Xmas, one of my jobs was to pick out couch cushions to accent the new brown cover but also with a hint of blue from the carpet.. oh geesh... I hate that stuff and I cracked under the pressure and couldn't do it... So when I walked into my livingroom I knew right away that Paula had snuck into my house while I was at work and fixed the couch, added all the cushions she went and picked out for me and also a piece of fabric that I could cover the red chair with... What an awesome friend.... I am so thankful.

After a few minutes of admiring my new livingroom look, the dog barked outside... and as I walked to the back door to let her in, I said to Terry... "there, thats it.. I am done with surprises for this birthday". He didn't answer me, but I am use to that.. he was reading the news...

Little did I know, he was listening, but he was holding his breath for my very next step because when I cleared the diningroom, I was SHOCKED by the site of a brand new Stove... a convection oven and glass top stove... like a really beautiful shiny new stove.. with all burners that work.. a warming burner, and a warming drawer.. It had lights, beeps and features I have never heard of!

I had no idea... none... and I was thrilled to death. I look at convection ovens EVERY time we go to an applicance department, I ask anyone who has one what they think, how they work, how they use them... etc... But I just wouldn't buy one, because my stove of 22 years worked just fine.. except only 3 burners work, and you have to turn your baking items half way though baking so the back part doesn't burn..

Oh, it was quite a birthday.... lasting 3 days... but, alas, it wasn't over yet... I apologize for this, but I have one more birthday blog to go, and that is about our curling potluck supper...

Happy "Bra-thday"

After such a fun-filled and exhausting day... I headed home for a peaceful night. As I drove into the driveway, I noticed a big mess in the middle of the lawn. After a closer look, I noticed that it was clothing.. of some sort.... I stopped the car... and in my most confused thought process I started to get out of the car, and scanned the pile.... it seemed to be too organized a pile to be windblown... In looking at this pile, I didn't realize I passed several bras hanging from the tree in the driveway, several displayed on the tree under the bird feeder and more wrapped around the tree trunk.. My angels on the side of the house were adorned with black and blue bras.. my snow man on the door.. Bright RED... my dragon fly, mailbox, and that big pile on the lawn.. was a "50" written out in bras.. A giant sign in the livingroom window.. Happy 50th Birthday Donna. So now my neighbours all know...
Who did this you wonder... I didn't wonder one bit... I made the stupid mistake of leaving my lovely sister in law, Kelly, alone in my house. I went to work, and my brother in law Tom came up from the city to pick her up.. In the span of 2 hours.. she had dragged out ladders, staple guns and her imagination along with 50 bras she recruited from friends, co workers and Frenchies. Geesh, even I contributed.. thinking I was giving her teen daughter a bag of hand me downs from Michelle.. Geeessssh... If you look really close at the picture below, you we spy the guilty culprit...

My sexy willow angels.. with their blue and black bras...

That was the end of the Pre Birthday day..... but stay tuned.. Its my real birthday day next.

The Birthday Surprised continue

Now that its over, I don't mind telling everyone that my birthday is on Dec 16. Before hand, though, I tried not to talk about it, you know, in hopes that people would forget. Its my thought though, that because my birthday is so close to Christmas, and people are so energized at that time of the season, my birthday is rarely forgotten.

As always I need to give you a little history... I am somewhat controlling and delegate when needed. A few years ago, on a special "Hat Day" celebration at school, I forgot to bring in a hat to wear. Nancy I. made me a wonderful cardboard crown. Me, wearing a crown, caused a lot of commotion in the school. Both students and teachers began calling me the Queen... and you know what it stuck... and I liked it... it was so fun.... Gifts for special occasions began to steer towards royal objects... Tiara's , bling, etc. I used to randomly wear my crown when the moment struck me. But is sort of got to be too much and I have tried for the past 5 years to stifle the title. All my royal objects have been put away (ok, except my favorite tiara) and I corrected people who called me the queen). I was 50% successful and it was dying out... until.. today.

I have participated in more than my share of birthday pranks and began to realize that I would pay the price on my next "big" one. So, I totally tried to stay innocent for the past year or so. But I knew that they would get me.. I wasn't sure what it would be.. but I figured my desk would be covered in balloons.. or banners.. big "50"s. My birthday was on Tuesday. So on the weekend, I made up signs that described the 11 different ways to say "revenge". I planned to tape them to the desk on Monday night.... in hopes of deterring any tampering. Monday morning I arrived at work, armed with my signs and some funny "threats" written up on post its... ready for the end of the day. As I turned the corner to my office.. the BIG "5 0" was on the window... and then I saw the throne... then the big sign... The crowd at the office were all wearing tiaras which always got a reaction from me.. cause I am usually the only one who is allowed to wear them! And then.. the outfit was waiting for me and my wand... and scepter..

The castle cake made by Debbie P. Not only was it creative and beautiful but very yummy. So moist and the icing was delicious. (this is Cake number two) My day was filled with laughter and visits from all the students and I was sung to in French and English and two classes did the big countdown.. you know the one.. "Are ya 1, are ya 2, are ya 3, are ya 4, are ya 5.... when they got to 37, I yelled YES... they just kept going... I tried again at 44.. "are ya 44?"... YES YES ... they ignored me... are ya 45... are ya 46.. are ya 47, ................. and finally are ya 50.. to which I yelled and jumped up and down.. Yes yes yes...

I received hand drawn booklets filled with things like "What I wish for you today on your birthday".. another was "What a Queen should do"...... several classes worth of cards and even the cutest little cake... adorned with 50 large candles. A large card with an awesome poem and 50 Queen Bee's on it... along with 50 helping hands filled with things a Queen would use...

Although it was my birthday, I still had to work.. so I held up my little cake with the 50 candles why I answered phones. Notice the 50 cupcakes we got delivered as well..

So, this little cake was the cutest thing i have ever seen.. just crowded with big fat candles. We watched it slowly crush under the weight of the candles over the day.. (cake number 3)




By the end of the day, one half of the candles slid off the cake.. too much weight I think. We finally put it out of its misery by eating it for coffee break the next day...

So that was my day... I was looking forward to a quiet night at home.. and early to bed! Tomorrow, i will send along some pictures of what I had to face when I got home!

50 years old...

well, not quite... but this is day 1 of the 4 day celebration that transpired without any of my doing!

As you read in my last blog, I went shopping on Saturday, in the big city... TOTALLY against my normal shopping routine... I mean, who in their right mind goes to the big city, on a Saturday, 2 weekends before Xmas. But first off, this weekend was originally planned to be a "Sandra" weekend. We were going to meet just for Saturday in Truro...for an all day chat, and all night too.. then zip back to our respective homes to continue the Xmas madness. But it just couldn't happen.. we were dreamin' when we planned this a month ago. But.. also, during this weekend, Paula and her handyman, Terry would be working on the room and I needed to be gone.. (for my own sanity). I am so far behind in shopping that I had to do it... ok.. so that's' the history of why... long, I know.. had to be said.

On Wednesday night, my sister in law, who lives in the city, calls.. "I hear you are coming to the city this weekend". My initial reaction is... oh no... I don't want anyone with me.. I have to shop.. I have to finish my list. But all she wanted was for her and my M-I-L to take me out for lunch. Well, that sounded awesome. A birthday lunch.. How sweet!!! I loved that idea.. and we left it at that..

Saturday... shopping.. Canadian Tire, Sunny side Mall, Zellers in Bayers' Lake... oh, and I was finding EVERYTHING I needed.. Parking spaces magically opened up for me, store clerks were extra helpful, items were available and ideas were flowing... Kim calls me... she is running behind but will pick up Joan and meet me at the Canadiana Restaurant.. sort of like Smitties but nicer. I love it there and knew right where to go.. When I got there (a few minutes late), they were already there and having a drink..In retrospect, they seemed so happy to see me.. I thought maybe they were nervous or something... we chatted a bit,and I made the statement that I would rather save all my calories for dessert and not have a pop.... and Kim says... oh speaking of dessert.. here's a cake for you now...

When I turned to see what she was talking about.. there on the table was the most hilarious, yet beautiful cake in the world... full of Peas.. gross, little green friggin peas!!!! and holding the cake was my sister in law from OTTAWA!!!! I was in shock... we were just there, for sad reasons, tearful good byes and BAM... she is right here... smiling and laughing along with my 13 year old niece Caliegh (from Halifax).. What a blast...

they had this planned for months.. these little sneaks had kept their secret through a week of chattering about things from my birthday to airline tickets, seat sales. etc.. to listen to them tell their near misses, I should have been way more in tune with the hints that fell from their lips...

We had a great lunch, we laughed and retold stories of surprises from the past, and I amazed myself by not suspecting this... because Kelly has flown down on a few occasions to surprise someone.. Its usually me organizing it though. My next surprise was that Kelly was coming home with me for a couple of days... We just spent 5 days together in Ottawa, and we never really got 5 minutes to just talk.. I was so excited, I know I punched poor Kelly at least 10 times in disbelief...

Now, my cake... Kim made the cake, and the fondant.. on Friday night before Kelly arrived by plane. Then Saturday morning, while I was shopping, they got creative!! Even Caliegh got into it and made the tiny little peas for the pods.. what a hoot...

Kim's idea to do the "Hap-PEA" birthday (awesome play on words)... have I told you yet, I hate peas.. my friends take great pleasure in adorning me in pea items... this takes the cake.. (pun intended) This is something you will NEVER see me do.... with a real pea But these ones were pretty good. Somehow, I just got creeped out by it all and had to leave one on my plate...

So, Birthday surprise Day 1... I got a huge surprise from the family, a wonderful shopping day, and a fantastic reveal of my dad's room (last blog), I mean my new guest room. Kelly and I spent a wonderful evening, catching up and laughing at it all. oh, and we had another piece of cake when we got home too.

WHERE DO I BEGIN.....

Some would say.. start at the beginning.... easier said than done... I need to blog the VERY day some thing happens because lately... "things happening" seems to be a daily event, and everything is soooo blogable.. (I think that's not really a word).. so, here is my blogmise(like promise, but with blogs). I will blog every day this week with all the stuff that I need to share....

Things to blog about.... my bathroom.... my dad's bedroom reveal.... my pre-pre-pre-birthday surprise.. my pre-pre-birthday surprise, my pre birthday surprise and yes... my birthday..

Now, here's how I figure things... I need to blog about the new look for my bathroom but since its 90% done, and I am waiting for a new sink, which will then have new faucets, and to put the shelves up.. I won't do that blog today. Second.. my birthday isn't really until tomorrow.. even though I have been celebrating it since Saturday.. I won't blog about that yet either..

today's blog.. will be my dad's room! So here is the story. My dad lived in the downstairs of our house. He had his own bathroom, bedroom, storage room and family room. His entire existence was contained in those rooms. A life time of mementos tucked in every corner. At first, after his sudden death, his rooms were a comfort to me, when I went downstairs to put things away, or move things, I often stopped in for spell. But after awhile they became a sad reminder, provoking tears each day, and a longing. Eventually, it became an albatross, because I knew I needed to clean out, but I just couldn't. That's a whole different stress. And, its very true, the longer you leave it the hard it becomes. But with Terry's help, we started on a Friday night and by Sunday afternoon, things were sorted, boxed or tossed. I started with massive tears and we ended with laughter and funny stories.

During a shopping day with my decorator God, named Paula, I mentioned how none of us would ever think of his room as anything but his room, and nobody would want to stay in the room, since it was Grampas. Dad and Paula have long since had a fun relationship where dad teased Paula over her decorating escapades at my house, and she always threatened to re do his room (which was hideous). He, was a very stubborn man, and refused to have anything to do with updating his crowded and cold looking room. Paula was only half joking most of the time, as she would have loved to re do his room into a masculine, functional room for him. Well, from this grew the idea that she would re do the room. Into a guest room but with his spirit in mind. I had no problem with this idea, but I really don't enjoy making those kinds of decisions and decorating in general and was thrilled when I suggested that she go for it but without my involvement. I would provide a loose budget and she could have fun! My only stipulation was no baby blue! I hate that color.. well, I am sick of that color, since that is what this room was for 20 years!

This is my dad's room... don't be alarmed.. we bought dad a new bed in Feb and he was trying it out.. sadly this is the only picture of his room I ever took (mostly because its not a pretty room) there is blue carpet on the ledges, brown curtains, 20 year old wall paper on the bottom half.

After a month of planning, whispering and little "before I come, you have to do this" jobs... Paula arrived Saturday morning... loaded down with items. Now, the rest of the story is that I went to Halifax for a power Xmas shopping day.. and left the house, fully aware that she and Terry would be working their buns off all day...which is why I called at least once an hour to see how things were going... what a fun day i had shopping, knowing that this was going on....

Before Paula's big day, Terry and I emptied the room, stripped wall paper, removed the blue carpet off the ledges and steam clean the carpet. Then Paula introduced us to the new color (which we had to paint)... the paint color is Para Paint Ultra Suede..."Green Pea".... somewhat significant since I HATE peas and Paula took this as a sign from my dad that this color was perfect for the room... me hating peas has always been a funny joke to him... and Paula didn't even realize when she picked this color that this was its name.!!!

Paula and I made the headboard, which I intended to blog, but got so excited as we made it that I forgot to take pictures... but this is Jerry and Terry hanging the curtains.. and you can see the headboard.. and you can see the the curtains are a perfect match to the walls... Green Pea... as well... Terry is working on a new light fixture.. you can really see the new wall color

and now the room.. from all angles... First the evening look, by the light of the lamp. The next is the daytime pictures, and this is the angle you walk into the room. So warm and inviting... The wall art... so awesome...The sweet little chandelier Terry was hanging...

A hanger for guests to hang a towel or jacket on. It is holding my dad's favorite cane on it right now but written on the back is a beautiful dedication of the room by Paula... toooooo beautiful to describe

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the beautiful chair for sitting or stacking things on... and the chocolate brown dresser that the TV will sit on, once the electricity is re routed...My new guest room is warm and welcoming and a secret little hideaway... I can't believe how lucky I am to have someone so talented, gifted and generous with her time... as my friend Paula.. The words Thank You just are not enough...

In the midst of Bathroom renovations

No bathroom lighting..at all....no shower curtain... no towel racks...no mirror....no toilet paper holder... We have had degrees of "no" bathroom for the past 2 weeks.. well, really 3 weeks, since we have been away for almost a week during the bathroom "Make over".

In September, I decided that I really needed to upgrade my bathroom, but affordably. We are in the 1970 Seafoam Blue color palette and Paula assured me about 3 years ago, that my bathroom color was coming back into fashion and even more popular, because its is now the bedroom and livingroom color choice for several designers. She was right.. its back. Its everywhere.. so why not take advantage!!!

A can of paint, new towel racks, new lighting, new sink and taps (old one was rusting), shower curtain and towels. Throw out the old medicine cabinet, the hooks on the wall for towels.. the laundry baskets on the floor. The result... warm and welcoming bathroom, clean and uncluttered.

The before pics are at this blog... and below is the work being done....

I can't take a pic of the finished product until the sink, taps, shelves and pictures are installed... by next weekend hopefully.

The X Ring

In frightening similarity to this year's month of May.... our most recent sad and heartbreaking occurrence was immediately followed by a joyous and long anticipated occurrence. We arrived home from Ottawa in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday and after work and unpacking, we jumped in the car early Wednesday morning and drove 3.5 hours to Antigonish to witness Michelle's and Scotts' X Ring Ceremony.

It was unbelievable how much excitement was throughout the campus. Students start their countdown on their very first day on campus. 1179 days til X Ring. A lifetime of time to a brand new university kid.

After spending so much time away from work, I felt pains of guilt for taking yet another day off to go to "a ring" ceremony. But we understand the importance of the X ring, and the significance of receiving it, and fortunately my friends and co workers understood as well. The day was gorgeous. A nice quiet drive for Terry and I. Much needed, as well, even though we spent the last 5 days together, we hardly got to speak to each other. 3.5 hours in the car, taking the same route we have taken for years with our kids in the back seat to visit grandparents... the drive on X ring day was full of funny stories, memories of drives and visits to Cape Breton. We had time to reflect on the past few days, as well as the changes in our lives since those long drives to and from the island.

We arrived at the kids apt and Michelle answered the door dressed in her grad gown, and Scott dressed up in his custom made three piece suit from his dad's adventures in the Middle East. Very handsome, both of them. We had quick hugs and snuggles with the kids and their pets and then we started our short walk to campus. I thought there were sort of nuts.. walking through town with black robes on... but once we got closer to the university, it was like a scene from HARRY POTTER. 1000 students in black robes moving at great speed all towards the big Keating Millenium Centre where the ceremony would take place. They walked us to the parents room.. the big gym next to the arena. Parents are not allowed to be in the ceremony...but the university was kind enough to stream the video camera feeds to a big screen for over 1000 parents and families there to witness. The master of ceremonies was herself receiving her ring this day, as well, and therefore her unrehearsed enthusiasm and overly large smile was so genuine that it melted the hearts of all parents. Although we were in the other room, I felt like I was right there.. the excited permeated the walls and floors of the gym. I cried through the singing performances, I held my breath while they recited the oath of St. Francis Xavier and I shivered when I saw both Scott and Michelle tap their large gold rings on the tradition wooden kneeler of the cathedral, that was brought in to the center for this specific purpose. Tradition was in years gone by that the ceremony happened in the Big University Chapel and at the end of the oath.. the students tapped their rings on the pew ahead of them. Since the ceremony has gotten bigger over the last 30 years, they have had to move it to the Arena and that tradition has had to be reinvented. I can tell you, these new X Ring receivers did not feel cheated by this change, whatsoever!

I have no pictures of the kids receiving their rings, but there are tons of pics afterwards with hands proudly pressed to their hearts (conveniently showing off the ring!) A family of friends who started this journey together.. Scott and Michelle... Friends united by the X ...... and girlfriends forever
Vanessa and Mick started their journey at St. FX together as roommates... so cool to intertwine fingers together 1179 days later!

Its an awesome reward for these kids, and a great honor for us to have been a part of their day. I am so glad I went.