We are born to be "real"--not to be perfect!

Good Morning to you all-- To-day is Saturday, December 27th_-and, guess what?--  To-morrow is Son#2's Birthday--Woo Woo! And--to-morrow I see that an ice storm is predicted to hit this area----Lordy be! We do get bad weather here in Northern Ontario--

Yes, Thank goodness that we are only old once--After being one of the "older " persons (now!)---It is not easy--I believe that we should be taught  "How to be "older than old" --before we even get there, because, you know, it is very hard to be  "OLD"--not easy--kinda-like- one has to learn how to make the best of it, and yet, remain independent--kinda shocking really--like--all of a sudden your children want to lock you up--put you in a home-- think that you will begin to fall all over the place--even believe that you will be unable to manage your finances --even when you have done it all of your previous younger years!----- And right now--there are no courses on "managing aging"--So, as Mom used to say, you have to "fake it--till you make it!"---

And we all hope that, "the end" is far off --like not going to happen  right away-- SOooooooo--Lopez and I are up--It feels cold--with an ice storm on the horizon--

---There are so many "Words of Wisdom"--

#1. Age can teach contentment-

#2.Before you make a fuss, ask yourself first__Is it worth it?

#3.Judge a person by his deeds-not by his words!

Blasts from the past--  This one is Hannah--Now what if she had fallen into the lake?--Obviously no-one has their eye on her! Lordy-and--  below--Cole, Willow and I with Hannah                             

Son#3 on left--with his hunter friends

So-

-ever onward here--I must get moving--This day has begun--You feeling strong?-- We are strong-maybe not perfect--but,  who is perfect?-

 

                         

Aging is a gift to wear with dignity-

It is Friday, December 26th-- We have heavy snow falling and it looks quite deep--which means--later on--I must shovel--  Yuckers!!--  Good thing I am not planning on going anywhere-- Good thing I went to the Blood Lab the day before Xmas--and it feels so cold in here---I have the heat turned up--and the bed made-- and my buddy, Lopez and wee Sushi and I are up and at-er--another day to "get it right"

                            Never lose hope!--So true isn't it??

 Good thing that we are strong and determined to do whatever we must----and--  I hope your Christmas was wonderful---  even , "just good"----that you survived the chaos--and made your family happy and tried to not overspend--  Looking back over the years, I know I pretty much always overspent, at Christmas--We had 5 children who wanted everything--Below--Himself, with son#2, #3 and #4---

                and-- above--here we all are--together, on the back deck

                        below--  Himself with his brother

                            Blasts from the past- good memories--

Last night I was invited to have SUPPER with  Son#3 and his family--It was wonderful--so good to eat with people-- 

I received a gift from Son#1 and his wife--  a necklace with Fred's picture on it--also Himself's ashes--a tiny bit of them--hanging in a pendant on the necklace--so, when I wear the necklace, a bit of Himself is always with me-very nice!

Words of WiSDOM__

#1.It takes great strength to be happy

#2.Age can teach contentment.

#3. You can have anything you want, but you can't have everything you want.

so--- I must gather up the laundry--  get it in the washer--check the heat--and assess the weather outside--Son#2 , the Pilot, has a Birthday coming soon--on the 28th-- It is still dark outside--looks so cold!-- It is a new day--and here we are--a part of it--

"Christmas Day, 2025"

 It is THURSDAY-- DECEMBER 25th---  CHRISTMAS DAY 2025

It is DARK here still-probably cold outside---but, here we are--a part of to-day--Christmas day--I Shall return--must get the HERD up--Lopez and Sushi---           --in the meantime---

Last night we were at Son#3's home for dinner--a special dinner--Christmas--  Son#3 and his family, put on a wonderful meal--lots of talk about their Dad-and how much we all missed him--We are coping however--  I try to remember that he was an amazing person-- very devoted to his family--and -- to-day , with so many  memories, we are remembering--good memories---Below---  Fred---before I even knew him--

-so--  pictures of the past--memories--how our life began--  meant in Ottawa at the Ottawa Civic Hospital--married in 1967----

The above picture- I was expecting Son#2----Son#1, is the wee boy in the front row--on the left---

                    The beach in Elliot Lake--one of the beaches--one huge 

reason we decided to stay here--

            -Life does go on--Words of Wisdom --

-#1.-There is no formula for living a happy life

#2.-Love begins in the eyes, -then quickly goes to the heart, and only sometimes ends up in the brain.

#3.-Age can teach contentment.

Anyway, It is Christmas--The sun is out--and we are going to make the best  of to-day--Go For It!__and-- I will look on you all later--Go on--get offa here.

Enjoy the day-- Memories  will help us  carry on--

 

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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

To-day is Wednesday December 24th-- I have to go for blood work at the clinic this am--at 7am it opens---When I return I will  blog--It is dark outside right now--The good news is--It is not snowing!!--So--I shall return--and add to this--

I'm back---I was the 1st one there so the nurse, Anne Marie,  took me first  , of course, and I just "be-bopped'  back home here--

The back yard looks like the picture, above--with the sun coming up--but, now we have snow--Lopez and I tried to walk up the road, but it is just too ice-y--so we are back home here and Lopez can go

out in the yard as soon as the daylight appears--

Have you made any "NewYear" resolutions? What is your plan??

I guess my plan is to  not cry as much-- accept the fact that we all must die one day--and learn to live alone--well-with Lopez and Sushi-(not much of a plan, but-at least I am trying)-

Words I wish I'd thought of_-

                #1.--Find joy in everyday things

#2.Trust your intuition

                #3.Believe the best of everybody

Blasts from the past--

Miss Hannah--

Below--Himself and I , one Halloween

Son#2 with Hannah

The dogs and us--on--our favourite place--"THE DOCK!"

So--  A new day is beginning-- I hope you are  happy--Christmas Eve--

and we are a part of  the blessings of Christmas--2025----Celebrate the joy of Christmas-----  I know  my "Himself" will be near--

MERRY CHRISTMAS  to you all---

"Live" every day!

 Good morning --To-day is Tuesday December 23rd--We have a rain/snow mix about ready to fall here--so-it looks like a "not great day" to drive anywhere --"day"--about to begin-

-I hope that your snow tires are on and ready to help you out-----and that it will not be a 'white knuckle' trip- anywhere----There are a few of those days , in the North here!

 I must drag the garbage pail out to the road--  I was taking my garbage up to where we used to live, to their dumpster--but with the snow and ice-y roads now, I will just leave it in front of the house here for pick-up-- It is "paper/cardboard"--plus garbage to-day-- and we do recycling-which I learned to do while living in Lakefield.

I was supposed to meet Dave, my son's friend for breakfast this AM, but road conditions will be kinda "iffy""--I had to cancel those plans, for now--

So---that's my story--- Sometimes plans change--I do have a Drs appointment this afternoon also--Hopefully the roads will be better by then--So-- a new day-

            -"Words of Wisdom" keep screaming up to me--

like--#1.Live in the present

      --#2  Fall seven times-stand up eight

        -#3.Enjoy the life you are given. (Lord love a Duck-I am trying!)

                        Blasts from the past--MEMORIES__

                  and of course-Grand daughters---wonderful memories---

                                summer swim time--below-- 

                                -Below--Son#3's Graduation--

So life just goes on --  and on--and we must make it special--everyday we must try to be stronger than we ever were--"Fall seven times--stand up eight--""Be the first to forgive"--and "Always look for that silver lining"---We are on this earth for a reason-----and we  can 'live" each day--  so--get offa here--- and lets do it!

Keep your soul young!

It is  Monday, December 22nd-- " It's comin' up Christmas"--FOR SURE! --and Santa must be "pooped out"--poor old guy!

I see that Son#2  is flying somewhere warm with a plane full of people--So---the famous question--Are you ready for the big day?

I had a wonderful gift last night--The phone rang and it was my eldest brother's son--and he spoke of his Dad--my oldest brother--that he is living in a home, north of London, ON., is alive, and doing well--It was so nice to speak to  my brother's son--and hear that my brother is still in this world!-- He is going to put him on the phone to-day--

It is very very cold this AM--dark also-Lopez and I have not ventured out--yet!-but--the wash is done--the cat litter changed--have spoken to Son#2 , the Pilot---online here--AND -THIS DAY HAS BEGUN!

                    So, I hope today that you all will be "happy" -Maybe instead of shopping for any more gifts, what about , giving out "hugs"?? --I would like that!--We all need a hug!---

                --and a few words  of wisdom--

#1. Do not rely on others for your happiness.

#2. Bite your tongue.

#3. Trust your instincts.--and----
                            and--Blasts from the past--

                                Hannah walking Willow, the dog

                                Hannah with her Dad, Son#2

Lopez and I must  get outside--  It will be cold--I might just put him in the yard----Are you feeling strong?--Are you happy?-- and--What would make you happy?? ---Think big thoughts--There is always more to life than what you see-__AND--Live with grace and intelligence , bravery and mercy----and-avoid negative people---and--keep your soul young.

 

                           

You make me happy!

It is Sunday, December 21st--after 7am--  cold outside and dark--and yes, we must believe in ourselves--- and-- yes, I am here--blogging--no more time off here--LOL-----

It seems like a very cold morning outside -I can feel the cold coming in the house-Yesterday it snowed ALL day--The guy who I hired , to plough never appeared---so--I shovelled--and shovelled--all day--and I did a fairly good job --There is a lot of snow which falls here--I had forgotten that Elliot Lake, maybe because of all the lakes in the area, Elliot Lake gets a lot of snow!----Gil, the person I hired with a snow blower could not come-- His truck's "bearings" were shot---  so could not load the snowblower onto it---Anyway, me and my trusty shovel did a good job!---  

I guess one does what one must do, to get a job done--some jobs are harder than others--I tried to visit Son#3 so I could chat with his 2 grown up daughters, home from University-took a chance-drove over there, but that did not work out--It was "Gramma", wanting to see the Granddaughters--LOL---YU win sometimes and yu lose sometimes--and yu don't sweat the small stuff--

                                    a few blasts from the past--

Below----one very cold Spring, visiting my oldest brother and family

This child is now in her 2nd year University--

So--Time to get on with this day--Lots to do--Remember to "Be Strong"--"Be Happy"--Be Content"---""Live wisely", -and--"Hang onto Your Dreams"--oh---and-----"Learn to survive defeat"--

"I love you all to the Moon and Back'