Ann’s Weblog

Today I’m making Armenian Lentil Soup, and for some reason it keeps sticking in my mind as “mental soup”. Who knows… perhaps it’s such soulful food, it eases some stress. Here’s one version Carol’s Armenian Lentil Soup

… not that I have much stress. The bathroom renovation has gone quite well, but I don’t know how people can have an entire house built, much less build one themselves. Not that Gary and I have argued; we seem to be able to come to an agreement on everything, either by virtue of like-mindedness, or compromise.

On Monday we had 3 windows installed… kitchen, living room, old bedroom. The next day the bathroom work started, aside from the demolition which we had done in preparation. Over the next days, the bathtub was torn out, floor repaired and subfloor laid, dropped ceiling framed in and the basic rewiring done. Yesterday the plumber came and renewed all the pipes and fittings that needed work, and plunked the new bathtub in. At this point, we can’t shower unless we hang some plastic all around… but we can have baths. Work will start again on Monday… drywall and other things. I’ll keep you posted!

It’s funny how my own personality comes into play. Often during my adult life, I’ve been told that what I envision “can’t be done”; and at those times I couldn’t see my way around the obstacles. When the electrician came and said, “No you can’t have the fan here, and you can’t have the potlights there…”, I immediately lost my moxie. Although I would have liked (to be able) to argue these points myself, I was glad that Gary was there. We INSISTED that the fan & light unit, which is designed and rated for use inside a tub area, be installed just where we wanted. To install it elsewhere would have made venting it a pain, and have ruined our plan for the potlights to be spaced in a row, equidistant, over the vanity & toilet area. Then we were told that one potlight had to be installed near the old junction box to provide access to the box. So, the wiring proceeded and I went to bed somewhat upset because the potlights were not going to be in-a-row after all!

When the main contractor came back the next day, he remarked on the apparent change in plan regarding the symmetrical placement of the lights, and Gary related what we had been told. So the contractor spoke to the electrician (and added that the wife, meaning, I, was not happy) and our original idea of “three in a row potlights” is back in the plan. We have also found out that the cabinet maker who was asked months ago to build the vanity and coordinating cabinets, has NOT even started on that. What a rigamarole!

Which reminds me… one night in the middle of this project, though it is going quite well, I drank an entire bottle of wine that one of my darling daughters brought to us… it’s actually called “Rigamarole!”, and it was lovely. Yesterday on the radio, I even heard it recommended as one of this year’s affordable wines. I know it’s great for stress control!

Do you know I can’t find either words, “rigamarole” or “moxie” in my Webster’s dictionary? Hmm. Thank goodness for www.dictionary.com, where I found both, and the alternate spelling “rigmarole”.

Today I have just one little dog to groom, a cocker & bichon mix named “Scruffy”. We’ll fix him up so that he’s not scruffy-looking for awhile. Yesterday I had one tiny sheltie to groom… a good little dog who had been “fussing with” one of her back paws. Right away I could see that her dew claws had grown right around in a circle and INTO the pads… one was pressing on the flesh and one was imbedded. Poor wee thing. When I clipped those claws short, I had to extricate the point of the one, causing minor bleeding but GREAT relief to the dog, I’m sure. There was no infection. When I finished my work and saw the owner again, I gently reminded her that I’m “usually around” even just for toenail clipping between groomings.

We asked my brother-in-law to give us an opinion on tile placement in our bathroom, so I’m including a picture. In my mind, these are “poor man’s Brazilian Slate”… a certain colour, in ceramic tile. If we had more resources, as in more retail outlets which carry marvelous stone and tile, we might have bought slate, but these are the choices we made based on what we could buy locally, in our tiny town.

I made up a little “sample” with a mix of these tiles, using only dry grout. The small tiles, and perhaps a band and border of segments of the bigger tiles, are destined for our tub surround area. The 12″ tiles are to go on the floor.

Here is one of our boarders who is with us for a few weeks while her family is in Cancun. This is Cinder, a very small pomeranian cross; she’s sassy and sweet and seems right at home:

I didn’t do any “Photoshopping” of Cinder’s eyes, which in real life, appear black as ebony, like the rest of her.

Okay, so this isn’t getting Scruffy groomed. Will talk to you later, my friends. XXX ~ Ann

Last Friday morning, I heard the sound of big equipment and trucks nearby. I looked out to see a semi-trailer at the highway with a “house” on it, the driver trying to negotiate the turn onto the neighbouring driveway. Our friend’s skidder was parked on the driveway.

I watched as the big truck with its load made another attempt, and am not sure just how long it took, but eventually it was making its way up the road. With heavy chain, the skidder was hooked right on to the semi unit (it’s a relatively steep climb). Then both skidder and semi proceeded.

This is half of the house that a friend is assembling for his elderly parents; the other half arrived yesterday, followed by a crane on a truck. We haven’t been up to their property to view the procedures (snoop), but are happy for the family. Perhaps there’ll be a house-warming to which we’re invited.

There are “procedures” happening at our house again, too. The old bathroom, which had not been changed very much since I moved in in 1993, is getting an upgrade. Below you see the vanity with all the “stuff” from inside it parked on top (it doesn’t usually look that messy), then, after the demolition, and then with the new subfloor.



Today our contractor is “dropping the ceiling”… he is preparing the shower enclosure to be fitted with a fan unit, and the rest of the ceiling will hold pot lights. Then, over the next days, the electrician will do his thing, some more plumbing will get done, drywall will go up, tiles on floor and around a new tub and toilet. We will have to wait for the vanity and sink to be installed, because a local cabinet-maker is building that.

On Monday we got some windows replaced in the house… oh happy day! That was one project that, if I had known what a difference it would mean in comfort and esthetics, I’d have moved it up on the priority list long ago! We were replacing the obsolete style of windows which had panes of plate glass sliding over each other… they were frameless, but a drafty setup. The living room window is now a picture window, resulting in an unobstructed view of the mountains!

I need to carry on with my day, and will get back to you as soon as I can. Take care, everyone. ~ Ann

Oh, what a weekend!

All week I anticipated with delight the arrival of my three daughters, all from Calgary, and my oldest daughter’s fiance. Although I was quite ill with a cold on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I was joyful.

The girls were visiting for the occasion of their paternal Grandmother’s 90th birthday. I was told that a good time was had by all during the afternoon open house and dinner party on Saturday. What a happy occasion for that side of the family.

Although I didn’t attend any of the events, I did run into some cousins of my “ex” while shopping in the local wine store. I spoke to the “girl” cousin (my age) whom I recognized, and then was greeted enthusiastically by the three guys… other cousins. A great deal of hugging and catching up happened right then and there, and then we went our separate ways, having made a plan to meet for breakfast on Sunday morning.

On Saturday night, we entertained friends for a casual roast chicken dinner, and we had a lovely visit. My daughters and Merv had stopped in before the tea, came back before the birthday supper downtown, and then returned afterward. Therefore, they were able to meet our other guests, and that also was fun.

This morning we went to Sunday breakfast as usual, but joined a large contingent of the visiting “ex-relatives” in the restaurant. There seemed so much to say, and so many laughs to share that the morning passed too quickly. Gary and I came home and did some ordinary chores and visited with all three girls and Merv again.

In the early afternoon, the cousins and aunt who were at breakfast showed up, apologizing (needlessly) for stopping without calling. They wanted to see where we live, and had a little tour of the yard, I gave them a jar of jam each, and then they were on their way again. There was an all-day barbecue at the farm where my ex still lives, with his wife and son. I sent a small cheesecake with the girls and Merv, which would hopefully help just a bit with feeding all the family members.

So this weekend has been WONDERFUL, filled with great visits with family, friends and even awesome dogs (Shelly brought hers, and we have some nice boarders as well.). One of the cousins remarked to me, “You have a really nice life here, don’t you, Ann…”. He couldn’t have said it more succinctly.

I felt today that I was so blessed to have Gary, loving daughters and soon-to-be son-in-law, many “ex-in-laws” who still think well of me, our place in the mountains, and so much more.

Love, Ann

It’s not too bad to wake up to THIS every day: sunrise in our part of the Robson Valley.

Things are pretty fine around here… nothing much changes, but every day is a gift nevertheless. I’m suffering from a cold at the moment, but in good spirits.

Occasionally we board cats, and most get quite a lot of freedom in the house:
This is Allie, who is quiet and affectionate, and we can treat her “as our own” when she stays.

I had the pleasure of grooming two little Havanese dogs yesterday. They were just adopted a week ago by friends… this is Rob with his “boys” Tucker and Jack. In this photo, the pups are barely visible because they’re jet black, but they’re a darling pair:

Even though I’m having a low energy day, I have to push myself to take care of some nursery stock (sinking some pots into the vegetable garden to save perennials, trees and shrubs for next season). I keep waiting for great weather, and we’ve had some, but I end up being busy at dog grooming or fall cleaning in the house instead of doing what needs to be done outside.

Love, Ann