Less Is More

I’ve always loved the saying, “less is more” and am now trying to live by it. Why I loved it years ago was because a radio station I worked for had a contest named not exactly that, but “Les is More”, where an elderly gentleman by the name of Les was the fellow who went around town and if you were the first to find him, received a prize. BRILLIANT!

I woke early this morning & decided to tackle a small declutter while everyone was still in bed. The granddaughter Monroe even lent a hand before SHE wanted to watch a movie, but I convinced her, while sitting on our bedroom floor putting on temporary tattoos, to string some beads together to make jewelry instead. (can watch a movie anytime but it’s not really quality time) While looking for the beads we found a couple of empty mini containers so change of plans. We spent the day making lip balm instead. Every so often she would chide me to stop cleaning. I need to be reminded of that every so often but I really need to remind her to clean as you go, because once all the fun was done, guess who disappears as soon as the cleanup begins. Lol. Kids will be kids.

Next, after making snow angels, a tractor ride with grandpa and a snowmobile ride with her Dad, they left to take her back to her mom’s and I continued to declutter, clean, dust & condition the entire wall unit. My new decluttering motto is to only do so when I am alone so as not to take away from or interrupt family time. 92 DVD & 75 VHS movies are boxed up and ready to go away. There is still a small box of CD’s & cords left to declutter but I’m saving that for next weekend when Monroe returns so she can participate in a life lesson I hopes she will learn. The importance of “Less is More” 

DAY #14 - Clean your laundry room.

Nope. We got new pedestals for the laundry pair at Christmas and everything got cleaned then, even under, behind, beside & around when we installed them. Besides, Sunday is a day of rest, sort of, as I don’t seem to be able to sit still on do nothing days.

After pancakes made by the 9 yr old granddaughter for everyone, and our Sunday tradition of watching a movie (Tangled) on the iPad in bed, she headed back to her mum’s in town. Then the guys went out to plow the newly fallen snow in the yard and at the skating rink.

For some reason I had the urge to paint. Last year I bought a bread box & potato bin from my friend’s business on Facebook. She even threw in a plate rack for free because the colour matched. The colour was cream. Way too yellow for my taste so I repainted them “cotton” which is the same paint as the trim that I painted over the dark dusty rose trim inside the house. (leftovers) Now I am painting everything I can find if I don’t like it’s colour. All with the help of my trusty sidekick, #PrincessPurrl Well, supervision when she’s not napping.

October Firsts

Although I had to work and missed the wedding ceremony, Wanda & Paul's Wedding social was an absolute blast. I wish I could have seen the bride ride away on her horse in her wedding dress. The Seven Person's Community Hall was beautifully decorated with saddle and cowboy boot figurines that were filled with Durum wheat and lovely souvenirs. Talk about a true Alberta country wedding. The first wedding I have ever attended in boots and Wranglers.

Thanksgiving weekend started at 40 Mile Park camping with friends and playing the board game Operation... yes, operation... for drinks! Pretty easy at the beginning but the tables turned when we used opposite hands and spent more time drinking than operating! On Monday, the family came to dinner at the farm and so did grand daughter Monroe for the very first time. It was filled with a play mate her same age, puppy dog tales and a snake! What? Isn't that what little girls are made of?

This was the month to scratch something off my little bucket list. I have never been the the Dinosaur Museum in Drumheller so we jumped in the car and headed north west to explore. There were so many new things to see and do along the way my camera was going crazy. Good thing I wasn't driving. We stopped to walk the Star Mine Suspension Bridge in Rosedale, drove Eleven Bridges Road to Wayne to check out the Last Chance Saloon and the haunted Rosedeer Hotel (would have stayed the night but it was all booked up) before checking in and heading out again to the Outlaw Saloon for a night of karaoke. After a late check out, we toured the Museum and headed home the long way after missing a turn off but still made it home. I was driving.

Then it was off to Edmonton to celebrate my nephew Matthew's  birthday via Calgary for the first night to spend the evening with two of my sisters and cousins reminiscing over many laughs and glasses of wine. After a late check out~lol and a 3 hour drive to Edmonton it was the big birthday party and check in to a hotel with all 4 sisters (another first) and head downstairs to the Monkey Cage to make plans where to head next. We decided on the West Edmonton Mall to find entertainment. And that we did! From dancing and bonding with Rider fans at Whiskey Jacks to singing along with the dueling pianos at the red piano, it was a late night and check out again and a long drive home after visiting my wonderful friend Tami in Sherwood Park. My daughter even met us there and surprised us by bringing a guy friend, who joined right in the girl talk! Another first! Then I was on my way home. Then it was the first time ever handing out Halloween candies out at the farm, most years I've either worked or partied so it was nice to see all the kidlets dressed up! Now to emotionally prepare for our first Xmas alone at the farm. Our kids are all grown up!