Ya...so there is a small (very small) lull between year end accounting, hockey, lacrosse and other such distractions so I decided the upstairs bathroom needed some due attention. No major renos just a coat of paint etc...I thought how long could it take... 2 days..?? I clearly have never really done this before and taking on a bathroom apparently is one of the more daunting tasks! Ok well a week later and a few minor and not so minor nervous breakdowns it looks pretty good! I still have a few touches to put on it but all looks great :) The Zen part comes from not really a Zen-like attitude (which I don't possess) but with that much time on my own I had hours to think about what I was doing and what I may or may not be learning from this undertaking...who would have thought i was that "deep"! This is one of the rooms in the house aside from bleaching the living daylights out of when we moved in we have done NOTHING to it...so the last coat of paint was probably back in post civil war era...or something like that...The previous owner was a huge fan of nails..wall anchors...staples and such..you can imagine. Again...on my own...Brad offered to help (just so you know) but I was determined to do this on my own. Also the 70's wood like veneerish cabinets needed something... So what I have learned from this project or rediscovered about myself:
1. I am a kick butt spackeler (or whatever the word is for that) and sander (thanks Dad!) seriously you can't tell where anything was punched through, stapled, wall anchored or what have you! Yes i am seriously impressed with my apparent hidden talent. No I cannot be hired out ..I hate it
2. I am seriously afraid of heights...really...a 3 step ladder was too much..i was holding onto cabinets, fixtures and leaning against already painted wet walls.
3. A drop cloth and proper use of one will save unnecessary hours of clean up...you can't mop the floor with paint thinner and expect that sh*t to mop off...not that i totally did that...well kind of...
4. Always wait to take off the painters tape until paint has dried..I was excited though...
5. Painting cabinets is scary, really. There is a definite quick point of no return..and it happens with the first brush stroke. OMG. What. have. I . done. (they did turn out well)
6. One should really take down the light fixtures...
7. Taping sucks
8. Cutting in paint sucks
9. It is very hot on top of that 3rd step..really
10. The 3 step ladder kind of fits in the bathtub but one should NOT use it to balance while foot is on other side of tub...
11. A garbage bag over the toilet will allow you to paint behind tank without taking off tank..it works!!
12. The amount and severity of the expletive is in direct correlation to how much paint has spilled or how close I was from falling off ladder.
13. I am apparently an instant gratification person ( funny cuz we farm) apparently painting a room is not that kind of project
14. I will do this again..soon...sorry Brad :)
It did turn out well! Will post pics when i accessorize properly! :)
Farming to start very soon!!!
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Well Hello!
I have been thinking for awhile now about this blog i have let go.....i am following a few on FB which i find humorous and inspirational...and always seems to come at a wonderfully appropriate time. A fabulous friend of mine posted a small but poignant note about this forgotten blog (mine) ......hmmmm time to start again methinks. Tractors and Lip Gloss will start again...there are so many rambling thoughts etc.. in this farmie, lax, hockey, dance moms head not to mention the other hats i proudly wear: wife, friend...not all will be funny and interesting (ok who am i kidding i am pretty funny) but as you can see from my status updates on FB a love to share what is going on...not for any comments, praise or what have you ( I don't tally the likes and comments) but just as a way with connecting with those i care about...so get ready people spammy Tractors and Lip Gloss is coming :) hee hee. Janice Martin you are to blame (ok thank) :) xoxox
Thursday, 12 April 2012
The Latest and Greatest....well the latest anyway
The season has begun in earnest here now....busy in the greenhouse and fields prepping and planting. Well at least Brad has, I am busy doing other things like laundry, office, lacrosse, dance, (the kids for the previous two) and other such items like taking pictures and documenting all Brad's fine work!
We are happy though with spring temperatures arriving finally and getting ready for a fabulous new season. We are doing some of our more "traditional" items such as Rainbow Carrots, Thumbelina Carrots, Asparagus, Summer Squash etc...and adding some new items such as Rainbow Chard and Paderno Peppers, Fun!
Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes and the Paderno Peppers are started in the greenhouse now.
Trust me they are in there somewhere....at least that is what Brad said :) just added the day before yesterday so something is bound to pop up soon!
These are being kept warm and cozy by our wood heater that is getting a workout on these cooler nights still...I did have it as a decor piece in the earlier years but apparently function overruled my decorating ideas and it is now out here..sigh
Brad has also been busy in the field planting and prepping for all those items ready to be seeded now. The irrigation has been up and running for a few days and going well. I don't know why, but every year the first time we start it up I am always hoping there will be water! Of course there is but you know, it is a thought.
Honestly I don't know what is planted in the following picture and I couldn't find Brad to ask him..so we will go with something yummy and a vegetable.
Last but not least for anyone having some sort of romantic notion of farming sorry to crush it right now. When your farmie husband pulls into the driveway with something shiny and new it is not likely a new car or boat it will be something like this......
Now it just arrived yesterday and is not put together yet but it will allow two of (us, yes me apparently) to plant into the mulch while this is pulled behind a tractor, loaded with seedlings, it will poke the holes, drop water and "we" will transplant.....hmmm..i sense an ab workout coming with this. I will post pics later but had to share my "shiny new " gift....HA!
This is just the start....stay tuned...
We are happy though with spring temperatures arriving finally and getting ready for a fabulous new season. We are doing some of our more "traditional" items such as Rainbow Carrots, Thumbelina Carrots, Asparagus, Summer Squash etc...and adding some new items such as Rainbow Chard and Paderno Peppers, Fun!
Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes and the Paderno Peppers are started in the greenhouse now.
These are being kept warm and cozy by our wood heater that is getting a workout on these cooler nights still...I did have it as a decor piece in the earlier years but apparently function overruled my decorating ideas and it is now out here..sigh
Honestly I don't know what is planted in the following picture and I couldn't find Brad to ask him..so we will go with something yummy and a vegetable.
This is just the start....stay tuned...
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
The Office Hates Me....
I had very high hopes for this week in here.....I started Sunday with purging and organizing the office, heck I even put a candle in here for goodness sake....
Monday was all in all a very successful day in here..Though I was cross eyed by the end of it I had a real sense of accomplishment when I was done. I even cleaned up my days work, filed it all away (neatly) and it looked as though nobody was ever in here. Ya well that was yesterday.
The thanks I get from the office for all my dedication (ok 1 day of it..baby steps)
I want to hurl the printer out the window, take the computer and put it in the oven and watch it melt, take every receipt and piece of paper in here and stamp POSTED on it and chuck it in a grocery bag, burn it and hope that all the necessary information will magically transform itself into a reconciled tax return.
I would go have a nap but the massive pile of laundry on my bed / and couch to be folded will stop that from happening........
This is all before 9 a.m. I sense a long day ahead....I wonder if I have any relaxing candle scents in here.....I'll go look......
Monday was all in all a very successful day in here..Though I was cross eyed by the end of it I had a real sense of accomplishment when I was done. I even cleaned up my days work, filed it all away (neatly) and it looked as though nobody was ever in here. Ya well that was yesterday.
The thanks I get from the office for all my dedication (ok 1 day of it..baby steps)
I want to hurl the printer out the window, take the computer and put it in the oven and watch it melt, take every receipt and piece of paper in here and stamp POSTED on it and chuck it in a grocery bag, burn it and hope that all the necessary information will magically transform itself into a reconciled tax return.
I would go have a nap but the massive pile of laundry on my bed / and couch to be folded will stop that from happening........
This is all before 9 a.m. I sense a long day ahead....I wonder if I have any relaxing candle scents in here.....I'll go look......
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Purgatory - Office
Yes it is true..i saw this in an office cartoon...some people call purgatory the place between eternal suffering and eternal rest, I call it the office...I HATE the office..yes HATE! With every fiber of my being..mostly because I am not good at it and haven't been able to master a whole heck of a lot of it over the years. But this is a new year with new hope.
See I am junking out and turning this office into an official zen like state of bliss that will have me happily skipping my way into it daily to do wonderful things such as batching, posting, etc...that is what people do right?
So I started at the door and am moving clockwise in an attempt to place, organize and refresh. I got as far as the keyboard then the anti-office helper on my shoulder says "hey what's going on in the world? Check the news, check facebook, check DYAC, you deserve a break..." the office helper did have a point! Why I have been working away for at least a half hour in here...
And so it goes...2010 taxes done..with a lot of tears, hair tearing out and such. And that was just from Brads aunt who helps me..poor thing, man she must LOVE me more than life itself. You should have seen how I reacted!
You see, I care very much of our finances, personal and business but I just can get this whole debit / credit system..it is backwards in accounting from the bank..why would they do that?? It is just not fair!
As well, if the sheet doesn't balance to the penny I really don't mind chucking in 50 cents or even 10 bucks..let's make it balance and carry on! This kind of office sense makes sense to me but unfortunately not Revenue Canada or Brads Aunt...hmmm seems picky to me :P
This of course leads to notes upon notes, cheat sheets etc...that make sense when she is here and as soon as she leaves it looks like another language (which it is) and I am again left with the eternal office suffering.....
So today, yes....it is a new start...a new day...and I will get this place looking spa-like..heck I may even start charging people for the calming effects it will have on them when they come in here!
So my office vows for this season:
1. I will post invoices daily so as not to have the grocery bag full I have now to do. (They are altogether though right...except for the ones in the console of the car)
2. I will reconcile monthly the bank statement...and put them in a place I can find them to do so.
3. I will not throw away anything from the government or official looking that may or may not be imperative to doing actual year end stuff.
4. I will pay attention and take better notes when Betty is here, instead of doodling on the clipboard
5. A place for everything, and if one doesn't exist I will create one properly...apparently the jamming in folder doesn't work for everything
6.Shiny object and office helper on shoulder will not distract me...will not.....
7. I will set office hours and get kids to leave me when I am in office...(hahahah that is a good one...I wonder if I can get an electric fence around the door...)
So off I go, before and after pics to follow...
OOOP FB notification...no I will ignore, I will ignore, I will ignore...............this is gonna be harder than I thought.... :)
See I am junking out and turning this office into an official zen like state of bliss that will have me happily skipping my way into it daily to do wonderful things such as batching, posting, etc...that is what people do right?
So I started at the door and am moving clockwise in an attempt to place, organize and refresh. I got as far as the keyboard then the anti-office helper on my shoulder says "hey what's going on in the world? Check the news, check facebook, check DYAC, you deserve a break..." the office helper did have a point! Why I have been working away for at least a half hour in here...
And so it goes...2010 taxes done..with a lot of tears, hair tearing out and such. And that was just from Brads aunt who helps me..poor thing, man she must LOVE me more than life itself. You should have seen how I reacted!
You see, I care very much of our finances, personal and business but I just can get this whole debit / credit system..it is backwards in accounting from the bank..why would they do that?? It is just not fair!
As well, if the sheet doesn't balance to the penny I really don't mind chucking in 50 cents or even 10 bucks..let's make it balance and carry on! This kind of office sense makes sense to me but unfortunately not Revenue Canada or Brads Aunt...hmmm seems picky to me :P
This of course leads to notes upon notes, cheat sheets etc...that make sense when she is here and as soon as she leaves it looks like another language (which it is) and I am again left with the eternal office suffering.....
So today, yes....it is a new start...a new day...and I will get this place looking spa-like..heck I may even start charging people for the calming effects it will have on them when they come in here!
So my office vows for this season:
1. I will post invoices daily so as not to have the grocery bag full I have now to do. (They are altogether though right...except for the ones in the console of the car)
2. I will reconcile monthly the bank statement...and put them in a place I can find them to do so.
3. I will not throw away anything from the government or official looking that may or may not be imperative to doing actual year end stuff.
4. I will pay attention and take better notes when Betty is here, instead of doodling on the clipboard
5. A place for everything, and if one doesn't exist I will create one properly...apparently the jamming in folder doesn't work for everything
6.Shiny object and office helper on shoulder will not distract me...will not.....
7. I will set office hours and get kids to leave me when I am in office...(hahahah that is a good one...I wonder if I can get an electric fence around the door...)
So off I go, before and after pics to follow...
OOOP FB notification...no I will ignore, I will ignore, I will ignore...............this is gonna be harder than I thought.... :)
Monday, 5 December 2011
Twist on Bellmann Carrots - Fresh Start and GFS!
Thanks Fresh Start and GFS! Look for more fabulous ideas through them soon!
Friday, 9 September 2011
Lunch Rant
Sigh, this is more of a mom rant than a farm but it will have to do. You see, aside from the glorious silence in my home right now with both kids at school...it comes at a cost...lunches. Even Tali who used to not care what went in her lunch, now certainly does. Caedon has always been fussy so that hasn't changed. I think I feel that at some point the lunch police will show up at the school for inspection. It will be the day there is not one bit of fruit, vegetable or non-pantry item in their lunch. It could happen right? Now i have never heard of the lunch police, but I am sure they are lurking there somewhere ready to spring into action.
So i did what all modern moms do and went on the internet for ideas...that just ticked me off. You end up in these "forum" rooms where most of the moms there sole purpose is to brag how well THEIR kids eat and how amazing THEIR lunch selections are....
You know i couldn't care less that little Billy is taking cous-cous and salmon for lunch, or how Sally apparently has something akin to a George Foreman Grill at her desk and is whippin up some Thai dish with some new nut alternative product you found at some obscure market so as to follow the no nut policy at the schools. Furthermore, Johnny and Mary's new found love of all things soy and gluten free and the glorious wraps they make out of them at school (because you chop it all up and let them create) is enough to make me want to run screaming for the frozen pizza at Superstore. We do grow vegetables here and thankfully my kids love that but honestly, Tali had Zoodles for breakfast (pasta right?) and Caedon dry cereal.
Their lunches consist of what i sneak in there..yes i don't care that you think the jam on the bun looks like blood, you have to eat it. I gave you an icepack for your ham sandwich...now it's too cold??!!! Apparently, according to my kids, the school has a no time for lunch policy and doesn't let them eat...ya right...good one.......
I remember my days (yes i am old) - ham sandwich (squished from the juice box), 3 cookies and an apple (which i think i threw away everyday) sorry mom. There certainly was no ice pack.
So as my kids left with their lunches today, Tali with a plain dry bun (that's what she wanted...honest) some veggies, grapes and a granola bar I am certain today if they are inspected I will get a bare pass....maybe they can borrow the George Foreman from the kid next to them and whip up some nut free, gluten free, lactose friendly, almond milk, organic veggie... type stir fry.
Somehow though, I think Caedon will eat his Ritz crackers and Cheez Whiz and Tali will be looking for a glass of water to wash down her dry bun...sigh
So i did what all modern moms do and went on the internet for ideas...that just ticked me off. You end up in these "forum" rooms where most of the moms there sole purpose is to brag how well THEIR kids eat and how amazing THEIR lunch selections are....
You know i couldn't care less that little Billy is taking cous-cous and salmon for lunch, or how Sally apparently has something akin to a George Foreman Grill at her desk and is whippin up some Thai dish with some new nut alternative product you found at some obscure market so as to follow the no nut policy at the schools. Furthermore, Johnny and Mary's new found love of all things soy and gluten free and the glorious wraps they make out of them at school (because you chop it all up and let them create) is enough to make me want to run screaming for the frozen pizza at Superstore. We do grow vegetables here and thankfully my kids love that but honestly, Tali had Zoodles for breakfast (pasta right?) and Caedon dry cereal.
Their lunches consist of what i sneak in there..yes i don't care that you think the jam on the bun looks like blood, you have to eat it. I gave you an icepack for your ham sandwich...now it's too cold??!!! Apparently, according to my kids, the school has a no time for lunch policy and doesn't let them eat...ya right...good one.......
I remember my days (yes i am old) - ham sandwich (squished from the juice box), 3 cookies and an apple (which i think i threw away everyday) sorry mom. There certainly was no ice pack.
So as my kids left with their lunches today, Tali with a plain dry bun (that's what she wanted...honest) some veggies, grapes and a granola bar I am certain today if they are inspected I will get a bare pass....maybe they can borrow the George Foreman from the kid next to them and whip up some nut free, gluten free, lactose friendly, almond milk, organic veggie... type stir fry.
Somehow though, I think Caedon will eat his Ritz crackers and Cheez Whiz and Tali will be looking for a glass of water to wash down her dry bun...sigh
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