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Rest, recharge, and roll with it.

I am writing this on Sunday, July 11th, 2021. From a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. I love where I live.

It all started last night when I accidentally double-dosed my sleeping pills. I do not recommend doing this. I however did have an absolutely fantastic sleep. Sleep is something I struggle with. You know it’s a good sleep when you wake up, no alarm set, face down in a pile of drool. This hasn’t happened to me in years. I was feeling better. Well-rested after working six days in a row on little sleep. I was starting to feel burnt out. I was working in an area I don’t usually work in. My head was hurting. I need a good rest. I got a good rest indeed. I was ready to take on the day. Bring it on Sunday morning!

My son was so excited to be going to his best friend’s birthday party. Nothing beats a best friend’s day with cake. He has missed his best friend with all the covid restrictions it has felt like a year has passed since they last saw each other. In reality, it was a couple of months tops. After the party, he was headed to papas for a sleepover. Pretty awesome Sunday Funday kiddo.

I had a Sunday to myself. I was going to set out on a road trip with a friend. That’s when a friend of mine decided to cancel pretty last minute. I get it life happens. Roll with it.

Before I set out on the journey to find myself this cancellation would have ruined my vibe for the day. I used to be crushed when someone canceled plans or even changed plans slightly. I would have been defeated. I would have canceled the road trip completely. I would have been unhappy that someone else ruined my day. I loved to play the blame game. It’s time now to put on your big girl pants and seize the day. When plans change roll with it. So what someone canceled? The day must go on! You have the choice to whine and cry about it or you can make it the best day ever! I could have called another friend and included someone else fun on a road trip but I decided to embrace the day alone. I took it as a sign last-minute girl do this alone today is your day.

I set out on a solo road trip. I packed my snacks, cranked my tunes, rolled the windows down so I had that wind-blown hair look, and I sang my heart out. I was on the hunt for a beautiful view. I was looking for a place to inspire me to write. Somewhere to be alone with my thoughts. Something I have needed to do for a while yet found myself constantly getting distracted. It was going to just be me alone with my pen, my notebook, and endless writing. I have been in a writing funk for a while now. I know I am behind on my blogs and writing in general.

I ended up at Little bluff conservation area. What a gorgeous view. I found a spot on the rocky beach to call my own. When I looked out at the lake all I could see was water for miles and miles the land disappeared. Sailboats slowly drifted by. It was a cool and cloudy day. I was dressed for it to be warm and sunny. Roll with it, I dug a sweater out of the trunk of the car. I was covered in goosebumps, not used to this cool July weather. The wind was blowing and the waves were swishing over the rocks. The sound grounded me. All my scenes were delighted. I started to write one blog after another time flew by as did the pages. Yes, I prefer to write in a notebook and then type it up at a later date. I know I am a dinosaur. I am not the best with technology. Nothing to charge just pages to flip.

I was alone on this beach few people came and went. I sat and I wrote and I took in that view. I felt alive. I felt inspired. I worked on my book. I had tears of joy in my eyes. I felt productive and accomplished. I even saw a corgi on the drive. I might add I waved at the lady walking the dog like she was my best friend. Now I chuckle thinking she doesn’t know I have a corgi ha.

I could have had a very different day but I awoke relaxed. I did something that recharged me to the core of my soul and for everything that arose that day, I just rolled with it. It was just what I needed a day to myself doing the thing I love the most. I too had a Sunday Funday! I need to make more on my Sundays like that.

What is your favourite Sunday Funday thing to do? What re-charges you?

Today my heart is so full. I had the most wonderful day off from work. It was a gloomy day. No sun to be seen, it was hidden behind the clouds, and it seemed to rain on and off all day. It was the perfect day to be lazy.

I received the cutest call from my niece around lunchtime. She was wondering what her cousin was up to. These two cousins get along so well. Then don’t spend much time apart but they miss each other so much. They are each other’s slice of normalcy during these wild times. I am thankful to have my family’s help so I can remain working. I am thankful my sister-in-law is a teacher and she helps with online schooling. It is impossible for working parents and families to do it all, we rely on kids going to school. I don’t know how people are coping. This last year has rocked a lot of things. Changes keep coming with little notice. Change is hard for kids and as we brace for more online learning I know it’s upsetting. For each upsetting moment I can always think of 3 moments in any day I am grateful for and it reminds me we will get through this. If you need help getting through whatever I am always here.

Every night at dinner I ask my son what are 3 things you’re grateful for and what is 1 thing you wish you could have changed about your day. It always starts such an interesting conversation and leaves us both with full hearts.

Tonight we let all our worries melt away. We played some games. I showed them I will always be the Nintendo champion. We laughed and we ate a lot of snacks. (If her parents read this she did not break the junk food challenge) I have all these movie points so usually on a weekend we rent a movie or on an April break Monday since I guess that’s a thing now? The popcorn was dripping in butter and they decided on the wizard of oz. My son and my niece are both eight years old and I think the first time I watched that movie I was about eight years old. It was so interesting to see the movie through their eyes versus mine.

When I was a kid I was Glinda the good witch for Halloween. I spend most of my days wearing this big fluffy dress I got from our neighbour and pretending I was a princess. I think this is where my dream of becoming a princess first started. I loved that dress so much. It had little diamonds and shimmer. I will never forget Ann giving in to me such a princess moment. A memory that thirty years later I still remember like it was yesterday.

I loved this movie as a kid. I thought it was magical and I wanted to sing along to all the songs. I loved the movie until I saw the flying monkeys. Those blue-faced, half-bird-like monkeys creeped me right out. Whoever designed them had me terrified. I had nightmares for years. I kept thinking the monkeys would come in my window and snatch me up like they did Dorothy. My dad told me I talked too much and the monkeys would return me. He was probably right.

My niece Aria noticed right away that the people from the black and white were the people in the colour part the friends were the lion, the tinman, and the strawman. I never noticed this until I watched it tonight and I am embarrassed to say I watched this movie a lot. Yes, after the first time I knew when the monkeys were coming and I closed my eyes and fast-forwarded.

My son Dan being the animal lover that he is, was nervous that Dorothy didn’t have her precious Toto dog on a leash. He was always running free which he said was okay at home. However, he was concerned she wasn’t at home and Toto didn’t know where they were going. What if he got lost or taken again he might not find his way back to her? When I watched it the first time I thought her dog was cute but I never thought of this.

Both had such adorable movie views. I sat back and smiled at how cute they are and how lucky I am. There is no place like home. If I had sweet ruby heels and I could wish to be anywhere after three clicks there no place I would rather be than at home. Being at home during this lockdown has made me appreciate everything in my life a whole lot more.

Three things I am grateful for today:
1. For my family’s help, love, and support.
2. For movies and delicious snacks with the kids.
3. For my silly old lady corgi dog who snuggles so sweetly.

What is one thing I would change about today? I wouldn’t have changed anything about today except maybe the volume level on those kids!

What are three things you’re grateful for and one thing about today you wish you could change?

If you could blow out the candles and have any one wish come true what would you wish for?

Yesterday was Monday, April the 5th. It marked both Easter Monday and my Opa’s (grandpas) 87th birthday. I love celebrating a birthday. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It is the one day that is just about you! I jumped out of bed yesterday with such Monday excitement, something I admit I don’t always have. It was going to be my first caddy cruise of the season. The sun was shining and as I drank my morning coffee and watched the sunrise over the lake I also watched a barge pass by. At 07:00 my heart was so full. I knew it was going to be a great day!

I was excited about this birthday and immediately called my Opa to sing to him. I woke the senior up I thought it would be safe to call the retired senior after seven but at last, we woke him up. Wake up Opa it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday!! As my son and I started to sing him happy birthday our corgi dog Kelso barked along. I have no idea why this party pooper puppers hates this song. You can literally sing any other song she’s fine with it. I spend most of my days with headphones on belting out the lyrics to some of my favourite songs. Soon as you start happy birthday she barks directly at your face until you stop. Point taken party pooper but I still love birthdays you will not be changing my mind. I am also an old lady set in my ways! We three sang a lovely off-tune bark-filled version of happy birthday one that will not soon be forgotten.

Let the good times roll. As soon as my butt hits the crushed velour interior of the caddy the tears began to fill in my eyes. How is it possible to love a car that much? With the velour under me and the sun shining down on the hood ornament, all is right in my world. For twenty-two years that car had made every spring better. It has made my life better. It melts away my worries and always puts a smile on my face. I have taken a lot of caddy road tours but this one with my dad to celebrate Opas birthday might mark my favourite. I loaded up the cake, a ton of candles and took the extra-long way to get to the farm. Never any hurry as you caddy cruise.

As I lit the pile of candles eight on one side and seven on the other I thought I hope I don’t burn the house down or I hope the firefighter who responds is easy on the eyes. Ha, Hey I can dream!

Who came up with the idea to light candles, sing happy birthday, blow out the candles and make a wish? Having the dream of birthday magic. I think back to all the times I blew out the candles in my 39 years and I have wished for some fun things. I believed in birthday magic. One year as a young girl I wished for a pony and later that year I got a pony. I figured birthday wishes worked! I have wished for everything from finding love to a lottery win still waiting for those wishes to come true! Feeling good about turning forty. This year’s birthday numbers didn’t net me fifty million in the plus but I still hold out hope.

As I watched Opa smile at his birthday cake and blow out the birthday candles he wished for another year. Another year to spend with his family. For the second time on a Monday, my eyes started to tear up and my heart started to fill even more. I think of how different our wishes were from the time we were kids into our thirties and going beyond into our eighties. When you have everything you could want in your life and you just want more time. My Opa has played the biggest part in making me the woman I am today. I am the mother and family woman I am because of the years we have spent together. Growing up I spent more time on the farm with my grandparents than anywhere else. It’s still the first place I head on a day off. Nothing like coffee and a good snack with the seniors. To know my Opa is to know what the love of a family is.

Three times on a Monday I was brought to tears about how much love I felt. I am beyond blessed to share such wonderful memories with my family. The third time that Monday brought me to tears was watching my son with chalk on his face, shirtless on a cool afternoon on a sugar high run around having fun with his cousin. To be a carefree kid with no worry in the world. Monday the 5th day of April you filled my heart with such fond memories. I am thankful for my family each and every day. I love you all so very much! Here’s to another year with many memories to be made.

March Madness!

The month of March feels like it has flown by. I am behind on blogging and writing in general. I need to get back into the swing of things. I was thrown off my game. I refuse to give up. I will keep writing and I will keep working on my book. I know this teaching memoir hidden in me needs to be written.

I admit March is my absolute most favourite month out of all the months. I think there is beauty in all the seasons but March hands down wins my vote for best month. March is when the snow finally starts to leave and the first signs of spring start to pop out. Finally, we can shed our winter layers and put away our snow blowers. The heat cranked on high gets traded in for the cool lake breeze. I would say time to put to air on but if you know me I am never warm enough. I am always cold so I appreciate the warmer weather. It is time to prepare our lawnmowers and revive the sad-looking flowerbeds. I haven’t been much of a green thumb. I don’t know what’s good and what is a weed, but with the help of friends and family, I am learning. It is a work in progress.

The best part of March is when the Cadillac comes out of winter storage and hits the roads. Caddy pick-up day, still always brings the biggest smile to my face. Caddy cruising season is my happy place.

I might be biased but I think all the best people are born in the month of March. I recently turned 39 years old. Ah, I finally have to admit I am in my late thirties. My last year in my 30’s and my second birthday during a world pandemic. What does this year hold for me? I wish I had the ability to see into the future and to know that information. Sadly I don’t so I hope that 39 blesses me with great health, wealth, and love. I am going to do my best to be kind and help as many people as I can. I want 39 to be my greatest year yet!

I have always been a huge fan of birthdays. I am the girl who goes all out with the decorations, who designs the perfect cake. I freaking love cake. I have sampled a lot of cakes over the years but I am still searching for the world’s best cake. If I had to say out of all the cakes in my life the best cake I ever had was a cake my Oma (grandma) used to make every year for my birthday. It was a butter cake that was to die for. She took that recipe with her to her grave. I will probably never find another cake made with butter and love like she did. I truly cherish those moments. Every birthday that goes by I miss my Oma a little more. What I wouldn’t do to celebrate one more birthday with her. You never know when it’s going to be your last birthday. Celebrate each and every birthday like it could be your last. Eat the cake. Tell your loved ones you love them!

This March and for most of the winter season, I admit I have been struggling with the blues. I started to get stuck in a funk. I stopped writing. I started overthinking something someone said to me. Someone who is not involved in my day-to-day life so why should it bother me? I had to let that go. The only person’s view of life that matters is mine. I will not give anyone else control over my life. It is my life to live! Some of it has to do with life circumstances out of my control. Some health news took me by surprise and really made me think. There is always a solution to every problem. I have had medical issues before and I am still here. I will figure this out too. Some of it had to do with the winter weather being cold, dark, and damp. I have always struggled to stay focused in winter. I tend to just wanna hibernate in my cave of a bed. I would have no problem being a bear! I have forced myself out in the rain, snow, cold, damp, and days of darkness to enjoy some part of the great outdoors. I love where I live and I will not allow the weather to sink me.

Thank you to my friends and family who each and every day keep me going! Here’s to springing into a better mood. I am back and writing again! Life is too short to be anything but positive. Smile and keep moving forward.

Snow day

I woke up today (Monday, February 22nd) for that I am thankful. I actually jumped out of bed early to catch the sunrise over the lake. I took in the warm pink colours peeking through the trees while I drank my morning coffee. Yes, my coffee had maple syrup and milk in it; don’t knock it till you try it. The beauty in my morning view fills my heart, I am thankful for each sunrise I get to watch. The beginning of a new day. Let’s do this!

I had a long list of productive things I was going to do today. A weekday off from work is where you will find me being most productive. When my son in school and I have the house to myself. I had my “Monday to-do” list in my hand and ready to start. My plans quickly changed just as I got into the swing of things. Yes, I make real to-do lists, not being the best sleeper often makes me forgetful. Also, I just love the organization of a list and the accomplishment of crossing things off the list.

As the snow started to dance flake by flake down to the already enormous amount of snow piled around the house I had a gut feeling the school buses were going to be canceled. Moments later my feeling became a reality. I have always allowed my son to stay home on snow days. They were some of my favourite childhood memories. I am thankful for snow days. Slow down and enjoy each day. I laugh at whatever the day challenges me with and I do my best to make it fun. Life’s too short to have anything other than laugher and fun.

I decided my Monday to-do list can be done another day. I decided to just go with the flow. What kind of fun can be had on a snow day? No more to-dos just as much fun as possible. Everyone needs days like this. It doesn’t have to be a snow day just slower than a normal-paced fun day! My favourite kind of day.

I had the laziest morning I traded in my to-do list for a good show and more coffee. I watched the snow come down and harassed some of my friends. I am thankful for the power of the internet and messaging to keep in touch when I can’t see them all. Never enough hours in a day to be thankful for all my friends. My crew includes some pretty awesome people! Thanks, friends.

What did our snow day look like? FUN! Dan came home from his grandmas and immediately cranked his music up. Our house is always filled with tunes. I’m happy when I’m singing. I’m impressed at all the lyrics Dan’s learned, be it they are mostly Stomping Tom but it could always be worse? Right? I still have “Tillsonburg” stuck in my head while I am trying to write.

I left the day in Dan’s hands and through the eyes of a kid, we did whatever he wanted. I needed those laughs kiddo, Thanks. From jewelry making for his teddy bear to snacks, stories, NES, a sappy puppy documentary that made us cry, snuggles, singing, and dancing you name it we shared a lot of laughs. Laughs until it hurt to laugh. We never did clean up all the snow that fell. No work accomplished today. I don’t think tomorrow is always promised to us but I do think you need to make each day the best you can.

My tomorrow to-do list is going to be twice as long but I wouldn’t trade the fun we had for anything in the world. So many of our days are a blur of things we think we have to accomplish immediately. Nothing on my to-do list was more important than sharing laughs and making memories. I am thankful for my son and all his fun snow day ideas. I am thankful for friends who each and every day make me laugh.

Here’s to more snow days and lots of fun still yet to come. Slow down and appreciate the people who each and every day make your life even just a little more fun.

Growing

I have a confession before I start this blog. I kill plants. Yes, it’s true. I don’t mean to be a plant serial killer it just happens. For the record, this is not on purpose. I don’t buy plants to kill them; it’s not a fun hobby of mine. I would love to have my house covered in plants. I would love to grow big beautiful palm-type trees and to have flowers in every colour. Sadly I have none. My last victim was an aloe plant. Rest in peace, my little friend.

It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a flower, tree, bush, or house plant I seem to kill them all. I have been trying to grow something, anything, without much luck. I have dreamed of my house being covered in greens. Every plant I have tried to keep has perished rather quickly. I can’t take all the credit for killing the plants I do have a cat that gets into all the plants. He enjoys digging up plants as well as eating them. Thanks, Noah for being so helpful.

Valentine’s day 2021 was the first time in forever I can remember not receiving any flowers from a loved one. Hold up don’t worry Valentine’s Day was saved thanks to a kind strange man. I came home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This kind guy decided to buy a truckload of flowers and hand them out. The world needs more kind strangers like that guy. Thanks, James.

I am not a huge fan of cut flowers they never last long and it’s kinda sad when they die, but for the time they are in full bloom, the beautiful colours and scents delight me. Every year for as long as I can remember my Opa (grandfather) has bought me more flowers than anyone I know.

I have never seen such beautiful bouquets of flowers as the ones arranged at our local store here. Trugs Floral’s flower arrangements are exceptional. I love where I live.

The house I purchased some years back came with amazing flower gardens. The lady who lived here had the most beautiful gardens. I could tell she took such pride. I am trying. I find it hard to find the time to spend in the flower beds. I buy new soil every year and mulch and I feel like I spend way more time than necessary. Yet everything keeps dying.
I am trying. My plants and flowers are a process. I am not giving up. I am determined. I have joined plant growing groups. I have reached out to people with beautiful plants for tips and tricks. I am designing a yoga corner in my house that will hopefully include hanging plants, ones that I can keep alive.

Life is a work in progress and not everything I have tried has bloomed into something great but I never give up. It seems simple to some but it has been a real struggle for me. Hit me up if you have some plant tricks or tips. For those of you living locally if you love gardening swing by in the spring I could use all the help I can get.

This is my year. I am going to successfully grow a house plant or two and I am going to get my outside flower beds looking like the year I moved in. Stay tuned for the updated plants I grew and or kept alive in the spring forward blog!

Growing is one of the most important life lessons. Never stop growing. Always have dreams and goals to work towards even it’s something simple as successfully keeping a house plant alive. I never stop growing. I fail. I get up and I keep trying. Every dead plant or failure has taught me something to try differently. I try again. I will not give up until I have beautiful plants. I have that drive and determination about any obstacle in life. Find positivity, keep moving forward and grow.

Dreaming

Recently while sitting down by the lake in a ray of sunshine I made a bucket list of 100 things that I want to do. Sitting down by the lake is where I do a lot of my writing and dreaming. I wrote out a list of 100 things I want to do as well as places I wanna see. I encourage you to make a list too. I had a ton of fun dreaming of so many things. I need to keep the dreams alive. Wintertime blues got me feeling like I wanna stay in bed, under my heated blanket forever! Covid got me feeling like I wanna stay home without a mask on. Ah, home the place where it’s acceptable to be in Pj’s and un-masked.

One place I have always dreamed of going to is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo Texas. This has been my dream for years. The Cadillac Ranch has 10 Cadillacs buried nose-first into the ground that you can spray paint. It truly is a beautiful piece of artwork. One I must see for myself. My dad went to this beautiful location without out me. Yes, I still talk to him despite how mad I am he lived my dream without me. He didn’t even bring me back a t-shirt. He did however take some cool pictures. I have to add a picture of the Cadillac Ranch to my vision board. I haven’t traveled much of the U.S.A but Amarillo is one of my dreams. A must see! Cadillacs and a Texas-sized steak and this girl would be happier than ever!

Another place I dream of one day seeing is the Yukon and Alaska. I watch a lot of shows based in these areas and I know it doesn’t do it justice but it’s something I have to see. I have a need to see the Northern Lights. My parents met in the Yukon many moons ago. The stories that have shared made me dream more of seeing the great white north. My son was supposed to be hiking the Chilkoot Trail last summer but due to travel restrictions, it’s on hold. I hope like his grandma before him he hikes it and takes millions of pictures.

My ultimate Yukon/Alaskan dream is to get on the back of a dog sled. To have a team of dogs run me through the wilderness in complete silence taking in the sights. That to me would be paradise. I need to experience this. I dream of dog sledding. I recently heard a quote about what it’s like to be on a dog sled and I loved it.

“On the back of a dog sled is as close as it gets to a magic carpet ride.”

Who doesn’t wanna go on a magic carpet ride? The closest thing I ever got to a magic carpet ride was probably those crazy carpet sleds we had as kids.

I have never owned a sled dog. I think it would take a lot of corgis to pull me in a sled! What an adorable team of corgis it would be though.

Recently I started walking my friends Husky and I realized the strength of pull this girl has and how she can walk forever. I cannot tire this dog out. I have enjoyed how long and how fast this dog walks. She keeps me running and laughing. She has helped me get over my winter blues more than anyone. I cannot imagine if one husky can pull that much how fast we would speed through the wildness with a team. I need to experience this! Yes, clearly I have thought about stealing this dog, only one problem, no scratch that we have a couple of problems with this plan. First, off I have Kelso the corgi who is a super grumpy old corgi who bit and ripped the nose off this husky when she was a puppy, and my friend has keys to my house! I would have to steal her and bolt north to start my dog sled team!

I cannot wait to be able to travel again. I have so many places and faces I want to see.

In the meantime, I will be around town walking dogs down by the lake forever dreaming and writing.

What’s one place you have always dreamed of seeing? What’s one thing you have always dreamed of doing?

Make a bucket list of 100 things. I had such fun dreaming of all the things I want to do! Cure your winter blues with dreams.

S.A.D

Does January have you feeling down?

Do you feel like all your energy is drained?

Where is the sun? The fun?

Every year I find myself struggling to survive the month of January. It’s a new year and I always set a new intention or theme I want to work on for the year. New Year still the same great me just always working to tweak a few things.
January is filled with some of the best people and pets I know birthdays for that I am grateful! Dan, Kelso, Granny and cousin Dahri you help me survive January. I love a birthday. I love decorating. I love cake!

Truth be told I had never heard of S.A.D I just thought once winter went on for too long I was over it. I like the sun and the heat. The long summer days where you think it’s 5 pm but it’s 9 pm. After a few months, the darkness and the cold of the winter get to me. I can feel myself wanting to just stay in bed forever. I dislike being cold. I do get a lot of relaxing, tea drinking, and book reading done in the winter months. I absolutely love when it snows and you look out the window or door to a beautiful untouched winter scene. The big fluffy snowflakes slowly dancing to the ground is a sight I love to watch.

It was a friend of mine who first told me about S.A.D.

If you google SAD you will find “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months; sapping your energy and making you feel moody”
Does anyone feel like this?

Lately, I have been having some rough days. Today I took a day to disconnect from most people on social media. I put my phone down something I don’t do often enough. I went for a walk all alone this morning. I jumped out of bed and made myself get outside. I came home had tea and then I went back outside with my dog. I took Kelso for a walk down the park to see the swans. This year the swans have been wild. The swans have been motivating me to walk more. I have enjoyed sitting down by the lake and take some of the most amazing pictures.

Today my son got to go back to school and he came home in a wonderful mood. He struggled with homeschooling and was so thankful to be back with friends. We turned out Munday feelings into the best Monday ever!

We had a wonderful supper followed by some yoga relaxation that even Kelso got in on. Our dog does an amazing down dog and when you’re trying to do relaxation she will pile her toys on you. We laughed and we had a wonderful day.

When I am feeling like S.A.D is getting to me I need to remember to breathe. This feeling like all other feelings will pass. I need to get outside and enjoy what nature has to offer. I need to disconnect from technology. I need to do yoga with the crazy members of my house. I need to sit down and in five minutes I thought of all the people and things I am grateful for and it brought me to tears.

What’s something you have done this month that was just for you? That brought you back to feeling like yourself?

Don’t let the long winter months get to you. If you need someone to talk to my phone is always on.

I made it through the day.

I have been dreading January 16th, 2021 for three hundred and sixty-five days. I will forever remember January 16th, 2020 as one of the hardest days of my life.

This date forever holds a huge place in my heart. January 16th, 2012 is the day you were born and exactly eight years later it also marks the day you passed away. Charleston you were my heart dog. You were my first taste at owning a corgi. You are the dog that forever changed my life.

I admit I used to think people who shared stories of animals who saved their lives were a bit wacky. Of course, that was until it happened to me. Until I experience the unconditional love of an animal. Don’t get me wrong I have had many wonderful pets over the years but none of them spoke to my soul as this dog did. I get it now. The power of animals is amazing.

For seven years in a row, I put on your party hat and celebrated your birthday like the crazy corgi lady I am.

I spent an entire year tearing up at the sight of your pictures. I spent the entire year missing the sound of your dog tags jingling on your collar when you strutted around like you owned this house. I spent the entire year missing you and wishing you were still here.

I survived the first twenty-four hours after you were gone in sweat pants covered in your unbelievably thick endless shedding corgi glitter. I refused to vacuum because all of you would be gone. Little did I know you had a plan in the works? I know your looking down having a good laugh at our current situation.

I swore I would never have another dog in my lifetime. I was going to treasure the memories you left me with. I felt no dog could ever compare to you and that no dog could ever fill the hole that was left in my heart. No dog would ever get me as you got me. You just knew my soul. You were my perfect dog. My heart dog.

This year on January 16th I wiped the tears from my eyes and we celebrated what would have been your 9th birthday, which we now celebrate with Queen Kelso. I started in October trying to get her to rock a party hat. I knew she would be a challenge. She is kind of an old lady set in her ways. A real party pooper. On the first attempt, she bit me and drew blood. Not a fan of party hats I see. I was determined to get this birthday picture. The new game plan was to motivate her with dog treats and cheese until she realized party hats cannot harm corgis. Little hard work and a bit of blood loss and ta-da we did it. We tried to sing Happy Birthday to Kelso. Dear Kelso, I don’t know if it’s that you just don’t like that song or my singing in general but your barking in my face was received loud and clear. More treats less singing.

I believe in timing and I think Kelso came into our lives at the perfect time. She helped us survive the wild ever-changing wild world of 2020. She keeps my son and me laughing until it hurts. She has been nickname by my niece and trained to come when you call her “old donkey legs.” She takes fetch as the most serious task in the world. She reminds me every day of you Charlie in looks and attitude. I know you put her in our path to heal our hearts. Thank you, Charlie!

Here’s to many more years with corgis in party hats.

Eight

Where have the years gone? How are you eight today? Tuesday, Blog Day, and a Birthday!

My son, you are eight, well not really until 3:21 this afternoon but close enough. As you eat mini Boston cream donuts for breakfast and tell me about your plans for eight. You have a lot of plans I might need a second coffee. You are a handsome young man who is going to change this world.

You are an old soul who is currently obsessed with Pavarotti the opera singer. Between listening to Pavarotti and friends album and Stompin Tom and how you can sing every word, oh goodness son you keep me laughing.

You asked to go on a trip to pay your respects to Stompin Tom when you found out he had passed away. You got cowboy boots that match his for Christmas and you are all set. Quick google search to find out his grave is here in Ontario. The first caddy cruise when she rolls out in the spring sounds like a fun time.

You are celebrating your birthday during Covid, in a lockdown, with online schooling happening. I never believed you should go to school on your birthday it’s the one day of the year that’s just your day! So today we eat mini donuts, we go to the local coffee shop, we go to the park with your dog, we do all the things you wanna do and we celebrate what an amazing kiddo you are.

I love that you have redone my life motto from “Do your best and if your best isn’t good enough fuck it!” to a kid-friendly version because you don’t wanna get in trouble for swearing at school. Your kid-friendly version that I adore has been changed to “Do your best and if your best isn’t good enough have fun with it!” When I asked you why you picked that you simply said being a kid is about having a lot of fun. I agree. I am a big kid so I think life is about having fun!

You started your own vision wall for your birthday and I love what you wrote. “Do your best job everyone and be nice”

You are one of the kindest kids I have ever known. Your ability to fit in anywhere always makes me smile. You always brighten someone’s day by talking to them. You honestly never stop talking. You have no fear of people. In your little home community, everyone seems to know you. You leave a mark everywhere you go.

Sometimes we struggle to get along. We have our moments just like everyone else does. But you kiddo are a strong believer you are right. Now I know how my parents felt when I was growing up. I too was always right.

With your daily love notes and that beautiful smile each and every day I am grateful, I am your mom. How did I get so lucky to be your mom?