It’s Wednesday and I’m on the ball here to play Friday Fictioneers. I had to go down memory lane again only this time, I imagined I was my younger child. I am still, to this day, reminded that it’s been an awful long time since we had our adventures. (Did I mention said child is now 22?) Never mind the store no longer exists but hey, I take it as a compliment that I am actually worthy of spending time with. Wonder if Indigo would do? Wonder if I would still get a “Yes, let’s go!” Till then, a special thank you to Ted Strutz for supplying this week’s photo as well as an always thank you to Rochelle for hosting! If you’d like to play along, click on the frog below to add your 100-word story link.
When Mom said: “Let’s go to Chapters!” my heart leapt in joy. It was the coolest place. There were four floors of books! I always looked forward to this adventure. We’d start off on the main floor, me tugging Mom’s hand to pull her towards the stairs that lead down to the kids’ section. So many books!
When I was old enough, she’d leave me to walk around alone, to choose the ones that I want. “I don’t suppose you want us to go and have a hot chocolate when you’re done, right?” Don’t know why she bothered to ask!
Lawsy I’m late! I am just shy of midnight on this Wednesday evening. I admit I was a tad stumped on this one. Started and rejected more than a few. Gave up and went to work. Didn’t have time to scribble any ideas before I left regular work to go help out a caterer for his first big shindig. Came home, forced myself to walk around the block with Zeke despite my already 20K+ steps taken today. Plopped myself down on the sofa and here is the result!
This week our leader Rochelle, chose a picture from c.e. ayr. Thanks to both! Click on the frog below to read other submissions or go crazy, and add your own!
Click me! Click me!
Movie Over Book
“Hey!”
“Hey.”
“Whatcha reading?”
“Life of Pi.”
“Life of Pie? What kind? Blueberry, strawberry—”
“No, silly! Not pie with an ‘e’ but just P-I. The story is about a boy named Pi Patel.”
“Stupid name.”
“His full name is Piscine.”
“What? Like a pool?”
“Yep.”
“That’s awful. His parents were mean.”
“Maybe.”
“Tell me more?”
“He’s alone on a boat with a tiger.”
“A tiger? Woah!”
“Yep.”
“What else?”
“Why don’t you read it yourself?
“Ugh. Read a whole book? It’s too big! Did they make a movie?”
Thank you to Diana from Part-Time Monster for hosting this wonderful group!
If we were having coffee, I’d be serving it in my brand-new café au lait bowl and pretend we were sitting in a Paris Café. Since we were pretending, the horrors of last night would never have occurred and we would feel blissfully safe and unconcerned, watching the passersby go about their business.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you how pleased I am with my sons who helped to clean up the yard and put away all the backyard paraphernalia. I’m sure Mick would have been pleased with the way we packed everything in the shed! There are still a few things to take care of, but the majority of it is done!
There was only one walk worth mentioning, and that was with my sister and her two dogs in her hometown of Varennes. I stupidly did not bring my camera and only took one photo with my phone! It was such a gorgeous day and we finished the walk with breakfast prepared by sister herself. Upon my return home, I noted the apple Fairy had passed again. Still don’t know who they are from!!
Varennes
Apple Fairy passed by
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I cannot believe that in November, my roses are still blooming… mayhaps not as wild and bright but blooming nonetheless! And one day, a shrub is on fire with colour and a small windstorm later, denuded!
Still blooming
On fire
Denuded
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that there are wonderful people out there, just willing to lend a hand or offer their time for no other reason than “just because”. My eldest, Iain wants to join the military so my sister’s neighbour, Aldo, who has appeared in this blog before, and is military man himself, offered to not only speak with Iain to explain the ins and outs of joining but also offered to bring him on a tour of our very small base in St.Hubert, so he could see and ask questions to the men and women on duty. There was a bonus as we met for lunch first at a small market with a food court right near said base and where many military folk go for lunch. As I was picking up my lunch, Iain and Aldo were chatting with a guy from the Air Force. All of a sudden, Iain’s choices widened. Will be interesting to see where this goes. I am beyond grateful to Aldo for taking the time to do this and for following up and offering to help him prepare for the interviews and whatever else he will need in the near future. Aldo, you are a prince amongst men!
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I was pleasantly surprised by the Whitehorse concert on Thursday evening. This duo, made up of the husband and wife team of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClellan, were something else to watch. Just the two of them, but with a few bells and whistles. Luke would get on the drum, beat out some beats and the beatbox would take over so he could move over to his guitar. Speaking of guitars, that last picture… shows, what I suspect, is his “baby”. It has such a raw sound that both my date and I were totally enthralled with.
I was especially pleased to have discovered a new talent (to me, anyway) as the opening act. Ms. Fiona Beven, a lovely English lass, has a voice that is a mixture of India.Arie and Corinne Bailey Rae. Just her and her guitar or ukulele… wonderful.
If you are not tired of me yet, I would then add a few random things. Anyone who sits and chats with me knows that I talk and talk and talk and subjects jump from one to another, to the point that, once I am alone, I wonder if the other person had a chance to talk and, did I finish any one subject? As an example: I just received my latest book purchase and cannot wait to start them. Assuming I shall find time to read! And I grabbed the jar of roasted pumpkin seeds and am aghast at how few are left! No matter how much I try to ration them, they will not last forever. Iain and I are huge fans. Truth be told, if Mick were here, there would be none. I had to hide the jars from him!
Latest arrivals
Ever decreasing pumpkin seeds
Oh. Em. Gee. In all my chattering, I totally forgot to mention that I started a new job yesterday! At my friend Tina’s suggestion, I applied for a Christmas Season Job at Pier 1. I figured it would get me out of the house and away from my stove and give me the opportunity to meet people and exchange, and, if I’m any good, sell them items! I’ve always loved their store (MY store, now!) and fell in love with their Christmas commercials from a few years ago. “Find what speaks to you”… what a brilliant slogan… This was one of them (hopefully the link works as all the others were made private).
Now that I’ve talked your ear off, so to speak, do tell me, how have you been? What have you been up to this past week? Truly, it’s my turn to listen, and I will gladly pour us another cup. Please do share!
It’s funny how some weeks I seem to have no time urge to write and others, I just let ‘er rip! I thank you all for your kind words for yesterday’s post. I sometimes have my moments and just “blurt” it out onto the “page”. I am touched by your kindness, dear Readers.
Magnolia
Tulips
Gratitude List
I must thank Julie for coming over and being my model for our Mary Kay “Glamour Night”, even thought the whole Mary Kay thing is NOT her thing! You came for me, and I am touched. (I would have encouraged you to sneak out the back door but you beat me to it! 😉 )
I created my MK website not three days ago and yesterday got a call for an order!
Not only did I deliver the goods to my new customer today, I actually sold her the career. Never saw that one coming.
So happy my cousin Melanie reminded me that “Bessie” was playing so I could at least PVR it – would have forgotten otherwise and would have been so peeved (still haven’t watched it, so no spoilers, please!)
This may sound funny but I’m so glad I took time to read. Two fabulous books read, one after the other and now I’m trying to figure out which one is next!
(Anarette: Please forgive me, I promised you Elvish (Elvian) stories for today but I forgot today was Sunday – I don’t like to post twice in one day (unless it is a reblog) so I promise you will get it tomorrow!)
Had such a fabulous week-end at the Charnley Cottage that it totally balances out the week! Crazy busy in the first 2/3, totally relaxed in the last 1/3!
Sitting in an Adirondack chair by a fire, sitting on the balcony with a cool drink in hand, book in the other, watching kids chase bubbles and dogs chase each other is such a relaxing way to spend a week-end (really bad Asian karaoke across the lake aside).
The phrase of the week-end was “Where’s Divot?” Now this might seem funny at first reading but unfortunately, we could not let the dogs out of our sight since neighbours had put rat poison (!) around their property to get rid of their problem! Why they could not set up traps… Anyway, in an effort to find some positive in this act we can at least be thankful the neighbours advised everyone of the situation…
Ahhhh
Play time!
Gratitude List
I am so happy I did not procrastinate when it came to making all those jellies (more to come!)
By posting my meals to Facebook, I got another client.
Spending a week-end with another family that we know only so much, and in relatively tight quarters, could have been uncomfortable – wasn’t even a little bit!
I loved that everyone (OK… the adults) shared in the cooking and cleaning “duties”. All was delicious!
Driving back from our week-end at Rice Lake, Ontario, we stopped by Lancaster Station, a pub belonging to a high school friend of Mick’s, for a late lunch/early supper. They were a delightful group of people who made us feel totally welcomed and with whom we shall definitely meet again! Thank you Allison and Iain!
Back from vacation and trying to get back into a groove (but not yet trying that hard)! As predicted, I took the time to read whilst on the Jersey Shore. Now… did I read what I said I’d read? Not exactly! Yes, I did officially finish As Always, Julia (there were a mere 20 pages left) and it just made me want to start cooking à la Julia but I was camping so I had to improvise! (Not too many have duck breasts and cedar-plank salmon when camping…) And, I knew there would be quite a few shows taped of The French Chef waiting for me when I got home. (Isn’t the Universe grand? Here I am all in love with Julia Child and Gusto TV decides to air old ’60’s episodes! So fun to watch these old black and white shows with Julia often out of breath….
O.K… got off track there for a second! My first official book for July was Jodi Picoult’s Change of Heart. As per usual, Ms. Picoult draws you into a difficult situation, shows you both sides (or more) to the story and makes you think. As she has done for several of her books, each chapter is one person’s voice (and written in a different font). This story is about a death-row inmate (first in 69 years) who wishes to donate his heart to his victim’s sister. It’s told in the voices of June, mother of the victim; Michael, a Catholic priest; Lucius, a fellow inmate and Maggie, his lawyer; all woven together to tell this difficult story.
Death penalty, human rights, religion, organ donation: these are some serious subjects that can cause heated discussions. Picoult never preaches when each one is brought forth. I am amased at the amount of research she puts into each and every book she writes, this one included. I won’t say more as I would hate to divulge anything inadvertently! Definitely worth the read.
After about an hour to mourn the end of my book, my sister handed me the one she had just finished. I had not thought to bring a second book so I figured pourquoi pas? This particular one falls in the category we like to call: historical smut book! Which was exactly what I needed after the emotional roller coaster ride I had just been on! This was a no-brain-required-yet-enjoyable-romp-kind of book called A Rogue By Any Other Nameby Sarah MacLean. You know how these go: boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy ravishes girl and all ends well… Sometimes that just hits to spot!
It’s just as well I hadn’t brought my second book to the beach: Every Day in Tuscany – turns out it comes AFTER this month’s selection! Funny how that works, eh?
What a perfect week I had. Hmmm… maybe I shouldn’t say that since hubby has been gone fishing since Thursday, returning today…. There wasn’t any one thing that stood out except a feeling of peace and harmony. The rhythm of the days just felt nice and smooth and there were no stresses per se to deal with. Well, that’s not true; but it was so minute I cannot truly complain! All in all a good week!
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Gratitude List
I got to spend some time with each of my boys individually. More and more difficult as everyone has stuff to do so when the opportunity arises, well, we just have to go for it!
I had the bed to myself for three whole nights! Not that I don’t enjoy sharing the bed with my love… 😀
The sun was gorgeous all week-end and I took the time to sit outside, book in one hand, sangria in the other….
The neighbours were quieter than usual, permitting me to sit in by backyard in peace and not have to move to the front porch!
I got a contract to make 2 meals per week for a family of 5
I was able to find a jacket and slacks (and have them hemmed) in less than 30 minutes so my son could look dapper for an event.
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by Sarah MacLean. You know how these go: boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy ravishes girl and all ends well… Sometimes that just hits to spot!
A Dalectable Life 