About

I’ve wanted to write a blog for awhile and I had started one about eleven years ago but it wasn’t with WordPress and I found the experience a challenge and frustrating. When my youngest daughter started up her ‘wedding blog’ my interest in blogging was re-ignited. I liked the look of her blog and when I inquired about it I discovered that she had used WordPress. She assured me that getting started would be easy and she was right.

My reasons for writing a blog are varied. First and foremost I wanted to record memories of my childhood for my children and secondly I thought that blogging would be a good way to stay in touch with family and friends that had moved or lived far away.

Over the last ten years that I’ve been blogging, Mama Cormier, has become so much more. I quickly discovered that it was a great tool for helping me get fit and lose weight. There’s something about keeping you on the straight and narrow when you know that hundreds of people are following your progress.

I’ve discovered a love for photography that I didn’t know I had and I’ve discovered some great sites for recipes, ideas for teaching art, inspirational music, poetry, and a community of artists that make me want to create more of my own art.

Here’s my ‘shopping list’ of a few more facts about Mama Cormier:

• Born in Germany

  • Moved to Canada at the age of two
  • Lived in Toronto most of my life
  • Went to the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto
  • Married for 46 years
    Married in 1975 Married in 1975
  • Have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy
  • Have been an elementary school teacher for 36 years – now retired
  • Youngest daughter got married 11years ago and her twin brother was married six years ago in Assisi, Italy. Our oldest daughter married her partner of 10 years 6 years ago as well.IMG_7510  img_8598
    317011_10150378964000420_731205419_10424785_1488644679_n-3
  • Became grandparents for the first time in Oct. 2015 to a beautiful baby girl and again in January 2020 to another beautiful little girl.
  • Took my first art class 23 years ago
  • Have 2 younger sisters, one in Calgary and one in ChathamP1010495

112 thoughts on “About”

  1. We have quite a bit in common with each other. Although I was not born in Germany and I don’t live in Canada, I was born in Minnesota and grew up there. I’ve been married for 31 years with 3 children (2 boys and a girl though). I’ve been an elementary teacher for 22 years. My daughter got married last fall and I have 2 sisters also. (And a brother).

    I always feel connected to other teachers throughout the world. A person can only understand our strange but wonderful world of the classroom if you’ve actually lived it. My husband never truly understood my world until one day he was asked to spend an hour supervising 5 and 6 year old boys in the dugout during their baseball game. He came up out of there with his eyes rolling in different directions and declared, “If THAT is anything like being in the classroom…… I have a whole new found respect for you!”. People tend to think what we do is easy. I always liken it to being a conductor of a symphony, paying attention to a million details simultaneously to create something beautiful. Anything but easy! I admire you being able to teach for 31 years. Well Done!

    Enjoy your Saturday!
    Beth

    Liked by 5 people

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    • Hi Beth
      Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. I love your blog and am inspired to recut some of my clothes that are becoming too big for me. I’m also in a purging mode, however, and am anxious to rid myself of any reminders of being 25 pounds heavier.

      I really like the post on tie dying using indigo dyes. I think I might go ahead and order the kit on Amazon. I should do it soon because once I’m back to school I won’t find the time. I’ve decided to teach for at least one more year, maybe two. We’ll see how it goes with negotiations this year. I really don’t want to walk a picket line again.

      I look forward to the day my children make me a grandmother but I don’t see that happening for awhile, even though all 3 of my children are now in their 30s. I really think young people wait way too long now before having children. So many of my colleagues who want to be pregnant are having so many difficulties and some just weren’t able to have children. I know every generation is waiting longer before starting their families but at some point couples, women in particular, can’t put it off much longer.

      I always look forward to your blogs. I’m all over the place with what I post. One day my weight loss journey, another day a DIY project, my running and fitness goals, photography experiments, etc., etc..

      Maybe some day I’ll focus on one or two interests. Thanks for writing.

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    • I can relate to both of you ladies. Married 28 years, teaching 29 years. I taught K and 1 for 26 years and am in the 3rd year of teaching elementary art, something I have wanted to do since I was 10 years old! A true dream come true. We have 1 daughter, 1 son, and an AMAZING 9 month old grandson. We are preparing for our first wedding this next September. Can’t wait!

      My husband is a retired full time firefighter/paramedic. It used to be that on his days off when I taught 1st grade he would come into my classroom and help out. When I moved on to kindergarten, he tried it a few times and decided it was “best” if he didn’t come any more. They were a bit too much for him to handle. 🙂 I feel I have been very blessed to be doing the job that I love and have longed for for so many years.

      I enjoy posting my students work on my blog. It’s a great way for their friends and family from afar to look at their fantastic art work. I am currently expiriencing a little technical glitch with WordPress allowing me to add a link to a page. If either of you happen to know anything about this, I would love to hear from you. eukent@roschools.com Thanks!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my post on cleaning and seasoning cast iron skillets. I hope you find it helpful and that you will browse through the recipes sometime and try out a few. If you do, please let me know how they turned out!

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  3. Hi, Thank you for stopping by my corner of the web and following my blog! I really enjoyed your macro images today and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work. Great captures! Thanks for sharing.

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    • Thank you for liking my posts. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. I’ve noticed that some of photographic subjects are very similar. I think Autumn has to be my favourite time of year for taking pictures.

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    • I reallly believe in being a life long learner. Two years ago I took my library qualifications and today I teach in the library. I could have retired last February but there is still so much I want to do as a teacher. Last spring I took up running for the first time in my life. I used to hate it but the more I ran with my students the more I liked it. I’m not very fast but I can run 3K without stopping. It took me about 50 minutes to ‘run’ my first 5K in June. My next goal is to do it in 40 minutes or less.

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  5. Thanks so much for stopping by Gallivance to read Those Bodacious Baltic Beasties. We really enjoyed the Art Nouveau animals and are happy that you did too. And we really like your post on Mokuhanga. What a cool technique!
    All the Best, Terri and James Vance

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you for liking my post. I have enjoyed reading about your adventures abroad and at home. I’m taking another class on making your own Christmas wrapping paper in a couple of weeks. I’ll probably post about that as well.

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    • Thank Micheline. I’ve just joined the gym again and have been there the last 2 days. I find I can watch my diet but if I don’t move the weight takes a long time to come off and I can move and not diet the weight doesn’t come off at all. It’s all about balance.

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    • Sorry for taking so long to reply. Thank you for the compliment. I was rereading some of my past posts and I’m amazed how diverse my blog has become. I hope to start documenting my weight loss journey again and start doing more painting.

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  8. Hi there!

    Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Reading through your blog made me smile a bit because we’re both from Germany and my boyfriend and I would love to go to live and work in Canada for at least a few years 🙂
    How does your son like the Netherlands? It is actually my last week here as I’ll be moving back to Germany for 5 months but I’ll miss the Netherlands a lot. Have you ever been there?

    Love,
    Annemarie

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    • Yes, when my son was studying in Germany and working in Rotterdam we went over for a holiday. We’re hoping to go back there this summer. My young cousin and his girlfriend were here from Germany last summer and we spent 10 days together exploring Toronto, cottage country and Niagara Falls before they had to return home. They actually lived and worked on the west coast of Canada for about 8 months before coming east to see me.

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    • Thank you for the nomination. I’m honoured just as much as I was 2 months ago when I was nominated for the same award. I don’t know what the protocol is for accepting the same award more than once. I suppose if I had posted the icon for the Liebster Award on my blog people would know that I’ve already received it. The truth is that I have no clue how to paste the icon onto my page so that it shows up all the time. Can you help me?

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      • To tell the truth, I’m not sure about the protocol either! But to paste the icon, I was able to simply select, copy, then paste above my post. Does that help? Either way, great blog and I’m glad you’ve been nominated before!

        Liked by 1 person

      • Never mind, I had forgotten how to add the icon too. Go to your widgets and add an image widget with the icon link. That should do it!

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  14. Hello I am from Florence Italy,I stop in your blog following a research on watercolor paintings and I Just realized that you are friends with Lisa Cattell,a long time friend I have not seen for so long,if you have a chance to See her I would be so grateful if you could let her know that I Will be so happy to hear from her again My email is noramaria87@hotmail.com I am marry and have two children a boy 21 and a girl 15.
    Thank you and compliment for your blog

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Hi Mary
      Last week I was looking forward to glazing my pieces but they hadn’t been fired because my instructor had to fire the platters that her grade 1 class made for Mother’s Day. Those darn kids. Just kidding. I checked out the class’s handy work this week and I just realized that my stuff might still not be ready for glazing because the their work has to be fired again, now that they’ve glazed their pieces. Oh well. I worked on a new piece last week but I forgot to take a picture of it. I should have a lot to share in the next couple of weeks.

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  16. Hi again! I have been so enjoying your blog, and so when the opportunity presented itself, I decided that a good way to share your blog with my readers, I took it. And so I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award! I hope you can accept, but at the very least, I want to thank you for entertaining (and teaching) us! There are more details at http://tkmorin.wordpress.com/awards/ … Thanks!!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks Maia for the nomination. I’m always honoured by these nominations and do my best to respond. I’m looking forward to checking out your other nominations. I’ve already responded to the blog in Ireland.

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  19. I’ve nominated you for some awards. You inspire me to be a better blogger. If your blog is an Award Free Blog, please accept my well-meaning thoughts and appreciation for the great job that you do. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. Hi thanks for visiting my blog and all the lovely comments you have left. I am humbled by your nomination for so many different awards but cannot fulfill any of the criteria required I certainly appreciate the effort that goes into accepting and nominating. Kindest regards Veronica

    Liked by 1 person

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  21. I took a pottery class years ago. I miss taking art classes; right now all forays into the art world are self-guided, but I hope to keep it up. Congrats on the weight loss. Last year I made it my goal to get healthier, and it was hard! This year I’m trying to maintain it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Sorry it took me so long to reply. I hope you have better luck with maintenance than I have. I managed for close to a year but the weight has slowly been creeping back on. This winter has proven to be the worst. The snow, ice and cold have kept me house bound and I haven’t been walking. It shows and I’m up. If you’ve read a recent blog “Coming Clean” you already know my dilemma. Anyway I’m back on track and will be writing about my weight loss journey again. Good luck with your maintenance.

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  23. Hi, I wanted to thank you for the follow! Please be aware that my blog is a bilingual one (you as a bilingual person may understand the urge to not let go of the languages you know). So you may get links to some poems in English as well as to some in Italian… Pictures, on the other hand, have no language barriers 😉
    Keep up the good work.
    Anna

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you Anna, I don’t worry about the language and maybe it will help me learn some Italian. I’m hoping to travel to Italy in the next year or two, so it’s time to learn some Italian. Ciao!

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  24. As a new Spikey, you’ve joined a growing clan of folk known to be followers of Uncle Spike 🙂

    Thank you… I really appreciate that as I for one, know how many interesting and entertaining blogs are out there.

    My aim is to deliver an eclectic offering of posts, from my ‘point n shoot’ attempts at photography, to the sharing of my travel adventures since the 70′s, as well as day to day happenings on the farm. Oh, plus a few observations on life as I see it. Of course, if you have any suggestions for me, I’d love to hear from you, serious; email me.

    In return, I promise not to be overbearing with perhaps 2-3 posts a day tops. But if you are at a loose end one day, maybe you’ll enjoy trawling through some of my older stuff too. I have added plenty of categories to help in said digging process.

    Thanks again for your vote of confidence, hope you have a great day…

    UNCLE SPIKE

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thanks for the compliment. I think your writing is amazing and I love your stories. I try to read them every day but some days I just get so far behind with my emails. The good thing though is that I can always go back and read what I’ve missed when I have more time.

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  26. I would like to say I love your blog and the wonderful and beautiful things you share as well as the inspiration and smiles you bring in doing so! Thank you for being you and I hope even if you do not accept awards you will accept the sentiment expressed as I honor you with one. There is no prize that comes with the award other than my appreciation and being grateful you are part of our world and making a difference by sharing in such a positive way…
    I have posted the award and link to it here I hope you will accept it or at least the sentiment behind it! http://artisticlyxpressedthoughts.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/awards-and-shared-gifts/

    With love,
    Joe

    Liked by 1 person

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  28. As a frequent visitor to my site (very much appreciated) I need an opinion. In the past week I’ve developed another site with Blogger. I’ve gone to the “dark side” and made it more commercial (offering products I’ve used or read) through Amazon. At present it is an experiment. I’ve posted some older stories to start with. I’d like for you to visit and render a thought or two or word or two. Here’s the link: http://jitterygoat.blogspot.com/
    Thanks much.

    Liked by 1 person

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  35. Hello! I have come over to you from reading a comment on Colline’s blog, liked the sound of you and find that, yes, we have quite a bit in common and so now you have a new follower ( helping you to get nearer the 1000 mark!) I look forward to reading more of your writings. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you for the follow. I checked out your about page before I knew that you had commented on mine. You’re right about having a lot in common. I’ve yet to become a grandmother and my children are in no hurry to appease me. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts as well. Nice to meet you. Carol

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  40. Such a lovely space. Just had a very nice visit with you. I have to say that your About Page was so interesting. Just have to follow along on your adventures.

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  44. I love this page! Congratulations on your weight loss. You look great! You have learned so much from your blogging. I’d love to quote you in our book, Because of Blogging, maybe even interview you to ask other questions as we flesh out the story. What do you think?

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  45. Hello! I found this blog through a comment you left on the space of Dorothy. Di a look quickly and found a blog very interesting. Now I keep this space and will frequently visit this house.
    Greeting.
    Walter

    Liked by 1 person

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  52. Hi there, I’d like to thank you for your lovely comment and interest in my poem that I pasted on Ann’s site. If you are interested I wrote a series of these poems during last week, I’ll put the links below, hopefully in the right order, …. But please don’t feel compelled to read them, and I’m sorry if I’ve been intrusive..
    https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/06/22/blind-and-unkind/
    https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/we-are-not-worthy-nor-grand/
    https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/06/30/when-do-they-play-2/
    https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/quote-2-together-we-can-help/
    https://ivors20.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/let-us-not-be-silent/

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Hi Ivor. I checked out every single link that you sent me. I’m very impressed with your poetry and you certainly aren’t being intrusive. Your wife and I have the same first name but mine is spelled without an ‘e’. Thanks for stopping by. Carol

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      • Thank you Carol, for reading my poems, I’m very pleased you liked my words, and thanks for following my blog/website, muchly appreciated, I hope you enjoy reading my humble writings 😊 and it’s a pleasure to meet you here on this wondrous worldwide medium of WordPress ☺️💛

        Liked by 2 people

      • It’s so hard to lose weight in the first place, and then to keep it off later! I lost 10lb without even trying when I lived in Japan for 4 months, but then promptly gained it right back when I returned home. It is a never-ending battle. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you Kevin. I’ve always loved it here. Before I retired some people asked me if I would move out of the city and I asked why would I. I live on the western edge of the city right at the lake. I have parks for walking, local stores within walking distance and easy access to the highways to get out of town when I want to. I have the best of all worlds here. I’m glad you had a positive experience while you were here.

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  57. Over from Marsha’s. Thanks for sharing your story. I’m Italian born, but lived in the USA for all but 3 months of my many years – 2nd generation in the US on paternal side, 1st gen on maternal. Yes, still 4 first cousins and an aunt on the other side of the Atlantic. Married 44 years, and live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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  58. It always amazes me the people you meet when you become a blogger! I have so enjoyed learning more about you and your reasons for blogging, your beautiful family and passion for art, photography and more. Chat with you again soon. Robert.

    Liked by 1 person

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