Share Your World – Week 40

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Mama Cormier

…..here we go again…..thanks Cee

You’re given $500,000 dollars tax free (any currency), what do you spend it on?

I think about this every time I play the lottery because in Canada a lottery win is tax free (for now). First I would pay off all my credit cards and then I would give each of my children about $50 000 to pay off school loans and any other debts that they have incurred. This would still leave me with $300 000 so I would probably fix all the unfinished projects around my house and cottage, take a trip or two (Europe and somewhere exotic) and put some money away for our retirement.

What’s the finest education?

The finest education is the school of life. If you don’t or can’t learn from the hard knocks of life all the expensive education from Ivy League Schools schools is worthless.

What kind of art is your favorite? Why?

My favourite art is abstract art. I love colour, line and texture and some of my favourite artists are Ray Cattell, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Miro and Marc Chagall.

One of Ray’s paintings.

Is there something that you memorized long ago and still remember?

I hated memorizing poems or anything for that matter when I was in school. Having said that I have to admit that I know a lot of nursery rhymes and the national anthem.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that my husband’s surgery went well. He had half his thyroid removed and a very large, unattractive cyst in his neck was also removed. I’m also grateful that my son-in-law’s procedure on his heart also went well and any future problems with his birth defect has been eliminated.

After surgery, the next day

Before Surgery

Looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner with the family this Sunday. The kids are doing the bulk of the cooking. Bonus!

Share Your World – Week 39

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….I’m a little later than normal in answering this week’s questions

I think I’ve avoided answering Cee’s questions this week because I really had to thnk about the first two.

Did you ever get lost?

I don’t remember getting lost as a child. I remembering losing my little sister once when my cousins came over one day and we all went for a walk and returned without her. I think she was probably two or three at the time and I would have been four or five. It was a different world back then. She eventually came home at the heels of a very large policeman.

In the last 10 years I remembering going for a walk through the neighbourhoods around my school and seriously couldn’t find my way out of the maze of streets north of the school for what seemed like an eternity. Before you think I don’t have any sense of direction the same thing happened to a group of teachers who moved about in the same area for over an hour before they found their back to school.

Who was your best friend in elementary school?

I went to three different elementary schools and I can’t remember who my friends were in the first two. When my family moved back to Toronto when I was ten. I went to Parklawn School and I’d have to say that my best friends, who were also my neighbours were Debbie and Cheryl. Funny how both girls were never in my classes so I’d have to include Laurie, Karen and Marcia, who were in my classes, as my BFs as well. The last three stayed close friends all through high school and Marcia (who just passed away this year) was my room mate at university. Debbie was in my wedding party but we lost touch soon after her mother died. The one friend who I still see on a somewhat regular basis is Laurie.

Miss you Marcia.

Since the news television season has started in the US, list three favorite TV shows.

I don’t watch as much TV as I used to. Of the new shows, so far, I’m liking Gotham (surprise, surprise), How to Get Away With Murder and Under the Dome (although the season ended when the new shows started). I’m still a fan of The Good Wife, and Elementary and I’m a reality show junkie. The only shows that I can’t miss are Dancing With the Stars, Survivor and The Amazing Race.

If you were a mouse in your house in the evening, what would you see your family doing?

In my house, the mouse would see my husband on the chaise with his computer on his lap going between the TV and his computer screen. I would probably be at the kitchen table or in the living room checking my emails and writing a post or two for my blog. When there’s something on TV that I like I’ll join my husband in the TV room.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

This week I’m grateful for being able to spend time with my husband. It was his birthday on Thursday and we went to a concert together, sat together over coffee in a bistro, wandered around the ROM (museum) and then went to a restaurant for dinner.

Later today I’m looking forward to having the family over for brunch to continue celebrating my husband’s birthday.

Running to Stop Hunger

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….well more like jogging

On Sunday, my oldest daughter and I took part in a community fun run to support an organization called The Stop Community Food Program.

The run took place along the West Toronto Railpath. It was a 45 minute run and the idea was to run or walk as far as you could in that space of time. It was unusually hot but I’m happy to say that I didn’t stop or walk. I managed to ‘run’ 4.5 k in 42 minutes. I couldn’t make it to the 5 k mark in three minutes so the organizers recommended that I stop. I felt remarkably good.

I’m particularly proud of my daughter. This was the first run she’s ever participated in and she’s been practising really hard. She managed to run 7k in 45 minutes.

At the end of the race a lot of draw prizes were given out. I won a $25.00 gift certificate from the Running Room. Both my daughters told me that it was a sign that I need to keep running. My youngest daughter said she would join us next year for the same race.

It was a great day. My husband and all my girls came out to support us.

Closing the Cottage – A List of Last Times

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….last time for the season that is

On Saturday my husband and I drove to the cottage for the last time this season. It was an absolutely beautiful day but we were on a mission and that was to close the cottage for the season.

Every year we say we’re going to spend more time at the cottage in the fall but it never seems to happen. This year we closed extra early because of my husband’s upcoming surgery.

As we were cleaning up and packing the car we both wished that we were staying for more than the day but I had a run to do with my daughter in the city on Sunday and there was no way that we could get back in time if we stayed over night.

We packed a nice lunch which we enjoyed on the deck; our last meal at the cottage for the season. K and Frances went for a walk on the beach; the last one for the season. The closing of the cottage went smoothly and without any drama or complications. After screwing the plywood over the back door we made one last drive to the garbage bins and headed over to the top of the hill and got out of the car to take a few pictures of the fall colours. Unfortunately the colours will probably we better next week but we had to make due with the changes that were presented to us. We’ll probably take a drive, closer to home in the next week to take advantage of the autumn colours at their best.

When we got to the dock I backed the car onto the ferry for the last time this year and once we got to the other side we stopped off in Lafontaine and enjoyed a coffee at Wendy B’s. Her little shop/bakery was always a must stop destination before heading to the ferry docks.

Another stop on most of my trips to the cottage was the Dubeau Family Farm where I would stop to pick up fresh berries, beans, corn and other vegetables and fruits that were in season. On Saturday’s visit (the last one for the season) the pumpkins were on display. In a couple of weeks there will be 10 times that number. I took a chance and bought my pumpkin early and for the last time this season handed over my money to Jason, the young man who has lovingly bagged my purchases all summer.

Share Your World – 2014 Week 38

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….thank you Cee for four more thought provoking questions

If you could be a tree or plant, what would you be?

I think I would be a grand old sugar maple. I would provide shade in the summer, beautiful colour in the fall, shelter from the wind in the winter and in early spring delicious maple syrup.

If you could have a servant come to your house every day for one hour, what would you have them do?

I would love someone to come in and wash my floors and clean my bathrooms.

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

It would have to be cheese. All varieties.

What was one of your first moneymaking jobs (other than babysitting or newspaper delivery)?

At 14 I worked in my parents’ milk store. I did that until I was held up and forced to empty the till. I was 16 at the time. Soon after, my parents gave up the store and opened up a fabric and sewing machine store.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for spending time with my oldest daughter and getting out for a run with her last Saturday.

This week I’m looking forward to going to the cottage for the last time this year. We’ll be closing up the cottage because my husband is making brunch for the kids the following weekend and soon after will be going in for his thyroid surgery. The following weekend we’re hosting the family Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m also looking forward to the Railpath Fun Run this Sunday.

For more Share Your World posts check out Cee’s Photography

A Fruitful and Musical Day

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….ran 4.4k, walked over 11,000 step, and enjoyed the Junction Market and Music Festival

I started my day with a trip to my daughter’s house and we both walked to the Railpath and started to run for 45 minutes. Next week we’re both doing the Railpath Fun Run. I was hoping to run at least 5k in 45 minutes but I only managed 4.4k. For those of you living in Toronto there’s still time to register.

All proceeds from this race will benefit The Stop Community Food Centre.

After our run we got in the car and drove over to the Junction to meet up with K who rode there on his bike. I actually didn’t even know that the music festival was on. Nice surprise but it did make it more difficult to find a place to park. We luckily found a spot on a side street and we walked over to the Farmers’ Market.

It was a gorgeous day but for some reason the wasps were everywhere, especially around vendors with food. I’ve never seen it quite so bad. We sat in a cafe by the window and the wasps came right into the coffee shop. We decided to ignore them and luckily none of us got stung.

The market was very busy and we bought some beautiful kale and green and purple peppers from Wheel Barrow Farms. One of the unique things that we saw on Saturday was a mobile cafe. I wonder how much one of those cost? I should check out the website on the side of the truck.

A few musical acts were set up on the side streets but the big show didn’t take place until later in the day. All in all it was a great day.

Enjoying the Last Days of Summer

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….sunshine and mild temperatures make for great walks

We’ve enjoyed some beautiful sunny moments in the last couple of days. With my trusty camera by my side I’ve been able to capture some lovely end of summer shots.

Held Hostage by the Cloud

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….all my gadgets stopped working 2 weeks ago

I’m not much for electronics but I do love my iPhone and I use the camera all the time. For my birthday this year my children bought me the Jawbone Up which tracks my steps and sleep patterns and I’ve become addicted to it. Everything was working well until two weekends ago when we went to the AGO with friends to see the Alex Colville show. As you know I take a lot of photos and I was devastated when the camera on my iPhone wouldn’t work. The message that came through said that I didn’t have enough storage.

I tried to delete some photos but it didn’t seem to help. Now almost all of the photos on my phone have been backed up to my computer on IPhoto so I decided to delete them all from the camera. Success. Well for a few minutes and then all of a sudden all the photos reappeared on the phone. I did manage to take a few photos at the gallery but I knew that this problem would reappear.

Later that day I discovered that my Up bracelet wasn’t working as well. It is also hooked up to my iPhone. Again the message was that I didn’t have enough storage.

On Monday, the following day, I made a trip to my local Apple store but they were so busy that I couldn’t get an appointment for at least 5 days. I pleaded with one of the staff to give me some clues as to what I could do. She suggested that I back up my photos onto iTunes.

The next day I took my computer to school and my friend L and I played around with the settings on iTunes. It took a while but we finally figured out that the storage problem was on the iCloud. I had two options. One was to buy more storage and the second was to back up all my photos onto iTunes, even though all my photos were already on iPhoto.

Later that night I clicked the button that said back up to the computer and the ICloud option shut down. I’m not sure that I want anything on iCloud for now but maybe down the road I’ll pay the extra money. I guess the one advantage is that I can access my photos from anywhere if they’re stored in the cloud.

The bottom line is that I can use my camera again and my Up is working the way it should.

Kindergarten Art – A Joy to Teach

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….so far the biggest surprise at school has been how much I enjoy teaching the little ones art

I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about teaching art to Kindergarten children but it has been very rewarding and so far it’s gone pretty smoothly. It really helps having the ECE teacher with me. There are 29 JK and SK students in that class and without her help I think it would be next to impossible to run the class without chaos.

Our first class involved making ‘dots’ or circles for International Dot Day and we learned a little bit about Wassily Kandinsky and how to use watercolours and oil pastels. In our second class we discussed the different types of lines that artists can use and I introduced Primary Colours. On a large piece of paper the children drew 4 or 5 different lines with black pastels and then using only primary colours painted in the spaces created by the lines.

Their teachers and I think they did a fantastic job. I’m also grateful that the two kindergarten teachers have hung the work for all to enjoy.

Share Your World 2014 – Week 37

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Mama Cormier

…..with Chris’ help Cee has come up with four new questions

List three pet peeves.

I really can’t abide rude people, people who can’t be bothered to vote and people who litter.

What makes you unique?

I’m not sure that I’m all that unique. I love to try new things, create art, walk, read and I’m reluctant to retire. I can’t help but think that there’s another career waiting for me when I retire from this one.

Would be your ideal birthday present, and why?

My ideal birthday present would be a 3 day get-a-way with my husband. It should be somewhere cozy, with some spa facilities and great food. There should also be some kind of activity that we both can participate in, such as a cooking class or art class. Time spent with my husband is very important to me and a present that we can enjoy together is more important than ‘more stuff’.

Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under?

I would just like to see the toilet paper on the roll. I’ve never been too fussy whether it go over or under but I have noticed that some brands literally ‘run away’ from you when it is hung under so I guess I’d have to say over.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that my daughter and her husband had a wonderful holiday on the east coast and that we were able to make it possible by looking after their dog.

I’m looking forward to going back to one dog. Enough said.

For more Share Your World check out Cee’s blog.