Share Your World 2015 – Week 49

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Cee for coming up with four more interesting questions

What would be your ideal birthday present, and why?

I love birthdays and I love to be surrounded by family and friends on my birthday. My ideal present would be a big party with all the important people in my life present

What colour would you like your bedroom to be?

I’ve had grey in my bedroom for years and I’ve hated it. I recently bought a neutral cream colour which I think I’ll much prefer.

Would you prefer snowy winters, or not, and why?

I like snow but I also like it when it melts away in March. Last winter it hung around way too long.

Would you rather go a week without bathing, but be able to change your clothes, or a week without a change of clothes, but be able to bathe?

I think I would prefer to bath every day and wear the same clothes. At least the clothes won’t get as dirty if I start out clean every day. I would probably hand wash my underwear every night.

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

Last week I was grateful for a very mild weekend. I managed to get out on Saturday for a walk with the dog and then meet up with my daughters and their families at the Junction Christmas Market. All in all I walked 16 000 steps that day. I also got to spend some time with Miss Winnie. She’s starting to smile more and when I changed her diaper she gave me a huge smile. She makes my heart melt.

Last week, the girls’ basketball team played in their first tournament. They won all three games and have moved on to the West Conference Finals.

Yesterday we hosted our annual Craft Night at the school. We invite the students to bring their parents back to school in the evening and go from room to room and make whatever craft is being featured. This year we had numerous crafts that included golf ball snowmen, melted snowman ornaments, Minion ornaments, cookie decorating and paper crafts. I usually don’t have time to go around and take photos of the different activities but this year I did manage to go to a few rooms close to the library before we became busy. Here are a few of the great things that the children made. It was all over in an hour. It’s almost like preparing a big Christmas dinner where you spend hours and hours cooking and making preparations and then it’s all over in 20 minutes.

For the rest of the week I’m looking forward to having dinner with a group of friends. On the weekend my husband and I are planning on driving to the countryside with our daughters to cut down a Christmas tree. This will be my youngest daughter’s first Christmas tree in her new home. Ideally it would be nice to have some fresh snow but the temperatures are suppose to remain well above freezing so that’s very unlikely.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Till next time.

Carol

Share Your World 2015 – Week 48

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..it feels strange to have missed a week so I’m glad to be back to answer Cee’s questions for Share Your World

Are you a hugger or a non-hugger?

I’m definitely a hugger. I like bear hugs from family members and close friends. I’ve read recently that hugs can reduce your stress and the longer the hug the more effective it is for calming you down.

What is your favorite toppings on pizza?

I love kale and sausage (no tomato sauce) and mushrooms, bacon, caramelized onions and cheese (with tomato sauce). My husband makes fantastic pizza.

If you were the original designer of one existing corporate logo, which one would you select?

I love the Volkswagen logo.It is so recognizable.

Complete this sentence: Where I can seek my solace is…

….anywhere where I can paint and/or read. The place that comes to mind first is my cottage.

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 father finally got to meet his first great grandchild. My daughter and her husband made the two hour trip to my Dad’s place. My husband and I picked up lunch and joined them and we enjoyed a simple meal together. I think that this photo says it all.

I’m also grateful for perfect walking weather. I’ve averaged about 12 000 steps a day. My principal was gifted a Fit Bit for her birthday and she has made it very easy to get in my steps for the day. Every spare minute in our day she asks me and anyone who will join her to walk around the school. It really helps. Thanks M!

Share Your World 2015 – Week 46

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Cee for hosting Share Your World

What type of popular candy do you not like to get?

I don’t like most candy. I’m not fussy on Twizzlers Red Licorice or gummy worms.

What do you feel is the most enjoyable way to spend $500?

I’d like to spend $500. on a spa treatment (facial), a manicure and pedicure, lunch, hair cut and a new outfit.

Where do you eat breakfast?

I eat breakfast at home at the dinner table. If I’m running late I’ll pack my breakfast and sit in the staffroom and eat it during my prep period.

Would you rather ride one of the worlds longest zip lines or bungee jump one of the highest in the world? This will come with a 5-day all expense vacation.

I would never go bungee jumping but I would like to try a zip line. The five days all expense vacation would be a bonus. I’ve heard that Costa Rico has some great zip lines through the rain forest.

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 a wonderful day spent with my husband last Saturday. We had brunch at a new local cafe that hosted a special musical treat for people that made reservations. A string trio, consisting of three sisters, entertained the patrons with a selection of Sound of Music scores. It was definitely a family affair. The restaurant, Sugar for my Honey, was filled to capacity with young families and older folks like us. The Quintessence Ensemble (the Cacciacarro sisters) also performs classical and sacred music for numerous events, such as wedding showers, receptions and private parties.

The food was Austrian in origin and absolutely delicious and the coffee is outstanding. The owner, Will Weiss, is a young entrepreneur. He is hard working and a very genuine person. We’ve been there three times now and each time he takes the time to come and speak to us. My husband dropped off a jar of his homemade plum jam last week and in return he gave us some of his homemade liverwurst.

I’m also grateful for the most incredible weather we’ve had this month. You’d hardly know that it was November. I think that’s about to change but up until today it has been unseasonably warm.

I’m looking forward to spending time with my daughter and our new granddaughter this weekend. She’s already 5 weeks old, over 10 pounds and according to her doctor she’s already surpassed all her one month milestones and most of her two month milestones. When I asked my daughter what that meant she told me that Miss Winnie is already lifting her head, cooing, smiling responsively, following objects, lifting her head and rolling over from her tummy to her back.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 43

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…debating, tea, strongest sense and a title for my autobiography

Four more great questions from Cee. I had to give two of them a bit of extra thought.

If you were on a debate team, what general subject would you relish debating?

Seeing we’ve just come through a very long election campaign, by Canadian standards, I’d have to say that I enjoy debating about politics. I’m actually pretty passionate about it and I find people who make rash statements, quote political ads as facts and make sweeping generalizations very frustrating.

What’s your strongest sense?

No question that my strongest sense is visual. I have good colour sense and I love to explore the smallest detail in my photographs. My husband thinks that I have selective hearing and my sense of smell is very weak. I love the taste of most foods but I’m not sure I could pass a sommelier test.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

This is probably the question that stumped me the most. Here are a few titles that I might consider:

Learning to Appreciate the Small Things in Life

Being Loved, Giving Love, Loving to Learn

My Life – It’s Not What I Thought it Would Be

Happy Being Ordinary

Always Looking for the Next Adventure

List your favorite flavors or types of tea.

My favourite tea at the moment is a good strong orange pekoe tea from Ireland or Britain. I still enjoy a good cup of spicy Chai and in herbal teas I like anything with ginger and lemon.

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

I pretty much wrote about what I was grateful for from last week on Sunday so I won’t repeat what I’ve already said but if you missed it you can check it out here. One other thing I am grateful for is being able to work with such wonderful people. As you may or may not know, teachers, here in Ontario, are going through some pretty tough negotiations and we’ve been without a contract for 14 months. Everyone is getting pretty frustrated and even though we’re still in the classroom doing our jobs and still running extra-curricular activities for the kids, the media is relentless and the rumours are frightening. Needless to say tensions are high but for the most part people are supportive and forgiving.

For the rest of this week I’m looking forward to finishing up some of the art assignments in my classrooms so that I can display them in the halls and share them with you. I’m also looking forward to Hallowe’en. I have no idea what I’ll wear this year but I may go with a traditional costume. I’m glad that the 31st is on the Saturday. The weather is suppose to improve by then and I won’t have to rush home from work to carve out the pumpkin.

Here are a few more photos of the Farmers’ Market that I visited on Saturday and photos that I took on our walk.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 42

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Cee for four more great questions

Are you usually late, early, or right on time?

It depends on the situation. For appointments I’m almost always on time or early. The only time I’m late happens if I get caught in traffic because of an accident. For parties or social events I’m sometimes ‘fashionably’ late. If I do arrive on time I find that I’m the first one there and end up waiting for others to arrive. If someone has made a reservation for a specific time I try to be there on time. For this blog post I’ve been late recently because of my circumstances in my personal life. Cee would probably say that I’ve posted this in the time frame given but when the next set of questions come out the next day I feel like I’m late.

If you were or are a writer do you prefer writing short stories, poems or novels?

I don’t know if I have the patience to write a novel. I would probably prefer a short story or a poem.

Where did you live at age ten? Is it the same place or town you live now?

When I turned ten I lived in Oakville, a small city between Toronto and Hamilton. We only lived there for four years and my father used to commute to work in Toronto every day. By today’s standards that’s not a very long commute but my father hated it and we moved back to Toronto when I started grade 5. I’ve lived here ever since.

Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?

I think I’d rather fly. Flying is faster than swimming and being underwater I think might be somewhat claustrophobic.

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 walks in this lovely crisp autumn weather. I love the colours. I’m grateful for a dinner and tickets to the opera, downtown, with my friend D who treated me for my birthday. My blogging friend Judith over at Curious to the Max says that after 50 you can celebrate your birthday season for as many days as you are old. So even though my birthday was in August I can still celebrate for six more days.

I’m also grateful for a fun evening with friends and colleagues from school. We went to a great sample sale, where I bought gifts for Christmas, something for my daughter and a couple of things for myself. Afterwards we had a very nice dinner in a great Italian restaurant, Caffino, in Liberty Village.

As always, I’m grateful for time spent with my family. On Saturday, my husband and I picked up our daughter, A, and her partner, J and we all drove to Hamilton to visit G and her new baby girl. My sister, CJP, drove down from Chatham and her son came in on the Go Bus from Toronto to visit as well. It was like a mini reunion.

Our little Miss Winifred is starting to show her true colours and was a little fussier than I’ve seen on previous visits but this morning after I checked in with my daughter via What’s App she reported that she was able to get more sleep last night than she’s had in awhile.

While we were in Hamilton we went for a walk and I discovered more wonderful shops. Everyone is so friendly and I spent quite a bit of time talking to the shop owners. One of the shop keepers ended up being a former student that I taught in middle school. She made the connection before I did. What a small world we live in. Shine is the name of her store.

Next week I’m looking forward to closing the cottage for the season and spending more time with Miss Winifred.

Cheers!

Share Your World 2015 – Week 41

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….she’s finally here

I waited before posting this week’s Share Your World because I didn’t want to report that the baby still hadn’t arrived. Well on Tuesday, October 13th at 10:39 in the evening my daughter, G, gave birth to a healthy 7 lb. 15 oz. baby girl. Mother and baby are doing extremely well and Dad is over the moon.

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything. We’ve been a little busy driving back and forth to Hamilton. So here are my answers to Cee’s questions.

What genre of music do you like?

I like lots of different styles of music. On Thursday I went to an afternoon concert and listened to chamber music but I have to admit that I am a fan of Pop and Jazz. I don’t like heavy metal or Rap music.

What is the worst thing you ate this last week?

The worst thing that I ate was a crispy chicken sandwich from Tim Horton’s. I usually like sandwiches from this food chain but we were a little suspect on how they could make such a crispy sandwich in such a short span of time. I also had a chicken breast from Swiss Chalet which is also normally very good but this one was dry. The first meal was consumed while visiting our daughter at the hospital and the second one was at the airport where my husband and I met my sister from Calgary on a 4 hour layover.

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I don’t want to be famous. I just want to be remembered in a good light as a kind and caring person. I used to think that fame would be fun but I do like my privacy and I think that often you lose that when you’re famous.

Complete this sentence: This sandwich could really use some …

….of my husband’s mustard pickle or tomato jam. This summer my husband has experimented with some new preserves and these two are wonderful on sandwiches.

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 a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my family but most of all for the safe delivery of our first grandchild a couple of days later. I think she’s beautiful but I’m sure all grandmothers say that of their grand babies.

In the week coming up I’m looking forward to spending more time with the new baby but I’m also in the mood for art. I need to reorganize some of my art supplies and start framing some pieces for Christmas gifts.

Thanks to my daughter, Gaelan and her husband, Brendan for letting me share these photos with you.

Introducing

Winifred Josephine

Born October 13, 2015

Share Your World 2015 – Week 40

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Mama Cormier

If you have been to a foreign country name those you have been too?

I haven’t travelled extensively but I’ve been to a few places: USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Ireland.

Is the glass half empty or half full? What type of glass is it and what is in the glass?

The glass is half full. It’s a wine glass and it contains a hardy red wine or a crisp white wine.

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

I have to agree with Cee and say cheese. I love cheese.

List: List at least five places worth shopping.

Winners, Marshalls, Ikea, Costco, Curry’s, Chapters, Home Sense, Apple,

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 a very special birthday weekend for my husband. I took him out for dinner on Friday night and on Saturday we drove to Hamilton with the girls to celebrate with my very pregnant daughter and her husband. The food all weekend was exceptional. The only thing that could have made it better would have been the arrival of our first grandchild but it wasn’t to be.

So again I’m looking forward to the birth of our daughter’s little girl. Hopefully I won’t be saying this again next week.

Cheers!

Thanks again to Cee for hosting Share Your World.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 39

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks Cee for more great questions

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

I used to think that it didn’t matter but recently I converted to the over method. I found that when I had the roll go under the roll would sometimes unroll itself. Does that make sense?

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

If I were a crayon I would be red. It’s my favourite colour.

You are comfortable doing nothing? For long stretches of time?

There are stretches of time where I sit for a long time but I’m usually writing or reading on my computer or I’m watching TV. I can’t say that I’m comfortable doing nothing for long stretches of time. I become antsy and need to get out of the house.

Rather: Would you accept $5,000 to shave your head or die it bright lime green and continue your normal activities while not explaining the reason for your haircut or color?

I don’t think I would shave my head but I would colour it bright lime green. It would take a long time for my hair to grow back but I could recolour it soon after I dyed it.

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 successfully participating in the Railpath Run on Saturday with my daughter, A and her partner, J. It’s a timed race where you run for 45 minutes and a device on your number clocks the time you run or walk at 1k intervals. I had planned on only walking this year because I hadn’t run since last year but I started to run right at the beginning and I didn’t stop for the entire run. I managed to ‘run’ 4.5 K in 45 minutes. I’m not fast but I have a steady and consistent pace. I’m also grateful that I didn’t hurt too much in the next few days. My leg muscles were a little sore but it didn’t stop me from my daily walking regime. For the last few weeks I’ve been averaging over 11 000 steps a day and I’ve reached my walking goal 11 days in a row.

I’m also grateful for spending time with friends from high school. Every time we meet someone new joins us. There were only five of us this time when we met for lunch but it was CM’s first visit and we had a lot of catching up to do. It was a lot of fun.

This week I’m looking forward to celebrating my husband’s birthday. We’re all going to my daughter’s house in Hamilton. Her baby is due any day now and she wanted to host the party at her place so that she would be close to her hospital in case the baby decided to make an appearance during the festivities. Most of all I’m looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild. I may be saying this again next week if she decides to be fashionably late.

Cheers!

Share Your World 2015- Week 38

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….I don’t know how she does it but Cee keeps coming up with new questions each week

What do you do to make a living or during the day if you are retired. If you are a student what are you studying?

I’ve been a school teacher since 1976. I started out teaching Family Studies to middle school adolescents. I did that for about 15 years and then I did guidance for two years. I was toying with the thought of becoming a principal and I started taking a lot of leadership courses in the evenings. I successfully became a chairperson which is like being a principal’s assistant where you take on a few extra responsibilities while still teaching. For many people this is a stepping stone to becoming a vice-principal or principal. In the end I decided that this was enough responsibility for me and that I liked being in the classroom too much to give it up.

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When I became a chairperson I was transferred to a junior school where I taught grade 5 and sometimes a 4/5 split. Five years ago I took a library course and qualified to become a teacher librarian. One year later the library position opened up at our school and I’ve been the librarian/art teacher ever since.

Have you ever participated in a distance walking, swimming, running, or biking event? Tell your story.

Three and a half years ago when I first started this blog I was determined to lose weight. At school I agreed to assist in a program called Girls on the Run and I started to walk/run with the girls twice a week for 10 weeks. At the end of the program there was a 5k run and at the age of 59 I participated in my first serious race. I did the whole thing and ran for most of it but I was so emotional at the end that a dread overcame me and I thought I was going to die. Of course I didn’t and I did the run again the next year. The second time around it was a little easier. Last fall I participated in the Railpath Community Run and I’m doing it again this weekend. This one I did with my daughter.

What is usually your first thought when you wake up?

My first thought is usually to switch my Jawbone Up from sleep mode to wake mode and then check on my phone to see how well and how long I’ve slept.

Complete this sentence: Look out behind you, it’s a …

…it’s your son. I often fantasize that my son and his fiancé pay me a surprise visit. They both live in London, England and I only see them once a year. A few years ago my son did come to Toronto for a convention and I was truly surprised.

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 a visit from my daughter who now lives in Hamilton. I was especially grateful because she was 38 weeks pregnant and I didn’t think that she would want to make the trip and be that far from home. We went to my older daughter’s house and my good friend L and her mom joined us. They weren’t able to make it to G’s shower in the summer so they anxious to see her and bring her the gifts that they had bought. It was also the first time that L’s mom had seen A’s and J’s house.

Years ago my daughter, A had volunteered to undergo testing and see if she was a good match for L’s dad who needed to be treated for C-dificile. It turned out that she was and her donation ended up saving his life. When L and her mom arrived on Saturday they bought her a gift as well. L’s dad is a very accomplished and renowned artist and they gifted my daughter one of his paintings. We were all very touched.

Later in the afternoon my girls and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood along Dupont street and stopped for lunch at a small Vietnamese restaurant and checked out the interesting little businesses that have sprung up in the last few years.

I’m obviously looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild. We all took bets on when she would come into the world but we were a little surprised when our daughter went into false labour yesterday. She’s fine today and this baby may take her sweet time about making her official appearance. Her actual due date is October 4th.

I’m also looking forward to participating in the Railpath Community run on Saturday but I think this year I may do more walking than running. On Sunday some of my friends from high school are getting together again for another lunch. We’re hoping that CM from Thunder Bay will be able to join us this time.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. The first weekend of autumn looks like it’s going to be especially nice and warm in my neck of the woods.

Cheers!

Share Your World 2015 – Week 37

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks Cee for coming up with four more questions

If you could have three wishes granted for you alone, what would they be?

I would wish that my daughter has a safe delivery and healthy baby so that I can enjoy being the best grandmother ever. My second wish would be that I win the lottery so that I could share my good fortune with my family and friends. My third wish would be that I remain healthy for at least another 20 years so that I can enjoy my grandchild(ren) and the money that I won in the lottery.

What is the most incredible natural venue that you’ve ever seen in person?

Long before I started blogging I went to Banff, Alberta on a skiing trip. The sight of the Rocky Mountains blew me away. I also worked in Bavaria one summer as a student and waking up to the Alps every day was also magical.

Is your hair short (total neck and ear showing), medium (covering ears and neck), long (below shoulders) or extra long (at least halfway down your back)?

My hair is medium to long. Currently it is just long enough to pull up into a bun. In this hot weather we’ve been experiencing I like pulling my hair off my neck.

List some of your favorite blogs.

There are too many blogs to mention them all but my current favourites are:

Trisha – Shedding Light

The Aran Artisan

My Life Lived Full

‘wanderings of an Elusive Mind

Jings and Things

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 husbands tumour wasn’t cancer. It turns out that he has something called BOOP. When the doctor told us this we both asked ‘What is BOOP?’. He laughed and explained that it’s a build up of cartilage in the bronchiole tubes. It stands for Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia and is a very rare lung disease. After the surgery the lungs looked pretty good in the x-ray so the doctor recommended that we take a wait and see approach rather than prescribing steroids which is the usual treatment for this condition.

I’m also grateful that the first nine days of school have gone pretty smoothly. I’m hopeful that we settle our contract soon so that we don’t have to escalate the conditions of our ‘work to rule’. So far in this new school year the children and parents haven’t been affected by our strike action.

I’m looking forward to getting together with my daughters and my good friend, L, on Saturday. My youngest daughter is only two weeks away from her due date and I’m happy that she is still willing to make the drive to Toronto for a visit. I’m also looking forward to creating more art and finishing some knitting projects for the baby.