Share Your World 2015 – Week 25

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….. thanks Cee for four more thought provoking questions

What did you or did not like about the first apartment you ever rented?

Our first apartment was a basement apartment in uptown Toronto. We were close to the subway and great shopping and restaurants. I didn’t like being in the basement. Our windows faced the parking lot and driveway so we had to contend with cars rolling past our windows.

What kind of art is your favorite? Why?

My favourite art includes abstract paintings, watercolour or acrylic and collage and mixed media art. I don’t like things that are hyper realistic. I’d rather take a beautiful photograph.

A Ray Cattell painting.

How many siblings do you have? What’s your birth order?

I’m the oldest of three girls. When my son was born he was the first male born on my father’s side of the family in 50 years.

The three Winkler sisters.

Complete this sentence: I’m dreaming of a white …. (and no you can’t use Christmas as your answer)

This one stumped me for a few minutes. In fact, I went for a walk and really thought about this question. I’ve already owned a white car and my husband has one now. It wasn’t by choice for either of us but at the time they were our only options. I’ve really learned to appreciate white flowers and one of my favourite bouquets this year was all white.

I’m not very fussy about white weddings or white clothes. I don’t like white food, unless it’s vanilla ice-cream or whipped cream and white walls leave me cold. I do, however, like bright white trim. Therefore, I’m dreaming of painting all the trim in the house white. I also love crisp white sheets and big soft white towels.

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 weekend with the family. We did a double Father’s Day celebration. On Saturday my husband and I hosted a BBQ at our place and our girls and their significant others and two of our best friends joined us. My husband did most of the cooking because it’s what he loves to do. I did all the running around and picked up things that we needed. We also went across the street for a bit to congratulate our neighbour on her retirement.

Our daughter and son-in-law couldn’t keep the gender of their baby secret any longer and they shared the news with us. Unfortunately I promised to keep it a secret for a little bit longer and not share it with the world right now.

On Sunday, we drove to my Dad’s place in Oshawa and celebrated Father’s Day with him. My sister took the train in from Chatham and we all shared a meal at their new apartment. I brought a salad made from the lettuce in our garden and Dad picked up his special treat, KFC.

One other thing that I’m grateful for was a very enjoyable Tea that my friend L and I hosted for four students from school. It really was fun and the kids learned a lot about ‘tea etiquette’ and a little bit more about their teachers.

This week I’m looking forward to the staff party and to the last day of school and the start of our summer break.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 24

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….here is the new format for Cee’s Share Your World

It’s pretty much the same but instead of 4 random questions there are now 3 and one list question.

What’s your favorite charitable cause and why?

I think my favourite charity has to be the Heart and Stroke’s Jump Rope for Heart event. I’m probably a little biased because I’ve been running this event for the last 16 years at our school and we’ve raised well over $100 000.00. This year alone we took in almost $10,000.00. I like this charity because it makes children aware of heart healthy activities and how the money they raise is used for research. The best part is the day that the whole school comes outside and jumps rope for an hour. We have music, games and prizes and everyone, including the teachers get involved.

What color do you feel most comfortable wearing?

I love wearing red and royal blue and white.

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? (guest can be dead, alive, famous or someone you just know)

My first three guests would be Pablo Picasso, my father, and Jon Stewart.

List: What are at least five places you’ve enjoyed visiting?

• Amsterdam and Rotterdam

• Dublin, Westport and Howth

• Munich and Oberaudorf

• San Francisco

• Stowe, Vermont

• Hawaii

• Banff, Alberta

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 resolving some of my iPhone and computer issues on Sunday and for a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon with our daughter and son-in-law in Hamilton. Even though my husband’s test results are still inconclusive I’m grateful for the wonderful doctors and technicians who we’ve dealt with in the last few weeks and hopefully we’ll have a better idea which option to choose this coming week.

This week I’m looking forward to our school production which we do on an outdoor stage in front of the school. We’re all hoping for good weather. Last year it started to rain part way through but the parents wanted us to continue. The stage helped keep the children dry but the audience sat under umbrellas and tarps.

I’m also looking forward to getting together with both my daughters and their significant others on Father’s Day. We’re hoping that our friends A and W can also join us and with any luck we may be able to visit with my Dad as well.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 23

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….4 questions and a poll from Cee

For your blog do you basically use Mac or Windows applications. What type of device laptop, desktop,tablet, phone or pad?

I use Mac and I use my laptop most of the time. On holidays I used the iPad but found it awkward and I never use my iPhone (way too awkward). Having said that I do use my iPhone almost exclusively for my photos.

If you were to treat yourself to the “finer things” what would you treat yourself to?

I would treat myself to more spa treatments, pedicures and manicures.

Can you change a car tire?

I’ve never had to change a tire but I think in an emergency I could probably do it.

The 4th question this week is answer this poll about “how you would like to see the question formats for Share Your World”. Feel free to answer the questions in your post too.

I chose the ‘Do 2 random questions, 1 list and 1 complete the sentence each week. I think it’s nice to change things up a bit but when I last checked the first option, ‘Leave it as it is.’ was in the lead.

How you would like to see the questions for Share Your World? Multiple Choice answers are allowed.
Ask 4 Random Questions. Leave it as it is.
Add lists creating my own lists monthly.
Add complete the sentences monthly.
Do 2 Random Questions, 1 list and 1 complete the sentence a week.
Suggestions? Write in your post or comments.
I am tired of Share Your World, please hosting it.
Vote
View ResultsPolldaddy.com
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 I averaged over 11 000 steps a day last week. I’m really trying to move more. I had a great visit with my sister and her husband from Calgary. It was short but sweet. I’m also grateful for completing part one of last week’s art assignment with Carla Sonheim. I made over 15 little handmade books and I’ve started to write in them.

This week I’m looking forward to completing part two of the assignment where I have to create a story and paint a new booklet. I’m also looking forward to going to a wedding on Saturday and going to Hamilton on Sunday to visit my daughter and her husband.

Here are a couple of photos of my view of the lake looking east and west, on my walk with Frances. We took a slightly different route and went further than we normally go.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 22

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..Cee has asked us to complete the following sentences

Cee came up with a another way of doing Share Your World for this week. Finish these four sentences. You can be talk about yourself or be creative and write a piece of fiction. It’s up to you. Have some fun.

Complete this sentence: Never In My Life Have I….ever wanted to sky dive, bungee jump or do anything remotely dangerous.

Is this dangerous?

Complete this sentence: My neighbour wants me to help her…..celebrate her retirement in a couple of weeks. I love parties and I hope to get there. It will probably be outside in her beautiful garden as long as the weather co-operates.

Complete this sentence: When I was little I wanted…I always wanted to sing and perform on stage. The only problem was that I had terrible stage fright and very low self esteem. I did sing in the school choir and later I joined a German choir that I sang with for 27 years but I never performed solo.

Complete this sentence: Will you come here to…share in a meal? My husband is a great cook and I need an excuse to clean my house from top to bottom.

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’m grateful for a successful Forest of Reading celebration, raising over $6000. for Jump Rope for Heart and for participating in the dunk tank at our annual Fun Fair and surviving to tell you about it. After the first dunk I actually enjoyed it. It was a very hot humid day and I certainly felt refreshed after being dunked three times. I would have done it more often but there was a schedule that had to be maintained so that all the grade 5s who signed up could have a turn.

This week I’m looking forward to gathering up the final pledge envelopes for Jump Rope for Heart and figuring out what our total contributions will be. I’m also looking forward to getting my marks done for the report cards, organizing the library before the summer break in three weeks and hosting treat day this week.

The thing I’m most looking forward to is a visit from my sister who lives in Calgary. She and her husband are flying in on Friday and will be visiting with my dad and then spending Saturday evening and Sunday morning with us. Short but sweet. I guess this will be my excuse to get the house in ship shape.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 21

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..Cee has changed up the format for this week’s post

Instead of four questions, Cee has asked us to choose topics and list at least four items for each topic. Here are my choices:

Favorite Songs

Favorite flowers or plants: Gerbera Daisy, Sunflowers, Tulips, Gladiolas,

Favorites types of tea
Favorite types of animals: dogs, elephants, snow leopards, zebras

List of favorite blogs
Stuff that makes you laugh: silly jokes, funny movies, my husband, absurd answers that kids write on tests
Movies to cheer you up
Favorite actors/actresses
Good restaurants to eat at
Best desserts: anything with fruit and whipped cream, creme brule, real Black Forest cake, ice-cream

My broken birthday cake. It didn’t travel well on my husband’s bike.

Games to play with friends
Fun things for a rainy day: playing board games, reading, painting, talking on the telephone, baking,
Books I want to read
Things I want to have in my home (paintings, hot tubs, book cases, big screen tv etc)
Places worth shopping
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 I was able to organize the activities for Monday’s Forest of Reading Celebration. On the weekend I made my samples for the hand made journals, shopped for the gift bags and purchased some books for the students that had done an outstanding job with our reading challenge. I’m thankful for all the help from two of my colleagues, M and B who stayed late on Friday and helped me set up the supplies for the workshop. A special thanks to R for running the drama workshop and my boss, M for purchasing the pizza lunch for all our reading experts and the 40 students who qualified for our special day.

One final thanks goes to the parents and the school council for making this program possible with their generous contribution. Without their financial support we wouldn’t have been able to purchase the books for the program and hire the author who came to speak to the boys and girls on Monday.

This week I’m looking forward to our Jump Rope for Heart activity on Friday and to the Fun Fair on Saturday. This year the goal was to sell at least 400 wristbands before this Saturday. If that happened I agreed to go into the dunk tank. The children have been taunting me for weeks that I was going down into the tank but I replied that unless they sold those wristbands that wasn’t going to happen. Today they met the goal. My principal is over the moon that it’s going to be me this year and not her going into the tank. Stay tuned. I’ll keep you posted as to how I survive the ordeal.

I leave you with a few images from last week. On Saturday my husband and I took a trip to the Junction to check out the first day of the weekly Farmers’ Market. I looked up and photographed some of the interesting facades of the older buildings in the neighbourhood and we checked out a few interesting stores and of course stopped for coffee.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 20

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks Cee for four more thought provoking questions

What is the most important thing that you ever learned? (I bet it’s not something you learned in school)

I learned early on in my adult years that not everyone you meet will like you. The first time I discovered that someone really didn’t like me it took me for a loop. I get along with most people so when someone dislikes you for simply being yourself it can be somewhat hurtful. I don’t let it bother me anymore and figure that the problem lies with them.

I also learned that friends you make in school won’t necessarily be your friends later in life and sometimes if you’re lucky you can rekindle old friendships as you get older. In recent years I’ve been fortunate to be able to do that.

What feeds your enthusiasm for life?

I love to learn and try new experiences. I get joy from reading, doing art, teaching art, taking photographs and spending time with family and friends.

What’s your most memorable (good or bad) airplane commercial or private flight?

My most memorable airplane flight took place last year when my brother-in-law treated my middle sister and me to a complimentary flight, first class, to Calgary. The seats were comfortable, the food was good and our wine glasses were never empty. The flight took place on Air Canada.

If you were a great explorer, what would you explore?

I would explore all the great museums and art galleries of the world. That of course would take me to the most amazing cities in the world as well so I would check out all the historic sites and local markets and artisans.

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 an interesting day in Hamilton last week. I discovered a whole slew of interesting stores, restaurants and galleries in my daughter’s new neighbourhood. I can’t wait to go back and check out some of these places more closely.

I’m grateful that my husband’s biopsy went smoothly and that there weren’t any complications. The results were inconclusive so we have to wait for another test.

This week I’m looking forward to watching the girls play in their soccer tournament and meeting the author that I booked for the students’ activity day. Forty students met their goal of reading at least ten books in the last five months and earned a special day where they are excused from class to attend a drama workshop and bookmaking workshop, are treated to lunch and in the afternoon spend time with one of the authors whose book was nominated for the 2015 Forest of Reading Collection. It should be a lot of fun.

I’ll end with some photographs that I took the last few days.

Share Your World – 2015, Week 19

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….this week’s questions are all about the home

Thanks Cee for hosting this challenge.

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?

I currently live in a two story house. I think climbing stairs for the last 35 years has kept me fitter than many people my age but I do know people over 60 who would definitely prefer a one floor house. Arthritis, bad knees, hip replacements and poor circulation make stair climbing difficult. Fortunately I don’t suffer from any of these ailments. As I get older I often wonder if I’m going to have to give this place up because of the stairs.

If you have a TV, would you prefer the TV in the living room or another room?

We have purposely put the TV in a room other than the living room. When we have company we don’t want a TV to distract from stimulating conversation. I also like having a room where I can work or read in a quiet space without the noise from a TV.

When you leave a room, do you turn the lights off behind you or keep the lights on throughout your house most of the time? Explain your answer.

More and more I turn the lights off. When the kids lived at home we kept them on because everyone was on a different level of the house. Now we turn the lights off to save energy and money.

What’s your favorite room in your home?

My favourite room in the house is the living room. It’s the one room that’s always tidy and it’s where I like to read and work on my laptop. When we have company everyone gravitates to the kitchen. It’s the room most difficult to keep tidy because my husband loves to cook and bake and if I’m not right behind him cleaning it can get messy in a hurry. Luckily my girls are pretty good at cleaning when they come to visit but I like to make sure that the kitchen is somewhat presentable before they get here.

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

It’s been a tough week. We were over the moon with the news that my husband didn’t need the radioactive iodine treatment but a week later we found out that he needed to go for a biopsy on his lungs. The procedure took place today and I’m grateful that it went smoothly and without any complications. Now we wait again for the results.

This week I’m looking forward to a less stressful working environment and some down time at home. It’s definitely time for some art therapy and reading.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 18

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thank you Cee for another four great questions

What type of pets do you have or want? Or do you not want pets?

I have a lovely little mutt. She is a cross between a Dachshund and Australian Shepard. We inherited her 8 years ago when our daughter discovered that a new job made it impossible for her to raise an 8 week old puppy. My husband agreed to look after Frances (a name that our daughter picked out) until A could find a new home for her. To make a long story short, my husband bounded with Frances so quickly that he couldn’t give her up and she’s been with us ever since.

What was or is your favorite cartoon?

Before I read Cee’s answer I immediately thought of Casper the Ghost which I used to watch as a child. When I was a bit older my favourite cartoon had to be the Flintstones. I don’t watch cartoons anymore.

Courtesy of: https://yuq.me/tv/03/344/5785.jpg

When you’re alone at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot?

I do all of the above. On a cold winter morning or when I sleep in a lodge I like to wear slippers. When I enter my house I usually leave my shoes on. I never worry about my floors or carpets. When I know that I’m in for the evening or when I’m on the computer like now I like to wear socks and when the weather is warmer, go barefoot.

Are you a traveler or a homebody?

I’m not really a homebody, even though I do like to spend quiet evenings at home. I would love to be more of a traveller. The only thing holding me back is the money to travel and my full time job. I’m hoping to travel more when I retire and when the mortgage is paid off.

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 our daughter and her husband moved safely and without incident to their new home in Hamilton last week. We had an opportunity to drive there on Saturday and check out the neighbourhood.

This week I’m looking forward to spending Mother’s Day with my daughters, their significant others and my husband. I’m also looking forward to more warm weather. It seems like we’ve gone from winter straight into summer.

Share Your World – 2015 Week 17

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….four more thought provoking questions from Cee

What is your most favorite smell/scent?

I love scents that are citrusy, light and fresh.

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?

I prefer hair that is shoulder length or just above the shoulder. Anything shorter and I feel older. These photos were taken six years ago, four years ago and last summer. Each year my hair has gotten a little bit longer. I also lost a fair bit of weight between the second and third picture so that might also influence my decision about hair length.

older

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know)?

My husband and I tend to be spontaneous. We might have an area in mind or a food we’d like to experience but we don’t plan to the nth degree. If something better comes along we’re just as likely to drop our plans and go with our gut feeling.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

I’d have to say my favourite outdoor activity is walking or riding my bike.

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 positive visit to my husband’s endocrinologist. We thought we were facing a tour of radioactive iodine treatment in the next month but his thyroglobulin levels were so low that the doctor didn’t think the treatment was necessary at this time. They will check his levels again in 6 months. Now we don’t have to worry about being around our pregnant daughter or having to give the dog away for a month while he’s radioactive.

This week I’m looking forward to more nice weather. The only downside is that the grass and weeds are growing so quickly that I’m going to have to do some heavy duty yard work over the weekend. Our daughter and her husband are also moving this weekend and I’m looking forward to helping them set up their new home in Hamilton.

Share Your World 2015 – Week #16

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks Cee for this week’s questions

What are your favorite spices?

I think I answered this question this time last year and my answer is the same: cinnamon. I love cinnamon ice-cream, cinnamon buns (I never eat them because they’re too high in calories), cinnamon on top of my cappuccino, cinnamon in apple pie and apple crisp and cinnamon in my mulled wine.

What object do you always have with you when traveling and why?

I would be lost without a camera of some kind. I love taking pictures and experimenting with different angles and shots. Taking photos is a great way to share your experiences with family and friends. A trip without a camera is like fries without ketchup. It just adds an extra little zing to the experience.

What is one thing you love about being an adult?

I love being able to go to bed when I want. I’m a bit of a night owl and tend to become most creative in the wee hours of the morning. This doesn’t bode well when you’re working and I’ve been trying to get a least 8 hours of sleep a night. I’ve been averaging 6 1/2 hours but yesterday I was so tired that I was in bed before 10:30.

I also love being able to do things without asking permission. That doesn’t mean that I’m inconsiderate of others. I always discuss what I want to do with my husband but I don’t have to ask permission. My husband has always let me explore my own path, as I do his but we both make sure that there isn’t a conflict of interest with the dates we’ve chosen. We still love to do things together but we don’t do everything together.

What item, that you don’t have already, would you most like to own?

I would love to own a really good camera that isn’t my iPhone. I love the convenience of my camera phone but there are times when I wish I could zoom in closer on some things far away.

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 the two days of warm sunny weather that we experienced last week. It was wonderful getting outside without having to wear a jacket, mitts and a hat. Unfortunately the last few days have been cold, rainy and windy. I even brought some plants, that I bought earlier in the week, indoors last night because the temperatures were suppose to go below freezing.

This week I’m looking forward to some more warmer weather on the weekend. I’m hoping to get together with my children for a meal and on Sunday I’m going to another concert with my friend DM.