Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Up to April 30th, 2008

March 28th to 30th Allan and I attended the 10th Annual Fire Conference in North Bay – that was a great week-end. Fire Departments from all over Northern Ontario were in attendance. This is the first I have attended as I have always been working in the past and tried to use my vacation time wisely. It is great being retired – every day is a vacation day! The weather was cold and caused an appreciated lull in the running of sap so we didn’t loose any while we were away.

We have had the pleasure of having Grandchildren to visit on several occasions. One little one from Sudbury was here for 2 weeks, she kept saying she did not want to go home, but when her Dad came to get her she was so happy to see him! She was in the car ready to go home before he had time to pack everything in it for the return trip home. She calls often and is looking forward to having another visit (I am having lots of sleeps at your house Grandma!). Her little brother wants to come for the day trip – (no sleeps at Grandma’s house only at Mommy’s!) Oh they are all such little angels!

I finally sent out my Thank You letters last week to people who sent cards and attended my retirement party back in January. Sometimes I have such a difficult time trying to put something on paper. Dwayne says I get wordy. My intentions were good – I did start the letters when I returned from vacation.

Last week Allan and I started to replace the siding and windows on a rental house up the street. Dwayne has been able to give us a hand with the heavier work. The windows are all in now, the old siding removed and the Styrofoam insulation has been installed. The new siding will come next – it will be light blue vinyl siding. Our 4 year old granddaughter chose the colour. Quite a change from the house with the white siding and orange trim!


I have continued with the exercise group that meets twice a week here in town. We use exercise balls which are very cumbersome to carry to and from the sessions. One day we had a high wind and a lady lost hers – it slipped out of her grip and bounced down the street over the snow bank and disappeared never to be seen again. I think it made its way to the lake, it being frozen solid the ball had clear travelling to who knows where! The balls have been on sale at Canadian Tire often this winter so they are not expensive but it is the inconvenience of having to travel for 1 hour to get one so I came up with a solution. I have made a crochet bag type carrier that covers the ball and provides you with lots of places to hold on to the ball without trying to wrap your arms around it to carry it. I have sold my bags to other members of the group and used the money to purchase more yarn to make baby vests, bonnets and booties to take back to Mexico with me. The nurse at the clinic in Puerto Morelos was very happy with the ones I took to her this winter so I am making more for our next visit. This is an ongoing project in the evenings while watching TV.



Oh, did I mention we have made reservations at the Cabanas Puerto Morelos for next winter and booked our flights already. Both of our sons and their families will be joining us this time, each family for one week. I am so looking forward to going back, we enjoyed it so much we want to share the Puerto Morelos experience with our our sons, their wives and children.

I think this has you up to date; the next update will come a lot sooner than this one did.

So ‘till next time,


Anne