A Full Day of Little-Girl Giggles

Oddly, I was wide awake at 4:30 and couldn’t fall back asleep. My brain immediately went into list mode—things to sell, things to do—so by 7:30 I decided I might as well start posting items for sale. Renn was awake shortly after but happily talked to herself and read her book quietly in her crib. When S got up at 8, I made us coffees, and when the pink wake-up light turned off in her room at 8:30, she still didn’t call out. I knocked and got the sweetest “Oh hi, Nana!” as she popped up to start her day.

We kicked off the morning with applesauce, cheese, craisins, Goldfish, and plenty of playtime. Amanda dropped Aislyn off after 10, for a fun play day ahead. Meanwhile, Sheldon worked on more deer processing and unloaded the firewood. I made an apple crisp and put the turkey bones on to simmer for soup.

loving all Nana's angels, looking with her eyes but must have occasional touch LOL

Dr Renny in the house

Aislyn got in a lot of school reading points for "reading to someone younger"

J always gets a ton of love when Aislyn is out for a visit

Grilled cheese for lunch, then we started a movie in the bedroom just as B and Cooper popped out. There was lots of playtime with Auntie B before Renn bundled up to go outside with Aislyn while Britt fed the horses. I headed out to keep eyes on our wild little runner as she rolled in the grass, and I did a quick poop-scoop loop while S relaxed with a beer on the deck.

talented!

Back inside, we finished The Grinch with B and Cooper joining us. S wrapped up The Alchemist—he started it the other night and found it a super easy read. I finished prepping veggies for the soup, though not in time for it to be ready before B and Cooper headed home around 4. S started a fire just as the soup finally came together.

Cooper working on his brave skills

We all enjoyed steaming bowls of turkey soup for supper—except Renn, who preferred her half-can of Alphagetti. Dessert was apple crisp with ice cream for everyone but me and, surprisingly, Renn, who only wanted the ice cream but did bravely lick a tiny piece of apple.

The girls were back to puzzles and playing when the Paetz crew arrived after 6:30. It was a quick visit—they had to get back for Clover’s bandage change and pizza at 7. Once they left, Renn was in the tub. It wasn’t her favourite moment of the day, but she was all smiles once she was wrapped in a warm towel. PJs, a quick second applesauce, teeth brushed and a FaceTime with Shaina and Matt wrapped up her evening.

She and I snuggled in the rocking chair, sang a couple songs, then I tucked her into bed. After a tiny bit of resistance, about 30 seconds, she was out in no time—she’d had a big, happy day. S watched Hockey Night in Canada in front of the fire while I settled in with Netflix and wrote today’s blog.

Head Massage, Furnace Room Organizing & Renn Comes for the Weekend

I made coffees and delivered one to the still-sleeping guy at 8:30, waking him just enough to say we needed to leave by 9. That plan didn’t go quite as expected—surprise, surprise—with a few small delays, but we finally rolled out around 9:15. My tight little schedule was officially out the window, so we headed straight to a good customer’s home in the SW near Kaylin's. She’s moving to Scotland and offered me most of the pieces she’d purchased from me over the years—and more. We loaded a standing jewelry box, the bench S built, an accent chair, and a bread box, and somehow squeezed in a curvy desk at the last minute. There are still a few larger pieces, but I’m not sure I can make it back before she moves next week.

From there we zigzagged across the city to a spa in the NE to meet Kaylin, who had just dropped Renn at school. She gifted me a hydro head massage for my birthday, and let me tell you—it was every bit as heavenly as she promised. THANK YOU!! XOXO

By 1, we were back at Boysie’s place with the plan to tackle their furnace room. Give me an organizing project any day—I love a makeover, and this one turned out great. We took a late Edo lunch break at 2, and S popped back in after his appointment. By 4, the furnace room looked like a completely different space. Nathan ran to pick up Renn, and we had a short little visit before she was ready to go.

Loaded up, we headed east. She quietly watched her iPad the whole way and was absolutely thrilled to arrive at Nana and Grampa’s. I threw together a quick supper, then she and I headed downstairs to play “castle trick-or-treating,” which she loved. Then we popped outside to see the light show. Kinda like zoo lights but only animals at Nana and Grandpas are horses, cats and a dog. S was busy watching hockey and tidying up his deer back straps and organ meats.

She named this horse Junie :)

Once Renn had her fill of playtime, I got her changed into PJs, read her bedtime stories, and tucked her in around 7:30. She was out fast. B arrived not long after to feed and came in for a short visit before she headed off to help Amanda change Clover’s bandage. Netflix for me, sports for S, and that wrapped up our full Friday.

S gets his deer

The day started beautifully with bright sunshine glistening over frosty grass. Even at -6°, it felt peaceful as we enjoyed coffees and a little catch-up in bed. By 10, Sheldon had a bagel in his belly and was out the door for hockey.

I spent the morning sorting marketing photos and puttering with odds and ends before hauling out a tub of Christmas bears. Renn will be sure to enjoy seeing them all.

Lunch was another delicious avocado-tomato-bacon sandwich. With the temperature warming to around 6°, I bundled up and took Harley for an hour-long walk while chatting with Amanda. We continued our conversation back at the house until Sheldon rolled in at 2. We wrapped things up just as she discovered poor Clover had licked her surgery stitch open—ugh. Off to the vet at 3:30 for a staple.

While I was walking, the Amazon van pulled up at the gate. I grabbed the smaller package but left the bigger one for S to snag with the truck. The creepy part? No driver in sight. Amanda joked he was probably peeing in the trees. Yikes—move along, buddy!

S had picked up a load of firewood after hockey, then grabbed his lunch before Donnie arrived and the two of them headed out hunting. I ran a big box of jars to the gate for pickup… only for the gal to message later saying she forgot and would come tomorrow. People!

I set up the teddy bears for Renn to enjoy when she comes tomorrow, then worked on our route and Costco list. Brittany texted asking if I could feed the horses, so out I went just as the sun was setting.

Back inside, I was scrolling through the online Costco flyer when a couple of shots sounded close to the house. Sure enough, the hunters were just over the fence. Darkness settled quickly after that. I had just started making a salad and cooking pasta when Sheldon poked his head in the door to say they’d got a deer and he’d be a while.

I ate and started a new series, The Big C. The hunters spent the next three hours doing whatever they do—there were a few garage stops for water and even a Tupperware request. I watched my show until Donnie headed home and S finally came in around 9.

We ended the night with a hot tub soak (a bit brisk out—brr!), then a shower and a little more Absentia. We’re not sure we’re loving it, so we stopped and spent the rest of the night reading.

A quiet Wednesday of photos and finishing a good book

The morning started with our usual coffees and pet care before I dove into the dreaded chores—cleaning the bathroom sinks, tending to the plants, and squeezing in a bit of marketing work. S spent the morning on investments and internet scrolling.

After 11, he headed to town for his annual bloodwork and to help Britt with her washer. They discovered a horrific hairball clogging the filter and drained five containers of foul water, but at least her washer is back in action. It reminded me that I hadn’t checked my own filter during my big washer-and-dryer clean, but aside from the expected bit of stinky water, everything was fine.

In the city waiting to meet their new family doctor with her current favourite beef jerky

I cooked bacon for lunch and paired it with avocado and tomato—so good. Harley enjoyed some more of her frozen treat stash since the weather was finally nice again.

I hauled up the antique school desk I refinished years ago just as S returned. He made himself a BTA sandwich with the fixings I’d left out, then headed back outside to replace yet another snapped-off fence post. I cleaned and staged the desk and started working on a sales ad then hauled the desk back downstairs.

In the afternoon sun—now a warm 6°C—I took Harley out while S put the skid steer away and cracked a beer. Back home, I hauled in Grama and Papa’s tables to stage them as well. Now to figure out how to get them delivered. S went out to scout deer while I snapped a few photos.

By 4, I was stretched out on our bed with my book, soaking in the golden-hour light.

B and Cooper arrived around 4:30 just as I was prepping Harley’s supper. I fed Cooper too, then washed up all six dog bowls. B tossed hay out in the paddock before they headed home an hour later. I also loaded a box into her car for a porch pickup—another item purged!

As the sun set, I returned to my book. I was heating up a leftover taco when S came in from scouting just before 6. He ate as well before heading off to his monthly rodeo meeting and drinks at OJ’s. Time to get the desk ad posted on a few sites.

Chef Nathan is in cookie baking season

I finished the book, The Alchemist in a gold-and-blue–hued bath—such a lovely read with a great message about life. Hard to believe it took almost a year on the library waitlist. Probably most time is spent in transit between libraries.

Later, I started a few new Netflix shows—a comedian special, a money-swindler documentary, and a hitmakers series—before S came home after 9:30 and we carried on with Absentia.