Forever....again

I'm horrible at this crazy blogging stuff.

Biggest thing...we are LOSING weight. Yes, actually losing it. I've lost 17 pounds (of an unsavory 40) and steadily losing 1-2 pounds a week. Loving the Weight Watchers. I once thought that WW was only for 400-pound 50-year-old women, but it's doing the trick. I am also running 4 times a week on the "ol' bitch" treadmill. Man, I despise her. But, some days I love her. It's tough being a treadmill. I'm shocked that it's working this well though...I keep anticipating a dead stop with no explanation. But so far, so good. The goal? 125 pounds by Canada Day.

Hell ya.

Sadly, I can now smell chocolate from across a room.

Oh, fall...

It's always you who inspires me to get back into gear. With painting. With organizing. With renewing. I'm feeling pretty strongly about "out with the old, in with the new." And in a lot of areas, really.

I have a brand new beautiful painting hanging in my dining room. One that I did not paint myself, and let me tell you, it feels incredibly refreshing to have a piece from another artist adorning my walls for a change! Isn't it great?.....even though I believe it is still hanging slightly crooked in the photo.

Wee Man has begun preschool and adores it. He's making new friends, I'm making new friends and everyone is smiling. New. Ahhh.

We've already hit up the local pumpkin patch once and it makes my heart sing. I hope to visit it again soon...we still need to pick out pumpkins :D

And, man, do I love Today's Parent magazine. It's Canadian, so very informative and relevant to our family, and the stories and features are wonderful! AND - every year they offer subscribers the opportunity to have their December cover come customized with a picture you upload and color scheme you choose! For FREE! Isn't that the coolest!? Here's mine for this year...

OK, now where are the Honey Crisp apples and the mini pumpkins!?!? I've been looking...

Wondering....

It's no wonder people can live in a city filled with people and yet feel so very alone. I don't know my immediate neighbors, other than to say "hi" every now and then in passing - and we have lived here for a year and a half. I do know people on the street however, some that I spend a good amount of time with that have kiddos around Wee Man's age, but not any of our next-door neighbors.

I have mentioned to the hubby before about how it's nice to not have to talk to a neighbor every time you pop outside for a moment...I do like how everyone keeps to themselves in this neighborhood.

But, sadly, our neighbor (a Mom of 2) passed away a couple months back. I heard from friends that live on our street. I am saddened to see the family coming and going, silently, and constantly wondering how they are doing, but not knowing them even well enough to take over a casserole or say the typical, "if you need anything..." I'm unsure of how I would even be able to acknowledge what happened in a conversation with them. I've seen the Dad tending to the perennials that the Mom, no doubt, planted the year prior. This stuff tears at me.

I had talked to their son a couple of times and thought he was just the sweetest kid. I believe he is around 14 and his sister is about 17. I truly hope they are doing ok...such tender ages to go through something so difficult. I lost my Dad when I was 25 and it killed me...I find it astonishing how much is still hurts 8 years later. I still yearn to talk to him, to see how he would be with my children (that's a big one).

They have had their house up for sale for awhile now and they are filling the moving truck today. Their Dad is in the military and that may be why they are moving, but I can't help but think that living in that house without Mom is more sadness than they can endure. I hope their Dad is able to find the tenderness to help these young kids through this terrible time. I glanced out my window and see the boy power-washing the driveway off, headphones in. I feel a great sadness I cannot express. I'm sorry I can't help. I'm sorry I'm not brave enough to say anything. I'm sorry I don't know you well enough to know if you would even want me to say anything. I'm sorry for your loss.

New Etsy Listing

Heya. I've had a couple requests for a full name version of my "Custom Monogram Painting" for some kiddos, and so, I thought I'd pop a listing up on Etsy.

Here are some pics of completed paintings.