New Digs

I suspected it would come to this. We have renovated before and have survived and I was sure I'd survive this one too. But this one is different. EVERYTHING is being restored. Every wall, every bathroom, every floor, every ceiling. And so it was that we decided we had to move out. Eric and Tim have found temporary places to live and Wes and I are now on the 18th floor of Ft. Garry Place, downtown Winnipeg. Kristen is still in the house with the dogs but I suspect she won't last long.

I can see the Golden Boy from my living room window and the rear of the Fort Garry Hotel from the bedroom window. If I stick my head out the window, I can almost see our house. This is a wonderful, peaceful, respite from all the construction and I am so grateful for it.

Indoor parking (great on a rainy day), washer and dryer, kitchen, internet, quiet, dust free and housekeeping on Mondays to boot. I am looking forward to the completion of the renovations and enjoying our new space but for now, this is a great place to be.

Sigh.

Another fantastic Folk Festival weekend.

Construction workers leave all kinds of things around the place after they leave.

Power tools
HammersPictures of the bossAnd...their pants? I believe these pants belong to the drywall taping guy. I'm not sure what he was wearing when he left.

Restorations

I've decided to change my attitude about the renovations. I'm calling this a restoration project, rather than a renovation project. Restoration has a more positive ring to it, don't you think? And, we are finished with the tearing down and everything is looking better every day.

When you are living with a huge project such as we are, you have many interesting people coming around every day. That is one part of the construction that I will miss.

Back Lane

After not having one for about 22 years, we have a back lane behind our house. When I first moved to Winnipeg thirty years ago, I didn't even know what a back lane was.
There was nothing like that in the town where I grew up. For those of you who don't know, a back lane is a lane that runs behind houses, eliminating the need for front driveways and giving homeowners a place to put their garbage cans and other junk that have no place to be stored. I have not seen a back lane that doesn't look shabby and messy. Most back lanes are rutted and in disrepair. I have never really understood the need for a lane especially because it takes up space that could otherwise have been used as backyard. IMHO.

I have discovered a great use for back lanes, now that I have one. Because we are sharing a house and yard with Michele and her family, we find that we have some surplus stuff to deal with. Michele had a patio set which was great until the fabric started tearing and the glass in the table exploded one day. It was a great set and with a little work, (well actually a lot of work) could become quite usable again. Neither one of us has the gifts or talent to pull off one of those "we found this set and for only 40 dollars were able to make it look as good as new" makeovers. And we really didn't need the set because between the 2 households, we have plenty of lawn furniture.

So we put it out in the back lane and voila! It disappeared within hours.

Now, what else can I put out there?

We buried an old friend yesterday. He was 51 years old, a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was much too young to die and had many years of living to come as far as I was concerned. But somehow, cancer invaded his brain and continued it's deadly growth for 9 months until his body finally succumbed to it.

When we found out in September about the tumour, we began praying. Hundreds of us, praying hard. We reminded God that he had the power to heal with just a word. We prayed for a miracle. What a testimony that would be! We'd tell the world that the tumour had miraculously disappeared and we'd give God all the glory. God is good, we'd say.

But that was not to be. As I watched Gerald lying on the hospital bed, the life slowly seeping out of him, I wondered about the healing. I thought back to the times in the previous 9 months when he rallied and we ached to believe that would be the beginning of restoration to health. I watched him as his laboured breathing became slower and the times between breaths became longer. I saw his body, once tall, strong and athletic, reduced to skin and bones except for the puffiness that came from medications.

Where God, is the healing for which we so fervently prayed? Where are you in all of this? What do you mean when you say that my prayers will be answered if only I ask?

And then it occurred to me that the healing was indeed beginning. God knew that Gerald's time on earth was coming to an end and God knew that he would no longer need his mortal body in heaven. Flesh, bones, organs and bodily systems would only weigh him down like a ball and chain, impeding his ability to enjoy eternity. As I watched his body wasting away, I began to see his spirit, his God-essence become larger than his formerly imposing body, created for his time on earth. The healing of his spirit accelerated as his earthly body deteriorated.

We were created to live with God for eternity. Our time here on earth is short and none of us will experience complete healing from pain and sorrow until all that holds us to this earth is removed and we meet God, unfettered by our human bodies.

Today, the tears come frequently and the sadness easily overwhelms me. He will be missed and I know I will still wonder why it happened this way and why Gerald had to die so young. But I am grateful for answered prayer. Today, Gerald is healed. He is happy and free of pain, free from his feeble, weak body. Our prayers have been answered.

Gerald Folkerts

Rest in peace Gerald.

Looking on the bright side

There is a definite advantage to having a dryer catch fire. It has moved the installation of the solar powered dryer to the top of the priority list.

Perfect Day

So far, today has been a perfect day. We biked to church, were invited to some dear friends for lunch and took a walk to our favourite Gelati place which just happens to be a block away from our friends' home.

A bike ride home and now, a glass of wine on the deck, looking at the new patio doors that were so expertly installed on Friday.

These moments of peace are a treasure during this time in our lives.

Renovations

Welcome to our home!Renovations.

That's all I can think about. I've posted 10 Renovation photo albums on Facebook so if you're interested in all the dusty details, check that out. If you are not yet my friend, please ask and I will probably be happy to be your friend.

Most of the time I think I'm crazy for doing this (renovations that is, not facebook although I think facebook can be crazy too). I have moved from a gorgeous 3500 square foot mansion to a less than 800 square foot basement apartment. This is only temporary but sometimes, it's hard to stay positive and think about what is to come.

However, what is to come is a beautifully laid out space, with gorgeous cabinets, some lovely architectural details and we hope, the outstanding tin ceilings that are part of the charm of this old house. Because our home will be shared with my sister and her family, the building permit gods have decided that we need sound and fire barriers. While I understand the theory behind all of that, it adds more work and the possibility of having to remove the beautiful tin ceilings. Removal of the ceilings can be a challenge-some say it's impossible so we are looking for alternatives. Can't we just ask our housemates to promise to be a little quiet? And can't we all promise not to play with fire?

I am happy that the worst of the dust is finished. Now, it is mostly new construction that will be happening and I'd rather breath in that kind of dust than 100 year old plaster dust.

And, just between you and me, I do enjoy having the workers around. They are fun and add some spice to my life.

Renovations

I've been so preoccupied with the renovations, that I haven't had much to post about. My dad and mom are here now, so that dad can help out with some of the work. He is an electrician by trade and having him here brings back memories of the constant renovations that I grew up with. I enjoyed it much more when I was 12.

There are blood, sweat and tears going into this reno.

If you look closely, you will see a blood spot in the middle of the door.

In the Netherlands, the land of my ancestors, there is a wonderful tradition where you eat a gebakje (decadent small cake) on behalf of a person who is having a birthday. Usually, you eat the gebakje with the birthday person but if the person is not around, then you must eat one in his or her honour.

Happy birthday Micah!

Thanks for having a birthday.

Renovations

I've posted lots of renovation pictures on my facebook page but this one I had to post on my blog. Wes believes that demolishing the walls in what was once the coal room in this house is the dirtiest job he's ever done.

Asbestos removal was also part of our day's activities.Whew. Sometimes, I wonder if we're just plain crazy to be renovating a 100+ year old house.

Paska

Happy Easter!

I hope this tastes as good as it looks!

New Freezer

We sold our freezer with the house so we needed a new one before our frozen stuff begins to thaw. It was delivered today. As the 2 movers were setting it down, one of them said that it seemed quite heavy and did we get it full of food?

"No," I said, "but maybe there's a body in there. Hee hee."

I opened the lid and screamed at the top of my lungs as the 3rd mover guy looked up from the inside of the freezer and grinned at me.

I think I made their day.

Poor Jed.

While we were away, Jed stayed at "Susan's Dog Paradise." He must have thought that he had died and gone to heaven what with all the extra kibbles he managed to steal while Sadie the dog wasn't looking. And the blue cheese appetizers that he ate while the humans were distracted. Apparently blue cheese dog farts bring dog farts to a whole new level. Lucky for us the blue cheese is all out of his system.

Jed has a wee little phobia about basements and this is a problem because we are currently living in a basement and we are responsible for Jed. There are 2 ways to get into this basement and we are grateful for the fact that Jed has found the courage to navigate one set of stairs. Problem is, as soon as he gets down the stairs, he races for the other stairway, goes to the top and is unable to get down again. So I need to let him out the back door where he finds his way to the safe-for-Jed stairway and it all happens again.

Even the best of food will not coax Jed down the stairs.

At least Dixie is a good dog cousin. She has no problem going up or down any stairway and usually keeps Jed company while he is stuck upstairs.

Thursday was moving day. Thursday was also a day in the middle of a snowstorm so when the huge moving truck came to our street, the driver just knew he could not back into the driveway. There was that much snow and Wes had cleared the driveway twice already.

Lyle, the guy in the office who had come to do the estimate, told us that they could come again on Saturday to move us but not earlier because they didn't have any smaller trucks available until then. I raised a wee bit of a stink and I don't think that Lyle like my little stink. It was successful because the moving company decided to rent a truck and still move us on Thursday. So, with the late start, our stuff was moved in by 10:00 PM. What a day! I spent 2 hours just clearing the huge drift of snow that was in front of the back door. I don't think too many people need to spend several hours shovelling snow on the day that they move.

This is a picture of Mike, the head mover guy. I have not met many more people who love their jobs as much as Mike does. He has been doing this for 28 years! He was a pleasure to work with.
Friday and Saturday were spent cleaning the old house and then organizing the new. Today, we spent a quiet day in our cosy little apartment. We will have times of chaos and I am grateful for this time of peace and quiet. Renovations will start soon.

Watch for pictures of our new place soon!

We're Home!

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

We got home on Monday night/Tuesday morning, depending on which time zone we're thinking about. Today, all day, was spent packing. Wes knows how to pack, that's for sure. I do too but I'm much slower and I think about it...

All

Night

Long.

One day, I'll be sitting in my beautiful new living room thinking that this will have been all worth it but today, I'm just hoping to get through the day and manage to pack up the rest of the house.

We're actually doing very well in the packing department. Physically, that is. Mentally, I've got lots more to do and I tend to do that work around 3 AM, CST. Sucks.

El Salvador was an incredible experience and I think often about the people there as I pack up all of my material possessions. It would take a local Salvadoran about 2 hours to pack up I think, not counting the chickens, pigs, roosters, kittens, puppies and various other animals. It's taking me at least 2 days to do the same. What a strange world we live in.

On a very bright note, I saw my most amazing granddaughter today for the first time in 2 weeks. I must say, in my humble opinion, that she is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen.

LA

Los Angeles is HUGE. We drove for 2 hours today on the Pacific Coast highway. We went through several towns but were not able to tell where one ended and the next began.

Every now and then, I remember El Salvador and what we saw and experienced there. The cultural differences are many. In El Salvador, the rooster living in the compound of our hotel started its cockadoodledooing at 4:00 AM. It is very quiet in our hotel here in LA. Perhaps I will sleep beyond 4:00 AM today. That would be nice.

Dinner in Newport Beach and then back to our hotel. We are travel weary and looking forward to coming home to the prairies tomorrow.

Images of El Slavador

Yesterday, we found a most interesting bar. Grass roof held up with branches, sand floor and ancient coke cooler. The local beer was 85 cents, which is cheaper than bottled water. I have been drinking beer!