It's a Bird ... It's a Plane

Dear other house: thank you for being done and leaving us alone. 

The other house has actually been done for a while but after taking so much longer than we thought to complete (and of course more dollars than we thought) we’ve been taking a super nice mental vacation from everything that-house related. This little vacay has been made possible by the amazing efforts and skill of Rob (and his dad and his mom and his brother and his cousin and his other cousin). There are no leaky toilets, no leaky windows, and no drafty doorways. Nothing. No reason for anyone to ring us in the middle of the night (unless they somehow lock themselves out of their bedrooms or don’t know how to make rice – other kinda funny stories for other times). 

In epic superhero form Rob and his amazing family spent every afternoon, evening, weekend and any other day not at work covered in dust and paint and insulation performing renovation miracles. It definitely hasn’t been easy. We’ve learned that what starts out as cosmetic touch-ups never ends at just cosmetic touch-ups. We’ve learned that we’re not the world’s most accurate project costers. We (mostly Rob) have learned how to install light fixtures, install windows, install washers and dryers, put up drywall, build new staircases, and fix burst pipes. We’ve also learned how to still save enough for a sailboat, how to keep going when you’re sure you’re on empty, and how to smile when you want to jump up and down and curse, curse, curse. 

After all this learning and nearly six months both apartments are everything we dreamed they’d be back in November (and more - including filled with tenants). 

You can see some before photos of apartment one back here. These are the after shots: 

Bedroom

Looking into the living room. 

Kitchen

Before shots of apartment two (courtesy of Frankie’s nanna who thankfully for us actually remembers to take her camera and to use it): 

Second floor in second apartment.

Second floor in second apartment.

After shots:

Second apartment first floor laundry.

Second apartment second floor bedroom.

Second apartment looking into other second floor bedroom.

Second apartment first floor bathroom.

Up and Running (and The End of The Boisdale Glebe House)

It's been a long time since I've gone running. Quite possibly the longest running break since I started running. There was the oh-my-poor-body recovery time after Frances was born. And then six or so weeks of vacation in Ontario. Then (still) a tiny baby who could get very hungry very fast and unpredictably. As the only food source I didn't want to wander too far from home. 

As soon as she began to settle into a predictable sleeping and eating pattern I was out the door. I ran once and my knees hurt a bit. I ran again and they hurt more. I was not going to give in. But the more I ran the more they hurt until I could barely get up and down the stairs. I bought new shoes but they only helped a tiny bit. I was frustrated and angry and sad and I gave in and gave up. I read online that joint pain could be a prolonged post-pregnancy effect as hormone levels return to normal. A glimmer of hope even though there was still a lot pouting and I assumed the worst, that I'd never run again.

I've been out running three times in the last week. My knees and I have never felt better. Here's to spring weather, park paths, boardwalks, sunsets over the harbour, strong knees and still getting a nice new pair of shoes out of a temporarily trying situation.

In less everything-turns-out-okay news, the boisdale glebe house was burnt down over the weekend. The glebe house had been abandoned years before but the church on the same property was still in use. I feel so lucky to have seen the inside of this amazing and beautiful old building last spring. I remember driving away from there thinking that it should have been made into a museum and not be left to fall apart room by room. I tried to find the rest of the photos I took the day we were there but I think they died with my last computer. And now the glebe house is gone. And the police probably won't catch who did it because around here it seems like they never do. Which is probably why it feels like there are more deliberately set fires on this island than anywhere else in the world. Stupid arsonists. 

Baby Laughs A Lot

Despite the weatherman's semi-dreary predictions we've had a whole lot of sunshine this weekend. Not as much as last year but enough to make us believe that summer will eventually make its way to this lovely (but sometimes cold and windy) little island. 

We had an amazing easter brunch yesterday with all our favourite amazing people. And its really hard to find a better meal than brunch: all the goodness of breakfast foods (prominently featuring maple syrup) but at a much more reasonable time of day. 

Before brunch I made a point of bringing the camera downstairs and placing it right beside the table hoping that if I tripped over it I'd remember to get a photo of everyone around the table but I stayed upright and have no pictures to prove it. I did get a few of Frankie getting ready (or our get one piece of clothing on the wiggly baby have a play break, get another piece of clothing on the wiggly baby have another play break, routine).

I was tempted to stop after putting her bloomers on since she was then the cutest thing I'd ever seen. More babies in just bloomers is reason enough to want summer here asap.

More babies in dresses with bare baby arms is another good reason for wanting the temperatures to rise.

Although we didn't do any easter egg hunting this year Frances did get to try a few pieces of her very own little chocolate bunny. Each time we'd hold out a piece for her to try she'd giggle before taking it and putting it in her mouth. This really was an excellent strategy to get us to keep giving her more and more chocolate. Up until now she hasn't been a very giggly baby but in the last week it seems like anything and everything makes her laugh. Oh my sweeter than maple syrup baby.

 Happy Easter!

First Park Swing: Baby Approved

Her Most Favourite Toy

Nanna's purse!

(photos by nanna)