seven layer salad: Life As I Know It

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If you've wondered why my postings have been running a little on the slow side....this is what has been going on since the first of July....

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

I have had so many changes and life experiences going on in my life the past couple of months, something had to give. I'm ready to slow down and take a breather!! All I can say is hang in there with me. It's getting dark earlier and that will slow down my outdoor activities. We've been cooking up a storm and I've got lots of good things photographed and ready to share, but I've had so much on my mind that I've been literally unable to stay focused.

The first thing that happened that has bewildered me beyond words was seeing my best friend Claudia and her daughter Sasha go through the loss of their beloved grandchild/child Claudia "Lux" to SIDS. She was the most perfect, beautiful, healthy 4-month-old baby you could ever imagine. She was so full of happiness and life that I find myself still not believing it really happened. I can only imagine the pain they are going through. The last time I held precious Lux in my arms, she slept the whole time. Never in a million years could I imagine that time would be the last. My heart is broken for my friends as this tragedy has forever altered their lives. I hope and pray that somehow, some day they will be able to find joy in life again after their joy was torn from them. For the first time in my life I'm at a total loss for words. There is nothing I can do or say to make things right. Hug your children every chance you get...we never know how much time we get to love them. Please keep my friends in your thoughts and prayers.

First visit to Andy and Nise's.

Such a precious little baby.

Where Did My Mother Come From?

Several months ago I also started up a little project to research my family history on my Mother's side. She grew up believing she was born in Maine and after a little investigating; I was able to locate her birth certificate from Edmonston, New Brunswick, Canada! My Grandmother Albert, (Meme') who was born in Canada, met my Grandfather (Pepe') when he was making runs over the border from Maine. From what we could tell; she went back over the border to be with her Mother and sisters and gave birth to my Mom and Aunt Pat. With a little more work, I was able to track my Meme's naturalization papers. All I can say is Walter Hickey with the Boston Archives was a blessing! He really helped me out tremendously.
I also have to give a shout out to Claudia. She is a genealogy guru and without her help, I would have never found this Manifest showing my Meme's crossing over the border two days after she married my Pepe. My Mother's sister Kay and brother Art and his wife Ruth came up and it was so emotional to give my Mother a certified copy of my Grandmother's naturalization papers along with a book (for all of them) with every bit of documentation I was able to find.
With all the news you hear about people wanting to have citizen status just given to them; all I can say is it took my Meme' another seven years before she become a United States Citizen. She carried her papers in her wallet at all times. What a source of pride she must have felt the day she left the courthouse! I can remember her crazy French-Canadian accent and vivacious personality and am so thankful she fell in love with my American Grandfather and married him!

Oh, Canada!

While everything else was going on, I was in the process of interviewing for a position with a company in Canada. Once it was awarded; I learned I'd be training in Arborg, Manitoba! Jody, the sweet lady who trained me is expecting a little one this month, so I was really hoping that baby wouldn't come too soon! Arborg is a very small rural prairie town about an hour and a half north of Winnipeg. The town's claim to fame is that it is the hometown of James Reimer, who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The people are hard-working and incredibly kind. I was so blessed to have Margaret and her husband Lorne take me through the country side and experience all the beauty the area had to offer.

My second plate of poutine! I will be fixing this one night for my bunch and posting! It consists of skinny fries, chicken/brown gravy and mozzarella. I've always been told there are no calories when you eat with friends!

A breezy, evening on Lake Winnipeg. I enjoyed Pickerel fillets, roasted root vegetables and wild rice. (In Canada, there are two l's in filets!) Since proofing is part of my responsibility on the job, I hope I can keep the Canadian/US English straight! The water will soon be frozen up to three feet thick which will allow for ice fishing and ice road trucking in some areas!

The rocky beaches welcomed the choppy waters to its shores.

I feel like I'm at a crossroads in my life...figuratively and literally!! This part of Canada is so flat, I could see forever no matter which way I looked!

Margaret and Lorne took me all the way through Hecla Island in hopes of seeing beautiful wildlife and the Eagles. A little wind and rain didn't stop us!

Come Again! This area has a strong Icelandic influence. The folks from Iceland only thought they found a warmer climate. Manitoba is actually one of the coldest parts of Canada!

A park full of birch trees reminded me of what I saw as a child in Connecticut!

I was just reading about the eagles and lo and behold.....

Look really, really hard! Yes, that was an eagle flying by!! I was so excited to see one!

My AWESOME tour guides Margaret and Lorne Beauchamp. Thank you for some great memories!

Paper Birch trees and their unusual bark.

Parking lot at Pro-Fab Industries in Manitoba.

These clouds went on forever!

Pro-Fab Industries...where I am now officially employed! However, I do work remotely at the Lawrenceburg, TN facility. Margaret is trying to find a reason for me to have to work up there in February; when it's 40 below zero! I told her folks in Tennessee don't own clothing for that type of lifestyle and she assured me she'd have a parka available.

It's Hard To Say Good-Bye!

What an emotional day! September 14 was the last day of my employment with Holley's Printing. I had worked on/off for this company for over 23 years. My awesome co-workers surprised me with a going-away party and all kinds of incredible goodies. I want to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.

The Life is Good Getaway...Point A to B!

On top of everything else....Andy and I have made the decision to create a getaway cabin from the little blue building that inhabited the land we bought 9 years ago. We have enjoyed the camper...but we're ready for an upgrade. Over the past 8 years we added: electricity, water, septic system, dock, 71 steps from the only flat spot on the land to the water, a landing half-way down with two rocking chairs facing the west for sunsets and more. We are finishing the inside ourselves, so every free weekend will be devoted to this project.

The little blue building has been a wonderful storage room and has housed a full bathroom for several years. If you've ever taken a shower in a camper, you'll understand why it was a priority!