Thursday, March 31, 2011

Home again

We're just back from a two-day school ski trip to Aesissippi, MB - not far from Russell, MB, or just over the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. It was great fun, everyone enjoyed themselves, no one was injured, and we'll all sleep well tonight.

Having said that, I find it really strange to live in the middle of the prairies and have a school (downhill) ski trip! Did I ski? No! I did go tubing though. Bram tried downhill for the first time ever; I think it was Rose's second time. Aesissippi is about a three-hour drive from Regina, and there's an hour's time difference as well. We lost an hour on the way there and gained it on the way back.

I'm too tired to write much; I'll try another day to give my impressions.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday evening

It's Sunday evening. Rose got called into work this afternoon and is sleeping for a bit now before she gets up to do homework. Bram hasn't arrived home from Chorus Tour, but I expect him within the hour. Betty just finished doing laundry and is now back in her room (where she spends all her time).

We had a larger crowd for Sunday dinner today - between 30 and 35 I'd guess. Ruth and Lisa Vance brought casseroles and I cooked a roast. We had some good visiting going on; one group in the family room, one in the dining room and one in the living room. I'm so thankful that I have a home large enough to accommodate pretty much as many people as I want to invite over. The most I've had over I think was at Thanksgiving when we had around 60 people, but I've done over 30 several times now.

I've been working on planning how to redo my bathroom lately. I've been wanting to add a shower to the half-bath in my bedroom, and update things in both bathrooms (the pink fixtures from 1957 can disappear - they've done their duty for over 50 years and it's time for something not quite as dated.) I had a really nice floor plan sketched out, but my dad says that I can't do it because the plumbing stack is in the wall between the two bathrooms and as I have a low-slope roof, I can't move it without redoing my roof. I'm not wanting to redo my roof, so I'm working on plan B. Apparently Dad also sketched out another possibility for me, but took it back to S'toon with him, and I haven't seen it. Yesterday Walter P and I went and looked at fixtures, etc. at both Rona and Home Depot. Somethings are cheaper at one place than another. I've also looked on-line at Sears and CDN Tire. Haven't bought anything yet.

Finally figured out why my dishwasher leaks sometimes and not others. It's from 1967 according to the serial number, so it's nearly 50 years old as well. The seal on the inside as perished in one spot. It doesn't leak unless I do two loads back to back - then it heats up enough that it just doesn't seal properly. Walt thinks I should just replace it - but I'm in bathroom more than kitchen mode right now. I think a towel on the floor also works - but if I get a DW at a really good price, I may replace it.

Friday, March 11, 2011

New Book

OK, I've bought my first on-line book for my kobo. I was waiting last night for Rose to be done work, so I went by Chapters (it's right by the Safeway where she works), and read half a book. I just found it on-line and downloaded it to my kobo so that I can finish reading it while I man the registration table for youth rally.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Update

I've been informed that I haven't updated my blog for quite awhile. Sorry. I've been sending a weekly letter to my mother-in-law and my parents, and don't seem to manage to keep everything updated.

So, what's going on in our life here in Regina? I've given up on waiting for spring and have ordered seeds. Hopefully when I get them started, it will look like spring inside if not outside yet.

Rose is still suffering from allergies, etc. and has taken a week off school to work from home where there are less allergens. We're going to try her back at school again today and see how it goes. She went to S'toon last weekend, met some of her friends there, bought too many books (this comes as a shock and a surprise?) and bought me a kobo (e-book reader). She's going to Japan for Easter break and is finalizing her plans right now.

So, I've read a book on the kobo. I wasn't impressed by the book - in fact, was totally disgusted. At the end it left things hanging, didn't resolve anything, and was just frustrating! About the kobo? I'm unsure. It's certainly a lot easier to hold than a paperback book; I like the way it's easy to adjust the print size; however when "turning" the page, it takes a second or so to refresh the screen and up to 5 seconds at the end of each chapter. It's not much of a wait at the end of each page, but is a little frustrating to start a new chapter. It's definitely set up for a right-handed person (and I'm a lefty), the navigation button is on the bottom right hand corner. I'll reserve judgment.

Bram is continuing to do well. He's up to date on all his assignments; and is taking a pretty heavy load, including calculus by self-study. I really enjoy having him live at home with Rose and I instead of in the dorm.

OK, I've updated things. TTYL