Category: Uncategorized

Heard some good things about both minions last night, so with only 20 or so days under review they are on track, as far as they could tell. I think a more genuine review will come at the end of January as the entire first term ends. My youngest is in a class of 20. So good chance to do well if she applied herself. A quick learner, or so I’m told. Happy to hear that she isn’t disruptive and is actually engaged with the lessons. Noice! The elder one is still going strong. Reading is where it should be. An avid student, and well liked by classmates & teachers alike. Most pleasing to hear.

I took a swelteringly hot half hour to peruse the Scholadtic Book Fair and pick up a couple books off of both child’s list as a reward for being good during class time. Not that I should have to buy good grades and a joy for learning, but I’m not opposed to rewarding achievement and effort that I didn’t personally have to drag out of them.

Getting close to finishing my first pass on report project #4. That puts me 2/3rds of the way through our initial list of projects for Q4 of 2023. Will there be more? Hard to say. Last year Q4 exploded with activity and I was pumping our reports every week even into December. Could have been a fluke. I’m not privy to the bidding/request portion of the outfit, so I have no idea what to expect beyond what’s currently listed on my project to-do list. Do I hope for an extra one or two that run into early December? Yeah, sure. Load me up. But would I want an extra ten of them? Woah buddy. Kinda?, but that puts a hell of a lot of strain on my wrist, so like maybe not 10 extra. There’s only so many working hours I can operate safely, and not risk injury. Best not to get greedy! Be happy with the work available and budget accordingly. Has worked for me thus far. Mostly.

Looking outside I think after Thanksgiving I’m definitely going to need to do some yard work, and clean up leaves etc… these shrubs could do with a hair cut! I don’t remember the last time I did any weeding in the flower beds. But going on 20+ days with no rain, the weeds aren’t much of a problem for me this year. I’m sure we’ll have a damp & dreary mid October just because I’ve gone and said that. The lawn now looks how it should have done in July! Crispy. Crunchy underfoot. Not much fun to play on in bare feet that’s for certain.

I think today is Thursday. Ciao Bella!

It has been a busy couple weeks and I’m getting through a tonne of work, which means no time for much of anything else. I have parent teacher night tonight, and a book fair to wander through aswell. Kids and their extracurriculars are taking up a significant portion of our evenings, so that just about rounds out my day. Lots of work (tiring but great!) Kids programming, and running errands is about all there is time for right now. Could be worse. In fact it could be a lot worse. So I’ll take it as is, thanks.

What I do need to do is curb spending, and continue to grow my business at a reasonable pace so as not to burn out, or aggravate my RSI for my wrist. On the upside now the kids are in school I have a full seven hours to work. I’m not trying to plug away during naps, or after bedtimes. I can focus and attack my work with vigor! Way better this way. Far fewer mistakes when I can focus without interruptions.

Have to remember to rest up, and exercise my wrists every so often. Work smart by planning ahead and batching similar processes. Trying to limit hyper repetitive actions. There is a method to the madness, and having done many projects, over 10,000 in the last 17 years, I can effectively plan ahead, and work in a healthy manner. Takes care and effort to do so, but it’s my body & health on the line, so I’ll make the effort. Pre-planning to make the project as smooth as possible isn’t much fun, but pays off when you’re in the thick of it.

I don’t mean to gloat but so far these last two weeks I have been crushing it on the day job side of things. Nearly 50% of all current projects that were forecasted to come my way by Christmas are done a first pass, and are in the review process for final edits, and last pass fixes. If I keep up this pace I can be free and clear for the ten or so days I need in November. Which is excellent news.

We are coming off the contact high from the fair, and all the responsibilities that entails. Plus the fair food hang over from such rich food stuffs we don’t typically indulge in – much. Ha. Lots of standing outdoors in the heat has left the kids tired and achey. Not to mention that we did not cease any of their extracurriculars either, so a tad overwhelming at the moment. I think we’ll have to spread throughout the week, and not cram it all in on Mon-Tues-Wed. We are all learning what the kids can and can’t handle on a day by day basis. If you want the opportunity to do stuff, you have to be able & willing to leave the house to go do it. If it’s a fight, it’ll get pulled come Christmas break when we have to sign up for 2024 stuff. Fun times.

I forget that today is Tuesday. Feels like a hell of a week all ready. And it’s only Tuesday! Tuesday!?! Really. This week has been a really long year it feels like. I also need to squeeze in some blood work later on today. Only a few hours from now, now that I think about it and actually look at a clock. I skipped breakfast this morning so I’m having an early lunch. And realize what time it is. Poof. And the day is gone. Crazy.

Here’s hoping you and yours are all well as he head into Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend. Ciao Bella!

Couldn’t tell you the last time I worked out, not off the top of my head anyway, I’d need to look it up. I was four or five days in and just poof – forgotten. Again. In my defense, weak though it will be, I was gearing up for the fair, finishing entries, bagging & tagging the kids stuff, delivering pumpkins to the fair grounds, and attending 23 hours of fair fun time over the course of three days. So I wasn’t sat idle doing nothing. My hips, ankles and back can attest to just how much walking, standing, and child lifting/carrying I was doing. I also wasn’t snacking the whole time either, much to my surprise.

We had hot sunny weather, and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. My eyes are starting to clear up from all the accumulated dust exposure. Now we turn towards Thanksgiving, Halloween, and doing yard clean up for leaves etc etc… if the wasps could just hurry up and die or go away I could clear off the apple trees, and co some late in the year pruning. But that’s another matter.

By best count it has been 18 days since our last rain. So everything is dusty and dry. Odd for September. But the weather has been odd for a while, and I see no change in sight. Going to hold off on the patio furniture and such for a bit more. I’d like to get a few more mild evenings under my belt sitting out on my deck at sundown. Though with how active the kids are that may prove to be a challenge. They can’t say we didn’t provide them with opportunities to try things. Sports, crafts, dance, theatrics you name it.

I think I have a new project coming in now, so I best sign off and get to work. Ciao Bella!

Not going to lie, I should have gone harder on the sunscreen as these last two days have been sunny & bright outside, and my nose & cheeks are paying the price for it. The forecast is for two more even warmer days, so put on some shorts, and a hat and head on down to the Markham Fall Fair for the final two days of its run in 2023. The midway has been a big hit, as per usual. Old Mac Donald’s farm is getting a good rin this year too.

The heat and dryness has one draw back in the dust not staying settled. Eyes feel a tad gritty, and my shoes are dusty, but otherwise a stellar showing from this years fair.

The Markham Fair has finally arrived, after much fanfare, effort, and volunteer help, the 2023 Fall Fair is here! Everything is set up, the weather forecast looks to be fantastic, and I for one can not wait to go and look around at all of the new entries, exhibits, demonstrations, rides and new foods! It’ll be an exhausting four days, but well worth the effort. Free parking, nightly fireworks displays, friends, family and a great time for everyone. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a hat, wear sun screen, take a mask for crowds indoors, and go have some fun!

Cheers!

Keeping busy today getting paid work done. Found the time to transplant a sapling too. Kids have loads of after school programming today. Going to he a very busy fall with all the things these kids are doing. Dance, Girl Guides, Gymnastics, and now Taekwondo until Christmas. Yellow belts now have to spare, so $400 for body pads and head gear etc… whee!

Going to eat soup lunch, and get back to work! Busy, busy, busy around here!

Fair time is not the time of year to be asking me for favours, that’s for sure. Between completing entries, crafting, carving, hunting in the garden, picking and pre drying flowers & seeds, colouring, paper mache’ing things, painting, cutting out patterns, and working on my own entries there isn’t much time left over for anything these last few days leading up to the big event. We still have to cart it all to the fair grounds, and hand the pieces over for judging. Tomorrow will be a day of rest, and then Thursday the in person fun begins. Thus far we have enough to fill two or three fairly good sized boxes, plus carved & decorated pumpkins. I have my delicate painted sculpture to go, some Nuts N’ Bolts, and Rice Crispies squares. I definitely need to revisit the Nuts N’ Bolts recipe as I’m not sold on the direction I went with so much cinnamon in it. We’ll see how it goes.

I need to turn over some projects today for review, so once I’m done breakfast I’ll get right on that. I need to get over to the fair grounds to deliver stuff today aswell.

I spent some time on Sunday sharpening my hand planes, so those are good and sharp – again. I would like to leave a rustic finish on the bed frame and not have to spend days sanding it all to a buttery finish. But, again I say, slightly more forward progress being made. Adios.