This House 'o Mine

A Visit From the Cardinal

I bought on Grouse Glen in 2006 and moved in 2007. At the time that I bought, I wasn't even sure that I'd move in. However, after giving it a few weeks consideration, I knew I would. The reality was, it's a great place to have family gatherings and it seemed the gatherings were usually at my house.  I also felt that it was a great investment and I've been pretty good at calling those. That intuitive sense that I've been fortunate enough to have - or as Einstein calls  'a higher intelligence' Don't I wish ;-)

However, the reason for my post - This House 'o Mine. I've lived in many houses especially in my growing up years. By the time I reached grade 8, I had moved about 12 times. So, moving wasn't new. But, as I sit here watching the birds that visit the feeder, I can't help but think of the major life changes that happened while living here at Grouse Glen.

When I moved into this house, I was working at Emma King as a VP, my son was living with me and my daughter in my previous house a few blocks away.

So about those major life changes?

• Caleb, my grand son started school
• Caleb started high school
• My son moved out west
• I became an 'mt'-nest'er
• Ryan had his first child, Emma, and moved back to Barrie.  
• Soon after he moved back to Barrie, he moved home for a bit. 
• My son wiped out a car
• He met his current wife Shannon and went on to have 3 more children, Charlie, Daisy and Van while in my duplex
• My grandson Van, was born with a debilitating diagnosis - Lisencephaly. Rather devastating. 
• I became a principal
• I lost my mom :-(  I will forever struggle with this, as I continue to struggle with losing my G'ma Pubba so many years ago
• I retired. 
• My first grand daughter has been alienated from family functions.
•  Since the loss of my mother, the family functions have changed and will never be the same again.
• I winter in MB, perhaps my escape?

I'm not sure I ever experienced so many life changing events in any other house that I lived in.  Although change is the constant and the inevitable, too much of anything is never a good thing, right? 

So .............as the cardinal looked in at me today, I was reminded of all the events that occurred while living here at Grouse Glen. As I write this, I contemplate another move in the not too distant future. But as I said, contemplate. Although the idea of a condo appeals to me - I'm not completely convinced yet. Hence, I will keep the positive energy flowing and welcome happy changes here at Grouse.

Mellow Yellow

I should likely start with saying that I've been negligent and not posting as frequently as I thought I would in the retirement phase of my life. I had such great intentions with a first post on Feb. 2015, and a few up until July 2016.  How did it get to be  October 11, 2018? Well, they say life goes fast, I say, wait until you hit retirement and hang on tight.

Mellow Yellow,   a song written by Donovan, silly lyrics but a catchy tune, one my mom liked and one I liked.

Deb's 5th? Birthday

However, yellow is the reason for my post. And why it has become so special to me. Yellow was a favorite color of my mom's. Being a great seamstress, she made many of my clothes. So, it's no surprise that when I was turning 5, she made me the most beautiful yellow dress. I wore it to Easter service on Sunday  and to the left, I'm wearing it for my 5th birthday party. I felt pretty special in that dress.  She even made the gorgeous hair band that had little yellow and white flowers all over it!

My mom has been gone almost 4 and a half years. It goes without saying, how much I miss her. There is life with mom and life after, a bit of a divider happens when you lose your mom, or anyone close for that matter.

Back to yellow...........she has let me know in so many ways that she has never really left, and that she's in a great place. Yellow................ Initially, I missed the clues but as they became more frequent I realized exactly what they meant. Yellow comes out of nowhere. One spring, I was golfing, my friend and I had to travel south of the county to even find a course that was open. There wasn't a flower to be found. As I was waiting for Ro to hit her ball, that inner nudge came at me and guided me left, slightly down the valley (opposite direction of where I was headed) and there in the valley, peaking through the cold soil were the beginnings of flowers.....Yellow.

Yellow.......My little grandson Van who I have been staying with at Bloorview Children's Rehab Hospital has a drawer full of shirts but each day I was there, the nurse chose to dress him in yellow. Those shirts weren't even on top. When I reminisce about my mother which happens often out of the blue, something yellow always appears. There is a telepathy between us, I need no convincing. There are so many special moments like these that I am thankful for. Perhaps, I'll speak of more in upcoming posts. Wait, did I say upcoming posts? Let's just hope, I can manage to write them a little more frequently than every 2 years.

💛💛💛💛Yellow💛💛💛💛 and just like that, wouldn't you know there would be a 'yellow heart emoji'!!! Seriously, did you ever notice any other color for these aside from red and pink? Another signal.