When old is new again

Having the nice chat with Spider yesterday, we touched briefly on how much value our old stuff has in the resale market. It fluctuates with fads and how rich and impulsive they feel when it's for sale. She was talking about some brick-a-brack she has on a listing website, and I was talking about my collection of the old-school fisher price little people (way before they had arms). Last year I could have parted out my toys for a tidy sum. Hey, the barn's "moo-doors" still work even after 30+ years of enjoyment! This year, people aren't spending so much on warm fuzzy nostalgia items, but that's okay for me, because these toys are still being played with by my youngest (I bought them because they are tough and fun not because they have resale value). In fact I may not sell them at all. They store very well, and they may need to hang out with my for another decade or so.... don't laugh, I really like them that much.

T brought a wonderful ancient phone home for me just before Christmas, it is black rotary and weighs a ton. I think it is made with some ceramic-type plastic. It has a bell in it, and it is just SO COOL!!! T wired it in and got it working to some degree, but dialing 10 numbers would be tedious, and the hand set is so heavy that you'd get fatigued using it in no time. But it doesn't stop me for LOVING it.

Then there is the treadle sewing machine... T's mom used to sew with it when T was a kid and they lived in a log house with no electricity. It is beautifully ornate, solid metal, in a lovely oak box. It is very worn and used looking, but knowing that it was functioning as it was built to to get that abuse, is truly special to me. I treasure it more than T does.

I had a nifty ancient typewriter (pictured above), it was rusty, but the keys moved in a ridiculously satisfying way -- the swish, the click! I got it at a garage sale from a guy that had been taking them apart to make planters or something. I paid $5. I soon realized that as much as I liked looking at it, I hated making space for it and dusting it and keeping the kids out of it -- those things have LOTS of pinch points for tiny fingers, but no amount of pain seemed to keep them away from those enticing keys. So I sold it for $20, after I took a whole bunch of pictures of it! That way I still get to look at it, my favourite part of owning it anyways.

But I am really missing the point of my own post here. The reason I was posting today is because I have picked up an OLD client again. Back in the 90's when I worked for a design firm, I had a docket that was always interesting.... a fishing lodge. Then years later I did work for them again through an intense marketing agency, that time it was the fishing lodge AND their resort cottage development. And now more than 3 years after I stopped doing work for that marketing agency, they have called me directly this time. I guess they have a deadline, they know I can do it and they remembered that I freelance.... the project has changed significantly since I last touched it, but I think I can catch up. I am really happy. It was my very favourite client from that marketer. So the old client is new again, and this time I don't have to go through anyone... I get to bill full rate, and ask for things I need directly from the owner!!!! Hopefully all will go smoothly, I will try my best, because they are worth keeping happy.

Proud momma

Look at him go!!!!

On-line Journal

hmmmm.....
1) I finished the book "Start Late Finish Rich". My favourite part was how to teach your kids to start early and finish rich. I think Stevie has the makings of a future millionaire! Otherwise, an excellent read in tiny chapters of decent advice. I am sure I won't be running off to buy an apartment building any day soon, but I am comfortable with my own plan after reading this book. I may be "starting late and finishing not poor".

2) Next book to tackle is "Your Money or Your Life" all the reviews I have read say it is really excellent, so here we go. I am on page 3 of the prologue.... not far enough in to have an opinion at all!!!!

3) Eating healthy is super-expensive, I am not sure how long I can hold out. The results are nice though, after just a couple weeks (and a few falls off the wagon), my skin is clearer, less water retention and less temper tantrums! I skip many of the aisles at the grocery store so shopping happens way faster now. More prep work means more mess in the kitchen, but T usually does the clean up and he LOVES this healthy eating thing!!!!

4) My sister sold her house. I am so sad about that. It was a BEAUTIFUL new, energy efficient home just blocks aways from where I live, and our kids were going to the same school and playing together almost daily.... BUT her husband is determined to move to the other end of town to an "established" neighbourhood. Older, more expensive house, a different school and much farther away for me to visit her. WAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

5) Spider, you know how you loved your home from afar for years before you got it? Well, there is a split-level in my neighbourhood that has always looked like "home" to me. The pictures don't do it justice, believe me. Last week they put a for-sale-by-owner sign out front! Oh Spider it is so perfect!!!! It's a floorplan I LOVE, it has a detatched shop, it's a corner lot with a big turnaround paved area, a small garden, fenced yard, 2 driveways, mudroom and enough rooms for us four and my office. But the most unique and appealing part is the bottom floor under the living/kitchen area has ground level access and enough room to develop a wheelchair accessable suite for my MIL! With MIL living downstairs we could afford it, but it is on one of the busiest corners in the valley, close to the school and on the bus route.

sigh, I am conspiring to move again, but this one looks so EASY compared with my other plans....

About getting older

This is a picture of me with my "baby"as of last Friday. He is now 7 1/2 and his brother turns 12 next weekend. Nothing like watching how fast your kids are growing to remind you of how fast time is going by.

I had yet another birthday (3 weeks ago!).... and this one was tougher somehow.

Sure I KNOW I am getting older, I just need to look in the mirror and see the daily maintenance that did not used to be there when I was in my 20's or even early 30's (chin whisker, grey hairs, deeper wrinkles, eyelids that need to be held in place to apply makeup, lip wrinkle, jowls, etc, etc....)

I will not complain though, that would make me a hypocrite. I always said I would embrace the aging process, age with dignity. (I don't think using moisturizer and the occasional tweeze is cheating, is it?) I haven't had to think about what to do about the grey yet, thus far it is limited to just a couple hairs on top, but it will be a tough decision. I have always thought long grey hair was very beautiful.... but I am not sure if it will be on me.

That and things that I did not used to think too much about preoccupy my mind. Balanced nutrition, aching muscles, cranky guts, mood swings, long term savings.... there is more, but I won't bore you.

The worst is that I have realized that there are dreams I won't be accomplishing in this lifetime (a real morale smasher there -- not enough TIME!). No I haven't given up on them all, just the ones that involve lots of school and/or stamina.

There are perks too. Respect by others, wisdom, freedom and a kind of peace with myself that is more developed than ever. I do enjoy life more now than ever. ALL GOOD.

It's worth it. But it still surprises me to see that reflection in the mirror, to hear the wheezing as I climb a hill, to ache the day after exertion, to worry about whether my guts will hate me if I eat certain things... surprising and unfamiliar.

(PS, Steve turning 12 is amazing to me.... he will be a moody teen very soon. Puberty, girls, driving and all the other bad temptations out there that are FAST approaching! Ugh, I am so glad we only have to go through that once in a lifetime).

One reason I love my husband.

I don't remember if I mentioned it, but I got a composter for Christmas. T got it for me. Don't roll your eyes or anything, I really wanted one! And even though T frowned and expressed that he thought they were annoying and ungly, he suprised me and got me one anyways! All wrapped up pretty with a bow!

And for my birthday... he surprised me yet again with a lovely gift "jewellry for my home"!
A new SINK and tap for the main bathroom! (The one that came with the house though only 9 1/2 years old was rusting at the edges and really hard to clean). I was shocked and delighted at that one! He even installed it right away!

These gift prove one thing.... he does not subscribe to the regularly accepted ideas of what a man has to get for his wife for special occassions (his dad was horrified that I got a sink for my birthday)... instead he really listens and gets a thoughtful representation of what he knows I REALLY want! (Like the time I got a toolbox full of tools one year -- EVEN MY OWN HAMMER!!!!)

And I got THIS this Saturday!

Kitchen Aid 12-Cup (3 L) Ultra Wide Mouth Food Processor
Features

• 
  Egg whip
  Citrus press
  Brush nickel finish
  Sturdy metal base
  Ultra Wide Mouth™ feed tube and pusher
  10-Cup (2.5 L) Chef's bowl
  12-Cup (3 L) Work bowl
  Powerful induction motor
  Multipurpose blade
  2mm slicing disc
  4mm Slicing Disc
  4mm shredding disc
  Clean Touch™ control pad
  Pulse control
  Slim line accessory case
  Spatula/cleaning tool
  Easy-to-clean design
  Narrow feed tube and pusher inside wide, 2 piece pusher
  4-Cup (1 L) Exclusive mini bowl
  Dough blade

I have wanted a food processor for a while, now that I have gotten serious about eating as much whole, home made food as possible, it seemed necessary.

T did the consumer research for the topic, and this one is the best rated without going pro. As luck would have it they had one on the clearance table at Sears, it had been a demo model, but all the parts were there and clean.... we saved almost exactly $200 from the retail price. (Actually if we hadn't found one cheap enough we would have bought the smaller version sometime).

We put it to use right away and made some yummy Tzatziki. Next I made a celery soup puree, and then we made homemade peanut butter yesterday! OMG that's good!

This is a "forever" appliance. Hopefully it is made well enough to last until I am old and grey.... what a nice husband, listening, caring and taking action to make me so happy!

I (heart) Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced KEE-no-uh) is a species of Goosefoot leafy green plant grown as a crop primarily for its edible seeds. The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as "mother of all grains", and it was the Inca emperor who would traditionally sow the first seeds of the season using 'golden implements'. Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilizations. In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%), making it a healthful choice for vegans. Unlike wheat or rice, quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest.

We tried this new ingredient in an attempt to expand the family pantry options. I had read that it was a great food thing, so why not?! I bought a bag of it at my grocery store, watched a couple youtube cooking demonstrations for it and went for it -- with terrific results.

What I didn't expect was how much my family LOVES IT!!! We are certainly going to use it as a regular thing from now on.... mmmm.... mmmm..... good -- and a delightful texture!

I made it as a rice-replacement side dish last night and a couscous-replacement tonight. I thought I HAD to share this "new" thing with y'all.

Where my joy is

I am chosing better foods these days..... and this is bringing me joy.
And cooking these nice quality meals is also adding something to my life that is very enjoyable.

I am hugging my kids every chance I get.... I will take 'em as I can get 'em cause I hear it doesn't last forever..... and the hugs bring me joy.

I am TRYING to declutter, so I can breathe more in my home, every box let go lightens my soul somehow. (Still there is too much in here). Trying to fit here is important to my right now.... not a whole lot of time to accomplish that goal, but I chisel away at it when I can.
(PS the bike trailer sold today).

I am trying to work productively, and take my "me" time seriously. Strangely sometimes both those things can happen at the same time (TV while I am working on the laptop or researching great website layouts) Thats one advantage to liking my work from home!

That's all I wanted to say right now, just a few happy insights into my life after the stress of parenting and money last week.

When does it end?

Numbers are amazing, with them the financial world can be paralyzed with fear! Jobs are lost, businesses close, economies crumble because of tiny little numbers that set the worth of everything in the world!

Yes, the market took another crapper yesterday. And I see my RRSPs crashing in a terrible tailspin, and I think, "Why do I keep throwing money at this hole? Why do I keep digging my spurs into this dead horse?"

Those tiny numbers that come in the mail from my RRSPs on a sheet that tells me if I may be eating dogfood (the cheap kind) when I am old.

BUT My financial advisor and my best advice blogger both agree that it is a great time to BUY because the prices are so low (you get more shares for your dollars) and that in reality I haven't LOST any money at all unless I SELL the investment..... but it's so painful to watch! I just want to get away from it, leave it to die in peace and carry on unheeded by the monthly contribution, spend that money on something I KNOW will bring me security in the now, instead of my hazy, uncertain future.

Despite that short-term horizon of hopelessness, I know I will continue to invest. I know I will keep doing it because I am too scared to change what I have started, and I stubbornly believe that the system HAS to work! Compounding interest HAS to be my buddy for retirement, the market HAS to go up again, real estate MUST regain it's upward growth, civilization as we know it CAN'T have ended quite yet... and probably not in my lifetime.

Stupid Money.......

Now I want to invest in chickens and a few fruit trees and a vegetable garden and greenhouse. I could contribute to the household by providing food for the table instead of this trading creative time for money, stupid money.

bah.