Thank you Glen!

Glenn Litchfield Well there you go a Blog name that is great....RIGHT SIDE UP....send me the prize, LOL

I posted on FB a while ago that I needed a new name for the blog.  After looking through everyone's suggestions, we kept coming back to this one.  Your prize will be in the mail soon Glenn.

My heart is so heavy

Clarence William Power

February 20, 1955 - August 21, 2012

Power, Clarence William: On August 21, 2012, I lost my best friend and husband, Clarence Power. Born in Gander February 20, 1955. From 1957 - 2012 resided in his beloved Harbour Main. Passed peacefully away at the Health Science Centre in the presence of his loving family after a long struggle with IPF, a serious lung disease. Pre-deceased by his father, Joseph, mother Rita (nee Hickey), and two brothers, Joseph, & Brian. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife of 35 years, Rosemary (nee Howard), three beautiful girls: Kellie Ann, Krista Lee, and Heather (Cory Dalton) and precious little angel, Claire , brothers: Mike (Anne-Marie) and Francis, sisters: Rose Bryden, Rowena Street (George), and only living Aunt Bride Glenn, Sisters-in-law: Elizabeth and Madeleine, many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and all the Howard in-laws. He was well respected by his friends and co-workers, Local 740. He was loved by everyone he touched. He loved his community, hunting and fishing but his greatest love was his wife and girls. Resting at Dunphy’s Funeral Home, Holyrood. Visitation on Thursday & Friday from 2 - 4 pm & 7 - 9 pm. Funeral will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012from SS. Peter & Paul Church, Harbour Main. Inurnment will be in SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Harbour Main

This was my Uncle Clar, my dad's youngest brother.  He has been fighting the same fight my dad did for the past 2 years and lost his battle Tuesday past.  He was my stand in dad when we lived in NL, and even danced with Dad and I during my wedding "father and daughter dance".  I know he is in heaven right now with my dad, and they are probably playing crib and watching to see if the NHL will be playing in September.  I miss you Uncle Clar.

Finding normal again

It has been almost 2 weeks since we moved back to Nova Scotia after Rob was let go from the Northwest Company.  In that time, we have bought all new furniture for moms house, outlined and acquired approval to renovate her yard (we need to build a bigger shed for robs quad and motorcycle and now that kids live here again we want to put up a fence and as we are now in a trailer park and rent the land you must acquire approval first).  The kids are happy to be back around soo many of their relatives and I am not sure how or why but this experience has changed Colby.  He is a different kid now, but in a positive way. I have been working very hard at trying to make this easy for them and have been working on making this a permanent home for them and for us. Many of our pictures are hanging on the walls now, and I had a phone interview yesterday and a follow up in person interview with the same company in 2 weeks. I am nt going to tell you yet about it because I don't want to jinx it but I feel really good about I and it is very exciting. I will admit though, I feel somewhat guilty that I am starting to feel happy here. I didn't want to.  What I want s my old life back, but I can't have that.  It was cruely taken from us by the Northwest Company and for that I will never forgive them.  What I want is the life I had there and the new life we will have here all at the same time. But we all know that can't happen. Notice how I keep putting The Northern Store and the Northwest Company here?  Well, there is a reason for that. Many people have found us through this blog looking for information on the company and we have always been big supporters. Well, now if anyone finds us by searching the Northwest Company, they will see our story.

The day our world turned upside down

This has been one of the hardest things we have ever done.  Let me explain.  For those of you who don't know me in person or are not in contact with me on Facebook may not understand.  On Thursday, July 12, 2012 Rob was dismissed from his job with the Northwest Company.  He was the manager of the Northern Store in Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan for 4 years.  On that Thursday, he was visited by his district manager and HR manager when they dropped the bomb that he was "no longer the right fit" for the company and he was dismissed effective immediately.  Yep, IMMEDIATELY.  As of 2PM that afternoon, he was unemployed and we had 7 days to vacate the house we had called home for 4 years.  It still chokes me up to think about it.  There was no indication what so ever that his job was in jeopardy.  He was performing well, his store was doing well, and to say we were shocked was the understatement of the year.  The community outpouring of support for us was out of this world.  It was within an hour that the first person showed up, in shock.  And then another, and another and another.  So many that we ended up leaving that night because I couldn't cry anymore and we had to make a plan of what the hell we were going to do.  We decided we would immediately have to start selling our large items, the first being the boat we had just bought and both loved.  Rob was adament that he was not going to sell his quad or his motorcycle, so we bought a 12ft cargo trailer to haul back what we could.  And from Friday morning to Sunday evening we packed.  And purged.  And sold. And cried.  Sometimes all at the same time.  Our friends were amazing, and were there for us from the time we heard the news to the time we left.  The only time they were not there was when we were sleeping.  We had more people offer their homes to us so we didn't have to leave the community.  A petition was started within an hour of him being dismissed to get him to stay.  People of the community started calling and emailing the head office of the Northwest Company voicing their upset with the decision.  They threatened to boycott the store (which many did).  The MAYOR of the town called Rob as soon as he found out when we left town for a night and then stopped over the next day.  I don't think I have ever seen him so mad.  The community came together and had a potluck supper for us the night before we left.  There was over 100 people there (many people were out of town on a pilgrimage or there would have been more) and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  The elder who spoke there stood up and said "You belong to us.   You belong to this community and we want you back.  There is no word in our language for goodbye because we do not believe it in.  This is So Long for now".  We believe there is more to this story and we will probably never know the real answer.  Rob was offered a severance package from the company, so we were able to move back to Nova Scotia and not worry about having the money to get here.  Fortunately for us the money that we made when we sold most of our stuff was enough to hold us over until we received his severance, which we did when we were 3 days into our trip. We have moved in with my mom, which will work out really well for all of us.  The boys are happy to be back amongst family.  I have a hole in my heart where the town of Ile a la Crosse will always be, and although we may never live there again, we will certainly be back there to visit.  My dream is to win the lottery and build a summer home in Ile a la Crosse, with my own plane so I can go there whenever I want.  All I can say is that we are taking this as a new chapter in our life, and I will never lose contact with our Metis family in the north.  So much that I had planned on getting a tattoo of a pelican on my arm, and now I think I still will but there will be a Metis sash there also, so I will always have a visual reminder of my home away from home on my arm.

Chasing rainbows

Rainbows have a double meaning for me, both good and bad.  I remember when my god daughter Adelle was christened.  Her mom Genevieve, Genevieve's amazing mother Alice and I went all over her little community chasing this amazing rainbow that came out.  It was vibrant and clear and we were determined to find the end of it.  So, on one hand rainbows make me smile and miss my friend.

Double rainbows have a different meaning completely.  When my sister came to visit and stay with the boys 2 years ago we also saw a double rainbow.  It was in February, and it was unseasonably warm that day.  It rained on my way to Saskatoon to get her, and unbeknownst to me the temperature suddenly dropped as we were travelling.  We were about 200kms away from home when we saw a beautiful double rainbow.  We were talking about how rare it is to see a double rainbow when I noticed an accident on the road.  I pressed on the brake and we slid right across the road.  The road that I thought was clear was in fact sheer black ice.  We spent the next 3.5 hours driving very slowly hugging the shoulder of the road in 4 wheel drive to get home safely.

This rainbow shot amazes me.  These were taken on Canada Day.  This storm rolled through so fast it was like it never happened.  I chased this rainbow all over town in the rain like a fool.

Sooo busy

I am soo glad I have decided to not go back to work next year. I have been sooo busy with pictures over the past few weeks. I normally wouldn't let myself get this busy, but it has been a 1 year old's birthday party and graduation pictures. I took Joe with me one night and while waiting between sessions we decided to play around.

This is one of my new favorite pictures.  I look so relaxed and de stressed, which is how I want to look all the time. 

The baby of the house

Possibilities and changes

Since it was announced at our staff appreciation lunch today I can announce it here; I am not going back to work next year.  I decided, for many reasons, none of which I am comfortable discussing here, that this would be my last year.  Luckily for me I am on a year to year contract, so I can easily pull EI for the next year.  I also have my photography to help fill my time and my bank account if needed.  This will be the first year in 10 years that I will be able to take a year off work and not have a baby at home to take care of.  Now that both boys are in school, I will have my days free to spend as I please.  It is a very liberating thought and I can't wait.  A friend of mine stopped by tonight and saw the framed prints we have in the livingroom.  They are pictures that I have taken around town.  She loved them, and told me that I should be selling them.  It has really intrigued me, as people have said this before to me.  I think we will put a few more together (this means a trip to Saskatoon to get more frames) and see what happens.  I have never really been into what I called the "artsy fartsy" type pictures, but I will admit they are starting to be my new obsession.  The storm clouds here are amazing, and I went out tonight and took a bunch of pictures that I still need to process.  But of course, what would a post about pictures be without my absoutely favorite bird in the entire world and the inspiration for my upcoming tattoo??

P*rn, ladybug style

Things that you just don't see everyday.  Luckily I just happened to have my camera handy.

He's off to the Cayman Islands

Each year the Northwest Company participates in the Canadian Diabetes Marathon. It is a 21 km 1/2 marathon. Each year staff members have the option of applying for this to participate. Each person has to raise 3000.00 of their own money, and the company will contribute 3000.00 to cover the expenses. Rob decided for the first time this year to apply and was accepted! We are currently fundraising for him. We have had 1 Mother's Day basket that raised almost 550.00, a bbq that raised just over 300.00 and yesterday we did a bake sale that raised over 100.00. The generosity of this community and our friends and family both near and far is just amazing. We currently have a framed poster that we are selling tickets on at the store (which we will ship for free if someone from away wants to buy tickets!). You can also support online if you choose. If you wish, you can follow the link HERE and put in Rob's name (Rob Schwartz). That will also be counted towards his fundraising. The picture you ask? Well it's this one:

Oh, and thanks Chandra for reminding me.  If you use this link and put in Rob's name, it comes up that he is in Toronto.  It was set up by head office so everyone, regardless of what province they are in, comes up Toronto.

Happy Mother's Day

Maiden voyage in the boat.  We loved every minute of it.

Just makes me think

I wouldn't say that I am an overly religious person.  I do have my beliefs, and I don't like to push them on other people.  I know I have blogged about this before, but today is the anniversary of my very close friend's nephew's death.  He took his life the day Joe was born.  I like to think that as the two souls passed, one leaving one coming here, that they made an agreement to one day lead us here.  I feel like we were meant to come here, and today more than ever confirms why.

Happy 6th birthday

6 years. I really can't believe he is 6 years old. It seems like it was just yesterday I was wondering what the hell I did to deserve this (well, that is a LITTLE harsh. I was a bit of a rotten teenager and I'm sure I wasn't the angelic baby I would like to think I was and Karma really is a bitch). Well, it was all great AFTER the croup finished and took away the screaming monster and gave us a beautiful little smiling boy (and let's face it, we deserved all those smiles after the 6 months of sleepness nights and wondering what it would take to make him JUST STOP CRYING). Happy birthday little man.  We all love you very very much.

May 11, 2006

May 9, 2012

I'm tired of the negative comments

I have been a little testy today, so something that happened earlier really just set my kettle boiling.  There is a woman here in town who loves to bash the Northern publically whenever she can.  Too high of prices, taking advantage of poor aboriginal people, wonk, wonk wonk.  Most of the time, I can just laugh it off and let it go.  For those of you who don't know, my husband is the manager of the Northern store here in town.  We are a small Metis community where the Northern is the main source of groceries and large ticket items.  The next place you can go to shop (and we are fortunate as a lot of Northern stores are in Fly in communities where you do not have the option to drive) is 2.5 hours away. Yes, the prices at the Northern are high.  A lot of it is shipping costs.  You can blame one or another, but at the end of the day, it's a business.  If you don't like it, don't shop there.  Spend 5 hours round trip to buy cheese 2.00 cheaper.  The part that bothers me the most is that I see this woman in this store ALL the time.  Either don't shop there, or shut up about it.  The Northern does a lot of good in communities also, but no one seems to recognize that.  The Northern raises MILLIONS of dollars for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  Rob donates constantly to functions around town, more than he should sometimes.  The Northern is also a job to a staff of 15, who otherwise wouldn't be working. Grrr.
But now for some amazingly amazing news.  Rob has been selected to participate in a marathon this December for the Canadian Diabetes Association in.. wait for it.... THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.  Bastard!!  I'm very proud of him.  He has a fundraising goal of $4000.00, because whatever he raises the Northwest Company will MATCH dollar for dollar!  So we are both on a very serious weight loss / exercise regime.  Which I suppose is why I'm soo testy today.  Sugar withdraw is a BITCH!

April Highlights

I sit here, wondering what to type, so I will show you what has been going on in my life through pictures, as usual.

I had been approached by a local business in town to help them with some redecorating.  I'm not sure if this is going to happen now but since I enlarged a few of my pictures and framed them,  they look really good in my livingroom.  Now all I have to do is convince my husband that the walls need to be painted.

Brian is the son of the first friend I met here, 4 years ago.  We joke that when these guys graduate the picture slideshow of their live is going to be 5 hours long!  These 2 have grown up together over the past 4 years, as Brian just lives literally across the street.

We went to Saskatoon last weekend and while we were waiting for the 5th wheel rails to be removed from our truck we played in the parking lot.  It's amazing when hand held games are put down the fun you can have trying to balance on a curb, and then trying to keep your balance when someone (like your evil grinning father) keeps trying to push you off.

A shooting we will go

The weather is finally warming up here and after almost a week of all of us being sick we had to get out of the house. Rob recently bought a .22 that he SAID was for the boys to learn to shoot. Yes, you read that right, my husband is now buying firearms with the purpose of teaching our children to shoot. This is something that never would have happened had we not moved to the north. I love that we live in a place where we can teach our children how to use firearms safely. They are growing up respecting guns, not afraid of them. There is a sandpit just outside town that we can safely use for target practice. I will admit, I also took a turn shooting the gun and it was really fun. Hopefully we will get a few more hours out there this weekend shooting it!

One proud daddy!

He's a natural. No my friends, that is NOT a toy. That is a real .22 that my child is holding.

See that little dot on the top of my hill? That's my kid.

Same picture, zoomed in.

Once we got home, the puddle in the backyard was just screaming to be jumped in. I will admit, Joe didn't want to splash at first and I wasn't having ANY of that foolishness. So, like any good mom / preschool teacher I did what I do best... I junped in first and splashed him.

He's trying to run away from splashing. So I just walked on the water and splashed him. Hmmm, you didn't know I walked on water? Well, I AM awesome you know.

It didn't take him long to enjoy it.

Speaking of compromises.....

I just finished reading Tawny's blog and she was talking about compromise. There are a few people who still don't know, so I am telling you now and explaining the why. We had originally planned to drive back to Halifax this summer, to bring the motorcycle and bring back my blanket chest (which I will still get out here someday). This was all based on Rob getting 4 weeks vacation to do this, as it takes the better part of a week to drive there each way. We also ordered our passports so we could drive down through the states to make it more of an adventure. Well, unfortunately Rob was NOT able to get the 4 weeks like we were hoping (he is only entitled to 3 weeks per year), so we have had to cancel the trip. 3 weeks is just not enough time to drive to Halifax and back. We would be spending more time in the truck than we would actually spend there. That just isn't a good plan, and since it is so so close to summer plane tickets for the 4 of us are astronomical (think more than 4000.00 in plane fare ALONE). That's not counting renting a vehicle, and we have to eat and have some spending money. That's just waaaay more than we budgeted and saved for. As much as I love our family, it has taken us much too long to get out of debt to jump headfirst back into it. So our vacation as been postponed. We knew the boys would be dissapointed when we told them we were not going, and since he does have vacation approved already for the summer, we decided that we would finally take a family vacation, just the 4 of us. So we are going here:

Obviously, when we go there in July there won't be snow.... hopefully. The kitchen. Look at those walls!

The view from the loft bedroom, over looking the livingroom.

This is a horse ranch in southern Alberta. It is close enough to drive to, and we are staying there for a week. We are only 2 hours from Banff (yea baby we're going!!), an hour away from Calgary and an hour away from Drumheller. Lots of day trips planned, and of course when staying on a horse ranch at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, we do a day of horse back riding! As much as I miss my family in Nova Scotia and am heartsick that I won't see them for another year (with the exception of Hubby #2 who is coming in October, the inlaws who are coming in November and my mom who is coming for Christmas), this makes it a little easier. And of course, there is always Skype.

Future hell raisers of the North

It's that time of year again

It is finally warming up here in town. The temperature is hovering around the -10ish area, which is fantastic for here. The ice road will soon be melting, so this weekend is the last weekend I will use it. Better safe than sorry, right? Oh gracious, someone help me. I'm blogging about the weather.

I am somewhat known in this community as "the woman who makes wedding invitations". I was asked by a couple in town to make an invitation for their wedding. It turns out that she wanted 2 invitations, one for her family to keep, and one for "everyone else". Her hubby to be is an avid hunter, and she wanted "a deer or a moose on the invitation". This is what I came up with, and they both loved it. Damn, I'm good. Rob's only comment is that I should have used a "bigger deer", but the only other pictures I had of bigger deer than this one were dead ones. Somehow I didn't think that would be appropriate. :)

How I spent my week off

This week here in Saskatchewan we have been on Winter Break. That means I have been off work all week. We have had a very quiet week here at home. The boys decided that their doors needed signs. Joey's door. He wrote all the signs himself. There was one that said "No Colbys Allowed" but luckily that one came down.

Colby's door. Simple and to the point.

See the brown outline on the floor? I decided to clean the oven with Extra Strong Oven cleaner. It cleaned the oven great, but the overspray RUINED my floor! Never in my life have ever I had to protect the floor. I read the directions on the side of the can and it actually says to line the floor with newspaper. Luckily we are being renovated very soon and a new floor is coming. We tried SOS pads, Spray Nine and even paint thinner! Nothing takes that shit off!