Better hustle, going soon (we hope)

We finally got around to cleaning up and advertising our basement suite:

Available September 1st or sooner if needed. Perfect for a single or couple looking for a quiet, clean apartment.Separate entrance, one spacious bedroom, full bathroom and guest toilet, and separate storage/utility room – great for projects. New top of the line stove in open eat/live area, plus new electrics. Cool in the summer and cozy in the winter.

Unfurnished (though semi-furnished available). Heat, water and electricity included. One year lease to August 31st.

Best TTC service in town: Steps to Dufferin bus (most frequent in the city), College & Dundas streetcars; 8 minutes to the subway. Very friendly and safe neighbourhood with a community gym and No Frills within a few minutes walk. City’s best cake shop and new organic food store within a block, plus all night café and Lula Lounge.

No smoking or dogs. Good landfolk will be living on-site.Serious enquiries only. Please be prepared to provide solid references and a credit check. Owners available for showings Aug 3rd and 4th.


We've had 6 people book to see it; of the 2 so far, a seemingly very affable young man is willing to put a deposit for 6 months lease - but we want 12 - and the other ran in the other direction!


Kitchen row - check out nice stove and old but fully functioning fridge... Note window which does open.

This is also the living area...


Nice, practical bathroom.

Notice that we do not show photos of the bedroom (b/c it has no window... shh don't tell anyone). Wisely, the kids went out for the day with their dad. It's Caribana time!

MINE

Yup, it's official. Sophie can - and does - now say M-I-N-E, while yanking a toy away from her brother or trying to cling on to something she might break.

We have been super busy - that actually is a constant - with family visitors and work (lots of late nights for M) and our "Toronto-warming" party - -- and all the work fixing up the house, even though we swore it was about warming our social network in the city and not our house. But we have almost all of our art up on the walls and furniture re-arranged.

The party was great fun. We asked people to bring tips on living well in T.O. - places to eat, bike routes, babysitters (that you have to pay), best bookshops, etc - as well as person that we had yet to meet. We invited 4 or 5 of the neighbours and some showed up with more neighbours which was terrific. Despite a no gift request, we ended up with 10 bottles of wine; so there will be more parties!

We've also been kicking up our heels a lot as family visitors mean free babysitting. So we went out solo on Friday night and I got to see a movie on Sunday with my sis and M & I dined with another couple last night and, and, and As you can tell, we're trying to cram it all in while the free babysitting is still in house.

Next challenge is to get the basement rented and prepare for a return trip to our friends' cottage in a week.

the next Maria?

It can really be great to have a parent who works for the corp. Not only do you get tickets to the talent show to pick the next Maria in the Sound of Music, but you get to circumvent the rules and go even though you are not 12. Seb cheered his heart out and was fascinated by the steady cam. He then dashed home to vote for his favourite singer (GOOOOOOO Elicia!!).

Makes up for the fact that said parent stayed so late at work on Friday that he missed the community supper and play in the park...

our cabin break

We were out of the big smoke for 6 days of cooler, cleaner air. The kids had a wonderful time, though Xin got the short end of the stick from Seb on a couple of occasions. And then Seb got so mad at himself for his own behaviour...

But the good times rolled:

a) being paddled about

b) making ice cream (in that funky blue ball)


c) going to a steam train (in Ghanian sugar sack clothes)


d) climbing on to the roof


e) and really, really wanting to.

No pictures of the lake but it was gorgeous. So clean and cool - can't wait to get back in 3 weeks!

one year of blah, blah, blah & snaps

It seems that out here in blogland, one is supposed to fete the anniversary of one's blog. Being me, I missed it. But now I see that I started this adventure on July 8 2007 and have posted 134 times in the first year. That averages better than once every 3 days; though I do tend to blog-hog (you know, blog a lot at once). But that's all based on when I have childcare or am procrastinating about working.

My first efforts were extremely basic; however, I think I have only just inched up to "basic" over the 12 months. I need to tackle some more video clips for your benefit.

And you all need to get with the programme and join up so you can comment. This IS a blog, not a one-way website. I mean poor words, words and chris - they have to represent the whole world! Fortunately, they have only given positive feedback; otherwise, I would be crushed...

Hope you are enjoying it. I am!

On a "kid-free" roll

I know this blog is supposed to be about the kiddie-winkles, but I currently seem to be on a kid-free tear through Toronto! Tonight, my sister agreed to sit the wee ones, so M & I are going to a restaurant (and hopefully eating lots of peanuts and shellfish and dairy products and eggs!).

All this non-parenting behaviour will come to a screeching halt tomorrow at oh, 7.10 a.m. when Seb wakes us up and we head to Kelly & Sam's cottage for 6 days. The dads leave Sunday night and we non-working mums spend the next 4 days working with the kids.

Just me!

Yesterday, it was "two parents, no kids" brunch. Today, it's a mum-free supper with a friend. So off to get a hair cut and pick out an outfit from the jammed closet. Have a booking for a seafood dinner in the Distillery District at 8; hope to get on to the patio because it is gorgeous weather here.

the 2nd R - Reuse

Kelly green- Grace Kelly green, I believe. This charming and oh so simple sun dress was worn by myself and my sister some 40 years ago... Even my sister was impressed at its quality and style. And look how curly Sophie's hair is getting in the humidity. Who needs a perm in this weather? Well, ok maybe her paternal grandmother!

This lovely green hat was on the floor in the playroom. Seb had carefully chosen some leaves to decorate it and claim it as his own style (he who went out today in bright green and blue plaid overshorts and a blue/red/white striped shirt, with blue & green socks).

Reuse - here the Wedges are playing a game from oh 30 years ago. Buccaneers! It's good fun and can be made more simple for 4 year olds.

And no, there's nothing green about this (no Rs and the colour is blue & brown as I mentioned yesterday). But here is proof that M likes it. And yes, that is the Ikea catalogue he is reading - cheeky thing.

Best quote of the summer to date

While we were out being adults, a major happening occured back home. Seb had his first regular bowel movement in oh, 7 days... He was extremely excited to tell us when we got home, and described it to me, then his dad and then the babysitter in careful detail - which I will spare you.

You see, after 5 days of 'it will resolve itself', the parents had decreed the "BRATY" diet (no comments please). Banana, rice, applesauce, toast and plain yoghurt. But it is boring, so boring. Seb tried to stick to it, but by this morning, he was asking to see a doctor as that seemed a potentially quicker fix.

He was extra thrilled to be back on track because Auntie Roberta had promised that once the gut had settled down, they would make the trek to Toronto's only peanut-free ice cream parlour. So almost as soon as he had pulled up his shorts, he was asking to go. And here comes the quotable moment, my sister's answer was:
"One poop does not a summer make"

We rewarded Auntie Roberta with a mini-cheesecake from She Takes the Cake - the cake shop right behind our house, the one which made the "best cake ever" according to Mike.

"Just the two of us, we can make it if we try..."

"Just the two of us - you and I"

Off for a coffee with my M. Yup, just me and him. No one in tow. Very thrilled. Big thanks to sis.

We will be taking our agendas with us and his phone...