Sometimes, you need to take a Monday.

Do you know what's more time consuming than a two-year-old, owning a home.

Mike and I have been tackling project after project at our new 1902 place, getting it pretty and dressed up for our move in. Nana came into town for a week to lend a hand, and primarily play with her grandson, which was a huge help to this young couple, who likes to save money by tearing up carpeting, linoleum tile, tearing out closets, and painting rooms all by ourselves.

Yesterday, I painted the walls in the second bathroom, scraped paint off the hardwoods along the moulding in the living and dining room, vacuumed up so many scary, scary cobwebs in the basement I was sure it was Halloween, then painted the storage shelves with 2 coats of Zinsser, and started the project of tearing off wallpaper in the kitchen.

Earlier in the week, I braved a self rigged scaffolding ladder setup to paint the high walls and ceiling in the stairway. I'm afraid of heights, so my bright idea of traversing a board stretched out from a ladder to the top step, was the least great idea, I've ever had. Yes, I had an official crying meltdown at one point, but after my loving husband tried to take over the task, and I saw his less than skillful cut in work, I gained some new found courage. By saying "I will not fall, I am safe, This is safe, Finish the task at hand," over and over again the job is finished. Just do me a favor, if you ever come over to visit, ignore the shaky paint line along the edges of the walls in the stairway.

This past Monday, Mommy and Daddy needed a serious break and got some outdoor time in with our son and his Nana. We went to Lake of the Clouds for a great day. We took in the beautiful sights and found a caterpillar on the way back. Bits left him lunch for when he woke up from his nap. Later, we went to a playscape on the shore of Lake Superior. There's nothing funnier than three adults sitting in a firetruck going "whoo-errr, whoo-errr" while a toddler drives. We had dinner at Mike's favorite- Syl's Cafe. I can't say I've ever had a pasty and strawberry/rhubarb pie combination sitting in harmony in my stomach before, but I'd gladly welcome the food overload again.

*I'm overloading y'all with photos, because who knows, when I will get a chance to share advetures, again.

Montreal River Mosquitoes

Yesterday was a day full of stuff to do and a little fun site seeing to add to the to-do list. Bits and I ventured out to take pictures at two locations for RAA plein aire future sites along the Montreal River.

Nothing like a sunny, warm day along a beautiful woodsy river. Nothing like being the preferred food of choice for hundreds of mosquitoes. I itch as I type. If bug bites were a trendy thing of beauty, I'd be a supermodel.

Now is a perfect time to see wild flowers in bloom and sun creating streaks of light and blots of shadows among the trees. Were the attacking mosquitoes worth seeing the sites, yes, but a few more additions to the numerous I already had, I'd have to reevaluate.

I Spy: Boardwalk Edition

*See if you can spot the bird's nest in each landscape picture before looking at the closeups.

Bits and I have a new goal: try to take even more walks. I'm attempting daily here people. My rear end is looking more like a Buick than a Kia, so I need to get my walk on.

We walked around the lake to the boardwalk (by the way, the city is supposed to be extending the boardwalk...awesome, right?). He likes to go along the boardwalk sans Mommy's hand, and without the fear or cars, I let him run it out. He was all about peering at the water at the few bench outcroppings and laying on the boardwalk to look through the cracks.

I found my own amusing game, trying to spot birds' nests throughout the brush. Fun walk that tired out both the grownup and the toddler.