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The packed red eye flight out of Toronto put us in Lisbon, the oldest European city, even older than Rome. A charming touch are the buildings sided in hand painted ceramic tile, many intact over centuries. I wonder why North America hasn't adopted this building material rather than siding that needs eventual replacing. I remember…
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With limited wifi access, I'm writing with the intention of posting when internet is available, please excuse the delay. This was written on September 4th: We sorted, disposed of, or packed everything we owned. We boxed most of our lives into storage jokingly agreeing to be nice to each other because a packed up house…
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As soon as you seal a box another item will appear that belongs in said box. Wait for me, wait for me, says the reference book, I don't want to go into storage with the kid's books. After the garbage is collected, the one with that bin that holds a beloved children's book missing a…
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The majority of our possessions are going into a shipping container for at least 18 months, while our "new" house is waiting for permits prior to being rebuilt requiring a huge amount of stuff sorting. For me the items that are hardest to leave behind are made of paper: photos, letters, invitations, announcements, tickets, programs, the kid's artwork,…
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Moving after 18 years in our home, raising kids and providing living and storage space to many of their friends, is a full time job. I told C that at times I've felt far more stress in this experience than I ever felt in the job from which I retired. It's almost enough to send…
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I've written about my variety of roles since my girls moved out, leaving me in an house of men. From fraternity house mom to Burning Mom, I've now been dubbed the Trailer Park Mom. I try not to let it get to me as there is a natural end date to this predicament and I'm…
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It's happening again. We are grateful to be able to be dreaming about our second Camino route this September, after the house is sold and we begin our phase of drifting. This time it will be the Camino Portugues, walking from the north of Lisbon to Santiago, Spain including a side trip to the shrine…
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It's a stripy week here at the Northvanage, starting with the arrival of B's girlfriend from England. She was given a difficult time at security upon departing from her first stop in Canada, with multiple scans of her hair and a thorough going over under each braid with explosives detection wipes. She's a creative one, this…
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My house is awash in packing boxes. Thought I'd get a head start, but it doesn't feel like it's making much difference. And just as we're getting rid of stuff, this shows up in my driveway: You remember past inhabitants of my driveway: the green school bus, the French band's touring bus, the pink school bus and…
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On the family reunion cruise the youngest Boesen progeny shared a common attribute – cuteness. Of course I'm the grandmother of the little boys and grand-auntie to the girls. Pure bias here: Ear worm of that day in Sitka? The Wheels On the Bus Go Round and Round… That's Auntie Ellen's Dirty Martini. OK I ate the olives.…
Life's a Stitch 