T Minus 2 days -actually less than that

I'm in the middle of preparations to move and the time is rushing away from me.  The actual packing isn't that difficult, its trying to get chores done here before I leave that's consuming most of my time (yard work, garden, etc.) I don't want to leave my wife stuck with managing it all, so I'm trying to get as much done ahead of time as possible - that started with the painting and repairs a few weeks ago.

The house that I'll be renting comes furnished with the necessary furniture, so all I need to take are the "finishing touches."  Clothes, bedding dishes, lamps, silverware, pots and pans, coffee maker, TV etc, etc, etc.  Which simplifies things and means that I won't have to arrange for a moving van. However, even without having to pack furniture, my lists (I make lists of for everything; I've reached the age where I can't manage without them - plus I'm slightly anal about this kind of thing) cover at least four pages, and the resulting pile, as I gather things together, is becoming daunting.

Fortunately, thanks to our three adult children, who each have moved out, moved back and moved out again, acquiring furniture and possessions along the way (the excess of which has been stored in our basement against future need) I'm able to gather the necessary contents for a two bedroom house without unduly un-furnishing our home.  And had I needed to actually furnish the house, that could have been done as well, without putting too much of a dent in what we have stored.

Has anyone watched the show "Hoarders?"  I only ask, because, it frightens me at times how much "stuff" we have accumulated.  Let me be clear - our house DOES NOT look like ANY of the houses featured on that show!  Not even close!  But when you can remove the contents of a two bedroom house from your home without seriously depleting the furnishings.... well... it says something.

New Adventures in Employment

You might remember - if you've been following along, and if you haven't you can catch up here - that about a month ago I posted about a trip to Buffalo Narrows.  Part of the trip was to visit to my Brother-in-Law's at his cottage, but only part.  While there I also had a job interview; was offered, and accepted a teaching position.

This is a little frightening for me - Yes, I am a teacher and have taught for about 15 years, but the most recent, full-time, have-my-own-classroom teaching position was about eight years ago: and the last two were temporary, half year contracts.  Back then I had had enough of the profession and needed a break from it.

So for the last eight years I've worked at other things - glamorous jobs such as "Grain handler / Shipper receiver" in a pelleting plant producing cattle feed, "Splitting Saw Operator" in a beef plant, and later "Quality Control Technician" in the same plant.  Amidst these were a few other short term things: "Program Coordinator" for a student summer employment program, "Free-lance Web site designer", etc.

The beef plant that I was working at shut down over a year ago and to support my wife and I, I dusted off my teaching certificate and had myself put on the "substitute" list.  Substitute teaching calls were steady enough to provide a decent income - but not a great deal of security (you can never be certain how many calls you'll receive each month.)  It was a temporary solution at best as I continued to look for something more stable - it did, however, remind me that I DO enjoy teaching.

And then this opportunity presented itself... and I grabbed it!

That doesn't mean that I'm not scared - and with reason:
- Its  been awhile... how much has the profession changed.
- Its quite a distance (700 kilometers) and, for now, I'm moving by myself, since it would be crazy for my wife to walk away from her job until I'm established in this new one.
- and all the other factors of moving to a new community, new position, etc.
However, I'm confident that it will work out.

For the last several days I've been planning the subjects I'll be teaching (Grade 10 & 11 Sciences, Math, Information Processing and a new one for me called "Wildlife Management".   At the moment (well not right this minute - but before I sat down at the computer and again in a few minutes when I finish this) I'm busy packing up the things I'll need to take with me.  A week from tomorrow my wife and I will stuff both cars full of boxes and make the drive, take possession of the house that I'll be renting, and drop off the stuff.  Then we drive halfway back to attend a 3 day "New Teacher Induction" seminar, then back up to Buffalo Narrows to get the house and my new classroom in order as well as exploring the community and the area a bit more.

At the end of that week my wife will half to leave to return to her job, while I stay to start mine (Aug. 24th official start date) and I won't see her - other than the wonders of SKYPE - until the Labour Day weekend - sigh!

It should give me lots to blog about...

Nature interlude

My wife and I tend to spend quite a bit of time out doors - and often the camera goes with us.  To give credit where its due, my wife frames a better photo than I do so many of the pictures - and usually the nicest ones - are hers.

These are close-up shots of native wildflowers, taken near Lake Diefenbaker - about 20 miles from home.

My flower identification skills are a bit lacking, but the first is a wild rose, the second is a cactus (of some kind), the last two I'm not sure about (and if anyone else does, I'd appreciate knowing.)

Get Away - Part II

After staying at the bed and breakfast, we met up with my brother and sister and drove an hour north, for a few days of camping.

The special charm of this lake is the icy cold spring that feeds the lake - and is the source of drinking water for the camp sites.

Get Away

As wonderful and exciting as life in Eyebrow can be, we occasionally get away.  Part of the rush to get our painting done was because we had a small trip planned.  The first stop was to visit my wife's home town and we had planned to meet her brother and his fiancée there.

While the visit didn't work out - they couldn't make it - we did spend the night in a beautiful bed and breakfast that we discovered, called "Meadow's Edge Bed and Breakfast."  It is a very beautiful, very private lodge tucked away in forest at the end of a private road amid miles of hiking trails.

Its built out of hand-crafted, square cut logs and finished inside in wood paneling with a fieldstone fireplace.

The bright, spacious front room has high vaulted ceilings.

In the morning, we partook of a delicious breakfast in the dining room with a view of the deck and yard.

All in all, a wonderful place if you're looking for a quiet get away.

Watching Paint Dry - Follow-up Pictures

My last post was rushed - not well written, nor containing pictures.  Had I been thinking of it, during the task - or were my time machine capable of going backwards - I'd have taken before, after and during pictures, documenting the progression of the project in all of its mundane glory but, alas, all I have (should you be interested) are the finished result.

Any comments of, "You missed a spot," will not be appreciated :)