I never expected to be away so long, but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
We are seven weeks into our renovation with three weeks to go.
Painting the entire upstairs is scheduled to begin today.
Our microwave is reinstalled upstairs, so I'm racking up stair climbs
running up and down the stairs for hot coffee.
There IS a silver lining in everything!
Plumb!
Saeed Working on the Shower
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 22, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
In the last month life has had chaos, heartbreak, and a lot of stress,
but some really good things have been happening too.
One month out from his heart surgery, my brother Roy is doing great!
We are all excited about that!
Roy is doing great!
And so are the mosquitoes apparently! 😂
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
May 25, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Our youngest sister Bertie is retiring and about to query her next children's chapter book.
Bertie Is Retiring
Honored by the Annapolis Local of the Nova Scotia's Teachers Union
Nova Scotia, Canada Late May 2025
© All Rights Reserved
Spring has sprung in the park along Piney Creek,
and I walked along a high bank I'd never walked on before (in almost 20 years!).
It's fun to see something so familiar from a new perspective.
Heading up a High Creek Bank Overlooking the "Upper Pond"
Baby Leaf Season Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 21, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Muleys So Busy Looking at a Man and a Dog That They Don't see Me 😂
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 21, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Prairie Bluebells Dotting the High Bank
This plant has low flammability and can be used for defensible space around homes.
Colorado State University Extension. Source
Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA, May 21, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I haven't heard a meadowlark from our deck since before the pandemic.
The rough areas surrounding the golf greens used to be alive with meadowlarks.
I have grieved the loss of "my" meadowlarks, and now they're back.
The song of the meadowlark is one of the sweetest, purest sounds in the world.
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 26, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I couldn't get closer for a better shot for obvious reasons.
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 26, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
YouTube ~ American Bird Conservancy
And best of all, Terry and I have a new grandniece!
Here's sweet Elsie, sister to Jackson, born on May 20th!
(my sister Donnie's daughter Krista's daughter.)
Elsie with Her Amazing Mom, Krista
May 20, 2025
© All Rights Reserved
Jackson with Elsie
© All Rights Reserved
Donnie with Elsie
© All Rights Reserved
And one more thing!
You may have heard of Teddy Swims first on my blog. Post
He has soared, and this week he broke the record for the most time
on the Billboard Hot 100 since its inception on August 4, 1958
with his huge hit, the bluesy soulful "Lose Control."
This song also ran a record 63 weeks in the Hot 100's Top Ten. Billboard
And you may remember that I did get to see Teddy in concert
in the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
Teddy Swims with His Band of Friends, Freak Freely
The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
March 26, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
This is the song that really made me such a fan of Teddy Swims,
his cover of Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved."
He appears here with his high school friends Addy Maxwell and Jesse Hampton.
Both are guitarists in Freak Freely who often appear with Teddy all over the world.
Teddy Swims with Addy Maxwell and Jesse Hampton
Someone You Loved
Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I hope things are going well for each of you!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2025 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
IWSG Day
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Love to see you back with so much happy and beautiful news.
ReplyDeleteI hope your renovations finish early.
Thanks, Sue! It feels great to have some semblance of "normal" life again. 😂 We just spent the last 45 minutes walking around with our construction project manager who's great. After seven weeks of sleeping on a hard futon on the floor, I can see my bed in my future. I first thought of it as sleeping on a forest floor, but now I'm feeling all the tree roots. But it's all good. All the best to you, my friend! ❤️
DeleteWe have been under construction for four years-from finishing off a basement, to an addition and decking, to a three car garage... I'm hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel; however, it needs not to be so rainy so they can fix the driveway into the garage. Lot's happening with your family. Glad your brother is doing well, you have a new niece, and plenty of wildlife.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeff! I don't know if I could handle four years of construction! This is the first time for us, other than minor things like replacing carpets or painting and wallpapering. Wishing you all the best as you soldier on. Have a great weekend! ❤️
DeleteWhat a jam-packed newsy post! Glad to hear your brother Roy is doing great. And welcome to grandneice Elsie! I loved the meadowlark video -- that's the soundtrack of my prairie childhood. I miss hearing their distinctive song.
ReplyDeleteHi, Debra! I think it must have been wonderful to grow up on the prairie. It's a fascinating ecosystem. And to have meadowlark songs as the soundtrack of your prairie childhood is divine. I never heard them until I moved here. A number of years I read "Owls in the Family" by Farley Mowat to my students, and I had a copy of his book in my classroom library. We do live in an amazing world! Take care! ❤️
Delete...Louise, you sure are packing a lot of stuff into your days. I wish you a Jolly June.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom! I certainly have been busy, and I'm grateful things are slowing down finally. Not too slow, though, because I don't do slow well. 😂 I hope you and your Sweetie have a lovely weekend together, and I always hope that your granddaughter is doing well! ❤️
DeleteSo happy you are back. Wow! A lot going on with you. Your brother looks amazing. Congratulations to Bertie and Elsie and her family and Teddy. The nature photos are look so nice and warm. It's still cold here, especially at night. I can't wait to see your place when it is done. I have to go up and down stairs for coffee and everything else. LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to hear from you, Nicole! Thanks for all the congrats! I can't wait to see my place when it's done. 😂 It's getting closer. Fortunately we've had an amazing contractor. We were so lucky to find him. Terry is a genius at tracking important things down. I hope all is well with you, my friend! ❤️
DeleteWelcome back! We like Teddy Swims. Lovely photos
ReplyDeleteHi, Christine! I'm so glad to hear you like Teddy Swims. I was thrilled when I started to hear his music on the radio and in different places. Have the best weekend! ❤️
DeleteHave a good weekend
ReplyDeleteMuch♡love
Thanks, Gillena! I am, and I hope that you are too! ❤️
DeleteOh, Louse, this makes me so happy. You've been deep in it but not only is there light at the END of the tunnel, I think there has been plenty of light already, with a baby, good brother recovery, gorgeous spring and birds, and much happiness. And yes, the reno continues but every day closer and closer. I'm thrilled for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeanie! The good thing about a challenging period is how great "normal" feels! Much love to you!
DeleteLife seems like its been a whole lot things. But the good news is always the best. Hope the rest of the house renovation goes smoothly and doesn't drag out even the 3 weeks left.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new granddaughter, Elsie.
ReplyDeleteLove the name.
Best of luck with the renovations.
Dear Louise 🥰♥️
ReplyDeleteI am grateful that Roy had a successful heart surgery and doing well now by the grace of God!!!!🥹🙏
I can only imagine how stressful it must have been for you to have your dearest brother going through such sensitive opinion ! You both have been buddies as I realised to see the photos you shared with us always 🤗 may he recover speedily amen 🙏
Congratulations to Bertie on her retirement and book publishing 👍🥰
Now she will have more to to write 🤗
Omg dear friend Louise I absolutely Loved seeing your grandniece ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🥰
She looks sooooooo adorable 🥹🥰♥️♥️♥️♥️🌸🌺🌼🌝
And the handsome guy holding her is super cute and cool 😊🥰♥️🤗
Donna seems so happy to have her new granddaughter 🥰
Thank goodness your renovation work is close to end and soon you will be arranging everything in to new shelves and cabinets 🤗 I know how refreshing feels but a woman when she finds her space newly built and welcoming 🥰
Thank you for sharing the splendid beauty of your summer. Everything looks lush and rich with life and chirping 🥰🤗♥️
The meadowlark is very pretty and sings divinely 🥹🥰♥️
I couldn’t resist listening her voice 😊🥰
Also thanks for sharing the Teddy Swim video,I found his voice powerful and compelling and yes soulful ♥️
I enjoyed his song thoroughly 👍👌♥️
Sorry that there were negative things as we last month dear Louise but i wish,hope and pray that everything ends well by the grace of God who has put us this challenging game and gave us wisdom and insight to play carefully!!!
Thinking of you with heart full of prayers,love and best wishes my dear friend 🥰♥️♥️♥️🌺🌹🌸☘️💐
I really love you, Baili! You are simply the best friend a person could have. Thank you for your wonderful and supportive comment! ❤️🍀❤️
DeleteCongrats on the new addition. New poop machines are always fun.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Bertie on retirement too. Hopefully the querying goes well.
You're in the home stretch of the renos. They'll be done just in time to head back to the cove.
Great Roy is doing well and able to be up and about and mosquito bait too.
Hopefully things stay on the good side for a while. Always fun to see things from a new perspective too as you get a new view.
Just resting here after driving through 7 states and 2 provinces.
I can't wait to hear more about your trip, Pat! What fun! Much love to you, my friend!
DeleteWelcome to the world, dear Elsie. Jackson is a handsome fella. We were blessed with our first great grandchild in April. Asher Owen Ezra. That makes me a great grandma! Hard to believe but harder to see our daughter as a grandmother! I'm with ya' on living thru the disruption of life with a renovation. But it'll be soooo worth it. Happy June! JQ Rose
DeleteWhat lovely family photos, Louise, and great news! Congratulations on the new addition. :)
ReplyDelete