There is something about finishing a big big project that
feels so darn good. Recently in my new role at work as Head of Talent Management
I just completed one and that felt darn good I tell you…especially as when I
took it on I was very uncertain if we would meet the deadline and we did.
And home projects too……I just today (early morning) finished
a HUGE one. Every year I print 400 pictures and put them in albums-that is
standard. I also write on the back of the kid’s school pictures and put them in
a big album. I develop pictures for frames at my office and hubby’s office of
the kids, and us. That is standard.
But every three years I do a big framing project for the
offices, home and the cottage. And I mean Big. Usually frame about 20-30 pics
for Trent……about 50-60 for home and then do a few framing projects for my Mom etc.
for Xmas gifts.
This truly truly takes forever. Which are vertical vs horizontal?
What fits in what frame? Where will the frame go? What should be in friend frames
vs family frames? Running after friends and
family to send me this picture or that picture from this event. Complicated and
lots of work. Also never perfect either. I still have holes in it all as never
got some pics I wanted, but did my best!
(PS remember I have a career (aka known as this is all
done late nights and early mornings)
We have many very specific framing clusters in house. We
have the basement stairs section which is every trip we have been on since
married. We have the living room which is extended family pictures. Then we
have our own kids and immediate family pictures. Then new to this years we have
a Friend wall and a Foundation wall (very symbolic for me).
At the cottager we already had the Friend wall and also
History wall of all our old memories from old cottage. Plus many vacation
pictures from family trips-the ones we consider the best ones.
If there is one thing in life that I am obsessed with
from a domestic point of view it is framing pictures (the only thing actually at home that I would consider). It has to be just so. Last night I woke
up at 3am and changed two pictures in the frames as they did not have enough meaning
for me. I derive great great pleasure from seeing important moments captured
and displayed. Often I walk in my house picture to picture just gazing. I love
the love captured in them.
PS-I am truly driving my family crazy. Especially my Husband.
And one day when I am retired (aka 80 yrs old) I will get
totally totally into photography. I have never taken a course in my life beyond
high school and am already pretty good. The framing around my house though are
mainly taken my tripods or kids as often I am in them!
But I have an eye for photos that is certain.
And then the whole X-mas and wrapping thing. I finished
that too now!!! And I put a lot of energy into it all. All 4 bdays are around
X-mas too. And stockings are huge and plentiful and full of goodies. Xmas pjs
for everyone on dec 24. This year I did 10 stockings as my brother and family coming
too. And then 10 pair of Pj’s besides all the Xmas gifts.
People may ask why in hell I would take on this picture project
so close to Xmas?. And my answer is because I stick to my goals. My goal was by
end of 2013 to have my framing project complete. And since I started only in November
2013 that made the probability of doing this close to X-mas pretty certain.
But none
of this could be possible. None of it at all without my little elvesJ))))
Beauty has been madly helping me for weeks now every
night. Wrapping. Sorting. Labelling. Framing. Cutting pics. Etc… Beauty is the
craftiest person ever. I am so glad she lives with usJ
Bear has been doing massive massive amounts of laundry
and folding to compensate for Beauty helping me. And dishes.
And Chase helped me cut apart a bunch of school pictures
last night and does the kitchen and has been busy getting 80's-90’s at school (I forgive him though plus
he does not get as much allowance as the two others)
Anyways I feel proud and accomplished and busy. It’s wierd
how this year with the least help I have ever had around the house I have been
the most productive. And so have my kids. And part of it annoys me to no end
and exhausts –but part of it is kind of fun tooJ
