Author Archives: Carrie

Carrie The Caregiver: New Roof, Old Problems?

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Posted by Carrie on November 18, 2009 – 10:57 am
Filed under Online Games

Sunny skies are here again :)

As devastating as the tornado was, the experience once again proved that even Nature’s fury is no match for families and friends tackling things together as a team! Yup, our dear little store is pretty much back to normal, thanks to everyone pitching in and to the relief of loyal customers near and far.

Of course, Will and Peter are beyond exhausted at this point… they worked day and night, side by side, nail by nail. Repairing the roof was a race against time, but I’m pleased to report that at least the weather was on our side this time: It didn’t rain until they’d hammered in the very last shingle…

Another pleasant surprise? Safi’s boyfriend David stepped in to help. Not only is the kid a natural with a hammer, but he’s got pretty good instincts about how to win over a teenage girl’s suspicious father, too :) David really is a great match for our Safi – he’s steady, he’s funny and he’s got a good head on his shoulders. By the end of the first day, Will had already invited him to Christmas dinner!

And what about me?

Well, to be honest, dear friends, I’ve been running on adrenaline all week and I have that nervous feeling I get when I’m about to crash. It’s not just the physical exhaustion… emotionally, I feel a bit fragile, too. Like something’s been bugging me, like something’s still missing from my life, but I can’t quite put my finger on what that may be. I think I’ll try talking to Grettle about it. She always knows how to get to the truth.

As much as I’d love to fill you in on all the rest right now, I think I’m gonna go get my guitar and just play for a while instead. The evening is unseasonably warm and the porch swing is beckoning…

G’nite!

———-
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Carrie The Cregiver: Tornado Alley

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Posted by Carrie on November 11, 2009 – 1:04 pm
Filed under Online Games

Thank you so much for all your kind emails, everyone – we’re all okay here, thank heavens, though the store is a mess.

With all my talk of glorious fall weather these last few weeks, the last thing we were expecting was this – a freak tornado tearing through town! Even though the storm season is supposedly over, we had a real doozie here a few days ago, in case you didn’t hear. It was beyond terrifying… I seriously thought our whole house was going to blow away. Luckily, nobody in the area was hurt, but property damage is pretty extensive. Our beloved store is a natural disaster in its own right. The inventory of jars was destroyed, and the roof is half gone, but the show must go on.

Yes, we’re staying open… mostly because the thought of letting all that fresh fruit go to waste is so dreadful. Amazingly, we have more customers than ever. I guess people need a place to congregate and support each other, and that’s what our dear little store has become over the last few days. So we’re cleaning up as best we can now, and plan to do major repairs on the go.

Although the phone lines are still down, I’m also quite relieved to report that our internet access is still okay. I can’t imagine how disconnected I’d feel without you guys out there supporting me every step of the way :) I guess sometimes, when the worst happens, it’s a reminder to be thankful for the blessings we do have: Family, friends – both online and offline – as well as an orchard full of fruit to sustain us, and of course our health. Yes, this tornado could have been so much worse.

Today, even with only half a roof over my head, I am somehow feeling more grateful than ever.

Gotta run… we’re giving out free juice all day and I have a feeling Will and the kids could use some help!

———-
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Carrie The Caregiver: Dads and Daughters

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Posted by Carrie on November 3, 2009 – 4:12 pm
Filed under Online Games

Is it just me or do grown-up men have a tendency to act like little boys when they’re sick… or when they don’t get their way… or when they’re hungry… or tired… or when it’s Tuesday ;)

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not complaining. I truly wouldn’t know what to do without my dear sweet Will, but lately I feel like he needs my guidance more than the kids do. (Darling, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t have it any other way!)

In a nutshell, the problem is David, Safi’s new boyfriend. Well, not so much David himself – he’s a great kid, no doubt about it – but rather the idea of him.

Ever since we heard about David, I’ve spent countless hours convincing Will to accept the fact that yes, his little girl is growing up, that it was bound to happen sooner or later, that it’s nothing to worry about, that we raised her right and we have to trust her, and so on and so forth. But he just doesn’t seem to be getting it.

My normally upbeat and cheery husband has been moping around day and night, dragging his feet, and sighing loudly for no reason. It’s putting all of us on edge… especially Safi. And the last thing I want is for her to clam up and stop talking to us about this. I keep trying to impress upon Will the importance of open communication, and finding the right balance as her parents between firmness and understanding, between offering guidance and fostering independence.

Honestly, I’ve never seen him like this before. David has seriously thrown him into a depression! He’s exhausted, he barely eats and he’s become totally forgetful about the chores. This morning, there was hardly any firewood ready for what we knew was going to be a really busy day. And when we get off on the wrong foot at the store, it can take hours to catch up.

If anyone out there has any ideas on how to handle this, please do share. Maybe I’ll get Grettle to talk to him, too… it’s not just me she has a knack for calming down!

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Carrie The Caregiver: Girl Time

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Posted by Carrie on October 27, 2009 – 3:06 pm
Filed under Online Games

Hey everyone…hope you’ve all been enjoying the gorgeous fall weather as much as we have!

Everything’s fine with us… working, playing and generally just loving the season. One thing on my mind lately, though, is that the kids actually seem to be getting a bit jealous of all the time Will and I have spent together alone these last few weeks.

All I can say is that this NEVER would have happened back in Northwood, when we were all running off in different directions doing our own thing. Back then, getting the gang together for dinner was next to impossible… and now that’s something we do almost every night!

Anyway, I’ve been missing them too, so Will and I decided to divide and conquer. He’s got a ton of father-son stuff lined up this week with Peter – fishing, basketball, even some driving lessons. (Hopefully, that’ll include chopping some wood for the stoves, too!) That leaves Safi, Grettle, Pearl and I together for some serious girl time.

I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it… especially since I want the chance to hear a bit about Safi’s new boyfriend. Yes – it’s true! My little girl has her first serious boyfriend :) Of course, Safi being Safi, we had to hear about it from Peter. They met when Safi started working on the school paper last month – David’s the editor, in fact – and Peter thinks he’s a really great guy. He’s a tough brother to please, so that makes me feel a lot better.

I know Will won’t be thrilled that David’s a year older than Safi, but I doubt he’d be totally happy with any boy she would bring home. Nobody’s good enough for his girl, I guess!

Will let you know what I can find out… Gosh – I can’t believe what a meddling mum I’ve become :)

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Carrie The Caregiver: Just Us

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Posted by Carrie on October 20, 2009 – 4:58 pm
Filed under Online Games

I’m afraid my poor, dear hubby is going to fall asleep over the jam pot this morning.

Even though we just got back from our romantic anniversary getaway, we’ve both been pretty busy playing catch-up this week. Don’t get me wrong… the kids and Grettle handled things like champs while we were gone, but you know how it is – getting things back the way I like them takes a bit of time.

Anyway, because of all the hard work they did covering for us, Will and I decided to give everyone a few days off. Peter’s got an away game with his basketball team this week, and Safi’s up to her eyeballs in some big story for the school paper, so they definitely could use the time. Even Grettle’s got a lot going on these days, between the new photography class she’s taking and the fact that she’s insisting on bringing Pearl to a new “Grandma-and-Me”class at the local rec center.

So that just leaves Will and me at the store this week….which means I’m kinda hoping things don’t get too busy. And between you and me, I’m pretty pooped myself today. (Safi and Peter, you might want to avert your eyes for a moment…) Will and I were up really late last night, um, talking ;)

Ugh. Can’t stop yawning! Gotta make sure I visit the R&R shed this morning…. I’d hate to be snoring when I should be pouring!

* * *

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Carrie The Caregiver: Pandemonium

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Posted by Carrie on October 13, 2009 – 11:17 am
Filed under Online Games

Phew… I’m back.

As you may have noticed, the kids and Grettle did a great job handling things around here while Will and I were out of town. I must admit I had my doubts at first, but they really pulled together as a team and made things happen. Safi and Peter, if you’re reading this, I’m extra proud of you two – Grettle told me you looked after each other and the customers with style and grace!

Looking back now over the last couple of months, I’m more certain than ever that moving here from Northwood was the right thing to do. The kids are reconnecting with each other and rising beautifully to the challenges we’ve given them. I swear… they hardly even watch TV anymore :) None of us do… we seem to just enjoy spending time together and being outdoors.

Anyway, it’s a good thing Will and I had the chance to get away last week, because we were thrown back into the lion’s den as soon as we got home. Yes, my friends, pandemonium has a color… and it’s purple! We’ve got a total of five fruits going now, and the fall foliage season is peaking, which means more customers than ever thanks to a steady stream of tour buses stopping in front of the store.

I have a feeling it’s all going to be okay, though. One thing I’ve learned for sure since we decided to embark on this wild family adventure is that the easiest way out of a tough situation is to unite and conquer.

Yup… it’s exactly what I hoped would happen, so I say bring it on!

Wait a sec… did I really just say that? I must be nuts! I guess our little weekend getaway really did recharge my batteries. But from the looks of that line I see starting to form at the store, I better get down there and inform Will he’ll be putting on his travel-agent hat again sometime soon…

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Carrie The Caregiver: Away

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Posted by Carrie on October 6, 2009 – 9:50 am
Filed under Online Games

The support system I have is second to none!

I have a feeling the kids and Will read my blog last week, because all of a sudden they’re treating me like a queen! Yes, it seems like my entire family is stepping in this week to make sure I’m well taken care of :)

To celebrate our wedding anniversary, Will is insisting we leave the kids (and the shop!) and take a little trip by ourselves for a few days. It took some convincing at first – will the kids and Grettle really be able to handle things on the home front? – but in the end, how could I say no? The man of my dreams is whisking me off for a romantic weekend in the Big City… just hope I can find my old high heels!

Of course, the key to leaving town and feeling good about it is being prepared. I’ve left lots of extra jars on the shelf, which should make things easier for the kids to serve the customers… especially when they’re all alone. After all, Grettle will probably have her hands full with Pearl a lot of the time.

That reminds me… better remind Grettle to make sure Peter eats. He’s a growing boy, and he gets cranky and slow if he doesn’t keep his energy level up with lots of snacks. I’m mostly worried about Safi, though. I know Pearl and Peter will be fine without me for a few days, but Safi seems a bit lonely lately. I’ll have to remind Peter to make sure he stays close to his sister.

The moral of the story? It’s okay to ask for help… and it’s okay to take a few days off! We moms and dads have so much going on, so many people to take care of… it’s easy to forget we don’t always have to be superheroes.

Oops – gotta go!. Will’s packing up the car and I want to give the kids a few more instructions (and kisses!) before we leave…

—-

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Carrie The Caregiver: HELP!

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Posted by Carrie on September 29, 2009 – 11:47 am
Filed under Community, Online Games

Did you ever have one of those days when you just wanted to crawl back into bed and fast- forward to tomorrow?

Well, today we’re firing up the new cooking pot. We sure do need it – business is booming, thank goodness – but it also means we have to step up our game once again. Chopping firewood, moving quicker, serving more customers, keeping ourselves in shape and simply staying organized takes a ton of effort. I know if I drop even one ball, the rest will come tumbling down. Yup, the pressure to stay cool, calm and collected is HUGE.

Between the chaos at the store, Will’s bad back, Pearl’s teething, Safi’s sullenness (sorry, sweetie!) and Peter’s girl troubles, I’m sort of feeling a little low on fuel. My emotional, physical and spiritual stores need to be topped up, A.S.A.P.

And that’s where my handsome and handy hubby Will comes in… by building us a fantastic new R&R shed. A place where we can all stop by every once in a while to get an instant fix of everything we need to keep ourselves in tip-top shape. (It really turned out great, too… no wonder his back is killing him!)

It’s my nature to focus on the needs of those around me first. That’s just who I am! But as parents, we also bear the brunt of everything that goes on in our families. That added pressure means we have a responsibility to take care of our own individual needs, too, or else we’ll be no good to anyone.

Don’t get me wrong – life with my big, fat blended family is fabulous… most of the time. But there are days when I simply crave some peace and quiet. No matter what, I am going to take a walk in the woods by myself after work today. The days are getting shorter and, pretty soon, winter will be here. I want to get out and enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

That’s how I’m going to be good to myself this week.
—-

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Carrie The Caregiver: Now We’re Cookin’!

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Posted by Carrie on September 22, 2009 – 11:32 am
Filed under Online Games
So much to do!

So much to do!

Good news all around today, everyone.

Now that the fall foliage has started to turn, tons of tourists are stopping by for a taste of our famous fruits, juices and jams. Yup – we’re busier than ever, but I think we’re finally getting into the swing of things here at Carrie and company’s crazy country store :)

Amazingly, the orchard seems to be even more productive than we are… we’ve got fresh yellow lemons thrown into the mix now, too! As soon as I saw them ripening on the trees, I knew we’d better prepare to kick it up a notch. So I recruited Will and the kids to keep the shop-fires burning and ordered a second kiln. (I like to put my speedy hubby on jar-making duty, which helps prevent a backlog when those long lineups start.)

The countryside is just so beautiful here this time of year…. I’d really like to squeeze in a hike or a bike ride this week. On second thought, maybe not. Lately I’ve been way too tired to enjoy the, um, fruits of my labor. Grettle rightly suggested we open up the store earlier to accommodate the influx of new customers. Which is also why we missed breakfast a few times this week, trying to get used to the new schedule.

Family’s good, too… Will and I are solid, and the kids seem to be settling in a bit better at school. Peter has basketball tryouts soon, which Will’s really happy about since he was a point guard back in high school himself. (I have a feeling Peter’s motives lie more with the cheerleaders than love of the game, but hey – boys will be boys!). Even Safi decided to join the school paper. I think it’ll be a great way for her to come out of her shell and meet some new people.

Who knows? Maybe she’ll write a story about the family business…
—–

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Carrie The Caregiver: Togetherness

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Posted by Carrie on September 16, 2009 – 9:54 am
Filed under Online Games

Hey everyone… hope you’re all enjoying the last days of summer. Wish I could say I’ve had some time to smell the roses – or rather, the apple blossoms! – but lately, our country jam seems way busier than life in the city ever was.

Long lineups and short tempers have found me a little more stressed out than usual, to be honest, and I finally realized why: I was running myself ragged all day long. At first, I brought in reinforcements – with me, Will, Safi and Peter working the store, I figured keeping the customers happy would be a piece of cake. Turns out it’s not that simple.

Maintaining my physical energy with a rest or a snack wasn’t enough, either; I’ve got to keep my spirits up, too. For me, it turns out staying connected to my loved ones requires more than just sitting down to dinner together every night… our social well-being needs constant care and replenishment in order for us to handle the daily ups and downs with style and grace.

The solution? Checkers and chit-chat! Putting a board out was Grettle’s idea, and it really works wonders :) Taking a break from the cooking and the customers to spend a few moment just chatting, one-on-one, with Will or one of the kids really does wonders to lift my spirits and recharge my batteries.

This is why we came here, after all… to get to know each other once more and pull together as a team. To let the business of running the store and the huge and, quite frankly, unexpected success it has become get in the way of that goal would defeat the whole point!

As a family, we’re at a crossroads, but we’re figuring it all out together, one day at a time…
—

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