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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!  Hope you make many wonderful memories.  Play safe:)


From Christmas Past @ Baba & Deedo's

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas 2011


What cookies did you make this year?  We did sugar cookies and made stain glass window cookies out of them.  We used leftover Halloween lollipops.


YES from a mix!!!


Awhile back I went to this place and made jewelry (some are going to be Christmas presents) but here are a couple I kept.  really fun to go.

This year I am sending out a New Years card so do not think I forgot you.  Thank you to everyone who has sent us beautiful Christmas cards.  We love them & YOU!!!
My two favourite Christmas songs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmj7KlIut1w&ob=av2n


**********************************************************************************
So Random, Robyn??!!

Here are a few tips I have acquired from friends and/or my sisters:

1-scoop your salsa with a fork - then you avoid the extra liquid
2-add lentils to your meat sauce when having spaghetti.  You do not even notice that they are there and they give you lots of extra good stuff (aka fiber)
3-add vanilla yogurt to your pancakes if you are using a mix.  Makes them super yummy.

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS !!  Love Breton Daphne Robyn & Jeff

Friday, December 9, 2011

My Thursday

Got up at 6am
Showered
made lunches, had tea
Did computer stuff
Woke kids up
Helped them get their breakfast ready
Went out and delivered newspapers with Breton
Drove kids to school
Walked the Ruby
Got gas (for the car!)
Got a Chai latte (very necessary as I did not sleep well the night before:)
Got to work
Worked with some awesome ladies (Manon & Randa)
and a great group of
 kids
Went to the store to get groceries
On the way back to school, got pulled over
for not coming to a complete stop at the stop sign on Limebank
Officer Oakley gave me an early Christmas present by not charging me, just a warning.
PHEW!
Finished working
Went to the gym
Came home and made dinner
Did homework and baths with Daphne
Watched Survivor with kids
Put them to bed
Finished making Christmas decorations, while watching TV
Went to bed
Slept like a baby!!

Happy 13th Layla!!!



Sorry Layla this is late but know that I love you very much.  You were a burst of sunshine after a very sad start to 1998.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Weird but true

I have recently seen an Otrivin commercial for a new "sea water" nasal spray.  It reminded me of my 7 year addiction to Otrivin/Drixoral.  When I was pregnant with Breton, one of the drugs I was allowed to take was Otrivin.  There is an increase in congestion when pregnant so, the Otrivin solved this for me.  Well if you read the warning on the packaging it tells that if you use it for more than 3 days it will have the reverse effect.  Well I was congested for 7 years!  To get off of the nasal spray, I tried everything from an all natural hot pepper spray (that left me teary eyed and only very temporarily breathing free) to prescribed medication from an ear nose and throat DR (that left me flying so high on the first day - later learnt not to take all the meds at once), none worked:(  Even went to a 2nd ear nose and throat Dr to consider surgery?! Never went back to her.
What finally worked, completely by accident, was that one day I forgot my precious nasal spray and all I had was some Fisherman Friends throat lozenges.  If you have tried the original, you'll know that they clear your nasal passage just fine!  Well I continued to eat the lozenges and finally I did not need the spray, yeah!!

That was almost 3 years ago.  I have not done nasal spray EVER again! And no I am not now addicted to Fisherman Friends:)

Just thought I would share and celebrate my recovery from nasal spray addiction.

VOTE NOW!

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf11485/vote Click on this and search for Mary Honeywell and VOTE.  They are trying to win funds to build a new playground.  There are so many people looking to win, a lot of great ideas.

I am very proud of my class.  We raised $130 in Canadian Tire money to buy toys for Toy Mountain.  We have done it for many years.  Way to go Casa 1!

PS Happy 3rd Birthday Brodie (:{

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Videos to LOVE

This was a project Breton had to do for school.  Crank up the volume, it is kinda hard to hear.  I had a moment of not the proudest parenting but maybe I will confess in another post...


Monday, December 5, 2011

20 days until...

Just wondering if you got your Christmas shopping done?  I am finishing up today!!  Let me know if you found any great finds.  Happy Holidays!


I so wish we had snow!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Shout out!

I just wanted to send a shout out to whoever is reading my blog in Russia!!  So cool that it can reach people so far away.  Leave a comment:)
Have a great day everyone!

OH and enjoy the snow!  My son is up early so that he can get out and shovel it! Love it!!!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Your theme song...

So if you walked into a room what song would be playing in the background?  Mine would be NEW YORK GROOVE by Ace Frehley.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4vMQOOiUY&noredirect=1

You can not help but strut to this:) LOVE IT!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Santa!?

So how old were you when you realized Santa wasn't true?  I do not remember exactly but my son now knows:(  Kinda sad.  Whenever I mention Santa, B always sarcastically says "Santa" (with air quotation marks).  D still believes!

I wonder:  Isn't it really a big lie, the whole Santa thing (along with the Toothfairy, Easter Bunny etc)?  not that I would ever spoil it for anyone but aren't we suppose to be teaching our children to tell the truth...???

Friday, November 4, 2011

Happy Birhtday Maddie:)

Just wanted to wish my dear friend Madelaine a wonderful birthday on Saturday!  Hope it is everything you needed/wanted it to be.  Love Robyn


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Sean!!

Connor's Dad is having a birthday today too!!  I am not sure how young he is turning but he is an important guy in our family and we hope he has a grrrrreat birthday!
Happy Birthday Sean!!
Sean wi th his better half:)

Happy birthday to you,  happy birthday dear Sean, happy birthday to yoooouu!!!
Lots of love Breton, Daphne, Robyn & Jeff

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

And then it was over...

The Angel & the Skeleton


Breton's carving

My Lion pumpkin?

carvin' 101.  Yes B has hockey knee pads on?!

Daphne's pumpkin

Hope you all had a great Halloween.  My kids collected over 15lbs of candy.  Yes they actually weighed it!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Important Stuff

My nephew is a student at Mary Honeywell Elementary School in Barrhaven.  They are trying to get a new play structure through www.AvivaCommunityFund.org.  They are a semi finalist so on Dec 5th remember to vote.  Search Mary Honeywell and you should get them and then VOTE!  I will remind you:)



On a very serious note:  Read the words 1st then watch the video!
This has been going around for years.. I hope it keeps going until every cook in the world has seen it.
Refresher course!*The Key here is to use a towel that is not dripping wet...  wring it out first!!!!


*Let your kids know too!Friends and loved ones...This is the first time I heard of this simple fire prevention idea...It's so simple and effective, that I'm forwarding it to all my family and friends. Kitchen Fire - Read first then watch...*READ  THIS  BEFORE  YOU  WATCH  THE  VIDEO!* Dear Friends,
I was Executive Director of the Institute for Burn Medicine for San Diego and Imperial Counties when we lived in California . Besides raising the  money to establish a Burn Treatment Center at the University   Hospital    there, I conducted extensive public education campaigns in Burn Prevention.A friend recently sent me the attached short video - and like an old fire-horse, I heard the bell ring and am rushing to send this excellent  prevention piece to each of you. It is well worth watching! And it could  save your life.This is very stunning - please read first and then watch the very short clip.I never realized that a wet dishcloth can be a one size fits all lid to cover a fire in a pan!This is a dramatic video (30-second, very short) about how to deal with a  common kitchen fire...oil in a frying pan.Read the following Introduction, then watch the show...It's a real eye-opener!!At the Fire Fighting Training school they would demonstrate this with a  deep fat fryer set on the fire field. An instructor would don a fire suit and using an 8-oz. cup at the end of a 10-foot pole to toss water onto the  grease fire.The results got the attention of the students. The water, being heavier thanoil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated.The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out.  On the  open field, it became a thirty-foot high fireball that resembled a nuclear blast.Inside the confines of a kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room. Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One-cup of either creates the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite.This is a powerful message...watch the video and don't forget what you see.Tell your whole family about this video. Or better yet, send this to them.

Friday, October 21, 2011

I gave blood for the first time!

I gave blood for the first time yesterday!
It was pretty pain-less.  I just did not look or watch any part of the blood taking or anyone else who was getting blood taken/donating.  stared at my purse which was on my lap.

I wanted to have a photo to go with this but when I asked the nurse to take it she said  "I am not into that!"  What!???  I told her it was for my blog to promote donating blood and later she said my friend  (really it was Aimee, my sister) could take my photo but by then I was a little perturbed (sp) and just wanted to get out of there. 

Anyways if you can you should do it.  I will go with you too.  I am already signed up for the next one in Barrhaven Dec 22nd.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fall Favourites

Breton ran in the cross country meet at Baxter yesterday.  He was first for his school and 14th out of 120 runners!  way to go Breton!!!
Thank you to everyone who commented and texted to wish Daphne a great birthday!  That is the most comments any of my blogs have ever gotten:)  Sorry to those who keep trying to comment and are having no luck.  If anyone has suggestions for them comment here!
Fashion cakes for my little fashionista!

the final touch for Daphne's room!

Update: Sue's Crew Shoes:  so I emailed to find out where my shoes will be displayed and my contact is going to investigate and should know by Friday(tomorrow).  will keep you updated:)

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Daphne turns 7! Oct 19th 2011


 Daphne
(female) Name borne in Greek mythology by a nymph who was changed into a laurel by her father, a river god, to enable her to escape the attentions of Apollo. The name means ‘laurel’ in Greek. According to the myth the nymph gave her name to the shrub, but in fact of course it was the other way about: her name was taken from the vocabulary word (which is probably of pre-Greek origin). The name came into use in England at the end of the 19th century, when it was adopted as part of the vogue for plant names at that time.




Happy Birthday Daphne!  We love you sooooo much!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Karma?


Today, after walking the kids to school I found $10!  Wow!  After work I went and bought some milk and chicken fingers at Shoppers and it came to $10.18.  I did not have any change on me and I was going to put the .18cents on my debit or re-do the order to pay by debit but instead the cashier paid the .18cents!!!  Again WOW! My double lucky day.  I will definitely be paying this one forward (no pun intended):)  Hope you have a lucky day!

PS Yes that is a random photo of what is on my kitchen table right now...

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!


Wow I have soooo much to be thankful for...

My health, Jeff, Breton, Daphne,their health, Noelle&Jay& Molly, Aimee&Company, Dad&Bev, Mireille&Larry, Miranda& her Men:)Boys, Connor, Aug&Michelle and their significant others, Grandmaman, Mom's Friends, all my Aunts and Uncles, all the ladies I have worked/work with, our pets, Vanilla & Ruby, holidays, our gorgeous country & my freedom, great music, pretty flowers, the birds & the bees, my students, great yummy food, a warm cup of tea, sunny & rainy days...and snowy days and so so much more:)

Monday, October 3, 2011

2011 run For The Cure

Here are some photos from Run Day!  Thank you to everyone who supported Sue's Crew
The RUNNERS!

Mother-daughter team.  that is who I am running for!

Team Captain Noelle, Jay & Molly:)


So many people out for a good cause.

Molly's 1st race!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sensational Shoes in Honour of Sue!!!

So I did not win the Run For the Cure Shoe Challenge but thank you to everyone who voted.  Today I did get this email from them though

Hi Robyn, Thank you so much for participating in the Who are you Running For? Shoe Challenge. Although your shoe was not the ultimate winner, it did catch the eye of New Balance! They would like your permission to send your shoe to a New Balance store for the month of October in your area, and therefore will need your contact information. We would also love to know a little bit more about you – I have your story attached, but if you can include a little bio about yourself as well, that would be fantastic.


To me, I am excited to be recognized.  I will let you know which New Balance store they will be at, maybe College Square?

If you still want to join us let me know and I can tell you where we will be meeting.

Thanx again for the votes and support.
Robyn

Monday, September 26, 2011

Last Day!!!

Hi Everyone

Today is the last day for the CIBC Run For The Cure SHOE CHALLENGE.  My shoes are #8 http://www.runforthecure.com/.  Click fundraising and then find the shoe challenge and VOTE for mine.
Thank you for taking the time!!

Friday, September 23, 2011

HOT YOGA...

So last night I did hot yoga with my sisters and some friends, at a new place in Stittsville.  Well I thought I had did hot yoga @ a Barrhaven yoga place but it was NOTHING like last night's class.

First just entering the studio was like a sauna (not a fan of saunas).  Literally caught my breath and had to focus on breathing.
We were told to bring a towel. Well I brought a hand towel not realizing there would be gallons of sweat dripping off of my body.  The hand towel did not cut it.  A large beach towel would have.  At one point my yoga mat became somewhat of a slip and slide while I was in downward dog!  We were told to try not and wipe the sweat off, "Let it evaporate and this will help cool the body."  I CAN NOT stand having sweat dripping, off my chin, into my ears, down my back...I have NEVER sweated so much in my life!  We were told to reach back and grab our ankle while lying on our stomach...it was so slippery.  I could not hold on because I was so sweaty!

The best part was having a laughing fit with my sisters in the middle of the class:)  It was bound to happen slipping  dripping and sliding on our mats.  Especially when we were suppose to be so quiet.

Would I do it again?  Not on a regular basis but once in awhile.  I would just bring a large towel, lots of h2o and I would have a pair of flip flops to wear when I left, because I stepped in a puddle of someone's sweat on the way out!!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Apple Hill Farm

Today we went to pick apples at the apple orchard on Jockvale, Apple Hill.  It was so busy.  I had never seen it so busy.  The farmer said they had had 3000 people through on Saturday!

The reason could be because this is the last year for the farm.  It has been in operation for 70 years!!!  You'll never guess what they are building?!  More houses!!!

If you have not been go by and pick your own.  They have Macs, Spartans, Empires and Courtlands (my favs). We picked a mix.  It is $6 for sm, $10 for medium and $16 for large basket.  They encourage you to try them before you pick them, which means you can eat them to find the one you like the best.   You can also get pre-picked baskets and cider.  Daphne and I made homemade applesauce.  Delicious:)  I am definitely going to go back for more.

Here is one of my favourite ways to eat apples:

Lily's Cinnamon Apples (Lily is a former student and she brought this for snack one day)

Cut one Gala apple into small bite size pieces.  They do not brown quickly so you can eat them later in the day but if you are eating it right away use any apple but green.  Then sprinkle them with cinnamon to your taste.  You can also sprinkle some sugar but I eat without the sugar.  I am sweet enough (no comments about this please;)
Enjoy!  It is like eating apple pie!

Question:
From Daphne "Why do they not grow green apples?"  Do they anywhere in Canada?

Christmas Shopping yet?

Yes I have begun thinking of shopping for Christmas.  A great store we re-visited this weekend is Play Value on Carling Ave.  Lots of outdoor toys, Ravensberg puzzles galore,  all the Lego and Playmobile you could imagine and beautiful wooden toys.

There is even pool stuff galore, trampolines and floatie things you can pull if you have a boat...oh even an island Dad:)

Summer Favs

I know Summer ends this Friday but here are a list of some of our summer favourites:

I have enjoyed reading  http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/.  Stephanie Nielson was burned over 80% of her body.  I like her decor style, her enjoyment of the simple beauties out there and she is a reminder to me that I am really really lucky.  Her blog lead me to www.thevintagepearl.com.  I would lone to put her blog as a button on my blog but I have had no luck.  If anyone knows how to do it please help me.  No, I am not becoming a Mormon.

The Ice Cream Truck - It has the best soft serve ice cream but we only saw it at the beginning of the summer and then never again.  Last summer we saw it all the time?!  I suspect someone complained about the ongoing ice cream truck music, or gas prices kept him from coming back over (he is from Quebec), or his hike in prices turned people away so it wasn't worth coming back here or there was some by-law that got rid of him.  Who knows?  If you do or you have seen it let me know.

Rina's Liquidation Station: beside the Foodland in Greely.  Kept this one a secret for quite awhile but she is pretty small so I thought the more people who go the better her biz.  She sells items from Costco that are no longer on their shelves, at an even better discount.  I don't know how she gets them but there are a few treasures you may have to search for them.

Veggie Pate - I do not eat pate of any kind  that is until I tasted veggie pate.  I do not know where to get it in Ontario but I usually pick it up when I am in Quebec.  It tastes like Stove Top stuffing. So good!

 Cake in a Mug - love chocolate cake? I was sent a recipe of how to make an individual cake in a cup.  You cook it in the microwave in a matter of minutes.  You could share it.  It is so quick and so good.  If interested email moi.
OR you could try this:
 Don't wanna make your own cake?!  I highly recommend Sweet & Sassy, 90 John St N, Arnprior.  You have to try the Birthday cupcake, even if it isn't your b-day:)
**************
The Dirty Word We Don't Use (article on the Yummy Mummy website)
by Katie Bickell
http://www.yummymummy.ca/

Pillows @ Saunders Farm - I have never been to Saunders for the Halloween season but we did go last weekend and played in the mazes and on these GIANT pillows.  they are like trampolines.  I laughed so hard while jumping...even peed a bit:()  We had sooooo much fun.

Groupon Coupons:  If you have not joined up to get daily deals from Groupon you should.  Many of the things we did this summer was because we had a Groupon deal.  I can help you sign up (then I get Groupon $$ to buy more coupons)

Well if Fall is your favourite season enjoy!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Summer Favourites

I know Summer ends this Friday but here are a list of some of our summer favourites:

 Cak

**************
The Dirty Word We Don't Use (article on the Yummy Mummy website)
by Katie Bickell


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Happy 70th Birthday Dad!!

Happy 70th Birthday!
70 Memories/Quirks Unique to My Dad!

1.        Doing “gymnastics” early on a Saturday morning
2.       You gave us the love of travel
3.       You picked an awesome area to raise us, yeah 10 Larsen Court!
4.      Our Nova Scotia trip
5.       Getting me to try diving lessons
6.      When I job shadowed you in Gr 8 and we travelled to Cornwall in a snow storm
7.       Our trips to Dominican Republic
8.      Seeing you horseback ride in the Dominican Republic. The one and only time I have ever seen you ride a horse.
9.      Your slide shows
10.    Our dinners out when you visited me in St Catherine’s, 5 cent wings yummmmmm!
11.     Our unique names Robyn Noelle Aimee
12.    Inheriting the “early bird” DNA
13.    Family trips to Florida
14.    Hours spent entering data into the Commador 64 in order to get new games
15.    Mustangs – we both owned one
16.    Your words of encouragement when I opened the school
17.    Letting Jeff live with us
18.    Scaring our guests at our Halloween party by going to the basement window and shining the flashlight under your chin yikes!
19.    All the souvenirs you brought back from your travels
20.   Your special pancake recipe
21.    Playing cards at the cottage
22.   Your beer label collection
23.   Watching Law & Order with you
24.   Hanging out at the hospital waiting to get by arm x-rayed after I broke it
25.   How you grab both sides of our face when you give us a kiss
26.   Your warning emails about viruses or just new info to be aware of
27.   Fishing with your Grandkids
28.   Silly comments after you fell asleep on the floor, then woke up all dopey
29.   Steak and potatoes every Friday on the BBQ
30.   My love of “crackle” from the pork roasts
31.    Taking me to all my dental surgeries and then making sure I got home OK afterwards (16 teeth pulled) one time you bought me Amelia Badelia books
32.   Your coffee gravy
33.   Your BBQing in general
34.   Thankful for you watching our kids
35.   Thank you for never noticing my bad haircuts
36.   Helping me with my homework
37.   Watching and trying to play Jeopardy with you
38.   Spending the whole day and night at the hospital waiting for Breton to be born
39.   Fires in the fireplace on a Sunday afternoon
40.  Family cross country skiing adventures
41.    All our cottage vacations
42.   Your careful arrangement of all our stuff piled high on the roof of one of the many station wagons we had
43.   Waking up and seeing you after I had been hit by the car (and Mom was trying to feed me ice cream), then wheeling me up to my room while I rode in the bed
44.  Taking me to be tested after I got hit by the car
45.   You letting us put make up on you
46.  You taught us a love of Boney M, Tina Turner and Rod Stewart
47.   The Christmas tree falling after you just had taken our photo
48.  Proofreading all my essays/projects in high school
49.  Surprising me on my birthday by inviting Barb B.
50.   Teaching me to mow the lawn with the electric mower
51.    Helping me with my Gr6 science fair project on radio communications
52.   Thanx for doing my taxes all those years
53.   All your “inexpensive” fixes around the house
54.   You wearing mismatched socks to work
55.   Going to all those Expo and Blue Jay games
56.   You working hard to provide for us
57.   Taking us to all those shopping centers when we were on vacation
58.   Thanks for never putting me down, although you did say my 1st tattoo was stupid?!
59.   You helped me buy my first car
60.  Sorry for putting back the razor after I used it and then letting you use it – ouch!
61.     All our trips to Toronto
62.   Taking us to the race track
63.   Never taking us to McDonalds (thank you)
64.  Going to see ET at the theater
65.   Our trip to California
66.  Going to Capital City Speedway
67.   Planting the daffodils
68.  Letting us stay at your place in Florida even when you were not thereL
69.  Our trip to Boston and seeing the Jays play at Fenway
70.   A glass of orange juice and a glass of milk, a working man’s breakfast
Happy, happy, happy birthday Dad!! Thank you for all the memories!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I've gone PINK!!

Hi Everyone!
It is that time of year again, on October 2nd, it will be CIBC Run For The Cure!  My sisters and I have participated for 10 + yrs with our team Sue's Crew, in honour of our Mom.

They are having a contest to decorate a pair of shoes to let everyone know who you are running for.  Coming up in September you are going to be asked to vote for your favourite.  I hope you choose mine:)!  I will let you know when voting starts but here is a preview of my shoes:

"Forever Young" if you knew "her" you would know why;)



Black Eyed Susans...


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Daphne!!



Earlier today Daphne probably would have nominated me for "Bad Mommy of the Year!"  Why? because upon redecorating her room as a surprise while she was away, I threw out her Turtle. The turtle was given at school after she had been nominated for a Turtle Tribute (she had done the right thing and a teacher put her name in to be chosen for a tribute).  They are very special!!  Daphne had made a home for her turtle in a shoebox...well it was in her closet and I was "editting" her room so shoebox went to the recycle bin.  DUH the box was the turtle's home why would she not be in there!!! OOPS:(  Fast forward to today when I had to confess to D that I might have thrown it out. Oh the mama guilt! After 1 1/2hr of searching on the Net I could not find the turtle...thank goodness for Ms Akeson (Breton's Gr 3 teacher).  I emailed her and she is going to hook us up with a new turtle!!!! THANK YOU MS AKESON! (I will blog a photo once we have the new turtle)
 
Cedar Green!  Thanx to Andrew & Breton my co-painters


Daphne's "D" collection
 
Daphne first seeing her newly redecorated room.  She had been away for 3 days visiting Grandma & Grandpa!



Breton showing Daphne some cupcakes we'd also surprised her with!  They are from Sweet & Sassy (Arnprior)


Art project by Daphne!

Daphne!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Daphne!!

DAPHNE!

Hmmmm....

Subject: Fence @ Greenbank Park
------------------------
From: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 1:40 PM
To: carol.valpy@ottawa.ca

Dear Ms Harder

I am emailing you concerning the fencing at Greenbank Park.  I know that a small child crawled under the fence and was nearly hit by oncoming traffic, during the week of July 17th .  If it were not for a quick thinking young man, who slid his car sideways (blocking oncoming traffic) and then was able to grab the child on the median, before the little one crossed into traffic coming in the opposite direction.  My in laws live on Knollsbrook Dr and have said that this fence has been damaged for years!!  Every week there is garbage pick up in the park by city employees and after this incident I know of at least one person emailing you with concern.  This other emailer has gotten no response from you.  I find it sad that when you lived in the area close to Greenbank Park, any concerns by residents was taken care of but now that you live elsewhere in Barrhaven this safety concern continues to go unaddressed.  Perhaps after the city employees are done cleaning up any garbage outside your office window they could proceed to the park and repair the fence.  I know full well that if your grandchildren were playing at the park something would have been done by now.  There probably would have been a new park resurrected too, considering that Greenbank Park still has a pressure treated wooden structure.  Maybe upon acknowledging this incident you could award the young man who basically saved that child's life, and have a photo op with them or you could have your photo in the paper when the fence is fixed or when the new structure is built.  I do know you enjoy that part of your job:)
Thank You for your time
Robyn Smith

----------
From: Valpy, Carol <Carol.Valpy@ottawa.ca>
Date: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 2:01 PM
To: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Cc: "CR - Blackberry - Harder, Jan" <Jan.Harder@rogers.blackberry.net>, "Cheesman, Tom" <Tom.Cheesman@ottawa.ca>

Good afternoon Robyn;  if this happened on July 17th, why is this the first time we are hearing about it?  I had an e-mail from one resident asking if it would be possible to put a locked gate on the Greenbank side. If this is the same resident that you speak of, then the answer was given.  If not, then perhaps that person could resend their e-mail.  No, they don’t gate parks, especially as this is a walk-through for many residents.  It is up to the parents/care-givers to watch their children.  If the fence is in need of repairs I can certainly take care of that.  The garbage is picked up regularily and the grass cut as well.  I don’t appreciate nor do I understand your comment about where Jan lives and if she still lived in the area things would be done.  Her ward is much larger than that one area and all concerns are treated equally – regardless of where she lives.  Greenbank park is on a life-cycle program as are all the parks in the City and are checked on a regular basis for safety issues.  If you know of any with the playstructure, please let us know.  I will have our Parks Department fix the fence and have a thorough look through the park for any other issues that there may be. Carol Valpy,Constituency Manager,Ward 3 - BarrhavenCouncillor Jan Harder613-580-2424 ext. 30320   From: Robyn Smith [mailto:bretondaphne@gmail.com]
Sent: August 18, 2011 1:41 PM
To: Valpy, Carol
Subject: Fence @ Greenbank Park


----------
From: Robyn Smith <bretondaphne@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 7:11 AM

Good Morning Carol

Thank you for a quick reply to my email.  I was not speaking of gating a public park.  There is part of the fence that is lifted, when standing in the park, on the left side.  It is at the corner where the chain link meets the wooden fence of a resident.  Yesterday some zip ties were placed to secure the fence.  So thank you for that.  We will see how long that lasts.  I will have the person who emailed you after the incident in July to re-send their email.  And as for the comment about how quickly things were done when Ms Harder lived in the Greenbank Park area, I am only quoting the residents who live in that area and who took their votes elsewhere last election.
Again thank you for taking care of the fence.
Robyn
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From: Valpy, Carol <Carol.Valpy@ottawa.ca>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 8:33 AM

As it turns out Robyn, approx 300 feet of fencing had been on order and you may very well see them installing it today. Carol From: Robyn Smith [mailto:bretondaphne@gmail.com]
Sent: August 19, 2011 7:11 AM

Thanx Carol I am aware that they are there doing something to the fence.
Robyn