hey, Cathy----

Didn't you also have to make your presentation to the town council this week?  How did that go?  Or, at least, how do you think it went?  I've been thinking about your problems with  VCC, and hoping things work out.  And a house full of visitors as well!  And you think my life is interesting!?

Sending wishes to Cathy for weekend

If my dates are correct Cathy, this will be your weekend for company. Hoping you have a great meeting and even greater "social hour" with beds for everyone who stays over !!!
Not too much new here except more garden work today - fit in a bit of work and then it rained a few drops enough to drive me indoors, and then the sun was shining so out for more work and this pattern repeated itself several times. Tomorrow calls for thunderstorms and rain so I am hoping for some time inside to sort through cloths - wish me luck! Have a good weekend and take care.

A long week so far and it's only Thursday

This is the first time I have been able to even log on in the last few days, so glad to have a moment and connect again. Hope in contrast that your week has been going better, but then we all have these times, don't we? We had a few plumbing problems in the basement and it has taken us a few days to rectify - finally this afternoon we have it repaired and I have water again. Of course, all this work is done by the two of us and thank goodness Harry was able to do the actual pipe repair work with his pain and limited mobility with his shoulder still. I managed to tear down two walls and a portion of the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom in order to expose the problem - I shall take my time before restoring the insulation, vapour barrier, and drywall and painting- probably after my summer trip. In between all this, we have been minding the yard and garden not only here at home but also at his Mother's place. And also three trips to North Bay - Monday afternoon to pick up a "free" portable dishwasher for Mike advertised on Kijiji, the usual Tuesday shopping day, and then back on Wednesday to buy some garden ornaments, and hanging basket stands at a place also advertised on Kijiji.  I think that I shall have a good sleep tonight because I am exhausted, and my anxiety level about the plumbing is somewhat diminished. I am reading a very interesting book right now and I think Patty you might have mentioned reference to a similar one in a  conversation we had recently? This is called Knights of the Black and White - Book One of the Templar Trilogy by Jack Whyte. It is terribly long and requires attentiveness when reading but there is something about historical novels that catches my interest. The neighbour next door spoke to us this afternoon over the fence and commented on the fact that I had been caught by the two of them cutting his boulevard ditch grass a few weeks ago, This was a random act of kindness on my part and thought it would go unnoticed. He also mentioned that he hoped I would keep doing it! He uses a riding lawnmower and is practically blind and obviously cannot cut down into the ditch on the machine. So tonight before supper, I cut our grass which was getting very long, and then quickly did his again but this time a bit more diligently because I am sure they were peeking out of the window watching. Great fun! Well, bed is calling to me and my shot of Galliano is finished - all of it into my stomach this time and not all over the computer haha Take care

Recovery time

I was totally exhausted after my Shibori class.  Maybe too much time outside in the fresh air?  Then, on Monday evening, my Ravenesque group visited.  So yesterday was spent mainly in a sort of stupour, reading and stitching ourtside.  It was a beautiful day, so we set up the umbrella over the picnic table.  The table, itself, suffered over the winter.  One of the tabletop boards has swollen and split.  It could be fixed, but I don't know if either of us has the energy and skill.  When Daddy made something it was meant to last forever, so I imagine this was "glued and screwed".

For the last few days, everytime I walk through the house, I see another bit of housework that needs to be done.  we're managing to keep on top of most of the daily chores, but the deeper needs just aren't getting done.  So today, I decided to write them all down--make a list--put them in a parking lot! Having done that, I can stop worrying about forgetting something, or missing a chore.  I can always add to the list, but the list itself will always be there as a reminder, when the time comes that I actually feel like working.  Hey!  It works for me, and with company coming, I have a deadline.
for today, I'm grateful that the wind has diminished a bit lately, and we can actually get out for a bicycle ride.

Exciting Lives

Boy you two lead exciting lives.  I went to work and then to the Legion!  I whined and begged Jim for 2 days to skip meat draw and come home. He did and bbq'd us some steak!  Of course we finished supper early, so I drove him back to the Legion in time for meat draw.  I guess it was worth it, because we won on our tickets.  (Frozen hamburger patties... Yippie) Debbie Ginther phoned last night.  I had been trying to reach her for her Birthday, but everytime I called she was out.  We talked for quite a while.  Her daughter has finally decided on Education so she has 2 more years to go.  Debbie says there is a drug house across the street from her.... A drug house!! On Maplewood!!  I am going to do another run through on the house this weekend.  My meeting is next weekend.  I hope I have enough beds, as I am not sure yet who is coming for the night!  It will be an all day meeting.  We hope to discuss a lot of future strategy.  It should go well.   Unless the dogs eat all the papers!  We ahd quite a storm yesterday afternoon, but it moved on by about 4:30.  This morning is sunny and warm.  I hope it continues. Maybe my garden will start to grow.  It looks really sad right now with nothing but some bedding plants.  Jim put the tomatoes and peppers out on Thursday, but he didn't put them into paper cups.  We will have to watch for cut worms.  We already seem to have lost a couple.  It is moist enough that the sand won't blow.  When it is dry and windy the sand will actually cut off the stems of small plants.  Today Jim is talking about going to a second hand store in Minnedosa (and I thought I didn't lead an exciting life)  Everyone that has been there raves about the prices and quality.  It might be worth a shot.  I hope next week is quieter at work.  With people away and month end it was crazy this week.  Or maybe it was the full moon coming.  I used to have lots of time for month end because the bank statement didn't come for a week or so.  Now they access it on line in Winnipeg and forward it to us.  I had it by 9 am yesterday.    I also have another 6 plans to process, that I haven't even opened yet.  I usually try to check the expiry date, but I just haven't had time.  I will do that on Monday.  Keri is going to Winnipeg today.  She must be looking forward to it, because she is up already and she doesn't get up this early on work days.  I hope she has fun.  It must be boring here for her.   Time to go and harass Jim.  Have a great weekend

Busy day?

It sure seemed like it, but I have very little to show for what I've done.  I know that by 4:00 I was ready for a nap, somehting I had vowed not to do as I want to sleep well tonight, so as to be ready for my all day class tomorrow.

We went out on our bicycles right after getting up, and then off tothe grocery store to buy some of the bottles soft drinks they were advertising. They didn't have any, but we were told that they were expecting a delivery this morning and to come back in the afternoon. So we bought some fancy blackberries and respberries,and home to do laundry.  Then my friend Shirley called.  She had called yesterday, and left a message but I just hadn't had the chance to call her back. She invited me to join the residents of her independant living centre for a bus trip to the casino across town, but I declined ( and none too gently either).  Then she suggested coffee.  I told her that I had to go out to the grocery store and wouldn't be able to go to her apartment for coffee. But--she needed something from the grocery store and why didn't I pick her up and we could go shopping, and then out for coffee.  And we had to go to Starbucks because they serve coffee in paper cups at McDonald's, and when she pays that much for coffee she wants a china cup. ( when she gets on a roll she's hard to stop)

I picked up Shirley and we went grocery shopping.  I had to speak to someone about the soft drinks asI couldn't see any.  The first fellow told me that they didn't make Dr.Pepper in 750ml bottles( the ones I buy regularly at his store), so I spoke to the young kid at Customer Service who gave me along song and dance about how they were renovating, and had no storage in back: and were getting their deliveries daily, and Dr. Pepper isn't a big seller.  The gist of it was that they didn't have any and weren't likely to get any. Then I couldn't find Shirley.  I searched the whole store and finally decided to hang around the check out to catch her.  After a bit I noticed Shirley sitting on a chair near the exit, patiently waiting for me.

Off to Starbucks where there was a line up, so Shirley grabbed a table and gave me $20 to buy us both a small coffee and a cookie.  And it was busy, and they had to brew my decaf.  I got Shirley's coffee and the cookies and went back for mine, not realizing that the coffees were both in paper cups.  Not being shy, Shirley told the server quite firmly, from acoss the room, that if she had wanted a paper cup she would have gone to McDonald's.  The coffees went back to the counter, and we got china cups.

While talking about my need for Dr. Pepper ( I really wanted it in a bottle to take to my workshop tomorrow and Sunday) Shirley suggested that I try the grocery store in  Bird's Hill rather than driving all the way to St. Vital.  But when I got home, David remembered that there was a store on Henderson Hwy, quite close to home.  The pricing on these things mystifies me.  I was looking for a six pack of 750ml bottles that were advertised as 3 for $10.00 or $3.33 each.  I could have bought individual 571mlbottles for $2.49 each.(not bloody likely!!)  Anyway, I now own 9 six packs of bottles Dr.Pepper.  The regular price has been $5.96/ 6 pack, so we got a deal, and enough Dr. Pepper to last all summer.

And by the time we had done all of that, I went for a nap, and poor David finished the laundry and cooked supper.  Today, I am grateful--as I often am--for David.

When it rains, it pours.....

...and right now I am manning the sump pump outside and hoping that this time I can keep up with the downpour. Apparently this will be the way it is for the entire weekend. Rain is definitely needed for the dry bush and forest fire issues (and garden) however, it could come in nice soft steady regular nightly bouts and not all at once?
Well, an exciting day was had today including speaking with, and shaking hands with the Prime Minister Steven Harper in North Bay. It was Armed Forces Day  and as a special treat this year the Prime Minister made an appearance and speech honouring the Armed Forces making mention of how special North Bay and Norad forces are to Canada and the USA. Static displays were exceptionaly good and of course I got to see Mike who was part of the setup and demonstrations of equipment and transportation. We were positioned along the security fence and so when Mr Harper did a walk by greeting people we were right there so of course shook his hand and said a few words. I was more interested in watching the security. We got there early to get a front row position so got to observe the "men in black" getting ready for his arrival and then how he was received and managed during his stay and eventual departure. Had to be about 8 or 9 security cars as part of the entourage - all shiny black including his SUV with shaded windows and lights flashing and Canadian Flag on top. The American Ambassador to Canada was also in attendance with a slightly less presence though. All of the security ( RCMP) were dressed in black suits and ties and all had earphones stuck in their ears, and all held a blackberry or smart phone and all tended to be using them continuously. Two in particular were of note because they had a napsack type of long bag slung over their backs and they hung closely by at all times - what do you suppose would be in that bag???? The Hornet F-18 did a fly over, and the Griffin Helicopter did a display of maneouvres including flying sideways and in reverse - amazing!
I was so excited when I got home that I had to make a batch of choc chip cookies, and then made a pizza and managed to pig out quite sufficiently, thank you! Now I get ready for a wet weekend which for me sounds good because I could use some inside time - get some work done and also start in earnest to gather up things for the trip. Once I turned the calendar over to June this morning it hit me how close my departure really is. Have a good weekend, and take care. I'll call when I win the Lotto Max tonight, OK?