Well, Hello there!

What have I been doing?  Darned if I can remember.  I did have another fall yesterday.  Slipped on the back door threshold, with both hands full.  Sent my right forefoot into sudden sharp extension, and even took my shoe off.  I've been generally sore all over for the past 24 hours, better today, but that foot is looks like it's going to be troublesome.  It appears that the sole of the foot is bruised but not so much on the top.  I think for sure that my middle and 4th toes are probably broken, but certainly not for the first time.  I know there is no treatment for it.  It would be fine if I could wear my shoes with the custom insoles, but the foot is too swollen right now.  So we just "carry on", and take Tylenol.

I know that water in the house is no joke, Cathy, but I still almost giggled when I read your post.  Next time you might try to be more specific when you pray for water.

Now it's noon on Tuesday, and David is out working in the garden again.  At least he's wearing his corset.  We are resigned to staying at home for a bit longer, and have even decided to be more stringent with ourselves about social distancing and such, when we do out.  David is doing what ever small shopping we need, more or less on his own.  This is good to see.

In the interest of appreciating small pleasures, we have a very small rabbit in our yard periodically.  There is also a much larger adult rabbit who comes by, and we pretend it may be the mother.  We've had Grackles recently, and haven't been putting out the bird food so often, so it's a surprise when we spot the Blue Jays pecking away at the dirt, trying to find the remnants of bird seed that may fall from above. David also has an almost red tomato.  He's getting a little antsy wanting to protect it from birds and animals long enough to fully ripen, or picking it now, and hoping it ripens a bit in the house.  So the yard amuses us even if we can't sit out there because of the howling winds.  I'm not  exaggerating there.  The wind has been much too strong for sitting outside even without the umbrella.  But David has it up now, while he deals with the rhubarb and its leaves. Maybe I should join him for a few minutes.

Be careful what you wish for

I asked for rain and boy did we get rain!  We had no tornadoes or big hail but what a noisy light show! And rain!  The yard was flooded over my ankles (all soaked in now....we were dry). The river in town flooded and they evacuated the campground. They are sandbagging in town today.  A small tornado touched down in rapid city and even the transcanada was closed in Brandon. The garden was pounded down but I think most of it will come back. Not many flowers on the plants though. Might mean no veggies again this year. My swing blew over and the canopy can’t tighten anymore and I found pieces of shingles on the deck (sigh). And, of course,  our hot water tank quit. Jim called a plumber first thing this morning but he never got back to us. He will call a different one tomorrow. Sponge baths it is. At least I have water. It could be worse.  I’m sitting outside right now. It’s 28c but it is over 30c inside. The house didn’t cool down last night cause we had to close the windows. I actually didn’t get them closed in time and the kitchen and living room flooded. I had to use every towel I had to dry the floors. It’s only supposed to go down to about 20c tonight but I have every window open. This is really the one week a year I wish I had air conditioning. Just reread my post!  It sounds like I’m really ready to throw in the towel (pun intended 😜). Not really. Life is good. Just like everyone else....sometimes you just gotta bitch.

Rain you say?

No thank you.  We've had more than our share so far this year. But none for the last couple of days.  Just the heat, instead, We were starting to wonder if the tomatoes would ever start to change colour or if we would loose them all to rot.  But David says with the warm weather the last few days he sees a bit  yellow, so there is still hope.  

Made it out to my appointment in Selkirk yesterday, but I don't think I've ever driven North on Hwy 59 in such heavy traffic. Almost bumper to bumper at 100+k/hr.  Then it was home, where David wanted to try cutting the grass.  I stayed outside to be with him and helped load a heck of a lot of grass into compostable bags.  We're going to tackle the front today.  I had actually hoped to spend much of today in the studio, but then I have to remind myself about moderation in all things.

Ditto..

Cathy, I say that every year when the temps go sky high and I get out the fans etc. And I am envious of you Pati somewhat to be able to switch to A/C when you need it. I think the worst part of the high temps is that when it cools down outside finally, the inside takes a day or two more to come back to being liveable. At least when it is cold, one can add a layer of blankets etc but when it is hot one can only take off so much...right?
Have had to consult with Geek Squad last two days - it was more than I could handle really and I think I hit a wall of "this is enough...enough.." and basically have given up - all to do with the old Windows 7 desk top I think. It works well enough for Harry to carry on, but I did a big sweep of my stuff (in a huff I think ) and deleted many of the blogs that I now find uninteresting. In a way I think it is my mindset that has changed. I realize that I live through these other peoples ideas and creations instead of facing the reality of my own life. I kept a few favourites but logging on this morning i realize how my slash and burn has changed my options...and i do not mind.
But i logged onto the new lap top Win 10 last evening to give me some relief or reassurance that I have a back up I guess, and to prep myself for our Skype on Wednesday. I checked my settings and I am sure it is all set to connect you both - keep your fingers crossed.
I look forward to that moment.
Today i am going to Mikisew Provincial Park on Eagle Lake near the next town of South River. Willie and his entourage are camping there over the weekend and I will go to visit and have lunch with them. I do not know if I will go out in the boat but time will tell. When my kids were young we used to go camping there a lot and I have really fond memories of the place. I am sure it has changed as everything does but I look forward to seeing it again. I think this is why Willie choose to go there - he, too, has fond memories and perhaps wanted to share them with his others.
Hope that rain will materialize Cathy, and you can get some moisture into your ground. Pati are you also needing rain? Take care folks ..."see" you on Wed!!!!

Darn, I could really use some air conditioning right now

I know you really need it for only about one week a year, but this is the week. It is 9pm and  it is still 38C with the humidex. There is lots of thunder outside but no rain. I will keep my fingers crossed. It is only9:15 but I am really tired. I think the last couple of nights with little sleep have caught up with me. The wind is ,as usual, really blowing, but it is a hot wind. I hear the thunder, but no rain. Keep you fingers crossed for us. We are really dry!

Hey wait a minute....

I just got my coffee and sat down to a new day and read your messages and I am tired already. You guys are way to busy and makes me feel a bit lazy ...haha! 
I got a call from the Librarian the other day ( it went to voice mail) to say they are now open for curb pick up and may be able to order in the inter-library system but she is not sure. She was calling all her regulars. She also mentioned to me specifically that before all the closures happened I was interested in getting the next Kelly Armstrong book (Rockton series) and that she could try. It is nice to be remembered just like I felt when the hairdresser gave me preference.
Just to be sure...all we all "in" for a try at Skype next Wed July first at 11 am your time? If so....I will initiate from my end and see how it goes.
Take it easy today folks, so that you can enjoy the weekend. End of June already - oh goody, that means the pensions should be posted. We eat again haha!  

Glad Thursday is over.

Very foolishly, earlier this month, I made up a "to do" list that I vowed to have finished by the end of June.  You guessed it--it's still sitting there waiting for me to get my butt in gear.  So today, we tackled the bathroom.  Last time I did it, I changed the shower curtain, and the new one had a bottom edge of mold already, probably because we've had such a mix of spring days, summer days and days with the furnace on.  We had agreed that it was probably not healthy for me to be taking the old shower curtain down to the laundry room and hand scrubbing the mold off, especially if we could replace it for $12.00.  But we also wanted to get to the bottom of the mold problem and found it in the inner surfaces and hidden surfaces of my bath seat.  David tackled the bath seat and I tackled the rest of the bathroom.  I did a very thorough job, stripping down to my underwear, and getting at the tub by using my foot to scrub, while hanging on desperately to the grab bars.  I even took a toothbrush and Pine-Sol to the grout between the tiles.  The last job was to wash the floor, and I really wasn't up to getting the mop and bucket form the basement, so simply used my Wet Swiffer for the job.  Since my routine is to do both the kitchen and bathroom floor at the same time (especially if one has to get the mop and bucket from the basement), I did the kitchen floor as well, and not before it was time--believe me.

Then, after typing up the minutes of the meeting last Sunday, it was almost time to consider supper.

David had another Massage Therapy appt. this morning, and was told that he didn't need to go again.  But I made one for myself.  With David more or less out of commission,  I've been doing more of the heavier work myself, and I'm certainly feeling it.  I'm hoping he can slowly start doing a little more.  As well as hearing from the Massage Therapist that he was doing well, he's been able to wear the corset all week, and that is far more than I was ever able to do.  I guess that, like seat belts, they are more designed for the male body than the female body.

So it's  now 8:30 and I'm just now sitting down at the computer.  Sleep well, ladies, and stay safe.

I wish I could talk about moisture

It was in the forecast, but as we sat on the east side of the house getting damp, the sun was shining on the west side. Made for a nice rainbow though😊. I had a very busy day, and am sore and tired now. I think I will be in bed early. The legion opened today (on reduced days and hours) so we went there. We may have stretched the rules a bit, but as long as no one complained we sat at one table. According to Lisa, if no one complained we could have up to 10 people at a table. Or if you entered as a group or were a family you could sit together. No moving tables though, or more than 10 at a table and no more than 50% of capacity. They are having meat draw tomorrow but I think it is limited to 72 people downstairs and if necessary they can open the hall, but I doubt it. As to why I am so tired, for some reason I shampooed the bedroom again today, made three pounds of hamburger patties, chopped and froze two bags of onions, did two loads of laundry (would have done more but I wanted a shower) and vacuumed. It was also the first farmer’s market at arts forward. I went there for a bit too. Rrain May be full time again next week. The part timer quit so she is doing both jobs. To me that deserves a raise but she is grateful to get a full pay cheque. So now I am thinking of bed, but it is only 7pm. I will try to hold out for a while.

Not "little bit of moisture".....

Yesterday afternoon that moisture came in full force - in torrents and torrents. Lakes all over the yard and me out in my big boots and slicker assisting the pump which was groaning away in full force as well. But....we got ourselves some rain!! What a blessing and the temps have cooled down. Last night a thunder storm went through but not with the torrential rains attached.
Hope to have a good day today and get more work done in the yard if it is not too wet. Harry is gradually getting some of the plants still in little pots actually planted into hanging baskets or big pots on the ground. I am still trying to cleanup all around and make the outside pleasing to the eye. Good luck to me ..haha!  Take care folks.

A little moisture overnight

Not much mind you, but it is a start. I was up early in order to get out there and water but I think I'll hold off a bit as the skies are also overcast - maybe more water will come down on it's own and wet the gardens for me. I did not water last evening as usual because I hoped it may rain but more because i was too darned tired.
We were in Huntsville yesterday to shop and take Harry for his ultrasound for 3:30 pm. So needless to say it was a long day and very hot. But I was thinking this morning as i fed the cats and made a nice Keurig coffee for myself how satisfying it is to have done a big shop and to see the food on hand and to feel comforted by that fact. I know exactly what I shall have for breakfast and I know I have lots of food to fall back on and I know that there is fresh milk in the fridge (rather than the spoiled milk I had to throw away the other day) I do not take anything for granted, but maybe we are also "spoiled" ourselves for being able to shop and fill our shelves???
A highlight of yesterday was going into Starbucks, and using my card (under the direction of the "barissta"?) to check points and what was to be expired. Sure enough I had 50 points to use and was able to get a free carrot muffin and bought a fresh coffee for which I got another 5.3 points. When I got home I logged onto site and see that I have 45 points now and must spend points before Aug 1 or lose more - so in my calculations I figure i can buy a fresh coffee again and earn another 5.3 points to bring it to 50 before Aug 1, and then I can get a free muffin with those points and so I will not lose any???  ...should I have been an accountant haha!
Another highlight was stopping at the Kawartha Ice Cream Store and buying a cup of ice cream for Harry and I to enjoy and to take up time while waiting for his appointed time to go to the hospital for the test. Following the guidelines i stayed in the line up and followed the tapes keeping my distance, ( store closed but take out open) and took my turn to order. I splurged and chose Death by Chocolate ice cream for myself - wow....it was great!
Another surprise for yesterday was receiving a call from a lady asking about pepper plants.Why yes, I said, we still have a few if you are interested! Her husband drove by about 6:45 pm to pick them up - Harry had filled two boxes with plants for them and as I looked at our shelves I still see far too many more that we are left with to plant somewhere. But even a little bit of free giveaways has helped haha!
So another day is here and i guess if it does not actually rain although they call for thunderstorms, i shall have to get out there and do more work. At least those dreadful hot temperatures have subsided and it may be bearable. The inside of the house though is still very hot and may take a day or two to cool off.
Have a good day you two, and take care of yourselves. 

Looking for the positive

Maybe at my age that means finding the small pleasures that keep up going.  The Rose bush in the yard next door is in bloom. This is the one we steal the roses from every summer.  Maybe I can have a rose on my kitchen table today.  The peony at the side of the house, the one that thrives on neglect, is in full bloom, almost over.  The peony in the front garden, that was split and transplanted earlier this year has a couple of buds.  Here's hoping.  The Mock Orange has been decimated, with us taking out all of the dead wood, leaving just a couple of very high pieces that showed potential.  If all goes well we may have 3-4 blooms.  If not, then the rest of it comes down.  Maybe.  The chain saw no longer works and David had been looking into renting one, when his back pain kicked in and sentenced him to his recliner.  There is a plant in the front garden that was planted when we paid the guy from the nursery to re-do the whole garden.  It has been quietly growing for years, and we haven't ever paid much notice to it.  This year it has bloomed for what I think is the first time.  It's beautiful and we are thoroughly enjoying it.  On a sour note, the Grackles are back at our feeder, today.   Not happy about that.

Last week I joined a Facebook group that shares and supports its members in working with sketch books.  I didn't know that they mainly share sketching.  They have zoom meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning, and I've signed up for that.  We'll see how it goes.  I had noticed many familiar names in the list of newbies that signed up at the same time I did.

David says that his back is a little better.  He wants to go shopping with me later this afternoon, and that's a good sign.  And now it's time to go.  I'll probably end up with a Starbucks coffee as well, today.

Just putting in time...

Waiting to head to Huntsville later this morning to shop and then Harry's ultrasound at 3:30 pm at the Hospital. So I write a few words while trying to stay cool and while eating a slice of store brought lemon loaf. I remembered i had it in the freezer so cut a piece ( two) and eating it (them) slightly frozen but it (they) is (are) still good and satisfying my grave.
The forecast thunderstorm never came last night but tomorrow is promising a "strong" thunderstorm and rain. But, and a big but, the temps are cooling with this change in the systems and for that I am grateful. Much too hot these last few days which is not healthy. But I guess I will have to get out later and do the watering again which seems to be a full time job - but the pay is good so I guess i will not quit (duuhhh!)
Today, I will try to stop into the Starbucks while Harry gets gas in order to spend the points that will expire. I received a message from them by email stating I shall lose them July 1 but I had thought that my last trip there covered off those points??? I guess i will ask but regardless I need to spend more points anyway to cover off those set to expire Aug 1.It seems all too complicated and I am not close enough to a store to frequent it often enough to enjoy the pleasures you have developed Pati.
So long for now - stay cool ( but I think you folks are in the clear now right?) Take care.

Speaking of aging

The meeting, in Selkirk, went well, and I accomplished what I had hoped for. It's been so long since I did much driving that I found the trip there and back a little nerve wracking, but I made it safely. Even worse was when a Police car with siren going and lights flashing overtook, and passed me.  I could see it long before it reached me, and smiled to myself when all the other drivers slowed down a bit, until he passed us.  However, I've been tired and somewhat lazy this afternoon.  David told me that he was worried about the yard waste bags in the garage, as he didn't think he could get them out to the curb.  I ended up calling Loren, but getting Jeremy, who took a message.  Loren phoned a little later and told us Jeremy was on his way over.  So I had a nice visit with Jeremy as he picked them up and carried the bags to the curb.  (David has been using the wheelbarrow for the last couple of years.)  Then David took advantage of Jeremy being here and had him help to get the old wheeled walker down from where it had been stored in the garage.  All three of us took a good look at it, and it seems to work just as well as it ever did, so it will do for now.  But now both of us are looking a little decrepit to the younger generation.

Love the idea!

Even if we just meet for a few minutes, I would treasure the sight of your faces.  I'm very much appreciating my mortality, these days.  But not  in a depressing way, just with the sense of having so many things to do before the end, and wanting to cement the relationship s we have forged with each other through our ability to communicate in a relaxed, but meaningful way, over the past few years.  Maybe it's time to move to a new phase and start actually talking-face to face.

Life has revolved around David's back for the past few days.  yesterday, I did the laundry, on my own, for the first time in years.  It took most of the day, and wore me out.  Thursday, our Doctor recommended that David try massage for the sore back and today he went for the first time. We used the same Physiotherapy clinic as I used a couple of years ago for my bad shoulder and weak hands.  It's in and same connected strip mall as the Tim Horton's on Gateway, so I drove David there and waited for him over coffee.  When he was finished, he certainly looked to be in much better shape than I was, following my first experience of Massage Therapy.  I hadn't been able to stand on my own, let alone drive a car.  That's why I had gone with him.

this afternoon, I spent awhile acquainting myself with the remaining videos in this module of my sketchbook workshop.  But by mid-afternoon, I was ready for a nap.  By the time I woke up, David had supper on the go.  A treat for me--a cooked supper. 

My Saturday tv shows are on this evening, so I plan to watch those and relax enough to sleep well, as I have a meeting out in Selkirk tomorrow morning.  I better show up and perform well, as I missed the last one.

Party on Canada Day anyone?

If either of you would like to join in on a Canada Day virtual party I would like to join you as well..............
Actually I have been thinking of trying out the Skype again. I configured a few things and hope that this time it will work magically.
I thought maybe July 1 Wed at 11 am your time ( 12 noon my time) assuming you may be free without other plans that day and would like to try. If that day is not suitable, we can discuss options.
As you know I have NOT been using my new lap top and very anxious to pull it out and dust it off, and see how it will respond to me, and my neglect.
So what do you think???  Other ideas are always welcome.....

What a beautiful evening

The wind died down to tolerable levels early this evening and I decided I had to have a fire. After all, tomorrow is summer!  Well, the wind died down to nothing and I think it was warmer than it had been all day. And here I sit over three hours later still enjoying the embers of my fire. I only wish I had been hungry because it is perfect for hot dogs or marshmallows! It is so quiet all I can hear are the birds, and even they seem to be slowing down. The perfect evening to end spring.

So nice in the early morning...

Just to walk around the yard and enjoy the coolness of the morning and also, the yard itself. I would love to make many changes to my liking but for now, I just putter away with little areas and clean them up and make them appealing to sit, or walk around. Yesterday I tidied up the area around the firepit. It was a mess and so often I like to just sit there. Soon, I hope, i shall be able to have a fire but for now it is ready. Maybe today i can do a little more. But the garden itself needs more attention, to plant the plants still sitting in pots, and clean up all the shelves holding said pots with plants. And constant watering these days - so hot out and everything drying up quickly. 
When we were at Mikes on Monday I could see so much i wanted to do outside to spruce up his place. In past years Harry and I have gone a day or two and cleaned up his flower beds, and planted annuals and trimmed around. We emptied one bed completely at his wish that held rhubarb and transplanted it here at home - that is the rhubarb I used to make his Birthday pie! We had another wonderful visit with him again thius time to celebrate his birthday. When we go there he was outside cleaning up garbage off the lawn. He has had a night visitor in the form of a bear - big enough to turn over his wooden garbage box and drag it onto the lawn and tear apart his bags. So far three times. There are reports in town of other messes so I expect sooner than later, someone will do the bear in. We had arrived later than normal ( usually about 830 am) because his choice for a meal was KFC and no KFC stores opened until 11 am.We drove as far as Sturgeon Falls going west on #17 - this is about 35-40 minutes from his home in Markstay. At 11 am the KFC opened, we got our order and off we went to Mikes. This is when we found him swearing at the garbage on his lawn. I had blown up 6 balloons and attached strings to hang up but did not even think that unless they were filled with helium, they would not blow nicely in the air, but instead flop onto the ground. OK so much for that haha! It just so happened that that morning also, the University opened the on line registration for Fall semester, So Mike had been getting messages back and forth from other fellow students and as we sat at the table his phone kept dinging and dinging....technology that I am not used to hearing or managing! By the time we left for home, it had been relieved that there had been errors in the posting from the University about the courses uncovered by one of Mikes friends, and the University put a hold on the registration until they could rectify. As of yesterday, Mike says it is still up in the air. But going into third year it is critical for him to get into the classes he wants/needs so he cannot dally with his requests or he chances not being able to be accepted because of full classes. Means he has to continually be checking.I think I am glad I am not in this position - stressful. Anyway, it was another wonderful visit. And becuae in Ontario now we can create social circles with close friends / family and actually be able to touch and kiss (not stay 6 feet apart) I got my hug!!! Although truth be told, on other recent visits i overlooked that aspect of the Covid 19 restrictions and gave Mike a big hug and kiss haha!
Well, time for some breakfast and then on with the day. Hope you folks are managing OK and I am looking forward to your cooler weather coming this way! Just cool enough to enjoy but, not cold so I have to worry about the plants.... please!  Take care

Just a normal day

Yesterday, David was feeling the effect of his gardening.  At least that'a what it could have been, but he hadn't done any gardening in the two days leading up to it, but his back hurt, really hurt.  He was miserable most of the day, and even agree to take two of my very strong Tylenol.  Just about supper time, he agreed to head for Urgent Care.  We were there for over 6 hours, at which time they gave him two more Tylenol and sent us home. They did x-rays and blood work etc. but couldn't tell him anything more.  We stopped at McDonald's on the way home to get him a burger, as he missed supper, and went home to bed. He's not much better today, but was able to take us out to buy him an new mask for his CPap machine, and to take me to Artists' Emporium to try to find a sketch book that would accept water colour.  I've been very upset at having my pretty pages ruined when the colour from the next page seeped through.  I ended up with two different kinds, and am anxious to try them out.  I also ended up with a lot of other stuff that I'm anxious to play with, as well, including a new brayer( roller). to replace one that has not aged well.

Not much else going on.  We see the doctor tomorrow, and plan to do our weekly shopping on our way home.  Then there is a weekly special at Starbucks, between 2:00 and 7:00, that sounds interesting.

Flowering plant surprise!!

I was watering the houseplants in the back room this morning and shocked to see a stem and buds shooting up from a previously leaves only plant. Years ago Ruth from across the street gave us a little pot with this plant and over the years it has grown - big broad leaves and although i was told it would bloom eventually, i was shocked to see this. i stood in awe. I cannot see what it is on the net as I only know it as "crevia" and that does not come up. I will try to see if i can speak with Ruth and ask her more. But it was my morning surprise and the sight of it shall stay with me and get me through the day.
Otherwise same old here....out in the yard most of the day working. Yesterday i attempted to spruce the back up and arrange some of my garden ornaments so now I see a row of little gnomes peaking at me when I look out the back window. I have many little animals that i would like to get up from under the tarp (stored for winter) but other needs in the garden usually pull me from continuing with the fun I have in decorating to my likes. I'll keep at it and eventually things will come together for me.
Nice weather now so no worries of frost, and the heaters I have piled at the back door and over which i struggle to step to get out and usually stumble, can safely be put back into the basement I think. That will be another job to do but better sooner than later as I may just fall down the stairs myself haha!
Take care

Nice to see the pictures

This is obviously a happy and well loved little girl, and maybe a little spoiled as well?  So many toys and a tree house.  Wonderful!  Did you say that Kris had built the tree house?  I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen Chloe, in person, other than at our 50th Anniversary.

The highlight of my life today was getting my teeth cleaned.  It also appears that I have a new dentist.  I knew I was patronizing a group practice, but I didn't realize that this meant I would see whomever was available.  I'm trying to decide if I care.  Not really.

The processes that I went through were intensive.  I was not allowed in the door until the waiting room was empty.  David had to sit in the car and wait for me ( after he had run an errand)I had to sanitize my hands, and then fill out a a very legal form removing them from all blame if it should be determined that I had caught Covid 19 during my time in their building.  I had to have my temperature taken--with a directional temperature gun.  She was not allowed to use the normal machine that they use to scale teeth, which meant that she had to do it by hand using a dental pick.  I remember s a child Dr. T. doing that to me, and it was like slow water torture.  But now that I only have 5 teeth of my own, it's a much shorter process.  I still got my new toothbrush, though.

Not much going on on the home front.  I got some thread I had ordered, and then received an e-mail saying that she was closing the business and everything was on for half price.  After talking to David I went on the site and prepared an order worth close to $300, but when I hit "go to checkout" the whole thing disappeared.  It had taken quite awhile to make up the order, and I had reservations about spending that much money, so I just deleted the site.  I've been buying my thread from her for years, but I know of another site in B.C., where I can get what I want for a slightly higher price.  There is nothing I need right now, just a whole bunch of "wants".

But I have my sketchbooks to amuse me, and have just joined a Facebook group that describes itself as a support group for working on sketchbooks.  It's only been a couple of days, and I won't be posting anything until I know more about what goes on there.

Pictures

They were only on my phone. I don’t know how to rotate ☹️

 Pillow attack

 Playhouse

Braid

Sunday was a great day

We finally got to go to Killarney after over 4 months.  We could physically hug Chloe and Kris, but Sandi could only get zen hugs since she works at the hospital and they are still pretty strict on social contacting (but she is allowed visitors in her home now). Chloe had a lot to show us, including that her hair is down to her waist and her mom had put it in a new braid.  She was very pleased about that.  She also has a new play house.  It is just on the edge of the bush and even has a deck on the front, with a couple of lawn chairs (padded!) and a slide from the deck to the ground.  Inside she has a couple of chairs and a desk and toys.  And she now has the training wheels off of her bike so she raced around the yard a couple of times to show us. She also had to show us some science experiments she has been doing.  They were pretty interesting. One involved "breaking the surface viscosity of fluid". (as she told us!) She has grown so much! We had a really great visit with Kris and Sandi too.  They have been working the whole 4 months.  Sandi found a very innovative way to stop the elastics on her masks from rubbing her ears raw.  Do you remember the game Barrel of Monkeys where you had to hook the hands of a monkey onto another monkey and make a chain as long as you could?  Well, Sandi took one of the monkeys and hooked each of its hands to the elastic on her masks.  It held the elastic away from her ears, and having a monkey hanging on the back of your head is really a good way to start conversations. She says at first the days would be very long as they were only seeing in-patients and emergencies.  Somedays she would only do 2 ultrasounds all day.  Things are opening up now and her days are getting pretty full.   Their work schedules worked out that they only had to find care for Chloe on Monday and Friday, and there is a "Kid's Club" at the school now that she can attend.  Not having seen each other in such a long time there was a lot of catching up to do.  Kik would be playing with Chloe (Chloe loves her Auntie Kik) and I would be visiting and then Chloe would "demand" a switch and I would play and Kik would visit.  And sometimes we all played.  The wind was howling (as usual) so we spent a bit more time indoors than we would have normally but it all balanced out.  It was a very good day.

Sunday morning----you know the rest of the song title

It's very early--for me.  I couldn't sleep, or should I be honest and just say that lying in bed hurt too much.  Yesterday was a frenzy of activity, and when the energy ran out, I still had to tidy up. The strength almost wasn't there.  David was a great help in that regard.  I had carefully planned how I would set things up for sun printing, and added a bit of leaf printing, but clean-up was just chaos.  Lunch involved a quick trip to Subway, and supper was a cold salad. so other than two quick meals, all I accomplished was my printing.  I'll try to get a more detailed description and some pictures up on the other blog later in the day.  Everything is just in  heap in the basement right now.  The need to take the pictures will force  me to sort out and tidy up down there.

More concerning are the poor meals, and ultimately, the glass of wine that I had yesterday.  I see the doctor later this week and will be going with a slight weight gain. We haven't seen him in about 6 months, and both have more complaints--age related, of course.  So we already know that there's nothing that can be done about them.

Manitoba is opening up, and the library is now servicing "holds".  That means that I can order books, but can't take them back.  the little devils are piling up in my living room.  I had been keeping a list of books that I wanted, while there were no library services at all, and as soon as they announced that "holds" were available I ordered just about all off my list. Unfortunately, they seem to be coming in one day at a time, and we have to go to a library north of us on Henderson to pick the books up.  Not really a hardship when you realize that the library is right beside Tim's and half a block from Starbucks.  I had been re-reading my Monkeewrench series, and am missing a book.  I had thought that I had ordered it off amazon, but got an e-mail telling me that the order had been cancelled.  No explanation, just a simple sentence saying it was cancelled.  I'm planning to investigate further, but I'm not optimistic, as I know this book is hard to find.  I'm hoping it isn't because they have become so disgusted with the Canadian postal system that they have stopped shipping here.

 More later--maybe.

About 2:00    I have been making bread, and while it was cooking, David chopped up 6 peppers for freezing.  He chops and when there is a pile, I step in and bag it.  That way I can measure what I usually need for the recipes in my book. So we're working away and I carefully measure out 1/2 cup, opened the bag and threw the chopped pepper over my shoulder and onto the floor.  This wasn't intentional, I was operating on automatic pilot, but this has got to be the closest to tears I've been during this whole social distancing time.

However, the bread was finally cooked and the appearance was totally different from the first batch I made with this recipe.  The texture is very, very different and the taste almost 100% better.   I'm so glad I tried the recipe again after the first batch turned out so poorly.  David has said that this is not a good thing, as now, I'll probably eat it all.  He's right!

Baking Time...

This weekend I shall be baking to take to Mikes on Monday. I look forward to this as it is my time generally, and i get to bake rhubarb dishes with my own rhubarb which I shall have to pick this morning.  I appears as of right now that it did not freeze so I am grateful for that as nothing was covered after several consultations with the weather network, and Harry's prognostications.
Hair, or no hair??? I choose no hair haha! Yes i got my hair cut yesterday and I am thrilled. Back to short and manageable and no need to have to put curlers in it anymore. Now, the price has gone up which I thought would happen and I was prepared with the right amount of cash to pay her just in case, but I think it is worth every penny. 
I finished the latest Monkeewrench Ice Cold Heart novel last night - I could not put it down until the last page was read. I have other new, unread books to read that i shall be jumping into now that i seem to have my reading mojo back and glad of it.
Have a good weekend folks, and now that the weather/temps seem to be rising again maybe get out in the yard and enjoy. Take care

A question

My horoscope today says that I'm going to be out of sorts and cranky all day, and as well, will be prone to making bad decisions.  I thought that described yesterday pretty well.  Could the horoscope be a day behind?

Yes, yesterday certainly was a trial for everyone involved, and there's only two of us living here.  I felt frantically busy all day, but when I analysed what exactly it was I was doing, the day was about  about 2/3 work and 1/3 rest.  This lead to all sorts of self examination trying to figure out where I could find time for play. I even discussed it with Gail, but it appears that she isn't even finding time for rest, so her opinion wasn't much help.  She and I speak every day, but have only seen each other once since March 14, when she came to pick up the extra Hosta we had.

 So I need to rest less and play more.  Not a pleasant alternative either,  By the early evening, I was so upset with myself, I took about 45 minutes, and went downstairs and cut out shapes from the compressed foam, and now have eight foam shapes to make prints from. I think the whole sh---ty day was the result of me procrastinating over cutting that foam. It was so expensive, and I know that I can probably never replace it, and I just didn't want to actually cut it into pieces.  But now, I have all of those pieces to make stamped designs out of--when I can find the time.  Just doing that one little thing has lead to so may ideas and creative thoughts.  Brings to mind that slogan that I mentioned in the past--"Just Do It!".

Now I'm quite looking forward to today, even if it is laundry day, and a busy one.  I'll have to look out for those bad decisions though.

Uncertain weather lately

Well, got through a really wild storm last evening and night with a few glitches related to the accumulating water, water barrels and the sump pump but the forercast has near freezing temperatures over next few nights and that has me worried. I'll just go with the flow and do what i can. I am thinking of using the greenhouses perhaps to hang a few of the tumbler tomato hanging baskets, but can do little else with all the other plants all over the place. Perhaps get up early and spray everything with water?
For now though I am planning for our visit with Mike on Monday. It is time to do some baking which means I must pick the rhubarb and get busy. I am actually looking forward to this task as long as I can actually do it but there are always interruptions and other things that get in the way. Not the haircut though, as that is a priority for for Friday morning.
So take care folks, and lets all keep up our spirits best we can. I must buy a Lottery ticket for Friday Lotto Max - it keeps going so someone is winning. And Cathy have you ventured into your Legion yet? They are not open here yet as far as I know but other venues are starting up such as the Hairdressers and the Dentists etc. Time will tell.....

Just lost my whole post!

I was on my phone and responded to a text from Kris and the whole post disappeared. It wasn't even in drafts.  Oh well.   Now I can start with the exciting news. Kris and Sandi can have visitors at their home again.  They are both considered essential workers, so have been working this whole time, but have also had to really stay socially isolated.  Now with the province starting to open up they can have some visitors so guess where I am going as soon as we can arrange it.  The other post was mostly just complaining about my garden.  Early this morning it was looking beautful as I weeded it and when I went back a couple of hours later, all my Manitoba tomatoes appear to have wilt (that breed is supposed to wilt resistant) and a bit later I went back and the Amish paste tomatoes and the peppers also look like they have wilt.  I will wait a couple of days to be sure, but they will all have to be destroyed if they are sick 😞.  I did get one layer of stain on my deck this morning.  I could have done more but I didn't want to open a new can of stain and have to stir it up.  Even using the drill and the paint attachment it is time consuming.  I will do that tomorrow.  I'll probably need more stain since I want to do the other deck too, and my wishing well.  I've been down to the quonset again.  ( I go when it is sunny since I am trying to avoid the sun right now) and moved stuff into "related" piles and stacked up a lot of board and planks.  Still only about 1/3 done.  Our world is opening up, too.  The library is opening on the 15th and the legion is opening for 3 days a week on the 25th.  Only 3 to 8, but we usually only went at about 3 or so and left long before 8.  We have almost worked our way to the bottom of our freezer over the last few months.  I hate to use the last of the pickeral, as I do not know if, or when we can get more.  It does no good to leave it though as it will just get freezer burnt.  We did buy some hamburger and some chicken breasts as we ran out, but I don't think we will ever run out of the pork roast.  We bought 2 boneless pork loins and cut them into 1 1/2 pound roasts, and kept about 4 pounds and made back bacon with it.  But you get an awful lot of 1 1/2 pound roasts out of a loin. I am also out of all my freezer meals except for some soup. If it stays cool I will get some more done soon. I'm going to do some more quiches, too.  I have had a craving again but haven't had the ingredients. Since you cook them from frozen if I get some in the freezer I can grab one and about an hour later I am eating my quiche.  The hard part for me is finding a level place in the freezer to set them down to freeze.Time to get ambitious and watch some television.  Have a great day.

A day of mixed Blessings

Up fairly early and busy making Oatmeal Whole Wheat Sourdough bread.  A fairly nice bread, but well favoured with molasses.  Reminds me of the time in Cuba when we watched a molasses filled freight train hit the corner of a building, and the ensuing problem solving carried out in Spanish with lots and lots of arm waving and shouting. There was a note on the recipe that it should be made into three loaves instead of the two that were originally suggested.  This resulted in three fairly small loaves, but David and I agree that the slice size was probably good for my diet.  

Then I had a nap.

After the nap we knew there were a couple of prescriptions to be picked up at Walmart.  I asked David if he would mind going on his own.  By the time he left it had grown into a trip to Walmart, Sobey's and Dollarama, but he was still willing to go on his own. This allowed me to spend time in the basement finishing the book marks.  Then coffee, and a phone call with Gail.  I spent some time telling Gail that I felt a little bit like a "princess', given the day, so far.

Then came supper time, and we realized that neither of us had gotten anything out of the freezer for supper.  We're well prepared for the power cooking that will happen either this evening or tomorrow, but nothing for tonight.  Remembering ordering pizza from Pizza Hut a few weeks ago, I attempted to order on line again.  What a rigmarole!  I ended up phoning, only to be told that I couldn't order from the store on Henderson Hwy, but had to order from a store in Transcona!  So I ordered, accepting that I would have to pay for delivery.  Then she told me that we could only pay with TAP.  If we needed to pay with a card, there would be an extra charge.  Damn expensive pizza.  It better be good, and we will never order from there again.

While waiting for our pizza, David is watching the news.  It appears that there is a serious  overland flooding problem in the Southern part of the province.  Evidently the heavy rains over the past few nights were much worse than I had realized.  Neither had I known that there had been a tornado watch on the Southern part of the province for the last 3 nights.  I hope everything works out without too much damage.

Here's the pizza. I hope it's worth what we paid for it.

Breaking news!!!

Haircut appointment Friday at 0930 hours.
I was walking Bailey just now down to the Lake and my Hairdresser was standing outside her Salon speaking with another lady and called me over. "I can open on Friday" she exclaimed with great glee and excitement in her voice. "I am contacting all my regulars... When would you like to come" as she pulled open her appt book she was holding in her arms. 
Now I tell you I did not hesitate one second. Even if I was getting used to the long hair falling all over my face, to see it short and manageable once again will be sheer delight!
Yeah!!!! There is great celebration in the streets!!
Now I must control myself and go back to the dishes and putting the animals to bed.  Hope you guys had a wonderful day just like me?   Take care

Bad weather and new clothes

Yesterday and today seem to be going by at an awful pace.  Firstly, there have been both discussions and action regarding the new Hydrangea we bought.  It isn't doing well, despite the lengthy preparations and work that went into it's planting and subsequent care.  One of the first things we did was make sure we had the warrantee that came with it. Then it was regular observation, watering as indicated, fertilization, and worry. Yesterday and last night there was rain, more rain, lots and lots of wind, and cold temperatures, but today the leaves are perking up, and there is reason for hope. Both yesterday and today the furnace was on again, but it is turned off now, and the sun is out again.

Yesterday morning, I showed David a picture of a t-shirt on the internet, asking if it was one that he might allow me to wear.  He has strong objections to anything with writing or certain pictures on it.  I had thought that was the end of it, as the weather was so bad, and neither of us had expressed any interest in going out.  But after lunch, when we were both just sitting looking at the tv, but not watching anything, he says "let's go to Pennington's".  So off we went.  Very different  requirements for shopping.  Floor carefully marked, only one cashier, plastic shields, and all staff in masks.  Each fitting room had to be sanitized between uses, and any rejects had to be sanitized in some way, so had to be turned in before one could leave the fitting rooms.  There were racks beside each display table, with samples of everything in hangers.  Signs instructed you to use the samples on display to choose your style, and then just pick up your size from the table.  I started off with one size ( the size I buy in Superstore), and four shirts.  Too big!  Those got thrown into a bin for attention of staff, and three more shirts, one size smaller taken to a freshly sanitized fitting room.  Too Big!  Those got thrown into the bin, two more shirts chosen.  When I got back to the fitting rooms the clerk remembered that I had just left , so asked which fitting room I had been in, checked to make sure no-one had used it, and let me back in--without the sanitation.  Both fit, and came home with me.  Had a good chuckle at the cash register as the final price was low enough to pay with the "tap" on our debit card.  But the deal is that if I bring something new home, I have to remove something from my closet.  So I had to say "good bye" to two other shirts, neither of which meant anything to me.

The rest of the day, and part of Friday, as well as this morning, I kept busy making book marks for the Gift shop in Selkirk, which will be re-opening at the end of the month. The decision had been made to completely remove what is there and replace it with new stock.  Some book marks had been put aside to this, but I realized that they look exactly the same as the ones I would be taking out, so I had to start anew.  There is also a perceived need to reduce my sale price. In my many purges, much of my junk box had gone, so there wasn't much to work with, and the paint got away from me, so some of the colours are too similar.

These are the ones that have actually been finished.  I say that while thinking that I want to reduce production costs, but in the back of my mind, is the thought that I would be happier if I was able to stitch around the edge of each of them.

These are in progress, but may just need their tassels.

These all have a way to go.  There are 7 more being dried in the book, below.

Some of them have caused a lot of difficulty when I tried to punch the hole for the tassel, and I had to get  David's help.  This has given me pause to think about a different way to reduce production costs, by using a whole different method of creating the basic form I use.  ( I plan to copy some of this onto the other blog.)

Yesterday evening, I played a little poker and actually came in third in a tournament, so replenished my bankroll to a certain extent.  there will probably be more of the same tonight, but for now, maybe a little more coffee and reading.

Saturday and all is well...

A quickie post before I do the dishes,and have a bath and then to bed. A very full day starting at 6:30 am in the yard watering as the rain I expected never materialized overnight, and ending about 4:45 pm. A few breaks in between to check on Harry and go for more soil, but otherwise lots of work accomplished and great satisfaction attained. When I took Bailey out early this morning around 5:00 am, I could not believe the sight of the moon. It was close to the horizon in a southern direction and absolutely huge and brilliant. It really took my breathe away as I gazed at it in wonder. I believe this is the full moon the first week of June that usually causes frost warning and I usually have to cover up everything. Not so this time so of course, I could enjoy the sight of it from a different perspective. 
So here's to a good day and hope you folks are also enjoying a similar day. Lottery draw tonight so I can go to bed and dream of how I shall spend my earnings haha! I always get a kick out of my musings about this and then as usual the next morning check the ticket and come away with a free play..... if lucky!!
Take care

I caught that too Pati

I always watched that show as well and remembered that special episode. Elton interviewed her because Elvis didn't think it was proper to interview his own wife. I loved that show as well.... Memories are made of this... Not surprised that all else stopped in your life in order to watch and reflect. Wonderful.

it just gets better and better

While preparing supper, and in the interval between courses, I decided to check the blogs I usually follow.  Embedded in "Not Afraid of Color" I found an episode of the old Elvis Costello series " Spectacle", with Elton John and Diana Kraul (sp.) That series was one I tried to never miss.  I loved every episode but this one was the "icing on the cake".  So I watched it , sitting in the middle of a very messy kitchen and ignoring my surroundings completely.  If either of you haven't seen it, I very much recommend it.

A happy blog to sit down to before bed....

Isn't it nice to have a "nice" day and feel good about it all. I wonder if it isn't all of our own making when you get right down to it and how we respond to the daily little things. Pati in your case you and Dave made this day what it was - stores, purchases and Starbucks etc It sounds like a real fun day to me....On my part I also made a good day of it. I bought a bag of Scoops and a bag of Rounds, and some sour cream, and once my work was done, I sat at the outside table and enjoyed my happy hour  with these chips, with salsa, and sourcream/onion dip and of course a goblet of wine.and it was glorious. Very busy day outside as usual, so maybe my tiredness will help me sleep tonight? Tomorrow I will take pepper plants to the Vet - I met him in the Lottery/Variety Store ( where I was buying my snacks) and asked if we had anymore plants to spare. Why, yes we have!! Harry posted a note at the Post office last week Pepper Plants Free and our phone number and not a soul has called us. As well tomorrow I plan to take a few trips to the dump with garbage from the yard if I can. Any little bit helps perhaps in trying to tidy up? Anyway, time for bed. Hope you both are feeling good tonight? Take care

What a day!

So much was accomplished that I'll probably forget half of it.  I mentioned yesterday that I'm getting ready for the lesson on acrylic paint but had a lack of blues, which would make mixing colours difficult.  So today we both wanted to get away from the house for a bit, and headed for Micheal's to look for blue paint.  They didn't have any "open" acrylics, and almost nothing of a similar quality.  So David suggested that we head for the art supply store over on St. James Street.  Usually a pretty straight forward drive, but we hadn't counted on the construction.  A bit of an adventure, but we got there.  Not only did they have the paint that I wanted, I also picked up some linoleum for carving into printing blocks, as I knew that I would be wanting it later in this module. David said that I should get whatever I thought I might need so that we wouldn't have to  make a another trip over.  So I did.  A new cutting chisel for the linoleum printing, 4 oil pastels that turned out to be exactly the same product as was recommending for the course, and a black oil paint pen.  Then there was the check out.  A bit of a gulp when he gave us the total, but then he asked if I was a member.  Yes, but it may have been awhile ago.  He looked me up and gave me a discount.  With the tax, it cut the total by almost 20 percent. Then back to our side of town, and to Starbucks.  I bought David an iced tea, and took it to him in the car.  By the time I got back into the store and picked up my drink, he was coming through the door asking if he could get a refill.  Now, I had paid with reward stars, and I don't think this entitled me to a free refill, but the fellow behind the counter says "for you,Pat, we'll give him a refill".. Bonus!

Now we're eating supper.  We found some potatoes hidden in the pantry, that really needed using. So David is making home made shredded hash browns.  Wonderful!  However, between the two of us, the timing of supper is a little off. So, we're eating it one item at a time--and loving it!

Overall and very good day.  I can only hope that the evening goes half as well.

Damn Wind!

Signing in, I noticed a smiling face up by the insert icon.  Turns out to be just a sampling of various faces and symbols that one can add in.  I can't remember seeing that before.

How exciting for you, Cathy, to be getting new furniture.😊Even more exciting for it to be new, from the store and not the thrift shop as our most recent purchase was.  I don't think there is any feeling nicer than new furniture, except maybe the sight of chocolate fudge cake.  How long until you actually get it?  Do they deliver it to the door?

David spent most of yesterday putting in the edging for the front garden.  He had to dig the trench by hand, and used one of his Grandfather's stone work tools to do the job.  He said that things were going well until he ran into clay.  The job took most of the day, and he came to supper exhausted.

Taking a break, David went out to buy more Elderberries, since the recipe called for more than the store had given him. On the way home he went into the Shaw place in the Mall and managed to get the cord he needed for his tv.  It took a bit of help from the Shaw support service but we have sound back on the tv.  😂 (tears of joy)

I spent the day getting ready to learn how to use acrylic paint for  my sketchbook workshop. They have to assume that the students know nothing about some of these techniques, but I promised myself that I would work through these modules as they come, so I carefully worked through all the preparations, step by step, after all, my acrylic courses (plural) were a few years ago.  They appear to have nothing but the fast drying older types of acrylics, but most of what I have is slow drying "open" acrylics, so many steps may prove much easier. Sorting through my paints, which I have barely touched in several years, I realized that I have very little in the way of blues. Thinking about that, I took stock of what I owned prior to starting the course, and what I've had to buy, over and above the course fees, which are substantial.  This lead to a vow to make a point of using what I've bought, in future, to justify the expense.

Today, I may actually get to open the paints, and my goal is to complete this acrylic mixing task, so I can move onto something else.

Today we spent money

Or at least charged it to our credit card. We bought a new bed. I hope it is as comfortable as it felt in the store. It won’t be in for a while so I can only anticipate. We took the downstairs couch to the dump; took the upstairs couch down, and bought a love seat for the upstairs. It is such a small room we thought a love seat would fit it better than a full sized couch. We have to wait on it too, since they didn’t have the colour I wanted in stock. I opted for a neutral slate colour so that when I paint the living room I won’t have to worry about the colours clashing. There is still rain in the forecast. It is so dry here and with the wind howling everyday we are watering all the time  and still losing ground. It is at least a week and a half before it looks like we will get relief from the wind. I am really sick of the wind. It seems to suck all the energy out of you. Of course I haven’t used much energy in the last few days. It has been too hot to work outside, and even with shutting the house down early in the morning it quickly gets too hot to do much. Maybe I should appreciate the wind. It made the heat bearable.  And now the inside is as hot as the outside so I will once again open all the windows for the night. 

Pictures

It must be true that a picture tells a thousand words. It was like a walk around your yard with you, Pati and what a wonderful momentary escape for me to be part of the tour haha! Your yard is looking very nice and apparently Dave is taking a lead in his puttering and perfecting. That's good for him and all his planning is showing up in the lovely display. And I loved to see LION out there helping him. I walk around our yard and just see "work" right now. But at some point I am sure I shall be able to sit for awhile and enjoy it all as I often think about doing.
We are planning to go to Mike's again for his Birthday (June 15) and towards that end I have been planning a grocery basket gift for him. I actually went into the Foodland yesterday ( for something we needed) and started to pick off the shelves some article for him to put into a basket. I had fun! We also ordered a wooden rolling pin off the net for him as he said it would make a nice gift - currently he is using an old wine bottle. And he said he would like to try some wine - not something he has had before. I think he may be refining his tastes as he gets older??? . Anyway i went into the LCBO as well and bought a bottle of red and bottle of white for him. I do not know these two wines as I just basically picked them off the shelf randomly, so he will have to determine their value according to his taste.I hope our trip there will be fun and I look forward to it once again.
Time to start the day. A bit overcast again but I know I have to get out to do the more work in the yard. And then we have another telephone call for Harry from a Specialist scheduled for 2 pm. His own Family Dr has been busy arranging all these consults so I am hoping some good will come from it all.
Take care and be safe. 

life goes on (long)

With a few more things opening up around the province, David went to a different wine store this morning.  We had agreed to try making both Rhubarb wine and Elderberry wine, both of which will take about a year to mature.  We also wanted a kit, and this store will make the kit up for us, for a price.  Well, we bottle on July 4th, and we've made quite a dent in the credit card, which we just paid off last week.  We still don't have all the supplies we need to make the two types we want to try ourselves, but David found a store not far from home that may have them, and is there right now.

Unfortunately, last evening, the big tv set in the living room, lost its sound.  David has been on the phone with Shaw a couple of times, and they're going to send us some sort of cord to try out before we talk about buying a new tv. That tv is on for 15-17 hours a day, so doing without really isn't an option we want to consider.

In the meantime David has been very busy in the garden.  I took a few pictures this morning.


The Lady slippers are at their glory!

David's tomatoes are having little tomatoes, six on one plant and one, maybe two, on the second

Here is the white/pink Peony that was moved from the front garden to the area on the South side of the Garage.  You can see the dark red Peony to the right of it.

This is half of the Hosta that were transplanted from the front  flower bed.  All of this ground had to be dug up and replaced, and all of the Hosta had to be carefully removed from the soil they were in, as it was permeated with grass.  This is on the South side of the yard, under the bird feeder.  The pole on the left is the bird feeder.

This is the other bed of Hosta transplanted.  This is further along the South flower bed, beside the neighbour's driveway and under the tree.

I wanted to assure everyone that the lion still guards the back yard, with keeping a close watch over the tomatoes.

This is the front yard, to the South of the steps.  Most of the Hosta came from here, and a few have been left, in hopes that they will fill the space out a bit.  The larger plant on the left is the Hydrangea we planted last year, and the one to the right is what's left of the white/pink Peony.  David doesn't like the Peony and only leaves it in to please me, and I think that's just fine.

This is the larger area  in the same flower bed, where even more of the Hosta came from. The large plant is a Hydrangea that we've had for a few years, and the smaller one is another Hydrangea that we just bought.  A bit of sticker shock, as it was more than twice the cost of any other Hydrangea we've bought.

Now we're back int he back yard.  This shows the area under the big Cedar, where the neighbour cleaned out the nest of lilies that were polluting the yard.  You can still see a few under the tree and against the fence.  I know David should be taking them out as well, but it's a nasty job and I don't blame him for procrastinating.

And finally, here are the Lily-of-the-Valley that we found under the Mock Orange.  The Mock Orange is just about dead, but we just can't bring ourselves to take it out.  So many memories of moving in, and the emotional time that was for us.

I continue to keep myself busy in the studio and there may be pictures on the other blog, in the next day or so.

It just doesn't seem to end

Cathy, how awful!  If things come in threes, maybe between you  and Kelly, you have conquered the jinx.  I agree with your decision.  

Not a good month

 This morning we had to put JJ to sleep, just a month after Chase. She had an aggressive form of bone cancer. Her “ankle” joint was almost completely destroyed and the bone in her leg was being eaten. The vet said that even with amputation and aggressive chemo she would have maybe 6 months. She didn’t deserve that pain and suffering. Now she and Chase are running after squirrels together.