That was a nice message

 Just checking before I head off to bed and to read, and found the last post and it was a surprise for sure. Congrats to Dave as the new Director. Now Dave you will have to catch up with the latest rules and regulations so you can participate fully in the affairs of the Gallery. I know you have always been there with Pati, so you are familiar and I expect you will fit in nicely.

It is humid and hot here and wouldn't you know it that I put the floor air conditioner away on the weekend. It was not being used and was sort of in the way in the front window so I figured it would be time. Harry was always complaining of being cold anyway but didn't he ask for the a/c to be put on today......but the answer was no, it is away now. I offered to bring a fan for him but that was not welcomed. I hope this heat spell will not last long.

I dehydrated more basil today as I use the ground powder in many dishes I make. Tomorrow maybe I'll do some oregano as I use it frequently as well. It dries very fast so it really is not a chore to do.

I have been looking seriously at all my Tim Hortons mugs and coffee containers i have on shelves on the kitchen wall and considering packing them up for storage ( I'll not get rid of them...yet) I rotate my morning mug frequently but do not use all of them ( some too high on the top shelf to reach) but I have also cut back on my coffee intake and for some time now have had only one coffee a day and that is first thing in the early morning. This new approach seems to be agreeing with me so plan to keep it up. In truth though, how many mugs does one really need?

Just like all of you folks, I, too, paid bills today. I need to buy 4 new winter tires as I have mentioned previously, so need to budget for that in next month or two and look for Dealership tire sales that should be starting soon. I have an appt for an oil change for Friday so I will ask the Parts Manager when he expects to be offering some deals. Even if I buy them now they can be stored at the Dealership until the late Fall when I will change them over with the summer ones (costs $20.00/year to store tires there and so much easier than trying to haul them home).

Time to say goodnight. take care and be safe...💋

Busier Weekend than expected, including a surprise

Saturday the Gallery was quite busy .  There was a special event out on the street, and this meant a fair bit of walk-in traffic including many people who had never been there before- total of 68 people signed the guest book.  Before going out, David and I talked about my continued involvement with the Gallery, and potential driving difficulties come snowfall.  The upshot is that David has joined the Board of Directors, and we will both being going to meetings until, at least, next May.  While there on Saturday I renewed my membership ( a little early), but paid a bit extra to take out a "family" membership.  Then, at the meeting, Sunday, he, and two other new members were voted in as Directors.  There had ben a very poor attendance at our AGM this spring, and we were two Directors below the minimum required according to our by-laws.  A notice had been sent out to the membership, that according to our status, as a corporation, unless we had a full complement of Directors, we would have to close down. Well, problem solved.  As well, neither David nor I will have to worry about my doing the drive out there and back during winter.  I think both of us will benefit, in general, with getting a little more into society.  I just hope I get a chance to drive once in awhile.  And another side effect is that we have both volunteered to work in the gallery next Saturday.  Dno how that happened!

Needless to say there was no studio work done over the weekend, and probably not today either.  However, I have been doing a little more hand stitching, something that's been neglected for a couple of months.  With the recent painting push, I have several projects lined up in the studio.  As well, I want to do a few smaller projects for the Christmas sales at the Gallery and at the group in Lorette, especially greeting cards.

But, today we're both ready for a quiet day, after all the weekend activity.  We've managed to pay the bills, and pick up a couple of prescriptions, and that's enough.  Grocery shopping can wait until tomorrow.

Slowly getting back to "normal"

 David is being re-assessed for his CPAP.  (Hard to believe it's been 5 years since he got it)  They no longer do it in a sleep lab, but rather give you a special machine to use one night at home.  This machine measures everything--yes, everything.  David got a long assessment form in the mail, that was to be filled out and returned.  There were instructions to watch a video on the web site, and then he had to go into the clinic (at Misericordia) for what was to be an hour and a half class on setting up the machine.  I had to go to pick up my repaired hearing aid, just off Sterling Lyon freeway and route 90.  Got that, just his class was supposed to start, and then went to Tim Horton's at Wilkes and Waverley, with a book, prepared for a long wait.  (Hey, great news--Pumpkin Spice is back!  That means that it's back at Starbucks too!)  But the class ended quite quickly, and the lady at the clinic called me to let me know that David was waiting, for me.  So off I go.  I had never realized before yesterday how very close all these areas are actually together, in that end of the city.  I was in the car and had David in sight in less that 10 minutes.

Then, at bedtime, we had to set the equipment up.  Very glad they had included a step by step instruction book, complete with pictures, and that I had taken surface anatomy classes.  Wires, and buttons, and sensors. "N'uff said about that!

When I got up this morning, I found the whole device all packed up on the kitchen table, and the final report ( a check list) all filled out, with it. He's still asleep 3 1/2 hours later.

Laundry to do today, and tomorrow I volunteer at the gallery in Selkirk.  I had taken my name off the list of volunteers last fall, but when I was asked about it, while taking in my piece for the current exhibit, I told her that she could put me back on her "emergency list", in case someone doesn't show up.  ( All people displaying work are expected to volunteer at least once during the show) I got a call yesterday that she  had two entirely new (first time) volunteers, scheduled for tomorrow, and there is a big art event taking place on the street and the parking lot behind the building.  This means that the gallery is likely to be quite busy.  If David drives me out and picks me up later, I should manage okay.  But then, there is a Board meeting Sunday morning.  So I'll be out there again.

But I still find small bits of time to work in the studio.  Yesterday, we were both down there.  Loren remains confined to home with positive covid, although he's able to work remotely.  (Thank Goodness!)  So we decided to try moving the empty book case and chest on our own, by sliding them across the rug and floor with an old towel underneath.  It worked, and that end of the basement is now put back together, and looks wonderful.  Since so much crap was purged, the area looks neat and well kept--with one exception.  A low book case that David finished for me, when we lived in Edmonton, has not been purged.  Task for today, while I do the laundry.

Weddings

 Yesterday we celebrated the wedding of Jim’s goddaughter, Kellie, and Marcus. It was an adventure!  The rain ( which we had be praying for, but not today!) held off for the ceremony, but then it poured!  Too bad the bride and groom had no contingency plan for rain!😤.  The outdoor wedding was destroyed!  It was held at the home of the groom’s brother and we ended up invading the house. A invasion that was not planned!!!  Fortunately they have a son so the kids headed upstairs to play (until the food😜). Dripping wet people invaded the home, begging for blankets to warm up.  Some very brave men braved the storm and brought back one of the BBQs from the wedding venue to the house. Food!!!  It was pot luck, so the matron of honour, for the first time in her life BBQed.  Jim went out to ask if she needed help.  All the burners were on and she was pressing the ignitor but nothing was happening. “ did you turn on the tank” asked Jim?   Oooops😜.  So, while all that was happening me and a woman (child (in my opinion!) with three children!!) and I got food set out. The pot luck led to marinated vegetables, bean salad, taco salad, dill pickles, b&b pickles, olives (yech!), cheese hamburgers, smokies, fruit Trays, cheese and a cake!!! And probably more!!! In the middle of my post Rodney arrived. Usually he arrives just as we are starting supper😜. So, tomorrow I read the news and then I have nothing for a week.  A whole week with nothing.  Oh right, except the garden😜 oh well

Rain finally came our way...

 Hello all,

Just finished my night chores and thought I would write a few words on the blog. The long promised rain came to us this afternoon in an hour or two downpour which stopped as quickly as it started. But it gave us water and so I did not have to water outside tonight. Yeah! It takes a good hour to hour 1/4 most nights when I water if I were to do a decent job.

So much road work being done in our area right now and our street. New culverts and patching holes in the roads and tearing up the cement sidewalk that runs from above our place right down to the highway. One hopes they will actually now re cement the walk as they are just receded sand pits now just asking for some dear old soul to trip and fall and injure themselves. And so many homes on the market here in town, and being bought up quickly as well. I have taken to checking the listings on line to see what each asking price is - most are very high in 400 to 500 range. There is a nice home on the Lake that is only $1.5 million. Should I take a look at it?

Yesterday I made apple pie with our own big apples that keep falling on the ground and today a made a delicious apple crisp with the remaining ones left in the dish here in the house. By tomorrow there will be more that have fallen on the ground but we are coming to an end of them now. I froze the pie in serving size pieces for another time. After one big serving of the crisp, I may do the same with what remains.

Surprised to read about your car being ready so fast Pati. Hope you are pleased with the work. You will be especially happy to rid yourselves of the rental as they can get very expensive - so I am told.

Harry read on the facebook that Loren is still not well so I am hoping that things will turn around for him and also Amber and her crew have overcome the worst of their sicknesses as well. The reports I hear on the radio are not too good related to what we can all expect come the Fall related to an escalation of the Covid mixed with the Flu. Makes you want to shelter in place again haha! I still wear my mask into stores and probably only one of very few who do anymore.

So off to bed for me now as I prepare for tomorrow to come and what ever may come with it. Take care and be safe. 👀

Productivity

Progress in the studio is very slow.  No matter what my plans are for the day, I find that I would rather sit and doze over a book, either in the garden or at Starbucks.   Thinking about this, I had to admit that the only person in the world who cares whether I finish my box or not, is me.  So, I'm now setting targets for each days work.  Not  tremendous targets but fairly simple ones, so that I can remain productive, but only work according to my tolerance.

This can be a problem, as I have so very many ideas in my brain, that I now realize that most of them will never reach fruition.  So, I have to decide whether I really care or not.  No, I don't.  I will continue with my studio work and be grateful for each day that I can manage to continue do the work I love.  But--I have absolutely no need to purchase more supplies, unless it is something very specific, for one project, and that can be purchases in small amounts.  I guess that includes more beads.  Snort.

Today I had to pick up some pills at the pharmacy.  The pharmacist told me all about the program to provide pills in blister packs.  Evidently, in Manitoba, this is done free of any extra dispensing fees, by government decree.  This is starting to sound like it might be of value to us, and we just might ask for that type of assistance.

And it was just announced on the news that we get another carbon tax rebate in mid-October.  Fine with me!  Especially as it's non-taxable.

Today, I just didn't want to go out to Lorette, given that I'm not yet comfortable with the rental car, and there is an awful lot of highway  construction, both going and coming home.  But then I did drive to Walmart, found parking, and came home via Starbucks, which meant dealing with the intersection of Regent and Lagimodiere.  Sunday, I need to go out to Selkirk, and I think I figured out the cruise control, which is a victory for me.  Driving is not a problem, but figuring out all the symbols on the computer screen is quite a challenge.

I guess all that I can say is that old age may be a bit of a problem, but with all the challenges, we're not bored.  

A bit more silliness

Hi again, 

Further to last post, I searched and found the two Koop mugs and another treasured mug called Sisters that was a gift from Cathy on one of my cherished visits home. Along with my Duchess.

So I took a picture to send.

The Sisters mug reads in a circular flow around the mug as follows:

Sisters...We have laughed together,worried, joked and sighed together. As friends we have pulled together. As we travel through life it is good to know that you are always by my side ...Sisters

So here is the picture.

Take care....❤