Friday, 15 August 2025
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Saturday, 9 August 2025
Another week bites the dust/mud
I'm not sure where this week went, I think because Monday was a holiday in the province, so I probably thought it was Sunday, though in reality everyday is Friday since I retired. (Confused yet, I know I was!)
Eli had his day camp on Tuesday and Thursday. Library program was Wednesday and a real live pirate came to visit! I wasn't there, but that's what I was told, and when an eight year old tells you there was a real live pirate, he must be right. Also, he and D went to the community center on Friday for a special event put on by the library and the Science Center (located in Regina). The center sent two individuals to do a short science camp. Eli was in his element - he's a math and science kid!
Earlier in the week, he and I stopped in at the pet store. This little girl tabby, named Tila (pronounced Tee-la) was evacuated from Northern Saskatchewan due to the forest fires. She is 5 months old, spayed, vaccinated and ready for a forever home. Eli likes to visit the kittens/cats at the pet store and he would happily bring them all home. However, that is not happening, but we'll continue to hope Tila finds her "furever" home soon.
As you can probably tell from Wednesday's photo, the cats are starting to tolerate one another. Saku does not appreciate the other two getting in his space on the bed, and there was one incident of him lashing out at Stanley when he (Stanley) jumped up and woke him (Saku). No blood was shed. Both Spencer and Stanley have used Saku's litter box, and in turn, he has used their box in the porch. Saku has been in the basement a time or two, but I don't believe he's used either of the boxes down there. In any event, we are able to allow the three to be out and about in the house without a lot of supervision when we are there. However, we're not quite ready to leave them on their own when we're out of the house. I sincerely doubt we'll ever find the three of them snuggled in a kitty pile on a bed, but tolerance within certain limits is appreciated.
This is a fairly frequent occurrence when Eli, Stanley, and Saku join me in the evening. (My comforter was in the wash, so D lent me one - it was too warm for me)
Breaking news! We got a bit of rain on Monday evening and overnight. One rain barrel was about two thirds full, the other about half full. Another gift to be appreciated as I was able to water the tomatoes from the rain barrel. Speaking of rain, I'm including a video my brother sent me. He's got a wacky sense of humour!
He has since made the necessary repairs and figures the railing will withhold his weight, next time. :)
Friday, 8 August 2025
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Saturday, 2 August 2025
Random thoughts for the week
We have tomatoes! I know I whined in my last weekly post that the fruit was not setting. No whining anymore, as the plants are developing quickly and I am pretty sure we'll have a bumper crop of...I don't remember what I planted, though I don't think it was all cherry tomatoes. We'll find out soon enough. We also have four peppers starting too. The parsley is ready to be harvested and the sage and basil aren't far behind.
We need rain! It's been awhile since we had we've had a decent rain, and our rain barrels are emptied out. That means using town water. Water in this community is expensive because several years ago, they built a new water treatment plant. We're still in the process of paying that off, and it will be several more years. But, since we now have tomatoes, I will not quit watering. We don't, however, water our lawn and it is browning off quite quickly.
This was the final week of swimming lessons. Eli passed his level 2 swimmer the first week and wasn't as enthusiastic in the second week. He needs to work on his flutter kick so I suspect he'll be working on his level 3 through next summer. Funny kid, he's so literal. His instructor was talking about the front and back crawl. He told he didn't want to do either, because babies crawl. D suggested she use the terms front and back stroke instead. :p
Wednesday's photo was taken at our local Co-op store. Our Independent grocer has them priced at $8.49 a package. Before Covid, those sausages usually sold for $4.99 a package and were often on sale for $3.99. Although we enjoy several varieties of this brand of sausage, we won't be purchasing these in the near future. While I realize input cost prices have increased for producers, processers, and the grocery chains, I think this is beyond ridiculous.
More weeding happened this week, and I started cutting back a creeping juniper in the back yard. I don't know about anyone else, but it smells like cat urine to my daughter and me. Plus the creeping bellflower has found it's way into the plant so it all needs to go.
I've contacted a local tree trimming company as well. We need to get rid of the cedar as it is too close to the house, and in the side yard we want to get rid of the evergreen. It is too close to the fence (that we plan to have replaced next year), and it doesn't look terribly healthy. We'll also get the tree in the backyard trimmed to keep the branches off the power line running from the pole to the house.
Speaking of the shed, I did get it cleaned up last Sunday. We moved a shelving unit which opened up space on the back wall. I was able to put all of the larger garden tools on that wall between the studs and used a bungee cord to hold them in place. Shelves were reorganized with like items together. Hopefully that will make it easier to find things as we need them. I seem to recall doing something similar last year and the organization didn't last.
Friday, 1 August 2025
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Much fun, many memories
Our flight to Regina, via Calgary, wasn't scheduled until 6 p.m., and the rental car wasn't due back to the airport until 3:30 p.m. so we had time to visit one more attraction in Halifax on our final morning.
After our continental breakfast, we packed up at the hotel and headed downtown around 9:30 in the morning to the Discovery Center (science center). The day prior the center offered free admission, and I was hoping that might mean it would be quiet(er). Ha! The place was buzzing with children and their parents.
All of the floors had various interactive exhibits. On the first floor, this piece of equipment was very popular with the children including Eli. He enjoyed his opportunity to move the foam pieces to a nearby box.
I wandered off into another area of the floor...which seemed somewhat less noisy. There were a number of mind-bending puzzles, as a maze. My mind wasn't up to most of the puzzles. :) Eli followed and wandered through the maze backwards...he went in at the finish. Whatever works.
We went up to the third floor next where Eli had a lot of fun, with his mom in tow, while G'ma sat and enjoyed a cup of tea.
I suspect, had there not been other children waiting to use the machine, we would still be there.We left downtown shortly before lunch and crossed the bridge to Dartmouth.
We ate at Boston Pizza and still had plenty of time before we needed to head for the airport. D used the Google machine again and found an indoor playground nearby, "The Kids Fun Factory".
The place was packed with children and their parents. A warehouse style building with high ceilings, it had climbing apparatus, slides, tunnels, and a ball bit. There are no photos from that activity, I'm not certain D had her phone with her. I had tucked myself in a corner where it wasn't quite as noisy. (Do you sense a theme?) They had couches and chairs, as well as a cafe area outside the play area.
We left there shortly before 3 p.m., and went to the nearby gas station to fill up before making our way to the airport. Dropping the car off was simple, as was our check-in at the counter. However, in security I was taken aside; it was my own fault! I'd purchased a small knife to cut up the strawberries we'd had earlier in the trip and tucked it into a corner pocket of my backpack and forgotten all about it. I was appropriately shocked and apologetic and they took the knife and let me through to the gates.
And of course, this is when we started our hurry up and wait portion of our trip. Eventually we were on the five hour flight to Calgary, and no one slept (not even me). By the time we arrived in Calgary, I think we were all exhausted, Eli slept most of the way to Regina, I got about a 1/2 hour and D did not. We arrived at my son's house just about midnight local time, grabbed a cab to C's and after moving bags to my car, Eli and I crawled into bed, while D visited with her brother and his roommate.
Despite the very long day at the end of the trip, it was an amazing adventure. Eli did so well throughout the entire trip despite the change in routine. I enjoyed sharing places I'd been before with my daughter and grandson, and D did a marvelous job of finding new places for us to explore. The majority of the photos I've shared were taken with her cellphone as I didn't have room for my Canon. She clearly enjoyed it too, and we're already thinking ahead to late June 2027 for our next trip!
Saturday, 26 July 2025
It never ends
Early this week I had thought of an awesome title for this post...I've forgotten it now, so who knows what it will be, if any. I'm tired.
It's been another busy week, with day camp, the library program, and swimming lessons for Eli, with mom or G'ma taxi for the assist. Household chores including laundry, vacuuming, dishes, cleaning cat litter, menu planning and meal prep for both D and I, and of course, the inevitable weeding for me. I managed a bit of knitting too.
With D and Eli off to the library (Wednesday) or swim lessons (every evening at 6:15), I've had the house to myself for a bit more than usual. The swim lessons are generally when the Blue Jays play baseball, so I can't say I've done much in those solitary moments. I did tackle my bedroom on Wednesday, as between my stuff and the cat's (Saku) stuff, it was feeling a bit cluttered and untidy.
Speaking of Saku, the integration with Stanley and Spencer is happening very slowly. He can tolerate being in the same room for brief periods (always supervised), but heaven help either of them if they dare enter his space (my bedroom). This cat can yowl with the best of them. He also gets annoyed if he feels one of them is between him and the nearest exit. But he has fed in close proximity a few times. Again, just briefly but without any cranky interaction. One day, he was drinking water from the cat bowl out in the front porch; Stanley was sleeping on the chair just a few feet away. They were aware of each other but neither had a reaction to the other. Poor Spencer doesn't fare as well. Saku seems to dislike her, no apparent reason, and she has once or twice expressed her displeasure as well. We're hoping that by Thanksgiving (mid-October) they'll be more tolerant towards each other.
By the way, Wednesday's photo was indeed, a field of canola against the very smoky sky. We were under a air quality advisory and it has lasted through the week.
Friends were camping in central Saskatchewan and had to leave early, as it was worse there. The province reports there are currently 56 fires burning in the province, four considered contained, 15 not contained and 19 being investigated. Now, I don't know about you, but that only adds up to 38 fires...no reporting on the other 18 fires. Eleven communities/areas are still under evacuation orders. Our provincial government is nothing if not incompetent. In fact, they have only now agreed to have the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) provide firefighting crews to assist. Meanwhile the northern half of our province continues to burn.
On to lesser frustrations, I pulled the pea plants this week and re-seeded. I was hoping they'd put out another set of flowers and pods but after a week, I had nothing so they're gone. Peas tend to prefer to be planted in cooler temps so I may not get anything, but I'll give it a try. My tomatoes have been busily putting out flowers but I've found only a few tomatoes that have set. I don't know if they are simply late or just not being pollinated. So I did what some annoyed gardeners would do, I used a paint brush to hand pollinate the flowers. I should note there have been bumble bees and various flies around the plants but I think other flowers have been more attractive for whatever reason. I'll let you know if it works.
The major weeding is finally complete, and I'm on to the maintenance portion. Basically that means I'm starting all over, just with smaller weeds. :p To hopefully reduce the weeding efforts, I picked up mulch on Friday for the front flower bed and the raised bed in back. I used a push hoe to weed the vegetable garden, but was on my hands and knees again to clear the front flower bed. The hollyhocks are just starting to bloom. (Don't mind the window sills and frames that need painting - that's a next spring job).
Friday, 25 July 2025
Thursday, 24 July 2025
Return to Bedford
We weren't in a hurry to get on the road to Bedford/Halifax, so lazed around a bit in the morning. After our complimentary breakfast, D and Eli went to the pool one more time, and then we packed up. Funny story, we were shuffling things in the bags when we found a television remote. Somehow it had fallen into one of our bags when we left the motel in Baddeck! I called the motel to let them know we had it, and would drop it off on our way through that morning.
Before we left the Antigonish area, we headed to Pomquet Beach. We had planned to visit the beach when we were on our way to Baddeck, but the weather had been rainy and cool. Not so, this day, it was already quite warm and the temps would get hot later in the day.
The beach is on the Northumberland Strait, which is part of the Atlantic ocean. D had wanted to be able to put her toes in the ocean the entire trip, and Bras D'Or lake was close, but this was the real thing. The beach is 3 km. (about 2 miles) long, a mix of sand and rock. We didn't go swimming but satisfied ourselves with a walk along the beach front.We looked for shells and pretty rocks as we walked. There was no one on the beach when we first arrived but a young woman and her toddler came soon after. They were clearly prepared to stay the day, with a small tent for shade, a mat, and toys in a wagon.
I should note, we had hoped to visit Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, to see the Titanic memorial. However, though we tried, we never found the appropriate gates and it is located in traffic heavy area.
We had thought about getting pizza for dinner, but I vetoed the idea because there would be leftovers and we were flying out the next day. I found a place called Boomburger COWS ice cream not far away. It reminded me of Five Guys burgers here in Saskatchewan, where your food is prepared in front of you and the fries are tossed into a bag. I treated myself to a beer, the first I'd had during the entire trip. (I promise I didn't drink it until I got back to the hotel.)
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Sydney in the morning, Antigonish in the afternoon
Then it was down to the harbour/cruise pavilion to check out the giant fiddle. I've never actually cruised into Sydney, but I've seen photos before. They don't do it justice. At 60 feet in height, it is built of steel, and is a tribute to the local Celtic community. There is clearly a sound system hooked up that plays traditional music.
Next up was Cossit House Museum, a living museum with individuals dressed in period costumes and offering tours and information about the property. The house was built in 1787, and named for the original owner, Reverend Rana Cossit. He and his family, wife Thankful, and ten of their thirteen children lived there until 1815.
With a final stop at a local thrift shop, where D found several books from a favorite author, we headed out on the highway toward Antigonish. (By this point, I was thinking we were going to need an additional bag.)
The clouds were low in the sky, and at points nearly obscuring the top of the hills.
Sunday, 20 July 2025
The morning in Baddeck, an afternoon in Sydney
After breakfast at the nearby Tim Horton's, our first task of the morning Baddeck was finding the local laundromat. We packed for eight days, or at least I did, but D and Eli tend to change more frequently, so we had a couple of loads of laundry to complete. While the clothes were in the washing machine, we did a walk up and back the main street. It was early, around 8 a.m. so there wasn't a whole lot open as yet.
We originally thought this building was a church, but I have learned it is actually the Gilbert H. Grosvenor Hall, built in 1887. It has gone through various iterations, including customs house and post office, library, and now houses the Bras D'Or Lakes and Watershed Interpretive Centre. I wish I'd discovered before we left Baddeck!
D took this photo of the hotel that my friends stayed at, back in 2015. It's a lovely old building, but with no pool, I didn't think it would suit our purposes on this trip. In the end, we didn't use the outdoor pool at the Cabot Trail Motel, as it was a little cool in the afternoon.
Eli had his I-Pad, D and I our phones, so kept ourselves amused while waiting for the clothes to dry. We headed back to the motel to drop off the clean laundry, and before we left, D and Eli went down to the lake.
Then it was time for the main attraction of the day, the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. A short drive from the downtown area of Baddeck, it is an very interesting museum. While Bell is known to be the inventor of the telephone, he had a hand in many other inventions, including hydrofoils, kites, aeroplanes and x-rays. I remember being fascinated on my last trip there, and this time was no different.
A wall of telephones from through the years. I can only guess what Alexander Graham Bell would think of our current cell phones!
This is portion of the replica of Mr. Bell's study.
We started our adventure at the Visitor' Center where our admission gave us a ticket to ride a shuttle bus to an area outside the fortress. It's a little bit of a hike from the bus stop to the main gates, and the area within the gates has a lot to see!
I don't imagine the pews were very comfortable.
I believe this was the bed of the commander of the Fortress. Much more comfortable looking than the beds in the jail house below.
Back in Sydney we went to our hotel where D and Eli headed for the pool, and I relaxed for a bit. I recall where we picked up our dinner that night, a concession stand at a Open Hearth Park. The fellow was just about to close down when we arrived as it was cool and a bit windy. But he gladly prepped our burgers and fries, while we waited in our car. While waiting we noticed the playground and decided it would be a good place to visit the next day.