Where did the time go?

I normally start my post early in the week and add to it as the week progressed. Not so, this week - as I write on Thursday evening. This is what I remember from the week. It might be short post!

The weekend was hot, hot, hot! Temperatures reached 30C/86F and 27C/80F on Saturday and Sunday respectively - that's mid-July temperatures. We headed to the lake on Saturday afternoon. Eli spent time in the water though it felt a too cold to me!  Then we took a drive to the next town over (NTO) on Sunday as there wasn't a whole lot getting done outdoors. My daughter picked up a large BBQ for a reasonable price. More on that later.

Monday was a housework day and Eli had equine therapy that afternoon. Each time he's attended, the weather has been crappy, wet and cool, this day was no different! Such a change from the weekend. In addition to working with the horses, he was able to visit the baby chicks. The therapist he works with was impressed how quickly and gently he could catch the little critters. He told his teacher at school that he had "chick therapy" this week. :)

I recall I posted on a couple blogs that I thought I'd wait another week before purchasing my bedding plants. Ha! On Tuesday, I took a drive to the NTO, stopping at a few garden centers, before heading home to visit two more here in town. I was looking for a couple of perennials for the side yard. While NTO had a few, they didn't have what I was looking for, and here in town, the perennials won't be available until next week. I'd like to find a bleeding heart though I may consider hostas as well. It all depends on price and availability. The area gets late afternoon sun, but is somewhat sheltered by a large evergreen.

Wednesday was an outdoor day, with the major project being the building of the BBQ. I sent this photo to my brother saying, "no blood was shed." The air was blue a few times, but my daughter and I got it done.  We haven't used it yet, as we need the propane tank, and I told D we'll use up the canister on the table top BBQ first. 

In addition, there was some weeding done and I planted a crown of celery and lettuce. I've read that celery will regrow from the crown and thought I'd give it a shot. I had it in a container of water for three or four days and was pleasantly surprised to see the green leaves starting. The lettuce was in a bag of dirt, that Eli grew at school - the lettuce, not the dirt. Of course, after I planted these, the temperature overnight dropped to 0C/32F. However, they seem to have survived.

On Thursday morning, I was outdoors at 6:30 a.m. with my tea and the cat. I'd been awake for a couple of hours at that point, the temperature was already at 12C/54F, so it seemed a good idea to get out early. When D left to take Eli to school, I headed out to pick up groceries. 

We also had another project that morning, to revise the set-up for the second rain barrel. There was rain early Monday morning, and our connection didn't work as we wanted. After some discussion and a bit of work, we had the barrel set-up with the downspout extension in the proper place. With rain expected for much of next week, we wanted to make certain the water went in the barrel and not the basement.

Speaking of next week, I'm heading back into the city on Tuesday morning. I contacted the fence guy and we've arranged to meet on Thursday evening. My son will be home then too, and since he's paying for it, he'll be able to provide his input. With Sage, it will nice to have a fenced backyard. He'll need to be out there with her...that dog can jump...but he should be able to play with her and let her run some. While I'm there, I plan to paint my bedroom and work on seeding the back yard to grass and clover. I suspect the weeds will be thriving by the time I arrive, which will require some clean-up first. 

It cooled off slightly on Friday, and though I had planned to work in the yard in the morning, but had to wait a few hours. We woke to a cool morning, with an air advisory. The winds we had on Thursday, blew in the smoke from the wildfires. Not only could we smell it, but there was a haze in the air. I did go out briefly, to pull my annuals from the shed for the day, and to put the seedlings out to harden off.

I was out shortly before lunch, chatting with my friend K and my brother R. K and her partner J, are leaving next week for a road trip to Nova Scotia, and then taking the ferry to Newfoundland. They may be back in Halifax about the same time as we arrive, so if things work out, we'll see them there. 

More yardwork was accomplished, including filling a large orange garbage bag with pinecones with another pile to be cleaned up this weekend. The gladiolas were planted and more of that damned creeping bellflower was dug out of the raised bed. I'll never get ahead of it, I've found tubers at least an inch around with runners going here, there and beyond. Keeping it from flowering, and then seeding helps a little, but when it is in all the yards around us, I know I'm fighting a losing battle.

Hockey and baseball had kept me entertained in the evenings with two of our three Canadian teams leading their series. (I'm watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panther game as I finish this up - the Panthers may be the winner tonight). 

We're into the heat again this weekend, before the rain starts Monday afternoon. Eli woke up congested on Friday morning, and is still feeling punk, so I suspect it will be a quiet weekend. I've got a bit of a sore throat too (thanks kid!), but plan to get more work done outside. I think the fresh air is good for me and I'd rather do that then housework. 

Have a great week ahead everyone!