Finishes and endings

My mostly Easter, a little bit of spring display on top of the China cabinet. It's the only real space I have for display here in this house.

Well, our men's team did not win the World Championship, but did bring home a bronze. They played Scotland in the semi-final and, as had happened earlier in the week, lost the game. It certainly was their worst game of the week. On Sunday, they were up against China in the bronze medal game and it was a blow-out for Canada. I tend not to pay much attention when the score gets lop-sided, so I can't tell you what the final score was. 

Scotland took on Switzerland in the final, and came out on top winning the World's for the second time in three years. What made this more interesting was a "Battle of the Sexes" charity skins game they were in the following day. Team Mouat (Scotland) played Team Homan (Canada). The Canadian women won the World's, so it was also two World champions facing off. There were some great shots on both sides, however Homan was only able to win one of the skins, Mouat and crew won the other seven. I didn't watch the presentation but I presume that the companies providing the prize money/charity donations likely evened it up. 

D and I tackled housework on Monday, and the main floor and upstairs were vacuumed and tidied up. I won't tell you what the basement looked (looks) like, as Eli had a friend over to play on Saturday. Let's just say it is a bit of a disaster down there. I have a puzzle set out on a table in the basement but will avoid the area until D and Eli spend some time tidying.

On Tuesday I made a run into the nearby community to visit the Service Canada office. My passport will expire in December, and while I have no immediate plans to travel outside of Canada, I wanted to ensure it was renewed. Unlike the office in the city, where one drops off the paperwork, in this small office a representative takes care of everything on line, scans the documents and prepares the package while you're there. The photos have to be processed elsewhere, and the return time is longer; about 4-5 weeks versus 10-15 days, but the process seemed more personable.

The woman assisting me, was asking about travel plans and I mentioned our trip to Nova Scotia this June. She originally grew up in New Brunswick and we chatted about the places I visited when I was there with friends in 2016. Of course, I had to ask how she and her family ended up here. Not unexpectedly it was her husband's work (mining), and they live in a small community nearby.

After dropping off several bags of donations at the local thrift store, I did a walk through the store. I found some divided plates for Eli, some silicone molds for D, and a travel tea mug (with strainer) for myself. A quick stop at the grocery store for a few items and I was home by 11 a.m. It was a productive morning.

Out of curiosity, I did a search for the tea mug on the internet. I just about fell over, when I discovered it is currently selling for $140 on the Canadian Amazon site. I paid just under $3 for it. 

Some sad news, I called my son that evening and he told me he'd had to surrender Shadow. Apparently Sage had taken a dislike to the puppy. I'm not certain if she got aggressive, but clearly the relationship wasn't good. He was quite disappointed, and has decided to wait a year or two before considering getting a second dog. I've encouraged him to get the two of them (he and Sage) enrolled in obedience classes. Sage has shown signs of aggressiveness towards other dogs on walks, so it's best to deal with those issues while she is still fairly young, about 16 months or so.

Wednesday's photo was taken on Monday evening. The snow is melting as the temperatures are starting to rise, and with rain in the forecast it should disappear more quickly. I saw my first junco that morning too, followed by two robins on Thursday...spring is definitely here! Here's how the backyard looked on Friday afternoon:

The front yard is nearly clear as it faces south. I suspect most of the snow you see here will be gone by early next week.

The next to last* curling event of the season was held this week in Toronto, a Grand Slam of Curling event. The broadcast on Sportsnet was scheduled to start on Thursday afternoon, though I discovered a single draw that was aired the day before. It finished just in time for the Blue Jays game; great timing!

Meanwhile I've done more knitting, another pair of mittens was finished, another toque completed (this one for Eli), and I've cast another toque on the needles. My goal is to finish six pairs of mittens, and three toques before I return to my stitching. My poor hands and wrists are starting to feel a bit painful from the repetitive motions. Definitely time for a break.

D has been busy re-organizing things in her bedroom and basement, and I've been able to empty three boxes of photo albums that have been stored away since at least the summer of 2023 (when I listed my old house). Friday was also the one year anniversary of our move into this house. It's been a great place for all three of us. There are some things we'd like to do it including replacing the exterior doors, replacing a portion of the fence, and addressing the "rock" garden area. Of the three, I anticipate the fence will be the last on the list. The old fence is still standing, though requires some support. Since our next door neighbours rarely mow or weed their back yard, it is tall enough to keep it out of our view. D did report them to the city last summer when the weeds were higher than the 6 foot fence. Can you tell they are renters and not owners? 

On to the weekend, you'll find me watching more curling, more baseball, continuing to knit, and weather permitting, spending some time outdoors. I'd like to tackle the shed and move some snow from the bigger piles so it will melt sooner.

Have a great week ahead everyone!I

*There is a new two day event, the curling all-stars planned for April 15 and 16 in Nashville. It is associated with the Grand Slam brand. I have no idea the what the format will be and don't believe it will be televised. I'll look for a live stream.

Maybe finally spring, family news, and good curling

I cannot say the week was particularly busy, but it was full. Mostly with sports watching, knitting, with a bit of housework and shopping thrown in for good measure. I've finished a total of four pairs of mittens and a toque/beanie as well. The next pair of mitts is now on the needles too. I always get more done when watching sports - knitting keeps my hands busy so I'm not snacking. 

(Sorry, I could not get the photo to rotate, so you're seeing it sideways!)

The curling has been good, no real blowouts for or against the Canadian team. I do enjoy a game that comes down to the final rock in the final end. I'm sure the curlers prefer otherwise. The Blue Jays started the regular season this week, with mixed success. They have some new players on the roster too, and it is fun to see what they may mean for the team.

We had more snow overnight and into the morning of April Fool's Day. I didn't appreciate the joke. Before taking Eli to school, I shovelled out the back parking area and the sidewalk. It has since started melting and D has been sprinkling de-icer every morning. Neither of us want a repeat of my fall last week. The cut has completely healed but the spot on my head is still a little tender to the touch. 

Wednesday's photos were sent to me by my son, C. On the weekend he brought home another pup from the shelter. She is an eleven month old German Shepherd now named Shadow. She and Sage were immediate friends, racing around the house. C said they both slept well the first night. 

Saku, the cat has not yet been introduced to the new pup. Sage is excitable, but less so than Shadow. To be honest, I'm thinking I'll move Saku here this summer though the transition will take some time as Stanley and Spencer rule the roost. That means Saku will spend his time in my room while getting accustomed to the other cats. I suppose it will be no more difficult for him than learning to live with two dogs.

Btw, you may have noticed that all of our pets have S names. It started 25 years ago with Sasha and Silver. When we got our third cat, I told the kids it had to have an S name ... we couldn't call it Bob so she was Sami. We kept it up through the next three, with Silas, Shady, and Saku. Since then, my now adult kids have kept up the tradition.

This week brought some sad news. Our cousin K passed away on Thursday due to that damned cancer. She has been battling it for many years but it makes her passing no less sad. My brother and I are planning to attend the funeral. I'll drive to his farm and he'll do the driving from there. Another cousin was also hospitalized with a stroke on Friday. He neither smokes, nor drinks, still runs though not as much as he used to, so this was a real shock to all of us. Initial testing did not indicate a brain bleed, so the assumption is he had a blood clot. Still early days, and I'm sure we'll learn more next week.

The weekend should be quiet, with the final few games of the curling, more baseball, and hopefully lots more melting. My daughter had her car in the shop for a couple of days, and the ruts that have developed in the alley means she has to park out front of the house. I'm hoping more of the ice and snow will disappear so she can bring the car around back soon.

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Another busy week and fun with friends

I had a quiet weekend, which was just what I wanted. I did go to Happy Hour but otherwise stayed home and worked on the jigsaw puzzle, my stitching, and knitting. There was a bit of housework done and some laundry, but for the most part I relaxed.

I'd gotten a couple of hours of stitching done on Saturday, when I realized I'd started two rows over from where I ought to have done, so spent the evening watching the Four Nations hockey and un-stitching the work I'd done earlier. Canada lost to the USA, and as result were in a battle to reach the final, and needed to win in regulation over Finland on Monday. They did win that game and would play in the final on Thursday evening in Boston. I was thrilled when they won in overtime. Go Canada Go!

I managed to re-do my work on Sunday and a little bit more. There wasn't anything to watch on television (or at least nothing I was interested in), so decided to go to bed early and read. That didn't last, as I decided to get up and work on the puzzle. Shortly after 11 p.m. I finished. It had been on the table well over a week, so I was ready to have it done. The photos were from that afternoon, and the second I took the following morning. J had lent me two puzzles, so I quickly put away this one and started the second one. 

Three of us went shopping Monday to some chain stores, Beall's, Ross Dress for Less, and Marshalls. L did very well, coming home from Beall's with a two pairs of pants and four tops - all $9.99 or less. I picked up a pair of shorts for Eli, and a wallet for D. The wallet is the same brand as the purse I picked up for her at Burlington's last week, and is meant for a Christmas gift. Eli can give her the wallet. D picked up a pair of sunglasses at Beall's. Both Ross and Marshalls were a bust, so we decided to go to lunch. 

We ate the Patio, just down the block from the park. I had an Oriental chicken salad, while the other two had shrimp and salmon rolls. We were all invited out to dinner that evening at H's so wanted something light. I'll admit the salad was a good size - I ate all the vegetables and left some chicken behind.

We met for dinner after Happy Hour at H's place. Have I mentioned her previously? She has an outdoor kitchen in her shed, a full sized stove and fridge, as well as her washing machine. Wonderful food comes out of that kitchen. She's known for her banana bread, brownies, tres Leches cake and many more goodies. We had pork loin, scalloped potatoes, and mixed veg for dinner and creme brulee for dessert. She didn't make the dessert, she said, because she was too busy. It was all delicious.

Six of us went thrifting on Tuesday, a full van load of women descending on the stores. I picked up a James A. Michener book to read on the way home, a bathing suit for Eli, a pair of jean capris to replace the ones I sacrificed to the paint party, and a pretty top. The adult granddaughter of one of the ladies cleaned up. She left the van with several bags of clothing - apparently she does this each year, arrives with an almost empty suitcase and returns home with a full one. We had lunch at the Black Bear Diner before heading back to the park. 

I walked down to Food City on Wednesday morning, as I had run out of fresh vegetables. The prices are so amazing to me; a head of lettuce for $0.99, two bunches of green onions for $1, a pound of baby carrots for just $1.69 and a red pepper for $0.50! I also bought tomatoes, so, if nothing else I have salad fixings for the next week. Back at the unit, I mixed up and cooked a meatloaf for dinner and sandwiches. It had just come out of the oven, when L arrived and invited me to the Canada Snowbird Association (CSA) presentation at the Quechan Casino (informally known as the Q). 

We left just before noon (Yuma time /11 a.m. California time). Q is across the border in California and the presentation started at noon. There were speakers from the CSA and from Medipac, the travel insurance company. It was a really interesting program, as I had no real knowledge of either. 

But it got better! After a 20 minute intermission, we were entertained by Michelle Wright (a Canadian country singer) and a comedian whose name I have forgotten. He was entertaining, but it was Michelle's performance that was wonderful. She mentioned she's been in the business for 43 years. Unaccompanied by nothing but her guitar, her voice is still amazing. She sang a variety of her material, as well as Anne Murray's Snowbird. Fitting for the crowd, and most everyone knew the words and sang along.

I had planned to housework and some stitching on Thursday, and did get the house vacuumed, dishes washed and dried, and the bathroom cleaned. However, L called just after lunch to say she and her stepdaughter K were going to Green Trees (a discount grocery store), and would I like to go with them. I had picked up some protein bars on our last trip, and really liked them, so said yes. Well, it wasn't only a trip to Green Trees - we also visited Target, Discount Tire for a free tire check (air and tread), In and Out Burger for lunch for the two of them, and then to Green Trees. I had eaten at lunch so had a drink and shared L's fries. On our way back to the park, we stopped at Food City. We stayed in the car while K ran in for one item.

This was the sign at Target - I haven't had any issues finding eggs at Walmart and Food City, so I assume Target uses different supplies.

By the time we arrived back at the park, Happy Hour was underway. There, I was invited to ride along for a trip to Los Algodones, across the Mexican border on Friday. I thanked A for the offer, but declined. I was ready for a quiet day of puttering around the unit.

And that is exactly what I did on Friday. I worked on the jigsaw puzzle, I sat outside in the sun and read for a bit of time, I finished knitting my hanging kitchen towel, and did some stitching. I did go to Happy Hour and before coming back to the unit, I helped several of the women decorate the clubhouse for the Heritage Dinner. 

Today, I'll be baking the shortbread for the dinner - it is so much better when it is fresh. L's husband, G plays the bag pipes, and she has informed he, he will be piping me in to the clubhouse with my contribution. Wish me luck, hopefully I won't trip on the threshold! The meal should be very good, as there are a wide variety of dishes being prepared. 

Beyond that, I don't plan to do much else for the weekend, as it is shaping up to be a busy week next week. I have something scheduled for every day AND I have to pack too. :(

Have a great week ahead everyone!

More wind, curling, and knitting too

On Sunday, my phone buzzed with an alert about a wind advisory for Yuma, with high winds expected to last from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. the next day. I decided to make a trip to the grocery store on Monday morning. I'm glad I did, as the winds definitely picked up. My landlady had sent over several clamps that I used to hold the sheets on the outside furniture. This time around, I didn't find as much blown about the outdoor area. I spent the day in the house working on a jigsaw puzzle, reading, and watching television while listening the wind blow outside.

Tuesday was housework day. I've realized this is a habit from living with my son. His EDO's fall on Mondays, and I tended to wait until Tuesday to do a lot of housework (even on the weeks he wasn't home). I did laundry, vacuumed and washed floors, and scrubbed the bathtub. The clothes dried quickly as it was still quite breezy. Mid-afternoon I went out to the front to sit in the sun and read before walking over to Happy Hour. 

The Saskatchewan provincial curling playdowns started on Tuesday as well, and I was able to catch three of the draws (slept through the first one). Until recently, the men and women have had separate events, but this year, the two competitions are being held at the same time. Two men's draws a day and two women's. I set my alarm, just in case, so I'd be awake by 7 a.m. on Wednesday for the first game of the day. 

I had a couple of hours between the first and second draw so I went for a walk down to the Walmart Supercenter (the photo above is from that walk). It took me about 40 minutes to walk there. I'd run out of cotton yarn and figured it would be the closest place to find it. On the way back, I stopped at Albertson's (similar to Safeway in Canada) and picked up a few sale items, peppers, cucumber and bagels. I had planned to catch the bus back, but it passed by just as I left the store and the next one wasn't for an hour. So I walked back, stopping at Burger King for lunch - the thought of an original chicken sandwich was too tempting. :)

Back at the unit, I unloaded my bag and tuned into the curling. This game started well, but turned into a blow-out for the one team - I dozed off on the couch and woke up an hour later! I guess the fresh air from the morning, and the sunshine streaming in the windows put me to sleep. The third game started about 3 p.m. and again, it was turning into a rout by mid-game so I wandered over to visit the folks at Happy Hour. I did get asked why I hadn't made it to canasta that afternoon. 

Thursday was coffee hour at the clubhouse. I left the curling game before it ended; another lop-sided affair and joined several others for a chat. There were a few announcements: a potluck supper on February 4th, a pancake breakfast on the 6th, and the Heritage potluck on the 22nd. I've signed up for the two potlucks with "dessert" as my offering for the first and Scottish shortbread for the second. Since I don't have, nor need a full pantry, I think I'll pick up a brownie cake mix, and try to time it so I take it out of the oven shortly before the dinner. Who doesn't like chocolate after all? For the Heritage event, I've already bought sugar, butter, and flour and plan to use some of that up before hand. I get a craving for something sweet once in awhile too!

I was awake by 6:30 a.m. on Friday, and turned the heaters on in the unit. It was a mere 4C/39F outside and just 13C/55F inside. Just a little chilly. I went back to bed until 7 before heading to the living room to watch the curling. With the little heater it had warmed up to 17C/63F, and felt quite comfortable. 

While watching, I continued working on a knitted hanging dish towel that I had started on Thursday. It is meant to be a gift, along with a couple of dish cloths. It still needs to be blocked, and I will need to find/pick up a button for the tab. I'll check the thrift stores for buttons and pins, as I certainly didn't bring any with me. This is the yarn I picked up at Walmart, as I've finished the yarn I brought with me. Pretty soon, I'll have to start working on the cross stitch, though it is harder to do when I'm watching curling. I have to pay attention. :)

Later in the morning, I made a batch of shortbread dough and put in the fridge to chill. In addition, I cut up the last two corn tortillas to make chips for nachos. I didn't have the lime, but I baked them with a brush of oil and salt - they turned out delicious. When the shortbread was baked, I couldn't resist, and had three cookies with a tea. Yum! The rest were tucked into a container, because I could have eaten several more.

I was able to get about 30 minutes outdoors in the sun too, reading for part of it, and chatting with my daughter. Then it was time for game 3 of the day - I watched until mid-way through the game, went to Happy Hour for 45 minutes or so and returned home in time to watch the end. The playoff picture for the women was settled Friday evening, while the men had one final game on Saturday morning.

I'll be watching the final round robin game, and then have plans to go to an event at the Civic Center with a couple of the residents. It is Health fair from the sounds of it, and it could be very interesting. I'll let you know next week. :) Playoff curling will keep me entertained as well and I should have enough viewing time to finish a couple of dishcloths. If the wind isn't blowing (it wasn't on Friday), I must get out and sweep up the sand on the outdoor patio. 

Whatever your plans may be, have a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Wind, sand, and fire

I could get used to this. Not only the lovely weather, but having the time to simply relax and do as I please. There are no big projects to be tackled and I'm a heck of a lot easier to clean up after than my daughter and grandson, or even the cleaning I do during my irregular visits to my son. Of course, I don't have nearly as much stuff with me as I have back home so there is less to put away.

This is my view from the couch. There is a jigsaw puzzle on the dining table so I've been eating on the tv tray (as well as using my laptop. To the right are two knitted dishcloths I've made up. The kitchen is compact but has everything I need. Down the hall to the right is the bathroom, and the last door you can see is the bedroom. It has an amazing amount of storage.

I will, however, be going home with more stuff. You know I can't resist thrift stores. So when I was invited to join two of the ladies, L & S, on Tuesday I jumped at the chance. We hit up three stores, Amberly's, Al, an the Goodwill and all three of us came away with treasures. I picked up a couple of t-shirts, a pair of shorts for Eli, a book, and a small plastic container. We stopped at Dunkin' Donuts (new to me) for coffee but no doughnuts! From there, we went to Kneaders -  bakery and coffee shop - for sourdough bread, and then to J.C. Penney for their clearance sale. We all found a few items; in my case, two blouses. In total, I paid $10 for the four tops I purchased. 

The weather changed on Tuesday, windy, cloudy, and cooler temps. Wednesday's photo was taken after we returned from shopping. It got darker still, but there was no rain. The weather channel showed an air quality advisory as well due to dust in the air. I moved some of the outdoor furniture, in case it rained, and covered some with sheets provided by my landlords to, at least, keep some of the dust at bay. That night was incredibly noisy with things outside and the bathroom vent inside rattling and banging. I managed to sleep through some of it, but was wide awake at 3 a.m. I got up, made some tea, and after talking to my daughter about 5:30 (it's 6:30 a.m. at home), I went back to bed and slept for nearly 3 hours. 

The canasta group met Wednesday afternoon, and I sat watching the first game. It is nothing like what I remember playing with my Nan (grandmother) when I was a child. But, when the first game was over, three of the ladies stayed and walked me through a game. Let's just say I need to work on my strategy. We played another card game called 2500. It too is a strategic game, but one I caught onto much more quickly. By mid-game I was ahead, but by the end, I came in next to last. As one woman put it, without the right cards, strategy doesn't win the game.

The winds had died down, so I did a load of sheets before I headed to Happy Hour. When I went to hang them on the line I discovered the drying rack had been damaged in the wind. I didn't want to bother my landlord that evening, so hung them as best I could and planned to call in the morning. The sheets dried quickly and I brought them in after dinner. 

Thursday started off quite cool, around 43F (6C), though no wind. I washed a load of laundry and sent a text off to my landlady about the drying rack. I didn't hear back until after lunch, so I hung everything on hangers and hung them to dry - first on a rack outside and then indoors when the wind picked up.

Thursday morning the social club offers coffee/tea, pastries and other items for a $2 entry fee. I decided to go, and I'm glad I did. There was a large group,  and only three of us who are renting or visiting friends here. After we'd all had our fill, the social club chair brought a few things to our attention. There are a few events upcoming, including a "heritage" potluck in February which I subsequently learned that attendees are asked to bring a food item from our ethnic background. When I mentioned shortbread at Happy Hour, one of the residents offered to give me the flour I would need. I'll make a small batch as I'm assuming, like every other potluck I've been to, there will be mounds of food.

The wind had died down some on Friday morning, so I took a walk over to Walmart to pick up a few groceries. It's a short walk, just a few blocks, and I brought a backpack to carry the groceries. It means I can't over shop! I really didn't need a lot, but still came home missing an item, tea bags! I have a few left so will wait until later in the week to make another trip.

I spent the rest of the day watching curling. Yes, there is an event being held in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan that is being streamed on You-tube. I managed to catch two games before Happy Hour, the end of the third when I arrived home from there and then another later in the evening. One of the teams that played in the evening, had been on the ice since early in the morning, competing in all four draws. I was tired, just watching, I'm sure they were exhausted.

One of the women at Happy Hour asked if I wanted to join them in the morning for garage sales. I said no, because I'll be watching curling. Next week, the park is holding their own garage sale, and I've offered to help set up for it. 

So today is more curling, more knitting or crocheting (four dishcloths completed), and in between some time out side enjoying the sun. Have a great weekend everyone!

P.S. I normally don't post about the news, but the fires in California are heartbreaking. I understand at least ten people have been confirmed dead, and over 10,000 homes have been lost. L.A. and the surrounding area has had limited rain for many months, and the dry conditions and the gusts of Santa Anna winds are creating the perfect storm. And, it doesn't seem the fires will be under control any time soon. Personnel and equipment from both Canada and Mexico have been brought in to assist as well. 

Get my shots, some good news, and a oopsie mistake

I really need to write a bit of my post every day, because looking back I often forget what happened. The big moments of the week were: getting my Covid and Flu shots on Monday, staying up wayyyyy too late watching the results of the US election, waking up to snow one morning, and a trip to the larger community nearby. 

The latter was primarily for Eli's dental appointment but, of course, we did some shopping too. While D and Eli were in the dentist's office, I went to Walmart to pickup some groceries. I discovered on the weekend, I'd forgotten the bag from Costco and we are out of peanut butter and mayonnaise.  I have peanut butter on toast almost every day. We had identified other needed items so I left the store with several bags and a lighter wallet.

D texted me, just as I got back in the car after loading the back, saying they were ready for pick-up. NO cavities, hurray!!  She booked his next appointment for another check and cleaning in six months. 

We left the parking lot and headed to Dollarama and Value Village. As we got closer, I realized that there had been an accident in the major intersection ahead. One semi had rear-ended another, hard enough to cause the trailer to run into the tractor ahead, damaging the tractor and the load on the trailer.

D took these photos from the passenger seat so there is a bit of glare. There were no apparent injuries, the driver of this vehicle was out on the street talking to someone on his cell (his boss, I suspect), and we later saw the offending semi being driven away. I'm surprised it didn't have front end damage as it must have hit this one pretty darned hard. (Eli calls accidents oopsie mistakes and this was definitely due to a distracted driver.)

We had to make a detour to get to the stores, but that wasn't a problem. D had a coupon for 30% off clothing and found t-shirts and pants for both she and Eli. I picked up a few household items: a muffin tin, a 4 piece mini-loaf pan, and three drinking glasses. The latter are for an experiment that Eli and D will do over the weekend. 

Earlier in the week, I had my Covid and flu shots. Since I'm now 65, I was offered the "high-dose" flu shot. I had no idea such an option exists, but I took it, with one shot in each arm. Both were tender, the Covid arm more so for a couple of days. Otherwise I had no reaction to either, though I decided to relax and take it easy on Tuesday...it was a pajama day for me. :)

I finished the 10th pair of mittens, and sent them off to the school with D. I have one more pair to finish that are adulte sized, that my daughter asked for - she liked the yarn colour. Then, it is time to turn my mind to Christmas crocheting. I'm going to test make a gingerbread man ornament as they may be the gift for Eli's teachers. There are also my brother, his wife, and two adult children - I'm thinking trolls for the kids but not sure what their parents will get. 

D is anxious to get into the Christmas season, while I wouldn't mind waiting a few more weeks. We went through the Christmas tubs, eight of them plus a box, and put some items away for donation, a few pieces need to be mended, and a few items were tossed in the garbage. We'll be down to seven tubs, assuming we don't buy anything more! It was fun going through things, as I didn't do much decorating last year at C's house, so some of the items I haven't seen in nearly two years. We talked about where things might be displayed because this is a new place for both of us. I'm sure we'll change our minds on some things and I won't be surprised if more ornaments make their way to the donation bin. 

The television coverage of the Grand Slam of Curling started on Thursday, and I've caught a few draws. The latest draw starts at 10 p.m. our time, far too late for me. I'll be watching again today, but will interrupt the curling to watch the Riders in the West final. They are matched up against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, our nemesis. I'm certain it will be an entertaining game, though if it is a blow-out, I'll like turn it off and watch the curling instead. 

Have a good weekend everyone, and a great week ahead! 

Back in the thick of things

This Eli's jack o'lantern - his idea executed by his mom. His face is obscured because it was used on the public school website. 

How on earth can it be November already? In a few days, it will be the anniversary of moving day from my old house to my son's. Do you recall we had a nice day for the move, and then the following day we had nearly over 4 inches of snow fall? I do! With the exception of one morning, about 10 days ago, when we had snow flakes in the air but melting before it hit the ground, we've no snow this week, nor in the upcoming forecast. I mention this, because the weather seems more as though it is October rather than November. 

Back to last weekend, the contractor Aaron did an amazing job in the garage. It took him less than 20 minutes to complete the work. He mentioned he had responded to me because he knew that no concrete companies would be willing to do it. When he pulled up the smaller anchors it caused some flaking of the top layer of the concrete, and the larger anchor resulted in a small hole. He recommended I pick up some concrete patching material to fill these areas, though said it they wouldn't like cause any issues.

I ran out to Home Depot for the material on Monday, and completed the patches. Then I spent about an hour mowing the front lawn and raking and picking up the leaves. By mowing, I was able to mulch many of the leaves, but there was still a full green bin gathered from under the hedge, along the driveway and sidewalk. I said to my son when I went in to the house, that if he got rid of the hedge, the leaves would blow across the lawn and into the neighbour's yard. :)

Tuesday was a housework and packing day. I did laundry in the morning, and sorted out the clothing I needed to take with me (home to my daughter's). When we talked that morning, I asked her to check the dresser drawers as I had left some clothing there, and the bathroom for toiletries. In addition, I asked her to check the pantry and fridge for a few items; peanut butter, tea, and parmesan cheese. These are items I like to have on hand and are on sale at Costco this week. D asked me to pick up cat food too as she is running low.

That meant a trip to Costco on Wednesday before meeting S at the library for Stitch and Chat. The store was nuts and although I had only a few items to pick up, it took much longer that I had hoped. First, I discovered I'd misplaced my membership card so had to wait in a line to get a temporary card. Then, the parmesan cheese I was looking for wasn't where I expected it to be and even after asking a store employee it took some time to find the display. I still managed to make it to the library about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. It was a pleasant surprise when another lady arrive (Io) who hasn't been there for several months. She had surgery in early summer and is still working towards her full recovery. We had a lovely visit, the three of us, and it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Thursday, I spent the day finishing my packing, and vacuuming the house one more time. I ran out to do a couple of small errands and filled my vehicle with fuel. That evening I spent my time answering the front door to the trick or treaters.

The next door neighbour decorated the front of his house a week or so ago. It's often windy here, and when I was outdoors, I'd catch a movement out the corner of my eye, when the clothing and hair of the goblin/creepy guy moved. It made me jump every time!

I was packed up and on the road shortly after 8 a.m. Getting out of the city was the most difficult part of the journey.  I avoided the Ring Road around the city because of construction. Then as I turned south  onto a main street, I was stopped in a line-up because of a train. It was stopped at the crossing but started moving fairly quickly...but it was a long train.

Continuing south, I planned to turn left at the next set of lights. A broken down van meant a change to the next lane and a wait of two lights in order to make theturn safely. Do you know what I like about small town living? Very little traffic! I did have one more interesting moment when I spotted an eagle in a tree just off the highway. Had I noticed it earlier, I would have stopped to get a photo. 

We unloaded the car, put away everything I'd remembered to bring (oops left one bag behind), D did laundry, and we tidied the craft room together. I can get to my sewing machine! I have a couple of small projects to do, now I just need to ensure I have the supplies needed.

Today will be a mostly relaxing day. D and I plan to sit and work out a meal plan for the next few weeks. I'm recommending tonight's dinner be a simple one, as the Roughrider's game starts at 4:30 p.m. This is the western semi-final, thus a must win for the team if they hope to reach the Grey Cup game later this month. There is curling to watch too, and I've got another pair of mitts started to work on. 

A bit of work, a birthday surprise, and being lazy

Another week done and I'm less than a week away from returning to my home with D and Eli. I'm especially looking forward to seeing them both. Though I'll admit, Eli is the main attraction. :)

We had, what is likely, the last warm day of fall on Monday. We reached a high of 23C/73F and I took advantage of the warm day to continue clearing out the garage. I'd scheduled the carpenter for this weekend and wanted to ensure he didn't need to deal with debris from my efforts. Some of the lumber was good enough to re-use so I separated it and stacked it near the alley, putting a free sign on it. 

The rest went in a debris pile I'd started when I was cleaning up the back yard. Before I get away this week, I'll arrange for it to be hauled to the dump. 

Tuesday, I awoke to a chilly morning, and it didn't warm up to more than 2C/35F.  I had some errands to run, so bundled up and headed out. I stopped at a couple of grocery stores and then went to Value Village. I needed to return the two skirts I bought just before my trip as they didn't fit. There are no refunds at VV, just exchanges. I found a Corning Ware casserole dish and a table lamp. The total after my returns had VV owing me 53 cents, so I had to buy something else. :) I grabbed a hand towel to wrap the casserole dish and walked out having paid $1.67. 

I texted S on Wednesday morning to confirm that she was planning to attend knitting group that afternoon. I spent the morning doing housework, and then ran to Walmart for a couple of things, before heading to the library. As I was making my way down one of the main aisles, I heard someone call my name. It was a fellow, I'd worked with for many years, and his wife. He retired a few years before I did, so I think it has been about 8 years since I'd seen him last. His wife was eager to go shopping, so after an introduction, she left us to chat. I couldn't stay long as I was meeting S, but we managed to catch up on the major topics, kids and grandkids. :)

Thursday afternoon, my son's friend B arrived with her birthday gifts for him. She went all out, because as she says it, he has managed to avoid any type of celebration for the past 7 years. She brought, something to snack on, something to drink, something to wear, and something to use. The latter included a new computer desk and chair! She insisted she bought everything on sale and refused my offer to help with the cost. She also brought a banner and a card. C's response on arriving home was muted - at first he thought I'd done it, but I pointed out the card. He didn't say much to me but then he never does. At least I know he texted B and thanked her.

I had a lazy day on Friday morning, woke with a bit of a headache, and after my call with D, slept a couple more hours. There was curling* to watch, so Saku and curled up on the bed to watch. It was after 3 p.m. when I got up, took a shower and dressed! That's the ultimate lazy. I met friends for dinner at 6 p.m. and enjoyed a nice evening visiting with them. My dinner of fish and chips was delicious too.

As usual, this weekend will see me watching more television, football, and probably baseball too (if the latter doesn't interfere with the curling). Today, the contractor will be here to remove the sill plate and the remaining stud wall. Since Sunday looks like a decent weather day with a high of 17C(63F), I'll likely spend some time cleaning up any sawdust/debris, and give my son a hand with the front lawn. It needs a last of the season mow, and there are leaves to be cleaned up on the edges of the sidewalk and driveway.

*With all the blue rocks in the rings, and only two rocks still to come (one red, one blue), it would be easy to assume that blue would have had a big score. They did not, scoring only one, even though they had four rocks in the rings on their last shot. I didn't see what happened, but it was obvious the skip messed up big time! (This is the only photo I've taken this week..and it's not a good one.)

A new project, time with friends.

I'm interrupting the cruise posts for my regular weekly round-up of the week's activities. Things started out quietly and got busier throughout the week. Other than unpacking, doing laundry and a bit of housework, I did very little over the weekend and into Monday.

On Tuesday, I went out to the garage and tackled a project that I've been pondering for awhile. The former renter of the garage had built a partial wall and a work bench that made it difficult to get a second vehicle into the garage. When I was driving the Corolla, I could wiggle my way into the spot (using S turns), but with the Equinox it was going to be more difficult. So I had decided to remove part of the wall. I started by removing the plywood walls and the work bench. I should note the bench was over 4 feet tall, so useless for much more than storage.

The goal is to remove the open section to allow more room to maneuver the vehicle into place. Well, I discovered that this wall was built to last as the sill plate is anchored into the concrete. I've neither the tools nor the knowledge to overcome this problem so I turned to the internet. I've found a journeyman carpenter who has agreed to do the work for me later this month. In the meantime I have a pile of scrap lumber (not shown) to carry out of the garage. I also need to find someone to haul away the old garage door opener. There's always something that needs to be done.

Wednesday was a busy day, as I did a bit of grocery shopping in the morning, attended Stitch and Chat in the afternoon, and went to dinner with the book club ladies. There were three of us at the library, and next week there will just be two as C is heading for California at the end of the month and will be busy packing. Book club was fun, with six of us in attendance. I haven't met with the group in months, so there was lots of catching up to do. We even discussed the book, "The Nanny" by Gilly MacMillan. It was my choice, and it seemed every one who read it enjoyed the book. 

I took the day off on Thursday and caught up on various programs, NCIS, NCIS:Origins, and FBI. As well, curling and the MLB games kept me entertained. Saku was quite content to keep me pinned to the couch. :) I did stir long enough to make meals and do dishes.

Friday was a chilly morning, just -2C/28F when I took garbage out to the bin. Good thing I had no plans to work outside that morning. Instead, I did some housework and watching curling. That evening, I met my friends K and J for dinner before attending a comedy event at the Center of the Arts. Our tickets were free, provided by financial advisors we use. We took along a few items for the food bank donations as well. Our meals were good, but the service was incredibly slow and we had to go to the counter, as no one came to the table to take our payments. I'm not sure I'd return to that particular restaurant again. The comedians were funny, without straying into very many controversial subjects. The funniest moment (for me at least) was when Erica Sigurdson told the story of getting her husband to hang a medicine cabinet in their bathroom. After he'd delayed the project, she took matters into her own hands, texting him at work about how to do certain things (though she wasn't actually doing those things). He returned from work and got the job done. 

It was late when I arrived home and by the time I had settled down, it was nearly midnight. Saku woke me just after 6, but I managed to ignore him until my daughter called shortly after 7. Although I meant to get up after our call, I dozed off and slept until 10:30! So my day is a little off-kilter. I've just finished breakfast while watching curling. There is football and baseball later today as well. I guess you all know what I'll be doing today. :) Time to pull out the knitting needles and keep working on the mittens.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Time flies by

Another week has ticked by, and I'll be back to the city in just over two weeks. I've definitely gotten into a routine/rhythm here with Eli and his mom. She is always up early and I tend to follow here between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. After my first cup of tea and a bit of time on the computer, I get dressed, make my second cup of tea and head outdoors with Stanley, the cat. He gets tucked into the catio, while I sit in my chair to drink my tea - both of us listening to the birds around us. I'll putter around, watering containers, deadheading the lilies and other flowers, and picking lettuce or herbs. Often my brother will call while I'm outdoors and we'll chat for 15 or 20 minutes. After an hour, the cat and I will head back indoors where he goes for the first of his many daily naps, and I do a bit of housework before I head to my bedroom to watch television or read, knit or crochet, or update my spreadsheets or work on Ancestry. It's a wonderful way to start my day.

On Sunday, Eli and I went to the park so his mom could have an afternoon nap. The photos on Wednesday are his descent from the tree and the highest point he reached. He would have gone higher but G'ma was terrified he'd fall. There were only a few children at the park, all much younger than he, so we stayed for only 45 minutes. I pushed him on the swing, he ran through the spray pad, and slid backwards down the slide. Crazy kid.

Monday was his second to last day camp session. It was pajama day, and I assumed they'd stay indoors but that wasn't the case as they were out on the playground when his mom picked him up.  I stayed behind to do a bit of housework that is easier to do when they are out of the house, ran a couple of errands, and enjoyed the quiet. I spent most of the afternoon working on Ancestry, and was excited to find information on my maternal grandmother's youngest sister (she was 5 years younger than my mom), and her family. 

Tuesday was just a regular day with nothing to write about while Wednesday was Eli's last day camp session. I drove them as I wanted to pick up some inexpensive containers for overwintering the geraniums and ivies. There are lilies too growing into the lawn, so I want to dig those out and take them to the city for my son's yard. Shhh...don't tell him. I'm not supposed to plant anything there but it will help improve the appearance of the back yard and hopefully choke out some weeds!

My sweet peas have finally bloomed. They were supposed to be a mix of colours but for the most part are red and dark pink. Oh, they bring back lovely memories of my mom and her humongous gardens. She always had a row of sweet peas. I plan to put them in the ground earlier next year and hopefully have blooms by July.

This week I pulled the peas as they were dying back. I found a few pods of dried up peas. I've kept them and we'll try planting them next spring. I don't know if they will be viable but it is worth a try.

There is a story about these geraniums. D had attempted to over winter two plants from last year, along with a pair of ivies that I had brought from the old house. One of the geraniums died, and the second did well, until we planted it in the outdoor container this spring. It seemed to die back, I'm suspecting from shock, but we kept it because there was a bit of green. I bought the white geranium and added it to the same container. It took several weeks but the red ones have made a comeback! We're going to try to overwinter these again. 

Thursday was quiet, with D and Eli heading to the pool in the afternoon. I finished off the last of the mittens and got them in the mail on Friday. I've started working on a crocheted lapghan, but will pick up the knitting needles again, as I want to make more mittens for Eli's school. 

The smoke from the forest fires rolled in again, so outdoor time is limited. By the time I came indoors that morning, my throat was sore. When D and Eli decided to go to the pool that afternoon, I stayed behind at the house and took a short nap. The Riders played that evening, and I wanted to stay awake through the entire game - I only made it throught the 3rd quarter of the Thursday night game. :)

Another photo of the tiger lilies in the side yard. These plants get very little direct sun, so they are nearly 4 1/2 feet tall. The blooms are just incredible and this photo doesn't do them justice.

Today, I've nothing much on the agenda - more sitting in the back yard with the cat in the early morning. It should be cool enough to get some weeding done too. Baseball and football to watch, while I work on my crocheting. And, of course, having more time with my grandson. 

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Boring post ahead

Another laid back week, I could get used to this. :) And oh my goodness, the cool temperatures definitely settled in. While we didn't see it here, portions of the province did see frost overnight mid-week. There were many photos of sad cucumber and pumpkin vines on the FB Saskatchewan gardeners group. Here the cherry tomatoes continue to keep on coming, the lettuce hasn't yet gone to seed, but the peas are done. 

I was late planting sweet peas, and they are finally blooming. My mother always had these, usually marking the entrance to her vegetable garden. The flowers bring back many memories.

I did spend a wee bit of time a couple of mornings, moving rocks and digging up the flower bed. It's slow going though, as there are rocks under the dirt as well, and some of the rocks are large and too heavy for me to move very far. I suspect D and I need to work together to continue this process.

Both the day lilies and regular lilies are blooming all over the yard. According to Google lens, the lily in Wednesday's photo is a tiger lily. I believe there are wild and domesticated version of these lilies. When I was a child, I remember searching the ditches near the farm for them, but I don't recall my mom growing any. We have masses of them in this yard, along the fence and on either side of the row of peonies. ( as viewed from my bedroom window) Whoever started the flower beds here in this yard had imagination and put in a lot of work. However, the previous owner allowed the weeds to make serious in-roads, while the house was vacant for a year. To his credit, he did hire someone to mow the lawn.

Meanwhile, I watched more of the Olympics. Men's and women's hammer throw was interesting and particularly exciting because both golds were won by Canadians. I've been enjoying watching the various races, the steeplechase was exciting and then sad, as one of the racers was hurt and taken off the track on a stretcher. I do hope he is okay. By end of day Friday, Canada had doubled the number of expected medals, with at least a couple more possible over the end of the event. Good for the athletes who worked so hard to get to the top of their chosen sport.

Eli had day camp on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Because of the cooler weather, they were able to play outdoors all morning on Wednesday, something our (not-so) little guy enjoys very much. Thursday was even more exciting as the program came to our town to visit the arcade - another one of his favorite activities. I took advantage of the time to myself to catch up on some housework, vaccuming the main floor, laundry, and a bit of decluttering.

I ran out briefly to buy a few grocery items - mostly sale items - on Friday, and then spent some time outside deadheading flowers and chatting with my friend S on the phone. She's been quite sick for awhile and has finally convinced her doctor to send it to a specialist. Hopefully she gets some answers to explain the issue and find proper treatment.

I did manage to finish the older children's mittens made - there are five, and have started the baby's. He's about five months old, so I need an infant size. Free patterns for thumbless mitts seem to be hard to come by and are generally knit with two needles. I prefer four double pointed needles so I don't have to sew up seams. So, I'm playing with the number of stitches and the size of the mitt - I've already frogged it twice. Wish me luck!

The warmer temps are expected to return early next week. In the meantime, I'm enjoying not needing to use the a/c. A night or two of open windows cooled the house down nicely. We've nothing specific planned for the weekend. More Olympics, baseball, knitting and perhaps some park time is likely.

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

Who will stop the rain?

Time is getting away from me and the end of June is closing in. Of course, the weather isn't cooperating (still) and I'm not getting into the yard to do the work I want to complete before I head out of the city at the end of the month. We've had more rain and cool temperatures. The weather forecasts keep called for warmer weather a few days ahead and then...the forecast changes and we're getting more rain. I ought not to complain because I know there are areas in both Canada and the United States that are suffering from the heat. 

In any event, I've been spending more time indoors, knitting, doing housework, and watching sports. I've completed two kitchen towels, seven dishcloths and have nearly completed a baby sweater. This is from the yarn I purchased at V.V. a couple of weeks ago. I still have more to work through. The crochet project I started was frogged as I did not like it, so I went back to knitting.

On Monday, I had an appointment to meet with the lawyer in the morning to sign off on the paperwork for the old house. Check one more item off the to-do list. I picked up groceries on my way home, almost all sale items so the old pocketbook took a smaller hit than it might have. I spent the afternoon on the phone - first calling the utility companies to advise of the change in ownership effective June 28. For one I left a message, the second I was able to speak to someone on the phone and it was dealt with efficiently. However, the third was a bit annoying. I wasn't able to get through on the phone so used the "chat" feature. It's a feature alright. I provided my information and what I was trying to do. Well, the person on the other end of the chat couldn't seem to understand that we had already moved (and set up service at the new house). I simply wanted to know who should do the final meter read and when at the old house. After some back and forth, we finally got on the same page and I got the necessary instructions. But not before she requested the new owner's name and telephone number. I finally referred her to the buyer's agent.

I also made a few calls for my son. The fence in the backyard has been leaning for some time. With the high winds we've experienced, the back fence was leaning even further into the alley. He went back to see if he could prop it up; he could not, so he gave it a push towards the back yard and it went right over, it was so rotten. Again, I met with mixed success - I sent one e-mail and left two messages. Only one got back to me that day and we arranged to meet on Tuesday to go over the scope of the work.

My brother was in the city on Tuesday morning and dropped by for tea and to drop off a big bag of fresh rhubarb from their garden. Not long after he left, the fence guy called to say he was on his way. We walked around the yard as I showed the work that needed to be done. The old fence runs across the back of the garage and needs to be removed. Eventually, C would like to add a garage door to the back of the building to allow for alley access. We'll also add a fence on the west side of the house - currently, there is a short chicken wire fence. Those neighbours (renters) have dogs and we'd like to put something a little sturdier to ensure they stay in their own yard. There is a metal gate to be removed mid-way up the driveway, and a gate to be repaired between the patio and the back yard. 

The quote was received on Wednesday morning, and C and I decided it was a bit high so I made a couple more attempts to find a contractor. I did let the fellow know that we were expecting another quote or two and received a text back saying "I could possibly work down the price a little for you on my end..." Hmmm, does that mean he overpriced the quote hoping I'd not look any further? 

It was raining heavily all morning so I ought to have stayed home and done housework. But, instead I dropped off a donation at V.V. My friend S had given me a box of yarn from her mother's stash last week. I'd sorted it on the weekend and had a large bag of yarn I know I would never use. S's mom passed away in 2021 and S has been holding onto this yarn since then so she was glad to be rid of it. I asked how I could say thank you and she suggested I make mittens for her 5 grandchildren. I made sure to keep the yarn I can use for that project. 

Anyway back to V.V., I found four lovely plates made in Portugal for just over $5. D has limited dishware and most of it plastic. These are a pretty teal colour, one of her favorites, so I know she'll appreciate the addition. I will too, because I dislike eating off plastic! 

We finally had a nice day on Thursday, though we'd had another soaking rain overnight. It was a quiet day spent knitting. I had thought I might be able to get outside on Friday morning, but awoke again to more puddles. Another fencing contractor stopped by to quote on the work. He seemed confused by the scope of the work, and based on his comments, I don't think he really wants the job. I've still not heard back from three other contractors - I understand they are very busy but a courtesy call would have been nice.

The morning had warmed up before the contractor arrived, so I had spent some time cleaning my car of debris, vacuuming and wiping down the dash and console, as well as the doors. The mats needed cleaning too, so I pulled them out and planned to use the little green machine on them once they were vacuumed. That didn't get done so it's a task for today. Assuming it doesn't rain, that is.

The contractor showed up, and once he left, I went to the front yard to do some weeding in the round bed. The weeds are certainly loving all this rain. The ground is saturated, making it a muddy mess to dig in, but the weeds are definitely easier to remove. I went around back and cleaned up the pile of yard waste in the back yard and filled up the green bin. 

We've had more rain overnight, so yard work will be out of the question, at least for the morning. The sun is shining at the moment, and the radar seems to suggest the rain and thunderstorms will miss us. I've got a few errands to run, then it will be home to watch baseball and football, knit, and maybe, just maybe, spend some time in the back yard. I leave for town next weekend and plan to be there for two months. I'll leave instructions with C to at least spray back there on occasion.

I'll leave you with a photo D sent me of the peonies out front. I'm hoping I'll see some blooming when I return.

Have a great week ahead everyone!

A week that was

 Again, I must say thank you to everyone for your kind comments on my last post. Chris's friendship meant so much to me and your heartfelt comments were appreciated. I had my good cry on Thursday evening, though I suspect more tears will fall next Wednesday at her funeral, and for now, I am trying to focus on the good memories we made together.

With the exception of the shock of Chris' sudden death, it has been a pretty quiet week. I did a bit of grocery shopping on Tuesday as well as a trip to the thrift store. One of the items I purchased at Value Village was a summer dress; it is the one I'll wear to her funeral. I did make a trip back to the thrift stores on Thursday, mostly to wander the aisles and remember Chris. Since she wasn't there I did buy more yarn. Not that I've run out of yarn for mittens and toques but I'm down to certain colors and I was able to pick up a couple more. 

I'd have to count, but I think I've got ten pairs completed. With the ones I'd left with D in June, I think I'm about half way through this project. I'm using the bits and pieces of the leftovers to make toques, though I've only got one of those done so far. Hopefully I can provide ten or so of those as well.

Wednesday was stitch and chat, with S, B, and I in attendance. I hadn't gone last week because of the cold I was still dealing with, and I learned that Io had been there as well. I'm sorry I missed her. I told the ladies that I'd seem them next week, unless something crazy happened. Well, it did, but since Chris' funeral is Wednesday morning, I'll be able to attend next week's meeting.

While I was out on Thursday, I got my hair cut. And when I say cut, I mean I had it chopped off. I'd let my hair grow out through the pandemic, and kept it tied back in a pony tail as it was a good 5-6 inches below my shoulders. Recently the shedding was driving me crazy - I'd brush my hair in the morning and take a handful out of the brush. Even so, there were more errant pieces that seemed to find their way into my knitting or into the dishwater. It was time for it all to go. Initially, I had thought I might go for a short bob, but decided on a pixie cut. 

It was a good time to get rid of the long hair, as the extreme heat has arrived in earnest and is forecast to hang around for the week or so. It was 28C (82F) on Friday, with the temperature expected to increase daily until we reach a high of 35C (95F) by Tuesday. I'm sure the temps seem mild for some of you, but for us that's freaking hot! 

In advance of the heat, I've done some meal prep so I'm not going to need to do a whole lot of cooking. I expect the grill will be fired up a number of evenings. My son doesn't enjoy potato salad, but I found a recipe with bacon and red pepper that I'll try. He's told me he doesn't like eating cold potatoes so I may be enjoying by myself. 

The landscaper showed up about 5 p.m. on Friday evening to finish off the last few items on the to-do list. When they arrived, I asked if it wasn't quitting time and was told they'd work until midnight, if they had to. (They didn't, nor did they finish) The steps from the lower deck were built and installed, the edge finished along the front of the deck and the boards replaced on the shed. They plan to be back sometime today to finish the last couple of items, to install the edging between the grass and rocks, to repair the step into the shed (it was damaged when they replaced the boards on the shed), and to replace the latch on the gate. They're also going to give me a piece of lattice to cover the bottom of the shed. I'll share photos of the completed space in next week's post.

I had decided not to list the house for a few weeks because of the expected heat. I've no desire to sit in my car with an unhappy cat in the carrier during a heat wave. The forecast has now been revised, and things may be back to more reasonable temperatures by the end of July. If that continues to be the case, I'll be in touch with the real estate agent next week, and with any luck we can hold the open house on the weekend. I do want to have a cleaning crew through before the open house, so it will also depend on when I can get that booked. Decisions, decisions.

I was out early this morning to move some containers around the back yard. The front flower bed got a good soaking too, as there is no rain in the forecast. My ferns are still looking terrific but I suspect a few days of heat will cause them to start dying back. If I can keep them going for another couple of weeks, I'll be happy. 

The rest of my day will revolve around sports. There are three baseball games and two football games being aired and I'll definitely watch the Blue Jays as they play in Seattle, and the Riders game with the B.C. Lions. Another mitten is close to being completed, and then for a change I'll switch to knitting a toque. Beyond that this is very much a nothing day. I had made plans with Chris to go for coffee this morning; she'll definitely be on my mind as well.

Have a great week ahead everyone.