Painting continues and future travel plans

More painting happened this week. A couple of days in, I was thinking it would never end. The first coat was finished in the basement area by mid-day Tuesday. It could have been sooner, but I took a break Monday afternoon...to plan a trip.

D, Eli, and I had been talking for a few months about travelling to Nova Scotia this summer. Eli is old enough now, at 8 years old, to remember most of the trip. We had meant to book for 8 days, 7 nights, but somehow I managed to book flights for 9 days, 8 nights. Probably a good thing as our days will be full! We'll be staying in Halifax for a couple of days, then travel to Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg before spending another night in Halifax. From there, we're off to Baddeck, with a couple of stops along the way. From Baddeck we'll travel to Sydney for one night. A one night stop in Antigonish, will have us back in Halifax on Canada Day, before we fly home the next day. There are museums, parks, gardens, and historical sites to visit. The day of our flights home, we've nothing planned, and we have late flight. We'll have time to pack and some playtime at a park before we drop off our rental car at the airport. 

Eli will miss a couple of days of school, but it is the end of the school year so won't be missing much. D has been working with him on his phonics for his French language and discovered this week, he is ahead of his classmates! Sadly, there was an issue with his in-class teacher and he hasn't been able attend class for a couple of months. He is working with a resource teacher (one-on-one) on his other subjects, but it has been left to D to provide the French language skills he needs. She attended French Immersion from kindergarten to Grade 12, and has her Education degree. As a result, she's well able to help Eli with his school work.

We're all looking forward to the trip. I did a road trip to the Maritimes with friends back in 2016. This will be different travelling experience. I suspect, though, like that trip, I'll be doing the majority of the driving. I do like feeling in control. :)

The photos on Wednesday is the work I completed on Tuesday. The first coat of paint was on the walls, and I was tired. I had taken part of the morning off to go thrifting. I found a couple of pretty decorative cushions and a 2 cup glass measuring cup ...with the markings on it. So many times the thrift store measuring cups have had the markings missing - I don't know if they were washed off, or if they were simply so poorly made. My daughter measures things using a coffee cup; I'm not that talented. But my best buy was a pair of brand new blue jeans (still had the waist tag on them) for under $7. 

The painting party continued over the next few days. I did have an accident on Wednesday morning. There is/was a water fountain for the cat and I managed to knock it over and when I got back from the bathroom where I had taken it to dump, I found I'd also managed to tip over the paint can. There is now a large splotch in the carpet. I cleaned up as much as I could, and will use a carpet cleaner later to see if I can any more of it out. If not, the carpet is ancient, there is a cat and a dog in the house, so at some point I'm sure my son will want to replace it. 

By Thursday afternoon, I had finished the second coat throughout the basement. I noted, as it dried, a few spots that needed to be touched up but decided I needed an afternoon off. Since I'm on nobody's schedule but my own, I chose to do just that. After a much needed shower, I went out to do a wee bit of shopping. I can't say I found anything special, but came home with a pair of pillows and bath mats. 

Friday morning, I made a few touch ups before I tackled the stairwell. There were some holes to patch that needed to be left to dry before sanding. I was able to continue painting other areas, though, while that happened. I'm not able to reach the full height of the walls at the top of the stairs, so will send my son up the ladder on the weekend. He's over 6 feet tall, about a foot taller than I am and should be able to do the edging along the ceiling.

By midday, I decided to call it quits. Can you tell I'm getting tired of painting? Oh, I'll power through and get the rest of the foyer and stairwell painted, but my bedroom is going to wait until my next visit. I plan clean the basement next week, and then I'll start packing the car to go back out to my daughter's. 

Instead, I spent much of the afternoon watching television and cross-stitching. Guess what I did, for part of it? Not painting, not stitching, but snow shovelling! We got about an inch of snow over a 24 hour period. While we could drive through it, the snow had piled up in front of the garage. My son likes to park in the garage over the weekend, while I like to have my car available (we have a narrow driveway). It only took 15-20 minutes, but it is the first time I've had a shovel in my hands since December. 

Later today, I'll continue the painting up on the landing and the stairwell. I'm using latex paint, and as it dries quickly, I'll try to get the second coat on in the afternoon. Then I can clean everything up and put my supplies away!

Meanwhile I'm watching the women's world curling from Korea. Canada is playing Scotland this morning and at the moment the game is tied up. I've got my tea and bagel with peanut butter to enjoy along with the curling. Go Canada go!

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Friday Funny

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

 

Before

First coat

Coming home, work to be done

Over all the trip home from Yuma was probably one of my better travel day(s). Although the Desert Bus wasn't a bus, but a 9 passenger van, there were no lengthy delays, no lost shoes or passport, and there was even an empty seat between me and another woman on the flight from Phoenix to Calgary. And I got about a 90 minute sleep on that first flight. From the time I left the hotel in the morning until I arrived at C's that night, was only 12 hours. That is a short travel day for me, as getting here from anywhere is always a lengthy process.

I spent the weekend unpacking, cuddling the cat, doing a bit of cleaning (my son had vacuumed the basement!), cuddling the cat, watching curling, and cuddling the cat. C and I took Sage, the dog, for a walk too, and she is much better mannered wearing a harness rather than just a collar. Sage does not like other dogs however, and C needs to restrain her. He's looking into obedience classes for this spring. I think it will be good for both of them.

I did some shopping on Tuesday morning. I will be here in the city for a few weeks, with my goal of painting the basement. The bedroom is pink and the main room is a blue that makes it feel very dark. My first stop was Home Depot for paint and supplies, and home again to drop these items off. I had more shopping to do and didn't want to leave the paint in the car, as it was -7C (19F). There followed stops at Value Village, Salvation Army thrift store, Costco and Dollarama. My best deal of the day were two kitchen chairs at S.A. for $20. We've been using fold-up chairs at both houses and I'll leave this with my son. I'll keep looking for other chairs for our house in town. The Costco run was made for my daughter and I purchased everything but the chocolate chips she wanted. At $26.99 for a 2.4 kg/5.3 lb. bag, I thought the price was outrageous - according to my daughter it is not. So I'll have to make a stop before I leave the city - it's on the way out anyway.

BTW, the photo on Wednesday was a vehicle parked at the Salvation Army thrift store. I'm assuming that the individual didn't want to park further ahead as the parking lot has ice on it. In any event, I found it amusing.

On Wednesday, I had a meeting with my financial advisor to discuss moving some funds around. She is expecting in May, but works with a team. Some of the transactions will happen now, but there is one that is pending for October. It will be diarized, but I'll be in touch too, to ensure it happens when I need it too. 

I got started on the basement prep that morning too (after the curling game!). The previous owners clearly liked to hang things on the walls as there were holes even where there were no hangers. I'd decided that painting will start in the small bathroom, so cleared the room out before patching the one wall (not pictured). By the time I finished patching all the holes and a couple of cracks in the main room, it was time for more curling. 

I had an appointment with the optometrist early Thursday morning and walked out of his office a whole lot lighter (in the wallet) than I went in. Progressive lenses are not inexpensive! I had been noticing a difference in my left eye primarily and this was confirmed by the doc. My cataracts, he says, continue not to be an issue. Frankly, I'm not even aware of them, though it seems to me the last time he only mentioned one and now there are two.

I got the bathroom painted on Friday morning with a pint of "oops" paint. You know I have a hard time passing up a bargain, and at $3 for the paint, I thought it would work well with the flooring. There are a few small spots that need touch up, and I'll do that this morning, before putting everything away. 

I did some sanding (and some vacuuming) in the main room as well. Watching curling took up the afternoon before I met friends for dinner. We'd last been together in October, so there was a lot to catch up on. It was a good time, with good food, good friends, and lots of laughter. Back at home, I watched curling - it was late night, hence the late posting of this blog. 

Today, I'll wash walls in the main room before I start painting. This is a large room, with three areas: a hallway/foyer at the base of the stairs, the open living area, and an alcove where I believe they had their television. There isn't a whole lot of furniture, mostly cat stuff and a chair and table that I use for jigsaw puzzles. As a result, I won't be rushing to get it done. The paint is not a oops paint, but a slightly green toned off white. Since the room is the blue that was in the bathroom, this colour should really lighten it up.

More curling today too, a match this afternoon and another this evening, the semi-final and final will air tomorrow. I've been working on my cross stitching while I watch. My bedroom was a former sewing room of one of the previous owners. The overhead florescent lights provide good lighting for this project and my old eyes. And on that note, I'll finish this post...

Have a great week ahead everyone!

Friday Funny

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Saying good-bye, time to go home

The heritage dinner on Saturday was both interesting, and delicious. First off, I had no idea so many people where of Italian ancestry. (They're not, but there was certainly a lot of pasta dishes). I wimped out on bringing in my shortbread with the piper. L, G's wife, is originally from Scotland and happily did the honor. 

In addition, there was polish sausage, lazy cabbage rolls, chicken biryani, creamed corn, various salads, and desserts. The local resident who bakes provided carrot cake, and another I didn't recognize. I went home overfed and happy! Then on Sunday, we had a must-go dinner of the leftovers. I was very appreciative of the meals, as I was definitely getting low on groceries.

Monday morning, my landlady C drove me out to the Valley of the Names. Wednesday's photo of the roadrunner was taken as we were headed into the desert. It posed so nicely for me! Here are a few more of the photos I took on our trip.

I had to take this one for Eli - his full name is Elias!

The ocotillo had a single bloom on it. C said in April this area will be awash in colour. 

It is believed that the practice of writing one's name in rocks was started in WWII by soldiers at the Desert Training Center nearby. Later, others found the area and started adding to it. C told me it goes on for about 10 miles! We did not see all of it because the trail is not only rough, but tends to drop at steep angles - at a couple of points I feared the truck would flip on it's side. When C asked if I would like to turn around, I definitely said yes. 

A few of us went thrifting on Tuesday, and I mostly behaved myself. I did pick up a pretty top for $4 and a book for $0.50. We decided to go for lunch out at Paradise Casino, and then drove to Imperial Date Gardens so L and A could pick up dates. Back in the city, we stopped at one more thrift store before heading back to the park. The afternoon was hot! It reached 33C/91F. We started out Happy Hour under the gazebo, but the women soon made the move into the shade on the other side of the clubhouse. There was a wee bit of breeze so it was much more comfortable.

The group had set up a women's lunch on Wednesday at Mar Azul, a seafood restaurant. We met at the clubhouse at 11:15 a.m., eleven of us, and hopped in a couple of vehicles to go to the restaurant. The restaurant isn't large, and we were seated in the middle of it. It took a bit of time for everyone to get water, utensils and to peruse the menu. Meanwhile, some of us ordered drinks as well. I chose a Pacifico beer (a Mexican Pilsner) and it was a good choice. For my lunch I had two fish tacos, which were delicious! Two of the women ordered the garden salad with salmon, and when the portions came out, I think at least three or four people could have eaten just one order! The salads came in large bowls with two pieces of salmon on top! They both took a good portion home for dinner. 

Thursday was my last full day at the park. I had started packing early this week, and left the cleaning to be done that day. I went to coffee hour at 9 a.m. and gave a little speech to thank everyone for their hospitality. You'll likely chuckle at this, but I had practiced back at the unit a few times as I tend to get nervous in front of a crowd. In any event, it was well received.

Back at the unit, I did a thorough cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom, stripped the bed (I'd sleep on the couch that night), washed dishes and the floors throughout, and finished my packing. Even though I would be spending a night at a hotel in Phoenix, I packed things to wear, and toiletries that are permitted on the airplane. My theory is, I don't want to re-open my suitcase unless absolutely necessary.

My next door neighbour had been volun-told by his wife that he would be driving me to Carl's Junior on Friday morning to meet the Desert Bus. The three of us headed out about 9 a.m. and had coffee together while I waited for the bus to arrive. It actually wasn't a bus, but a 9 passenger van (though that was a bit of stretch). There were two of us picked up in Yuma, five in the Foothills, and another 2 at Wellton. At Gila Bend, our rest stop, we played musical seats as many of the passengers had knee or hip issues and needed more leg room. I ended up sitting next to the exit door, happily as I was able to pull out my knitting and finish the dish cloth I'd started. 

At the Phoenix airport, our drop-off spot, I found the lower level for ground transportation and called the hotel for pick-up. Imagine my surprise when I learned I was at the VERY door I needed to be. The shuttle had actually just left the airport, but returned in about 20 minutes. Check-in was easy, and after dropping the bags in my room, I walked next door to the Waffle House for a late lunch. A burger and a sweet tea satisfied my appetite. 

I have the shuttle booked for 8:30 this morning. My flight isn't until 12:05 p.m. but I don't mind being there early, and the baggage drop-off should be open by 9 a.m. I've already checked in for the flight. I'm expecting to arrive in Calgary about 3:15 p.m. and my next flight to Regina departs around 6:30 p.m. That will give me plenty of time to get through customs, have a bite to eat, and find my gate. I'll be back in the city about 9 p.m. (local time). Then it will be a bit of a wait for luggage and a cab ride to my son's - I should walk through the door by 10 p.m. Wish me luck... as delays are quite normal with WestJet. 

Have a great week ahead, everyone!