Saturday, May 2, 2026

A Duty-Filled Morning, Clothing Exchange Fun

The Ridge

On Saturday, May 2nd I woke from a fractured sleep. I was feeling well-rested but I know I woke a few times through the night. Why? For some reason, Gibbs was snug tight against my lower legs all night long.......and on the closet side of me. Unusual.

Good morning!
The donut tree is starting
to break out in leaves.

So, I heard Bill tell him at one point to 'go back to sleep, it isn't time' and Gibbs stretched across me and waited. LOL, such a character, a smart little bum. I was awake again and out of bed a few minutes past 7. Bill and I sorted 3 loads of laundry and he carried the basket out to Ptooties.

There was evidence of some overnight snow, but very little on the car and truck so that was good. The Mat was busy enough and Ron (the fellow who cleaned in my absence) came in to gather recycling and garbage for a dump run. We caught up a bit and I teased him about the 18 dirty cleaning rags. ðŸ˜‰


While I was in town doing
laundry and cleaning,
Bill was busy taking trees down.,

It wasn't until 9:45 that I had all of our clothes dried and the place spic and span again. I was shocked and surprised when I drove up to the Suite. Bill was on the berm with many branches and tree stumps all around him. Who let that man loose with a chainsaw?

And behind us, the other apple
tree bites the dust too.

No worries, it was all good. We'd talked about taking those messy apple trees down and the one behind the Suite overlooking the pond. He wasted no time and my, my! It looks amazing and different. I'm liking it a lot and the light now coming in the back window is awesome.

That's going to add to our wood
pile.

He started cleaning up and stacking the wood by the outhouse to dry for a year, and I came in to put clothes away. Gibbs was outside, running back and forth and the sun began making appearances, peeking out from the white fluffy clouds. It was a cold 0C/32F when I first went out.

The clothing exchange gets off to a good start.

Lunch was egg salad sandwiches and I left my boys alone at 12:30. Today was the ladies spring clothing exchange and Pat and I were going together. We missed Dot, but she had other things on her plate today and couldn't join us. Two Musketeers it was, this time.

Joanne has the perfect place for these exchanges and with help from a couple of attendees, puts out a lovely table of snacks. I wish I'd gotten a picture but once you bring clothes in, you delve into placing them in the display areas. Then you walk around and pick and choose.

The sky was breaking up nicely. 

We always have a good time and catch up after the long (for some) winter. It never disappoints and although we ALL go with the attitude "I don't need anything", things always seem to find their way into our bags to come home with us. Today was no different. I tried, really I did! 😂

I will, as I always do, purge again to make room for these 'new to me' items. A change is as good as a rest and some things need to go. Bill and I had a hot drink after I got home. He'd been to town for propane, our second 40-lb'er since returning home.


Supper was leftover meatloaf and potatoes for Bill. I wasn't too hungry after that food this afternoon but we ate together and each had some cheesecake. After being in the fridge, it is actually quite acceptable. Next time, I'll go back to using an almond crust.

Not such a disappointment
after all.

We cleaned up the dishes and Bill went to the Hangar. He turned his heater on late this afternoon so it should be cozy for him. Dropping to -2C/29F overnight again before a wee rise in temps tomorrow. 

We reached a cool high of 6.11C/43F today. Tomorrow, I hope to get my bird feeders out, the hummingbirds and Orioles are returning!

Today, is my brother-in-law, John's birthday. I hope he had a great day!

Just a picture from this day
in 2021.
This is the garden where our
lilac tree lives now.
Ch-ch-changes,
Good night!

It was a great day! Thank you for your visit.

Friday, May 1, 2026

My Winter Book, Quiet Day at Home

The Ridge

On Friday, May 1st, the month came in cold. Surprised? Not me, after all the up and down over the last month, I'm not expecting warmth to come and stay any time soon. Call me Mrs. Negative but 'show me the heat!'

Good morning!
Gibbs spends a lot of home time doing
exactly this.
Security duty is hard, you know.

So, life isn't all about the weather, right? I kissed Bill goodbye at 6:45 and he was on his way to work. This job is close to being finished, perhaps 3 or 4 more days, depending on how that blessed weather co-operates. 

A bright spot. 
I better get the feeders out.

Gibbs and I came downstairs at 7, the little guy is understanding a bit better now and slowly makes his way down to where I am. With my errands done yesterday, the only thing I had to do today was finish my book. I tried last night but got watching my Thursday night programs. 9-1-1 & Elspeth.

Just a walk down the lane.

So, with my tea on the go and Gibbs in my chair, I managed to get it done. I made a 2-day batch of steel cut oatmeal for a change and it was quite tasty. Very filling though so I only had about 1/2 cup today. It was still early so I began making a cheesecake.

Somehow, through the cold, the
evening primrose are still
rising in the gate garden.

I prefer a nut crust rather than craham crackers so crushed pecans, a switch off from almonds. Mainly because now I had lots! The ones in the cupboard, were old so I used them up first and topped up with fresh ones to make 2 cups.

Rather than a plain NY style cheesecake, I opted to add some apple pie filling. We'll see how that turns out. It's been a while since I made one and a while since I've done one in Madame IP. With no choice, I hope she doesn't let me down today. 🤞

Pussy willows are all over
The Ridge

After a later lunch of egg salad sandwich, I waited until the cake was done before Gibbs and I bundled up and walked down the lane for the mail. We were too early, or she was late, because she came by about 30 minutes later. Gibbs told me so. 😂

Again, the race and now
I'm the King of the Castle.
Another spot for Security duty
he visits often all summer.

Well, the cheesecake is nothing to write home about. It didn't seem done in the time listed on the recipe so I popped it back in for another 10 minutes. That improved it a bit but I have to admit that not all things can be baked in an IP.

The rhubarb slowly looks
like it might amount to something.
More primrose, the only thing
blooming right now.

I got ready to go to Catch the Ace in the event that Bill wasn't home on time from work. We had to be there for 5 pm tonight. Bill drove up the lane at 4:40 and we were walking into the Curling Club at 5:02. Now that's a fast turnaround! 

No win for us tonight and we wasted no time afterwards chit chatting as usual. Bill was tired and hungry so I made toasted tomato sandwiches for our supper on my seeded Carbonaut bread. They were good! 

Stop, drop, roll and get
a belly rub from Mom.
💖

It was a cold day, but still a good day. With a high of 6.67C/44F today and a low of -1.1C/30F, we'll be happy for the extra blanket tonight!

The clouds are moving out tonight.
The reason for such a cold night.
Brrrr!
Good night!

Thank you for your visit.