I Took a Day Off, Some Garden Smiles

The Ridge

It was 7:30 when I was awake enough to do my morning routine of stretches and get up. I slept well, on top of the covers with the downstairs a/c on. Bill was up with Gibbs around 6 and for the first time, in a long while, he went back to sleep in his recliner. 

Good morning!
You saw last night's
Moonflowers, so let's start
with my Wandering Egyptian
onions. 

I washed my face in cold water, so refreshing and good to wake my skin up and close pores. 😂 All I know is that it feels great. I made my tea and sat at my laptop to finish my blog from yesterday. It was a full day, with a few breaks in between, and I was happy not to go anywhere.

In relation to gardening, there
isn't much more exciting than seeing
your first vegetable.
Tomatoes and peppers, yay!

Bill had his breakfast and before 9 hopped on Jazz to ride into town. There was a fair bit of cleanup, mostly big stuff, tables, canopies but also flags to take down and a few smaller things I suppose I could have helped with. As it turned out, I made a wise choice by staying put.

I may have to use homemade
stakes next year if I continue to
have such tall stalks.

I finished my blog, did some surfing online and went to my quilling table. After about an hour and a half, I started to finish a bit weird. a wee bit of dizziness but mostly just a general uncomfortable feeling all over. I finished the card I was working on and sat in my chair with my water.

The berm garden is yellow.

Bill drove in shortly after 12 noon and I explained how I was feeling. Probably the heat and deydrated to an extent. I know we all drank lots yesterday but being in the heat outdoors for long periods........hey, I don't have to tell you.  

Same garden fronm the top.
A flash of orange starts the
Tiger Lilies blooming.

He wanted to cut the fields so when he went out, I went upstairs to stretch out. Soon enough, I knew I wouldn't sleep so turned the tv on and watched a movie that I'd seen advertised AND recommended by our friend, Joan. It is childish, fantasial but so darned cute. I enjoyed it.

My shovel on the other corner,
is brilliant too.
You can tell I love the
Evening Primrose.
They spread, yes, but up here,
I'm all for it.
Easy gardening.

When I got up, I felt almost new again so Gibbs and I went out and sat in the shade for a bit. I'm still fodder for bugs and didn't want to get hot again so we came in. Sitting in the King chairs with Bill for a while until the bugs got too annoying. LOL Leave me alone!

Corral gardens.
Fighting through the weeds up top,
they are blooming as well.

We firmed up plans for our Ridge campout and on FB I posted a note that I'm setting up my craft 'table' again. Depending on whether I get a call from Robin to clean, I'll pick either Saturday or Sunday. The weather will be decent and I'd like to try 4 hours again.

The Dahlias are getting
tall and bushy as well.

Bill grilled 2 burger patties w/cheese and bacon and he had his the appropriate way. Trying to not have bread every day, I had mine on my plate with gravy and some pepper squash. That was pretty tasty! We finished with a small Chapman's ice cream bar. 

We so need another rain barrel
here.

For my Gibbs followers.
TL:The poser.
TR: sneaky eyes 🤭
BR: Daddy is touching Mom,
so I need to get in there too.

We were getting low on water so rather than having to go tomorrow or the weekend, he went to the Acreage after cleanup in here. You guessed it, no work this week at all. He's getting quite discouraged so we'll see how next week plays out. This was another hot day. 

He made a bed and then layed in it.
Normal, right?

The thermometers did say about the same as yesterday, can you say 5 in a row? 🤭 I'm glad it was a slow day and that whatever I was feeling, passed quickly enough. Lots of water consumed these days and not only by me and Gibbs for a change! 😉

This was a nice way to have
a burger without a bun.
Good night y'all!

Thank you for stopping by.

Happy 159th Birthday, Canada! Looking Mauv-ell-lous!

The Ridge

On Wednesday, July 1st a duplicate weather day was upon us. I was up and on my way in to the Mat by 7:20. First, I went to fill a water bottle and a quick chit chat with Mark. He was working today and closing on Friday. 

Good morning
and
Happy Canada Day!

Perfect for me, no one was in the building so it was quick and painless. Sandy had left my pay in the office for me so when I closed the door behind me at 8:30, I went to the bank and deposited my cash. What a difference in temperature from the a/c in the Mat - my glasses steamed up!

West-Grey Durham Lions Club
hosted a celebration
at the Arena ball diamond park.

Back home, Bill and Gibbs came out to greet me and Bill carried the 5 gal. water bottle over for me. We had decided last night that we would go back this morning at 9 to see what else we could help with. It was a big day for the Lion's.

Bill and I offered up our
services to help with tents,
food prep etc. in the morning
for a couple of hours.

Canopy tents went up for the food sales, barbecues and the band. Terry and I prepared the onions, I peeled 10 of the 20 lb. bag and she sliced them. She doesn't cry like I would. It went quickly enough and I helped set up, wash and cover tables. It was crazy hot already but a slight breeze made it bearable.

We sat up near the top of the hill
in the shade looking down at the
band, vendors and beer/food court

We were home by 10:45 and retreated to the coolness inside the Suite with Gibbs. No way did we feel like being outside, in the Bunky or in the Hangar. My boys dozed and I made one greeting card and started another. 

Kat and Deidter welcome guests
and just a few in the hillside shade
when we left at 4

I didn't sign up for any volunteer work beyond this morning as I had it in my head that I might have set up a craft table again. By noon, it was too late for that as we had planned to pop over to the Canada Day event and watch the Mudmen perform. A highly recommended band, playing from 2 to 4.

We sat on the hill in the shade and the band was certainly worth battling the heat for. I shouldn't say it like that, all we did was sit, where other Lions were working in those hot conditions. On the way home, I decided that I would go back with Bill at 7 to see if I could relieve someone.

The dark clouds came in within 10 minutes of leaving the park and the winds from the north came in really strong. Bill had hopped in the shower. I was freaked out for the few minutes they lasted and once the rain hit, the winds calmed down. There is still thunder now, at 5 pm, as I write this. 

I was hoping the storm would miss
us.

30 km/h winds doesn't sound like much, I suppose, sounds less threatening as 18.3 mph but in an rv, on a hill, winds hitting broad side - it's freaky. I had my cup of tea and calmed down, then we just hung out, dozing in our chairs until 6 when we went back to the park to help.

I soon realized it wouldn't

Thankfully, things were getting back to normal after the storm but unfortunately, the Lions lost 3 of their tent canopies as did a couple of vendors. No one was hurt and by the time we arrived, people were returning to enjoy the late day/evening activities. Shane Cloutier's band 'Outta My Way' entertained the crowd until 9:30 ish.

I had no idea what I was getting
myself in to! 😂

We sat with other members for a while, had a burger and then at 7, I wandered over to the bouncy 'castles' to offer my help. Bill went to the barbecues where he cooked and served up fries from 7 to 10. It was hot but it's what he enjoys doing. Alex needed help at the Horse Derby Race so I stayed there until 9.

Bounce and push! Bounce and push!
Many ended up in the wet track but
none seemed to mind and they kept
coming back for more.
💕

What a hoot! Inflatable horses in small and large had little and kids up to about 13 yrs. bouncing and racing down the track. Because of the rain, it was wet, dirty and slippery. My partner and I laughed a lot but made sure the children had a good time. 😂

Paul was very good and 'advised' the bigger boys to

"let the ladies win", especially the wee ones. The boys obliged and contained their rowdiness. 🤭I joined Bill when the inflatables (tents and horses) were deflated at 9 and mingled in the crowd to pass the time. The fireworks began around 9:45 and were excellent! 

Bill and Keith manned
the fries, Roz and Brian at the sales
table and a couple of others 
(I don't remember names)
did the burgers and dogs.
They were busy! More than 300 food
tickets sold in 3 hours.

At 10, everything eventually came to a close. The hundreds of people on the hill made their way to their vehicles or beer tent, some coming to the food tent for a last poutine or burger.

Look at the crowd on the hill
now!
Awesome turnout!

By the time we cleaned up the main things that winds, rain or vandals might damage it was 10:45. Those 9 of us left had ourselves an alcoholic drink and sat at the $1200 aluminum table that was won by a lucky contestant. Bill and I were home shortly after 11 to a happy Gibbs.

It was a great fireworks show.

We left the downstairs a/c on all night and fell into bed. It was a good day and I felt better after having offered my services to the club. Bill is going back in the morning to help pack tables and tents up but I'm staying home with Gibbs. 

The rain didn't cool things off much but the evening wasn't stifling like the daytime temps were. Bottom line, although some places suffered storm damage, nothing was severe and our neighbourhood had a wonderful Canada Day. The Lions' Club deserves a huge thumbs up. The temperature today hit 32.22C/90F with 85% humidity.

Just before I went in, I took a
picture of tonight's Moonflowers.
Happy 159th Birthday, Canada!
Good night!

Thank you for joining me!