And the Rains Came, The Sun Followed

The Ridge

It was 6:15 on Sunday, Aug. 23rd when I rolled over on to my back and first opened my eyes. Gibbs was asleep between us and Bill was still sleeping as well. So, I laid there and planned my day, quietly. Gibbs did his little squirm a couple of times but I didn't acknowledge him.

Good morning.
Starting the day with last night's
mediocre sunset.

When Bill woke and made a stretching sound, Gibbs was right there on his chest with hugs and kisses. It was 6:35. Good boy, letting the family sleep in. 💗 They went out and it was raining lightly so Bill stood under on the stoop while Gibbs did his business. He was back up in bed with me after his feet were wiped.

Two Moonflowers today
I only see one more bud. 🤔

I was done sleeping, we had all crawled into bed last night at 10, but I still waited until 7:15 to come downstairs. It was dull, and rainy outside so we knew it would likely be an inside day. I never mind that, with my craft table right here. 🤭 After my tea, I hopped in the shower.

And the rains came.
Surprisingly, the laneway didn't wash away
as much.

Bill spent time on line in the bank and Quicken, reconciling our accounts and then paid our fee for winter travel. Good thing we save for it all year as it continues to go up. Can't stop getting older though so it is what we expect. It is an increase this year of around $840. 🤷‍♀️We need the insurance.

So, on the left, the fair theme card.
Pumpkins, Plaids, Scarecrows.
On the right, my 'handmade hanging craft' entry.
Bill changed the bottom one with A,B
to the top for me.
I wasn't sure what I was going to do when
I started. 
🤷‍♀️

I worked on a couple of cd coasters and then started putting things together for the fair. Writing on my tags and packaging things up. I need to call, apparently, to get an exhibitor's # and ask a couple of questions about what 'regular classes' are and whether I qualify as a senior citizen = free entry. ??

The Richards family rested.
They slept and I read.
Gibbs is slipping off the pillow!

In the meantime, I made 2 more pair of earrings, just because. Bill and I had lunch of toasted tomato sandwiches (homemade vegetables, of course) and when the sun made an appearance, he went out to cut some grass. The rain seems to be done, lane (!) and vegetables well watered.

Time to get some grass cut

When he ran out of gas, he and Gibbs hopped in Black Beauty and went to town to get the gas can filled. I started supper when they returned and he went back out to cut the south (back) field. Tonight, I'm having Madame IP cook our blade roast with potatoes and onions. 

I made these earrings a
while ago and what better time
of year to use them as an
entry?

I could have used the oven but she does it so perfectly in such a short amount of time. I'm not about to fire her, until I have to! We are connected to power today so no point in using the propane stove. I husked the last 2 cobs of corn for our side dish.

Supper was wonderful! Perfect Sunday night meal on a .........you guessed it, a Sunday night. I could have set the IP for about 6 or 8 minutes less and the roast would have been even better but with gravy mixed with leftover vegetables, it was yummy with leftovers. Gibbs even got to enjoy some when we were done eating.

Delicious!

We cleaned up the dishes, Bill's lunch was made and the sun was shining. Funny, that at midnight, another round of rain showers is expected and into the whole of Monday. Brother! Once it starts, it doesn't know when to stop. Oh well. 

The Hibiscus are going crazy now.

Competition from the Dahlias

This has been a great day for puttering inside and Bill got a lot of grass cut, including some of my area. 🙏 thank you, Sweetie! I hope you all had a nice Sunday too.

Good night
from the Ridge!

Thank you for the visit.

Funny Kind of Day Here, Another Family Birthday

The Ridge

On Saturday, Aug. 22nd, we were in for a real mixed weather bag kind of day. We were all (in this area) expecting a full day of rain, some thunderstorm and more rain. Not just today but Sunday as well. So, when we woke, all before 7, our plans weren't for outdoors.

Good morning!

We sorted laundry together, I made my tea-to-go and was headed into town at 7:15. This is the 3rd week of laundry that I will be drying clothes at the Mat. I was just unlocking when a 'new' regular arrived. This fellow stutters quite a bit but is very comfortable around me and talked a lot! 😉

That was it for the sun (mostly)
and it was swallowed up.

His stutter is quite challenging for him, and for me, sometimes but we had a decent enough conversation. He's new to town (2 years) and has no family so a bit of a loner. I was happy to hear him talk of a new lady friend who enjoys some of the same things. That does my heart good. 

Yesterday, there were 3 buds on this
container plant. Here they are!
5 more Moonflowers today.

When I finished cleaning the Mat and folding our dry clothes, I headed straight home. I needed to make no other stops in town but I did stop at Eckhardts Shell station on the outskirts of town, on my way, and picked up 7 tags for the fair entries. One step closer!

There is just something about a
sky like this that I love.
I do prefer clear blue but,
this is lovely.

While I was gone, Bill took a quick trip to Hanover to the Canadian Tire store. He needed a filter and bags for his shop vac and sanding disks for my table. 😊 I call it mine, only because I found it and struggled to get it home. We have a bond. He is, however, doing the work on it.

All done, ready for entry.

I worked on my Easter card before lunch and Bill popped over to the Acreage for a bladder of water. When our tank was full, we emptied the remaining water (about 12 gallons) into a pail of which I carried up to my rain barrel. Still only half full, but that's okay!

My entry tag

After lunch, he snoozed and I went back to quilling. The next card is a little more challenging......well, coming up with the plan was. The category for this one is the theme of the fair. "Pumpkins, Plaid and Scarecrows". 🤔 It was fun! Now I can move on to the last 3, which are not cards.

Bill went to the Hangar; for the most part, we still didn't get any real rain so he wasn't concerned about getting wet going back and forth. Our neighbour, Adam, to the west, is using the excavator so Bill walked over before supper to be nosy. They don't mind at all.

Bill was in the Hangar
and Adam was creating a lot
of noise next door.
His job here was important!

Before he left, Ann gave Bill another dozen eggs, on the house, for being a good customer. I secretly think we are her only customer. But that's very sweet and I won't turn fresh eggs away at any time! Thanks to her, I've been eating them more often again. 😉

So, for supper, we delved into new territory. Following Ken's recipe, almost, I made a batter and coated the Sole filets I'd bought at Walmart. Bill wanted his fries and I wanted onion rings so creative thinking was involved here too. Only one Fry Daddy.

We did good but I know
that there is a bigger, 2nd fryer
on the list - somewhere, someday.

First, we cooked the fries, turned the oven on low and when he put the fish in the fryer, I turned my air fryer on for the onion rings. They didn't seem to be cooking fast enough so when the fish was done to perfection (Ken, you would be so proud!), I dropped the rings in the peanut oil. Oh my!!

Everything was delicious! The directions for the onion rings does NOT mention deep frying but I don't know why not. That is how I will do them from now on. It all worked out and everything was hot when we sat down to eat. Thanks Ken & Kim for the tips!

After clean up, Bill went to the Hangar. The dark clouds are moving all around us, mostly to the north and east but at 6:45, it is almost dusk - way too early. I did notice last night at 9, it was dark outside. Boy how things have changed within just a few days.

That's a lot of heavy cloud
over there to the north.

We did have a warm day, around 22C/71.6F, and I didn't mind being inside with my craft at all. Gibbs had his own time, outside keeping watch and rolling in the grass. A couple of my 'black' (Midnight Snack) cherry tomatoes are red on the bottom so we'll see if they continue. They are very slow.

She loved her card, even
received it 2 days early!
The message inside was
personalized, of course.

I had a great day and before I go, today is another family birthday. My older sister (2nd oldest in the siblings) in Montreal is celebrating. She doesn't like her picture shown much but I'll include this one with her in it anyway. 🤭

It's from last year's Ladyfest 
and a really nice one of her
in the middle.
Happy Birthday, Audrey!
Good night!

Thank you for popping in. I enjoy your comments, keep them coming!