Well, I’ll Be, Another Blue Sky! Waking up in a Bed by Myself

Today, Monday, July 31^st I woke up at 7 with more sunshine peeking around the pulled shades. Other than that, I woke noticing that Clemson and I were in bed by ourselves. Oh yes, now I remember. I do recall waking at 2:45 and checking the clock, Bill was still asleep beside me. Then again at 3:30 and he was gone. I never heard him get up at all.

Field of wild flowers for the cattle

 After letting Clem out and realizing what a beautiful morning it was I made the bed and opened things up including the outside door. I have received a couple of annoying bug bites in the last day or two so dabbed them with Benadryl cream to take the itch away. I made my tea and sat here reading blog posts from yesterday. It is so peaceful up here.

this weed is so pretty

I am debating whether to go into Durham to do a laundry today or wait until another day. With the sky so clear, I shouldn’t miss an opportunity so loaded up the basket. Debate over, that was easy! I was the first and only customer at the Laundromat this morning a 9 and out of there with 3 loads of damp clothes and towels by 9:30.

So I had to get a closeup

Before leaving Durham I stopped at Foodland to pick up the yogourt that Independent didn’t have and a few other goodies. When I got home, I made myself another tea before hanging the laundry on the line. I could tell they would dry quickly. It was about 10:30 that I started making up a couple of pies. I’ve  made a promise and won’t renege.

Gerry and Melinda arrive

We haven’t plugged into electric for a few days now and I hate to do it when the sky is producing such wonderful solar. So they can wait until later this evening or in the morning around 7, even better. I took a walk down the lane with Clemson to get the mail just around 1:15.

Sharing our water with them

We're getting the band back together! :)

We walked the road a bit to the neighbour’s lane before turning around. I was happy to see that I finally received the FREE DNA kit from My Heritage. I had won it after entering a Father’s Day contest back in June. Next week I will open it and see what is involved in sending it off.

I no sooner got up the lane to the corral and I heard and then saw Gerry and Melinda pulling into our place. Yay! We haven’t seen these two since February. George hopped in his car to move it out of the way and I went to give Gerry some directions on how to proceed in turning his 24’ travel trailer around. Bill had left the best way to do with the least amount of finagling. Within minutes they had pulled in between George’s motor home and our fifth wheel. I unplugged the cord from our Suite and we got them hooked into power.

Better buddies now than in the winter

 Without solar panels, they would have to run their generator when their batteries ran low. This way, if we need a power burst (to bake my pies, for eg.) I can unplug them for the necessary amount of time at 7 in the morning and then hook them up again. How great it is to see them. We’ve only known these two since December but we’ve hit it off really well. We picked up where we left off easily. Even Tucker and Clemson got along. Being off leash is a bonus for these little munchkins.

Clemson slips into Tucker's bed

I brought the last of my clothes in and put them away. Thank heavens for the breeze today, I was really melting in the heat for some reason. I guess keeping on the move for the most part did me in today. I heard from Bill as he was leaving London advising me of his eta. At 3 or so we took our chairs over to the newest arrivals for Happy Hour.

To the northeast

To the west

 Bill arrived around 4 and the conversation continued as he filled us in on his disappointing day. We all agreed that it has been a great weather day but we also agreed that the ‘storm’ we experienced today was the weirdest one we’ve ever witnessed. Blue sky with white fluffy clouds to the west, south and above us but off to the north it was getting darker with thunder.

My supper tonight

No wind changes although the temperature did drop a bit (thankfully) and then the lightening appeared all over the sky and some really loud cracks of thunder. This went on all around us and overhead for about 45 minutes. No rain fell and we never put our awnings in because of it. Strange stuff but it was only because of the dinner hour that we split and went our separate ways to prepare meals.

Tucker wants to play Football

Bill had eaten late this afternoon, mainly because of rising at 3 and not getting anything to eat earlier. This meant he wasn’t hungry for supper so I fried up some leftover sausage with a few chicken hearts and had that with potato and lettuce salad on the side. It worked well but we know who will be munching later.

I’m sitting outside and you’d think the rain was coming because of the way the flies are biting (or trying to). The wind has died completely and with the exception of one big fluffy gray cloud the sky is quite pretty for this last evening in July. I had to give in and move back inside to finish this post. I need both hands to type so one hand cannot be slapping critters.

Bill had roused himself and gone outside to start a fire in the pit. This is the reunion of most of the Rock Glen Rabble Rousers with the exception of Rob and Pat. They will join us tomorrow to make this unit complete. I think George aptly called this the Rock Glen North group.

Our campsite from the east

I need to do some more work on this sharp tooth. Some days it is less noticeable and this afternoon it seems sharp again. I tried filing it a bit with a piece of my emery board and it worked a bit. I don’t have a dentist up here, yet, and to drive to London for something so minor doesn’t make sense to me. It isn’t an emergency. We’ll see how long I can take this.

Our campsite from the northwest corner
Suzie gets a face wash and Gerry brings chairs over

I’ve cleaned up dishes and Bill has set up the pvr to record my show at 8 so we can go outside and enjoy our friends’ company. I hope you’ve had a great day today, I know I have!

When our invited company comes, I try and capture their arrival

Thank you for reading along. I’d love to hear your comments if you have the time to leave one.

Sunday with Friends and Family

I woke up on July 30^th at 7 and was once more thrilled that the sun was bursting around the blinds. I took Clemson out for his piddle and snapped a picture of the view to the east. Blinding sun, the kind I like. Bill followed soon after and I moved from my recliner and book to the table with tea and my laptop. Catching up with friends’ posts.

It looks to be a fabulous day and we’ll make the absolute best of it! At 9:15 after getting a couple of walks in and cleaned up we hopped in the truck and headed over to the Acreage. Bill is topping up the fresh water tank for me as he will be away all day on Monday. Not for overnight this time, just for the day.

Clemson sits on George for the ride over
sorry for the blur, it was a quick shot

Driving back to get water

From one side to the other

We were able to show George and Suzie where Donna and Gerry’s spend their summer weekends. Aside from attracting the attention of the large hungry ‘skitters’ they thought it was another nice piece of property. We returned home and Bill emptied the water bladder into our tank. Because of the iron in the well water, although it has been tested for consumption, the filters get corroded quicker than we wished. We’ll need to pick a new one up soon.

Clemson loves the sun too

George nipped into town, it is only 10 minutes tops so very convenient for us, for a couple of things and I asked him to grab me some bananas which I’d forgotten yesterday. I like to have them in my smoothies. I settled outside in the warm (hot) sun with my book and read many chapters. This is another good one. A story about the detective Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly.

A collection of flowers from my garden and some wild

Once the water was transferred, I took another walk down the lane to satisfy my Fitbit (ha ha). My sisters got many great laughs out of teasing that something on my wrist controls me and tells me to move. They can laugh but for me if I get up and move ¼ of the time it vibrates and says ‘let’s move’, I’m getting more exercise than I would without it. I love it!

A nice little breakfast wrap with iced tea

Around noon Bill made himself a sandwich and took the truck into Durham to fill it with diesel, give it a quick wash and pick up a couple of things at the Home Hardware. I’ve asked him to do a small project for me. Black Beauty is sitting pretty down the grassy lane in the shade ready for an early morning departure.

This is a beautiful day and maybe our last one with totally clear skies according to the forecast. The temperature is hovering around 24C and that is perfect. The wind has died from yesterday, just the perfect amount of breeze. I still love my sunshine and with a breeze like this I am able to sit in it longer. No tsk tsking please. I like what I like.

Bill hung my own creative masterpiece inside our Suite door

I came inside and made up a green salad for tonight’s supper. I had pulled sausage out of the freezer to thaw so Bill can have his on a bun and I can eat mine on the plate. There is just the right amount of leftover potato salad as well.

Everyone was involved in Suzie's story

But I snapped photos anyway

 We have all been invited into Rob and Pat’s for Happy Hour so I want to have things ready for when we returned. It will be almost like a ‘winter reunion’ with the addition of my sister and the exception of our friends, Gerry and Melinda. We are also expecting an early evening arrival of a blogger friend whom none of us have met before. That will be a treat! We just can’t seem to stop having fun!

On my walk down the lane I picked some more wild flowers and a few from my garden. They are so beautiful and plentiful that I want them inside the Suite too. I cleaned up dishes and sat outside again for more reading. When Bill came back he finished what I’d asked him to do. We’d decided that my poppy painting was a small enough size that it could be hung in our home. Now it adorns the entry to the Suite nicely.

this is a 'here, take a picture of us' photo

We sat inside for half hour and I’m sure both of us dozed off for a few minutes. Bill has an excuse, he has been go go going all day at something or other. Me, no excuse except the heat of the sun and because I can. At 2 he hopped in the shower and we loaded our drink of choice into the car with George and Suzie around 2:45.

Arriving to find Pat and Rob nice and comfy, cozy on their front deck waiting for us. The place looks great with new asphalt and lovely outdoor furniture to sit our butts on. It wasn’t too long and my sister, Donna and Gerry arrived. The sun was beating down on us so it was a decision who wanted sun and who wanted shade.

My supper tonight

We had a great visit and Pat had prepared some meat, cheese and cracker snacks to munch on. She took us on a tour of their pretty home because we hadn’t seen it yet. After a couple of hours we said our ‘goodbyes’, ‘see ya soons’ and drove home to the Ridge for supper. Clemson, of course, got his first. The man of the house.

Donna had all the men checking out the noise in her car
Turns out she had lost 3 lug nuts of her front passenger wheel!
Rob to the rescue!

Bill barbecued our sausages and I set things up inside. George and Suzie were doing their own thing in their home behind us. With supper out of the way and dishes cleaned up we relaxed as we waited for F.G. and Mrs. F.G. from The Furry Gnome. 

By 7 pm they arrived. It is always a treat meeting a new blogger and this was no exception. Maria quickly presented George and I with a bag of garlic bulbs. Yum!

What a great couple Stew and Maria are and we all fell into great conversation as if we’d known each other for years.

Suzie, George, Stew (aka Furry Gnome), Bill

I absolutely loved when the sun began to set, there were 4 of us snapping photos. Too funny. I snapped a couple of pictures of the group sitting on our patio and captured F.G. perusing my photo books. 

Stew, Bill and Marie

Soon enough the evening drew to a close and the mosquitoes began feasting around 9:15, right on cue in southwestern Ontario.

We said our goodbyes and I sent Bill off to bed. His early rising tomorrow will be around 3 am as he is meeting someone at 6. Oh my goodness, I hope he sleeps well tonight! I’ve had a wonderful day and I hope you have as well.

The beautiful sky tonight should bring us a lovely one tomorrow

Goodnight from The Ridge

I wish I could say I painted THIS masterpiece!

Thank you for taking the time to read today’s story. Your comments are welcome and appreciated.

Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

Saturday, July 29^th when I woke up at 7, the sun was bursting around the corners of the blinds. This was lovely to see although the temperature outside was only 12.2C. This would be the reason for the heavy dew on the tables and chairs out on the patio. There was also a low-lying fog over the pond which gives everything an eerie look.

Clemson and I take our morning walk

 Bill was up around 7:30 and we had our first hot drink while reading posts. Around 8 we saw our ‘rv neighbour’ taking a drive down the lane. George likes to get up early and get out there either on foot or in his car. It is great that he loves to explore the areas. Bill finished his coffee and went out with the mower to cut the fields. Even though dewy it wouldn’t be a problem with the big mower.

Not a great shot of the chicory but the blue is so pretty

When I finished my tea, Clemson and I went for a walk down the lane, down our road and onto Baptist Church Road to the turbine entrance. It felt good to get out walking a further distance again. It is a gorgeous day quickly rising from 12C to 21C by 10 am.

The corn is doing well, I think, behind this big puddle

A discouraging thing out in the country is when you realize that we still have (and always will) drivers who drink. Or at least their passengers do and then toss their cans on the side of the road. I don’t let it bother me instead look at it as their loss and my gain even if it is minimal. Today I earned 15 cents! I found a plastic water bottle too so brought it back for recycle. I won’t go into long grass to retrieve these things but if they are easily accessible, I’ll pick them up.

George passed me on my home stretch as he returned from his morning venture. Suzie was sitting outside, when we returned, enjoying her book in the shade. Clemson ran over and made himself at home on her lap. This gave me the time I needed to hop in the shower and get ready for the day.

Probably the fellows with the beer did this

I loved the heat of the sun on my skin sitting in the king chairs catching up on all of the local newspaper and flyers. I’ve made a grocery list, a lengthy one, so we will have to find a grocery store after lunch. Bill made himself a peanut butter and cheese sandwich before he went out to finish the weed trimming. I boiled an egg for a wrap and that hit the spot for now. We are planning a joint supper for tonight so that will be nice.

Queen Ann's Lace - aptly named

Once G & S finished their lunch and Bill cleaned up we headed into Hanover to the Bread Depot. There is a fellow who sets up a wagon with farmer’s produce and often has good stuff at reasonable prices but unfortunately he wasn’t there today. We got our bread stuff and drove to Independent. I was able to take advantage of their specials too although the store is not my ‘go to’ store and I get frustrated traipsing back and forth trying to find things on my list.

My 15 cents worth

We finished there and headed out of Hanover a back way so we could show George and Suzie where Ground Effects Landscaping is located. We have a wedding in our future plans being held there. We were home around 3 o’clock, I think and we all found a place in the sun or shade to read our books. The wind is pretty strong today which is too bad but it is a beautiful day in the clear blue sky.

Another one of those weird things
I just spent 4 days in Chatsworth, Ontario and
now I read this in Michael Connelly's book

At 4:30 I saw George had prepped his chicken and was putting them on his Weber Q. He could probably do this with his eyes closed. I am preparing a potato salad to go along with dinner so went inside to start mixing it around 5ish. Dinner was ready and served here in the Suite around 6:30. Perfect! Lots to eat and everything tasted great.

This is quite the thistle patch

Bill cleaned up most of the dishes and we settled down for the evening. The temperature is sitting at a great 24C and I do think the winds have died down considerably now. I feel exhausted and yet I can’t explain why. But, I’m not giving in. I decided to walk down the lane and Bill offered to join me with Clemson. Great way to settle our supper. (Get ready - picture overload)

A walk around my garden flowers

When we got back Bill decided to light a fire for a short while. I finished my post and joined him outside. What a great day we’ve had, some alone time and some friends time. This is the life!

Bill is engrossed in his book in the shade

The chicken goes on the Weber

Clemson in his bed before George brought the chicken in

Supper was delicious

Bill and Clemson walks with me

Thank you for following along today. I welcome any comments if you wish to leave one.