Reliving Elvis 41 years Later, Visiting Mom, Shopping with Donna, Shed Work

When I woke and got up on Thursday, Aug. 16^th it was nice to have both sweeties beside me. Bill wasn’t long getting up after me, nor was Clemson. Bill said he had a rough night sleeping for one reason or another. You’d think after a full day of work and the drive from London that he would sleep like a baby. He even went out after supper and put some batten on the back of the new shed. I slept blissfully unaware of his difficulty.

This morning, it was 7 when I went out the door for my walk. The humidity was already high, I could feel the dampness in the air. The sun rose through a muted sky although there were no clouds. I noticed a couple walking past North Line on B.C.Rd. to the south and since it isn’t my thing to follow or be followed, I turned north and went in that direction.

A pretty morning in the country

It must be my week to find dead things on the road. Not my goal at all! This colourful little garter snake was curled up with his light green belly showing. I wondered if it was real so turned it over by the tail. Yup, real and gone to Snake Heaven. It was strange to see that the goose body had disappeared from the side of the road. Some coyote’s supper maybe? Probably better than decomposing on the roadway. We all have to eat.

I wouldn't have touched him had he been alive

Back at the Suite, Bill and I had our coffee and listening to Channel #19 on Sirius XM, we read blog posts. This is the Elvis channel and today is 41 years since that great entertainer left this earth. It just enforces my desire for us to travel through Tennessee on our way south this winter. Yeah! I am so excited to see Graceland! Our trip is not by any means fully planned but there are definite things we have on the books.

Fodder for the cattle in the field

After his coffee, Bill went over to the Acreage to check on a leaky fitting for the new water filter on the drilled well. This is where we get our water and the filter should eliminate the iron that has been prominent in each bladder fill. Gerry and Donna are going halves on the cost so it will be left at the pump and they will also get the benefit for their Landmark fifth wheel. He was back at 9:30 with a bladder full of water too to top us up.

7 am is a nice time to capture some morning shots

I started breakfast right away as we had a few things going on today. When we’d eaten and cleaned things up, I finished my own clean up and was within minutes of driving to Durham behind Bill. He took Black Beauty and I took the Rav 4. Bill had to get a replacement fitting for the water filter from Home Hardware plus an old-fashioned mousetrap. The Warfarin wasn’t working, we still had a visitor through the night. I won’t touch it as I’m sure my fingers would end up chasing the cheese.

We'll get you!

It is crazy the stuff he pulls up from the garbage can below
I am very careful not to put ANY food in there without it first being in a ziploc bag

I went to Rockwood and found Mom in her room with the door closed and curtains pulled. When she woke, she was pleasant but said she was cold. She was happy to see me and at one point happy to see a resident in the hallway with a big sweater like she was wearing. She couldn’t understand how I could be in a tank top. 😊 I debated taking her outside to the warmth of the day but instead we looked through some books. Too bad she couldn’t stay focused on a book because she reads so well.

A baby Monarch

I removed her 2 pillows as requested by Rockwood staff. They had put them in the closet for us to wash but when I saw how stained they are, as pillows get, Donna and I were more likely to throw them out and buy new ones. Of course, it drew attention from curious residents in the dining room but I carted them out when I left Mom. She was in good spirits and didn’t need me to linger at her table. I checked with one of the office staff about their dumpster location and dropped the bag in.

It was hard to catch him in still mode
but finally, I did

From there, I drove to Hanover’s Wal-Mart to meet Donna. We found a good pillow and a pillow protector before going our separate ways. She had to get home to make lunch for Gerry and I wanted to visit the Dollar Store. Bill and I both need new stylus pens for our phones and that is the best place to get them for under $2. I like poking through the store too, not necessarily buying, but I did find something else that I think will help me organize in here. I’ll keep you informed how that works.

Bill finished the batten on the back of the shed

Inspector Clemson makes a reappearance

When I returned, Bill was working on the shed and keeping an eye on the clock at the same time. He left at 2:30 to get an oil change for Black Beauty and it is a 35- minute drive to Harriston. While he was gone, Clemson needed out a few times, it is guesswork trying to figure out what he wants. He hesitates at the top of the step and I don’t know if it is fear or if it is a piddle denial. I’m trying not to feel frustration as it is a new hurdle to get over. I also had a brief visit from Rob and Pat. They wanted to show us something.

There was a pretty steady breeze today

And this was yesterday's changeable wind situation

At 4:00 after 30 minutes of him watching me read and doze, Clemson and I walked to the mailbox to post a card. He didn’t need his leash and walked quite well, mostly in the middle of the lane so he didn’t tip over the edge. When we came back in, I sat in my recliner and he hopped right up beside me and went to sleep. Huh! Okay, so I relaxed until 5 and then got his supper ready. It was about the same time that Bill returned.

One dish sloppy joes

I’d been looking for an easy meal with ground beef that I could make inside. I found one for Sloppy Joes. I know they are pretty easy but mine from the past have often lacked in the flavor I’m looking for. This one had the ingredients I had on hand. It was ready around 6:30 so I called Bill up from the shed and popped the buns in the toaster. It was very good and there was no need to have any side dish. 

I told Bill that he could go back out and finish working and I would take care of the dishes. The sky had been playing games, teasing with storm clouds and then sun but the temperature also dropped to a comfortable 74F.  

And there, the side is all battened too

I walked out to see how Bill was doing. There were a few spits of rain around 7:30 and the bugs were being a nuisance. They seem to like me, I have a few annoying bites around my neck and head.

and then I saw this Baltimore Oriole

too many branches in my way but he was preening

Don, next door, brought home a load of gravel for his circular drive

The cooler air sure felt nice but it was still very humid. When I came back in, I sat to finish my post and then joined Bill in our recliners. A little bit of Live PD was tonight's entertainment, a program we both enjoy. This has been a nice day. It was a good visit with Mom again and that is a bonus. I hope your day went well too.

Some clear patches after the dark clouds passed

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