Cold Start, Cleaning, Appointment, Last Gardening, Goodbye Apples!

The Ridge

When I woke up on Tuesday, Oct. 15^th, it was 4 am, dozed off, then 5 am, dozed off, then 6:30 am when I figured I was done sleeping. I had turned the heat down last night and the 57F in the Suite felt ch-ch-chilly! I didn’t want to get out of my warm nest. Bill and I texted back and forth at 6:50 and I forced myself to get up around 7:15. I dressed and took Black Beauty into Durham. There was light frost on the windshield but nothing a little fluid couldn’t take care of. God, I love heated seats!

It was sure looking like a beautiful morning

There was one gentleman there doing his laundry and I’ve chatted with him before. He asked if Jamie was going to replace me while we were gone. I’m hoping that the answer to that is no, that Jamie will just pick up the slack for me so I can return to the same job in May. That’s the plan. I finished cleaning, it was in pretty good shape again and the floors were not in need of a damp mop. I’m impressed! They definitely needed to be dust mopped though.

The Hanover Hospital

Back home, I made my tea and sat reading posts. Our blogger friends have been busy with Thanksgiving celebrations, packing up parks and/or preparing to pull out for the winter. So fun to read. One blogger and good friend in particular has me drooling for the lovely views in the southwest with her pictures. We really enjoy the scenery down there and soon will be taking our own photos. I also spoke to our I.D.A. Pharmacist regarding placing the order for Bill’s cholesterol script and she will help us get what he needs on time before we leave.

 

I walked instead of drove into the parking area

I did a bit of map perusing, the trip from here to Tavi and the trip from Tavi to London as I’ll be doing those on Thursday and Friday. With a coffee on the go, I caved in and had a piece of rye toast with choke cherry jelly. I have been avoiding the bread like the plague for 2 weeks and as many carbs as I can. I'm not seeing any physical difference but it is what it is. I got washed up and dressed for an appointment at Hanover hospital. Our favourite thing in the world, ladies, a mammogram.

I wasn't at the right angle, but the Hanover water tower was beside the Medical Centre

We do have to look after ourselves although for a few years when I was working, I’d decided I wasn’t going to go. Convinced that now it is a ‘new and improved’  painful endurance, okay, let’s get it over with.  I wouldn’t park on the hospital grounds as I hate those paying machines AND I’ll have B.B. making it even more uncomfortable for me. There is a Food Basics down the hill on 7^th Ave. so that is where I’ll park and walk up. It just means wearing my heavier coat, but I’ll enjoy the walk.

I always leave earlier than necessary so pulled out just after 12:30. Preferring to be early rather than rushed (I’ve prided myself in not being late for many years) I had planned to take my book along, but forgot it. I’m reading an old Sue Grafton, “L” is for Lawless. I’m going to have to find more books soon or go back to my Kobo until we reach parks down south where I can get some. I arrived at the parking lot of Food Basics and beside a new Tim Horton’s. I don’t remember it being there in 2017.

On my walk, I saw this pretty hollyhock

The sun was out and glorious and I was feeling foolish for the heavy coat but I left it on because of the wind. The temperature gauge in B.B. said 54F but up on the Ridge, the wind tricked me when I left. I was early, registered and was taken in at 1:10. It was quick and actually quite painless. The nurses’ are so pleasant and keep apologizing for the cold hands and the discomfort. I was out of the hospital by 1:25, 5 minutes before my actual appointment, after using their facilities.

Get them while they're red!

Down the hill, I walked, and popped into Food Basics. I picked up a few things but was disappointed that they don’t seem to carry my yogourt. That is one thing that I want to pick up here in town before we leave on the 28^th for Stratford. I can’t get anything close to what I like, the 10% fat Greek. It’s all 6% watery crap or less. That is just like drinking 1% or skim milk. Blech! No offense to those of you who like that. For me, it is high fat please!

Turning onto Baptist Church Road

I was invited to stop in at Donna’s but texted her that I wanted to scoot home and take advantage of the nicest day this week. It was a few minutes past 2:30 when I pulled up the lane. I came inside and put groceries away and then transferred $ from our grocery account to cover the cost. This is something that we started a few months ago and I love it! There is often some left over each month but I have the freedom of 

not having to worry about ‘nipping’ into town to buy food when I feel we need it.

I changed into my old clothes and went out to tidy up the vegetable garden and get rid of the pulled plants. Then I moved to the flower gardens and pots and pulled the marigolds, trimmed our peony bush and emptied the pots. There are still a few that are blooming so I'll leave the potted ones until Saturday. This is the only week I have left to do it. Lastly, I will be digging up the dahlias, whether they’ve finished or not. I’ll wait until either tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning for those as well.

The garden sheets were dry and got folded up and put away in the
storage shed

Done, done and done. The last thing I did was to toss all of the fallen apples over the fence. I could have left them but they would be mush in the spring and we cut grass up there. That would be a nasty mess to clean up! So, over the fence they went and let new trees grow if they dare! Then I walked down the lane and enjoyed the peacefulness. Bill called at the perfect time, 4:00, after they’d finished work for the day and had returned to Tavistock. They are finishing up at the home in Woodstock this week.

This pot will wait, too many blooms

Our shed is pretty jammed up so I won't be
raking or hoeing this until spring

Time for a tea and a bit of reading. I’m so pleased with the progress around here and I feel very relaxed. Tomorrow, I’m on the run in the morning and oh dear, what am I having for supper tonight? When I’d read a few chapters I turned the tv on and pulled leftovers out of the fridge. I still had roast beef, a bit of gravy and the potato casserole. For a vegetable, I cooked a piece of pepper squash. With one of my small garden tomatoes on the side, it was a nice meal. I even had room for the last custard for dessert.

Our peonny bush ready for winter

A lot of apples on the ground
Now you see them

Now you don't
There are still some in the tree yet to fall

I got the dishes out of the way and watched NCIS until 7 o’clock when I switched to Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Tuesday night tv is a busy one so I chose carefully what I’d watch. Bill had set up the PVR so I didn’t have to worry about that. I’ve enjoyed this day even though there was a bit of running around and an uncomfortable but necessary appointment. 

The sun was basically gone for the night

Supper tonight came together

More things got completed today and I’m ready for the rain that is expected. It won’t be as cold overnight tonight so I shouldn’t need much heat on.

Dessert came together too
Good night from the Ridge!

Thank you for visiting my blog today.