Quiet Day, Baltimore Orioles Visit, Casino Supper

The Ridge

On Monday, May 6^th, I woke up once more to an empty Suite and after a few thoughts rushing through my head (in a half sleep/awake state) I realized where he’d gone. Then I saw his note. “Gone for water”. Grass doesn’t grow under Bill’s feet and although he has slowed down tremendously over the last 3 years of retirement, he still has a normal speed. It now hovers around 65/100 rather than 95. 😊

Fresh water transfer - first order of the day

I saw that it was a gorgeous sunny morning but couldn’t go for my walk until Clemson got up. So, I made my tea and sat at my laptop and downloaded pictures onto an SD card. When I was cleaning yesterday, I decided to update pictures on our desktop Picture Viewer. The ones on there were over 3 years old and although fun to look at, it was time to put more recent ones on the card.

Clemson got up at quarter after 8 and Bill returned while he was out for his morning constitution. I slipped on a light hoody and my vest and set off. Down North Line, Baptist Church Road and as I ran a scenario through my head, I quickly found myself past the turbine road and on the top of the hill looking down towards the horse farm. Time to turn around. It was over a mile this far and it felt good to get out and stretch the leg and back muscles.

A few things brought out of the storage shed

Back at the Suite, Bill had the riding mower out of the shed which meant that a few more things were going to make it out today. Yesterday, I removed my folding bike from the bag since Bill reminded me that there is no reason that I can’t ride it here on the country roads. He’s right but first, he is going to try and pick up a new inner tube. Because of the style of bicycle it is, it may be difficult but when I think of a children’s bike, there shouldn’t be much difference. We’ll see how he lucks out.

The irises lining the outhouse are reaching for the sky

He left for Durham with an empty propane tank and to West Grey Auto Parts to look for a ‘tap’ – the mechanics name for a tool for cleaning out rusted bolt holes. You men will know what I mean. I got an interesting lesson yesterday on the subject. While he is in town, I’ve asked that he check out the laundromat for me. I’m curious whether it was cleaned last night. When he returned around 10:30, with no luck on the ‘tap’ thingy or on the inner tube, I warmed up some quiche for brunch.

Hey Mickey! He liked it! I’m glad as that means a trade off some mornings instead of the whole bacon and eggs ordeal. I offered to clean up dishes since he hadn’t stopped all morning I wanted to give him a break. While Bill was in town earlier, I chatted with the former owner of the Durham laundromat. What a lovely lady Darlene is and she was so pleased to hear from me even though she hardly knows me. I got the information I wanted and I have decided to accept her invite to drop in for a coffee one day soon. 

Pond reflections

Pat texted that they were in Hanover and wondered if Bill wanted Rob to pick up the ‘tap’ for him. Yesterday, Bill had no luck while the most promising store was closed on Sunday. Bill said ‘yes, please’. Once they returned to Durham, I slipped into town and picked it up, paid Rob and then stopped at the bank for some cash. I took a peek through the health food store on Main St. as I’d never been in there before It is called Chicory Common and there are about 4 or 5 small café tables for diners and 3 of those were occupied. Hmm, interesting.

I need to repaint the sign this spring

A beautiful morning

the bus rolls on by with children excited for school
Wha??? Okay, maybe not excited.

I walked back to the store area to check things out and make note of their prices. It is a health food store so naturally some prices made me shudder but sometimes you have to pay it if you can’t get it elsewhere close. Dave, the owner proudly introduced himself and we chatted. He knew he hadn’t seen me before and wanted to welcome me. What a nice man! The conversation was interesting as he knew London, our former home city, quite well and was familiar the the Thames Valley School Board where we worked. 

I wasn't walking alone today
so nice to have my shadow back with me today

A picture just because it is beautiful

3 buddies on our photo viewer
I don't think we'll keep it, pictures lose a lot in the process

I didn’t dawdle long as I knew Bill was anxious to get to work with the item I’d got from Rob so scooted home. He went to work. I was only needed briefly to assist and then went and pulled some grass out of my flower garden. It grows up through the ground cover of phlox and that drives me crazy all summer. I thought I’d nip it in the bud now when it is easier to get my hands inside the plants. I’m tired of babying my aches so just worked away at it but only for a short while.

I drove in the lane to find Father Goose waddling out of my way

And he glided away with ease on a 'glass' pond

This didn’t do my back much good, no matter what position I was in, grrr, this getting old business is infuriating. I hate how it takes me so long to heal from a simple strain. I have 3 large groupings of this plant and completed one before calling it quits and moving inside. Bill was soon finished his job and cleaned up as well. We agreed that it was time for a shower and then a snooze. Well, a snooze for him at least.

Our Cactus bowl is doing well - another new sprout since we've arrived home

 After our showers, we had a nibble on some peanut butter cookies (my homemade sugar-free ones) (or was that before showers?) and set about doing our own thing. Soon enough from the recliner I heard sounds of sleep as I sat at my laptop to catch up on Scrabble games and my blog. 

A fun collage of a pair of twins
Identical in looks and actions

The birds today were putting on a magnificent show for me again. The finches showed no fear as I stood a mere 3’ away. They continued to fill their little beaks and then push the seed in further with their feet. I never knew they did that.

And they are daffodils! Spring!

While I was inside, I could see the gorgeous Baltimore Oriole (why can’t he be called the Ontario Oriole?) thanking me for filling the hummingbird feeder. I had made up a fresh batch this morning. I’m glad someone noticed! The hummers aren’t around yet so I’m happy that these orange guys are enjoying it. I laughed at him drinking it, almost turning himself upside down in order to catch the drips on the bowl of the feeder.

A lonely turtle today - no gang meeting

A cow with an itch

A pooch on a walk

At 4:30 Bill fed Clemson and we finished dressing for the evening. We left the Suite at 5 and drove to Hanover Casino for supper. It was the birthday supper for brothers-in-law John and Gerry and a bit of an anniversary supper for Bill and I.  It was nice that Cathy and Bill were able to join us and also that Gerry’s brother, John could come too.

And a performance from our resident Oriole
Get ready for some acrobatic moves

A little drink

Are you watching?

I can do this

Still there?

Just wait

And a big stretch

Woops, I missed a drop

My best action of the day
tadah!

This buffet restaurant has recently opened and we all found a table. The price of $17.99/person was pretty good for all you can eat including your drinks. We certainly ate all we could and probably more than we needed and I tried really hard to stick to the ‘right’ foods. 

Hanover Casino Buffet

The beef, chicken and ham were cut with your fork delicious and you know that is my goat for my IP meals. Yum, it was a great meal. I should’ve skipped the desserts because I didn’t need them, but why do we do that? Peer pressure or stupidity? LOL

The dessert buffet

Mine, oh my! I should have just stuck with the Sticky Pudding and sauce on the left
It was to die for and would have been quite enough

We said our goodbyes and all 4 vehicles went in different directions. We were home by 7:30 with full tummies. I made Bill up a sandwich while he packed his bag. Yes, already he is on his way back to London. Once everything was put together and his ‘Coolatron-like’ cooler packed, we relaxed together for the night. The forecast said to expect 65% precipitation today but I’m happy to say that we didn’t get much at all.

Most of us - Cathy had gone to try her luck at the slots
John had stepped away from the table
From back: Gerry - Donna
Bill - Gayle
John
Bill D.

We’ve got another week of strange weather coming our way and to be very honest, we are all very tired of it. Not just this family, everyone I talk to feels the same and now we’re looking forward to June! This has been a good day and I hope you can say the same.

And Bill took one with me in it
Good night everyone!

Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are always welcome.

Banking, Common Snipe, Cleaning up Outdoors, Jello at Home

Monday, Apr. 24^th was another beautiful sunny day. Too bad the wind is so cool again this morning. We were up at 7 for our coffees and blog reading. As I stepped out to walk to the Restroom I could hear the bird that we heard last July again. We had searched for the sound on a bird app and came to a conclusion, then, that it was a boreal owl.

Bill leaves to get water

 This morning I was able to see it and it sure doesn’t look like any kind of owl I’ve ever seen or read about. It was flying singly and really high up that I couldn’t focus on its quick flight long enough to get a picture. Hmmm. I wanted to google it now that I know what the bird looks like.

I pulled out my collection of yard ornaments
These are things we brought from our house before we sold last year

some things I couldn't leave behind when I knew we were coming to the Ridge

Our neighbour, Caroline, had these out at the curb
Loved the 3 blind mice wind vane

.

Let the hummingbirds come

Seems that the owl makes the exact same sound as the Common Snipe and to be honest this looks much more like a snipe than an owl. If I could get a photo of him I could confirm my findings so I’ll continue to try. I have all summer to capture him.

Our neighbours have this little shed way back on their property
Why let something like this go to waste?

We drove into Durham for a 10 o’clock appointment at RBC about the investments that were due. Susan was very interested in the lifestyle we have chosen and asked a lot of questions about the southwest. She was thrilled to get one of our cards so she could read our blogs. That cleaned up and settled for a few years, we went to F & S to fill a propane tank.

Gabe swims

Bill always looks after things that are needed for the Suite but is even more in-tune to my needs when he will be away. I can’t help but think how useless I would be for so many things if he wasn’t around for a few days. I’m sure I’d manage with instruction but you know what I mean. He needs to stick around for a very, very long time!

Taking a break, see the piles I need to go back and pick up?

Back home by 11 this morning and the temperature has risen to 12C/53F and the wind has died down considerably. In town there is no noticeable wind so it is probably 3 or 4 degrees warmer. I’ll take this in a heartbeat though, nothing compares to the serenity and privacy up here on the hill. We sat down and while made a few phone calls to change our mailing address, I went online and did the same for my connections with being Mom's poa. I think we might have everything updated now to our rural route delivery.

So I'm watching a visitor in Gabe's pond
He flies in behind him/her and seems to stalk

Flirting or showing who is boss?

Seems like they have come to terms with each other

After a bite for lunch we headed outside. Bill and Clemson drove over to The Acreage to get the bladder full of water. We were just below half but because he was expected to go to London for a couple of days, we wanted to top up. While he was gone, I hopped on my bike and went for a spin down the lane and road to the corner. Gosh, my legs need to be stronger! Good thing for the 6 gear changes on my wheels. It was good and I just need to build up the muscle so it doesn’t take so much out of me.

I was stunned when these geese came from nowhere

 My next venture was to rake the secondary lane from the bottom of the corral up the hill to the Suite. Mostly small branches from the overhead trees but also dead grass needed to be raked and cleaned up. So, from the leg work out to the arms it felt good to work outside. Often, I stopped to take a breather and have a water break. The sun was warm and I was grateful for the wind today.

One day I'm going to catch this guy in flight displaying his beautiful red wings

Bill returned and set up the hoses and filter to fill the tank before opening up his cargo trailer that holds his remote-controlled planes. I should have got a picture but maybe I’ll wait until he has it organized again. He is always coming up with new ideas.

Once I finished raking and dumping the loads in the brush pile, I was truly exhausted. I think the bike ride had caught up with me and my legs felt like rubber. I walked the lane a couple of times just to keep moving and then gave in and sat in my lounge chair with Clemson.

In case you missed it, this  will be our temperature for the next few

At 5 I lit the Weber and heated it up to start roasting potatoes. I could have sat outside in that warmth for a bit longer but I knew I would be asleep. After putting the cut-up spuds in a tinfoil pan, I came inside with Bill and Clemson and cut up onions and mushrooms. I would fry those up on the stove inside.

Dinner was delicious with the sides I’ve already mentioned and the steak we didn’t eat last night. After a good working day, sitting down with a full tummy was just what we needed. Not sure how long I will be able to sit and read before these eyes give in.

Gabe returns to his self made peace

I kept an eye on Gabe today in our east pond and watched swallows frequent the sky. Like the snipe, they are very fast, too fast for my lens. As a few of my readers have stated, this is a nature haven………….or should I say heaven. There is always something to listen to or look for related to ‘the nature of things’.

With the sun setting behind me, I’m going to pop in last night’s final sunset and call it a night. I’ve no doubt, if you are an outdoors type of person, whether it is landscaping you’re into, hiking, driving or reading, I’m sure you enjoyed this beautiful day in your neck of the woods as much as I did.

Good night from our summer place

By the way, Bill got a call this morning from CanAm. Change of plans, jiggling jello happens even here at home. While we were prepared to have Bill go to London Tuesday and Wednesday to work, Tuesday got postponed. Hmm, it would be a really long day for him to drive the 2 1/2 hours, work 8 hours and drive home so Phil was able to find someone to cover Wednesday's jobs. that makes life easier this time for us. We have to take the Ford in for the bumper repair Thursday morning so staying overnight was not going to be an option. Thanks Phil!

Thank you for following our day today. I love receiving your comments.