A Mixed Weather Day, Shed Purge, Rhubarb!

The Ridge

On Sunday, May 23^rd we started our day at 7 am. It was good to just lounge in bed for the morning. Bill was up with Gibbs at 6:00, little sleepyhead, and brought him up into bed with us after he went out. No, he didn’t really want to settle down but after letting him wander between us and to the bed edges, he finally conked out. 😊 He’ll get used to it, I’m sure, especially once we get him out of the nipping stage.

A pretty morning

The day started out really sunny at 7, 8, 9 and then it got cloudy and drizzly. Bill had gone out before the fine mist started and emptied our black tank. The chore that he hates the most. Probably the only one he dislikes at all. Then he cut the grass at the back field, the berm, the corral and our sitting area before coming inside. By then it was quite damp out there but he was happy to have it taken care of.

Gibbs's new endeavour
Watching Daddy go upstairs

The attempt and hesitation

And some hesitation coming down

We had bacon and sausages for lunch and after dishes, he went upstairs for a snooze by himself. Gibbs curled up in his bed downstairs and I sat in my chair with my book. Getting closer to the finish line! I hope to finish it tonight. I’d contacted someone on FB’s Marketplace who was selling rhubarb from their personal patch. We set up the time for an afternoon pick up and while Bill slept, I slipped out. 

My irises are always beautiful and these are the short ones

I found their place along Hwy #6 easily using my gps and was in and out quickly. My, was it ever a big patch and about 3’ tall! He had it all picked for me which I appreciated. After telling him about my unlucky streak with growing it he recommended I give my rhubarb another year and I should see progress. 

The sky was about to change again

I have my work cut out for me

Bill was up when I got home and was outside in the storage shed. Gibbs was inside looking after things. I joined Bill and we made good progress out there. Mainly, we needed to clean it up, organize and move the table saw stand in there from the new shelter. 

I noticed the wee beginnings of a hornets nest
in the outhouse
It's gone now!

We have things to purge, some garbage and things to sell. I took pictures of the latter items and posted them on Kijiji and Facebook. Anything we can get for them helps us and we’ll be happy someone else can use them. Bill had moved out to the front field and finished cutting the grass there. Well, of course, he needed to find a bit of excitement in the process. When he came up half way through and said he needed my help, I thought oh-oh.

Gibbs had fun walking up the plank while we cleaned
and purged
He even had fun falling off a few times

Nothing surprises me much anymore when Bill gets on his Cub Cadet. With this new one now, it’s like he can venture just that much farther! 😊 So, with Ptooties backed up and a chain attached to both vehicles, I pulled him out of the muck and the mire down near the pond. Biting my tongue from saying “what the heck were you cutting in there for?”, I left him to it with a grumble but a chuckle at the same time. Boys will be boys.

Bill now has room for his table saw and stand

Garden tools are more organized and neat

On the window side, he still has some tidying to do
but it's a great start

We had chicken nuggets in Rosy the air fryer with a vegetable on the side. It’s a fast meal and we finished it off with black cherry ice cream. We made a call to Marilynne before dishes as we’d been thinking about our loss from 3 years ago today. We lost Bill’s Dad in 2018 and it is a tough day for all of us but especially her. It’s great to have the good memories and also good to know that he didn’t have to go through this Covid nonsense. We miss you in our physical lives, Dad! 💖

Pooped out after time outside

Supper was pretty simple tonight, we weren't overly hungry

After dishes, we watched the tail end of Pretty Woman, American Idol and then later on caught the episode of The Good Witch.  Gibbs had a good time outside with me, following me back and forth from the shed to the lawn. Such a great helper. Now, he’s been sleeping at our feet for a couple of hours. 😉 

The sky was pretty tonight too

What a great day, I feel we accomplished a lot. I think Gibbs will agree. 🐕

Good night!

Thank you for your visit today!

Hot and Cold Water, Storage Shed Cleaning, Grass Cut, Suite Swept, Owen Sound Delivery, Sister Visit

On Monday, June 12^th we woke up after a great sleep. The windows were open as we decided there was a cool enough breeze coming in that we wouldn’t need the a/c. The frogs were even quiet enough for Bill to fall asleep in good time. We were both in bed by 10:30 and up at 7. A good night's sleep.

Bill drove the garbage and recycle bin down at 8
Clemson and I went to retrieve it around 9:30 am

Bill was opening the blinds to let the light in while I made up the bed. Looked like a great day. The clouds moved in soon after 8 but with the heat, it was quite acceptable not to have the sun. After coffee/tea we set to work outside. Bill wanted to prepare the hot water tank for flushing and cleaning so followed the vinegar/water treatment he found online at RV Geeks.

We used 5 bottles of vinegar, next time we'll need 10 of this
small size

While doing that, he decided that he may as well go for water and fill the fresh water tank. We were still just above 50% but he would be headed to London on Wednesday. Let’s get ‘er done today. I pulled out my battery mower and cut the grass up here on our flat living area before it got too hot out.

all cut for another week

I was still pretty warm when I finished but wow, it looks so much better without all the dandelion stems standing 6” tall. I used the second lowest setting with the blades since we are now getting more heat and less rain. That made three jobs completed.

Breaking up and loading the leftover paneling that was stored up top

From there, we started emptying the storage shed. Items on shelves were re-evaluated, some replaced and others tossed but all re-organized. The floor was swept and a few less things went back into the shed when we finished up. We had paneling leftover from Bill’s work on the bunky, thinking we might have use for it, we stored it. Now it is broken up into fire pit size pieces and will be burnt.

Putting my little wagon to work

Job #4 done. We hadn’t eaten yet so grabbed a sandwich at 12:30. Toasted tomato and cheese for me. It was tasty. We drove into Durham to meet up with Rob and Pat once more. This time I was bagging up leftover Christmas items from the sale. Not all people are in the spirit to shop for these things in June so Pat generously accept my sister, Wendy’s offer to take it for the Waterfront Museum in Owen Sound.

All back, nice and organized

Bill helped Rob load and unload a few things into the trailer and I loaded the truck to capacity. Unfortunately, Wendy was working at Grey Roots Museum today so we didn’t see her, but a couple of staff gratefully accepted the donation. We have 2 Christmas trees yet to take over but all in good time.

John down in the meadow

They have the most lush periwinkle I've ever seen
It is blurred because I neglected to stop for the photo

Gayle up at the house comes out to greet us

Since we’d driven that far, on the way back we stopped at my other sister, Gayle’s place just east of Chatsworth. We found John down in the meadow with the Montana and I walked up with him to the house to meet Gayle. Well, what do you know, it was time for Happy Hour! The guys made us a coffee and we sat in the gazebo for an hour or so. Nice visit and we were soon on our way home.

The drive home down country roads was a nice one

I love this tree on Baptist Church Road
The tree trunk is covered in vine

 Arriving at The Ridge just after 5, we had a card in the mail box for a  parcel to pick up tomorrow. I can't wait to get it tomorrow but I have to Clemson got his meal first and Bill started the Weber Q for ours. I had remembered to thaw 3 rib eye steak and while the barbecue was heating up, I washed up a couple of potatoes to throw on as well. I felt famished tonight and with lots of butter, sour cream and salt and pepper, it was delish!

That is a big steak but I ate the whole thing!

Because the hot water valve to the inside of the Suite is turned off while the vinegar rinse is working, we boiled water for dishes. A 24-hour ‘boil’ is what is recommended to clean the tank once a year. When the dishes were done, I went outside to the night air, it was about 5 degrees cooler out than in.

When Clemson and I walked down the lane this morning,
yet another turtle was nesting

Later, returning to the same spot, it was covered over
Yay! Nest site #3

I wrote for a bit and then took a walk down the lane. I didn’t see any of my reptile pals but thought I’d count, for curiosity alone, the number of attempted nest holes. Would you believe there are 45? On top of that, I know at least 3 spots that have been covered over eggs. We wonder how many of those holes were done by the same female. 

Pregnant turtles are obviously very choosy.

We all love the Chapman's Ice Cream bars
Clemmy can't wait for the little bit we leave on the stick

Coming back there were little tiny fliers that seemed to like my sweaty flesh so much so that I got some Off and sprayed myself. They don’t seem to be biting, but just making me itchy. Now I can sit outside and finish my post. It is only 7:00 so we will see who wins out. Bill has joined me with a book and Clemson is cooler on his stool.

Good to the last lick

The hammock was brought out of the shed this morning and it looks quite tempting over there by the bunky. I doubt there will be a sunset tonight since we aren’t seeing any sun, but I’ll wait to post this for another couple of hours just in case.

the hammock in a temporary spot for now

Bill and I sat outside for a couple of hours. We felt a few spatters of rain but it was still early enough to want to stay out so we put the big awning out. There is no wind to speak of again and it was quite nice until we came in around 9:30. This is the kind of evening we enjoy.

Clemson enjoys his stool with us outside

I hope your day was a good one too. Ours was productive and pleasurable. At 10:00 it is still 24C.

Worth the wait

Thank you for reading my post today. Comments are always welcome!