Rumbling Around Home, Storm Watches then Warnings, Birthday Wishes

The Ridge

On Tuesday, Sept. 7^th, I was awake a couple of times through the wee hours, lastly dropping off at 5:30 into a deep sleep. When I next woke and looked at the clock, it was 7:30! That 2 hours went by in a blink. Bill had a text from his boss last night that they wouldn’t be starting the job down the road today so he got another day off. It’s good in one way but it also means a small paycheck again. 😊 I told Bill it was just gearing us down to what will be, come October.

Back to school
makes me feel that things are 'almost' normal

I took a tea into Durham, cleaned the Mat and then drove to Hanover. We had built up quite a grocery list so I picked those things up at Walmart. Apparently, I was brain dead again though. I meant to go further down the street to the Independent Grocers to get my yogourt and completely forgot that. Not everyone carries (few actually) the 11% Oikos Greek yogourt so it means popping into a store I don’t generally shop at. Donna does frequent there for her groceries so if I don't get back, I'll ask her to pick me up a couple of tubs.

Breakfast time for someone

On my way back through Durham, I filled a 3-gallon water bottle and headed home. Bill was working on the water system for the Suite (he can explain all that) and Gibbs was digging another hole to China on the opposite side of the trailer. Good grief! It was a big one! 👀 It really doesn’t do any harm; it isn’t in the lawn at least so we just chastise him and fill it back in. We don’t get too bent out of shape about it. It's just stones.

Gibbs noticed the cows on our walk
He isn't sure about them so barks to let them know he's boss

Bill always has lots of projects to do around here, some for ‘our’ living improvements and others for his own ‘hobby’ improvements.  So, he started adding a railing to the Hangar porch. There were almost enough pieces left from our stoop to do it and he’d shoved them under the Suite to keep them dry. I loaded them in Ptooties hatch and dropped them down at the Hangar and drove over to M’s to show him how to use the Little Green carpet cleaner. I wasn’t gone 15 minutes.

All the way up the lane, he kept stopping
to check on those big bovine

When I returned, I decided to work on my canvas painting but this time IN the Bunky.  The forecast was for heavy rains and storms later today. Bill stopped when he ran out of wood and I stopped when I noticed the sky to the northwest was getting darker and darker. Over us, we were still in light skies but we knew that could change in a minute. By the time we both got inside, the heavy clouds and rain spatters didn’t take long to move our way.

What's the opposite of pigeon-toed?
He has the cutest little stance

It got scary and every 5 minutes we were getting warning notices on our phones and the radio that we may need to take cover because of 110 km winds or tornadoes. ☹  It was covering a wide area but for the first time, I saw that Bill was nervous. He's my rock when I get anxious so this worried me. We packed up a few important things and then at 4:30 threw a few items for us and Gibbs in a bag and hightailed it to Hanover. Donna and Gerry have a basement at least.

Seeing the pictures, it makes us look like wimps
running for shelter

but it was much blacker than this shows
and it was enough to make us get the heck outta here!
Better to be safe than sorry, as Donna says

We need to communicate with a couple of neighbours closer to home for instances like this as driving the 20 minutes to family may not always be feasible. The scare for us was when the blackest sky I’ve ever seen here moved towards us and over top of it were some weird clouds. We hit wind and rain not far down the road but by the time we reached their home, things seemed to have settled down.

Pictures are quite blurry - sorry!

We prayed that things would be okay at the Ridge for us to return to later. Gibbs hasn’t been at Donna’s since he was just 8 weeks old so of course, it was a new exploring experience for him. 😊 We all chose food off a sheet of coupons from A & W and Bill and Gerry went to pick up our cheap supper. The Bacon Cheddar Uncle Burger combo was a choice for 3 of us and we enjoyed them in the dining room. Donna opted for the Papa Burger with onion rings. They looked good too although we agreed that we would like them better with the crispy, greasy hard coating. Yummy.

Gibb's was a going concern looking around
Donna was perusing the coupon menu

Checking the weather network around 7:30 showed that the warnings for tornadoes had passed and only a thunderstorm watch was in effect until early morning. Phew! We packed up and drove home. There was nothing indicating any damage anywhere along the route nor at the Ridge. That was a big sigh of relief. Family close to home had been communicating about the storm with one sister asking “Where is Pat?” They know we are kind of the sitting ducks up here.

Helping Daddy drive home

Things back home on Baptist Church Road were just wet
and puddly

We appreciate all their concern and let them know we were home safe. The rain does a number on our satellite service, always has, so trying to watch America’s Got Talent was almost pointless. We went up to bed around 10:30. Before I say good night, I need to mention that my 2^nd oldest grandson, Jake, turned 24 today! I don’t know how this is even possible. I hope his card arrived on time. 😊

From 3 days old

10 years old

Happy Birthday, Jacob! 💕🎈🎉
Good night!

This was mostly a good day, we could have done withOUT the scare but at least we got to visit my sister.

Thank you for stopping in.

Labour Day and Some Actual Labour, Some Sun, Some Rain, Some Turtles and Some Earlier Pictures

When I woke up on Labour Day, Monday, Sept. 4^th it was after 7 and I was surprised it was so late. I slept well, another night full of dreams, and felt well rested. It is not unusual for me to sleep for 9 hours since I am usually in bed by 10. Sleep is not something I need to improve on!

A very bright picture out our back window

Bill and Clem got up with me which explains why Bill does need to improve on his sleep hours. He stays up later and is awake a couple of times through most nights. The sky was just another typical Ontario summer day up here, cloudy, peeks of sunshine, windy and cool. I hope this new month isn’t going to be all like this. Last year we had a wonderful September and normal October.

A smaller snapping turtle was in a hurry to cross the lane

I think today may be a day when I can get another walk in as well as get some cooking into the schedule. I have my soft apples to make something out of as well as too many tomatoes. My plans for lunches on a couple of days with friends didn’t pan out for one reason or another and I had bought 4 large ones that need to be dealt with. I’ll let you know later today what I ended up doing, I’m sure you’ll be waiting with baited breath!

this one is not very old

With the sun tempting me, I took a walk down the lane and dropped a couple more pieces of recycling in the bin at the road. Even though a holiday, the schedule says today is garbage pickup day. The wind is strong but it has warmed up considerably already this morning. Every time I walk down there, it reminds me of a project I’ve talked about for a while but I forget when I get back up here to the Suite.

Strong wind

Today, when I came back up from my walk I went straight to the storage shed and got the shovel out. I leaned it up against the bunky so I could see it from inside. After making bacon and eggs for our brunch I first thought I would do something with the food I mentioned earlier. Nope, don’t have brown sugar to make apple sauce and don’t have the celery and tomato paste to make a batch of spaghetti sauce. They will wait until tomorrow.

Starting to dig

 Bill sat at his laptop to work on his own project and I decided to go out and start digging. Down at the fence along the north end of the driveway I want to dig up the grass all along the fence, in between and around my tiger lily plants. This will make it easier to cut grass down there and trimming won’t snip off so many lily leaves. I also want to transplant some Lady’s Mantle down along the fence in October before we leave.

I wanted to get  rid of the grass against the fence

With shovel, water, gloves, phone and camera in hand I headed down and set to work. It was actually a great day to do this, the strong wind would keep me cool enough. Oft times I stop working because I get too hot. I first dug up the area where I want to replant, digging then sitting to shake as much reusable earth off as possible. The grass and weed clumps went into piles.

I had to change positions often so my back didn't cramp up on me

Bill 'sneakily' came down the lane without my knowledge

I think I went down around noon hour and kept a bit of an eye on the sky. It was fine for the first hour and a half but around 1:30 I thought I might be forced to make a mad dash. Bill texted me at 2 and asked if I was okay and that was when I took my sunglasses off and realized it wasn’t as bad a sky as it looked. I worked away, determined to finish to the lilies for today.

The wind had this tree rocking

When I felt a couple of mosquitoes around my back I called it quits. The clumps of grass and weeds will be fine where they are for overnight if I don’t get back down there later with my wagon. I’m impressed with today’s efforts, really pleased that I got at it. I think it will look so much better with plants along there and less grass to deal with along the fence line.

So, lilies trimmed and piles of brush to pick up

Inside, I addressed a second birthday card and will walk it down to the mailbox before the pick up tomorrow afternoon. I’m sure I’ll feel a bit of today’s work in my back later and tomorrow but I’ll keep walking and stretching it in the meantime. I poured myself a small glass of Forty Creek Cream Liquor. I hadn’t even opened it yet and it was quite nice for a sipping drink in the middle of an afternoon. We also hadn’t eaten yet so we had a Chapman’s ice cream bar and a piece of cheddar.

Clemson gets his supper - note the time

I saw that Bill had started a new post which was great so I settled in my chair with my book. You can check his blog post out here. I’m reading a new author (for me) Jeffrey Archer called A Prisoner from Birth and it is quite good. A little different but I was hooked from the first page and that is always good. The rain started about 4 pm and so did the storm. Lightning and thunder filled the sky and even a bit of hail. Oh no, just what we needed, more rain.

Just to clarify, Clem won that battle

It continued on and off for a couple of hours but nothing too terribly serious at least. I know my eyes closed in my chair for a few minutes so it couldn’t have been too loud either. Just before 6 I prepared a Caesar salad (opened a bag left by Brenda) and coated the two chicken breasts for baking. While they were cooking I opened a packet of Swiss Chalet sauce mix and began heating it up on the stove. I know some people don’t like this sauce at all but Bill and I enjoy it with our chicken.

Again, at 6:30 the heavy rain returned and Bill turned the news off when we lost our satellite connection. No sunset, no space station views, no stars and no walk tonight after supper. It has been a good day, I accomplished a lot in my garden and can finish it tomorrow or Wednesday to prepare it for planting.

The 3 pictures below were from my girlfriend, Brenda. Ones she took on their visit Friday and Saturday.

At Montana's

Happy Hour

Bill and I opening our birthday cards from Brenda and Randy

I hope your day was a good one and you didn’t get too much rain in your area…….unless you needed it.

Pretty sky tonight just to prove my earlier statement wrong

Thank you for stopping around to read today. I love reading your comments!

Auction Day, Storms Threatening, Preparing for Bill to Leave and a Friend to Visit

Wednesday, July 12^th we woke and got up between 6:30 and 7 to a warm start. I actually think it was probably 18C throughout the night. I had a nice refreshing sleep with windows open in the Suite. After our tea and coffee, Bill took the truck to the Acreage and filled the bladder for our fresh water tank. Looking out for me again.

Today is the day of the auction sale at Aunt Mary’s place and the weather isn’t looking to cooperate. Storms are being forecast from 12 noon until later this evening. We’re not giving up hope that a miracle may happen, the sale goes on Rain or Shine! We’ll putter around home until noon and go over to assist with more set up where needed. Because of the humidity and Clemson being left home, we turned the a/c on in the Suite and set it around 22C.

Nice sky during the morning hours

 I’ve been on line googling directions for my friend, Debbie. She is coming to spend from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon with me, while Bill is gone. This was her suggestion and I think it will be a fun time. Debbie is a former secretary at the School Board where we worked in London. Our real friendship began in the latter years of employment after talking on the phone to her for years and we hit it off. I’m looking forward to her visit!

Calm to no winds

Around 11:30 Bill had finished emptying the fresh water into our Suite tank. I cooked up an egg and bacon concoction so Bill could have a toasted western and I could have an omelette. After filling our tummies, we headed into Durham to see if we could assist with the final set up for the auction. We worked away together for a couple of hours and with things covered in tarps we came home while the first of the storms passed.

We got thunder, rain and winds up here on The Ridge right around 3 pm and Rob reported that they had just had it in town. It was short-lived, stopping by 3:10. I know from the radar that another one looks to be coming through around 5:30. At least by then we’ll be into about an hour of selling.

I had some kind of effect on these first few pictures on my phone camera
These tables are in the back yard

 We fed Clemmy before 4 and went back in to finish with preparations. We were ready with rain gear, hats and hopes that we wouldn’t need them for too long. One thing about auctions sales, from my experience, people come regardless of the weather trying to get that good deal. It could be a ‘one table at a time’ type of deal for a while as we lift the tarps for the auctioneer to do his thing.

This old wood extension ladder was so heavy!

The weather was great around 4:15 and Rob, Bill, Wilf, Glen and I uncovered tables and folded the tarps, keeping them nearby in case we needed to grab and cover again. Lavern, the auctioneer had the ladies set up in the kitchen for registering and Lorna Eckhardt and helpers were set up on the front porch with a barbecue and food and drinks on offer. I didn’t get a picture of these gals, my neglect. Great job with the food!

$2/box or bundle

I loved this solid old rocker

This motor was the highest priced item

 Things started hopping a few minutes early, taking advantage of the weather and the auctioneer wasted no time on the first couple of tables. When there was no interest, he moved on leaving an open $2/bundle or box for late arrivals. That seemed to work as potential buyers would put together their own bundles and be happy to pay $2 for their choice.

this beautiful old cabinet was full of small tools in the garage

As we moved nearer the back, the men became more interested and items were sold more by piece and then a clear out for the whole table. I love the thrill of an auction so stayed close offering assistance to find boxes where I could. I even tried auctioning off the boxes to a couple and believe it or not, they were quite willing to pay me!

Sealer jars anyone?

Bill, Wilf and Glen were a big help to Lavern, holding items up and helping people carry away their purchases. It was a good day. At 6:30 the sky opened up and Rob, Pat and Sandra hustled to remove items that hadn’t sold up front to the cover of the garage. Clearing tables that were for sale and covering those that weren’t.

Nice crowd

Old camera gear brings back memories

Very cool antiques brought a nice profit

All in all, it was a great turn out and although interest and participants had faded by the time we’d moved inside for the furniture, the main items sold. It was nice to see a young Mennonite family buy the sofa and bedroom sets. Although the prices didn’t go as high as we’d all hoped, we know someone young is going to get good use of them.

Wilf and Bill holding up antique oil and gas cans

This is where the bidding got heavier

The sale was over by 7:30 so it was a fast 3 hours. I walked away after raising my arm only 3 times to bid and lost out on only one thing I wanted. I’m quite tickled with what I did get for $2 each. When we arrived home at 9 we settled in to read for a bit. I think Bill had a couple of pieces of toast, I had a few veggie strings and by 9:30 we were falling asleep in our chairs. Even though we thought it was too early went to bed. Bill would have an early start Thursday with his drive to London.

Rob and Pat keeping a distance from the selling process
It isn't an easy thing seeing what people bid on personal items

I hope you had an awesome day too. 

On our home break, I noticed this beautiful guy drinking from the hummer feeder
My first thought was a bobolink, but with the longer beak, a downy woodpecker?

Thank you for reading. Comments are always welcome!

Wild Night, Not the Kind of Wild I’d Call Fun, Laundry and Rhubarb

We had a pretty good night’s sleep on Monday night until 4 am Tuesday, June 13^th. The windows were open in the Suite and cool air was coming in nicely. At 4 the blind banging the sill woke us and we realized a thunderstorm was gaining momentum. I closed my window and Bill closed the others. Lazy bones, me, I didn’t move.

That sky to the northeast is not a clothesline sky

The portable solar panel had blown over, the recycle bins had tipped with papers fluttering around and a couple of our rain pails were scattered. I don’t necessarily like to know what is going on outside in a wind storm so closed my blind as well. Bill was up so checked online at the weather radar and thus satisfied, came back to bed.

A little brighter to the southwest but doubtful

We slept until close to 7 when it started up again. Both times, the Suite was rocking enough to put us back to sleep. We were fine. Really strong winds though. This morning when we got up shortly after 7:30 the winds were calmed right down and it was just a light rain under completely cloudy skies. Hmm, laundry day, wouldn’t you know it?

Priceville celebrates Canada's birthday too

Priceville post office
Has been sold

Bill made me my cup of tea and I sat and read a couple of blog posts while drinking it. I sorted the 3 loads, we stripped the bed and loaded the basket and detergent in the car. It was an easy decision to use the dryers at the laundromat today, no way would the clothes dry in the rain! Bill went with me today to help fold and made a couple of jaunts around town.

My latest book

He made an appointment for our ‘scruffy’ to get a hair cut, bath and toenail clip at the Bath and Biscuit next week. He also stopped in to say hello to Rob. He was back in time to help me fold the laundry. It was all done and we were on our way home by 10:30. That is pretty quick!

Before turning onto Baptist Church Road, we drove straight on #4 to Priceville. I had a parcel to pick up and was excited to do so. My new book was in and I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out. This will be a yearly project to make a photo book of our winter journeys.

Three packs in the freezer

Clemson had another upset tummy today which meant he required lots of attention. That is the first time he has refused a “look after the house” treat. While I made a toasted western for Bill and an omelette quesadilla for me, Bill sat with him to settle him down a bit. We were eating by noon so perfect time for brunch. With the clothes all put away and dishes done, my boys went up to the bedroom for a wee snooze. Perfect time for me to cut up the bag full of rhubarb that Rob gave me on Saturday.

Ready to pop in the oven

I have 3 bags of 4 cups each in the freezer and will make a dessert of some kind for tonight. I’ll have to take a walk up to my veg garden and make sure things are okay after the storm and make sure the weeds haven’t taken over. It is hovering around 17C today but it feels cooler to me, even without any wind.

Posing for me

A couple of walks down the lane and this time discovered some of those loud Kermits we’ve been hearing ‘glub-glubbing’ so much. There were a few turtles on the log but the marsh grass was so tall it was hard to capture them today. The rain had obviously stopped so I could walk without a hat or umbrella.

Ribbett

After Bill and Clemson got up, I made up the bed with clean sheets, don’t you love that feeling? I do. It is time to put our bedspread away, under the bed is a good spot. We have a duvet and that has been folded down for the last 3 or 4 nights. It should be all we need. We have also put our Blue Flame propane heater out in the bunky for storage. 

I'm blown over by my abundance of iris'

After I made up a large pan of Rhubarb/Strawberry Crisp we decided since the sun was out, we’d unplug and take advantage of the sunshine for as long as we could. After supper, we’ll plug in so I can cook our dessert in the convection oven. I went out to enjoy some sun while Bill read.

Found this marsh iris, it is beautiful!

The hammock looked great to me and with the light breeze it was the perfect location to read my book. I took my water bottle, my phone and The Last Coyote to read. I could have dozed off but the story was too good, I love Harry Bosch! After about an hour or longer, it was time to stretch my legs. I walked down to the end of the lane again, no camera this time.

Last night's rain storm added to our rain barrel

Instead, I found 8 varieties of wild flowers along my walk. A geranium stem had been broken so with that and a corabelle stalk I made this lovely bouquet. Nature is so beautiful! By the way, my garden is faring okay up there on the hill. Still not much to show in my green onion rows but the tomato and pepper plants are taller and starting to show flowers.

My wildflowers from The Ridge

When I came inside, I just had to comment on that gorgeous afternoon and such a blue sky after what we woke up to. It was a lazy type day and after such a busy one yesterday, we felt it was well deserved.

Beautiful sky from the view of my hammock

I made a salad for each of us for supper, fried up some mini sausages at the same time as I boiled up a potato for Bill. The spud will go with his steak for his London supper tomorrow night. He’ll make up his sandwiches for lunch before going to bed tonight.

Almost forgot to show you dinner

Supper was good, quick and easy. Once the sun drops a bit more I will bake our dessert for a taste test before putting some in a dish to send as well. When it comes to certain desserts, I can pretty much guarantee my creations will be yummy. Just ask Bill.

Clemson was feeling better and enjoying a bit of sunshine

 So, after dinner was cleaned up, Bill packed his clothes and had his shower. I went outside to read and one more walk down the lane. I found one more wildflower to add to my vase. I don’t know how warm it got today but to me, it was absolutely perfect. It is sitting at 23C/73F at 8:00. Lovely day.

I had to pick one of these iris' to add to my bouquet

With the rhubarb crisp cooking, I can finish this post while watching America’s Got Talent. It is always entertaining. I hope you have had a wonderful spring day today.

And the sunsets DON'T LET ME DOWN! (Beatles)

Thank you for reading. I love to read your comments.