Another Ouch to our Budget, Working Morning

The Ridge

On Tuesday, Apr. 30^th we welcome the last day of this unpredictable month. I won’t say it has been a month of hardships, but some financial burdens over the last 30 days have given us cause to pull up our socks. 😊 And we thought they were already as high as they could go! Anyway, we’re happy to turn over a new leaf tomorrow as we slide into May.

Good morning!
See that house? We should have new neighbours AGAIN
taking possession tomorrow. 
This will be 4 new owners since 2016.
We must be terrible!

I know Gibbs and Bill slept in until almost 6:30 this morning and I followed around 7. After getting washed, dressed and making my tea, I left the Suite for town. I was alone to clean again today, the place not being anything out of the ordinary, it was a ‘clean sweep’ (haha). I still work an hour, with or without washing the floors as I spend more time on the washers if I have time on my hands. After driving in to town, I make it last. 

It's a dull looking morning that lasted all day
with very few peeks at sunshine.
Notice the full bird bath?
Enough rain!

Just as I was leaving the lady from the Outdoors Store in town was unloading her basket. Patti and Rick will chuckle over this but I was in a t-shirt and capris as I held the door for her. Her comment reminded me of our park managers. “Look at you, dressed for summer and I’m in a jacket and jeans”. 😊 It was mild to me, 10C/51F, and the rain was non-existent. Today was one where the chance of rain after 9 was pretty miniscule. Good! I texted Sandy, my boss, with the hours I'd worked this month. 

Here is our happy boy. Nice to see his eyes again.
Hi Gerald and Nancy!

Back home, I wiped my shoes and left my runners on. They seemed to be better for my sore toe than not having them on. I still was hobbling but it didn’t seem as bad. At 10, I drove back to M’s to get that apartment ready, it was the last day to do it. The doors in between living room and hall got washed, her birds sat on their tops and left a very difficult mess, front and back. Gross. Elbow grease was required but I persevered.

Come play with me, Mom.

Some more floor washing in the kitchen and bathroom, fronts of the kitchen cupboards and some carpet trimming and I was done. Another cash pay out when I left 2 hours later to have lunch with Bill. I took an Afghan and a 5’ x 3’ colourful carpet to brighten the place up and placed a tea towel on the unusable wood stove before I left. The place looks pretty good. I may run over in the morning briefly to take pictures and discuss the lease with M before the new tenant arrives.

Tasty sausage on a bun.

Bill went out to cut grass and when I got the call that our Income Tax forms were ready, he finished ¾ of the property and we drove in to see Tim. This was another budget hit but since it was the last day to file, we came home and sent what we owed. I had made some changes to my deductions this past year and that helped me but we need to make changes to Bill’s income. Anyway, just another one of those inevitable things, right?

Mrs. Goldfinch is on the other side of the finch feeder.
I love how they flew in and flew out together. 💘

Bill finished cutting the field and then barbecued sausages for supper. We still have keto buns and everything tasted great, as usual. I sure wish I could get them here – I haven’t given up looking! After clean up, Mr. & Mrs. Goldfinch visited our feeders, he is so bright you can’t miss him. I need to boil up some sugar food tomorrow as I hear the Orioles are arriving. I do love the birds. The evening will be quiet and I’ll probably be in bed early. None of our programs are on tonight.

This has been a good but dull day and I feel better for helping to get M’s apartment ready.  My foot is much better, Bill gave me some Advil with my afternoon tea and that has helped. Thank you to everyone who commented with concerns. Those boots are history or soon will be. Gibbs has had a good day, outside a fair bit and inside he has dug ole Stuffy out of his basket, giving him some lovin’. Funny, how they just decide to dig out a new ‘old’ toy.

My videos still won't download to my blog
so I'll share this instead. "don't stop dancing"
Good night!

Thank you for popping by.

Happy 4th of July and a Working Monday

The Ridge

On Monday, July 4^th I wanted to wish our American friends the best on their day of celebration. We’ve all enjoyed a long weekend regardless of where we live. 😊 Bill didn’t have to be to work until 9:30 so it was a bit of a leisurely morning for both of us. Gibbs and I went for a walk on this lovely morning and I took the garbage and recycle bins down to the road.

Just a beautiful morning for a walk

I had some cereal and my tea before going to M’s myself for 9:30. I knew that I’d be working in the bed of the Chev again so tried to put a positive attitude on. It isn’t an easy job but at least I had my knee pads. Too bad they don’t make ‘butt pads’ too! It’s my back that felt it most of all so I’ll do some stretches tonight so I can move in the morning. I’d almost finished when my 3-hour shift was over so I used the air nozzle to blow the blue off my arms, jeans – well, everything.

The clouds are lovely

No long grass along the side of the road to walk in
Woe is Gibbs 

I wasted no time at home. I greeted Gibbs and hopped into the shower. The day today has been so ‘still’, if that is a reference you understand. There’s no better word for it, nothing was moving. I took it as a sign that a storm was brewing but nothing has happened yet. I’m hoping for some rain overnight to water the potted and garden plants. It wouldn’t hurt to give them some before dark. There has been no sunshine all day but I’m sure they’re very dry. ☹

A nice view of our home from the bottom of the corral

Bill had our little flag at the
mailbox on Canada Day

I worked on the puzzle after Gibbs and I sat and dozed in my chair. I actually got some of my book read today too. It isn’t that I’m not enjoying it, the time just hasn’t been available. Bill got home around 4:30 and he turned around and drove into Durham FS Co-op to get propane. We had an empty tank. 

Sometimes, I think Gibbs plans these pictures! 💓

Supper tonight was a little better than last night, sausage on a bun for Bill and I had asparagus. We both finished the potato salad and the last of the cheesecake from Friday. Yum.

Now, it's looking better!
There are definitely 3 pieces missing so far

After dishes were in the dishwasher, it was time for some relaxing. I am trying to get back on track with my blog writing so this one is short and hopefully ‘sweet’. 😊 It was another good day, heck, they all are!

It doesn't look like much 
but with cheesecake for dessert
it was plenty!
Good night!
Happy 4th of July!

Thank you for popping in.

Early Birds, (not us)Shopping Spree and Work Around Home

The Ridge

On Monday, Apr. 19^th we were up before 8. It was a sleep-in day with no alarms to wake us up any earlier. We had our first coffee and tea while catching up on our friends’ blogs. With that done, we decided to go to Hanover to get the groceries on our list. I could have done it Tuesday but Bill wanted to pick up the insulation he needs to finish the underbelly damage and we could get both things done in one day. I also wanted black mulch and Bill's help to lug the bags is a bonus.

It was a beautiful morning!

It was around 9 when we headed into town. It feels like Sunday with both of us home, not working. Bill’s boss needed today to get the information regarding the continuation of their construction work. It is in a vacant cottage and the job has been started, leaving a bathroom without a floor. Probably not a good idea to leave it sit like that but it has to be approved before they go back.

We were barely up when we had the first visitor

Then his brother arrived

I love the finch feeder

Someone looks a little chubby

He dropped me at Walmart to get the groceries and drove down the road to Rona first where the insulation price set him back on his heels. Whoa! He drove to the Home Hardware and was able to get a better price for what he needed. He hopes it is enough. Everyone is gouging with the excuse of Covid-19 and not being able to get product. Funny though, when you see lots on the shop’s shelves. ☹

We drove home and made a stop at the repair shop that used to be Pletch’s just outside of Durham. The new owners of Grey Bruce Fleet Service seem to be doing a great job, according to other customers. Bill set up an appointment to get an oil change, fuel, air and cabin filters and we left with a booking in our calendar. I will take Black Beauty over and Bill will take the car to work that day.

along comes Mr. Jay

Back home, it was around 11:00 when we had some lunch. Bill puttered outside adding DEF to the truck while I got it ready. The forecast today was for a high of 14C/60F, some sun this morning and a 84% chance of rain this afternoon. The sun was warm and already at 10, it was warming up nicely. 

I'm happy that Walmart is still selling their landscape materials

One of the spots, on the hill

One down by the corral

After I did the dishes, I went out to plant my flowering raspberry bushes. There were enough for 4 separate plots so I set about digging in this ‘often difficult’ Ridge ground. One spot was hardest as it was on the corral hill, still trying to fill spots we can't easily cut. 

the messy garden and the pathetic looking
Rose of Sharon

Remember my little trilliums?

We don't have good dirt on the Ridge
so I hopped the fence to the farmer's field
and scooped some from the sidelines

Joanne said that once it took off, it would spread so be sure to plant it where you don’t care how far it goes. It can always be cut back as well as thinned out and moved so I’ll try 3 different areas. After planting them, I felt like staying outside with my hands in the dirt, so I went up the hill to ‘baby’ my Rose of Sharon. It has never really taken off with flowers and I was ready to give up on it.

So, on the left, my edging is pretty straight
but the right hasn't been touched yet

Donna suggested that I be even more patient and add cattle manure to the earth around it. Hers flowers beautifully every year so I’ll give it one more summer before tossing it out. I told her the real estate in that patch of garden is pricey so it has to prove itself in order to stay there! 😊 I have never been happy with the way this small garden looks, no straight lines in the edges so that was my task today.

I was ready to quit and you can see that
I'm still not done straightening it
The grass on the left is where we are tilling
over to the rise

I worked away while Bill worked on his own project. The sky changed various times from sun to clouds but with constant wind gusts. I hoped the rain would hold off until I was done but by 3, Bill was done for the day and the air felt infinitely cooler. Time for me to go inside too. I didn't think the rain was far behind. I’d finish it another day. My fingers were feeling crampy from digging with my trowel and gripping and pulling up clumps of grass.

She couldn't hand me my parcel, left it on the step

It looks much better but I had to keep standing up at the end of the row to view from that angle, trying to get it straight. Geesh! The garden will be wider by about 8”, 4” on each side, so that should give the hostas and primrose room to spread out. Bill and I have agreed to extend it even further since there is an area of grass behind it that no mower will fit into. With the tiller, it will make an even larger flower garden for planting. I’m always picking up extra plants so now I'm happy with the new plan. Last year, I pooh-poohed the idea.

 I love the size of it and I bought a case so it will slip easily
into any pocket
Now, to just figure it out

Inside, I made a tea and Bill had his snooze. The mail lady drove up and delivered my new MP3 player when we were outside and boy is it every tiny! It’s called a mini so what did I expect? I read through the instructions and it seems pretty basic BUT I can’t figure out how to download music from my laptop to it. I’ve followed the directions and nothing is happening. I was getting frustrated so put it away and started my blog instead. I’ll figure it out, one day. I would like to take it on my walks so won’t give up.

The clouds moved in but
the rain took a while coming

I added a spice rub to some pork ribs and put them in Madame IP for supper at 5:15. With 4 small potatoes in there as well, that would be a good start on the meal. I’ll cook vegetables separately. Still feels like a Sunday, even more so with a big meal like this! 😊 We were eating by 6:15 and wow it was great! Dishes were done by 7. Bill hadn’t heard yet about work tomorrow but being one step ahead of the game, he made his lunch sandwich anyway.

A Sunday dinner on Monday

We had a program to watch later so in the meantime I worked on my blog and we watched NCIS reruns together. This was a good day. We were busy for the better part and accomplished a few things. Now the rain is falling steadily but gently and it will do wonders for my new plantings. We’ve got some cold days and nights ahead of us but we’ll get through it and everything will come up roses by the weekend!

I had ice cream with my pie today

Update: By 7:30, he got the word that they are able to continue working at the cottage. 

Our brother in law cleaned out our driveway
on Apr. 19, 2018 
This was the day before we came home to the Ridge
from CanAm
Now that's a memory!!

Good night!

Thank you for stopping in. Your comments are always appreciated.

Morning Clean, Afternoon Chill and More Company!

The Ridge

I was up before Bill on Wednesday, Aug. 5^th but not by much. I had a job to do so hopped in Ptooties and drove to town. No one was around and all doors were closed. The Mat was relatively clean so it didn’t take too long to follow the normal routine. That gives me time to do a couple of extra things that I don’t do every time and I was still out the door in an hour.

Back home, I had my tea and read some blogs as well as play my few online Word games. Bill had his shower and then I was in for mine. Showers mean ‘weigh-in’, kind of like at Weight Watchers, and we were both still pleased with the results. We aren’t shedding by any large number but we are at least maintaining so we’re happy. The air outside was cool. It was only 12C/55F when we got up so it had some rising to do.

From early morning to early afternoon, the skys
teased us

The sun that was supposed to ‘rule’ the day disappeared while I was in town and huge black clouds played tag (and won) for the morning. The winds were gusty too so it didn’t warm up much beyond 18C/66f all day. That sounds pretty nice and it was in the sun but when it was behind the clouds, the temperature dropped enough to have us scrambling into our long sleeves. On, off, on and off again.

My verbena has returned to life
after I cut it right back and fertilized it

In case you're wondering - the turtles are still around

They are so cute lined up on the logs

We received a text and later a call from Suzie to inform us that she wouldn’t be coming today after all. Hopefully, she’ll be feeling more like coming even for a visit later this week. This is a tough time for her, dealing with selling their motor home and we all know that can’t be an easy process on her own. I stretched out in the hammock with my book and got lost in the story. I was very comfortable.

What a strange looking bug!
A wanna be scorpion?

The milkweed pods are popping out on the plants
all over our property

Soon, Kim, Ken and Bill brought their chairs around for Happy Hour around 2:30 and we waited for our next guest campers to arrive. Marlene and Benno drove in around 3:30, I think, and Bill offered to back their travel trailer in between the Journey and the Suite. We fell into a typical gab fest in between Bill showing Benno around the place. Marlene took her Daschunds for a little walk to stretch their little legs.

Lunch was an egg and bacon quesadilla

Happy Hour extended until almost 7 (this is getting to be a habit!) when Kim and I got up to start our individual suppers. Bill and I had fish and chips, cooked inside and that was quick and tasty. I asked Bill to deliver a cupcake to everyone for dessert. They are difficult to get out of the silicone muffin cups but even though messy, still yummy. I hope they enjoyed them as well. We did dishes up and Bill went out to restoke the fire.

The expected guests arrived at 3:30

Bill did the swing around for Benno

Welcome!

the men over here on the shaded side

The ladies over here in the sun

After supper, the sky clouds were pretty

We have more fires this week than the whole summer

I needed to change first into warmer clothes and then I followed suit. The blog may suffer tonight but at least it will get done at some point. Life must go on! I sat with Bill until Ken, then Kim, Benno and then Marlene joined us. The wind from earlier had died right off and going from a warm inside temperature of 22C/72F to outdoors at 15C/59F sent a chill through me. In the Bunky was the heavy knitted sweater of Bills that he’d passed on to me so with that on, I was toasty.

Ken and Kim bundled against the cooler air

We sat around the fire until just after 9:30 when everyone said goodnight. This was a good day, basically just sitting around and enjoying each other’s company. It is nice to have Marlene and Benno here as they’ve never been up to the Ridge. A peaceful night was had by all.

And my favourite picture of the day
Good night!

Thank you for popping in to see what we’re up to. P.S. - this is posted on the new blogger so it will be interesting to see what it looks like. So far, I've had no problems.