Wonderful Weather, Setting up the Outdoor Stuff, Waste of Good Money

The Ridge

On Friday, May 14^th, we were up and at ‘em at 6 and 6:15. Bill was up at 5 and let Gibbs out and then put him back in his crate for the hour. Outside was looking to be pretty darn nice again with clear blue skies and a temperature of 6C/44F. We knew it was forecasted to reach 19C/70F. Woohoo! Hoping they’re right, we went about our day.

feature photo - we rejoice when he eats a good meal

Bill left Gibbs and I home and went to Hanover to work at Donna and Gerry’s with Billy and Mike. They were extending their back deck by a few feet. I left the house at 7:15 as well to clean the Mat and was back home again by 8:30 or so. It was in pretty good condition with no unwelcome or otherwise surprises. 😊 I let Gibbs out of his crate and he did his business outside and played a bit before returning indoors.

He likes outdoors but he also likes the shade under
our chairs

I noticed when we were out that although quite warm, the black flies were back. We’d all hoped the freezing, thawing, freezing, thawing had killed them all but no such luck. Silly to even hope that! I had two options for spray and after trying the Listerine yesterday (and it worked) leaving me sticky afterwards, I tried my girlfriend’s Pest Away which I purchased a year (or two?) ago. It seems to be working too, smells nice and no residue on my skin.

May as well look at it now because it changed in a hurry 😔

Gibbs ate his whole dish full of food and when we went outside an hour later, it was just playtime and the odd piddles. We can’t read their minds can we? I put his retractable leash on and he wouldn’t move, in fact chose to lay down and roll instead of joining me down the hill. What a goof! I picked him up and we walked to the mail box to post a birthday card. On the way back up the hill, I tried him again and he walked a bit as long as the leash is loose and it’s on his terms. 😊

Covered in bug spray, I was happy to spend some time 
in my chair while the little bum ran around me

I was deciding whether to keep the big lounge cushion
We only have one chair like this and the webbing is coming apart

I wanted to fill bird feeders and I have fears of him going under the Bunky at the doorway so put him on the long leash/rope. He didn’t seem to mind and I went about my business. We were out for a good hour before coming back inside for a coffee and he ran for the water dish. I’ll have to get one for outside for him. He was content to sleep in his bed or on the carpet under the table so I took a chance and left him to it, hoping not to return to an oh-oh.

Lots of stuff in the buckets to spread around the yard

Rolling around on his back in the shade
When I wasn't looking, he chew on the chair leg, little monster

I hung the Geese Crossing sign down at the head of the lane, then got my bucket of garden ornamentals and hummingbird feeders out. Wow! I didn’t realize there were so many. However, I found suitable places for each one with the exception of 2 or 3 that can be thrown out, they are so old. There are memories attached to a few that I will keep putting out, just because I can. Just around noon M called and asked if I would run an errand for him to Hanover.

We had one of Clem's seat belts on Gibbs but he didn't like it
Whined a lot on the truck ride but soon slipped out of it and fell asleep
It's too big for him right now so I removed the harness and just attached 
the clip to his collar ring

I had some of my soup for lunch and finished putting my stuff around the property. I didn’t have to head out until around 2 and only if M had stuff lined up for me. Just as I came inside, I heard $125 go out the window. Well, not literally but almost. A gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew the King chairs over with our new umbrella. Of course, one of the ribs snapped in 3 pieces! ☹ I felt the tears as I ran over to pick it up but it was no use.

"Yah, I'm happy now, Mom, stupid harness"

Now, we have a beautiful lopsided orange shade umbrella. Crap! It’s my fault. I should have waited until Bill drilled a hole in the picnic table for it but I was over-anxious and used what we had. I won’t buy another, at least not new. I hopped on my bike to see if things were working on it, and other than the brakes being stiff, I rode down and back without any issue. I actually made it up the steep hill for the first time. I guess anger gives me strength I didn’t know I had. LOL

The clouds started rolling in around 1:30 which sure made a change in temperature. The sun is our heat, no wonder when it returns, we all run out to savour it. Bill called at 1:35 and said he was on his way home. Then M called back and said that the paint product I was to pick up would not be ready until 4:30 and they closed at 5. Nope, it wasn’t going to happen today. I was just as glad since Bill and I had some running around to do.

Driving his new rig up onto the trailer

We drove to Murray’s, where we store our car for the winter, and picked up a new to us 2013 Cub Cadet riding mower on his trailer. Bill has a C.C. that is a 2011 that Murray will take as a trade in. He is very handy and his hobby is buying, fixing and selling machinery, cars etc. Bill was very happy to settle a deal and bring a more reliable mower home. It also has a 54” cut compared to 42” on his old one. Yup, happy hubby. 😊

Going to help Gerry with his toy

After dropping it off at home, Bill took the trailer to Gerry’s in Hanover and brought his scooter to the Acreage and then back here to pick up the trade-in for Murray. 

Backing our 2011 unit up onto the trailer

There they go down North Line

I hung the hummingbird feeders

And although they are blurred in the zoom, a hummer 
was quick to visit! Yay!!

He is starting to bring his toys out of his bed
So many new things!

He dropped Gerry at Murray’s where Donna picked him up and he was home for supper around 7ish. He’s had an incredibly busy day. I’d cut up the last 3 potatoes for homemade fries in the Fry Daddy and had Basa filets for supper. They were great!

Gibbs likes sleeping under the table on the cool carpet
The pillows are so he doesn't crawl under my recliner where he got stuck
once
The joys of a new baby 💗😂

For dessert, we had cookie cheesecake squares and saved the pie for tomorrow night. I sent Bill out to do what he needed to do, aka put the ‘new’ mower in the shelter and I did the dishes. It was no surprise that when he said “I might cut a wee bit to see how it is”, he meant “I’m going to cut the berm, see you in 15 min.” Ha ha. I was watching vet programs when he came home so just left them on while he cut. Something about the animals has me mesmerized.

Supper was delicious

It will be a slow, relaxing evening. At 8:15 I’m already feeling a tremendous slide into restfulness. 😊 This was a busy day for both of us in different ways but we have a weekend ahead of us to do whatever we want. Friday’s are still pretty special. However, the sun set in a cloudless sky so nothing special there. Then I looked again so snapped a couple of pictures. The great news is that we had SUN!!

And a close up brightens my blog

Good night!

Thank you for your visit!

 

 

Getting Creative, Working Between Showers, Another Birthday

The Ridge

On Saturday, May 2^nd Bill and I were lazy again and stayed in bed until just before 8. It was cloudy outside my window and that is what we expected for the bulk of the day. There could be rain today too, a 50% chance which is pretty likely. 40%? We don’t always get it but 50 is a given. Bill made his coffee and when he told me it was 9C/48f I headed out the door for my walk.

A walk down North Line

There wasn’t much wind at all so needless to say it was very pleasant. I had two experiences. One, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a Mama robin flying into her nest just at the fence line. I zoomed in as best I could from my distance and hoped she hadn’t built it too low. There are cats in the neighbourhood. On my way back after reaching a mile, I noticed a truck coming towards me slowly. Stopping periodically. My heart gave a wee lurch but I really wasn’t worried.

I was hoping for some sun but wasn't expecting it

When they pulled up beside me, two men in the cab, they asked if I knew who the adjoining field belonged to. They were looking for large rocks and although there were plenty in the field, didn’t want to help themselves without permission. Unfortunately, I couldn’t answer that for them and they were on their merry way. I noticed they turned west on North Line and found a cache in the ditch down there.

robin red breast sits on her nest

Back home, Bill said I should have told them to come to our place, there are rocks up over the berm/fence they were welcome to. I don’t know how much effort they were willing to put into it but that would have been nice to offer. I didn’t think of that! We both went outside and I bundled against the still cool air and dumped my last 2 bags of mulch into the wheelbarrow. I was able to spread that around the small gardens so all that is left is the big garden when we buy more.

The work around the garden's edge was long past due
It neatens it up and now I just have to keep at it

It was almost 12 noon so I came in and made us an omelette sandwich. Bill’s on toast and mine in a tortilla. Yummers! Then after dishes, we headed back out. The first thing I did may be a useless endeavor but you can’t blame a gal for trying new things! I was curious about a friend’s post regarding oriole feeders so when she emailed me with what was used, it got me thinking. What do I have that I can use? It’s definitely rinky dink but worth a shot.

Well, they look pretty even if they don't work!

With our last two oranges that were going soft, I cut them in half and skewered through the centre. I had my empty suet feeder so did my best to rig it up as a feeder. With a couple of outer lettuce leaves, it made a nice little meal. I Googled if birds ate lettuce and the answer was yes and it is good for them with the nutrients it provides. So don’t be laughing! Ha ha. We’ll see if we have any visitors. I would be overjoyed!

I do love my egg tortillas for lunch

Then I decided to dig some rocks out of a section of grass that is always difficult to cut with my mower. I’m always hitting rocks and not only does it make me cringe but it hurts the blades. Bill needs to fill an area with rocks so I worked away there and at the edge of the flower garden. I grumble each summer about the grass that tends to grow up in between the rocks. I wonder ‘why?’ do I have rocks there anyway? So, I started raking and pulling and piling rocks.

As I was sitting under the awning, I noticed the cows
across the road hitailing it for the barn

In doing so, I searched for the hostas I couldn’t find yesterday and they had indeed started growing but just got covered in last years mulch. Bill worked in his Hangar and started a fire down there so we were in close proximity of each other. I had de-layered a bit, not needing so many jackets in the afternoon. It was a pleasant 13C/55F by now and that is pretty good for not having sunshine!

I thought it was cute, later on the calves were running to catch up
with Mom and Dad as if it were a game

However, around 2 there were 3 or 4 little rain showers. I kept working until it finally drove me to the patio where I opened an awning. I didn’t want to come in yet, thinking it would stop again soon. It didn’t for about 15 minutes so I sat under the awning until 2:45 when I decided to come inside. I was feeling chilled and that is never a nice feeling. I changed out of my work jeans into some comfy stretch pants and my slippers.

It is unusual to see an rv go down our road
unusual, but nice

Donna and Gerry arrived at the Acreage around 2 to do some more cleanup and they are planning to spend their first night out there. 😊 Tomorrow is supposed to be the best day of the weekend. I hadn’t started today’s posting yet so worked on that. You talk about entertainment! The birds are going crazy out there in the rain! I’m so distracted, up and down with my camera, from window to window but still not getting very good shots. No orioles though. LOL

Of course, pictures of Chippy
and Chippy 2

I placed an Avon order on Tuesday and it said delivery would be yesterday. That is never 100% accurate (almost like a weather forecast) but usually a day or two later it arrives. I don’t remember if UPS delivers on Saturday so I’m thinking it will arrive on Monday. I need to keep my account active so thought it a good time to stock up on some basics. I then worked on my cross stitch while I had my afternoon tea.

I saw more goldfinches today than I've ever seen at one time

The time flew by and I thought I’d better get up and go for a walk. The rain had stopped around 4:30 so it was a good time to go. As I rounded the garden, Bill was just coming up. He’d lost track of time, neither of us could believe it was already 5! We walked down the lane together just to stretch our legs and when I told him that supper would be at least an hour (I wasn’t sure what I was making yet!), he went back into the Hangar.

The birds were non-stop, taking turns at the feeders

I love how the rain drops rest on the leaves
of my Lady's Mantle

Inside, I started frying the ground beef with onions in Madame IP. I added mushrooms and frozen corn and then placed a pot on top of the trivet with potatoes in it. I should have cut them smaller; they took longer than I’d planned. 

Chippy in one more performance

Supper was truly late! A simple meal that I’ve made often in a pinch but this time I made a batch of Cheri’s no yeast dinner rolls. I turned on the tv and found a Jack Reacher movie. We’ve read books about him as a character in Lee Child’s stories.

I was happy to see the Northern Flicker return today
to get in on the action

We were eating around 6:45 and dishes were cleaned up right away. We had some Jell-o and whipped cream for dessert later than we should be eating but oh well, what’s done is done! Bill put a movie on and after my blog was posted, I sat with my cross stitch again. 

As evening draws near, the sun came out

The best part of the day seems to be arriving later than usual but we enjoyed seeing some sun and warmth at the end of the day. We reached 15C/58F at 6:30. I’m looking forward to what tomorrow brings.

Yum, it was good

It was a great day. I got some gardening done, some rocks moved and mulch laid. I tried not to overdo it but these ole bones will let me know in the morning. 😊 I hope you enjoyed your Saturday too!

Another brother-in-law is celebrating a birthday today. 

Happy Birthday, John!

Thank you for popping in!