Another Great Paradise Day, Sunday Puttering

The Ridge

I woke before the 6:15 alarm on Sunday, Aug. 18^th but dropped off again and it was necessary to wake me up. Even waking up to my chosen Tango music can be rude when you are in a deep sleep. We both got up, I think Bill was already awake when it went off. He made his coffee and I headed out the door with a bottle of water. I was curious to see if the new key Jamie gave me for the Mat was going to work for me.

Bill said Red sky at Night 

and pink to the west as well

Yay! A much easier entry with this different handle and I got in before 7. I found one washer that needed a good cleaning so I used the change from another machine and set it to wash. Down the same row, someone had a note on another machine saying “Don’t use me” with no explanation. I saw a bunch of dry soap crystals in the bottom of the tub so set this one to wash as well. It seemed to be fine now. Maybe it is a temperamental one so always good to test them.

And on my drive to Durham I tried
to catch the sunrise

Two patrons came in during my hour and we chatted idly as I worked away. The lady expressed concern and disgust over the use of Mat washers for dog owners. I encounter one machine every week with the same long dog hair and it is terrible. No consideration for the next person as it is up to me (or the next user) to wipe it out before using it. She asked if I could put signs up to deter this happening. I said I would try but we all know that the ‘offenders’ don’t read or heed signs.

And in town, they've finally finished the road ahead
It has been closed to construction since our return home in the spring

And as I turn the corner, I snap a blurred picture
of the front of the Mat

 So, back home, the sun looked promising so I unplugged from electric and turned the inverter on. We used the 30-amp power most of yesterday with cloud cover and then for my cooking indoors. Bill was working down in his cargo trailer this morning. He’d bought some wood to alter the inside so he could transport his big Telemaster safely, when the time came. He is good at that stuff and just needs to put his ‘head’ plans into play.

It looks wonderful now!

I had my tea, made him a coffee and then finished yesterday’s post. Sorry, readers, it was another late one. At 9:30 I made Bill’s bacon and eggs and called him up to eat. I waited until closer to 11 when I re-blended my smoothie and had the remaining treat. We had some Red Lobster cheddar biscuits (from a mix) leftover from last night so we each had one of those. They are tasty little biscuits.

I wrote a bit on today’s blog post and then changed from my work clothes to go outside with my book. I used the sun sparingly and after checking with Bill, came inside for my shower. A cool shower, actually, the humidity is very high today. I sat in the shade of the little tree waiting for my hair to dry but soon moved back indoors. Since I was getting hungry for something to munch on, I figured Bill would be too so I cut us some cheddar cheese and zucchini bread and took a yogourt down to him.

The sky is dancing with clouds on my drive home

And this is how it feels after an hour on the job
All done for the day and it's only 8 o'clock!

He has our old Kool-a-tron in the Hangar so I know he has cold drinks when he wants them. It was around 3:30 when he came up and we discussed his ideas for making covers/holders for the large wings. He would need some stitching done with my sewing machine so needed to bounce his thoughts off me. We need to go to a fabric store so I located Fabricland in Owen Sound and we’ll make a trip there this week one day.

And this is how I enjoyed part of my afternoon

We each read some and then dozed and I seemed to lose all energy and ambition for doing anything else. Bill got a weather watch on his phone for rain coming and Donna texted me from Cargill that the had strong winds and signs of a storm approaching. I’m always leery up here on the hill with wind storms but at least I’m not alone up here. That would be worse. I closed the windows and doors in the Bunky just to be prepared.

And the dark clouds move in

It was about 5 when the rain started. The sky was black and moving in quickly from the west and northwest. Bill came up from the Hangar just on time and closed his shed and moved my painting into the outhouse. 

The clouds are interesting and even though
we wanted the rain, I was hoping the winds remained at bay

 It wasn’t attached securely enough to withstand the strong winds. The anemometer indicated 26 mph winds but within 20 minutes, it was all over including the rain. The sun returned long enough to give us a bit of a sunset.

Some rock and roll going on here in the clouds

And then it smoothed out like a fuzzy warm blanket

I sautéed 2 Italian sausage links in Madame IP, something I’ve never done before and cooked them for 15 minutes with a 5-minute natural release. There were a few potatoes, carrots and some corn on the cob leftover from previous nights so I reheated those in the microwave. We also had 2 cheddar biscuits left and with butter, they topped the meal off. The sausage was awesome and I will definitely do that again.

The sausage was delicious!

For dessert, we had some of the ‘flop’ rhubarb crumble with ice cream and without expectations this time, it tasted pretty good. Other than my hour of work this morning, I had a very lazy day with lots of reading and some dozing. Bill was busy for most of the day but nothing too strenuous. I opened the windows again around 6 and let the cooler air in. We went from 85F (feeling like 95F) down to 71F so that is a nice drop. 

And then it was done

And we got a sunset
Good night y'all

I hope you got some rain where you are but no damaging storms. Thank you for popping in today. I love it when you take time to leave me a comment.

Overcast Start and a More Breathable Day, Fire pit Hunt Continues with Success

Friday, July 7^th we were up around 7 and I hopped in the shower. I was overdue! Not that I’d received any complaints but sometimes we get lazy and realize it has been more than a couple of days since our last thorough clean. You needed to know that, right? Don’t pretend, I’m sure you’ve been there, done that.

It didn't take long for the sky to clear

The sky was overcast and off to the west it looked like perhaps some rain was building up. We didn’t get anything last night after the wind gust so I’m almost hoping for some rain at least today to water things. I’ve been babying the garden and my rose transplants but a good wet down is in order.

After finishing my blog post from yesterday with my tea, Bill hopped in the shower next and we drove into Hanover to Canadian Tire, fingers crossed. Success! We grabbed the one and only fire pit off the shelf and put it in the back seat of the car.

Bill starts the assembly

With Bill not going into London this past week, we missed out on our regular run to Costco. This put us low on our dairy products which meant a stop at Walmart as well for creamer, butter, bottled water and milk. Their prices are better than most in this area so it is our go-to place.

Always read the 'destructions' before assembly

On the way back from Hanover, we stopped to see Rob and Pat at Aunt Mary’s house (which has sold, by the way!). Rob had more rhubarb for me and although it means a special treat for Rob is in order, I want it, I want it! We had a quick visit and made arrangements to help them move stuff out for an upcoming auction.

A sink full of rhubarb

All cut up for blanching

The rain drops started to fall while saying goodbye and we scooted on home to The Ridge. Before we left Durham, it stopped, the wipers were not necessary. I don’t think we’ll get much rain today after all, the blue sky is already peeking through the white fluffies. The temperature is hovering around 19C this morning which many will appreciate much more than yesterday’s 30C.

Finished product in place - old one off to the side

Bill sat under the awning and put together our new purchase and it looks great. We’ll test it out tonight if the rain doesn’t come too early. He set it up in its place and we removed the old rim. When at Rob and Pat’s, we also picked up a portable clothes rack that will come in handy for a couple of reasons.

Hummers had emptied their feeders

One is for the clothing exchanges us girls have up here and before we leave this fall, Bill and I can put it to use in the bunky to hang excess heavy coats that we want to hang onto but not carry with us. I’ll have to see if I can get it together, no rush though. Our next exchange isn’t until September.

There were clouds all around us on the horizon but
we didn't get what London and other areas were getting

Looking to the east, it all went north of us

While Bill went back to work on his planes in the cargo trailer, I sat and worked on a crossword puzzle from the West-Grey paper. The mail truck dropped something in the mailbox but I didn’t get excited since she was putting something in everybody’s box.

 I walked down anyway and it was the Spotlight magazine. I have a hard time reading most newspapers etc. because of the spelling and grammar errors. My biggest Pet Peeve, I think. We all have something that irks us and I guess because I was pretty good at Grammar (now, there is an old name for you!) and Spelling in school, it stays with me. I still make mistakes myself and it drives me nuts when they slip into my writing unnoticed! Don't worry, I'm not judging your blog posts, I'm talking about published articles etc.

Look at that!

 It was nice sitting outside under the awning with the slight breeze. I wouldn’t want to be working outside in the heat for very long, if at all. I was pleased when I walked up to my vegetable garden this afternoon. The chard is coming along nicely, getting taller every day but it is my tomatoes I’m most pleased with. I have two of the cherry tomato plants producing in abundance and today I picked my first red one. Actually, these are more grape tomatoes but that is fine since I use them in salads.

Lots to ripen

The pepper plants are flowering and the Dutch multiplier onions I planted last week are popping up green in a couple of places. I had to cave and buy some green onions at Foodland earlier this week, since I do like having them on hand. Today I was reminded that our family reunion, on Mom’s side, is on Sunday and I’d totally forgotten about it. I think that is the first time ever for me to forget it!

Not a clear shot but he is appreciating that I filled his feeder

I’ll have to make up a salad and a dessert, as is standard. Bill doesn’t go and I don’t press him to. These are my cousins and aunts and uncles. Even though he has met them, it is a lot of sitting time for the spouses unless they are born and bred into the family. Especially the men find it hard to be ‘entertained’ for 4 hours. My sister, Gayle’s husband, John, often goes since he has been in the family for what…….45 years at least? He goes because everyone knows him and visa versa.

Chippy outside our window
He was chirping up a storm this morning

For the rest of the day, I sat. I finished a couple of crosswords with the help of Crossword Solver on my laptop. It was a stupid puzzle, Bill and I agreed, with a couple of spelling mistakes on some of the answers. I read some more of my mystery and got caught up in the story again.

We grilled burgers on the Weber for supper with the works and they were very tasty. After dishes my pilot went back out to his planes and I resumed sitting. The little bugs were causing me to flap my arms incessantly while in the shade so I moved to the sunny patio and sprayed some OFF on. That worked.

We are happy with our expenditure today

Clemson got bored with the chair hopping so I put him inside so I could enjoy the book without keeping an eye on him. When I’d cooled down enough to go inside Bill decided to light a fire and test the pit. I grabbed a light jacket and sat out with him. How nice not to have to worry about the sparks and the wind, which had died down considerably.

the sky didn't disappoint

And off to the southeast, this is going on

Around 9:30 we moved inside for the night. There isn’t anything worth watching on tv tonight so it is back to the books. First I wanted to download pictures and finish this post. So, saying that, I hope you have had a wonderful day.

Good night, folks!

Thank you for reading and if you wish to leave a comment, please do.