Stacking up the Days, Online Shopping, Responding to the Bell, Vegetable Plants

The Ridge

On Monday, May 31^st (last day of the month!) Bill was up early and I’m surprised I didn’t hear him get up. Maybe I did, I’m not sure. I woke up chilly at 2:40 and had a fitful sleep from then until 6:15 when I heard Gibbs barking downstairs. He was trying to grab Bill’s boot laces while Bill was trying to tie them. It is a morning ritual, it seems. Sometimes the spray works and sometimes not. It is a game to Gibbs, more the ‘thrill of the chase’ rather than trying to actually chew. LOL

after Daddy leaves for work, Gibbs takes up post
at the door for about half hour

I got up but I have to admit that I enjoyed the feeling of not having to be anywhere at any time today. My body was protesting somewhat with achy legs and upper arms so the walk and the work in the garden caught up with me. It is always much improved after doing my leg stretches before getting out of bed so by the time I’m downstairs, I don’t need to take anything for easing the aches. 😊

We relaxed in my chair together and these moments
are rare, when he actually sleeps 

After Bill left, Gibbs curled up at the door and slept for a while. I sat at the table with my tea and finished yesterday’s post. I just had pictures to download. The sky was a little ‘iffy’ first thing, looking dark blue but all that did was convince me not to walk right away. Gibbs rang the bell just before 8 so we went out for a short walk down the hill. He had to piddle right away and then pooped on the return trip up the other side. This tells me that he full well knows the theory.

It was a lovely morning

He does love being outside but I kept him on his leash as I wasn’t ready to stay out just yet. I fed him, he ate every morsel rather quickly and then about 15 minutes later, he rang the bell so we went for another walk on the leash. I knew he’d done his business and it was safe to leave him loose downstairs while I had my shower. Sure enough, he slept most of the time. He loves my clogs and drags them around the floor to chew on them. I’d sprayed them with the Bitter Cherry spray before going upstairs and they were left untouched. Good boy!

Another one of Clemson's leftover toys

I went online to my niece’s Norwex party site. I know I’ll be hosting a party on June 11 – 13 but still wanted to place a small order to support her party. Maybe she’ll do the same for me. 😊 After placing the order, I got my Norwex dust mitt out and did all of the woodwork. It actually worked great in the bedroom too, to remove the dust from the closet mirrored doors. Once we take the ‘storm’ windows off the door, I’ll use them on the screens. Supposed to work great.

Gibbs and Ducky (get it? Ducky is the ME on NCIS)
but he is actually chewing on a rubber duck

It was noon hour so I made myself one of my wraps and a coffee. That was filling with some tuna on the side. Bill called to update me on Black Beauty. That was the reason for his early wake up call at 5:30. Our back up camera has stopped working – again. Last spring, summer? We took it to Heinz auto body to get the tailgate fixed and they ordered in a new camera from Leslie Ford and installed it. So, today at L.F. they say they have to replace it. The waiting game of whether or not it was still under warranty begins.

Gibbs is very attracted to our rubber clogs
so I sprayed them today

I wasn’t feeling too energetic today and a had a hard-enough time keeping up with Gibbs each time he wanted to go out. So! I sat around a fair bit and just enjoyed the day. After lunch, I went into Durham to see what vegetable and annuals Foodland had in their greenhouse. I filled up with fuel at Colpepper’s Pioneer station and then went plant shopping.

It seems everything I make is messy and my wraps are
no exception but they taste good!

I found 2 kinds of tomato plants so bought 4 of each. Their peppers didn’t look good to me and were individually potted so I chose some Salvia and some Celosia instead. The latter I’ve had before in London but couldn’t have told you the name. I just think they are pretty. I also found a hanging plant called Bacopa that would work for one of my planters, not in white, as I’d hoped, but in pale purple. 😊 It will have to do.

My new plants will get planted this week

When I left there, I headed for home. It was a lovely hot day and once I returned and let Gibbs out of his crate, the laziness took over. It was a quiet afternoon, in and out, with my book and just relaxing in the sun. Bill got home after 5 and we relaxed watching NCIS until 6. I made omelette sandwiches and they were jam-packed! Eggs, bacon, cucumbers, pepperoni, onions, peppers and cheese. Boy, they were good!

My rhubarb - it isn't as big as it looks

Hardly enough for a pie! But next year there could be
more!

After dishes, we watched one of our favourite movies. The American President came on at 7 and we haven’t seen it for a long time. I think we have our own copy but with nothing else on tv, it was a perfect evening to enjoy it. 😊

A simple supper and we got our eggs and bacon for the day
Good night!

Thank you for stopping around, this was a wonderful slow day. I’m going to be busier for the next couple of days.

Overcast Day Brings Rain, More Garden Plants, A New Bird, Another Good Book

Home on the Ridge

Bill was up before me again, not sure what time. I woke up at a few minutes before 6 and waited until 6:15 to do some stretching (ouch!) and got up to join him. Today was Monday, June 10^th, garbage day so Bill gathered it up and took it to the end of the lane. I was disgusted that my back muscle was feeling almost worse this morning so took my laptop to my chair with my tea. With the heating pad, I settled back.

I don't have many pictures today but I'll start off with Chippy
That is my moonflower on his left and pathetic but still alive rhubarb on his right
Good thing I have multiple patches around the property

We had planned on driving to Hanover to find some cheaper ceiling paint for the Hangar but I wasn’t up to going anywhere too quickly. Bill was fine to go alone and didn't need me along. He could text me if he needed to. Paint is such a ridiculous price so you try to find the best price. He decided that a quart at $17.99 would cover 100 sq. ft. and that should be just about the right amount rather than buying a gallon at $30.99 and having leftover paint. I think he’ll make it work; it is just a ‘shed’ after all.

The garbage men/ladies are on the ball, at 8:15, they have picked it up already! Bill was able to bring the recycle bin up on his return from Hanover. I moved from the chair and can tell that the heat has helped. Well, I had also taken 2 muscle relaxers and had Bill rub heat cream on the muscle. Something helped at least! I was able to move easily. With the temperature outside showing 64F/15C I walked down the lane before the rain started.

Aren't they pretty? They'll look nice in the bucket too!

There were a few spatters on the south facing windows earlier but they didn’t last. I hope we at least get enough rain today to water my plants. I don’t think it will help my dying primrose, sorry Pat and Rob, but everything else will benefit. Surprise, surprise. Peeking at my plants as I walked back, at least 3 of the primrose now show promise. Yay! After Bill had returned, I figured that I may as well get cleaned up and head into Durham to pick up my plants.

Foodland has the best prices and usually enough of a selection to suit me – unless I needed something specific. With the help of the gardener (for lack of a better term), I found a pot with 3 or 4 different plants in it that are drought tolerant. I need that, so I don’t have to be running up the hill every other day to water with the can. He gave me a good deal and I also bought a bag of black earth. Thankfully, he was a gentleman and I didn’t have to ask him to carry it to Ptooties.

What do you think?
We love it!

I think the colourful flowers will look great up there on the berm. Bill waved as I drove by the Hangar on the way up the hill. It was 9:30 and I knew he’d be ready to eat so unloaded the flowers, dragged the dirt onto the ground where I parked and went in to start breakfast. Bill came in soon after and we were both pleased that the quart of paint was enough to do the ceiling. He is anxious to start painting the walls with some colour and I’m excited to see how it perks the place up. We laughed about a few ideas for the walls but will stick to the plan.

I made myself a coffee after dishes and went out to see if I could get the plants in the bucket before it rained. Well, that decision was made for me soon enough! As soon as I stepped out, light misty rain dampened my skin so I dropped some purged shoes in the ‘Exchange’ bag in the Bunky and returned inside with my coffee. The plants will still get watered as they are sitting outside. Tomorrow's job.

3 dozen cookies baked in short order

Next, on my ‘what can I do on a rainy day with a sore back?’ list was to make some more of the yummy keto peanut butter cookies. And while they are baking, work on my blanket. At the rate I’m going, this blanket might be done by September, each row takes about 20 minutes. LOL So, I got a row done in between getting up and tending to the cookie sheets, cooling, removing and refilling. Bill will be happy to see more guilt-free p.b. cookies.

I sat with my book and even though I hate the laying around, hopefully it is helping my back. I actually dozed off for half hour in the chair, I knew I got up too early. Clemson is upstairs on the bed and has been since noon hour, such a sleeper-doodle. At 2, I walked down to see how Bill was doing and he has finished the walls. They look fabulous!! While it dries, he finished installing the new electrical boxes for his 2 new fluorescent lights.

This was my first view, the bright red caught my attention

The air was dry for the moment and the thermometer said it was 67F.  I could feel the dampness in the air though so I grabbed my hoody and walked to the end of the laneway. I wasn’t sure if the mail lady had stopped or not. As I got close to the end, the plants along the fence were doing great this year. They are winter geraniums, I think, they’re called.

The weeds and grass are also doing great in between the full leaves. It has bothered me every time I come this way so regardless of my back, I started pulling them. I got to the end and it started to spit heavily so I left the mess to clean up later, checked for a flag on the mailbox – none- and trotted up the lane with my hood up. By the time I got back to the Hangar, it had stopped.  I said to Bill “when we have a dull day like this, the least it can do is give us a lasting rain!”

Here you'll have to humour me, I chased him from window to window

I got back inside, washed my hands and texted with Donna about her visit with Mom. She said Hanover was getting steady rain and usually it comes this way, so that was good. Then I saw a bird that I’ve never seen before. Maybe I lead a sheltered life but after several continuous pictures (37) I got a few good ones and after searching have determined that it is a Northern Flicker woodpecker. Probably no big deal for most of you, but for me? I was so excited to see a new bird up here! He was sure foraging with fervor for ground bugs!

And it is definitely the male - see his moustache of black below his beak?

Around 2:45, Bill came up from the Hangar just steps ahead of (or in) the rain and it was nice to know that I wouldn’t need to manually water tomorrow. He poured himself a Zero Coke and sat at his laptop. I was adding to my post and then sat with my book until almost 5:30. With sausage thawed for supper and not able to barbecue, I pulled the electric frypan out, the leftover potatoes, carrots and mixed veggies from last night’s supper.

He was very diligent digging
I love his spotted pantaloons
Sorry for the blur, he didn't sit still at all

We were eating by 6:15 and ready to settle down for the night by 6:45. The rain was never very heavy today but just nice and steady. The winds also never got too strong but enough that we pulled our awning in around 5:30. It was only out for when Clemson needed to go out, it gave us something to stand under while waiting for him. The temperature dropped quickly from 62F to 51F within an hour and remained there for the evening.

Supper was delicious, I love fried potatoes

This was a slow, quiet day for me but a very productive one for Bill. His Hangar is looking, might I say, “Spiffy”? I hope you’ve enjoyed the day and were ready to welcome a bit of rain.

Thank you for stopping in! Good night!