A Busy Friday for All of Us

The Ridge

Friday, June 4^th didn’t start out the best for one reason or another but by the time I’d had my tea, I had got caught up on FB messages as well as the Norwex information my consultant was sending me. I’m a bit intimidated by the whole thing, only because ‘new’ things do that to me. My party is June 11 to 13^th and I want to be as prepared as I can.

I'm getting familiar with the products

Bill called me around 10 to ask if I could pick his two auction items up from Rockford today. Their invoice was late coming to him and that meant the normal 2-day pickup was shortened (on our end) to one day. We needed to get them before 4 today. His hours on Friday are never set in stone so after I drove to Elmwood to pick my and Gayle’s stuff up from BizyBee, I followed the GPS to Rockford. It’s all quite easy, an organized process.

First time Gibbs climbed up the new steps

On the way back home, I stopped at Gayle’s and dropped her stuff off. Gibbs went along for the ride today and rode in the back with his big boy seatbelt, his bed and his blankey. He was very good. I was going to stop at Foodland for bread and eggs but when I swung through town, the parking lot was absolutely crazy! I’ll get it tomorrow when we go in to clean and do the laundry. I say ‘we’ because I’m hoping Bill will come and do the big dryers.

Coming back from our drive, the sky was pretty

On the drive and at home I felt really tired. I think I slept pretty good but after my cousin mentioning the Amber alert, I remember that it woke me up too. My brain couldn’t associate it to anything at the time but I know I lay awake for some time after. Once we got home, I put Gibbs on his long leash at the bottom of the steps and came in with his bed and my purse etc. He didn’t want to wait and came all the way up the new steps!

He likes to go behind our chairs and sleep here in
between them

I made a coffee, a pumpkin smoothie and had some lunch. I didn’t know what to do next but since Gibbs was sleeping behind the chairs, decided to go to the garden and plant some hostas that Gayle gave me. Sometimes I wish I didn’t love a garden so much as the back breaking challenges involved are almost more than I can bear. Well, I got the 4 plants in the ground and that was enough for today.

Still trying to use up the last of the pumpkin, I blended
a smoothie
It tastes like I'm drinking a pumpkin pie

I just left the wagon up there with the rhubarb plants and will get at it either later when it is cooler or tomorrow. M needed some help sending pictures for an ad so I popped over to help with that. It was a 20-minute visit and I came home with an hour’s pay. 😊 We are showing a big fat ZERO in our fresh water tank so will need to get some tonight. I really wanted a shower, especially after the garden work, but didn’t want to be all soapy and run out. The gauges are never 100% accurate. Are yours?

I planted 4 hostas in the new garden up on the berm

There was a nice breeze today but not too bad for the awnings to be out. I kept an eye on them and have unplugged from power for the afternoon. It’s a lovely day. Bill texted that he might be late so I’ll play supper by ear. I have chicken thighs out and plan to do them in the air fryer with some rice and vegetables on the side. Or perhaps a salad. Gibbs has been good today, so taking him on outings in the car tires him out, it seems. He rang the bell three times today, once very urgently, and has done his business quickly each time. Yay Leroy Jethro Gibbs!

We had quite a few visiting turtles in our
patio area today

We went outside when he rang the bell around 4:00 and I put Gibbs on the retractable leash. We sat (I sat) over by the firepit and he ran around. There are many Mrs. Yertle’s coming up to the gravel and our grassy area all of a sudden. Weird. We haven’t seen much of them at all and in the last 5 days, we are seeing at least one, sometimes more than one each day – up here. Lots of little nesting holes started but that’s it so far.

"What is it, Mom?"

I let Gibbs get close on the lead but say ‘be gentle’ when I think he might bite or paw at it too hard. He is curious and the one by the King chairs is very patient with him. She hardly moved. Bill wasn’t on his way home until 5 and then went directly to the Acreage to get our water bladder full. We stayed outside until he arrived around 5:45. He’d had a beer with Gerry before he left and almost as soon as he stretched out in his chair, he was gone to dreamland.

                                                    Gibbs had fun with Mrs. Yertle

Gibbs had gotten his fill of an exciting day too and was asleep just beside Daddy’s chair. My day was pretty full and around 6, I started preparing our supper. Chicken thighs in Rosy (air fryer) with a coating of Shake ‘n Bake, rice cooked on the stove for Bill, Cauliflower rice in the microwave for me and corn on the cob. Yum. It all tasted with the exception of the corn. It was tough, it had been in the fridge too long.

We were eating just before 7. The wind had died right off and I put the awnings out all the way. No more fluttering. 😊 During dishes, as is predictable now, Gibbs rang the bell. I took him out for his piddle and then he laid down on the grass and rolled over for a tummy rub. He is so ‘pliable’ if you can use that for a puppy. Rub his tummy and you can get him to do anything!

                           Bill couldn't cut the grass in this area for obvious reasons

She was having a hard time getting one stone out but after 30 minutes

I hope she can lay her eggs here

Bill went out after dishes were done and thought he would start cutting some grass. His snooze, which turned out to be a good 40 minutes, must have given him renewed energy. After supper, I’m not in any better shape than I am mid-afternoon. Mornings are more my speed. 

There's a first for everything, she hadn't started laying yet
when Mr. Yertle crept up on top of her for about 3 minutes

Before saying 'see ya!'
Interesting

The rest of the evening went along pretty normally and I worked on my blog after feeding Gibbs. I should have had my shower but that will be tomorrow now. We’ll probably get another bladder of water tomorrow to top us up.

A pretty sunset ends the night under our awning
Good night!

This was a good day.

Some Rain for a Change, Happy Gardens, Trip to Owen Sound with my Sisters

The Ridge

On Thursday, June 3^rd (it feels funny typing June) Bill was up and washed before Gibbs even knew. That’s a nice way for Bill to start his day. He closed the door to upstairs and kept the little boy down with him after he went out for morning piddles. Funny how our conversations focus on the puppy’s habits. “He went out and did both but his poop wasn’t a very big one”. 😊 Such is the life of pet owners, especially new ones.

It had rained over night and was still drizzly this morning

It was important information though as it meant he would likely have to go out again soon. The sneaky little guy pulled a fast one on us and when Bill went up to brush his teeth, Gibbs followed and went into the bedroom and left an unwelcome surprise. So, he didn’t even ring the bell when 75% of the time, he does. We’ll get there, it feels discouraging but honestly, we are not discouraged. He is only 12 weeks old and there are more forward steps than backward ones. 

since Bill took the storm windows off last night,
today, I used my Norwex dust mitt and wiped the dust off

Today, Gayle told me to dampen the mitt and they will
come cleaner still

After Bill left, I took him out once more and then I left for Durham. I never heard a peep when he went in his crate nor last night at bedtime. The Mat wasn’t too bad at all but with the wet weather,  the floors get the worst of it. It was rainy and very wet everywhere this morning. It’s hard even to sweep when the floors are damp but I finished up by sweeping, then damp mopping. Two customers were decent enough to wait in their cars for their loads to finish.

Driving into Harris Park in Owen Sound

It was a good day. I found one dime (Daddy) in a washer, then another one (Mom) along a baseboard and lo and behold just before I finished sweeping, the last one (brother Bruce) under the bench. 😊 Today, my sister and I are taking (accompanying) Donna to an appointment in Owen Sound since her hubby is unavailable. Gayle has managed to find out that the European Bakery is open for take out so we're going early for lunch. Yay! 

So, I’ll meet Donna in town, pick Gayle up near Chatsworth and order lunch around 1:30. It was looking like our idea of eating it at the park or the Museum tables was all for naught but by 11:00, the sun started pushing the clouds out of the way and blue sky gave me hope. See, I believe that not only were my heavenly family watching over me this morning, they are watching over all 3 of us girls as we go about our afternoon together. Cheering us on.

Lots of shallow ponds for the little ones to play in and they
were

I had finished my tea early, took Gibbs for a walk around the area up here on the Ridge and laughed at his first meeting with Mrs. Yertle. I sure wish I’d had my camera or phone in my pocket! That was so cute! As soon as she moved her legs and head in or out, Gibbs would jump back and bark. 😊 What a goof! I had one of my keto muffins for breakfast and then boiled some hummingbird food to let it cool.

My lunch, the toasted dark rye bread
was tasty

Bill has started teaching Gibbs how to count his paws when he wipes them dry so I do the same thing. He didn’t include #5 for when his whole fluffy body is wet from the grass and the rain! Ha ha Clemson knew the routine, learned very quickly to stand and lift each leg accordingly when he came in from outside in wet weather, rain or snow. He was so smart and I’m sure this pup will catch on quickly too.

I washed the few dishes in the sink since I would be away all afternoon and sat and played with Gibbs since he would be in his crate for a few hours, longer than normal through the day. ☹ I feel bad about that but I know he’ll be fine and safe. I filled his self-dispensing water bowl that goes in his crate so he’ll have lots of water. He seems to drink a lot, well, often at least. He’s been eating all of his meals so his energy level is always at peak.

Things almost felt normal, having our picnic

Some of you will recognize my sisters because
you've met them
Gayle, Donna and Patsy

At 12:15 I gave him a treat and locked him in. He needed a little butt push this time, he didn't want to go in. I met Donna at 12:30 at the Credit union parking lot and we had an uneventful drive to Gayle’s home and then to the restaurant in Owen Sound. We called from outside and they said we could walk in to place a take out order, masked. I ordered, what else, but a Reuben on dark rye. It came with a wonderful dill pickle spear. 😊 We decided to take our boxed lunches to Harrison Park.

The seagulls were looking for handouts
but we weren't offering

What a great choice that was! The park was quite busy, the day was beautiful and we found a picnic table in the sun to eat. Better still, they had washrooms open for the public to use. Cha-ching! In these lockdowns, you just never know. We walked around a bit and then sat on a bench by the playground to discuss some possible events for our LadyFest in July. We have been tossing different ideas around for a few days.

I walked through the trees to the water
This picnic table would be a place to sit with your
feet in the water

We drove to Pet Smart where I retrieved my curbside pick up order of food and clippers for Gibbs and then drove to Donna’s scheduled appointment. Gayle and I waited inside, masked, and we were on our way home by 4:30. One stop to drop Gayle off and pick up some rhubarb plants and more fresh rhubarb. Huge stalks! We weren't allowed to go to Value Village or the Mission Store but still, the day couldn't have been better.😊 

I forgot to get a picture going in so caught the sign
on the way out

Bill was home when I texted from Durham that I was on my way. That made me happy since Gibbs had been in his crate for a very long time today. As it turned out, Daddy hadn’t been home long before me. 

We relaxed together for half hour or so and I suggested toasted tomato sandwiches for supper. That was quick and hit the spot. We did dishes and then Bill had a dish of ice cream and I had a cone. First picnic this year and first ice cream cone. Both were great!

My rhubarb treasure

The evening was a pretty one, with blue skies and the sun made the freshly laundered greenery even brighter. The landscape was also very happy for the overnight and morning rains. It would be an early night as we were both tired out. I took our extra blankets off the bed, we wouldn't be needing them. 😍

Still lovin' his silly positions when play or sleeping

He always hears the camera click
this was a great day
Good night!

Thank you for your visit!