Shrubs....equals hard work

The home that I now live in has, or I should say HAD, very mature (read, old, bent and straggly bits of trunks and green spikes)  shrubs.

 On the weekend, we cut down and dug up the roots, (not an easy task for two 77 year olds)  of the above mentioned shrubs.   They  had been in the ground for many years and looked plain ugly, so it was time for new ones.

As the title suggests, it was had work, but all seven shrubs and roots are now at the compost depot.  The front of the house looks bare and quite frankly quite a mess, as we were not able to tidy it up too much due to the change in the weather,  rain again.  So, that part of the job will have to wait until next weekend.

In the mean time we have taken a photo of the area we want to re-forest, so to speak, and intend to take it to a garden centre and get some ideas as to what type of  shrubs. we should plant.

More hard work in the future.

As we were working on this task, DM (Darling Man) asked, why are we doing this?  I said, because we can.   As noted above we are both in our 78th  year, and thankfully healthy, but we never know when that can change, so right now, we do this,  because we can.   We had aches and pains Monday, today Tuesday we are both fine.   My Mother, passed away in March, in her 102nd year, she was often asked what made her live to such a ripe old age.    The answer was always, hard work.........  look out 101 here we come.

Have a wonderful day.


P.

Day almost over and no post!

It is getting dark and have not yet posted today, so here I am.

Up early to the garage as I had my snow/winter tires off and the Summer ones put on, an oil change and a couple of other things that needed to be done so that I can keep driving my Chrysler 300.  It's a nice car and I like driving it, so try to keep ahead of any problems.  One of these days it will have to go.  Home for lunch, the garage took longer than I had expected.

I had to take my sewing machine in for a check up, it was making a noise around the bobbin area, and it also need a good cleaning underside that area.   I feel as if I have lost a friend.  The table in the sewing room looks so bare without the machine on it.   Apparently the shop is not too busy so should have it back by Tuesday next week.   Time to tidy the sewing room...note to self....job for Saturday.

Grocery shopping, I don't mind doing it, just wish I could find something different to cook.  It seems that the same things end up in my cart every time I shop.   Have you counted how many times you handle the items you buy.

1. Take it off the shelf and into cart.
2. Take it out of the cart and put on conveyer.
3. Pack your bags and put in your cart.
4. Take bags in car.
5, Take bags out of car.
6. Unpack bags and put items in fridge, cupboard.
7. Take out items to cook.

Do you like grocery shopping

Not going to wish to a wonderful day......its almost over.



P.

Beauty Parlor

Today it was time to get my hair cut, you know those days when you can't do anything with it, well yesterday was that day.

I have always had a woman cutting my hair, and when I moved to London, I had to find a new one to cut my hair.   Found one close by and have been going to her for a couple of years.  However, she did not have a very good personality and during the last few times did not appear to wanting to give me a good hair cut.   In view of that I looked for another salon, and went there five weeks ago as a "walk in".   Apparently, the owner is the only one who does short hair cuts, so made an appointment for it to be done that day.  The owner was a man, and to tell you the truth I have never had such a nice hair cut. 

As I said before, today was the day for another "treatment at the beauty parlor"  read hair cut.   Again, he took almost an hour cutting my hair, now my hair is short to begin with so he did not have much to deal with.  Apparently I have a lot of "cowlicks" in my hair so it is difficult to make it go where you want it to, and he explained to me how to brush and dry my hair so it will look like what he just did.   Well!  we shall see..


Do you have a woman or man cut your hair?


Have a wonderful day.


P.

Back again after being AWOL

A beautiful sunny morning, but cool.

Yesterday  our lawns had a aeration treatment, so now we have all those tubes of soil all over the place.  Hopefully this will give our lawn a head start for the year.  There is also a large container of black earth sitting in the driveway, so I see a lot of work in the future.

Still plugging away at the quilt for our bed, it does not seem to be working up as quickly as I had hoped.  Having to de-construct the whole thing must have something to do with it.   Looking at a completion date so that I can show it at my guilds May meeting.  I work better if I have a deadline, so that is the time I want this one done.   Two baby quilts will be needed during the month of May also another reason to get this one finished.

Do you work better if you have a deadline?

After my walk yesterday I wandered into the wooded area across the street and found a bunch of daffodils in full bloom.   This area was once the garden of a very old house, which I understand was demolished some years ago.   Several varieties of flowers are growing there, and I have been transplanting some of them in our garden.  A nice bunch of daffodils are now in a vase on our kitchen table. 

Must get going into the sewing room.

Have a wonderful day.


P.

On my Facebbok

Yesterday while looking at FB I  read this.......................

Millions and millions of dollars have been donated to rebuild the Notre Dame, but 80,000 children are starving to death in countries around the world.

What are your comments?

Mine...................HUM!  so many thing in my mind, having trouble sorting them out enough to write them down.

Buildings are worth more than children? 


Have a wonderful day.


P

Dentist.. again

A month ago I decided to have two teeth fixed with new fillings and a crown on each.

Crowns,  and they cost as much a the one Queen Elizabeth wears, no not really that , however, my credit card bill was a shock to my system when I opened the mail yesterday.  I am fortunate to be able to pay the balance in full and also having a dental insurance company which pays 50% of this work.

Sunshine today and it is nice out, so I am getting this post finished then going for a walk and taking my camera this time.  Missed several good photos last time,  now I have decided to take it there won't be a single thing to photograph.  The law of whatever..................

UPDATE

Went for my walk, it was quite warm, had to take off my sweater.   Took several photo's , no time to download them to the lap top right now, but will update this post late.

Have a wonderful day.


P

Can it ever be replaced

The TV, newspapers and internet are awash with the photo's of the fire at the Notre Dame is France,  the loss of a magnificent building.   Can it ever be rebuilt to it's previous glory?  If it can, it will not be the same unless builders are skillful enough to use the old way of erecting a building, using modern equipment to do so.

A couple of years ago we toured through Europe and did our share of going into cathedrals and  churches.  Its the smell,  the damp musty smell of thousands of people coming and going  and  the constant changing of the weather year after year.   Knowing you are walking on the floors where hundreds of other feet have worn away parts of the slaps of stone.   The echo's of those foot steps and voices, it takes you back in time, your mind sees the flowing robes, uniforms, and gowns of long lost noble men and women.  The beautiful glass windows, which are pictures of art.  It makes you wonder, how did those stone masons, artists and builders make such a huge building without all of the modern machinery etc. that we have today.  

I may not see it completely rebuilt in my lifetime, however, hope my grandchildren and great grandchildren will have the opportunity to see it as it was on April 14, 2019.


Have a wonderful day.


P.

Brrrrrr

It was only 1*C this morning and cloudy, however, sun starting to peek through the clouds, so it looks as if it might be an OK day after all.

A bit wet outside, so will do a bit more Spring cleaning today.

Not much to write about today.


Have a wonderful day



P.

Two lovely days and recycle

Friday and Saturday I did not post anything as we were too busy doing outside work as both days were perfect to be out in the fresh air and sunshine.

We cleared branches and leaves from my partners daughter's house with three loads taken to the nearby recycle facility.  This place is a god send, they accept everything and anything, charging anyone who wants to get rid of metal, building materials, plastic etc. etc., however, garden waste can be brought there at no charge.  It is then eventually composted,  what they do with the compost I don't know, but wish they would sell it to the public.

After lunch, I transplanted,  you could call it stole, but transplanted sounds a lot better.  Across the street from where we live there is wooded area that in years gone by was thee garden of an old house.  Flowers still grow there, mostly a variety of  blue bells and snow drops.   In my opinion they were in dire need of being thinned, so some of these flowers are now in my garden.   Today,  it looks as if we are going to have an all day rain, so they should still be flowering for a little while longer and hopefully, put forth a show next Spring.

The clematis is showing lots of green, so trimmed it back.  The rain today, should prompt a lot of the other plants to start showing new growth.   The daffodils are almost in bloom.   A great time of the year, in my opinion,  Winter is now behind us and warmer sunnier day yet to come.

I am glad today is wet,  my muscles need a rest.

Have a wonderful day.


P

Wildlife

As the title of my blog suggests, I live in a S. W. Ontario city,  located where I can get to many major malls and stores, but also where there is a huge green space just outside my front door.    The best of two worlds.

Because of the area across the street has trees, a river and an open space it is a haven for a lot of wildlife, which eventually find their way to our garden..

Deer, four or five at a time are either across the street or on the lawn at the back of the house.  Such a pleasure to look at.

Wild turkeys, a flock of six came across our front lawn a week ago, yesterday one lone male running across the field.

Groundhogs, running as fast as they can, they do not like to be out in the open for too long.

Rabbits,  cute little fellows, until they start chewing off the tips of my flowers that are starting to poke out of the ground.

Chipmunks,  scurrying around the bird feeder filling up their cheeks with seed fallen on the ground, back to their hole in the ground to empty their haul and come back for more.  

Then we have another specie of wildlife, students.  The university is close by, and we are in an area where a lot of students live during the school year.  They walk, run and cycle past our house to class at all hours of the day and night.
The majority of them are considerate, and well behaved, but......there  are those few who do not fit into that category.

They litter, walk through private property,  have loud and unruly parties and now pot is legal, we have seen several small groups, even in the dead of Winter, huddled together sharing a smoke.

I am being petty, I know.   I am a crotchety old lady, and I was young once.    

In just a few weeks the current school year will end and we will have the entire Summer to enjoy our other wildlife.

Have a wonderful day.

Good Morning

The sun is trying very hard to shine through the clouds we have this morning, and it is cold, only plus 2*C when I got up.

What's  on my agenda today?  

I have a errand to do...going to the bank to see if I can get some bills paid that are outstanding since my Mother's passing.   When bills such as this need to be paid I realize and understand the financial institutions have policies and procedures that must be followed.  However, wish they would keep you informed as to the status of the situation.  I know, they are busy.....but is it not business etiquette to keep customers informed.   In this day and age I assume not.

The bank,  ($$$$)  where my Mother's account is, is over an hours drive from where I live, so I was informed I could go to a local ($$$$) bank with all the pertinent information and they could fax everything to my Mother's bank, where they can be paid.   OK sounds good to me.    There are two ($$$$)  banks close to me that I could go to, however, one does not have any tellers,  machines have taken over the jobs the staff use to do.   I am old school, going to avoid this one, and going to the one where I can speak to a person and get this taken care of. 

Don't get me wrong, I do use the bank machines to get cash and also pay my Visa bill, only because my bank does not give me a stamped receipt when I pay at the counter. 

Do you use your phone or machines to take care of your financial tasks?

Have a wonderful day.




P/

New to me

Yesterday was a beautiful day, no wind to speak of and the sun had a lot of warmth in it.  Too nice to stay inside,  so decided to go for a walk.

Across the street from where I live there is a green space which is owned by the University, there is a foot path which I have used before and it leads to one the city managed walking trails.   I have been on this walking trail before but always took the  right turn, however, yesterday decided to turn left for a change.  I am so pleased that I did.   Walking through the woods, no leaves on the trees yet so the heat of the sun felt hot, off came my light jacket.   Down steps, up and over a bridge and on to a boardwalk to a path along the river.   The high water of a couple of weeks ago was gone and now the clear water was babbling over the rocks in some areas.

A man, in the middle of the river was fishing,  what, if anything he was catching I don't know.   A tree had ben felled by a beaver, such smart creatures they are,  so precise was the point left on the stump, and it fell close to the waters edge so the animal could gather the small branches.   A garter snake slithered in front of me,  I must have disturbed it from sunning it self, it stopped gave me a look and then continued on it way.
Note to myself.....take your camera next time.

In the low lying areas some plants, skunk cabbage I believe, were starting to show through the dead leaves,  a bit too early for any other flowers to start growing yet. 

Pleased I took the new to me trail yesterday, planning on taking that trail again,. 
Do you walk?  find new places to go?

Today, is cloudy, windy and the temp has been falling since I got up, this time of the year the weather is on a sew saw, one day sunny and almost hot the next we are putting on warm coats and hats.  And so it goes.....Spring in S. W. Ontario.


Have a wonderful day.

P

Bird Feeders

Throughout the year we feed the birds.   A well balanced mixture of seeds on the bird tray, and suet cakes hung in a plastic mesh bag, attract a wide variety of our feathered friends.   Cardinals, the bright red feathers of the male and the blue feathers of the Blue Jay are a welcome splashes of colour against the snow in Winter.   Chickadees and nuthatch flit back and forth choosing only the smallest of seeds.   Morning Doves,  eat  their fill and then just sit fluffing up their feathers to keep warm.

Flickers and wood peckers prefer the seed cakes, tapping their beaks against the frozen suet.

Seeds that fall are then eaten by the black and grey squirrels.

Now the warmer weather is here, we noticed the Yellow Finch are now looking for their favourite, Niger seed, so we filled the feeder for them.  The robins have returned and looking for worms and bugs.  

Do you feed the birds?

It at this time of the year, I would love to get out in the garden and get some soil under my finger nails, but it is too early.  We have cleared a lot of the leaves and dead branches and had a general tidy up, but not much more can be done until at least mid May, when the risk of a frost is gone. 

So, today I will continue to work on the quilt for our bed, I am anxious to get it finished. 

Must get moving,

Have a wonderful day.


P

Spring has Sprung

At least it feels like it today, sunny skies with a few clouds and the temp is 17*c at three in the afternoon.

Spring cleaning our bedroom today, almost done, just need to iron the curtains and everything is spic and span, not that it was dirty, but now everything is fresh smelling.

Gotta get at it.

Have a wonderful day.



P

So proud

Yes, I am a Grandma who is so pleased with everything all of my Grandchildren have accomplished so far in their lives, whether it is going college to be a baker,  or going to university and being able to find a job in the field of study.  Giving me all of my great grandchildren, or working for a well know insurance company, or attending university hundreds of miles away studying  Honours BSc. Biology.

The granddaughter I am writing about today is my youngest at 16 years of age.  For a number of years she has been a member of a local Air Cadet Squadron and loves every aspect of the military training she is receiving.

Last year she passed an exam, nailed the interview so was awarded a scholarship to attend a six week Summer camp here in Ontario to learn to fly a glider.  Finishing the course with a license to fly a glider.

Recently, she wrote another exam, also an essay and again nailed the interview, this Summer she is off to camp again.   Received a scholarship to obtain her power license which will allow her to fly a plane.   However, this year she will be going to an air force base in Manitoba for seven weeks.   She is so excited her feet are off the ground already.    Needles to say she wants to be a pilot.  Her life plan, is to finish high school,  obtain a university education through the Armed Forces, become a Jet Fighter pilot, and then a commercial airline pilot.   High expectations, no pun intended.

Have a wonderful day.

P

$"s flying out of my bank account.

Today was another two and half hours in the dentist chair.  

Years ago I had two teeth filled with the shiny metal fillings,  over time these fillings have shrunk and in need of replacing.  My dentist has been advising I should get them done before it is too late to save the teeth.  So, two weeks ago I had one repaired and a crown put on.....Cha ching,  Today the second was repaired with a temporary crown and in two weeks I go back for the permanent crown, another Cha ching.   I have dental coverage which pays a good portion of the work, so should not complain.  I would rather pay for these repairs than have to get dentures later on, don't think I could handle them.   Later this month I will have a nice smile again.

Sometimes I think of the craziest things.   When I had the first one done the dentist administered quite a lot of freezing, which was still making my lip feel as if was hanging under my chin, so driving home I thought I had better be careful and obey all of the rules of the road (sometimes I go over the speed limit just a bit)  lol, because if I get pulled over, I would not be able to speak properly and was afraid I would sound as if I was drunk or on drugs.  Once home, safe and sound, I got a cup of tea, tea always makes things feel much better.   NO it doesn't,  I was drooling all over the kitchen sink trying to drink this dam tea.

No windy today, a layer of cloud which is filtering out the sun, but nice day just the same.

Have a wonderful day

P

Blue Skies smiling at me....

Nothing but blue skies do I see.   Yes, the sun is shining but it is still a bit nippy out there.

I belong to a local quilting guild and for the past few years we have had a fabric challenge, and this year was no exception.   At our October meeting each member was asked to bring one yard of a batik fabric.  We all stood in a circle, we folded our fabric in half, snipped it on the fold and ripped it.   One piece was dropped on the floor and the other was passed to the person on our right.  We continue this process with each piece of fabric which was passed to us until we had seven pieces of fabric.  Each piece got progressively smaller.  We then had until March to make something, our choice, however, the project had to include at least one piece of each fabric.

The reveal was at our March meeting, we have a very talented group of woman, bags, wall hangings, runners and a pillow were the results of this challenge.   This is my wall hanging.

I worked on my quilt yesterday and liking it much better this time around.  

Got started on the spring cleaning, unfortunately did not get it finished, so that is on the agenda again for today. 

May end up going for a longer walk today, so much nicer when the sun is shining.

Also, have to pick up a birthday card, my partner's daughter in law's birthday today.

Well, that's me for today.

Have a wonderful day

P

Coffee Time

I am sitting here with my usual morning cup of coffee thinking about what is on my agenda for today. 

Finish Spring Cleaning ...my guest bedroom,  cleaned and tided the drawers on the weekend, so today is the closet.  This closet is where I keep all of my clothes and shoes.   Then wipe down the walls and woodwork,  this room was painted a short time ago, so not necessary for it to be done this year. Wash the curtains and rehang.  A good vacuum and we are done.   I keep up the cleaning of our house on a regular basis, so its not really dirty just needs a bit of freshening up.

Go for my regular daily walk......I have been doing a half an hour walk around the neighbourhood,  been very lazy during the Winter,  well not lazy, the weather does not co-operated in this neck of the woods, too icy and the temp and wind much too cold for me to want to venture out.  Once I get my body use to the half an hour will gradually increase it when the pleasant weather arrives and the scenery has colour in it.   Everything is still grey and depressing at the moment.

Sew a quilt for our bed.....I started this quilt some time ago after finding a pattern that I liked in a magazine.   Cutting and sewing I soon had enough blocks to start putting it together,  I HATED it.  Seam ripper had a good workout, and playing with the deconstructed blocks in different combinations,  I finally had a layout that pleased me.  So, now these blocked need to be put back together again.

Dinner is an easy one on Tuesday's.......Hubby brings home chicken from the grocery store, we eat the legs and wings today, and use the breast for his sandwiches which he takes to work.  Only veg and salad to prepare.   Yesterday, I made fruit in jelly, so we have some of that to use up today.

So with all that to do today, should take my last sip and get moving.

The sky has some clouds in it today which are filtering out the sun, no blue sky like we had yesterday.


Have a wonderful day


P

Old Man Winter

Yesterday, I attended a baby shower for my grandson and his wife, they are expecting their first baby in early May.   Lovely luncheon, and as always games, and nice conversation with family.  They do not know the sex of the baby, so no pink or blue, mostly green and the very popular grey which is all the rage right now. 

Yes, OLD MAN WINTER is at it again, woke up to approximately four inches of wet snow.

The sun is warm so melting it and causing some icicles to form, quite  beautiful in the sunlight.




Icicles outside my bedroom window, not very clear because of the screen.

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