The Weekend...already?

Today took me by surprise as it crept up on me so quickly. I slept in until eight and then suddenly realized with horror that I was completely unprepared for Trivia Night tonight. Sometimes in the past I have not composed my final questions until the day of, but this week I hadn't given any thought to it at all. It doesn't feel like a week has gone by. I have nothing to show for it. Only yesterday did I go out in the heat again to finish laying down the concrete block for the front flower bed. I have yet to dig any soil or lay down any Triple Mix. What have I accomplished this week? I wish I could say that I made some cards with my new craft supplies, but I haven't even done that.

I think that maybe part of the reason is that I have been spending more time over at "Dee's" house. I have been trying to help her spend her days without my dad. She spent a terrible amount of time looking after him. She had us all over for a pick-up dinner in the back yard yesterday. My sister and BIL have been entertaining her a lot at their house, but I still don't let anyone in here. Otherwise, I am writing out greeting cards, birthday cards and being in touch with friends and family. I do the usual laundry and cooking, but when I am not accomplishing projects, I feel somewhat unfulfilled. So perhaps I will be able to finish up the front flower bed this coming week. Today we are having another soaking wet day which is supposed to continue into the night and tomorrow as well. My rain barrel still has not arrived, so this morning I was able to rig up some eaves troughing to take the rain away from the house and the new garden bed I am digging up.

 When I removed the remaining sod next to the A/C unit, I felt I needed to replace support under the existing cement pad. Therefore, I carved out enough dirt under the cement to lodge 3 concrete blocks underneath. I also leveled off the circular blocks to remain at the same level all around. This was very strenuous work in the heat and I scared myself silly when I thought I was going to pass out. I listened to my body, sat on the steps until I felt better, then packed up all my tools and quit for the day.

While it was only thinking of rain this morning, I cobbled together pieces of drainpipe and a piece of plywood to direct water away from the house and onto the lawn. It appears to be working.

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.

More Home Deliveries

I have to stop going on-line. It is costing me money. I was back on Amazon a little while ago (when I was feeling anxious), and having a look around. Ha,ha. I ordered some more almond flour for baking my keto breads and rolls. I had just come back in the house from digging in the front flower bed and lamenting the condition of my shoes. I realized that once summer is gone and sandals cannot be worn any more, I don't have a decent pair of shoes to wear with socks.

They are still serviceable as work shoes. The soles are still good. But I really needed a pair of flats for the Fall. And since I was ordering shoes, I might as well order a new pair of winter boots since the last pair barely stayed together last winter. They are quite old.

 New loafers and good warm winter boots. This package arrived yesterday afternoon.

Last week I received more reusable single serve coffee filters for my Keurig machine and a large tub of dishwasher detergent.

On Sunday, I drove to Canadian Tire to receive a curbside pick-up. I'd bought 4 bags of mulch, 2 coco mats (only one is seen here as I planted one today with geraniums), a roll of landscape fabric, and a portable mosquito repeller to use outside in the area I am working or sitting.  My sister and "Dee" have these and they really work well. I'm also waiting on a 50 gallon rain barrel, 10 more bags of garden soil and 5 bags of manure. If all these on-line orders seem well intentioned, I guess they are. These are things that I have needed for a while.

Two days ago I "mapped out" the new flower bed in front of the house by laying down the concrete garden blocks I already had.

Today, I worked at removing the sod and sinking the blocks down to make the new garden wall two blocks high.

A work in progress...not quite finished. Eventually I need to screen the exposed topsoil, lay down the landscape fabric, and add the triple mix I will make with the order I'm waiting for. The rain barrel will go under the drain pipe and behind the A/C unit. Rain is expected tonight and tomorrow, so I will probably not get back outside until Thursday.

I may have to work with some of the papers, embossing folders and dies that have also been arriving in the mail. Did I forget to mention these? They were not needs...they were definitely wants. They will all be used and most were on sale, but totally a splurge. No more...please. I'm a weak, weak person.

Have a great evening and a wonderful day tomorrow.

A Small Flower Bed

I went out in the heat Monday afternoon to dig up a small patch of front lawn, like I was possessed. I dug up pieces of sod and took them back in the wheel barrow to the side yard. The sweat was rolling down my face but I was suddenly determined to do this. When I finally went back inside, I noticed I'd missed a call from Donna. I am guessing I knew my dad was gone and wasn't ready to hear it yet. I should have been there for "Dee"; but as it turned out, she had a friend come over to be with her. I think that was meant to be. Later that evening, her brother and SIL arrived from the Sault and stayed with her for three days.

Tuesday it was still darn hot, but I spent even more time outdoors screening all the topsoil from this small patch. There weren't all the roots to contend with, but oh my goodness....what a lot of rock. I removed about 8 inches of the top layer before laying down the black plastic, flattened cardboard and newspapers. Before I stopped for the day, I back filled the screened topsoil into the bed. Yesterday, I made up five wheel barrow loads of triple mix to lay down and I transplanted some tall marigolds that I have successfully grown from seed. So I should have some flowers blooming this summer. It will also be available to transplant some perennials I hope to receive from my sister and "Dee".

The last two nights the family has been spending the early evenings together in "Dee's" back yard, socially distanced in a large circle and reminiscing about all the wonderful times we've had. Today at noon, "Dee's" bother and SIL had to leave. I loaned my copy of my Dad's autobiography to the SIL to read this summer until I see her next. I am finished my garden and I am not going outside. I am feeling tired and physically drained. I think all of us will probably try to nap. "Dee" is very teary today but it makes perfect sense to me. She needs a good cry.

Yesterday was a full day of deliveries. I received a grocery order and three separate deliveries from Amazon. I'm not expecting anything for a while now, so it may be a good time to catch some zzz's.

You can't see them, but there are marigolds planted at the back of the bed against the deck skirting. The rock at the end of the blocks, is ONE of the rocks I removed from the topsoil. Most of them were much smaller though. I will keep this one as a focal point in one of the flower beds.  My future plan is to extend this flower bed out in front of the house and beside the A/C unit to make that bed much deeper than it is now. 

My Dad

He was a very good man. As the condolences come in, that is how almost every one of them begin. And they are right, of course. He treated people with respect and he was non-judgmental. He was an intellect and a voracious reader up until a couple of years ago. His macular degeneration and subsequent eye injections made it a little more difficult then. He really enjoyed the TV Bingo games and then the Trivia games on Saturday night. He won the game only 2 weeks ago. This past Saturday, because he could no longer talk, he tried everything to convey the answers to "Dee" who was writing the answers for him. I should have made that one a multiple choice so he could hold up fingers to indicate a,b,c or d. But I knew he probably had them all again. He was a history and geography high school teacher and vice principal before he retired. He traveled the world after retirement, so the questions on Canadian points of interest or tourist attractions was right up his alley.

We were so fortunate to be able to see him every morning on conference calls, even on Monday morning. He died later that afternoon and  "Dee" was with him. As you have probably guessed by now, "Dee" is much, much younger than him and absolutely adored him. I have been wondering (and yes, saying aloud), I didn't know what kept him going for so long.  "Dee" kept him going and I know now, that he was waiting for his wedding anniversary.  It was 45 years since the day they  met, and 41 years married on the day he died.

His mind was as sharp as a tack, but his body failed him and just shut down. I hope that is what is in store for me. We are missing him so much. There will not be a service. He has been cremated and later on (perhaps in a year), we will have a celebration of his life.

Groceries: My Weekly Highlight

Is this what my life has become? I waited all week for someone to call and get my grocery order and then waited all day to see if I would get anything delivered before the weekend. And yes, they arrived just before 5 o'clock yesterday. I guess I must have been the last delivery of the day. Whew! I washed and/or disinfected before taking photos and putting away the groceries.

Dairy

Meat

Fresh and Frozen Produce

Pantry Items

Non-food Items

But I kid. Getting groceries, though fantastic, is not the highlight of my week.  Last weekend I got two surprise phone calls from people I haven't heard from in such a long time. I had a very good Canada Day. I was not expecting anything exciting, so when I participated in a virtual BBQ with some old friends and got to see them on Facebook Messenger, that was a great time. It was also nice to watch the televised musical special and virtual fireworks on TV that night. I wrote out some more cards this week and got them in the mail. While writing up my blog yesterday, the neighbourhood chipmunk came up to the window beside my chair and watched me from the window ledge. I think chipmunks are adorable, so that was a spark of joy in my week. I came up with some exciting (I think) questions for tonight's Trivia Game and that was fun to do.  Today I will do up some laundry and hang it out to dry. I plan on watering the side yard again with the sprinkler. I will need to process the meat and whole cauliflowers for the freezer, and tonight will be our Trivia night where I get to dress up, put on make-up, and pour myself a glass of wine. This is my BIG Saturday night entertainment. WooHoo.

Happy Fourth of July to my American readers and hope your day is fun and exciting as well. Have a great weekend, but stay safe. 

A Week of Waiting

It doesn't feel good to feel like you are waiting all the time. It causes stress and anxiety, but that is how I have been feeling this week.  I have been waiting for someone to get back to me since Monday morning when I registered on-line for a grocery pick-up. I phoned again yesterday morning (Thursday) to inform them that they had forgotten me AGAIN. And no one had listened to the message to hear my frustrations. They just listened for the name and number and put it on a list for a call-back. And when the worker called me at 5:30 last night, I was really UPSET. Poor lady. She listened to me, which I really appreciated, so I could get it off my chest. She was so upset FOR me that she gave me her personal cell phone number in case it happens again.  She actually thought she was working ahead. She ends her shift at 5 o'clock but decided to work late to call the people who sent in "requests" that day. Instead she found out that I had been waiting for a call-back since Monday. The reason I like to use the on-line request form is because the auto-fill makes it faster and easier to fill the form, AND I get a confirmation number. (not that it has helped me at all) Now I am waiting by the window for my delivery because the last couple of times, they have not phoned ahead to notify me they are coming, which they are supposed to do. I don't want to find melted veggies on my doorstep 3 hours from now. I know it sounds like I am ungrateful, but I am just beyond frustrated. I'll get over it. 

I have not been sleeping well this week either, which is totally not like me. I can usually fall asleep anywhere and any time. My dad is still hanging in there. The nurse comes every day and we still see him everyday in our morning conference calls. I am using some of my nervous energy to find Trivia questions and  I may have enough to do two weeks worth. Because of Canada Day this past Wednesday, my questions deal with tourist attractions and places to see in our country. All one needs to do, is tell me in which province or territory they would need to go to see "X".  I hope it will be easier this week and a lot of fun. With out of country travel being restricted (for who knows how long), I am piquing their interest in some fascinating places they may want to visit should they be able to take a road trip someday.

It has been warm here for well over a week, with temperatures over 30 degrees and feeling closer to 40 degrees with the humidex. Forecasters are predicting the month of July being "much higher" than average. I think I will have some flowers later this summer as long as I keep watering. My red shamrocks don't seem too bothered by the heat, but I do keep them shaded. They are indoor plants that tend to do very well outside in the summer.

Yes, my woodwork needs a scrape and a paint...my steps, my deck, my fence. Hopefully I can get going on some of those jobs this summer. How are you all faring? Are you staying cool? Please stay safe.

Guilt: The Great Motivator

I don't remember what I did on Sunday, besides being on a conference call most of the morning. I talk with my Elliot Lake family every morning and then my Brother and SIL in Smiths Falls always call on Sunday morning. I know the weather was hot and I definitely stayed indoors. I probably just puttered around  (I baked some buns) and napped. I have been distracted and anxious lately. My dad is doing poorly. "Dee" had a nurse come in yesterday and this morning to administer an IV drip.

I do remember that I did absolutely nothing yesterday, because I hardly left this chair. I was well planted in front of this fan watching You Tube videos all day long. Except for making meals, requesting another grocery order on-line  and turning on the dishwasher, I did nothing. Instead of playing on-line crosswords last night, I played Bingo.

This morning I did not want to have a repeat performance. I emptied the dishwasher, took some sausage from the freezer for dinner tonight and made a pitcher of iced tea. I took my garbage and recycling out to the curb and watered my three large front stairs planters. I made a batch of yoghurt, baked a loaf of keto bread, fried a package of bacon for the freezer, and shredded and sauteed a head of cabbage. I wiped down the sinks, the stove and counter tops. I washed up the acrylic stamps I used recently in making cards and then watered the indoor plants. I mowed the front lawn and boulevard, before making lunch at 2 o'clock. This afternoon I am giving myself permission to sit on the computer but I have to first do my blog and write responses to peoples' blogs that I enjoy reading every day. I am also hoping that someone calls me by the end of the day to take down my grocery list.

There is no rain in the forecast, so this afternoon I set up my new sprinkler. It took some time because it is a narrow but long area. I wanted to reach the full length, but don't want it to intrude on my next door neighbour's yard. That is why I paid a little more for a sprinkler where I can limit the field of spray. Now that I have found the right angles and the right spot in the yard to place it, I have asked Alexa to let me know when a half hour is up. I tend to forget things like that. I might go to bed with the water still running. Oops. When the weather cools down a bit, I want to remove those bins from the yard and place them inside the shed. I will bring them out and use them when and if my seed starts get any bigger. Have a great evening. Hope the heat isn't getting to you and that you are staying safe.