It’s Party Time

Our family Thanksgiving was postponed for a week so we could hold a surprise birthday party for my older brother – a healthy 75 years old. We first started planning it by contacting his kids and then getting every ones consensus on a date and guests. Now with all that done the challenge was to keep it a secret from Larry!

On the Tuesday, Barb & I moved our rig into Larry’s driveway so we could have time to visit and do some of the fine tuning for his surprise. The sun was welcoming as we sat out the back with Larry and Gord at happy hour. As usual, on moving day we have dinner at our favourite fish & chip place with Larry.

As the week gathers momentum toward party time and the day arrives, the turkey is in the oven – Larry thinks it is our family Thanksgiving – which it was – and our families start to arrive. How to get him out of the house to maximise the surprise – a couple of ideas were floated around. Larry thought he should get a new toilet and we spent some time looking on line for one he thought would work. Shino & I said lets go, we can get one at Home Depot and have it installed before lunch. Then realization set in and Larry decided he didn’t need one that bad. Thank goodness for grandkids! Larry’s oldest asked him to take her shopping for something and of course, he couldn’t turn down a kid’s request and off they go at the perfect time for us to decorate and welcome some of the guests.

When Larry & Jessica returned, we all crowded near the door for the loud birthday wishes. The look on Larry’s face was priceless and of course, he was dressed in his Sunday best! With lots of nibblies, beer and wine, good friends and family, we all had a great time. Many past memories were talked about as new memories were made.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, we’re back at Corrie’s for some plumbing work on her new bathroom. The new tub is not the same size and everything needs to move a little. They also bought a new faucet and of course, it does not fit where the old one was. Nathanial was my apprentice, cleaning all the joints and pipe parts with steel wool. In his spare time, he ignited the torch after all the fittings were snug on the dry fit.

Monday, we drove over to see Pat & Carolyn for lunch and to see the new home site in Warkworth. They have had enough of the land lord of their mobile home park and decided to go out on their own. Hiring a mobile home mover and a builder to build the foundation with Pat acting as the general contractor. Now they are having a different kind of fun! They have a beautiful site with a terrific view overlooking the nearby rolling hills.

After lunch, Pat takes us into Campbellford to view the lock there and a hike into Ferris Provincial Park. Crossing the suspension bridge over the Trent River Gorge, the 4 of us trekked through a wooded area on a trail that led us to the spectacular lookout over Ranney Falls. It was cool and threatening rain but it was perfect for a hike through the woods.

 

On Tuesday, we were to head back to Waterdown but we’re still having problems with the fridge gaskets and need to re-do them again. So, instead, we go to Terri’s driveway for a few days. This time, we plan to use Terri’s freezer and fridge to store our stuff and keep the doors off for 48 hours while the gaskets cure and adhere.

This was the day we were to learn if our offer on the house in Fort Erie was accepted by the seller. Barb, Terri & I were having happy hour when the call came in and we learned we were property owners again! How scary is that? It’s been a long time since we were involved with the Real Estate purchasing process. At each hurdle we became a little more nervous, anxious and keep wondering if we’re doing the right thing. But that doesn’t get in the way of a celebration! Now, I could have said that the news blew the doors off the fridge but that wasn’t true, I took them off so we could re-do the gaskets again. Hopefully the fourth time is a charm!

Ok, enough for now, I’m sure your nodding off. We hope all is well where ever you are…..