End of Summer Projects….

Now that we have survived another birthday, it is still unbelievable that we are this old, we don’t feel it and we just keep on keep’n on! So, last posting, I hinted that we had an experience with a smelly black & white kitty. And yes, we did! Dave our neighbour came over with his live trap, baited and set it and we waited till morning to see what we caught and it was a young skunk. Dave has been catching several throughout the summer so I knew I called the right man for the job. Dave built a kind of shelter over the trap to keep the critters calm while we load and transport them to another space down the lake a few miles from here! I joke that we are sharing with the rich New Yorkers that have their big homes down on the lake.

Not knowing if it was just one skunk or a family, we set the trap again but only caught a possum after a couple of nights so making the leap that we are done with other critters under the house so time to fix this issue. I know that it is late now to put chicken wire around the front of the house but better late than never and having to do this again. Barb & I pulled the skirting off the front and sides so we could fit the wire under so the critters can’t dig their way in again. Once we finished that, we started to finish the front deck. We placed chicken wire around it to discourage them from digging there too. We didn’t work hard, just steady and before too long, we were done. Facias on and gravel laid, now for the rocking chair and a beverage and watch the world go by. We also started the edging finish of river rock up the side to match the other side.

 

The south side of the garage needed an eaves trough so we put that up too. The garden at the back corner of the garage gets flooded after a steady rain so we connected the down spout into the sump tile that we have around the house to get rid of the rain water.

We had a busy couple of weeks socially. Randy & Norma came by for some much needed fast track, lunch and more fun times. John & Di came in for the weekend, some fast track, rummy stix and lots of laughs and fun times.

 

But all this was not without some play time, a couple of shows, some golf and just being together keeps us happy. Barb’s painting is getting better each time she puts the brush to the canvas and my wood turning is improving too every time I go to the shop to make wood chips! The upcoming months will keep us focused on our family Christmas at the end of November and then our drive down to the Plantation for our winter excitement.

 

 

 

Come back again and hope all is good out there with you…..

Back Home from Our Summer Trip to the Plantation….

After we got back from LA, we thought we would take a few days of down time to recharge after the l-o-n-g drive home but not! Terri & Mark were taking off to cycle the Cabot Trail and they had picked up some logs so I could turn them into bowls so we decided even after being in the truck for 19+ hours yesterday, we would go into their place to pick up the logs and say farewell. They have been busy working on the front of the house and at the side to clear a spot for a hot tub they acquired. A coat of paint, remove the wrought iron and the house looks much better.

We had planned to golf and then sit back on the patio at He’s Not Here to celebrate Barbie’s birthday but the weather was not very cooperative so we did a show and dined at home. After a couple of Chocolate Cherry cocktails, I prepared my must have Cherries Jubilee for dessert. Her celebration was not what we planned but it was a nice day none the less – we had good company. We finally were able to complete her birthday celebration plans a week later. We played ICC here in Fort Erie, took in a show and then had dinner on the patio at He’s not Here. It was another great day.

It’s quiet around here most of the time, Barb ‘plays’ in her studio, quilting or painting while I ‘play’ out in the garage converted work shop, learning the wood lathe. In the srping, we planted 30+ Castor Bean seeds but only 4 germinated. We planted the seedlings along the big white fence to break up the glare.

 

We have made friends with our neighbors across the road and invited them over for a happy hour Sunday afternoon – Jamie is young enough that he works so only can party on weekends! Anyway, lots of chatter and laughs and before we realize it, it is well past dinner time and into early evening – apparently we’re having too much fun.

 

 

 

It was time for some Fast Track and more laughs so we headed to Randy & Norma’s in Dunneville, on the Grand River. Randy & I jusy can’t seem to get the upper hand on the ladies. It was a great day anyway, even if we couldn’t win many hands.

 

 

 

It’s time for my birthday golf and dinner. I chose a new course we haven’t played – Whisky Run, name sounded like right up my alley. The course was disappointing enough that we will not return. The 18 holes are squashed into an area suitable for 14! We soon caught up to a 5-some and held us up on every shot. The marshal didn’t want to upset them so he tried to be polite but that hint didn’t work! Needless to say we left the course unhappy. We stayed there for dinner which was also a little short of our expectations. We still had a fun day with a lesson learned….

 

To end the day off perfectly, while we were gone, a skunk moved in under the front of our house. His distinct aroma met us at the back door when we got back. I called a neighbour that I knew has fun catching these cute little black & white cats! He soon arrived with his live trap, set it up and we wait for morning. The air seems to be somewhat better so maybe he is not there after all. We’ll see in the AM.

 

 

Come back soon to hear if we had a free loading tenant….