Well its another hot day and very humid, feeling like about 40c (104f). For retired people like us, its quite nice. We have lots of shade trees here at the farm and always a refreshing breeze across the open fields.
Windows open and a beautiful sunrise this morning is inspiring. After the standard coffees and computing Suzie started off to de-skunk Omer again. He frequently wanders at night and seems to come across his skunk buddys that just have to share the experience with us. So the effective recipe of peroxide, baking soda, soap and water is mixed up and applied.
We woke up this morning to sunshine, and warm humid weather. Windows open, shorts, T-shirts on, it is wonderful! We had our morning coffees, and computing then I call my chiropractor for another adjustment, went into Waterloo for the tune up then all done, brand new! While here I stopped by ma's for a coffee and chit chat, nice visit.
I ran a few errands on the way home and we had a quick bite to eat for lunch. Then Suzie, Sandy and I into see Suzie's mom to "borrow" a bunch of plants for the Rock Concert (Garden). Then return home to plant them. Suzie's Mom and Dad came out to supervise the girls in their planting and relax in the shade. It was getting hot, Dennis does not like working in it with a humidex close to 40c (104f).
Rock Garden taking shape
Suzie and her Mom and Dad relaxing
Love it!
While the gardeners were at it I cleaned up some trellis's getting ready to paint them.
Trellis's ready to paint
We had to stop early to prepare the supper, Sandy had put a large roast beef in the oven so enough for the six of us with some boiled new potatoes, gravy, mixed veggies and a tossed salad.
yummy supper
Now with the early supper done we can go to watch our grandson play T-Ball at 7:00pm. With my youngest daughter coaching. He is only 3 yrs old (4 in July) and they are so cute trying to run , hit the ball and concentrate on the game. A fun time and a few laughs, sure is great to be able to see them growing and having fun.
Then on the way home a huge red sun setting, and we even sat outside until almost 10.00pm, the promise of another hot day tomorrow.
Sunday morning starts with a warm sunny sunrise with the forecast calling for rain. But the weatherperson was wrong. We had clouds for a while then the skies cleared and dried things up.
Shorts and t shirt weather and I love it. The temperatures reached 26c with a humidex of 34c (92f) and the grass was drying pretty good. I got the lawn tractor out and cleaned it up with the pressure washer and got to work cutting the grass.
Today is cool, overcast and damp. My back is out again so a call to my chiropractor and a quick trip to Waterloo for an adjustment. Run a few errands and back to the farm to make lunch for us. Busy around here with the farming and Mennonite Relief sale in New Hamburg. Everybody seems to be involved, it is a huge event the last saturday of May every year.
After lunch I am taking care of my back with a heating pad and reading a book. Suzie at the sale to help her mother and father, nephew Greg is there auctioning after chores, then they are all there for a bit tonight to watch Greg auctioning (even Gramma 96 yrs old) and view some of the quilts.
I have a project I am working with on my Mac in I-Movie to see if I can put together a video and slide show to burn some dvds for the church. (I am not committed yet need to see if I can do it first) Teaching myself the program and to see if I can get a decent result. Its a challenge and fun at the same time, can't do much else for today anyway. No pictures again today, no time.
I need to be in shape for tomorrow to get to the sale early in the morning, drop Suzie off and check things out, take some pictures then off to see my oldest grandson play baseball later in the morning. Saturday will be a fun/full day again.
Thanks for stopping by.
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We are up early as usual but its raining again (surprize!). So we compute and coffee waiting for it the let up. And it did so we packed up said adios to our friends were on the road shortly after 10:00 am. Dry roads and a nice drive we are back at the farm and set up in time for lunch.
Now to chat with Sandy for a bit to catch up and putter around for a while. About 4 pm we took a drive into town for a few errands then to Suzie's mom and Dads for supper. After this Suzie helper her Dad with computer issues then he went back to the Arena to finish setting up for the Mennonite Relief Salea huge annual event (fri and sat only) and fund raiser involving the whole community and thousand of people from miles around.
Another day of overcast, cool and drizzly weather, but summer will soon be here right? We did the coffee computing and walkabout, chat with a few people and putter about a while. We have been here three weeks now, time to move on, got that itch again, so back to the Farm for about a week, we have people to see and things to do there.
Not sure what all we did but the day just flew by, Trish, Jordan and Maggie dropped by for an afternoon chat for a bit with some sunshine, then the skies got dark and we packed up the rest of our outdoor stuff and rolled up the awning, just in time before the heavy rains began.
The long weekend is over, everybody is back to work, (we have stuff to do too) the weather is cool and overcast but at least not raining. Our workday begins at 7:00 am with morning coffees, computing and walkabouts, then a trip to the Foodtown in Arkona for some fresh buns. Here I talked to the butcher to see if he was making any pork schnitzel today, later this afternoon was his plan, I will be back.
So back home to do laundry, Suzie sorted and I took it over to let the machines do their magic. In the meantime we had a bite to eat and another walkabout. Now with that task out of the way and its still not raining I moved our large patio mat (9 x12 ft) to the clean grass and gave it a good cleaning.
This the first long weekend of almost summer and is in celebration of Queen Victoria's Birthday, it is the monday on or before May 24th. With all kinds of weather all weekend, today was no different, sunshine, overcast, windy, drizzly, and rainy. The official holiday today but with unpredictable weather people are packing up and heading home. We watched, we waved, we said see ya later and then enjoyed the sunshine when it came out.
Many years ago we always headed to northern Ontario, on the lakes, in the bush lovely scenery. But with the usually damp weather and early in the season we were "eatin alive" with Black flies and Mosquitoes. But now we have come to love this area, southwestern Ontario, especially this campground, we don't seem to have many of these creatures.
The forecast for today is rain, rain showers, overcast and thunderstorms, but I don't want to believe it. Ok it started about 6:00am with cloudy skies and very heavy rainfall for about an hour. But shortly after that the skies began to clear and was almost nice by 10 when we had planned to head out to the Pinery Fleamarket again. As you may know we always enjoy a sunday outing here especially on the long weekend with a lot more vendors. So three car loads of us headed out, 7 of us altogether plus Maggie. We took three cars because Mike was heading on to work from there another two hours north in Port Elgin.
Well here it is May 21st long weekend, sunshine, clear skies and great temperatures. It was up to 28c (85f) just a great day. Our neighbours had picked up a hanging plant for their house and hung it on our site post for the weekend, so nice of them, maybe they will forget to take it with them.
hanging flowers
The required morning coffees and computing out of the way Suzie and I took a large walkabout the resort and chatted with quite a few people. The resort full and everybody outside lots of people to stop and chat with.
Hmm, lets see now how do we do this?
Go to a funeral and celebrate my birthday.
Today is my birthday 62 years old, never dreamed that I would see that. You know its funny I don't feel old, and when I look in the mirror I don't think I look like a 62 year old should look, my grandparents looked much older at this age. My body tells me I am not 22 anymore thats about it thou.
This morning we are up early for a journey to Oshawa to say goodbye to a dear friend. My Fathers wife, stepmother, friend, Shirley passed away in her 84th year and the service is today. We have a trip to make, Arkona Ontario to Oshawa, 300 kms (190miles) each way, so we wait for the morning fog to lift a bit and on the road about 7:45am.
Well today was almost nice. The weather is getting better and the campground is filling up. Trailers pulling in setting up more children and bicycles and familiar faces showing up. We puttered around, defrosted the fridge, (beer wasn't cold enough!) walkabouts and chatting with people then early afternoon the skies cleared up, sun shining and blue skies. Now we can sit in the warm sun with our books for a bit.
Up early this morning as usual hoping to see a sunrise, AND we did!!
blue skies!
The blue skies, sunshine and warm, just love it. People walking their dogs, children playing in the playground, birds chirping soo nice. We got our computing and coffees done then outside to enjoy this beautiful day. Walkabouts, chatting and puttering about in the warm sunny air.
Yep its Tuesday warmer, and a bit dryer. Still overcast, drizzly, no sunshine again all day, but the day still happened anyway. Feels like we could be in London England.
Morning coffees, computing and walkabouts then I decided to take a drive to Forest normally about 10 minutes away, but two detours made it a twenty minute drive. I took my sunglasses just in case. My first stop here was the Bargain Shop, got me a new pair of shorts for when the sun shines again, see I am optimistic. Then to the license office for a new sticker for our coach, The Beer Store for our favourite brew(sold out in Arkona), Foodland for some groceries and looked at my shopping list need printer paper. I was directed to the Dollar store (they were sold out), then Canadian Tire (no computer paper here), finally back to the Bargain Shop (the first place I stopped in town, but didn't look at my list here) got the paper. Then stopped at KFC for their Toonie Tuesday Special for our lunch (now $2.59 but not too bad) then back home. Sure glad that Forest is not a big town, all these places are within a few blocks of each other.
Well its Monday the beginning of a brand new week! But we are still having the same old weather cool, overcast and rainy. But it sure beats cold and snowy. So as the day progressed I was in and out frequently for small walkabouts in the drizzle, get fresh air and even a short drive to the store for a loaf of fresh baked french bread. Computing and researching more, attempting to locate a cable for my recliner. I emailed and called a couple of dealers in Ontario but, no luck. Then I talked to Rob the owner/manager of Rock Glen and he contacted his parents who just happened to be at a large Holiday Rambler Dealer in Georgia. Apparently the part was discontinued by I was given phone number and part number of the Manufacturer in Elkhart Indiana. A phone call to them revealed that was not the part I needed, but was asked to email pictures of the seat to them. So with that done I await their reply.
Before I knew it was afternoon and its still raining. So off to the pool and hot tub where the warm humid air just feels like a day on a tropical beach, minus the sound of the waves. Well I can dream can't I? So a soak in the hot tub, a few laps of the pool and chat with a couple of other fulltime rver's, sure makes you feel good on a dull day.
Back home Rich and Mary-Lou dropped by the campground for a visit and stopped for a chat, (more catching up) haven't seen them since last fall. Next thing we realize its time for supper so I whipped up a a hot beef sandwich, with creamy mashed potatoes, gravy and peas for supper. Love the left over roast beef.
tasty
Now after supper we can find time to read for a while, its still overcast and drizzly outside, but we are comfy here looking out at the green leaves, lush greenery appearing on the trees.
Well no time again for an afternoon movie we will see what Tuesday brings. The forecast says 70 percent chance of sunshine! Looks promising.
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Overnight Saturday it rained and it poured, sunday morning it rained and it poured, sunday afternoon and evening it rained and it poured. No sunshine but a few times it let up to a nice drizzle so I won't get too wet when I went out. Oh yeah it was kinda cool too, about 9c (50f) most of the day.
a rainy day
But all is not lost we have alternatives for these rare days. Looks like a good day to read and maybe watch a movie or two on TV. But first, a cable on my recliner broke last night, so I have a project. Unbolt this heavy chair from the floor and check it out. Checking to see if a spare cable I had would do the job (nope too short). So with a pair of vise grips I got the recliner to temporarily work (a man can't be without his recliner, where would he sleep?) put it back together and began searching the internet for a replacement part. I found some leads and sources, but will wait for monday to check them out.
By this time it's mid afternoon already and I had planned on baking another batch of mini pecan tarts. So I got to work, making the tasty pastry and filling.
mini tarts
While the tarts were baking I a made up a nice sage dressing and rolled that into some pork ribs tied with string on a bead of sauerkraut then into the hot oven when the tarts came out. May as well use the oven while it's hot, save propane and keep our house warm at the same time on this weathery day. With this I added a few boiled new potatoes and broccoli.
a tasty treat
After supper Trish, Jordan and their mini dog Maggie dropped by for a bit of a visit, inside of course, its still cold and drizzly. Suzie got to play with Maggie and Trish gave us a demonstration of her new I-Padan amazing piece of computer technology, a nice add on to any computer system for those who have the need.
Suzie and Maggie
Well sitting inside chatting for a bit as the sun was setting we noticed a beautiful red sky, our reward for enduring a rain day.
awesome sunset
Well you know what? We were planning on reading and watching a movie today because of the weather, its been such a long time since we watched an sunday afternoon movie, but we ran out of time. With this retirement life it seems we don't have enough hours in the day. Maybe we can try again another rainy day, if we have time (maybe tomorrow).
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After friday was so hot and humid it was a shock today to be overcast, cool, damp and drizzly. Morning coffees, computing and walkabouts between rain drops. We puttered around with a few things, tidied up inside and sorted thru our reading box getting rid of old magazines etc..
Mike and Trish are here for the summer now and they had bought a new gas BBQ, to keep here. So while Trish came to visit Suzie with her mini dog Maggie, I went for some male bonding with Mike to see if we could assemble the big box full of parts to the point where we could fire it up without having it explode.
Suzie and her new friend Maggie
We thought we were following the instructions pretty good until page 10,(installing the side burner). It turns out the side supports went on backwards so we completely dissembled back to page two and started over again but with my electric screw diver this time. Much better now all done and working, time to celebrate with a beverage.
watch dog
Then we sat outside a bit more for happy hour under the awning and out of the drizzle until it was time to start supper and go inside to take off the chill. On the menu tonight is a tasty Garlic Shrimp pasta with a salad and fresh french bread.
Tasty Garlic Shrimp Pasta
The weather forecast for the next 4-5 days appears to be around the same with anywhere from 10 to 60 percent chance of sunshine, so maybe get some computing and reading done, even some time in the pool and hot tub after the weekend crowds leave.
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Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
We have had a couple of nice days, now the forecast says rain, humid and hot today. I guess as long as its hot we can live with that. So morning walkabouts getting exercise and chatting with neighbours, even a family of Canadian Geese were walking about looking to chat with their neighbour as well.
Canada Geese
come on kids
I don't think anybody is home
Just a day to putter around, I borrowed the lawn mower and cut our small site to clean it up a bit, its growing so fast and the forecast says rain for the next 4 days. Because of the forecast I had gone to the butcher this morning and picked up a nice sirloin tip roast beef, to put it, along with onions, garlic, celery carrots and potatoes in our slow cooker. After reading for while in the shade, we enjoyed a happy hour with Emile and Monique, they are on the road in the morning, until we meet again. Then its time for supper.
a tasty treat
No matter the weather, it was still a tasty treat with yorkshire pudding as well to round it off, with lots of leftovers.
After supper we went to visit with Mike, Trish, Jordan and their mini dog Maggie. They had just arrived this afternoon and set up their trailer on a seasonal site. We have not seen them since last summer and they will now be here until late fall now, home schooling makes this possible.
Maggie
Then before we knew it, its dark and time to turn in for the night, we never did get any rain today, lets hope for more rainy days like this.
Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
Our Blogger website has been down for a few days waiting for their engineers to sort out some issues. I will update our daily postings, when we are up and running, they are supposed to restore a few that are missing.
Looks like we are up and running again ! Not sure where Wednesdays posting went thou??
Another fantastic day, a bit of sunshine and very warm, 30c (88f). This weather makes everything feel good. Up early, enjoying the sunrise and fresh air, walkabouts chatting with people. Then its overcast after lunch and a good time to wax the driver's side of out coach (its usually in the sun all day). I don't want to get it all done in one day, no big hurry I can save some for another day when the mood strikes.
With that chore done we can now sit in the shade for a while enjoying our books for a while, then before we know it happy hour again with Emile and Monique until its supper time. Tonight is our leftover ham and scalloped potato casserole with a tossed salad. Always tastes better the second time around!
leftovers tonight
Then back outside to read in the evening sunshine, still in shorts and t-shirts. Even Suzie, so you know its still warm out. Finally at 9 p.m. we decided togo in and watch a good movie before bedtime.
this picture was taken at 7 p.m.
It sure is nice to have many more hours of sunlight, a good indication that summer is on the way. Hope your weather is good as well.
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Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
Now this is more like it, sunshine and warmer again! Up early enjoying the sunrise and fresh air but no juice, no coffee, no food we are fasting before going to the Lab in Strathroy to get our blood work done for our yearly physical. So we get there first thing in the morning, in and out in 10 minutes then to the 7-11 store to check out a new cell phone, but first a coffee! They have pretty good coffee there.
Let me tell you about this cell phone. We have our main cell phone thats good in Canada and the USA no long distance and no roaming. In the USA we purchased a cheap Track-fon for $9.95 with no contract and found it works really well but only in the states. I was trying to find one similar for Canada, and after searching the internet the other rainy day I stumbled across Speakout Wireless available only at 7 eleven Stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba. Well we think this is a pretty good deal. We bought an basic tiny cell phone (with built in Flashlight, cool) $49.00, but with $50.00 purchase of airtime we got the phone for $29.00. No contracts, no system access fees, free call waiting, voice mail etc... The $50.00 airtime is 200 minutes good for 365 days! and as long as we top up our time before the 365 days any used minutes are carried over. So for $29.00 and $50.00 or less a year I can have an emergency phone of my own, Suzie can now find me anywhere! This is handy because many times one of us has been out somewhere and need to contact one another, but we only had one cell phone, this should eliminate the problem. No I won't tell you the number only Suzie knows that.
new phone
Touring around we noticed the fuel prices up again, as everyone does nowadays. Sure glad we don't have to work anymore with the price of fuel. With the car it now costs 9 cents to drive one kilometer (20 cents a mile). Our coach now is a different story but we do not need a lot of fuel in the summer time with moving a short distance every two or three weeks, we fueled up a month ago and still have more than 1/2 tank of fuel.
$1.41.9 a liter is $5.36 per US Gallon
Well at $1.41 a liter at least we get Full Service in Arkona. As I am posting this I did notice that gas prices actually dropped 6 cents a liter this morning, is this a trend? I think not, with summer on its way and the first long weekend of the season, I think fuel prices will soar back up, to record highs, as they have in the past.
Back home to putter around, enjoy the warm air, sunshine and chats with a few neighbours outside, read for a while (in the shade) its quite warm today. Emile and Monique stopped over for happy hour then we fired up the barbie to grill a marinated cornish hen, potatoes with onions, broccoli and my favourite Swiss Chalet dipping sauce on the side.
A tasty bird
Then we relax and chat for a while, and a a bit of tv before calling it a night. Love sleepng with the windows open and fresh air!
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Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
Tuesday and its not sunny, just kinda overcast, but a decent temperature 20c (68f), at least I can still wear my shorts, sandals and t shirt. Morning coffees, computing and walkabout then a quick trip to the corner store. The trees have really started to bud and the apple blossoms in the orchard are a wonderful sight to see.
apple blossoms
Well this is our home and we do not have to do a lot everyday I like to pace myself with a small project everyday, what's the hurry? I can do nothing today and again tomorrow until I get all of the nothings done, by then its time to start over doing nothing again. I was so busy doing nothing today I didn't even have time to read my book.
After a bite for lunch I decided it was a perfect day to give our coach a good wash, it hasn't been done since Feb 20th when we were in Rockport Texas. I did the awning the other day and it turned out great so now finish off the rest of our house. Then putter around for a while with odds and ends a walkabout, then time to throw supper together. Tonight a ham and scalloped potato casserole seems like a good way to use up some ham and our oven for a change on this overcast day.
large pan
yummy
A bit of a salad and we have lots to eat, enough left overs for another meal. Now relax, chat, a bit of tv and before we know it another wonderful day slipped by, doing nothing.
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Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
Ok now we have had three days in a row sunshine and warm, grass is growing, flowers blooming, and the buds on the trees are quickly growing into leaves.
these just caught my eye
The birds are nesting in the eves of the cabin beside us very busy there. Spring fever is really in the air. Its even obvious with the office hours that are posted.
I'd like these hours if I was working
The truth is we don't have time to work. Oh we get up early (5-6 am) check the news, emails, juice and coffees. A walkabout the resort for exercise chat with a few people, maybe a quick trip to the corner store then its lunch time, we did not even stop for a coffee break. After lunch we puttered around a bit, borrowed the lawnmower here and cut the grass on our lot, ( don't have to but I can) so tidied that up and before we knew it was 3:30 p.m. quitting time. So we grab our books and sit in the sun on our nicely trimmed lawn.
Of course with the nice weather people are walking about stopping to chat, share stories, bring their dogs for Suzie to play with and even stop for a with a beverage to relax.
wheres his face?
Then before we know its time to fire up the barbie to grill a tender prime rib steak, with mushrooms and onions, garlic bread, boiled new small potatoes and some steamed broccoli for a nice tasty supper.
tasty yes
Then we can chat and read a bit more before turning in after another busy day of trying to get nothing done.
This is still the best job we ever had.
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Notice the controls for this New Map on the left side, you can zoom into different areas of the map and see where we are or have been.
