And Onto May

 Well, the good news is that April is behind us - hopefully, May will be a better month for all.  This week:

- I planted calibrachoa(like a trailing mini petunia) in my two pots that I brought back in my luggage from Cordoba, Spain in 2016.  They don't have a huge root base so work well in these small planters.  I hope to find some more of these plants as they would work well in my big clay pots.  Although the nurseries are open they seem to be picked over or have some of this but none of that.  I hope to get all of my plants potted up this week except the tomatoes, those are still a bit little.  I have  planted one pot of cucumbers (5 to a pot) outside but kept a few back in case they decide it was too early.  I'll plant the rest of the cucumbers mid-May.  I've also started some dill seeds as well as spinach.


- I am trying to do something productive every single day (besides work).  This week I sewed 2 more facemasks that look way better than the originals - hubby is now willing to wear his Johnny Cash "man in black" mask versus the white T-shirt face diaper I made him 2 weeks ago.  I will not win any sewing contests but at least we have them.  It appears Costco USA is rolling out a requirement for customers and staff to wear facemasks starting Monday, Canada will soon follow I am sure.  We were there a few days ago and the staff had masks - this was a change from 2 weeks ago when I was one of the only ones wearing a mask in the building.  I wish all stores would do this.

- We celebrated our 17th "day of love" meaning the first day we met on Thursday.  We don't normally do presents or cards but hubby surprised me and bought a pretty new glass hummingbird feeder.  Now I can retire our bleached out plastic one for winter when it sometimes freezes and we need 2 going as the hummingbirds stay here year round.

- It has been raining here a lot this week.  The good thing about that is the new grass where we tore up our yard mid-March is growing in nicely.

- Mom and I went for another long walk this week during a break in the rain.  It was good for both of us.

- They say we in Canada will see 2 shortages soon.  Again, toilet paper (finally we just have it restocked on our shelves) due to a winter strike by our forestry workers, now resolved but there isn't enough raw material, and then due to stockpiling by people.  The other shortage will be meat as some of our meatpacking plants have been shut down due to Covid.  I am happy they shut those places down, every business has a responsibility to their workers and the public to ensure safety for all and it is clear now not everyone was doing that.  This won't mean we will run out of food but prices will be much higher.  I did score 4 kg of skinless boneless chicken breast (my normal box) for $5 off the regular price this week so call that a victory as it seems deals are few and far between right now.  We will also be eating less meat per meal so more casseroles and soups which we both like anyway.

- I hope to file our taxes this weekend.  Today was the original due date to file but it has now been extended until June.  I would just like to get it out of our hair.  They are done, I just need to go over them to make sure everything is ok then file with Turbotax.  I get a few dollars back and hubby pays about the same amount of dollars.  I would have filed earlier had we gotten a big refund.

- BC has very few new cases of the virus each day now.  It is likely in a few weeks some restrictions will start to be lifted.  Other Provinces have more cases yet are easing restrictions.  Most of this is due to financial pressure but to each Province is in a different situation.  If you are worried about losing your business and house, sometimes you are willing to risk getting sick over it.  It is hard to judge.  Everyone, no matter what the restrictions are, need to be more careful for themselves, their loved ones, and the general public from here on out.  Our new normal will be ever-changing for the next year or so - and we are all going to have to roll with it.  We will probably continue to be overly-careful for many months to come, regardless of what we are and aren't permitted to do.

That's all I've got for today.  I actually have to do a company billing which is a wonderful thing, each and every one of those this year is so bloody important.  Have a good weekend everyone.