And the Sun is Back Today!!

Sunshine seems to make everything better, doesn't it?  This is a picture of Buddy.  He's had a good right rip around the yard this morning after his morning business and came in the house absolutely dripping with wet dirty paws.  Of course, he had to tromp right through the fresh dirt we've spread where we are trying to get grass to regrow after taking out some bushes.  He only had his weekly bath last night so this time I had to wash all of his feet in the sink to get the dirt off.  Here he is roasting them to dry :)  He is super happy the sun is back now.

 We did loads of planting on Sunday, I got all of the flowers that I've bought in their pots.  I still need a few more but the strawberry planters got planted.  I am only giving you a glimpse as they currently look nothing like they will as most of the flowers don't have buds.  There are petunias, a spike, calibrachoa (moved from the other small wall pots, I will have to find more), 3 strawberry plants per planter, and white and blue lobelia.  They look messy now but will soon look lovely then I will get a good shot and show you.

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 We are doing more planning in the yard, next up is to move the bird feeder back to where we can see it from the kitchen/dining/living room as it was moved when we did the patio.  The birds don't like it close to the house and haven't been coming so we will move it to where that mat is behind the chair in the picture above.  We need a bigger mat, maybe even a half circle to go under it.  That is to prevent birdseed from sprouting on the patio.  We've had the sprinklers repositioned so they shoot away from the patio so now the water won't get to seed wet and rot.

I only have a few seedlings in the living room now.  Some of my tomato seedlings are still tiny and some a couple inches tall.  The biggest will be planted in 2 weeks.  I will also buy at least 1 other larger tomato plant to ensure I have lots as they do tend to grow well along the sunny side of the house with the siding reflecting the sun back on them.  The cilantro is growing well but after 35 days I forgot how long it takes to grow.  I need to start up another batch with some seeds I have left.  I also planted dill last week and it is just above the dirt now.  Dill is a super important herb in our house, a mainstay of any Ukrainian cooking (hubby, not me).  Nothing better than young potatoes in cream and dill.  A thousand calories of tasty goodness.

Yesterday was mostly grey but I got so much done inside.  I finished my company month-end, submitted our taxes (I get a refund, hubby pays and in the end we get a grand total of $4 back between us woohoo - oh yeah and I had to pay $69 for the version of Turbotax we need for investments), did 3 loads of laundry, and went to the bank, Mom's vet clinic and the grocery store.  I had to get some actual cash at the bank in small denominations as I can't buy eggs or do simple things after so many weeks of not using cash.  I got a $100 in small bills and dollar coins, that should keep me for a while.  I have no fear of cash, it is so easily disinfected so no need to worry.

Today I am going over to social distance in my friend's yard and buy eggs. Likely I will help her weed her garden as it has rained so much the weeds are probably out of control.  She has gone back to her second job at the plant center, she says they are super busy.  She also runs an air BNB out of her home but that is on hold for now, thankfully she has one permanent roommate who came in the fall and she gets along well with who seems to be staying indefinitely so is only losing out on one of the rooms.  Maybe by summer, it will be ok to travel in our own Province but who knows.  For now they are asking people not to do that, completely understandable.

Our restrictions are going to be lightened next week, today they will announce what is going on.  We will probably continue as we are except if we are allowed to be with one other household inside it will be Mom.  I will still social distance my friends until things are safer for Mom.  She hasn't left her house except for walks since mid-March.  She did trim her own hair yesterday and actually it looks pretty good.  I am sure we will still have to social distance for Mother's day so need to come up with something to cook and take to her. 

Yesterday I got 2 kg of skinless boneless turkey breasts for $10 - a screaming deal, that was for Mom and 2 kg of chicken legs for 99 cents a pound (our grocery stores really do price things by the pound but the carton shows 2kg, stupid really after all these years of being on the Metric system).  I have packaged it up into 5 separate suppers of 7 legs (that will probably include lunch for hubby next day too) for a grand total of $8.50.  That's $1.70 per bag!  I'll take what deals I can get now, no more buying willy nilly because of fear of running out.  Time to try and get the grocery budget somewhat back on track.

Have a great day everyone!