Friday, June 26, 2020

This and That



Well, hubby left on his 3000 km to Alberta(there and back) road trip at 7am this morning.  I hate that he is driving so far by himself and I hate being away from him for five days.  I used to rejoice when he had to go away for a few days on a business trip as I got some alone time, but now after being constantly together for 3 months I hate it.  The Province did go into phase 3 of our reopening plan which includes the allowance for people to vacation/travel within our own Province.  He would have gone anyway as saying goodbye to your Mother qualifies as essential travel which was still permitted.  

Oh well, I will be fine. I've got a zillion things to do when he is gone - like take Buddy out 30 times a day if it is sunny and 2 times a day if it is rainy, mow the lawn, more painting, running Mom around for some errands and driving to Nanaimo to have Buddy get his first real groom since late January.  

The blackberry bushes are in bloom and berries on the way.  In four weeks time I will begin the pick.  This year I intend to make lots of jam - blackberry and raspberry.  I will have to buy the raspberries but at least the blackberries are free.  I also hope to freeze a lot for winter treats.  

The neighbors have a large cherry tree that is currently dropping ripe cherries into my yard.  This has reattracted the rats.   Part of living anywhere near the ocean is the fact that rats like this climate and diet.   We have 2 live rat traps but I am not putting them out until hubby is back as there is zero chance of me transporting them and releasing them - that thankfully is hubby's job.   I do intend to get out the ladder and pick a few - they are going to waste anyway since there is no way he can pick the branches that hang directly over the corner of our yard.  

I've now got real tomatoes growing as both the purchased cherry tomato starter and two of my grown from seed plants have flowered.  The cucumbers are in full bloom, I am hoping for a good crop of those too.  The peas are 3 inches long, just waiting for the peas themselves to get large enough to eat as this is not sugar snap peas but regular peas.  Next year I hope to get my hands on sugar snap peas again but they weren't available when I was planting in the Spring.  I might do a January order of seeds this year to start plants in late February so they are further along by June.  

Last summer I bought this Canadian flag for $3 at a thrift store.  It is full size but faded.  I would like to get a newer unfaded one for future so put it up for free on the bidding site.  It got bid up to $6 - the timing is right with Canada Day being next week - so cha-ching I made a whopping $3, enough for two loaves of bread! lol
I also managed to be the high bidder on this Coleman stove on the bidding site.  We will use it for our weekend away to the cabin on the Ocean in August.  Now that we own it though I hope to do some hot dog evenings by the Ocean as this can be used even if there is a fireban on.  When hubby is back we will try it out.  The model is a couple of years old but the previous owners used it exactly once - and it is spotless so I believe them.

I am sharing a picture of one of the two flower pots that sit either side of our garage.  The geraniums I bought this year are the nicest healthiest ones I've every had - and the lobelia!  This whole pot cost $12 worth of flowers.  The pot is about 8 years old.  I do love that my flowers are doing well this year.  The Calobrachia did get an aphid and white fly attack but I bought some organic bug killer and after spraying them, washing them and plucking most of the effected flowers off the plants seem to be coming back quickly.  
The front flower bed is filling in nicely.  I love the purple celosia and multi colored dianthus.  Both plants seem to be fine with rain and aren't being munched on by bugs which is always a problem in this flower bed.  My flowers are always an experiment, I don't know that much about them but I love this combo, likely will try to do it again next year.

Finally a shot of Buddy soaking up the sun on his favorite spot on our patio.  He needs a haircut as heats up too fast - but he is such a sun seeker it is hard to keep him out of the sun.

I hope everyone has a good weekend and stay safe out there!

22 comments:

  1. Wow! That is indeed a long ride. However, if your husband enjoys driving as I do, he should be able to do it without getting too bored. I have to admit I get buttaches when I drive so much though. Hope he arrives safely at his destination and back home.

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    1. He does enjoy driving and has been feeling far too housebound, although I expect when this is over he will be super glad to be home. Yes, the buttache is hard to get around :)

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  2. Praying for your husband to have a safe trip to there and back. Sad he has such a trip. You are too nice...life trap a rat...no way. Not me anyways. Hope they stay at bay till your husband can get them. Your dog looks at ease. Blessings to you young lady, xoxo, Susie

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    1. We tried regular traps but both of us hated it, instead they get transported to a very large park (10 miles) oceanside where they can frolic. Yes, we put spiders outside too :)

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  3. Oh, a hot dog sounds so good. I wonder where I can find a decent hot dog here.

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    1. Yes, once in a while you need a hotdog, don't you?

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  4. I love your patriotic flower pot. That little grill was a good buy. Here's hoping your husband has a good and safe trip. I hate rats. I love cherries.

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    1. Yes, I love cherries and it is something I can actually eat so I am excited, the prices are starting to come down at the store. Waiting for $2.99 or $1.99 a pound before I pull the trigger.

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  5. My husband and I have been only ever been apart for one week at a time twice in our twenty two years together. We argue back and forth with each other daily, sometimes it gets heated but then, when he goes fishing for about 5 hours he calls me no less than twice or I call him. LOL... I understand what you mean about hubby being gone. Had to laugh about your dog.. I have five dogs and they are the same way. Want to go outside at least 30 times a day when the sun is out and maybe twice when it rains. They make ms nuts some days...LOL.. Everything looks so pretty and yes! I would grab some of those cherries too!

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    1. Yes, we are in constant contact too. Probably texted each other 20 times and spoke once yesterday which was the first day of the trip. The cherries are too tantalizing

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  6. Hoping your husband's travels go well. It's a sad trip, but I can't imagine he would not want to make it.

    Your flowers are lovely. Those geraniums are such a beautiful color! Take care and stay well.

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    1. When the pandemic started we truly thought there would be no additional chances to see her, but then the home called and said it was possible. Yes, he would regret it forever if he didn't make the trip. Only sorry I couldn't go as well.

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  7. You are going to love that stove. I have one in our shed and have used it when the power goes out in the house.

    I understand perfectly about how you used to enjoy the me time when your Hubby would go on a business trip. I was exactly the same way. Not so much that way now though.

    God bless.

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    1. We are fortunate to have natural gas hookup to our BBQ so have that no matter what but I love the portability of the Coleman stove. I figure if we don't use it much I can always sell it later - but I am pretty sure we will use it. That is why I wanted a used one versus new one, better chance of making the money back if necessary

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  8. I thought of you yesterday and how you would be feeling once you were on your own. Sounds like you have a good many to do's on your list. Be sure to take some downtime for yourself as well. Hopefully hubby will get lucky and see the white bear if he drives thru Yoho National Park.

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    1. He's going the Jasper park way - lots of water and flooding. Sounds like although we've had a lot of rain the interior has gotten so much more plus snow melt. There is even avalanche warning areas.

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  9. I hope the journey was safe and he's okay. It will be odd for you having been in each other's company constantly for months.
    The garden looks lovely, the planter is absolutely stunning and Buddy looks adorable basking on the outdoor seating.
    It's a British website but have a look at Crocus and their "inspiration" pages, they have some gorgeous themed planting ideas I think you'll find really inspiring.
    Take care! xxx

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    1. Thank you for that website, I will check it out. We normally get along great anyway but now being apart with all that is happening in the world frankly sucks! Oh well. The next trip we make will be for the funeral (months/weeks/unknown) but will go together no matter how ill I am.

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  10. Your flowers are beautiful, lovely combination. I am fond of dianthus and have the "pinks" type in my garden, the bees like them. I have lost count of the times we have done that grinding trip. I hope your hubby is set up with good road music. Our dogs are also sunbathing-one of them must have some Mexican hairless in her as she has no hair on the underside from chin to tail, I have to watch for sunburn as she will not come in even if she is roasting. Take care xxx

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    1. Yes, Buddy will sit out in the sun until his tongue is hanging on the floor (we have water out there) silly dog. He does think that couch is his though, often asks to be let out just to sit on it.

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  11. I think if you like driving your hubs will get some pleasure out of it. When my youngest was 6 weeks old I drove to England with him and my 4 year old (about 1,000 km each way) and thought nothing of it. I wouldn't dream of it now though. Getting old I guess!

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    1. I agree, I did a lot of driving holidays when younger.I far prefer flying - except now. I see a few driving holidays in our future. He does enjoy driving - made it safely there and has to turn around and come back tomorrow as the visit is today for both his Mom and Kids. He is going to be exhausted when he gets home.

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