Family Connections

One afternoon this week I picked up Scott's cousin Bev and we went to Margo to visit some of the places where her relatives (on her dad's side, not her mom's, which is the side related to Scott) and mine were neighbours and where the kids went to the Olivet School out in the country.

Bev's great-grandparents and their kids spent their first winter as homesteaders in the Margo area in the home of my great-grandparents, who lived about a mile from their newly acquired quarter-section and were away for the winter, visiting their own relatives in Ontario. 

My aunt Reta was named after Bev's great-aunt Areta, who was my grandmother's best friend until she died suddenly at age 21 just shortly after her marriage. There is a long history of friendship between our two families, and I remember Bev's grandparents well from my childhood, when they lived across the street from my grandparents on my dad's side. 

We also stopped at the Margo Cemetery, where Bev's great-grandparents and other relatives are buried back in the same overgrown corner near my great-grandparents and great-great grandparents and several of my great-uncles and my great-aunt. (Mom and her dad, Grandpa Benson, are buried in a different location in the same cemetery, as are my grandparents on the Johnson side.) 

We walked around, reading headstones, on a windy warm day with few-to-no mosquitoes, which was a change as usually you are running out of there to get away from them. 

When we arrived there was a man walking around back in the area we were headed towards, and as he was leaving I called out to him and we started to chat, as people do out here. There is no such thing as being shy with strangers. We introduced ourselves, for of course we might know people in common. It turned out that he is a cousin of mine! He lives at Invermay, which is the next village down the highway from Margo, and we are cousins some-distance-removed, but cousins nonetheless. I have yet to trace his family in my Jones history book, as that is the family connection (my great-grandmother was a Jones, and perhaps it was his grandmother who was also a Jones) but I will. 

Cousin Don Graham and me. Yes I got a very short haircut. Scott says I look like the professor on The Simpsons; my women friends (Bev, Aunt Reta, sister Karen) say it is cute. Another example of the kindheartedness of women?

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Lorna has left a new comment on your post "When 'Poor' Women Hire Housekeepers": 

I think that is a brilliant analysis and a worthwhile answer to your issue. I haven't ever had a housecleaner, although my kids complained, all through their live-at-home teen years, that Housecleaners R Us. Now both a lack of interest and a failing of my eyesight make it seem a good idea, but here in Ottawa it is very expensive. I'm going to do it anyway. 

You'll be glad you did, Lorna. I could afford it twice as often a few years ago when I was earning higher wages, but I think this is going to work out fine too. Anything is better than nothing! and in my case, it's often "nothing" when it comes to housework. As we all know, I struggle with dishes and keeping the floor swept as it is. Dusting is infrequent, vacuuming is non-existent now that the Roomba isn't working and I don't know what to do about it, and floor-washing is a non-starter. Don't ask me about windows. I say if they're dirty, maybe the birds won't smash into them as often.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Jan Morrison has left a new comment on your post "When 'Poor' Women Hire Housekeepers": 

I'm with you! I've just been considering this option myself. I work all day and love to cook but I like my evenings for creative work - my writing, drawing, etc... I also like a clean house. I cannot do floors because I have quite bad arthritis these days. The fella does them. I don't mind the day to day chores but man oh man I'd like someone to come in and do deep cleaning once a month. I'd even like to fo it along with, just so it is what I'd like done. My pals back home and I used to do this thing we called Bumsteading. (We called ourselves the Bumstead Wives as we felt our mates were Dagwood like). We'd go to the house that needed Bumsteading and the host would tell us what she needed done. Then the four or five of us would fly atter( including host pal). Host would make a good lunch then we'd go back at it. After we might go out to a movie or stay in for one (days of renting a video cassette player and a film). We got lots done plus plenty of laughing and talking. 

This is a really good idea because it's far more pleasant to drudge away with others than alone. You managed to make a communal event out of it, followed by a reward that celebrated a job done. Around here, another person pitching in inspires me to get other housework done at the same time.  

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

When 'Poor' Women Hire Housekeepers

"You charge what?" was my first response. "Shoot. That's too high."

I had found someone who does housecleaning, but paying her for an hour's toil meant I would have to work nearly two hours at my desk, myself. I resigned myself to continuing to live with unwashed floors and a bathroom that is not deep-cleaned regularly. 

With more time to think about it, I admitted I'd rather work two hours reading and writing than one hour cleaning the bathroom or washing the floor. More than that, if I hire someone else to do it, then it will get done. When it's left up to me to do, it doesn't — period. I don't think about it, and when I do, I soon forget about it. 

And instead of having her come out every two weeks, I can have her whiz through the place once a month. In between, I can spot-wipe, and that's good enough for me.  I'll hand over 50 bucks quite happily, and I remember how good that feels. 

This setup does raise eyebrows. Women who are not wealthy are considered spoiled brats if they don't do their own housework. Suit yourself if you think that way. It's my money, I earn it, and I'll spoil myself rotten with it if I choose to. And I choose to. 

Housekeeping is the luxury I've decided to spend my "walking money" on. I think I've mentioned that I pay myself $1 for each mile. Having something to spend the $ on will motivate me to keep walking and to get out there more often, which is the best thing for my health. 

Are there more essential items that I could spend that $50/month on? You bet. The Naturalizer sandals of Mom's that I inherited after she passed away are falling apart after 11 years. I need to replace them and won't buy cheap shoes anymore, so will need to come up with 100 bucks or more. (Thanks to that important lesson, Mom, I have happy feet.) I'd like to purchase more RRSPs this winter, thereby saving more income tax dollars than last year, so need to come up with extra cash. I could contribute to the paying of other bills around here, or put more money away than I already do for some future holiday or the next vehicle I need. There is always another place one can earmark money for. 

I, however, am earmarking $50 a month for something that gives me quite a lot of relief: a cleaning job that I don't have to do myself.

Uncle Neil, left, and brother-in-law Dick at the Benson clan mini-reunion

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Lorna has left a new comment on your post "Taking Care of Business": 

personally, I'm thrilled that you share and reply. As for the safety element in your burger date the other day, I really admire people who take action. Of course, I probably wouldn't have thought of it myself 

Like you, Lorna, I wouldn't have thought of it either. It's one of Scott's admirable qualities —his consideration for others in ways that wouldn't cross my mind.

Since you like this method of replying to comments, I'll keep it up. Thanks for letting me know. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

Taking Care of Business

"What is that?"

We were on our way to Kuroki to have barbecued burgers with Scott's cousin and her husband on Saturday night, when a blinding brightness appeared at the side of the highway and did not go away for a very long time. 

"Probably just a road sign," I said, and when we got closer we could see that this was so.

Scott, never one to pass on by when he can contribute to road safety by moving something, pulled over and got out of the truck to bend the sign slightly forward so that its reflection of the evening sun would no longer be a danger to oncoming drivers.

Taking care of business, every day and in every way. Love it.

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Secret Agent Woman has left a new comment on your post "Grizzly Claw": 

I like to get my coffee at the local coop or Trader Joe's - fair trade, organic and supporting businesses I like. 

Sounds like you have a few options, too. I'm jealous!

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Secret Agent Woman has left a new comment on your post "First Vacation Day": 

Very pretty. I love flowers brought in from the garden. 

At this time of summer, our yard is an "embarrassment" of flower riches.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Wisewebwoman has left a new comment on your post "First Vacation Day": 

Sounds like a perfect beginning!

No complaints from me, that's for sure. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Teresa has left a new comment on your post "First Vacation Day": 

Enjoy your holidays. Have loads of fun.

Fun? What's that? I need to go to the beach, don't I, and actually put on a bathing suit and go dog-paddling. Actually I need to get out on my sister Karen's paddleboat with her. THAT is fun.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

P.S. to you regular commenters: 

Do you like this way of responding to comments? In other words, do you notice much difference to your own convenience? Please let me know. If you don't love it, I'm going to go back to the old way for my own convenience.

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

First Vacation Day

Again with the incredible skies and storms blowing by, last night. When I went out this morning I was surprised to see that no damage was done. A scented geranium Sandy gave me had tipped over (I'm repotting it tonight and there will be no more tippage) and so had a lawn chair on the step, which hurt absolutely nothing. In the garden, a few tall perennials are leaning a little, but overall things are looking pretty good. We didn't get hail or strong winds, just a gorgeous sunset and a too-warm breeze that worried us a little when it was at nine o'clock in the evening and the sky looked like it did.

I took my clippers out to the large perennial bed today and took off the columbines that have finished blooming, and the last of the painted daisies. I snipped the wild yarrow for Carla's tea, and the spearmint for mine. There was the odd flower that was bent out of sight behind others, so I brought them in and stuck them in a vase. Hate to see them go to waste where I don't see them. 

Normally I'd be in the office on Wednesday morning, so this is actually the real beginning of my two-week holiday. And a perfect day it is. Skirt-wearing weather; lunching with Everett; taking a drive with Bev to Margo; dropping in on Karen and expect to see other rellies. All good! Best get going.

 You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Maggie Turner has left a new comment on your post "Grizzly Claw": 

Kate, your approach to buying local is much like ours, but our budget more more modest, so Kicking Horse coffee isn't something we can afford as Attila drinks copious amounts of coffee. If the price of the cheap unethical coffee goes up, we will be gathering chicory from the fields and creating our own beverage. We have tried it though, and love it. When I worked in a store that catered to affluent people it was the coffee they sold. I cleaned the coffee machine, so I got to save the bits of grounds left in the machine after every grind, and it added up to a bag almost every day, it was grand coffee to be sure. 

I'm glad to hear you agree about the taste of the coffee, as I wondered if I might be imagining it. Scott is fussier than me; we've tried all of KH's dark roasts, but he only likes the Grizzly Claw.

Our cash flow is modest too, but we have no credit card debt or payments like mortgages and vehicles, so that frees us up some. We don't take tropical holidays, go shopping for something to do, or in my case even buy books! -- so there is some wiggle room when it comes to things that are important to us. However, when I reverted to cash-only spending a couple months ago, I very nearly purchased some non-organic, unfair trade coffee during the weeks it took me to adjust. People do what they have to do. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Lorna has left a new comment on your post "Grizzly Claw": 

Thank goodness being true to oneself has some reward. 

We can't always afford to live up to our convictions. But we do what we can. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

Grizzly Claw

We are big believers in supporting local businesses and "buying local" but like most regular folk, we need to take advantage of substantial savings when we can. We also believe that purchasing organic, Fair Trade products is the right thing to do, and so we do it whenever possible (which it rarely is, out here; product variety is limited). It's quite a bit more expensive, but when it's a product we're consuming every day — as coffee is — then for our health, it's worth it. Coming from generations of farm families ourselves, it also matters to us that farmers are paid a fair price for their product; thus we look for the Fair Trade logo. 

A pound of Kicking Horse coffee beans is priced at $15.99 on the shelf in the local store, alongside rows of coffee that is half the price or less. We buy the Fair Trade organic anyway for the reasons listed above but also because it truly is fabulous coffee and, once accustomed to it, the other stuff tastes like coloured water in comparison. 

For some years Kicking Horse coffee could be purchased directly from the company out in Invermere, B.C., at considerable savings, so I had been taking advantage of the opportunity to save a few dollars by ordering 2.2lb bags. (Did I feel guilty for not buying from the local store? Yes. But in my defence, the markup at the local store is ridiculous.)

Recently the coffee company transferred its mail order business to Amazon, whose prices meant that purchasing the coffee at our local store wasn't that much more expensive, so I decided to just do that. (Yay! No more guilt!)

When Amazon requested feedback on their website, I gave it to them: Your pricing policy doesn't suit me, I said, plus you aren't selling the larger bag of beans that is a little cheaper. Then I contacted Kicking Horse coffee to let them know that the lack of my favourite product in the 2.2 lb. bag was disappointing. And voila! The prompt reply was that they would gladly ship me the larger bag of Grizzly Claw themselves, as they have been doing for several years. 

Now that is customer service.

Our favourite coffee: https://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com/en/coffee/grizzly-claw-whole-bean

After putting in my order by phone, I mentioned that several of my relatives work at the company. The woman I was speaking to to not only knows them, but knows them so well that their parents and her parents were family friends from way back, and one of their daughters is a close friend of one of her daughters ... and more. We could easily have chatted all day about who she knows and how. I love this small world we live in.

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Lori has left a new comment on your post "The Young Help Their Elders & Vice Versa":
I noticed in my previous comment I misspelled the word "exquisite". Given your job at a newspaper, it was generous of you not to correct it. I do know better! In my defense, I misspell more words on my tablet...too tiny and finicky!
About dishes: I find, for the most part, doing dishes, a rather Zen like experience, especially when my five year old granddaughter(quite an intense, active kid!) is visiting. When I need a breath, I head for the sink!:)

Lori, I correct enough typos at work. I'm on holidays!
I mess up a lot when txting. To hell with it.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry.

The Young Help Their Elders & Vice Versa

While Dad was here, he "house-sat" for friends who are away for the summer. But he could never get his cellphone to work as a "hotspot" at their place so that he could get onto the internet with his tablet. My sister Karen tried to help. No luck. My sister Joan tried. No luck. I had no idea what to try. 

In these instances, one always turns to the younger set. Here is Dad with Joan's daughter Jordan, age 14 (oh my goddess the years they are a-flying by), at Karen's place during the little family reunion we had last weekend. 

We hoped Jordan would be the one to figure it all out. I think she did, too! Some simple setting that we oldsters didn't adjust.

Dad and his granddaughter Jordan

Speaking of dishes (see below), my aunt and uncle popped in here around noon and caught me writing the following response to WWW's comment, and still in my housecoat. Reta immediately ran a sinkful of water and started washing, and I dried and put away dishes. Bless her wee heart'ie! The kitchen is now all shiny and bright and I may even feel like using it to cook something later today. A little help goes a long way. Oh, and an auntie is very much like a mom, isn't she? Except Mom would've asked me how in the hell I could stand to leave those dishes, while Aunt Reta kept those thoughts to herself. 

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Wisewebwoman has left a new comment on your post "Staycation Begins": 

One word: dishwasher. It makes life feel tidy and manageable. I hope to take next weekend off and join you in the livin' is easy stakes.

I guess I will have to do some agitating in that direction. We need to install a water treatment system and change the plumbing entirely before purchasing a dishwasher, otherwise it would be wrecked within six months and all our glass would be irrevocably stained. (Heavy iron and other minerals are the problem.) Scott needs to make up his mind which treatment system he wants, and then we have to be without water for several days. He also has to take days or a week off from his other two jobs: farming and construction, both of which are dependent upon weather conditions and other factors outside his control. This is the big hurdle — making that time for our house.

     At least getting the dishes done is not one of his stresses. Only mine, and if they didn't pile up daily and I was more organized and ambitious and houseproud, they wouldn't be. I've actually come to enjoy doing them — except when too many at once is daunting and I just go outside instead. 

   Otherwise it can be quite pleasant to stand there looking out at my flowers, with my hands in warm water. As it is I'll probably do these in short stints rather than one long haul so that it doesn't feel like drudgery. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

Staycation Begins

It's been a perfect day so far. The kind where I sit on the step with my morning coffee and listen to the birds and Scott even joins me for a while before he goes to check cattle. The kind where I roam the front yard in my housecoat and pull grass from the dianthus, and notice the light pink hollyhocks have begun to bloom along with the red ones and so have the volunteer poppies. It's the kind of day that's hot when it's hot and cool when it's not, and I come in and out of the house as the sun and clouds take turns in the sky. 

Slightly marring the perfection is what comes into the house with me after I've walked through the wild licorice patch growing in our grassy south entryway: a wood tick. Farta! I thought their season was over!

I haven't done dishes since Reta and Carl left in the middle of the week, and I know I "should" but am not prepared to tie myself down to the indoors even for the half-hour it might require. In the evenings after work, after dark I've been tired and lazy and let the dishes pile up. It's been all I can do to stack them and wipe the counters. We need a maid.

Reta and Carl are staying with other relatives and will be back before they head for Arizona, but my immediate family members have made or are on their way home: Dad to Kelowna via St. Albert, Joan and family to Kelowna, Cameron to St. Albert where Dad stopped to see him today. My brother spent a night here and I sent him home with eight loaves of bread; that should keep him for a while. 

Wild animals I have seen: this young feller. Scott says he has the beginnings of horns.

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Lori has left a new comment on your post "Off to the Office": 

I'm at our timeshare on a mountain in Vermont, hiding from Trump. Your flowers are as esquisite as any here. Beautiful. Thanks. 

Now that's saying something! I imagine the flower life down there is quite fantastic.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Secret Agent Woman has left a new comment on your post "Where've I Been": 

We've had near-daily storms here. In between, it's in the 90's and steamy. But it's not winter, so I'm good. 

Ooh, nineties ... too hot for me. Give me a storm any day. Maybe even winter. I'm not kidding.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Secret Agent Woman has left a new comment on your post "Off to the Office": 

Home is always best.

Your perennial bed looks fantastic. Mine is working its way there but has filling-in to do. 

This one is almost too full now; hard to walk in for weeding and deadheading. I keep considering making more flowerbeds, and reminding myself that what I have is what I barely have time for already; i.e. Be Realistic, Darn It.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry. 

Off to the Office

Scott is busy on the phone this morning and rather than taking one of the trucks to town myself, I'm waiting for him to give me a ride ... because the roads are muddy and he doesn't want to get the big white truck dirty! Silly fella. You'd think it was a precious gem instead of a vehicle that will be driven on rural roads and highways. I guess to him it's still "new" and he prefers to keep it looking that way for as long as possible. 

My little car, on the other hand, might as well be a work truck, for the way I keep it. Pristine it is not. It needs a serious vacuuming job, and I rarely hose it down on the outside. It's a means to get me from A to B and that's about all. I had to tidy it up last week when I met Reta and Carl at the bus depot, so I cleaned off the back seat and the floor back there. 

Dad's gone back to Kelowna, driven away by the wind and rain and probably drawn somewhat by the lure of home and the routines of home. Visits to one's home town are great, but ... home is home.  

The main perennial bed about two weeks ago. What I see from the kitchen window.

You Comment

I Reply

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Wisewebwoman has left a new comment on your post "Where've I Been": 

Here we have one day of 1/4 summer today - sun has now hidden itself. Cold. We've had warmer winter days. Those who scoff at climate change can feck right off.

It's not raining here today, but it's not warm either. I prefer the days cool instead of hot. 

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Teresa has left a new comment on your post "Where've I Been": 

I saw the flooding on the news. Glad to hear all is well with you. We are into the stinking part of summer. Feels like 40+ not my kind of weather to say the least. Thunder storm on the way. Not sure if it will cool it of or heat it up. Thank goodness for AC. 

40+ is horrible, as I know only from my visits to Kelowna in the summertime. Pity the people when the power goes off and there is no air conditioning! Hope yours holds up, Teresa.

✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿⊱✿

Below, click on "Comments" to see any reader responses to today's entry.