I thought I would start this post with our equipment purchase. We went back and forth in the decision making process as to whether we should buy a skid steer or a tractor. We decided on a skid steer for a couple of reasons. There is a second hand market in skid steers and there isn't much of one in compact tractors and Pat's brother Bruce has tractors, but no skid steer. Also we decided it would handier for landscaping than a tractor. We have had it about a week and Pat has been doing a little driving. I will take the sticks (there are two I'm told) at some point but for now we need to get one of us reasonably competent. For those who don't know, you drive with the lever and operate the bucket/snowblower with your feet. It has a cab, heat for winter and air conditioning for summer so we will be in the lap of luxury.
I must note how naive I was. I had no concept of some of the uses for a bobcat. We were getting organized to take the old cupboards to the dump, when Pat informed me that he was going to break them up to make it easier to transport them. Silly me I thought he was going to use a hammer and elbow grease.
I did tell him to smile and wave for the camera.
Remember the tomato plant or two. Planting the garden was one of our better ideas. I know sunshine is important for growing most vegetables but with a lifetime of gardening around big trees I didn't really realize how important it is. With lots of sunshine you get studier, bigger vegetables with not much effort.
The beans are a type of pole bean that did get fairly big at 213 but not 10". We grew carrots but never had any this long and there is still a couple of weeks at least of growing time. No picture but we had a beet that weighed in at a pound. Cucumbers not so successful and I am still waiting on the Roma tomatoes
The kitchen is in pretty good shape. The kitchen faucet arrived Monday so I was happy to have Pat replace the bathroom one he had installed temporally. Although, it doesn't matter as much now because there is a dishwasher! We seemed to have adapted to the induction range without any mishap. Pat still has to do the counter plugs so we are running extension cords for now. I will include a picture when we have that done. This whole process has taught me how much of our modern world I take for granted and how much I do like those conveniences.
As I said the mudder came and did his thing. We spent last weekend painting and had the floor installed Monday/Tuesday. We are waiting for electricity and bathroom fixtures to be installed. But, it seems to me that I can unpack my studio stuff. A bathroom doesn't matter for that and as for electricity well if I do it during the day there is lots of light and if I get totally desperate there are power bars and extension cords. I can hardly believe it, some of my fabric/yarn etc has been in boxes since February.
Evidence that I do paint. If you don't want to do the top(ceiling) you get to do the bottom. Again I will include a picture when there is a little more to see.
The 50's has brought insomnia issues for both Pat and I. Sunday we were both awake about 4am at 5:00 we gave up and decided to go for a walk. The upside of insomnia is sunrise.
The first two photos you will recognize as the ravine, the last two are from the pasture as we returned home after the walk.
As I do the blog entries I have wondered what I will do when I have shown you all the nature there is to see here. But, I have a feeling that Mother Nature will continue to put on a varied show for us for as long as we are interested
It has been a while, so I thought you might want a coffee and a little cookie. We were in Saskatoon for nearly a week and there has been kitchen reno frenzy since we got back.
So maybe I'll start where I left off. The extra laminate samples proved to be a disappointment, more of the same. The bathroom vanity top is ordered and the kitchen counters are in a holding pattern. That is my catch phrase for now.
One lovely summer day prior to our Saskatoon trip and we were sick of being inside. We (Pat) decided to work on water management and our road. We shaved off the turf, dug the ditch and put the turf back down. I was part of the "we" but someone has to take photos.
We need to extend the trench a little farther and then plan to build a rock lined culvert affair that will carry the water to the other side of the road then down into the ravine. There is another place we plan to do this but who knows when. We do try not to have too many projects going at the same time but a person does need some variety.
We had a great hectic visit in Saskatoon. We took the girls to supper one evening while Zachary and Heather had a free evening. I had forgotten what a meal in a restaurant with a 3 and a 1 year old is like. I knew I had eaten as my plate was empty but it is a little harrying. A one year old with a very tight grip on a "dilly bar" bears watching. I know if it falls off the stick there will be a lot of tears. We also had a barbecue with longtime friends and dinner with friends in a nice restaurant courtesy of our real estate agent. Pat spent three days in the office, I did some reno shopping and another day Edna, Brooke and I had did a little shopping and lunching, we had such fun. We rounded the week out by helping Carmen move. We arrived Sunday and left Friday of the long weekend.
No time to rest, the land of renovating awaits. Carmen and her pooch Teddy arrived Friday evening for a bit of a rest and to help. As all of you know Pat can't imagine why you would want to sit and visit when you can work and visit. As it turns out Carmen takes after her Dad and was a godsend when it came to assembling Ikea cupboards. She figured out the drawing and directed me, we were a great team and it left Pat free to work on other tasks.
The photos in order of appearance. Teddy making sure no mice or squirrels came near the garage. 2x4"s added to the existing beams for extra support. Dry walling done, Pat did the plastering (and did a very nice job), walls painted. I must digress here for a moment. As I was painting I recalled a chat with a friend who through the course of the conversation stated "we don't paint". I am so envious of her, I really don't like painting. I have had quite a few opportunities ( while painting) to contemplate why. I think it comes down to no matter how careful I am I am a messy painter, it gets everywhere and I hate that. Back to the photos, floor installed, Carmen assembling and Pat installing rails. Last photo, our kitchen as of last evening about 8:30 when we discovered how much our floor slopes and we would probably have to take all the cupboards out and start again. We decided tomorrow is another day and we would start fresh in the morning. The morning has come and gone as I write and I will tell you that the cupboards are back in, are level and there were neither tears nor angry words. Not bad. I may wash dishes in a kitchen sink tonight. I will have more photos of the kitchen next time. To tantalize you for next time I will tell you " the mudder hath cometh" and we have purchased "equipment".
The mist in the ravine in the morning is beautiful and the wild flowers are glorious.
