2021

Good Morning ALL! How are you this Monday morning? I hope that you are well and doing the things that you love. Alvin and I had a good night. I will admit that some Sunday nights I find it hard to turn off the “thoughts” and fall asleep. This was one of those night. We had a good day yesterday. Full of surprises. Early in the morning as it was raining I ran outside to move the downspout (I have a flexible one) as I had remembered that it was turned facing the area in between ours houses. When I went out to move it – I noticed to my surprise that the end stone retaining wall around the flower bed at the front of the house was falling over. It was close to coming down. I made a mental note and would come out and properly assess the situation once the rain was over and it was light outside. I finished some chores in the house and later in the morning, I collected some tools like a shovel, mini raking tool and a large pail and my heavy duty gardening gloves donned my spring jacket and my shoes and headed outside. Oh and I also opened the front window and pulled up the blinds so that Alvin could see and hear me. Out to work I went. I quickly realized the job ahead. I had forgotten about the heavy stones under the top couple of layers of flat rocks that were about two inches by 10 inches. Luckily I was strong enough to remove most of the wall. I had gone to ask the advice of my neighbour and her friend who agreed that the stones come down and have to move the dirt away from the styrofoam covered with black cloth to move it back into position. So digging I started after removing all but the bottom row of stones which is also semi buried in stones that cover the area in between our homes. These stones would be much hard to remove as I would have to move the stones first. ARGH. Also after doing some digging I realized that some of my plants would have to be removed and some had deep thick roots. At point I figured that it would be easier to dig being up in the flower bed so up I went. I dug out all the plants thinking maybe this is the perfect opportunity to start over again. Last year the plants were beginning to look bedraggled. After I dug them up I continued to dig up the dirt by the end of the wall and after two hours, I was done. I took the pail of plants and a garbage bag that I had semi filled and put them in the backyard. Then I grabbed two more garbage bags and divided them accordingly so that it would not be so heavy and placed the bags into the garage. Put away the tools (actually left the shovel by the front door hidden behind the bench, partial out of sight. So I think it will likely take me a couple of days after work to finish this project. I see some physical work ahead. Good exercise. I definitely used some muscles that I do not often use.

After I had finished cleaning things up, I went into the house to have a small snack and a bit of coffee. Alvin had some treats, too. I sat down on the sofa and felt so sleepy that I decided to have a nap. Two hours give or take I woke up and it was almost four o’clock. Yikes. Felt so much better. I worked on a few things around the house before giving Alvin his supper and once he was done – we headed out for a walk. I was happy that when we got to Pauline and Al’s house, I found Al and his grandpup Georgie outside on the patio along with his grandson. Then when she heard my voice, Pauline appeared followed by her daughter. So we had a good chat from the fence. I filled her in on receiving my first vaccine and the story along with my “flower bed wall” situation. We decided to get together sometime this week after work and go for a walk.

After our chat, we continued on our way. I cannot believe how much new grass has sprouted and how many buds there are on the trees. Still waiting for my tree to bud.

Well it is getting late and I have to turn on the coffee and get to work. Alvin needs to go outside.

I hope that you have a wonderful Monday.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, with Love Carol & Alvin

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 1st day of October, 2017.

October ….. 30 days after today until Halloween.

31 days till I start decorating for Christmas.

My favourite time of year.

Both of my favourite times for decorating although Christmas wins out.

I do love them both.

 

So yesterday I said that I was going to remove the rocks from my back garden.

After lifting many rocks and placing them in every empty container I could locate.

I decided to use some them along with the areas that would have flowers.

It was definitely some of the hardest physical work that I have done in a long while ……..

The photos do not do it justice as this was just after I watered the plants and of course the rock got wet and it just does not look the same.

Some of the plants are IRISES and the others I do not remember the names.

This bed was completely covered in stone and the shrubs/plants that I had in here before where surrounded by them.

Pulling out the landscaping cloth was not easy but so happy I was able to do it.

Also because Mr. Alvin has started to bury his chew treat in this flower bed, I upon the advice of my daughter placed up the little metal dividers.

You can barely see them but it should keep him out.

I had some plants temporarily in there and with him jumping up …. well not good.

I also threw in a photo of my ready for winter front flower bed.

There is no real design involved in the garden …… just what worked.

Our front tree all yellow and gorgeous.

Decided to wait and rake the leaves all at once instead of five times.

Oh, the fall wreath on our door.

I made this …. should have been a close-up but it has lasted pretty well since it was seven years ago since I made it.

I put away the last items that I could move myself.

Left are the two tables, the bottom thing that holds the umbrella in place and the two chairs for my bistro table.

Deciding if I should just put them all in the garage or not.

Doesn’t leave much room for a car …..

That was my Saturday except for laundry.

Poor Alvin was outside with me the whole time …..

It took about five hours or so ……

Coffee with my girl friends this morning.

One has her Mom visiting from Newfoundland and we are celebrating her birthday.

Should be fun.

The sky is overcast and rain is on the way.

Only hoping it is ONLY rain.

Perhaps I shall take Mr. Alvin for a walk sooner than later.

Happy Sunday Everyone ……

 

Special Hello to: all those folks preparing their gardens for winter.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. feeling a bit sore this morning most especially when I bend ….. oooo

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 18th day of June, 2017.

Was overcast earlier then turned to bright sunny skies and now there are some clouds gathering.

Today is Father’s Day.

Alvin and I would like to wish all of the Fathers a happy, joyful daughter filled with love and laughter.

Our day will be quiet (which is okay by me).

Yesterday we had the Vet visit first thing followed by coffee break with my friend and neighbour “S.”

In the afternoon laundry was first item on the old TO DO LIST and in between I worked on the back garden space.

A couple of years ago I dug out the cedar tree that had died after only a couple of years and a few weeks ago dug out the diseased roses and dead shrub.

With three holes on display and only two small shrubs in the garden (one on each side in the front); I had to do something.

But what, as I do not have the extra money to go and purchase more shrubs or flowers or ornaments.

So I looked around my house and garage and had an idea.

A few years ago I had bought a couple of tall planters that were made of something that resembles concrete but not that heavy.

I had left them outside over a few winters and they had slowly been to break away in spots.

One of them was pretty good and it was on the deck and the other had been tucked away in the garage – just waiting.

I decided to reuse the one in the garage.

I had a sort of plan in mind.

So I grabbed a shovel that I had borrowed from my neighbour and then realized that I needed something else, scissors.

With scissors in hand I carefully trimmed away the black material that was sticking out around the holes where the roses, shrub and tree had been.

Then I dug out the hole in the back area of the garden as that is where I wanted to place the planter.

After getting the hole dug – I went to the garage and carefully carried out the planter.

It was heavy and awkward but I managed.

When there is a will – there is always a way.

At least that is what I have found – my whole life thus far.

I set the planter into the hole and turned it on an angle so that the fern embossing was showing and the best part of the planter faced outward.

Filling in around the planter was easy.

Then I set about moving more rocks to fill in the other holes.

Once done, I placed the rocks back over the dirt.

There were a few spots that needed something so I took some stone pieces that I had set under the back steps on the deck and placed them strategically in the garden.

I had a stepping stone that was nice so I set it in the garden, as well.

As I did not have any extra plants to place in the planter, I took the two of the three solar light fixtures from the other planter (the tallest ones) and put them into the container.

VOILA ….. no cost …… just a bit of medium labour and it looks good.

I am proud of myself.

Alvin tried to help ….. he kept coming up into the garden and sniffing away …..

I perhaps will add a bit of rock from between the garages once we get the bark chips in there but for now it looks good.

After supper we ended the day with a walk followed by a movie.

Happy Saturday.

Happy Father’s Day to all the GUYS out there whether you have two-legged babies or four.

Thank you for all that you do.

Special Hello to: My youngest brother who is a great day and my nephews.

Always, Carol & Alvin