They came to say goodbye...........

When I went to put out the garbage at the front this morning, there were two deer in our front yard.  I don't know who was more surprised, me or them.  They of course ran away, but then one of them came back and was wandering around the back and field area.

 

 

Please excuse the state of the grass, only the bits close to the house are getting cut!!!

Heading out to drop off some more things at the charity shop.  I am actually giving away my records, cassette tapes (music) and record player.  Plus all the VCR videos, as we don't have a VCR player anymore.  That is three big boxes of things not to have to move.  All have never been out of their boxes in years, so it's time to go.

Sick to death of tripping over boxes everywhere in the house.  However I feel as though I am 85% packed.  The last little bit is all last minute stuff.

Nice of the deer though to pop by and say goodbye, don't you think?

Not an ear infection............

only (!!) a virus/sinus thing going on {SIGH}  He gave me a prescription and told me to fill it if it didn't clear up in a few days.  Otherwise pull up my big girls pants and get on with it, another {{SIGH}}

Spent a delightful couple of hours trying to get quotes on our house and car insurance.  They range in price from less than $1,500 for both to nearly $2,500 for both {{{SIGH}}}  For those of you who live in Ontario, Presidents Choice Financial Insurance is the cheapest so far and seems to have great coverage.  Thinking we may go with them.  Mind you as my mam always says, an Insurance Company is only as good as how it performs when you do your first claim.

Major crisis, well it is to my mind.  My laptop is away for repair.  The fan stopped working on it.  Took out the extended warranty thank goodness, through Staples.  I have very little faith in those guys after I sent in my Dell laptop for a new power cord and they changed the bloody hard drive..........there was NOTHING wrong with it {{{{SIGH}}}}

Told them this time under no circumstances do they touch my hard drive and to only change the fan.  Called yesterday for an update and was ready to pull my hair out within seconds.  He was rattling on about how they couldn't test the computer because of the security settings I had on it.  Took me a minute to click he was talking about someone else's computer!!  Finally got him talking about my computer and they have sent away to Toshiba for a new fan.  Fingers crossed I get it back before the end of the year............I'm telling you I have no faith in them.

As you know we sold our lawn tractor back in April.  Has anyone ever tried cutting five acres with a regular push lawn mower?  Neither have I, BUT I am getting in plenty of practice in cutting around the house with a push lawn mower.  Suffice to say I am NOT IMPRESSED!!

Got some more things sorted out.  Cost $92.60 to get Canada Post to redirect our mail for a year.  It's actually money well spent in my opinion as you always forget to tell someone you have moved.

Got some more packing done also today; still have a ways to go though.  Who knew there was so much "stuff" in this house!!!

If you're reading this I thank you.

Gill

This cold is hanging around like a bad smell!

All that is really wrong with me now is a small cold, ears which are full and feeling awful tired and fuzzy headed.  Anyhow, rather than going to bed and napping; as all that does is make me not sleep at night, I am keeping busy.

Called the kitchen cabinet guys and they are going to pick up the uppers and the pantry this coming Monday, so I decided the take everything out of the cabinets in preparation for dh to remove them.

This is the kitchen table before I started:

This is the kitchen table after I emptied all the cabinets.

The one good thing with all of this is I got to see what was in my cupboards and have a bit of a clear out.  However one of these days I would love to have a clear kitchen table!  Do you have somewhere in your house that is your dumping ground?

The weather turned out to be nice with a warm wind blowing on Wednesday, so I ended up cutting some grass/running over leaves.  Made sure I had my flaps down hat on to cover up my ears, but it was a gorgeous day to be outside.

I am having a running around day today (Thursday) so looking forward to having a day out of the house.

Oops..........

The photos don't show you how steep this bank is, but the top one does show you that the back right tire is off the ground.  I turned the tractor too late and went partially over the bank.  How I never rolled the tractor with me on it is a mystery.  Someone was obviously looking out for me.  Yes it shook me up and I had to get my neighbour to help me push it up, as dh was out.

Back to gutting grass today got the field and Kamikaze Hill to cut.  Fingers crossed no more incidents while doing it!!

Perfect end to a very busy day.........

We were treated to a lovely sunset on Wednesday night.  I don't remember what the sunrise was like as I was up just after 5am.  Had a bad night and couldn't sleep.  By 8am I had, had my breakfast, showered, laundry washed and hung out, the veggie drawer in the fridge cleaned out and potato salad made for the next couple of days.

At 9am the service guys arrived to service the furnace.  Pleased to say no problems reported and they were very pleased with her.  As soon as I had, had a cup of tea I was out the door to town to run a couple of errands.  By the time I got my shopping put away and a couple of other things done it was lunch time.

Hopped on the tractor after lunch for a couple of hours.  Then had a "break," by doing the ironing.  Had a cup of tea then out again on the tractor for another hour.  Got the field all cut; round by the raspberries cut and by the fruit trees and veggie weed patch.

Thursday the rest of the grass will get cut.  It was also garbage day so filled my green box with weeds from one of the flower beds.  Also got a grocery bag full of garbage from the ditch.  Thank's to  all those folks who couldn't be bothered to take their Tim Hortons cups home!!

As I am writing this on Wednesday night around 8:30 pm, I am pooped, so I am going to call it a night and hope to have a better nights sleep as I have another full day planned for Thursday.

What's your plans for Thursday?

I looked a right mess........

I spent an hour and a half whipper snipping/grass trimming/edging on Wednesday morning and barely made a dint in our property.  We have a super duper professional trimmer that you can see here. I can only do a couple hours of trimming at a time as it kills my back and makes my hands vibrate for an hour or so after I finish.  Anyway whenever I do the trimming I end up covered in grass.  It ends up in my bra and my underwear, everywhere.  

As it was hot again on Wednesday I was only outside until just after 10am.  Did get some more grass cut as well.  I then decided to get a bit more done on the baby's quilt and got the quilt top put together.  I am also making a crib skirt and a valence for the window.  Plus a couple of cushions.

I ended up covered from head to foot in bit's from the minky fabric.  It's a messy fabric when cut.  The backing will also be minky and I think I will do the binding with one of the pink fabrics.

Saturday was not a good day........

why, just looking at dh annoyed the crap out of me, and truth be told it did the same to him when he looked at me.  So that made for a pleasant day all around!!!

We go to Mark's Work Wearhouse to buy dh new work pants and of course they only had the one pair.  They do have a good system where you can order them from another location and ship them to your nearest store free of charge.  However just one year it would be nice to actually go into the store and have them in stock.

I had a headache all day which never let up.  I cut grass on Friday so my allergies were horrible.  Discovered cutting the grass drives my nose crazy which in turn makes me miserable.  I am on Reactine at the moment giving that a try, doesn't seem to work any better than any other of the pills do.

I watched the movie I'm giving away later today, and didn't fall in love with it like I thought I would.  Will review it tomorrow with my giveaway.

So all in all felt like a miserable day, especially when it rained and was very windy.

Fingers crossed Sunday is a better day!!

That time if year again....

grass cutting season has started again.

I managed to get a little bit of grass cut.  Bit of a wobbly start though as we had to go our and buy a new battery for the lawn tractor.  Pleased to say with the new battery and the other maintenance dh did on the tractor it's running like new which is a good thing.


Our friends in town wanted us to take some of the Maple saplings from their garden, so we popped by and dug up four of them.  They are really quite large:

I have them sat in a garbage can full of water until I get my soil delivered later in the week.  I ordered 3 yards of  triple mix on Sunday, at a cost of $192, with money I had saved in my loonie and toonie pot.


It's been a super busy weekend and this week isn't looking much quieter...oh well never mind.  Can't believe it's the end of April already..........

Grass Envy.........

Every morning on my way to work I travel past a golf course called Devil's Paintbrush.  It's a very exclusive, members only golf course, for those of you who have an awful lot of money to spend.  Regardless of the cost, I am pea green with envy at how gorgeous the greens are.  The grass looks like a carpet.  I know that they use a lot of chemicals and water on their grass, I use neither, but it is just gorgeous.  I drive past drooling every time I go to work.  By the way someone told me the membership fee is $100,000, now whether that is actually correct I don't know.

Also to show you what a sad individual I am, I get great pleasure in looking at my grass after I have cut it, especially the field, as I take pride in making sure there are straight cut lines in the field, like this:

That picture was taken from this website which shows you have to make patterns on your lawn.  If I had the time I would do that.  I may give it a go on our front lawn, as that won't take much doing or use much gas, whereas the field would take a lot of time and gas.

Do you have "grass envy?"

Ds is making progress, he is still coughing and is still really tired.  However he is gung-ho to go back to work on Monday.  I guess he will get better slowly but surely.

You start out with this:

and after a couple hours of work you end up with this:

Made another 2 dozen jars of raspberry jam on Tuesday morning.  Skipped work this week to make jam.  All in all  it took me two hours to pick the raspberries and just over an hour and a half to make the jam.  I only need make another 2 dozen jars and then I should be done the wedding jam.  I will then start on making jam for ourselves and freezing the best raspberries.  It really is a bumper crop this year, so someone must be smiling down on me.

Would you believe I haven't cut the grass in well over two weeks.  The weather has been so hot and humid that I won't go out in it.  Yes, the grass could really do with cutting but it's going to have to wait until it gets a little cooler.

Got an email from the town and there is a total fire ban in our area, as everything is so dry.  I do have stuff on the firepit, but am in no great hurry to burn it.  I don't think the fire department would appreciate another call out to The Acreage!!!!!

I must say I was a tad concerned............

I went into a couple of stores on Wednesday to see not only did they have all their Fall decorations out, but the Halloween ones as well.  Plus in Michael's there was even a shelving unit of Christmas stuff.  Now if that wasn't bad enough, on the way home, I passed a pick up truck with a snow plow on it's front. 

I remember checking the weather forecast that morning, and I don't remember seeing snow in the forecast?  I wonder if they know something I don't know?

Had a super busy day shopping......thanks goodness I worked the last couple of weeks, to pay for what I bought!!  I got the paint for bathroom.  I picked up the closet organizers.  Had a good look around Homesense and Michael's.  Went into Home Depot, Rona and Lowes looking for some wood trim for the baseboards, and couldn't find any to match the one dh wants.

Manged to get home by just after 2:30pm.  I had put a large load of laundry out before I left and I had all that to iron........where is that ironing fairy when you need it???

After supper I tackled Kamikaze Hill and got half of it cut.  By then I was pooped.  So all in all it was a crazy day.........

Let's hope Thursday is a quieter day!!

Crazy busy, but what's new with that?

Tuesday was another super busy day for me.

I got two coats of paint on the ceiling and the walls in the spare bedroom.  Which resulted in two more empty paint cans.  Put a coat of varnish on the closet door, only two more to go.

Finished cutting the field, and cut the front lawn again, only cut it on Saturday.  My dad who lives around an hour south west of us, was saying his grass was burning, and not growing.  Our grass is growing like crazy up here.  Still have Kamikaze Hill to cut; hoping to start on that on Wednesday.

I tidied up a bit in the family room for the first time in ages.  Then hoovered through downstairs.  Of course made supper and I am sure I did some other things as well.

Wednesday I am out for the morning and hope to be back home by 2pm.  I have a long list of errands to run, so want to do them all at once.  I am meeting a friend for lunch it's her birthday on Thursday, and then I will head home.

Thursday, I may have visitors coming, depending on the weather.  If they don't come, I have a million and one things to do, including making a start on putting the spare bedroom back together.  Making a start on painting the bathroom.  More cleaning, and of course more cutting the grass.  If my visitors come, then that will all have to be pushed back to Friday.

Regardless, this week is going to be a crazy busy week.

And who said moving to the country would bring a slower pace of life???

Another busy day on Saturday.......

Dh had to work on Saturday and didn't get home until 4pm.

So I sat around all day reading the paper, dinking cups and tea and eating bon-bons...............well I wish I did that!!

What I actually did was give the closet walls and ceilings two coats of paint.  What was really good about doing that, was I used up to part cans of paint that I had laying around in the basement.  Mind you for the second coat I was literally had to scrape the last drop out of the can.

I then tackled the grass cutting AGAIN!!!  I have to say I got on really well, and hope to have the rest cut on Sunday.

We then went to Lowes and Home Depot to pick up some things when dh got home.  We didn't get back in until close to 8:30pm, so this post will be short and sweet tonight.

Oh, and in answer to a couple of questions about baked beans and mashed potatoes.  We only eat Heinz Baked Beans, original flavour in this house.  Mind you I have had Bush's Baked Beans, and found the vegetarian ones very tasty.  So if you can't get Heinz, Bush's are a good substitute.  I have never made homemade baked beans, just because I am too lazy to do it!

One meal we have every now and then, is mashed potatoes, baked beans and fried eggs.  That's simple fast meal that we both enjoy.  One of the kids' favourite meals is sausages, mashed potatoes and baked beans.    My kids were brought up on mashed potatoes and gravy, they loved it as little kids, and probably still do to this day.

Wednesday night, just a quick post...........

I have just got in from cutting Kamikazie Hill.  I hadn't planned on cutting it all, but the grass was nice and dry; and as it was super long, it was difficult to cut, and it would have been impossible to cut if it was slighty wet/damp.  I cannot let the grass get so long, as it's nigh on impossible to cut so it looks good.  I must also remember not to wear my capri's that are made out of a shiny fabric, as I thought I was going to have to velcro my bum on the seat, as I was slipping around that much.  I could have gone inside to change but couldn't be bothered; I'd rather complain about it...LOL

I called a friend today and she gave me some upsetting news.  I was actually lost for words, which for anyone who knows me, knows that rarely happens.  It's a few hours later and I am still flabbergasted and upset.  At the beginning of the month another friend that I don't talk to on a regular basis called with some upsetting news, again I was lost for words.  Both things I can't talk about on my blog; I am praying and hoping that these bad news calls don't come in three's like death's do?

I had work on Wednesday, and all was well, I didn't have to get my big stick out to sort them out!! (Inside joke for them!)

Thursday, I am at home, but again have a hundred and one jobs to do, including moving all the logs left over from last year's wood.  So as they say, there will be no rest for the wicked!!

Enjoy your Thursday.......

Gill :0)

And pigs might fly

I guess they do...........do you like my new door stop?   I got it at this store, they were having their annual summer sale, so I popped in for a looksy!!  Funny thing was, I was in the store an hour on Saturday.  Dh wanted to have a look, so we called in on Sunday and we were in and out in five minutes.........and never bought a thing.  Moral of this story, don't take dh shopping with you!!

God bless dh and the mechanics at the factory, as they have welded together the deck for me, and it works a charm now.  Infact it's cutting a lot better.  So I have managed to get a bit of the grass cut this weekend.  I picked the rest of the peas on Sunday; so need to blanch and freeze them.

I am following this story at the moment.  I think it is interesting that France voted to ban the Burka in the first place; now Britain is talking about it.  I know that law would never pass here in Canada; however stranger things have happened!!

Also if you have another minute read this story as this involves companies from this side of the ocean as well........

Busy day again............

Doing what....well cutting grass of course.  Tuesday was a good day to cut grass.  Not too hot, infact it was actually a little cool.  I had to put my fleece jacket on.  Still I managed to get it all cut other than the field; that's Thursday morning's job.  I also got a bit of edging done, there is stil lots, and lots, and lots more to do, no doubt I'll get around to it all before the end of the year!!


I had to go out and buy gas for the lawn tractor.  Ended up paying 99.9 cents per litre, which is the highest it's been in a long time.  Mind you come Thursday it will be going up 8%, so if you are in Ontario, make sure you fill up today before it goes up in price.

While cutting the grass all the purple martins came out to play and swooped and flew all around me.  Sort of freaky thoug, reminded me of that movie where all the birds attack, luckily they didn't attack me, they were more interested in catching the bugs.  I actually saw one catch a moth which was so neat.

This afternoon, I am going for my yearly every other year physical.  Can't say I am looking forward to it.  The only good thing about it all, is that I have had all my blood work done and I have had a mammogram, so at least that's out of the way.  I need to have a form to get an x-ray.  Remember my arm?  Well it's not looking great and it still has a lump in it............so I had better get it x-rayed to make sure there isn't anything left in there {SIGH}  Oh and next Monday, I have an appointment to have my tooth pulled {{SIGH}}  I am fed up of being in pain, so decided to have it pulled.

I really could do with a few more hours in the day........

Tuesday was another busy day at The Acreage.  I managed to get some housework done in the morning, and bits and bobs done in the house.  I watch Eastenders at 12 noon while I have my lunch.  It was an hour episode as it was New Years Eve 2007/2008 when Kevin Wickes died.  I also did my ironing while I was watching it.

I then went out in the garden and got all sorts of bits and bobs done.  I am becoming a pro at trimming .  One down side to it all my i-pod died.  So hopefully by Wednesday morning it will be charged again.  As I plan on spending a few hours in the garden again on Wednesday.

I am two thirds done the field again and it is looking good.  I must say I enjoy cutting the grass after supper as it's not as hot, and watching the sun set is lovely.

When the builders were here, I fed them at coffee time in the morning and the afternoon.  So of course I sat down and had a coffee with them and got to know them.  One of the guys' wife is a buyer for a big giftware company, and to cut a long story I knew someone who worked there.  Anyhow, he was telling me how he had been to Vegas with his wife and they had met Marie Osmond, as they are carrying the Marie Osmond line of products.

So I was telling him how I love Marie's line of handbags.  Again to cut a long story short, he turned up at the house with the handbag below.  Wasn't that nice of him and his wife?

I love it, although I may keep it for the Fall and Winter season.  Her line is very similar to the Vera Bradley purses that I adore.
Here is my column this week for the Eden Valley Messenger.

Also here I am again with my weak excuses as to why I haven't been by your blogs............actually there is only one......lack of time, as there are too many other things needing my attention at the moment.

I am so sorry.

This bloody grass is on steroids!

Here we are in the first week of May, and I'm already complaining about the grass.  I mean the field is like a hay field.  I had to cut the front lawn again on Monday and I had just done it on Saturday.  Now under the front lawn is the septic bed; however its not squishy on the lawn, nor are there any floaters!!  However the front lawn seems to love having that spetic bed underneath it, as it's grows like crazy!!

I was out and about on Monday and had to pop into Lowes for some Tuck Tape when I noticed these half dead bulbs.  So I asked how much they wanted for them, and they said 50 cents per pot.  I picked up 9 pots of tulips, each with 5 tulips in them, and 2 pots of mini daffodils.  I will let them completely die and will then replant them in the fall.  I have a place for them, I thought it was a great deal.

Here is a close up of the daffodil.

This is a close up of the tulips.

The goal for this week is to try and get more grass cut and try and get more of the veggie garden planted....oh and clean the house, do the laundry, cook gourmet meals and promote world peace and save the world in my spare time..........and if that isn't enough, I'll sweep up as I'm going along!

Isn't that what everyone does everyday? ;0)

Enjoy your Tuesday........

Happy Anniversary to us and another busy day at The Acreage...

On April 28th, 2009 we closed on The Acreage......what a year it has been, and how time flies by when you are having fun!!!  Funny thing is I don't feel like writing about the past year at this moment?  Maybe leave that for another day!!

Meanwhile it was a cool day on Tuesday, with a windchill of minus 3oC in the morning.  However the sun shone all day and if you could get out of the wind, it was lovely.

Molly watching squirrel tv again!!  Look at her paw.

The guys arrived to do the work, and ended up putting in the four windows on Tuesday.  What a difference having natural light again in the old basement.  They have been blocked up for many years.  The ones in the new basement are also really nice, and we took the iron bars off the outside as well, as honestly there were only four screws holding them on, and if someone wants to break in I'm sure there are easier ways of breaking in.

I wrapped up well in the afternoon and cut Kamikaze Hill for the first time this year.  It really makes a difference when the grass isn't knee high!!  I also made a start on my quilt block for the block of the month club, this month it is a "T Quilt Block."

I have company visiting today, so it's going to be another busy day, I hope to get caught up with your blogs later on in the week.

Alrighty, got a few things to talk about today for a change....

As of Sunday night I have managed to trap 6 mice over Saturday and Sunday. I know you're all jealous of my catching mice prowess and the fact we have so many of them roaming freely in the house...........NOT!!! I went out and bought six more mouse traps today, so have 9 of them set in and around the house. How much do you want to bet I will have caught 9 mice by the time you read this on Monday morning!!! We think they are coming in at the old basement, but not sure where.

Now we decided to give Molly a bath/shower on Sunday afternoon. So I go to the pet store to make sure I get shampoo that will maybe help with Molly's allergies. I also picked up a kong for her, and a couple of treats. As we were talking to the lady she was saying that chicken, beef, wheat and corn are the main cause of allergies and if it doesn't get any better, to try her on vegetarian dog food.

Did you hear a groan? It was my dad and he's saying, "only she would make her dog into a vegetarian." As I am writing this, a mouse trap went off, so up to number 7 now!!! So I will have to go and investigate and likely reset it.

Anyhow, back to Molly, so we may try her on a vegetarian diet if she doesn't get any better. Meanwhile dh is whining in the pet store, that I look after the dog better than I do him!!! :0) As we don't have a bath in this house, I strip off in the shower and bath Molly in there. She was really good, and stood still the whole time. However for the rest of the day she has looked depressed, which isn't hard when you are a hound!!! Dh even took her for a walk to try and cheer her up!!! She doesn't smell much better but her coat is just so soft and lovely.

She sort of liked the kong, I stuffed it with her biscuits and peanut butter, so it kept her out of mischief for a couple of minutes while she got the peanut butter out.

It didn't rain like it was supposed to so I was able to get a bit of grass cut on Sunday, and am over half way through the field. I am hoping I won't have to cut it again this year. Its such a difference from when we moved in, as the grass was knee high then. Now its a regular length and a lot easier to take care of.

We spent Sunday morning working around the house doing some odds of jobs, nothing overly exciting, but stuff that needed to be done. It was a bit warmer than it was on Saturday and we didn't need to have a fire on or anything, which is good for this time of the year. However it's supposed to get colder as the week progresses.

Today (Monday) dh goes back to work after being on vacation for the past three weeks. I know it will be strange not having him around. I don't think we achieved as much as we wanted to while he was off, and I know we didn't get away as much as we had hoped, but I do enjoy having him home. Just wish he wasn't in so much pain with his shoulder and his elbows.

Have a super week.......