After a decent year at school, the last two montohs were hell. Now that the year is over, the stress is lessening . Another couople of weeks, and I'll be in vacation mode !
We have taken the pond out for a couple of reasons. The maintainance was becoming too much and the cost of water and electricity kept going out. So friends from school came and took all the goodsized rocks out. It took 4 men two trips with a big truck. That was such a relief to have the rocks gone ! The underlay[ originally from under the dining room carpet] and the water proof lining were picked up on Big Item Pickup which made our lives a little easier. Since then we've been screening dirt to get out all the little rocks and turning part of the pond into a vegetable garden. It is tedious work, mostly done very early in the morning before the heat hits ! I've been out since 4:30 for 3 hours !
The front flower beds are coming along. After 28 years, we had to start afresh after every thing was destroyed when the weeping tile and sump pump were put in last all. Daily watering has been needed as we are having the driest spring/summer in over 50 years . We use ' gray water' from out showers for watering the pots and hanging planters. The vertical planters are doing very well, quite pleased with them so far.The tomatoes are flowering and there are a few tomatoes. something has attacked my wax beans; those have been replanted. The garlic, onions and some cucumbers are doing well so far.
May and June were so busy with 7 birthdays, Mother and Father's Day, Victoria weekend, Anniversary, and Canada Day and a party or two for each one !! ED is having her 3rd annual Canada Day party. ES was able to make a section of the wrought iron back fence into a gate so there is now easy access to Jubilee park. No longer do we have to walk a couple of blocks ! We will not stay too late. We can see the fireworks from our house and then go to bed. It takes over an hour for the vehicles to leave the subdivision as they close it down to empty the park.
However, if the heat wave continues, we could change our mind ! ED was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship foro graduate studies. You had to be doing it full time with a 3.8 average !! Since her University pays for all her courses, she used the money to have air conditioning installed ! Her master suite is on the third floor of a ' victorian' style house. Now she knows why the 'help' slept upstairs ! Vents were closed in the basaement, first and second floors to get the cool air up to the third ! We do it the old fashioned way, opening windows and doors early in the morning an then running around closing them up as the heat rises and sun hits the windows. Then we use fans all night !
I've finished 3 lap afghans using squares that my mother had knit over 30 years ago. The squares had been bagged up and stuck in back of my sewing cupboard. Now they're done, ready to be given to charity. Then I had a look at all my bits and pieces in my wool stash, at least another 2 lap aghans, maybe more. I do havae my fleece poncho to sew. I've sewn everyone else'[s, but not mine !! YGS keeps reminding me that I need to get it ready for camping !
And speaking of camping, we are going for 3 1/2 days with ED, ES and YGS and the dog !! It should be HOT !! Fortunately I can stay behind with the dog in the shade ! :) Camping to YGS is eating and playing. He remembers camping two years ago as we had lobster ! No one has mentioned it to him or shown him pictures. YGS named everyone who was with us - except his mother ! Interesting, isn't it ?
Now to figure out what to have for supper. Has to BBQed of course. Salad fixings from the vertical planter and some icy cold water !!!
