Fall Break

Today is the last day of  our Fall Break. It has been very relaxing which is what  I needed. A few things have been accomplished, but not much ! I pulled a few more plants. Surprisingly I still have some plants flowering . Imagine that  flowering in November in Northern Alberta ! I tidied my jewelry and mended some earrings and necklaces. I've stared at my pile of wool and still have done nothing. Cooked and did some cleaning.

Friday ED who is on vacation and doing research for her Thesis, called to ask if I wanted to go to Value Village. We had just come back from grocery shopping [ finally picked up pepper for work ! ] and the groceries had been put away. I picked up four tops , a leather purse and a pair of jeans for ES for his birthday. My old purse's lining had started to fray so after I transferred over to the new purse, I mended it.

Yesterday the two oldest grandchildren were dropped off as they were going to have a sleepover at YGS's house. However as the 16th is ES's birthday, he went out with his brother and friend to a batting cage for 2 hours ! YGS was droped off by his other grandparents and then the mayhem began !! It is delightful to see how well they all play together. I made a Shepherd's pie, well really cottage pie, fleshed out with lentils for supper. Shortly after 7 they were all picked up and the house was so silent !

Today we'll be having a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings and I will shortly start making a cake for ES's birthday dinner. Such a difference from two years ago.

Two years ago we did not celebrate ES's birthday. He had not seen his son for 25 days and that is all he wanted. We were in the middle of lawyers, courts and judgements. It was a sad day. When I mentioned that it was just 2 years ago, ES remarked that it seemed a lifetime ago. And it does !

The other grandmother told me yesterday that she had found my cookbooks under a crawl space as well as the eggdonor's old purse in which was HER triple strand gold necklace that was a 25th Anniversary gift. She is guessing that because the clasp was broken, her daughter hadn't been able to wear it or sell it. Very angry that she stole it, but so happy to have found it. She thought she'd never see it again.  She'd also like to have lunch with me once a month or so.YGS also told me he helped choose a birthday gift and card for his Dad.

The neighbourhood is so quiet. When I get up, there are no lights on anywhere now that the old neighbours are gone. they kept lights on all the time 24/7. The landlord has been working in that rental house for 5 weeks, painting, new bathroom, all new flooring. He has reduced the rent by $100 a month, It is still too high for the economic climate in our province. When I was putting out the garbage I noticed a couple in the backyard. They were peering through the windows of the house and garage. The woman thought the view from the deck was wonderful ! LOL I suppose it all depends where they are currently living ! I suppose they were just checking it ut as the landlord was not there. There have been only 2 other viewings that we have noticed and as he renewed the listing I'm guessing they didn't want to pay $1 700/month plus utilities !

Our sad neighbour across the street seems to be going through a tough time. I am quite sure that someone has died, but who is the question -- her ex ? a family member ? She has never had people coming to her house, nor does she go out except to work. How she met her boyfriend is a mystery ! However a couple came over a couple of evenings ago and she cried and hugged the woman for a long time before they went in to talk. the man just stood there. Long goodbyes after a couple of hours. It was strange. The boyfriend has even been over during the evenings, usually it's before 7:30 in the am or right at 3;30 when she finishes a shift. Flowers were delivered yesterday. I suppose if we never see the drunk  pull up again, we'll presume it was him.

Another neighbour had a new furnace put in. Fortunately for them it was not -30*C weather as it was when we had ours put in ! There are two cars parked in front of the house and YD said  the BMW had two rear flats. Hmm   Haven't seen anyone at the car so maybe today we'll phone to ensure they are not stolen cars.

I'm going to broach the idea of starting to redo the basement. It is such a mess and it is valuable space that we need to use ! It would have been lovely to shove the kids down there yesterday ! LOL And it's warm. I think that this is the latest that we have NOT put the fleece sheets on the bed.

This week will be very busy for us. We ave the two eldest grandchildren for 4 days as their parents are in Las Vegas for a race. We have swimming lessons, cheer and cheer competitions, piano lessons and school ! Oh my ! I'm too old for this ! LOL Making lunches  blech !  Getting everyone dressed and out the door by 7:45 !!!  But how lucky we are to be able to do this, to have our grandchildren be such a big part of our lives.