It's McCartney day!

It's finally here - McCartney day. The concert is this evening and we're going into Toronto a little earlier and getting dinner somewhere. Yesterday didn't quite go as planned but it was still a great day. We met the airport guys at 8:00 for breakfast then we went back to the airport with Jan to look at the photographic equipment. By the time we poked around there and the boys discussed more airplane 'stuff' it was a little too late to go to Niagara. We settled instead on going to IKEA as I haven't been in a while. Patti has a very nice wooden bench on her front porch that she got there and I wanted to find one for me. Unfortunately they didn't have any more. We toured the store and I think for the first time in my life, I didn't buy anything there. We were going to get meatballs for lunch but it was way too busy, so we left and found a little Lebanese restaurant down the street and had lunch there. We stopped into Canadian Tire on the way home in search of a canner and some jar lids. Apparently Lloyd and Jim's wife Patty, are going to be making tomato sauce, and canned tomatoes on Monday afternoon. He's becoming quite the little housewife!

After an afternoon nap, we headed over to Jim and Patty's for supper. Jan and his wife Cathy, also joined us. I hadn't met Cathy before and we had a lovely time. We had fresh corn on the cob and it seems especially sweet this year. We also had fresh green and yellow beans, BBQ steaks and tomato and spinach salad. Cathy had brought a raspberry custard pie to finish off our meal. When we finished eating, we sat around the fire outside and had a lovely time.

Now this morning, we are again going to meet up with the guys for breakfast and after that, we have no definite plans. We'll just see how the day unfolds.

Having a great time but also looking forward to going home.

I'll be leaving the house very early in the morning and I didn't bring my laptop with me, so tomorrows post will be sometime later in the day.

Happy Sunday everyone!

It's much cooler now

Yesterday proved to be much cooler than Thursday. It was really quite pleasant. I actually wore a jacket when I went out first thing in the morning.
I woke up around 5:00 am and Lloyd was already gone to work so I just kind of puttered around the apartment. I baked my cake and headed out to the office a little before 9:00. Several people there were away on vacation but I still got to see Kay, Jackie, Jana, Yvonne and Maryanne. They also have a very nice young man working with them for the summer as a coop student. We sat around and chatted till it was time for everyone to get back to work. I had a couple of errands I needed to do so I drove around town then met Fran at Royal City Chinese food for lunch. While we were there I invited them to join us for supper later in the evening. After lunch, I called Linda and we met at Timothy's for coffee. She was able to find me one of those travel carrier things she has in her car for the dog. It totally covers the entire back seat so muddy paws are not all over the car. It also comes with a water bottle, collapsible water bowl, food container and a first aid kit for pets. Gee, I don't even have one of those for ME! I had seen hers when she came over to the house and she had gotten it at Costco. She said if she saw one she'd get it for me. I was surprised to get an email from her yesterday morning telling me she'd found one, so that was good timing!

After coffee I picked up some groceries and went back to Lloyd's to make supper. It was going to be an easy one -Greek Salad, mini boiled potatoes, sauteed whole in butter after cooking, corn on the cob (it was wonderfully sweet and delicious) and beer can chicken. Lloyd had made a spice rub for some he had cooked previously and it was very good. For dessert we grilled fresh peaches on the BBQ and served them over vanilla frozen yogurt. But before we started cooking anything, Jim called and we met him and Jan at Shakespeare Arms around 4:30 for a beer. But we had to leave by 6:00 so I could get the chickens on the BBQ as Fran and Walt were coming over around 7:00.

We had a pleasant evening sitting around the table like old times and I must admit I do miss that. The four of us have enjoyed so many meals together over the years. It was nice to spend time with just the two of them as the last times I've been here it's usually a group of us that get together.

So as you can see, it's been all about the food and beverages so far.

This morning we're meeting the airport crew for breakfast. We weren't planning on it but Jan has a brother who has some photographic equipment he is looking for a home for. Lloyd and Jan had already discussed this and thought I might be a likely candidate, even though it's not something I've done in a very long time, but I'd love to get back into. I know that no one does any of their own processing anymore, although some one must as you can still buy the chemicals in a camera shop on Queen Street. There is just something so magical about watching the images appear before your very eyes in the developer tray. I'd love to share that with the kids. I think it's important to impart some of those old ways of doing thing onto the kids today. I'd like them to see that not everything has always been so instant.

Speaking of old ways, I've got this idea stuck in my head and that's why I was up again at 5:00 this morning. Once I wake up, ideas start spinning around and it's a waste of time trying to go back to sleep. There's this church ...that needs a new home..... and the more I think of it, the more the idea is taking shape. Lloyd even contributed that it could go on the lot on Five Houses road - and he's come up with a name. Hypothetically, I would make it into a bed and breakfast. Bed and Breakfast customers are looking for a different experience. Because we are not in an area with a lot of tourist attractions, would it not be kind of neat to stay in a church? I see it being something that would appeal to the folks that want something a little off the beaten path. While at the same time, we are a short drive to the beach, golf, the confederation trail, and actually even Charlottetown. Right now the emphasis is on the local produce and how cool would it be to have a unique bed and breakfast experience in the heart of one of PEI's agricultural areas. I know it would cost quite a bit to move, renovate and get up and running so I'm doing a bit of research into finding out if there is grant money, or low cost loans to assist with this kind of project. I might just be dreaming, but the more I think about it, the more ideas come into my head. I need to pick up a small note book to jot things down cause there's too much rattling around in my head to remember them all. Those of you who know me well, are sitting there thinking, okay, just sit down and give your head a shake. But I think it does warrent a little investigation. Any comments???? (besides the obvious, are you nuts?)

Welcome to hot, humid Toronto

Yesterday morning when I was at work, Brandi and I were listening to a Toronto radio station (CHUM FM) and they gave the current weather - 31* and humid. Brandi just looked at me and said "Are you nuts??" I told her yes, probably.

She drove me to the airport to catch my flight and I've never seen the Charlottetown staff quite so frazzled. There were 7 families with babies under a year old, little kids were everywhere. Trying to position them all on the plane was apparently an issue. Not to mention all the strollers, etc. And, they were all those big giant ones that take up a huge amount of space, even when they're folded.
Then there was an older lady in a wheelchair, and they have this huge machine they have to bring over to get her on the plane, a portable elevator of sorts that they drive over to the door. They strapped her in her chair, then the chair is rolled into this big white box like piece of equipment that has a ramp coming out the other side. When she is lifted up, the ramp is placed across to the doorway and she's rolled on. Needless to say all this takes a bit of time so the departure time was soon passed. They were almost all set to go, when the desk agent saw my name come up. He'd almost forgotten about standby's and I was the only one. So I was quite lucky not to get overlooked. I was in the middle of the plane, and all the babies were sitting behind me. In their infinite wisdom. the crew decided to put them all together. Only trouble with that is, when one cried, they ALL cried. It was just a loud din of crying babies, and I thought to myself, this is going to be a very long flight. But fortunately they pretty much stopped once we got up in the air and going, only to start again as we landed. I felt very badly for those poor parents, because there's really nothing you can do in that situation.

Once we landed in Ottawa, I only had about a 10 minute wait till we started boarding the next plane, and I already had a seat on that one. I landed on schedule in Toronto at 3:00 and Lloyd was there to pick me up.

We headed straight to Patti's when we got back to Guelph as she was on her way out for her yearly camping trip with her dads family. We spent about a half hour with Patti and the kids. I gave Meghan and Tristen their quilts for their upcoming birthdays and they seemed to really like them. Both insisted on taking them camping with them.

James had a baseball game last night so he stayed behind and Lloyd and I drove him to the ballpark and met Greg there. Patti's aunt Jean, and cousin Jennifer were playing ball in Guelph last night as well, so they planned to pick James up and take him to the camping site with them. Greg was staying in Guelph to work on Friday.

I would have liked to stay and watch the game but I was starving. I'd picked up a bagel on my way to work in the morning and that's all I'd had to eat all day. We went to Borealis Grill as planned. We started off with a three cheese dip that was really good, then I had a smoked grilled duck breast that was absolutely delicious and Lloyd had the marinated rack of lamb, which was also very good. We really enjoyed out meal but were too full for dessert.

On the way home we stopped at the grocery store and I picked up what I needed for breakfast this morning. It will be a white cake with a whipped cream filling with fresh Ontario peaches, sprinkled with blueberries. If I'd had more time (and if I'd thought of it) I would have gone out back and picked a small container of berries to bring with me.

So, now I'm just waiting for the cake to bake, then I've got time to catch up on Mad Men before I head to the office for breakfast.

Lloyd was a little bit pleased that Patti's crew were going to be away - he said, good then I get you all to myself. So I think we may head out early tomorrow morning and go to Niagara for the day and maybe sample some wine!

Conditions at 7:00 am - 20* overcast and very humid
Expected Later - 26* and a mix of sun and cloud

Last night after supper (spaghetti and meatballs and caesar salad) Suzanne, Jacob and I picked Brenda up and we all headed into town to see the Sound and Light Show. I'd seen it twice last year and I wanted to share it with the others. I didn't know if it would be the same show as last year, but it was. But I still really enjoyed it and I'm really sorry we never got Patti and her gang out to see it. I know they would have really enjoyed it. Oh well, maybe next summer.

It's quite humid this morning and looks like it could rain. As long as it waits till I get the dog into the car and off to the boarding kennel. That red mud really does a number on your car seats!

My flight is leaving at noon today so Brandi is going to drive me to the airport. I had planned to take a direct, later flight but it now looks like I might not get on so I've switched my flight to one going through Ottawa (James' favorite city - home of the Senators!) It leaves earlier but gets me into Toronto at the same time (well, within 10 minutes) of my previous flight. I checked in on line yesterday and I have a seat already assigned from Ottawa to Toronto, so I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I get to Ottawa.

Suzanne and Jacob are leaving today to travel to Gaspe. That's one area I've never been to but I hear it's quite beautiful. It's unfortunate that the weather didn't cooperate for them here so there were no beach days. But the weather is supposed to get nicer on the weekend.

Well, I'm signing off now but will be in touch some time tomorrow. I'm taking breakfast to the office in the morning then lunch with Fran, so Friday's going to be a busy day!

You can feel the fall in the air this morning...

Conditions at 7:00 am - overcast and 19*
Expected later - rain and 23*


I hate to say it, but this morning, you definitely feel like fall in the air. It certainly doesn't help that the stores now have fall clothes and back to school supplies in great abundance.
Suzanne and Jacob arrived yesterday afternoon about 4:00. They had been on the road since Sunday morning so they were ever so glad to finally reach their destination! We immediately headed out to my house, with a quick stop, of course, on the side of the road, to admire Brenda and Bernie's amazing crop of sunflowers. I haven't yet gotten a picture of them but I plan to very soon. The picture shown here is not their field, but it's just as beautiful.

I was planning on BBQing burgers for supper last night but it started to rain just as I put them on the grill. Unfortunately I didn't go out in the rain as often as I should have and they got a little charred. I told Suzanne I obviously had great respect for her as I was presenting her with burnt offerings. But we managed to choke them down. I cooked some mini burgers that I had made and I had a couple of store bought burgers. The homemade mini ones were edible but the store made ones tasted somewhat like a charcoal encrusted block of sawdust! Definitely not one of my better efforts. The up side was the wild blueberries we went out and picked before supper and had over ice cream for dessert.

Jacob was a little disappointed that he'd missed the spaghetti and meatballs on Monday so I promised we could do that again tonight. That will work well, as I had some cut up onions and some small tomatoes in the fridge that I'd like to use up so I threw them all in to the sauce and put it in the slow cooker. Now when I get home all I have to do is cook some pasta and make some garlic bread and we're done.

We invited Brenda to join us tonight for the Sound and Light show downtown if the weather permits. I hope it does. Before I do that I have to get my bag packed to take to work with me in the morning. I'll drop Cooper off at the kennel on my way to work then Brandi is going to drive me to the airport after lunch. I can leave my car parked at the university and then she said she'd pick me up on Monday.

I still have one part of the lawn to cut but I don't see that getting done any time soon. I know what I'm going to be doing in the evenings when I get back on Monday. And of course I'm still working on my wood pile. I must admit I'm looking forward to the fall when I can work outside without the benefit of copious amounts of bug spray. I truly think that April/May and September/October are my favorite times of the year. You can work outside all you want and never have mosquitoes constantly buzzing around your face. It's hard to get anything done when both hands are continuously swatting bugs.

I talked to Fran yesterday and we're meeting for lunch on Friday. I will likely go into the office on Friday morning for breakfast. If I get in on time on Thursday night, we're going to Borealis Grill for supper. Lloyd has raved about the food there and I've only been there once before and that was for my going away party. It was more finger foods and I don't actually think I ate anything that night, I was too busy gabbing with people. So it will be nice to actually sit down and eat a meal there.

Lloyd was supposed to be going to a play in Stratford with our friend Rose, but he got the date of the McCartney concert wrong and was going to Stratford on Sunday, but I guess he was able to re-schedule that.

Speaking of plays, Linda told me she went to see "The Last Resort" when she was here and she really enjoyed it. So I think Brenda and I are going to go and see it. I also wouldn't mind going to see Hairspray, and I'm sure she can be talked into that as well. There's an article in this mornings paper about it as well. Norm, from the TV show Cheers has joined the cast. I can only imagine that he would play the part of the father. But we'll see. I enjoyed the movie and I'm sure the play will be fun as well.

Well, I'd better go, I need to make a list of things I have to pack tonight. Without my endless lists, I'd be totally lost!

Sorry ladies, but no one is safe!

Conditions at 7:30 - 14* and sunny
Expected later - 24* and more sun!


What a wonderful surprise to have Nancy visit. She called me yesterday afternoon around 2:00 to say she had just crossed the bridge! She arrived at the University about 3:15 so I left work early and joined her. We did a quick tour downtown and stopped at Peake's Quay to have a drink on the deck overlooking the harbour. Then we decided to head back to my place to have supper. It was pretty basic, just spaghetti and meatballs with a greek salad on the side, but it was nice to just sit and chat.

I called Brenda and she came over a little later and brought a bottle of wine with her (I was out!). We had a lovely time just sitting around the kitchen table talking. I was so glad that Brenda came over. Now when I talk to Nancy and mention Brenda, she'll know who I'm talking about, and vise versa.

Nancy brought lots of pictures of her kids and grandkids and it was so nice to see them. I only met Brooke once and it was when she was a tiny baby, and Meghan was just about a year old. They've all grown up so much. It's amazing how that's happened when neither of us has aged at all!!!

It's great how well things worked out. Suzanne was supposed to arrive yesterday but I got an email from her yesterday morning telling me she was delayed getting across the border (she went through the states) and she wasn't likely to get here till Tuesday. I confirmed with her via blackberry at 6:00 that they were not arriving yesterday, so I had a wonderful opportunity to just visit with Nancy Now tonight Suzanne and Jacob and I can have a bonfire if the weather is still great, which I suspect it will be. It will be nice but a different kind of visit. It just all worked out so perfectly!

We left the house a little before 7:00 and Nancy followed me to Stratford and I showed her where to turn to get onto the Trans Canada highway, that Brenda says will take her all the way to the ferry. I've never gone that way, I've only gone through Montague. It's a little quicker that way from my house, but the highway would be much more direct and easy for her to find her way. When we stopped in Stratford for me to say goodbye, she commented on how lovely the drive was and I told her it was my normal morning commute, and I truly am lucky! It's a marked difference from the scenery Lloyd has on HIS morning commute!

When Brenda was over, she mentioned that Bernie and Raymond are going to Dover, Ontario next week for Friday the 13th bike event. Lloyd has never been, although our brother in law, Kim, has been. He's never been inclined to go but he's thinking about it now. I really think he should go, I think the three of them would have a great time.

I booked my flight yesterday and with any luck I will be in Toronto on Thursday a little after 3:00 in the afternoon. At this point, there are 9 open seats and 4 stand by's ahead of me so we'll keep our fingers crossed. If that doesn't work, there's another flight later in the day.

Well, I'd better go, I'm a little later this morning getting into town.

It's going to be another short week!

Conditions at & 7:00 - 10* and sunny with fog patches
Expected later- sun and 22*

It was a fairly busy weekend for me at the University. Friday I attended the 50 year reunion of the class of 1960 from Saint Dunstan's University. What I want to know is WHEN DID I GET THIS OLD? These people graduated a short 12 years before I did and they all seemed so old. Some were downright frail. Is that going to be me in 12 years time? I can't be that old - in my mind I'm still 25! On the way home, I stopped in at the VanGaals where I was serenaded by Bernie and Jackie with a wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday!

While we were sitting around talking, the story was told of how Jackie's family's barn caught fire and how the operator broke into the party lines and told everyone. Jackie says hundreds of people showed up to help fight the fire, and the barn was saved. I love the fact that I have the opportunity to hear some of these old tales, and get a brief glimpse into what life was like. I hope someone is writing all these stories down, because they are truly priceless. The kids today have no idea what life was like for their ancestors and I hope that information is available to them when they are old enough to appreciate it.

On Saturday night I attended the class reunion of 1970 from UPEI. Now this was more like it. Since I graduated in 1972, they were more my age. It's very scary the difference 10 years can make. It was a great turn out, a little over 60 people. They've had reunions before but this was a big one - 40 years, and some hadn't been to a reunion before. It was so much fun to watch the looks on peoples faces when they recognized someone they hadn't seen in that long a time. The noise level in the room was very high as everyone chattered on and on, and were genuinely happy to see each other. I've never been to a reunion but I hear that my old public school is having one on Thanksgiving weekend, and I will give it some thought.
It was a late night, midnight when I got home but it was a lot of fun. I was invited to attend their music afternoon on Sunday at the Old Triangle but I just ran out of time and didn't make it.

On Saturday morning I got a call from Nancy, who informed me she's in Halifax. She's visiting her sister and brother and is going to try to make a day trip over to the island. I really hope she can. Her plan is to drive over on the bridge, meet up with me, and we'll get some supper then a quick trip to my house, for the tour, then I'll direct her to the ferry for her trip back. It's do-able but it will be a long day for her. I hope she makes it, I'd love for her to see where I live, and I know she really wants to as well.

Suzanne is also supposed to be arriving today to stay for a couple of nights. She's on her way to Gaspe and plans to come here for a short visit. So she will likely be leaving on Wednesday, then Thursday I'm off to Toronto.

I loved the comment on the previous page where I posted the short video clip of Stan Rogers singing at a kitchen table. Brenda knew who's kitchen it was, where it was and who was in the group at the table. Leave it to Brenda to know that! And how valuable to have that information.

Speaking of Brenda, she dropped by yesterday afternoon on her bike when I was cutting the lawn. There was a strawberry social at the Rec Centre and she was planning to attend when she got back from town. So when I was done with the grass, I got cleaned up and met her there. Then we headed into town to have supper on Victoria Row, where she treated me for my birthday. We were joined part way through by a long haired biker dude! Bernie has certainly undergone quite a transformation since he's let his hair grow longer. That combined with his size and the beard, make him quite an intimidating looking fellow.

After eating, we went for a stroll down on Peakes Quay. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening and there were lots and lots of people out taking in the sight and dining on restaurant patios.

I've got the house all ready for company but I think I might take a week off before I start my new job (that is, if I get it!). I really want to paint the sun porch and it's slightly more than a weekend project so if I can swing it, I might take a week off as a holiday and finish up a few things. But we'll see.