Mission Accomplished!

Conditions at 7:00 am - 13* and sunny

Expected later - 20* and more sun

What a wonderful feeling to have the wood all split and stacked! My goal was to finish the job this weekend and I'm extremely happy to report that it's done! I spent all of Friday working on it, and most of Sunday, but it's finished.
It was a wonderful weekend, weather wise, so that was a big help. Thursday night, after work, Brenda and I went into town to Old Home Week. It's essentially our version of a fall fair. There was a midway set up, that the kids would have loved. horse shows, various craft and baking displays, and horse racing going on at the same time. We toured around and looked at all the exhibits, and I took some photos of some of the quilts that were on display. Some were absolutely gorgeous, and certainly inspiring to a beginner like me. By the time we'd toured around, it was getting late, so we had time to go for a ride on the ferris wheel before picking up caramel corn to munch on while we drove home.
Friday morning I got up a little late, almost 8:00, and started in right way splitting wood. It was quite warm and sunny but the bonus is there were no mosquitoes. There were some flies that were a bit bothersome, but that was it, so it was a pleasure to work outside and not to have to drown yourself in bug spray. By Friday evening, I was exhausted. So it was a hot bath, a quick supper of homemade pizza cooked on the BBQ, a little TV then off to bed. I had thought about parking myself beside a bonfire later in the evening, but around 8:00 it just poured down with rain, so that put an end to that idea.
Saturday was supposed to be rainy so I had planned to work inside. It was going to be my bread baking and laundry day. It was a little overcast in the morning then it cleared right up and was a beautiful day. But I stayed with my original plan and made a batch of Brenda's bread, and did laundry. The bread recipe makes about 16 loaves of bread, and of course I didn't have enough freezer space for it all, so I took a loaf over to Daralen and 3 loaves over to Brenda. She was out cutting grass when I got there but Will and Ethan were working on the back porch. I told them I brought bread and was just going to put it on the table. They were both very happy, complaining that they hadn't had any bread in a while. I'm sure that was a bit of an exaggeration, and I know they had store bought bread, but it's also really nice that they appreciate the effort their mom puts into baking them bread, although they probably don't tell her that. But they told me in a round about way, so I'm passing it on.
Later in the evening, Brenda asked if I had any left for me. I told her I had LOTS and she said, well you don't have to make the whole recipe you know. But there's something very gratifying in manipulating that huge piece of dough, and turning it into something wonderful. I've tried so may times over the years to make bread from scratch and it's never been successful, but this one turns out great. I can't tell you how great it is to finally be able to do this. So thank you Brenda.
Saturday afternoon, I had my first shift at the liquor store giving out samples. It was only four hours, but that was long enough to stand in one spot. I'm working on another plan of how to do it so I can bring a stool. I'm doing two shifts this Saturday, and I've got to figure something else out. But I have an idea....
Sunday was again bright and sunny, not too hot, and again no more bugs, so I started in right away working on wood. Brenda called and we got together for coffee and muffins at her house before heading out to have a bike lesson. Last week sometime, Bernie suggested that Brenda and I could go on a bike ride as they have an extra motorcycle that I could use. But it's been a very long time since I last drove a motorcycle, and I was never too experienced to start with. So Brenda suggested that we go to the school and I could ride around the parking lot to get the feel of it again. So I took my car and she drove her bike, and we met at the school. I spent a little while driving around the parking lot doing figure eights around the roadways in the lot. Finally I felt comfortable enough to head out onto the road. The plan was to ride from the school out to the main road and then see how it felt. If I still wasn't confident enough then we'd switch vehicles when we got there. But by the time I got to Fort Augustus Road, I felt okay, so I just kept going and drove it home to Brenda's. I still need some practice but she suggested that I just come by some evening when I have some spare time and take it for a run. We were both quite excited that it went so well, as this opens up a whole new realm of possibilities - just one more thing we can do on Sundays! I was talking to Lloyd last night and he suggested that I be careful not to get talked into buying a bike! Guess I'll just have to learn to ride the Honda. How scary is that???

When I got back home I split wood till I was done, a little after three. I then poured myself a tall gin and tonic and sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed looking at all my hard work. There was such a sense of accomplishment in finally finishing it. After relaxing a bit, it was time to clean up, so I got the rake out and raked up all the small pieces of wood that collect on the ground around the splitter. I started a bonfire and put them all in the fire to burn, while I got the lawn mower out and cut down all the giant weeds that had grown in and around the wood pile. Now it's nice and neat again.

Sounds like Lloyd had a great weekend. He played Grandpa Saturday night and had Tristen for a sleepover. They went for pizza for supper and then he took him for breakfast with the guys on Sunday morning, then a tour of the airport to look at some planes. I think they both really enjoyed their time together. He also went to Stratford with Rose on Sunday to see Evita, and he said it was fabulous and they had a really great time. So thank you Rose, for taking him. He really enjoys those kinds of things but it's not the sort of thing he'd do by himself.
This week is also going to be busy, as he has plans almost every night. Next weekend is Ribfest so I know there will likely be more than one trip to Riverside Park!

Finally saw inside the church

Conditions at 7:00 am - mix of sun and cloud, 17*
Expected later - sunny and 26*


It would take a huge amount of work but it definitely has potential! Last night after work, I met with Robert, the fellow who is in charge of showing the church. I got there first, then he arrived a couple of minutes later. When I got out of the car and introduced myself, I told him a couple of friends were going to try to join us as well. He suggested we go inside and look around while we waited. We were upstairs looking out the front window when the bike turned in the drive, and he looked out, and asked "Is that Bernie Van Gaal......... and Brenda?" I said yes it was, those were the friends I was waiting for.
So they came in and we all looked it over and Bernie brought his measuring tape. It's basically just one big room, so it's like a clean slate almost, you could really reconfigure it a lot of different ways. Bernie went into the cellar with Robert and reported that it was good and sound underneath. It would really take a lot of work, but it would certainly be an interesting project. Now we just have to wait and see how much it would cost to move it. I know that would only be a fraction of the cost for the entire project. Like I said to Brenda, all I need is a small lottery winning. She suggested that if I won a small lottery, I wouldn't need to do this project, but I pointed out it would be something to do. I guess I'm just not yet ready for that rocking chair. I'd really like to be done with the Monday to Friday 9:00 to 5:00 routine, but I'd still need something to do with my time. I'm not going to sit and wait to die - when the time comes, death is going to have to catch me!

After we left, I drove Brenda home and she kindly invited me to supper - new potatoes, fresh carrots (boy were they sweet), yellow beans and BBQ steak. As we ate, we mulled over what "we" could do with the church. I guess my big concern is, it would have been a wonderful idea twenty, or even ten, years ago. What am I thinking to even consider taking this on at our age? But then, I think of Frank Balnar and how he bought his first apartment building when he retired, and look where he was twenty years later? If nothing else, he was a wonderful inspiration to anyone considering a post-retirement career.

Today is the beginning of our long weekend. My goal it to finish the rest of the wood pile. It's supposed to be very hot again today, it's been quite humid the last few days, so I'll see how it is this afternoon. I'll have the whole day tomorrow and the morning on Saturday, at least. I still haven't heard yet if I'm working at the liquor store on Saturday or not. I suspect I'll find out today.

I baked butter tarts last night for dessert at our take out picnic at work today. I dropped some off at the VanGaal's on my way to work this morning. The work is progressing quite nicely on their back entranceway. I didn't know that Bernie had a sawmill. He's cut his own two by fours, and they look so much bigger than a store bought one, because they are actually two by four! I saw the window that's going into the door, and it's absolutely beautiful. It's going to be a really nice space, with lots of nice big windows. I can see a few cups of tea being consumed there!

Conditions at 7:00 am - 18* and sunny
Expected later - 26* and suny!

My kitchen island will soon be a reality. I went into Home Depot yesterday and changed my mind on what cupboards I wanted to get. I found out that the base cabinets I've ordered don't have drawers so instead I've changed one of the 30" bases to two 15 inch banks of drawers. That will give me much more functionality in that space. I'm really excited about them coming in next week. The best part is they come already assembled, so all Lloyd will have to do is put the counter top on when he gets here with it.

I talked to him yesterday and he and Jim are due to arrive Friday, September 3rd, after spending two nights on the road - the first with Stephan and Trish in Brockville and the second in Montreal. Then they will be leaving on Tuesday to go back home. I will be working at Honda on the Saturday but I'll be home the rest of the weekend and off on Monday. Right now I'm working on the list of food we'll have while they're here. I'm planning to make another batch of Brenda's bread this weekend but I'm going to bake it before I freeze it. My last batch was a bit of an experiment and it didn't work well, just freezing the dough. It doesn't seem to rise after it's been frozen, but I have no idea why, as I've bought frozen dough at the store and it works fine. Perhaps it's because it doesn't have all the chemicals that the store stuff does. Not to worry, the frozen dough works well for pizza dough, so it won't go to waste.
I was just looking at the Fall Flavours schedule and there's a Chef Michael signature event on the 3rd but I don't know if they'll get here in time. I'll have to find out - it's a lobster dinner that I'm sure they'd both enjoy. There's so much going on this year, it's hard to choose from them all.

I just checked my email this morning and there's a chance to work two shifts ( 12 to 4, and 4:30 to 8:30) at the liquor store in Stratford on Saturday. Chris apologied profusely for the short notice but the liquor store just contacted them with this opening. It's totally at the discretion of the PEI Liqour Commission. So I emailed him back and I'm waiting to hear if I get it or not.

Today, after work, I have an appointment at 5:00 to look inside the church. I called Moveall again yesterday, as I haven't heard back from them, and the lady I spoke with told me that yes, they have had a preliminary look and are still thinking about it. She says they'll get back to me with a price soon. It's the island way, just be patient! In the meantime, I can still fantasize.

Sea Heather

Conditions at 7:00 - overcast and 14*
Expected later - possible rain and a high of 23*


Last night I was introduced to the wonder that is Sea Heather. What a lovely little flower. It looks a lot like baby's breathe, and now that I think of it, I'm sure I've seen something like it in flower baskets before. It's very pretty and grows wild along the edge of the river. On the weekend Brenda had mentioned that it flowers around the middle of August and that we needed to check it out. So last night she called and suggested we start some walking and head down Hickey's Wharf road in search of Sea Heather. We both came back carrying great bouquets.

When I got home from work, I started in splitting wood. I've finally finished the first pile, the larger of the two. I can now honestly say that the pile to be done is smaller than the pile that still needs to be done. It's a slow process but it's going well. Only a couple of bruises from logs falling off the back of the truck and hitting me in the leg. Hazards of the job I suppose. I'll be glad when it's done but there is a certain satisfaction at seeing the rows grow in numbers. It's tangible proof of what I've been doing all summer. No, it hasn't ALL been fun and games!

I've decided that I want to put a more permanent island in my kitchen. So long story short, Lloyd is picking up a piece of butcher block counter top for me when he drives down in September and I've ordered a couple of kitchen cabinets to put in the centre of the floor. It will give me a little more cupboard space and it will be much easier to sweep around. It will also be very functional counter space. I do need room at the end for a stool to sit under, as that's Brenda's spot. I'm very excited about this little project. The back of the cupboards will be facing the door so I'm going to put a piece of the same beaded board on there that's on the rest of the kitchen walls. I think it will be a great addition to my kitchen. Then my next big project for the kitchen will be the second stove. I now know it will fit and I'll still actually be able to use the cupboards beside it, although eventually they may be moved. I'll wait till after I've caught up a little bit from getting the chimney fixed. Once the island is in, and the stove is in, it will pretty much be the kitchen that I really wanted. It doesn't have to be big and fancy, just have a big stove and an island.

I have a very sad tale to tell. On Saturday morning when I was splitting wood, I'd picked up a piece of wood off the ground, and hadn't noticed that there was a tiny newborn animal of some kind under it. It was a little later that I noticed it and it was lying in the dirt baking in the sun. I assumed it was dead until I touched it and it moved. So I picked it up and took it into the house and put it into a small container with nice soft kleenex underneath. I warmed some milk and was actually able to get a couple of drops into it's wee little mouth. I have no idea what it was, it was too big for a mouse, but as Brenda suggested, it may have been a rat. It was too small for a rabbit and it did have a tail. I suppose it could have been a mole as well. I took a picture of it with a quarter beside it for a point of reference.

I knew it would probably die, as it was pretty dehydrated from it's brief time in the sun. It's paper thin hairless skin would lose moisture pretty quickly. Now I know most of you think I'm totally crazy for bringing something like that into the house, but I just couldn't knowingly leave it out there to bake to death in the sun. I figured it would die soon and it did later on in the evening. But I have comfort in knowing that at least it was in a comfy place when it died.

Does it get any more perfect that this?

Conditions at 7:00 am - 15* and sunny
Expected later - sunny and 25*

What a wonderful weekend it was! The weather was absolutely perfect, the bugs were down in numbers, and we just had so much fun!
Actually we got the weekend off to a great start on Friday night. Brenda came over and we watched a movie and enjoyed an adult beverage while doing it. I made a cake for our dessert but unfortunately it didn't turn out as sponge like as it was meant to. Let's just say we gave pound cake a new meaning - I'm sure each small piece weighed at least a pound! It tasted okay, but it was horribly heavy. However, we still ate it. I do have to make that one again, but figure out what went wrong first. (oh well, I guess they can't all be brilliant)

Saturday morning I got up early and got right into splitting and stacking wood. I worked from 8:30 to 12:30. By then it was very hot and I was exhausted. So I went inside, had a snack and then headed back outside to cut the grass in the back yard. I'd done the front and side earlier in the week and just had the patch in the back with the trees (the most time consuming one to do).

By the time I'd finished that, I had time to go and soak in a nice hot bath, and get ready to help out at the rec centre. There was a wedding on Saturday and the bridal party had previously called Brenda to ask permission to take the pictures beside her sun flowers. It would be lovely to see how they turn out.

It was a small wedding, only 102 people, and we were all done and enjoying our final drink a little after 9:00. Brenda stayed to visit with people as it was a local wedding, and she knew a lot of people there, but I went home. I was totally beat. It occurred to me that I hadn't split any wood in two weeks and I was pitifully out of shape. But a good nights sleep works wonders!

Sunday morning dawned a little overcast with a light breeze. We had decided on Saturday night that if Sunday was the same weather as Saturday, we would probably do a beach day, just to say we've done that for this year. But it didn't seem that way early on in the morning. So we decided to load up the kayaks and also take our bathing suits, and then decide later what we wanted to do.

ut first, we went to Tracadie where the Lions Club hosts a Sunday morning breakfast every Sunday from 11:00 to 12:30. What a great meal! For $6.00 each, we had pancakes, sausages, (and LLOYD - two types of beans!), plus fruit, veggies and dip, biscuits and jam, pita breads and dip, as well as several loaf cakes. Add coffee or tea, and juice and it was a wonderful brunch. We sat at a table with some folks from Halifax and chatted with them before heading out.


By now it was sunny and getting warmer so we went up to Morrell and put in at the bridge, and headed out to St. Peter's Bay. It's quite a lengthy paddle from the bridge to the mouth of the bay but we made it. We pulled the boats up onto the shore and found a lovely sunny, dry spot on this HUGE beach, to park ourselves. I brought along our picnic backpack, much to Brenda's delight! Inside is dishes, wine glasses,etc and a bottle of VEX hard pink lemonade that I'd put in the freezer the night before. By the time we got to it, it was just slushy so it was lovely and cold and refreshing. We enjoyed that with some nacho chips and dip that I'd brought. After eating, we actually went into the water. It was chilly at first but once you got in, it was great. I'll have to show Patti how to get there as the kids would really enjoy that particular beach.

On our way back to where we had beached the boats, we walked out a long way on a sand bar that was just below the surface of the water. When we were walking back, we went a different direction and all of a sudden I was in weeds. I have a real phobia about walking in weeds in the water so I started swimming over them instead. That was almost as creepy but at least I was able to do it. What we didn't know is that it suddenly dropped off in one spot. I went to stand up when I got to the shore and I had to really pull myself out of the water on this steep part of the beach. At the same time, Brenda was walking and suddenly found herself in deep water as well. Good thing she was wearing her life jacket and she was able to swim with one hand as she was holding her camera up out of the water to keep it from getting wet . What a sight we would have made had anyone been watching! I clawed my way out of the water and then grabbed the camera from Brenda so she could get out, as you really needed two hands to pull yourself out. What an experience and we laughed about it all the way back to the boats.

Then it was time to paddle back. By the time we got to Morell, the bridge was a very welcome sight. We were both pretty tired. We packed up our stuff, loaded the boats and then headed home. We stopped at a farm gate to pick up some potatoes and yellow beans and headed home. Brenda dropped me off and went home to shower and put her boat away, then came back and we had a simple supper of BBQ turkey thighs, (that had been slightly smoked with apple wood chips I'd picked up at Sobey's) It was an experiment but it worked pretty well. There was a slight smokey taste but not overpowering. I used a melon baller to cut small balls out of the new potatoes and boiled them till just done, then tossed them in some butter and fresh herbs - chives and basil from my yard. The yellow beans were so lovely and fresh - you could tell they had just been picked that day. They were so good. I really need to have a garden next year.

But that depends on how busy I am next year. I'm still absolutely of stuck on this whole church idea. Brenda said to me at breakfast, "when you get an idea in your head, you stick with it" I told her it's more like it festers in my mind. It gets stuck in there and I can't seem to shake it. The idea has grown in many ways and I'm really going to have to start writing down all the thoughts that are rolling around in my mind. I suggested to Brenda that her job is to try to talk me out of it. She replied that she's learned through the years to just let the person ramble on and eventually the idea will just die a natural death. No idea where she would get that experience! We'll see how far this one goes.

Just a quick note to welcome Mike and Carol. They are old friends from Fergus, who owned the best pub in the world (or at least OUR world). It was a wonderful place where we always felt so welcome. We didn't get there as often after we moved to Guelph but when we did go we were always welcomed with hugs from both the bartender and the server! We both have such fond memories of our times there and the many great people we met over the years. Now Mike and Carol are retired and have taken on some new projects. I got a lovely email from Carol this morning and found out she's doing the very same thing I'm doing, so family can keep track of what they are up to. I can't wait to log onto her blog, with a glass of wine, and catch up with them, much as she will do with mine. I have this image of the two of us, in two different parts of the country, sipping a glass of wine and reading about each others everyday lives, and catching up (only difference is, hers will be white, mine will be red!). It's not as good a doing it in person, but it will do for now. They hope to visit the island next year and I'm really looking forward to sharing our new life with them and hearing all about theirs.

Finally, something full time.

Conditions at 7:00 - sunny and 12*
Expected later - sunny and 24* - and more of the same for the weekend!

Yesterday was a banner day for jobs! I was flipping through the paper yesterday when I came upon an ad for a downtown hotel that was looking for an Administrative Assistant, so just to cover all my bases, I emailed off a resume when I got to work.

I also went online and noticed that the Old Triangle is looking for 4 full time servers. I know the pay might not be so great but tips can really top that up, so I chatted with Sarah about that one, as she works there part time.

Later in the afternoon, I got the call from Capital Honda offering me the job there. I've still not heard yet from Invesco, but I think the Honda job is a better fit for me. It's longer hours than Invesco but the same money in the end. So I was ever so happy to say yes. Then a few minutes later I got an email from the hotel I applied to in the morning:

"Hi Sandy,

When is your term finished at UPEI? Are you interested in a full time year round line cook position?
Tanya"

Needless to say, I emailed back and told I'd already accepted an offer from somewhere else so please take me off the list, but thank you very much.

Finally things are starting to fall into place. It's been a little frustrating to apply for all kinds of jobs and not get an interview. Looks like things are okay now.

Rosie came in to congratulate me, after Tracey sent out an email to the department (she already knew about it, as they had called for a reference). Apparently Rosie has a new Honda so I told her I'd be the one greeting her when she comes in and the one driving her to work. She said oh, you've got the owners's daughters job. She knows the family quite well and and says they're really nice. The daughter is going back to university, so that's my good fortune.

Last night Brenda and I went up to St. Peter's to the Courthouse Theatre to see The Village Idiot. It was quite good, and what a cute little venue. I think it holds about 80 people and they were turning people away at the door as they were full. We thought we'd gotten there a bit too early, but in the end it turned out to be a good decision. We had supper at Rick's and Brenda's cousin and his family arrived for supper as well. Popular place, Rick's.

After the play, we came back to my house and sat outside wrapped in blankets and had tea and watched for meteors. It was quite chilly but the sky was wonderfully clear. We saw some, but I hear on the radio this morning that tonight will be better. so I may have to stay up late again tonight.

It's almost the weekend, again!

Conditions at 7:00 am - sunny and 13*
Expected later - mix of sun and cloud and 21*


It's amazing how short the week is when you have Monday off! I can't believe it's Thursday already. But part of that is because I've been busy and it just keeps on going. Yesterday Brenda called to tell me she had acquired tickets to see "Sexy Laundry" at the Confed Centre for last night, and was I interested in going. We are both VERY flexible, and able to drop everything (well, most things) and go, so off we went. It was quite fun and we topped the evening off with coffee/tea and dessert at the Pilot House.

Tonight we're going to St. Peter's for "The Village Idiot", after we have supper at Rick's Fish and Chips in St. Peter's. And the fun just continues!



When we were first designing the house we were going to build, I wanted a large stove with two ovens. The only trouble is they cost an arm and two legs. On the weekend I had a brainwave. Why can't I just buy another one identical to the one I already have and put the two side by side? It would be the same effect. I'd have all the features of the double size without the price. The back panel might not be as high tech looking but it would totally work, especially in the stainless steel. Yesterday I called the folks who did the gas work on my stove to install it, and they said it would be no problem to run both off the same connection. Then it would truly be the kitchen of my dreams! I'd only lose one tiny cabinet and half of another one. Eventually the counter top will need replacing and at that time, we can slightly reconfigure the corner so it all fits snugly. I think it's a brilliant idea. The number of times I'm cooking more than one thing at a time and you need two different oven temperatures, would totally make it worth it (okay, in MY mind it would).

Yesterday morning I was sitting at my desk and the phone rang and it was a lady calling from the Superstore. She said she had some flowers to deliver and wanted to know what building to bring them to. I asked her who they were for and she said they were for me! I thought that was a little odd, but I told her where to bring them. A little while later, a lady arrived with a lovely basket with a fresh flower arrangement in it. There were roses, gerber daisy's and various other red and white flowers. They are beautiful. Turns out they were from Nancy. That was so totally not necessary, but what a lovely surprise.

Speaking of flowers, I stopped on my way to Brenda's last night and took some photos of her sunflowers. They are absolutely gorgeous right now. She says that someone stopped in and wanted to know if they could come there and take their wedding pictures. What a lovely and unusual background that will make.

Someone just came in to the coffee shop and reminded us that tonight around midnight there is going to be a meteor shower. One of the regular customers is apparently taking some sort of tour out on a boat to watch it. I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay awake long enough but if it's a clear night, it should be spectacular out in the country. If it's not cloudy, I'll try my best to wait up.