Gramma Camp – Tuesday

 In the early morning, Grampa went walkies. I did not. About 9:30 I checked on the girls. They were stirring. There was breakfast, reading, and some artwork. An overcast day all day. 

Isabelle did Dazzle Dotz. Jos was on the back deck sketching. 

     "It looks dark, Jos!" 

     "Just sprinkly!"

They went shopping with grampa. There was NO ground beef for meatloaf at the store, or bacon, only ground pork. Poor Grampa went back into town to the butcher and brought home both.

While they were occupied, I worked on some weeds. Also, the pond pump, which was working after it cooled off. It must have overheated.

 I have lost the top of the protective box (on the right in the photo, below), however, in the bottom of the mud and dead leaves in the pond. I fetched a towel, lay on my stomach, and fished around in the bottom. I couldn't find it. I was using a trailcam buckle to keep it together and I should have kept using it! I will look for it later.

I decided to pull out the fridges and clean them. Having cleaned the top, then the sides. It was a bit of how one thing leads to another. You know how that goes. I ended up having to clean behind them.

Gramma's famous meatloaf was had for dinner, with fruit pies for dessert. This was followed by running the dishwasher, and the end of Ghostbusters, and two young ladies had showers!

We had lots of great chats about school, Isabelle goes into gr. 7, and Josephine gr. 10. 

Grandies Easter Visit – Part 2

We got so much done a week ago Saturday, April 9th. (See this post!) Caitlin moved the snow blower to the shed. We moved the tree back there, and I finally remembered to bring in the lawn tractor battery. I should have done this in the fall. It'll need a good recharge.

We had an Easter dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli/carrots. Dessert was an apple pie/crumble. Caitlin's MIL is visiting next week, so we planned ahead. COVID numbers have been up, at least in the high-risk population, and with OCDSB electing to keep masking, we thought we were okay last week. 

Jos wrote Easter Dinner for us!

 Sunday, April 10th, was fun, as well!

The girls did some art work in the Muskoka Room. It was cold! I loaned them both warm hoodies. While they waited for the base coat to dry, I brought them a blanket! 

Isabelle did a painting, Jos painted her light switch cover. Isabelle outlined the painting with painter's tape. Clean, crisp edges!

Last week I did a really good wash of our fridges. I asked the girls if they wanted to put the magnets back on! 

They dressed for dinner on Saturday, wearing their new jumpsuits! (They are Winners!) They are about 5'4" now. My height! They like to lord it over me! 🤣

I wanted to rehang my music staff above the piano. I noticed that the loon print, hanging there for ages, was a gift we gave to my mom. It's pretty faded. Time for a change! 

It was a challenge, and Caitlin brought their stud finder. That helped. It took two people to hold it, and we had to drag the piano out from the wall.

Isabelle took the camera this time. She was photographing Nutmeg, who was supervising Grampa during his workout.

The kids went to Universal Studios during March Break. They brought back a snazzy cap for JB. For me, as requested, they brought me back a visor I will use when gardening and/or working outdoors.

For lunch, Isabelle and I made Eggs in a cloud  <= there is the recipe link. It was quite nice. A piece of bread, with beaten eggs on top, drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. 

One reserves the yolks until after the first bake.

Then, add the yolks and bake another 7 minutes. They were a fun Easter lunch. In hindsight, the well should have been larger, and I should have taken it down to the bread. The whites rose some. All but one, the yolk dripped off the edge.

While we waited for the egg clouds during the first bake, Isabelle took photos. She said, 

"The camera loves you, darling!" They are such a joy to be around.

Percy is watching!

I think this is still Nutmeg!

🐻SNUGGLE Bears

Grampa arranged the stuffies for Easter.

On our Chromecast , we watched Jos' band play on the TV: “It’s NOT a Concert” Concert II Intro - YouTube. Then, we watched some of the Twitter Buitengebieden videos. They are heartwarming animal videos. Just delightful.

It's a symbolic time of year, Passover, Ramadan, as well. 

Repainting and Butch

My goal has been to sand and repaint our exterior framing. After 30 years, and who knows how many layers of paint, it was time. I've been thinking about this task for a year, at least. I'm hoping to be getting out of my funk, but setting and achieving goals has been tough. That, and making decisions. I hope the worst is over, for now. Family have been wonderful. I thank you all for putting up with me.

The garage door was new in 2014 (There goes the family fortune, kids!) Later, there was a backing up incident, when I took out the bottom panel. That was repaired. I was so dumb! I couldn't see it in the rear view mirror, it hadn't quite gone all the way up.

The electric sander is heavy, so I spaced this project out over a couple of days. I was ready to repaint Tuesday, June 1st, but we'd rain on the way. By the afternoon, no rain, only drought. Having washed the door, and let it dry, I was good to go.

You can see the new interior frame didn't cover the old framing space width, and it has always bothered me. In hindsight I could have used primer, but I ordered a gallon of paint. I used three or four coats, I lost track.  

I'd been sanding the frame around the garage door, I closed the door to keep the dust out. I had the door clicker outside with me, as I'd taped the keypad in prep for paint. JB was in town. I opened it up, to put my tools in, when I spotted Blond Butch. I knew she'd figured out the bird seed can. They have a good sense of smell.

Cinnamon came to inspect. He wasn't too worried.

There were two raccoons later on in the day. I was amazed as it hauled itself up into the can. 

This is why I got rid of the cracked corn down at the pond. Maybe I should lock this in the shed, although the mice get in, then! Garage Butch 

Just for good measure, Butch took out Peter. I bought Peter in an auction. He did a face plant, and lost his wheelbarrow, as well as some fingers. I Crazy Glued them, and got more on MY fingers than his. I am not confident that his little fingers hold up his wheelbarrow. 

After this damage, Butch tried to chew a hole in my fertilizer jug. 

Lest you think it stopped there, it did not.

I was sitting on the back deck, watching the crows. Along came Blond Butch.

 

Butch in the backyard from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Then they were in the front. I could see Butch staring at Cinnamon, who was still standing on the bird bath!

Cinnamon couldn't believe it!

Butch visited the butterfly, again.

Butch in the front yard from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch decided it might be fun to explore the back deck. Next, I heard Nutmeg growling at the door. Sure enough, Butch.
 

Butch on the deck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

BTW

I've had to ice my hand, as I hadn't used my painting muscles in a long time! It's so fun getting old.

I did some painting!

Paint night with Anna-Lisa! It was at the Perth Legion. What a fun time. I was a bit worried about being in such a large group, but I did OK.

Yes, my friend tells me, 'trust you to be different.' This is what Anna-Lisa said, to make it our own. I taught elementary art, as part of my integrated curriculum, for 25 years. My kids were encouraged to do their own thing. None of my student's art looked the same.


The woman with the lovely sunset colours is an actual artist.


I finished it off at home, on the back deck, with some sharpies! Nebuchadnezzar is featured prominently. My daughter gave me something she painted at a similar event in 2013.

Paint Party Friday!