Waiting for Bill.

Hmmm, let me think now.....Wednesday night, the rain came down in sheets. Worse I've seen in a long time. Thunder and lightening as well which I thought was wonderful. Very energizing. The power went for a few seconds but that was it. It continued through the night and there was one clap of thunder that made me jump a foot off the bed and woke me up for a few minutes.

Thursday morning on getting up I saw that there had been a leak in the roof over the chesterfield. There was a big wet spot on one of the cushions. We had planned on leaving for Gander at 7:00 am to pick up groceries, etc so couldn't see to the roof. Figured we'd do it when we came back home. We got back in the afternoon but figured we'd put off the roof business until this morning as rain wasn't in the forecast.

This morning after the sun got up we were on the roof, each with a container of roof patch, (a thick tar like substance), looking for what would be a tiny hole in the roof. Well, I don't know if we found it or not but we put the patch on anything that looked suspicious.

Himself has been following the weather reports for a couple of days. Bill is suppose to hit Saturday night and Sunday. He's convinced that the roof is going to be torn off and that we should get boards to cover the windows. Frankly, I think it will be calmed down some by the time it gets to us, if it gets to us at all.

Himself makes walking sticks, canes and spears. Here's his latest.


Busy Bee, notice the pollen all over his "furry coat."


One of the forever present Woodies.

Jay

Plant, Hosta

Teddies and Plant

So, I go into the bedroom for something and this is what I see on the bed. My teddies that are usually sitting in a chair are now in this position. I start to laugh and himself comes in and says, "This is how I plan to spend my birthday, me on my back and you rubbing my head." lol His birthday is next month this is why it's on his mind.


This morning I decided to pot up a plant that I had outside in a hanging basket of mixed plants. I was thinking earlier this summer that I might pot it up and try to grow it as a house plant. As it's starting to get colder here now I figured I might as well get it done. I don't know the name of the plant so if anyone can help there I'd appreciate it.

Having put it by itself in a new pot, I saw that the leaves were full of soil as the plant was wet and taking it out of one pot to put in another soil got all over the plant. So, I go inside to get the spray bottle. There was a little water in the bottom of the bottle so I just poured more water in with that. Went outside and sprayed the plant all over to get the soil off. Then I was getting a strong smell of bleach. It hit me, the last time I used the bottle was to spray the plastic chairs with bleach to clean them. So, the liquid in the bottom of the spray bottle was bleach. I immediately got a large container of water and poured over the plant. Will it live...I don't know. I have learned a lesson though. Check to see what's in a bottle before using it.


That's how my day started! It's overcast and wet but not as cool as yesterday. I had planned on making some cinnamon buns this morning but only have one egg and I need three. The chickens have hardly been laying at all. I don't know what the problem is. They are only about 3 years old and nothing has changed in their lives. Last year I was getting so many eggs that I was looking for people to give them to at times. So I'm hoping for two more eggs today and have already been out to give the chickens a good talking to, lol.

I hear that hurricane Bill is going to make it's way up the Eastern Seaboard. They figure Nova Scotia will be hit. They haven't mentioned us yet but these things are usually weakened by the time they arrive here.

Bear in the Garden!

Yesterday afternoon we were out for afternoon tea at a friends getting home around 6:00 pm. Some of the plants needed watering so after getting my pajamas on, yes pajamas, I felt like being comfortable, I turned on the hose and walked around watering. After finishing that, I was standing watching the chickens by the deck when I looked up and there was this huge black bear coming down towards me. I can't express how gorgeous he was and so very, very black. He looked very healthy with shiny fur. Nothing for it but to run for the camera. Raced by himself in the kitchen and saying in a whispering voice "There's a bear outside." Himself came out but held on to the handle of the door. Guess he felt safer and more in control by doing that. I took a few pictures but unfortunately they were very blurry. I believe it was caused by the low light and that the bear never stopped moving for a second. He was only here for a few minutes then went off into the woods.

I'm putting these pictures on only as "proof of the pudding" as the saying goes.

Dragonfly, at last!

I've been complaining about the lack of Dragonflies this summer as I was looking forward to getting lots of pictures. Alas, I'd only seen one and that just flew around for a short while then flew off. So, you can imagine my surprise when I saw one this morning.....where?....on one of the rafters in the kitchen. After taking the picture, we got a container, managed to get him in it and then let him go outside where he went flying off.


After supper last night I noticed a white egg sac on one of the tree branches so took a couple of macro shots feeling quite pleased with myself that I even noticed it. Then friends came by for coffee and as they were leaving I mentioned the egg sac and said "Come have a look, you may be able to ID it for me." The husband on close inspection, not that close mind you, says "It's a berry." I was dumbfounded. He was right, lol.

My daughter and grandson were here for most of this past week and it was so good to see them. We had a nice few days together and the weather co-operated for the most part. We met them coming back from the beach and I took this photo.


A few more pictures of odds and ends.
I went in the bedroom and looking down at the bed, this was the sight I saw. I thought it was so cute especially with the paw under the chin.


I caught this Chick a Dee eating the seeds on the Angelica. He was going through all sorts of contortions.





And the bees.



These flowers, and I can't think for the life of me what they're called, anyway they were given to me by the man who owns the greenhouses. He was going to throw them out as they were in very sad shape. He saw me there and said if I wanted them I could have them and that if anyone could get them to grow it was me, lol. So, I brought them home and planted them with little hope of seeing anything happening. So, a couple of days ago I see these lovely flowers in among other plants and am thinking "Where in the world did these come from", when it hit me that these were the ones given to me earlier this summer.

Flea Market Finds

Yesterday started off nicely with friends stopping by for coffee on their early morning walk. After that I decided to go to a nearby community and pick up some salad greens at the supermarket there. That done, himself wanted to drop into the Goodwill to see if there were any new books on the go. Standing up against the front of the shop were two wonderful straw brooms.


So, I bring them inside the shop and go up to the counter. The woman at the check out says "Going on a trip are you?" I cracked up at that point, lol. "Yes," I said, "Hallowe'en is not far off now". After paying for the brooms and turning to leave, she says "And if I see you by the moon?" "Wave" I said. I then see himself coming with a clock in his hands. The man is obsessed with clocks, telephones and purses (mens). "How much?" he asks. One dollar says the woman. It was a done deal.

If you open the front of the clock there is a hidden space for keys.


Then we heard about another flea market so took off for that. I ended up with Bees wax candles.


Two brass xmas stocking holders.


And himself bought a set of chinese men ornaments. The hand was broken on one so he got them for 50 cents.


All in all a good day. If all goes well my daughter and grandson will be arriving later today. Hopefully it will be warm and sunny. I'm off to get prepared. I've also sketched out some designs for fairy doors that I want to make so will have a look around for wood later this morning.

Another Week Gone by.

Starting last Saturday with a Lughnasa breakfast of homemade breads, jams and cheese to celebrate the grain harvest. I think that friends enjoyed themselves. Off to the library in the afternoon as they were having a book sale. Himself came away with two books and myself none.

Tuesday.....last week I bought an arbor with gates to separate one part of the garden from another. We had to put it together but managed it without a fuss. We did have a wooden one but it had rotted so figured this was the best way to go. It had been covered with vines so himself spent some time drawing on papers how to lift the vines off the old archway and get the new one in it's place and explaining to me how it would work. (The use of iron pipes as fulcrums.) To say I was starting to get just a little up tight at this point was putting it mildly. I said "For Gods sake man, it's only a matter of taking part of the old arch off and slipping the new one under." After some ranting and stomping around by myself, we saw that we would have to call a friend to help out as we really needed three sets of hands. Bless him, he was able to come and help and we managed to get it all sorted out. The vines look a bit limp but should perk up after they get over the shock of being pulled about.




By lunchtime we had to drive to the airport of pick up a friend who had flown in from Nova Scotia to spend a few days here. Had a very enjoyable visit and now it's Thursday and friend has left. Yesterday while cutting up vegetables for Bruchetta something happened to my shoulder and I could hardly move my head all day with out a great deal of pain. It's a little better today and hopefully will be much better by tomorrow.

Last evening we were watching a huge bird fly overhead. I thought it was an eagle as the head looked white but it was just the way the sun was shining on it. Someone said it was a large hawk. Anyway it went past. Not long after the pair of Pine Grosbecks were at one of the feeders when I noticed that had become as still as statues. Not a muscle or feather was moving for the longest time. Oh dear, I said that there must be a hawk very near and almost immediately the two birds took off as a large hawk swooped down and went over in the woods. I got the camera but couldn't find the hawk. Luckily he didn't catch one of the birds.

This afternoon, after resting most of the morning, I went and picked some black currants. The bush is laden down with berries. I'll freeze them and make some jam when I get a chance. A few pictures taken today.

Bee Balm.



Chicory.


Sea Holly. Another plant bees love.


Thistle.




Bug.

The Beach and Other Stuff

I spent the morning yesterday baking breads, soda bread, corn bread and truck stop cinnamon buns. The Seafest festivities were suppose to start a 1 o'clock so we went to the beach at 2:00. It was a bit of a disappointment as most things hadn't been set up by the look of it and hardly anyone there. A few people on the beach. We only stayed for a short time, I took a few pictures then returned home.

Last evening after supper I took the camera and went outside. The place was alive with bees and other creatures. The Motherwort, Thistle and Monkshood in particular were just full of them. I noticed that a few of the Delphiniums were falling over with the weight of the flowers so was tying them up to a stake when by my shoulder I saw something that was a fair size. Turned my head to see as at this point the flowers were over my shoulders and there was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. I was shaking with excitement. It was mad for the Delphiniums so I was taking pictures and following it across the garden to more Delphs and back again to the other ones. Heaven only knows how many pictures I took then came rushing in the house yelling out that if I got one good photo I'd be happy. Himself says "Who are you talking to?" "Just talking out loud to myself," says I. Well, I didn't get one, not one presentable photo. All blurry! What a disappointment. The moth was just moving too fast.

I did however get a few shots of this flutter. Looks to me like a Silver Bordered Fritillary.




A couple of other bugs about.



Bug collector.



Some uninteresting pictures on the beach. Maybe it will be better today although it's calling for showers.