House in Tip Top Shape!

Just waiting for our guests and the man who will make the template for our counter tops to arrive! Also on the radio, it was announced that we might have wet flurries this morning. Our summer was late, fall finally arrived last week, and now we're looking winter in the eye. But I'd rather have that than the the record breaking temperatures, fires and floods the rest of North America has experienced this year.

Been Cleaning,

And cleaning. Wow, can I say it? A woman's work is never done! For the most part, I'm just about finished.

Rainy Sunday!

I guess all days can't be sunny and warm. Today's temp is about 60F degrees. Trees are starting to get color and some leaves are rapidly falling to the ground. That will keep Bruce busy until the trees are bare.

Smoky tried to race in the back door this morning with a live chippie in his mouth. I did my best to discourage him so that he would drop it, but I don't think that worked. The next time the truck is moved, we'll find what's left of the poor critter. It's not as if Smoky doesn't get his treaters - tuna and kitty snacks. That's in addition to his regular food.

Busy with my fall house cleaning - we have relatives visiting on Wednesday - it's been awhile since we've seen them, so it will be fun catching up.

Also on Wednesday - a representative from the company doing our countertops will be here around noon to create a template then should be back in a few days to install the counters. At that time, we will have to make the decision on the tiled backsplash - should we get a pro or should Bruce and I do it??? Right now, I'm thinking we can do it! How hard can it be?????? Famous last words, right?

Finally Catching Up!

No need to repeat that we had a great time on our vacation. Our first night was spent at the sportsmen's club in our trailer - no electricity or fresh water. We just about froze! But in the morning, we got up, dressed, and headed to Wilbraham for a new tire. Once that was on, we programmed the GPS for Plymouth, then West Yarmouth. I had wanted to see a cranberry bog ready for harvesting, but found out later we were much too early for that. In Plymouth, we did the usual - walked around sightseeing!

Our next destination was to stop along the Cape Cod Canal and take pictures - which we did. Over the Sagamore Bridge - the cars trying to get off the Cape were backed up over four miles. I guess bridge work had been delayed over the summer and was now in full progress. We made a mental note to leave the Cape by the way of the Bourne Bridge.

In Yarmouth, we found the motel we had picked out - one that had special rates after Labor Day and wireless internet. The woman in the office told us that all their rooms were booked by seniors participating in a Seniors Softball League! Now at a lost as to where to go, we found another motel - no wireless and they didn't have the 'special rate' that we had been looking for. But by then we were ready to relax and unpack, so we took it.

For dinner, we sought out Spanky's Clam Shack - I had my whole lobster accompanied by fresh corn. The next day - I saw other restaurants advertising twin lobsters for the same price I had paid for one. Darn - I hate when that happens!!!

The next day we drove along the bay side of the Cape - stopping here and there to take pictures. We finally ended up in Truro - then turned and headed to Chatham. In the evening, we went to the Yarmouth House for dinner. We've always had great food there, and this night was no exception.

The next morning, we headed back to Granby where our trailer was parked. On Saturday, the club held it's annual picnic - hamburgers, hotdogs, and fresh corn. I lost track of how many ears of corn my sister, nephew and I ate - anyway, it was a lot.

On Monday, we hooked up the trailer and went the back way to Saratoga Springs. By the back way I mean through Vermont. The full day we were there, we found a brochure on a self-guided tour of the city's springs. We had an empty water bottle so were able to sample the ones we found. Some waters were pretty good, some pretty bad.

It was a fun vacation, but we were happy to head home on Wednesday!

Friday!

I found another way to post pictures - so much easier to upload. But then I had trouble getting the uploaded pictures onto my blog. But the Cape Cod pictures are now there in an album. Tomorrow I'll try the others - hopefully, I'll remember how to do it.

Home After 10 Days of Vacation!

Trying to get organized - lots of laudry, pictures to sort out, etc. Hopefully, I'll be able to upload some of those photos tomorrow. I have pictures of Cape Cod, Granby, and Saratoga Springs.

Vacation Starts Tomorrow!

I hope I don't forget anything. I don't keep a list of what to take, I figure that I've gone through this routine so many times, it should all be remembered.

Today's activities - finish putting clothes in the trailer, whatever food items we'll be taking - then hook the trailer up to the truck. We also have to program the DVR to catch any TV shows we will miss. Busy day!

Getting Ready to Head to Massachusetts!!

Truck and trailer are ready! I started stacking my clothes and planning what to bring - and have most of it in the trailer. Really don't know what the weather will be like next week or the week after that, so I have shorts, t-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts. I think that covers all temperatures! Just hope it doesn't rain - our vacations always seem to attract the rain.

Cape Cod! Here we come! I want lobster and lobster and lobster. Maybe some scallops thrown in would be nice. Or maybe some clams on the half shell or steamers - those are always good.

Gorgeous Day!

Update on Orange Cat!

A few nights ago, Bruce noticed OC walking across our neighbor's backyard. Smoky was already into his stalking mode. Suddenly he raced across the street, then Bruce heard screeching in back of our neighbor's garage. I guess OC and Smoky aren't friends after all. I gave Smoky about an hour before I went to the back door to see if he was there - no Smoky! Around ten, I called him again and noticed a dark shadow hurrying up the driveway. He didn't seem to have any wounds - so I'm assuming he must have been the winner. Smoky is still King of the Neighborhood!!

Yesterday . . .

We drove to Home Depot to pick up our new sink. On the way, we passed the stadium where the Ottawa Senators play hockey.

While we were in the store, Bruce had an itch on his upper, inner thigh! YIKES! He scratched it and dug out a piece of his hide - as he continued to walk down an aisle, blood was dripping down his leg (and he had shorts on). This wound refused to stop bleeding. Finally, as we stood in front of the Service Desk, I gave him a tissue and there was a roll of green masking tape on the counter - so we made a make-shift bandage for him. He pulled his shorts down a little so that they would cover the green tape.

After getting our sink, we went to lunch - Kelsey's. Seems we've been eating out a lot lately. I ended up bringing half of my sandwich home - always nice to have something to nibble on later. I also had squash soup which was pretty tasty.

Later in the afternoon . . .

We went to the local fair - we were going to go later in the evening to watch the Stampeders perform, but at the last minute decided to go earlier.

Mid-Week!

Bruce was able to fix the motorcycle so yesterday we took a ride to Perth which is about 60 miles from us. Although I brought my camera along, I didn't take any pictures. The ride was just more road and trees. Some foliage is starting to turn, so maybe in a couple of weeks - I'll have more incentive to take pictures. And the reason for our ride? To visit an old friend!

When we got home, there was a message from Home Depot about my counter top order. They can't make the counter in the finish I want! Well, that sent me in a tizzy. I pulled out all my samples and looked for the finishes they suggested as a replacement. I decided on one and sent an email off this morning with my newest selection. Got my fingers crossed that I will like it when it's a large surface instead of a sample that's about a 1-1/2" x 2" chip.

Also the other day, Bruce snapped some pictures of Orange Cat who is either Smoky's arch enemy or his girlfriend! But the cat isn't as handsome as our Smoky!!!

Oh No!

This morning, plans were to go for a bike ride. Weather has been beautiful and it is supposed to be that way for a few more days. Before we left, I put a rack of ribs in the oven drawer and off we went - loaded down with our cameras. Along Opeongo Road, we stopped on Goldenrod Hill to take pictures of the valley.















After a few pictures, we jumped back on the bike, ready to continue our ride to 'parts unknown.' The only problem with that, the bike wouldn't start. I checked my cellphone, yes - we had bars - lots of bars, so I felt confident that we wouldn't have to push the bike all the way home. Thank goodness Bruce spotted a battery cable that had lost its bolt. He quickly connected it, then - instead of heading to those unknown roads, we headed straight home. Our much anticipated ride was finished.

Road back home . . .


















And we're still working on getting that perfect moon shot. Last night's attempts weren't great.

Another Try . . .

At capturing pictures of the moon. The images were much better than last month's full moon, but I think we can do better. Tonight we'll try again.

Week is Flying By!

Yesterday, Bruce attached an awning clamp on the trailer - a little preventative maintenance. Our vacation plans are starting to come together - September 14, we'll be heading for Massachusetts.









Our crop of sunflowers is still looking good.

We tried taking a picture of the moon last night with Bruce's camera and zoom lens. It wasn't quite a full moon - that will occur on the 4th. We were unsuccessful, again! Something is wrong - I'm thinking the moon is much too bright and we'd be better off if we tried maybe a half or quarter moon.

Kitchen Project Underway!

Yesterday we drove into Ottawa to finalize the paperwork for our new kitchen counters. I almost thought we'd have to cancel the Blanco sink we had ordered because Home Depot doesn't punch out the faucet holes any more - reason, the sink might crack. We didn't want the responsibility of doing the holes ourselves, so we were ready to pick out a replacement. However after a call to Blanco, they agreed to punch out the holes at no extra cost. We had said we'd cancel the order if this wasn't going to be done - maybe that is why they agreed to do it!

We then drove to Centura to look at tiles for the backsplash - walking into the store was overwhelming, but I think I have found the tile and color I can live with. It's the one at the bottom of the picture (the plain tile).











After a stop at a Chinese buffet (YUM), we headed home with tummies full. Did I mention I had a huge dish of desserts?