FRIDAY JULY 31st, 2015

Hello sunshine ... 

here's the front look of the cottage with new gutters and porch. Done! Awesome! We both love it when a plan comes together, and even better than expected. 

So, we needed a new "project" and off to Home Depot, Mark's favorite store, we went. Our kitchen is lacking a backsplash! Since that room was gutted to the roof in 2010 and then rebuilt by our Guatamalen pals Edgar and Edwin and then Lowes, we have been "thinking" about the backsplash. Ideas of fancy tiles came and went. The cottage idea just sits well with us; so wainscoting-beadboard style is it, but with a twist. It'll be a gold metallic finish. But, we were both worn out from our excursion ... so had lunch and watched Telly. 

Sue phoned about 1 o'clock to check on our recovery progress. She and Wayne had spent the evening in Winnipeg with Les and Lynne. 

Les, Lynne, Wayne and Sue had dinner at the Royal Manitoba Yacht Club. (Many happy years of membership were enjoyed there prior to moving to Florida.)

Fairbanks Construction arrived about 10 o'clock this morning to finish the repair job on our sunroom roof. Their service has been excellent, and we would (still) highly recommend them. They installed our sunroom about 2006. No charge for the repair! Wow. 

After Robbie ate dinner tonight, Mark hollered at me "Robbie threw up!!!" Well, concerned, I came out of the bedroom to see and stepped right in it!!! Yuck. Mark had to laugh. What a sick bunch this week!!! 

This evening, Mark and I went to Stavros for supper. Apparently we don't have much of our old appetites. We brought home enough leftovers for tomorrow. LOL. It was sure good to get out for an hour! We came home, poured a glass of wine and tried to sit on our front porch. It was just too muggy! Mark called me "sweaty hot pants". LOL 

We came inside with our wine and played with Robbie for a while. I hope your Friday was fun!

THURSDAY JULY 30, 2015

Good morning sunshine! It was nice to see a glowing Livingroom when I got up! Both Mark and I are feeling better ... so far so good. This pneumonia sure makes one exhausted. Enough!

We had two eBay sales overnight. A pair of sterling silver vintage earrings for $6.50 and a velvet top for $10.50. That was worth packaging and driving to the post office with. 

Simplex phoned today ... they're putting up the new rain gutters on the front of the house. This officially finishes the job. I shall post a picture the next time the sun is on the front of the house! Maybe later, you never know, as 60% rain is forecast by 4 o'clock! 

Today is Mark's doctor appointment. I hope all goes well and that he hasn't caught what I have! We love to share. LOL 

Robbie had a blast last night with a squeaky ball his Aunt Sue gave him last Christmas. Poor Mark had a headache but he put up with the racket ... for a long time!

Here's Robbie-Dog (as Linda used to say) telepathically making me get his toy!  

Guess whose message got through! Haha. "Now fetch it Mom!!!"

Well, I got heck from Dr. Young for being "out"! LOL. Mark got taken care of ... he has a sinus infection affecting his ears. WHAT???  Haha. Three or four medications later ... he'll survive. We ALL have issues this week ... even Robbie; with an eye infection. 

So that's it for now. It's 7:30 and TV:30. Ta ta. 

 

WEDNESDAY JULY 29, 2015

Good morning sunshine! I was soaked from humidity just walking outside to freshen seed and water for the song birds. We can't recall as long a stretch of daily rain in years! The pontoon boat is sitting deck level to the boathouse floor, again. Awesome! 

Mark and I had a coughing competition all night long. Haha. The new antibiotics are loosening things up and knocking it out of me. (A side effect of the meds are ruptured tendons!) I don't think Mark's cure of plenty of Scotch poured down his throat helped in the long run, hahaha, but he definitely felt better while undergoing treatment. Tomorrow, it's Dr. Young's office for him ... meanwhile, a laid-back day is planned. 

Is that you, Obi Wan Kenobi??? Florida sky-scapes are gorgeous ... 

Have you followed the story of two missing 14 year olds from Florida? They took a 19' boat (with parental permission) fishing last Thursday. Last seen buying $118 in fuel and leaving Jupiter Inlet for the Bahamas. Their overturned boat was found 3 days later, 64 miles from shore, but no evidence of them. 

After a chicken soup lunch, we all settled in for an afternoon of TV ... not very exciting, but doc's orders were "Don't do ANYTHING!" We watched "Battle: Los Angeles" ... it had the cleft chin hunk, big teeth woman, precocious kid and lots of camera jiggling and noise. Whatever! LOL. Robbie didn't like the new popcorn,

(from Pop Secret Movie Theatre Butter to Orville Redenbacker). Blah, he says! LOL

Randy called about 5 o'clock ... ready for tomorrow's trip to see the Cincinnati Reds with pal Dan. Dawn will be busy working ... but we'll be around if she wants some company. 

Sue and Wayne had a rainy day at the lake ...

so it's back to basics with a jigsaw puzzle. Julius is feeling better with pain meds from the vet. He may have twisted wrong when he fell last week. 

After the movie, Mark went to putter outside but came in very soon. More storms are threatening. Me, I made a little grape number; a bracelet and earrings. 

So, that was our day! 

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2015

Good morning. Where is our sunshine? 

We had an eBay sale overnight, an Ocean Jasper necklace set that originally sold for $45 ... I let it go for $12.05 plus shipping. Yikes ... I must have been sleepwalking. LOL. 

My plans today include seeing Dr. Young ... and whatever else the day brings. I'd like to go bowling, but Mark is having an allergy (or a cold) affect him right now. He was coughing last night!  What next? 

Well, it's official ... Chest exray time ... more antibiotics ... more steroids AND do nothing for 10 days! (???) I have pneumonia. Who knew?

Sue and Wayne were taking Julius to the vet today. Hopefully nothing serious, but he has been in pain since a "bad" landing from a sofa jump. 

Mark cooked a delicious chicken dinner tonight with mashed potatoes. Yum.  I wish I could've eaten more, but those shots at the doc's made me feel Gooney. 

Well, that's how I feel ... LOL. We've had a full day of rain, again. I guess that's what we get with an El Nino year. More tomorrow! Ta ta. 

MONDAY JULY 27, 2015

Good morning. I am definitely on the mend! This morning, I managed to Lysol the kitchen and bathrooms and dusted. Believe me, I couldn't think of doing anything like that the past week! Mark took five packages to the post office and on to Winn Dixie for a few things we were out of. Aren't I lucky that he enjoys the grocery shopping?! 

We've already had a torrential downpour today. There's a system in the Gulf of Mexico that is swirling about and sending us extra precipitation. No problem, we have plenty to keep us busy inside. 

You might recall that we have donated to Rosemary Farm in the Catskills of New York. During Christmas of 2011, Dawn, the program operator, rescued two tiny Colts at a slaughter auction for $10 each. They were so scrawny, the kill buyers didn't want them. Unfortunately, their mother had already sold to them. Sad. 

Anyway, they are now 3 1/2 years old having grown up on Rosemary Farm with 50+ other horses in a wonderful, secure environment.

Well just look at them now. They are gorgeous and recently adopted, together, into their new home! Best of luck boys!!! 

The wedding invitation for Olivia & Derek arrived today ... so it's an official "road-trip" for us in September. Yay. Hmm, what to wear? It's a country home wedding with reception in Mississippi. 

This afternoon, I was in a creative mood and here's what came about ...

Cherry Quartz, Swarovski Crystals & Sterling Silver. I made two other sets too, but this was my favorite. 

Mark's sister, Pam, is back in the USA from her two week's in Australia visiting daughter, Christine. She had a great time and perfect weather. 

Seb (very cute!) and Christine paddle boarding (well, they were). Apparently Pam fell in. Haha. She's always up to try something new!

So that was our day in a nutshell. Tomorrow, back to the doc's office for bronchitis and asthma review. Ta ta. 

SUNDAY JULY 26, 2015

Good morning ... It was a rather early start to our day. Mark went to help Randy with the tree removal at his house. Actually, it's going to look great to have a view of the two car garage. Someday, they may expand the driveway! Today, however, there's a big enough job to cut the final large branch. Randy worked last week removing the stone from around the base of the tree stump and re-planting the greenery that was there. It's been a big job!

Dawn was Blog photog today. Good job!

The tall ladder work is finished! (That poor tree is trying to regrow!) 

Me? Oh I had 4 eBay sales to package and address ... then photographed 4 items made last week and listed them online. After Robbie and I had a break/walk, Mark arrived home ... just in time to "watch" PGA Golf. (He was sawing the other logs within 5 minutes!) LOL

Sue phoned about two o'clock. Yesterday, they drove Kyle & Gavin to Falcon Lake. It seems they all had a fun visit!! 

 The boys both enjoy the two doggies! It's mutual I think by the contented looks!

Somehow, Mark had the energy to cook dinner. (I made microwave popcorn and gave myself another breathing episode.) WTF. This is not fun ... I like AIR!

It was a perfect day to call ShayRod. Roddy was watching Canadian golf so Shay and I gabbed for 1 1/2 hours. Haha. I am so happy to learn she and Jan are now "on the same page" about their mother's care. Life "could" get a lot better for them. :-)

So that's it for our SUNDAY. I sat on MY porch half an hour with Robbie during the rain. It feels great!

SATURDAY JULY 25, 2015

Good afternoon. Ha ha. I stayed up very late, er, very early, watching Ancient Aliens. It's the beginning of Season 9!  Wowsa! Great stuff! DNA testing has come along way since its development in the 1950s. That's all I'm going to say…

So, after going to bed at 4:30 in the morning, I didn't get up until nearly 10. No, that's not enough sleep, but I just wake up coughing with this darn asthma & bronchitis attack. This too shall end. Hey, I wonder if that's where the phrase "I died laughing!" came into being. I very nearly did die laughing last night. We had so much fun ... I could not get air out or in, everything just seized up. Both Randy and Mark have had it happen before. Dawn hasn't. She looked horrified. (Sorry about that, Dawn.)

Mark had to make his daily trip to the Home Depot. LOL. Our lawn man came by and couldn't cut the grass in one area because we have a sod worm. So, Mark was off to buy the right stuff to fix the problem. Meanwhile, Dawn called to say they were cooking chicken pot pie and we're  invited. Yummy!

I puttered around making a few items for eBay sales until 230 when I attempted a nap. Unfortunately, as soon as I lay down, I start coughing. No nap today! Drat. 

An afternoon thunderstorm rolled in just as we were getting to leave for RanDawn's at 5 o'clock. We waited a few minutes, then chased the storm all the way over there. It was perfect timing, as we arrived just as the storm quit and we sat on the patio to enjoy appetizers. 

Can YOU see the snail climbing on the screen? (Hint ... the wine bottle!)

Life is good. Randy's homemade chicken pot pie was really delicious ... along with garlic toast and apple crumb pie for dessert. Lucky us! Dawn had the table nicely set and the wine glasses ready. Haha. Perfect. 

After dinner, we started a round of 10,000. Randy won the first game, hands-down. 

Randy's winning straight. Cool. 

We decided to play another round, this time each throwing one dollar into the pot. It was hilarious. Once money was in the pot, the dice changed rapidly. Mark ended up the big winner and scooped the $4 pot. Haha. What fun. 

Home by 1030, we found a black cat in our driveway. Unfortunately, he's been spraying our hose bib area, and the tires on the trucks. Tomorrow, I must phone my neighbors who have cats and see if it's one of their little dears. Meanwhile, it's a stinky mess in our driveway! 

So, that's it for today. Mark is going to bed as he is working with Randy tomorrow for another round of tree removal. Ta ta. I hope you had a great Saturday!

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2015

Good day! It's a gorgeous, windy start to ours. Unusual! Could it be our summer cold front? 

 I was up very late last night and found this on the web!) 

I laughed til I coughed. Haha. 

At bedtime last night, Mark suggested I put Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of my feet. He remember Dawn telling us about it. I looked online, and it is supposed to stop coughing. Well, it induced 3 hours of productive coughing which maybe was a "good" thing. However, I was awake nearly all night. So, I found some "fun" stuff online and shopped eBay. LOL

I love this picture ... what a comical bear. "Hey Boo Boo!"

This is an INBRED cat. 

You laughed ... I know you did!

So did I. LOL 

Randy and Dawn got busy with shopping errands today. So Mark and I went to the bowling alley ourselves. They arrived at our house about 515, just in time for appetizers of eggplant pizza followed by pork loin, chicken on the BBQ, red potatoes with green beans. It was such a nice evening, we sat outside while dinner cooked. After dinner and wine, we started a dice game called 10,000.  We had lots of laughs learning it and playing. In the end, I won by a landslide.

Randy has great reaction time ... Dawn, we're not sure. Haha. Mark was taking their picture when I tipped a wine glass (fortunately already empty) and, voila. 

But 11 o'clock, they headed home and we tidied up to watch the NEW Ancient Aliens season. Ta ta ... it's midnight. 

THURSDAY JULY 23, 2015

It's a grand (hack, cough, wheeze) start to my day! Where's my DSOS ... quick. Haha. 

Plans for today? A post office run with an item and, if I feel up to it, laundry. Nothing too much until I kick this bronchitis/asthma flare up. Let's see what everyone else has been up to. 

Kyle and Gavin K are having a summer visit with Nana Sue & Grandpa Wayne at Lake of the Woods in Ontario. It's a wonderful spot ... wildlife, fishing, boating, crafts and games. Fun!

I see SHP is sitting with Gavin ... that's good! Have a great week boys!

Meanwhile, Wayne has some 'splaining to do ...

"WAYNE!!!" you're busted. Hahaha. (Never mind Wayne ... Karma got me and I had a bad asthma attack!) :-(

Nephew Gregg has the Firebird on the road for summer. (Two years ago, Randy and Linda drove it around town on her last big trip down memory lane to Canada.) Sue and Wayne had a visit with Gregg ... that's W's Escalade. 

Gregg and Darlene are planning a visit in August to K's cottage. I hope the plan gels for them! 

During happy hour on the front porch yesterday, we watched a beautiful little dove enjoy eating at our birdfeeder.

Although I didn't get a picture of her, this is similar to her action when any other bird came around. Our dove wasn't a kickboxer, but gave a solid jab with her wing! The result was the same. She stayed at the feeder a long long time, unchallenged. 

Mark helped Lew install a vent (3 hours!) in his garage. It gets too hot when he parks 2 hot cars in there! LOL 

The "Duke's" line isn't as catchy as my BIL Kris', "Ya gotta be tough if yer gonna be stupid!" ;-)

I puttered about my craft room and caught up on laundry today ... a sign I'm on the mend! Mark relaxed after his Lew-a-thon job. We are now up to date on Ray Donovan (not family rated!) and must find another summer afternoon distraction. Haha. 

Tomorrow, plans for bowling late in the day with dinner here afterward. Mark has a pork loin (Dawn will love it) and chicken thighs to put on the BBQ, red potatoes and dump cake dessert. Yeehaw, (cough, cough).  

That's it for today. A cold front is heading to Florida ... sweet! Ta ta. 

WEDNESDAY JULY 22, 2015

It's a fresh start today ... and I hope to feel better soon. Yuck. Double yuck. Everything hurts ... 

Mark is sleeping soundly so I took Robs for his morning business. No eBay sales overnight ... it's time to make some toast.

The new front porch project continues. Ha ha. We thought it was done, but when we had torrential rain, water spewing down the eavestrough downspout found its way to the porch's tile floor. Last night, Mark dug a small French drain at the base of the downspout. This morning, it was a trip to his favorite store, the Home Depot. (Why didn't we buy stock in that store when it first opened?) He's buying a large ceramic flowerpot and a bag of river rock. He plans to drill several holes into the base of the ceramic pot, drop it in the mud hole he created and fill it with river rock. We shall see as rain is forecast this afternoon. 

Randy arrived, after Mark got home, with Jewish penicillin for me. Ha ha. If you're from Winnipeg, you know it well. Delicious, homemade chicken soup is Jewish penicillin. It's a definite cure! Just after Randy arrived on the motorcycle, the skies opened and we had a deluge. It was plenty to test Mark's drainage ... too much. Randy stayed and waited it out. We watched Jon Stewart and a Ray Donovan show. 

Within half an hour of eating Randy's soup, I was sweating it out of me. LOL. It works. 

Happy Hour was steamy sultry at today's heavy rains. We enjoyed the porch, with a fan, and a glass of wine. Robbie was sent into the house for a 5 minute time-out after sounding his Scottish war cry at a squirrel in the bird feeder. LOL. 

Mark's sister Paula had three bears on her driveway this week. The only missing link was Goldilocks. 

That's right at the front porch door!

So, it's time to chill and watch some Telly. Life is good. Ta ta. 

TUESDAY JULY 21, 2015

Good morning. I had a pretty good sleep, so maybe the bronchitis is on its last day or two. Of course, it doesn't mean I'm not hacking and coughing this morning, but my diet Sunkist orange helps to clear my throat! (I can hear Rick, Ruth and Sue groaning. LOL)

Mark didn't think I sounded any better so he suggested I try the "doc in the box" at Urgent Care. Considering I wasn't registered there, I was in and out in 2 hours. The doctor was thorough and gave me a breathing treatment as well as prescriptions. All in all, a good experience. (It's also a pain medication clinic so was VERY busy with all manner of patrons!) 

Yeah! Instead of "may cause death". LOL.

Is this Robbie at Happy Hour?

It's been lovely weather the past couple of weeks here in Florida ... cool enough to sit in our new porch by 4 o'clock. Sweet. 

Up north, at Lake of the Woods, Sue and Grandson Kyle enjoyed a kayak paddle around the bay.

It looks nice and cool. (I remember trying to paddle a rubber raft with Sue ... we went in circles, literally! Haha.)

And from Jim G (at his cottage) sent this updated cereal box ...

LOL ... "No Nuts"! 

So that's it for today. It's TV:30 and time to play with Robbie on the floor. Ta ta. 

MONDAY JULY 20, 2015

Aaacch. I have bronchitis ... most likely from spray painting recently. It's happened before, LOL, and I promised myself I wouldn't do that again. But, here I am, duh. I'm all Wheezy and Flemmy ... sweet, eh?

After getting our morning chores done, Mark headed to the post office with the few eBay sales packages. Mag-Pies Glitter is moving stock ... A car charm,  black braided necklace, and a vintage necklace. Oh yeah, and a Hill Tribe dragonfly pendant for $40. It's certainly not busy like the winter months, but at least a few things sold. 

As promised, after a long diatribe in yesterday's blog, I'll catch you up on last night ...

We met Randy at the Hideaway for drinkies and eats. Dawn worked until 5 then arrived about 530. Robbie came along for an outing. Although it was jampacked, we found a table and gathered five chairs. Yes, you guessed it, a chair for Robs. LOL. (If he sits on the deck, he gets gnats buzzing his ears.) 

What a handsome Scottie ... and a perfect Southern gentleman just like our ol' Shiloh. 

Rob Nichols was singing ... but the music was cranked so loud, it was crackly and distorted. Too bad. Anyway, we had good food, good drinks and lots to watch! One lovely (male) patron was pole dancing around a 6x6 support pole. Cool. Haha. Another was jiggling the deck, "dancing" ...

Robbie turned around to watch, thinking there was an earthquake.  Haha. 

Yesterday would have been Linda's and Randy's 35th wedding anniversary. I know he was feeling sad and we were all aware of the date. It made me think of dozen people at their Transcona wedding who are no longer with us. The "first" of all events is extra tough.

So, back to the present. Tom from Simplex arrived about 1ish with shingles for the crew. They'd been working since 10 o'clock with flashing and such. It'll be done today ... except we've asked Tom to do the gutters on the rest of the front. (Mark was going to do them, but it'll look nicer if all matches!) 

Our lunch today was Randy's delicious (and filling) homemade seafood chowder. After, we watched the British Open finale and relaxed.

The Ray Donovan show today, Season 2, Episode 7 was great ... such a dysfunctional group; we were laughing! 

Olivia's shower invitation arrived today. Since we can't make both the shower and wedding, we shopped Bed Bath & Beyond for a gift and chose bathroom towels and shower curtain. 

That's it for today. We'll be planning a wedding trip in September to Ashland, Mississippi; near Memphis. 

SUNDAY JULY 19, 2015

Good morning. The sun is shining and the birds are singing, could there be a better start to a Sunday? Well, I did wake up hacking and coughing ... I suspect it's from spray painting two days ago! This too shall pass. :-)

Mark was up very early and off to Randy's. They have the barge today, as well, and hope to clear more waterfront weeds and shrub growth. 

Me? I had great plans for today, but Mark found an "Ancient Aliens - The Alien Agenda" ... Many of humanities most significant turning points have bore witness to unexplainable events. Is this merely coincidence, or could it be evidence that the course of human history is being manipulated by an alien agenda? Canada's Minister of Defense spoke at the 2013 Citizen Hearing on Disclosure held in Washington, D.C. The Honorable Paul Hellyer spoke for 20 minutes and received support from scientic scholars and researchers. (You can find his transcript by searching on Google!) "UFO's are as real as airplanes flying overhead ... at least 4 species have been visiting earth for thousands of years."

Anyway, Mr. Hellyer's speech included comments about 911, Bin Laden and America's agenda. Fascinating. I decided to include the transcript of it into today's blog.

So, that's my blog thought for today, Sunday. I'm sure there will be lots happening later, but I'll report on it tomorrow. Ta ta.