Miracles DO Happen

Last night at 3:15 am , a tumbling noise coming from outside woke me up...

Since the A/C is running 24/7 these days I didn't really knew what the noise was and besides it was time for a bathroom break. Once downstairs I tried to see what was the source of the noise....I couldn't see anything.

I went back to bed and tossed and turned until the alarm clock went off at 4:45 am....

I was spazzing out about the noise, going back to work and the move!

This morning we saw this

  So the big noise was in fact part of the tree that fell down in the yard

 We have been trying to have that tree trimmed for 2 years now....

We have been unsuccessful so far, lack of money, we called 12 tree companies and no one showed up,

and finally the realtor and the regular tree guy both saying that we were selling so we didn't have to trim anything. 

Now for the miracles...

The pool is 6 feet away

It was untouched except for 2 pieces of bark and a dead squirrel

(I put extra chlorine to kill the cooties)

The fence was sparred, totally

The patio was sparred

The neighbor's driveway was sparred

and

finally the Flamingos were sparred

See how close the tree fell???

That was quite the miracle in my book.

I think I thanked God 30 times today.

I was so grateful it fell in the night and not while we were digging out some hostas...

None of the cat were injured

and besides having to re-install the clothes line

there was no material damage...

Thank you Lord for this miracle!!!

Aaaahhhh Vacation!

I just love being on vacation....I got rest, physical and mental. I am getting rid of this pesky summer cold that
has been dragging me down for 4 weeks....

We got a lot of move related stuff done, take that move you're not the boss of me!!!

Our neighbor was so thrilled when we mentioned that we needed to get rid of a huge horizontal freezer....as soon as I finish emptying and cleaning it she will send her boyfriend and friends to move it.

To tell you the truth we were freaking out about the freezer, it's old, it's ugly ( since it was in the woodworking shop, Dan woodworker extraordinaire,  kind of used it as a work table....) but it still works!
We had no idea what to do with it....to ugly to sell, to heavy to move from the basement by ourselves.....
So I'm glad it will start a new life in my neighbor's garage.

I had to change a valve in the pool...AGAIN!!! Nearly every year I have to change it, I gave a piece of my mind to the owner of the pool shop and she said that some parts are really cheap now, and a lot of customers have to change that same valve every year! I was glad to learn that and I feel better about my poolgirl skills!

 This is the valve in question.....

                                          You can clearly see the crack in the plastic....If we had stayed that pool would have been history in September....Ad I would've bought a new pool to be installed in Spring 2016...

But this is not to be and I am looking forward to NO

pool maintenance.....

 We had lunch at Blak's no 1 in Ile Perrot

great fried chicken!

 Tomorrow if you're looking for me.....

I will be floating in the pool

or

Lounging under the parasol....

Stay cool!

About Time

Being on vacation this year has been AMAZING!

I feel so rested, inspired, creative, productive!!!

The pool is finally ready, at the end I was ready to throw in the towel and just empty it and dismantle it....

It took a new gasket (totally useless), a new filter (professionnaly installed) I'm so happy we paid extra for this because we would've gotten this all wrong  , a new 3-way valve....this is where I nearly threw in the towel!

First place I went, the service rep just gave me any old part and dismissed me...THANK YOU VERY MUCH B.....But we are lucky there's another pool store accross the street, an independent one, the service rep was super nice, not condescending and actually made me a deal on the part I needed....

I know where my future pool is going to come from....

I still need to return the part from the first store and I have a feeling they will get an earfull....or two!

 The pool is finally ready for dipping! It is wonderful and the sure sign summer is here!

The new veggie garden...Doesn't look like much now but I will post pictures of its progress

 

                                         I actually saw a car with false eyelashes!

 My blast from the past snack. In my youth sugary snacks were few and far apart...I got some on holidays...Xmas, Easter, Valentine's....Once in a blue mood my mother would buy a box of these. They were considered a luxury item (It was a real brand not generic, those were never on sale and actually tasted good). My mother was hyper thrifty and we would have cheapo on sale knockoff brand cookies
that weren't really tasty...Too thrifty is not always good.

So I bought a box (I am on vacation afterall)....Guess what? Of course know where I am headed!

I was disappointed! TOO SWEET! Good but too sweet, I could only eat 2 per sitting, which is eally more than plenty.

So the to do list is not getting smaller... Well it is what it is!

Sleep tight!

Wee Update

As for the cement , no we are not make stepping stones (which would be fab) but we need to deal with a pesky crack in the basement....

But we did not whip up a batch of cement.... we watched TV! Viva Vacation!

 So I successfully canned a jar of pickled garlic for the winter.

 

 The new veggie garden is 2/3 done

 

                                              I am waiting for a pool tech to change the filter....

fingers crossed I want to swim before the vacation is over...

 

 This is the MVP (Most Valuable Pyrex) this week!

My Red Kettle serving plater ; I used it everyday this week

 

And since we ae working out side a lot, we need a lot of refreshments....

And I made giant ice cubes in sillicone cupcake liners with cranberries, lemons and limes.

 

So refreshing!

 

I hope to be back soon with more updates!

 

Be well



It's an annual thing

Well folks, this is the time of year where...

I have trouble with the pool....My diagnostic? I need to change a gasket in the filter. I am waiting for the opinion of a professionnal....But thanks to the internet, you can now do a lot of things you could not before!

                                        
                                           Other thing is the annual cleaning of the garden shed
                                           also known as the Great Pyrex Culling.

 Don't get me wrong, I didn't give all of these away.

                                     

 I made a careful selection....Kept some and will

be donating the rest at my fave Sally Ann.

 Along with other things. Things I picked up here and there.

So far I have 3 boxes....

Dan is rather pleased....He's not saying but I see it in his eyes... 

                                           Since I'm thinking of closing the shop...I decided against
                                           trying to sell any of it.
                                           Speaking of my Etsy store, I have a 20% off sale on everything!!!
                                          Click right HERE to shop till you drop!

                                          For me it's tata for now!

                                           Sleep tight and have a nice week

Oh well

This is the BIG yard sale weekend and much to my disappointment we had to wait for a delivery yesterday and it was pouring rain.....

So this morning bright and early I grabbed $30 from my bank and we headed off for second hand bargains....

What I saw was: scratched Tupperware, kid stuff and puzzles....

I came home with $30 that I put back in my bank.It is true that I was looking for more specific things since the sales are really slow (read dismal) in my Etsy store.

 I came to the realisation that my Etsy store doesn't fill me with joy anymore and I think it is time to hang my Etsy skates and get rid of the inventory...

Even with 20% discount I'm not getting sales; I do blame Canada Post for that; the rates are crazy high for shipping to the US!!!

So what was the delivery we were waiting for?

                                   A conversation set for the patio

                                Well actually for the patio (loveseat and coffee table) and the 2 armchairs
                                  will go in the living room.
                                  the existing living room chairs we had to get rid because of pet induced
                                  complications.....
                                  So this was the cheapest we found and we like the look of it

                                 When we opened the box, we were quite worried as we didn't find any screws or instructions! YIKES!!!
                                    After rummaging through everything a second and a third time, we found screws and an allen key but NO instructions!
                                     NOTHING in the internet either....except disgruntled buyers comments that the holes don't align, it takes forever to assemble and the cushions get flat super fast!
                                      Something tells me that I should've read the reviews before buying it!
                             
                                      Maybe we are amazing fantastic people...Maybe
                                      It only took us less one hour to assemble the 2 chairs and the coffee table
                                      and surprise! The holes aligned!
                                      No harsh words were uttered, no eyes rolled, our lips didn't part for impatient
                                      sighs.
                                       And the chairs are really comfortable! I took a nap in one this afternoon!

                                 This is the season for sorrel and I have a big plant in the yard.
                                 Then it is time for sorrel soup.....yum!

                                  I'm happy to say that here in Canada tomorrow is a holiday so we have
                                  a full schedule!
                                   Install the air conditionner, start the pool and assemble the loveseat....
                                   And I was forgetting about the sun umbrella!

                                  Sleep tight faithfull readers

First Coffee

Friday morning we were lucky to be able to do this...

                               Drink our first coffee on our new patio!

                             

The first of many coffees! LOL

 

Now we need to get set and start landscapping.

If only we culd have a couple of days without the rain....

 

By the end of the afternoon we had steps.

 

I can't wait to take a dip and then veg out on the patio

 

Now if I can just get the water just right!

Oh and a ladder, a ladder would be nice....

 

Have a great day

 

See you soon :)

Reno Update and Pool 2, Miss V a big fat ZERO!

I just wanted to share a view of the new drapes...

New paint,new floor, new drapes= Totally fabulous!

Do you remember the curtain rods we picked up super cheap @ a garage sale a couuple of weeks ago?

here's the fleur-de-lys finial

Not bad , eh?

Now for the pool...The weather has been wet and terrible and we have a whole region that's been flooded for more than a month and they say the water should receed within 3 weeks. They won't get money from their insurance because it's an act of God. The goverment is supposed to help them, but I doubt that our prime minister will remove poop soaked gyprock anytime soon....

Now for my regular readers, you know what I do this time of year!

I battle with the pool! 

So summer is coming fast and I had to start the pool. First I'd forgotten that I'd broken a part last September....so I had to buy another, then I 'lost' the blue backwash pipe and I had to buy another....Sunday I installed most of the pipes....Then the heatwave hit, it was so hot I was sweating bullets at 6:30 am. I felt dirty and sticky by the time I got to work!"/$%?&*(....

Last night we removed the pool cover and I screwed on the last pipe, I filled the pool ,added the chemicals and OMG the stench! Sweet Mary mother of Jesus! I thought I was gonna pass out in my own backyard!

It smelled of rotten eggs and judgement day, oh yes if judgement day had a smell it would be the one that emanated from my pool! SHEEESH!

It took forever to fill.....really. I had to get ready for today so I came inside to take a shower, then went back outside in my pj's and rubber boots (real sexy). Finally the moment I'd been waiting for! I turned one the motor's switch and heard the filter filling and the water circulating and then....What is that? I heard the distinct sound of dripping water and spurting water! None of my connections were water tight! OMG! With the flashlight I rummaged in the shed for a screwdriver and tightened all the connections...I flipped the switch again and water was still gushing, so I turned everything off and came back inside, sore and sick of the pool.

This evening I came in the house and went outside to check the pool. I removed and screwed back on the filter's plug and a miracle it didn't leak anymore! Since we had a lot of wind in the last few days....The pool was full of leaves that I decided to remove with the net, there was a lot of them....and also a dead something flotting in the pool! OMGOMGOMGOMG A DEAD ANIMAL IN THE POOL! I NEARLY PUCKED RIGHT THEN AND THERE! IT IS A RAT OR A SQUIRREL! I came in the house screaming EWEWEWEWEWEWEW! THERE'S A DEAD RAT IN THE POOL!

Dan promised to take care of it tomorrow. So as you can see the pool won and it's not running yet!

Pool 2, Miss V 0

Tracy, I miss posting often too! I just have so much stuff to do, it's like I have 2 jobs!  

Have a great night! I hope to post tomorrow as well :)

Heavenly weekend

For close to 10 days we have been having a whopper of a heat wave...So this means...wait for it....NO RAIN!!!

Isn't that fantastic?

Well it depends...the summer so far has been sooo crappy that I'm not adjusted to the heat at all! I'm just like a big puddle of water. Everything makes me sweat, including brushing my teeth! The AC is doing his best...but you know!


The garden is growing like crazy. You blink and everything is bigger.

I'm really excited about the first pic! It's an ancho chile (at least I hope it is...). Remember when the names on the markers had disappeared? If it's an ancho, it's so cool 'coz I've been trying to make some grow without succes for 3 years (They wouldn't even sprout)

Second pic is a pepperoncino, I'm sure because I grew some last year. Those are really tasty peppers, tons of flavor no heat, and last but certainly not least the butternut squash. How I love thee! If all goes well, I should have between 5 and 10. It is difficult to tell because the squashes have taken over! I can't walk between the raised beds, I might squash a squash!

I'm so witty I kill myself. Ok now to the heavenly part....We had no plans, no social,no visit and no thrifting (Yes too hot to thrift!), so we just vegged out, read, and floated in the pool. I felt totally rejuvanated this morning!

For my readers in a heat wave keep cool! For those who have minivans with diapers (you know who you are!) stay dry....

Playtime

Can the casseroles come out and play? Well of course!

I had misplaced my bid laddle (how can someone loose a big laddle in their own house????)

Well it certainly was time for a big cleaning. All the pots and pans are in this awkward corner cupboard. When I look for something I have to kneel and use a flashlight!

I might as well, take all the Pyrex casseroles out as well and rearrange and take pictures!

And I found the laddle! But no sign of the waffler iron's cord (that vanished as well....Did I throw it out???)

I have been cleaning the house for nearly a year now....It's a slow process, I just couldn't start throwing things out, well most of them at least...I sold a lot through Ebay but by Xmas my stuff wasn't selling as well and what was I had trouble getting paid. I started an Etsy boutique as well, it's doing ok but you have to be patient. I gave clothes and books to the church basement and we had a garage sale. What we haven't sold will be offered at another garage sale 2morrow but as per the Weather Channel it will rain.....So instead we will go to the Salvation Army and donate the boxes and that will be the end of that circle.

Everything has a lifespan and it doesn't mean that if I don't want something it's not good anymore.It needs to find another home and it probably will through the Salvation Army!

Knowing me...I will probably start accumulating stuff for another garage sale (2014-2015), maybe you'll read about this in a blog, LOL!

Pool update: I took my first swim last night, 80 degrees, the bottom is 90% clean, the water was chemically perfect. I will vaccum again today (if it's not raining)

Pool girl reporting for duty!

Phew! I think I just got dry!

What a day! I decided this morning to vacuum the pool. I never had any success doing that. Even if I kept asking questions, to the (pool) service dept, my friends husbands, basically anyone who has a pool, but I still couldn't properly vacuum it!

I've had the pool for 5 years and even if I never did the bottom drain handled the job, but not this year.

The liquid diarrhea has gone and has been replaced by turquoise (yet milky) water ( I take this as a good sign...). I keep testing the water and adding chemicals....but I'm not swimming yet!

Actually I'm dripping! I sweated soooo much today that I sprouted heat zits (how precious). And since I vacuumed I had to empty that little %$#!!%(*&%$ basket in the pump! And a geiser would soak me head to toe each time ( It never happened before), I had to empty that !@#%^&*^$#@$ basket 6 times today=6 chemical showers!

What am I doing wrong??? Don't know! Tomorrow I will call the sexist pool store and get treated like a lobotomized retard because there's something I didn't remember or understand.

Do men get born with the pool gene? I will NEVER give up! The pool will not win! I WILL!

Summer.....

Aaaaahhhh! The seabreeze, the sand, the waves crashing....

I'm getting excited...I can't wait to take a dip!

Soon, soon!

Now for some Pyrex talk! When I first got the signs of Pyrexia (a very incidious desease....with strong urges to get as many Pyrex as you can, arythmia combined with hot flashes and bouts of tourette (omg,OMGOMGOMGOMG I DON'T HAVE THIS ONE!!!!!) I would wash them in a heavenly scented dishwashing liquid. Biolife dish soap ultra concentrated mango tangerine, it is in fact a generic product from Shoppers drug mart (Pharmaprix). But ever since, I associate this smell to new Pyrex. It's like a welcome wagon for the new dishes!

Everytime I wash a sinkfull of dishes memories of Pyrex comeback to me, the fun, the hunt, the surprises....Good times!

Pool update: It is more green now than liquid poop.

Raccoon update: You remember the one that came on my patio to eat bugs? Well I can tell you it is a mommy and I saw her with her baby the other day. Also I went to dump veggie peels in my compost bin and she was there in the bin snacking! We both scared to bejesus out of each other!

Stench....

No pic today.
I have a big bowl of pure stench in my backyard....I'm sure it smells that way in hell!

I started the pool today that's why....OMG! Oh the humanity! I swear it's the first year it smells that much! Probably because I'm a month late, because the tree guy was rather tardy.

Usually it's seafoody,shrimpy even but this time it's dead people,backed up sewer, middle age garbage in the street , New York garbage strike stinky!

I was gagging while I was rincing the pool cover on the clothes line! I can't believe I'll be swimming in this muck in about a week.....EEEeeeewwwww!

Pride!

I didn't have a related pic, so why not post one of my extensive (lol) Pyrex collection?

I feel very,very proud of myself! Not only did I remove ALL the leaves in the pool, but also the pool's winter cover. It is very heavy and ususally requires 2 pairs of hands. And it is soooo messy! I ended up wet and smelly.What exactly breeds in the pool in the spring? EEEWWW!

I was so much in the zone that I put the cover on the clothesline and rinsed it. While it was drying, I turned the earth in the bean patch and planted some perrenials! Ouf! Where did all that energy come from???

I didn't watch Tv at all! In the late afternoon I folded the cover and put it away in the shed (this is quite an achievement, 'coz ususally I let it hang out outside forever!!!).

I really enjoyed Wolverine a lot and the sandwich too! I really like Hugh Jackman, he looks like such a good person (and being a nice piece of eye candy isn't bad either!)! I love action sci-fi movies and I have a lot of movies to see in May! Next week it will be Star Trek...

I need to prepare for the church basement!