Monday 16 May 2022

Catching Up - Mon. May 16

 Things have been quite busy lately. I did a lot of supply (substitute) teaching these past couple of weeks - all good experiences. The rip-apart-the-house-and-live-once-again-in-a-state-of-chaos insulation project continues. 

When I retired last year, my co-workers gave me a much appreciated gift certificate to a local green house / garden centre. I decided on Mother's Day to go with my two offspring and purchase two fruit trees. I bought a pear tree and an apple tree. They are both a decent size and already budding out into little leaves. Son helped me plant both of them this weekend. One hole with "easy" to dig (that was for the pear), and the other hole with not so fun. The ground was very hard and dry, so we put the hose to it and let it soak for a while so it would be easier to dig out. Son encountered many stones (anywhere from bigger than your head to bigger than your fist). I put lots of lovely compost in the hole and the apple tree got planted. It isn't staked yet, but we will do that later today, hopefully. Both trees have had a steady rain falling on them since last night.

I had cleaned out the chicken coop and spread the contents over my vegetable garden. I rototilled in two different directions, pulled out the loosened weeds, then sprinkled granular fertilizer over the whole lot and raked that in. I want a productive garden this summer. The price of groceries is ridiculous.

On Friday, I drove to a city about 2 1/2 hours away, same one where my siblings all live now, and attended a funeral for a cousin of mine. All my cousins are older than me. She was ill with cancer and made the decision to have an assisted death when the time was right for her. I was able to see three of her four siblings, cousins I haven't seen in about three years or more (we don't regularly get together). Everyone has aged tremendously and are in various states of turmoil in their lives. I came away from the day feeling very normal. 

Husband is in the process of just starting the proceedings of "opening up the pool" in addition to continuing the insulation project. We will be cleaning out our old yucky basement (our house is about 120 years old so perhaps you can imagine) this week so that those proceedings (part of the insulation project) can also begin. 

This week I will be taking our Scooter cat to a pet place to get him "groomed". If Joanne is reading this, she may be able to relate. Scooter is a long-haired cat and this year, for some reason, he has become incredibly matted about his hind quarters. He's never been like this before. He's a skittish, squirmy fellow and I hope / pray that the lady is able to perform the task of an over all trim and then a severe buzzing down to the skin on his matted areas. He is going to look atrocious but at least the weather is warm now, so I don't have to worry about him being too cold without all his long fur. If I can take a picture, I'll post is later. Poor guy.

Murphy continues to be himself, hanging out with the hens (I think they have deemed him an honorary chicken), leaning against things, and lord help me, bringing a small snake into the house which I had to transport outside, as I was the only one home at the time. 

The rain is falling outside still this morning, giving me and my back a reprieve from gardening and yard tasks for now. I hope you all have a contented week this week. It is the "long weekend" in May here in Canada coming up (also known as the Victoria Day weekend, and for some of a certain age, the "May Two-Four Weekend). We will be having a giant outdoor / car port sale of husband's various British car parts. He has decided that he is done with that side hustle and has advertised the sale for a couple of weeks now. I hope many people show up and take as many things away with them as possible!

23 comments:

  1. Sometimes when cats get older, they can't groom themselves as efficiently as before and that's when matting becomes an issue. I know HRH would get mats that I would have to get the vet to cut out of her fur. And she was a shorthair so I can only imagine how much worse it must be for a longhair. I hope Scooter enjoys the spa treatment, LOL!

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    1. Hi Debra. I knew you had commented because it came to my gmail. When I looked, you weren’t in the comments on my blog. I found you in Spam! I deemed you ‘not spam’ and now you’re here! I’m not sure what the deal is with Scooter. He’s not particularly old so not sure if that’s the issue. I guarantee he will NOT enjoy his spa treatment.

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  2. Murphy the honorary chicken! HAHA I love it. It has a nice ring to it. And for some reason it brings to mind the book "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman. Looks like Murphy has been adopted by the chickens. And you are very busy at your place! It's the same around here. As long as the weather co-operates, we want to get as much done outdoors this year as possible. I've been looking into trees. I'm considering a small maple and a cherry tree.

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    1. A cherry tree would be nice! I used to read “Are you my Mother” to our kids!

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  3. Sounds really busy at your place - no wonder my feline cousin Murphy has retired to the chicken run. I, the Tigger, like the sound of your nicely tilled and carefully raked garden......xxx Mr T

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    1. Murph just likes visiting them and hanging out for a while!

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  4. Long haired cats do get matted... and not always due to age and their inability to groom themselves adequately. Sometimes it's just the heat, but do watch him for any other signs that may mean he isn't up to par. I remember when we had Rose (long haired cat) shaved, she acted so ashamed... and she did look funny. But she had to feel better. Good luck with your garden. We are planting some bell peppers, okra, and possibly some herbs this week in my veg trug. I haven't gardened in a few years, so we share see.

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    1. I think he's doing fine, otherwise. But thanks for the advice. Good luck with your gardening as well.

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  5. You have been very busy! Looking forward to your garden pictures, and perhaps the upstairs reno?. Love Murph, the honorary chicken.

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    1. Upstairs reno is just drywall taping and mudding at the moment, so rather boring.

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  6. Adding a pear and apple tree to your orchard and having home grown fruit is so much more tasty than the fruit at the grocery store. You are keeping busy with multiple projects all running in parallel. The grooming does seem important but also unpleasant for Scooter. It sounds like Murph is still enjoying his time with the chickens....so funny.

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    1. We always have multiple projects on the go. I imagine I shall have to wait three years or so until fruit appears, but I'm not sure because I don't know how old the trees are that I purchased.

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  7. You got me thinking about cats and mats. My extra long haired cat, Toby, got awful mats at the old house, but when we moved he quit getting them. The only difference I can think of is that the old house had hardwood floors, the new had carpet. I had him shaved because he groomed incessantly and then threw up. I thought grooming would be next to impossible, but the groomer told me he was a mellow fellow who sat and purred.

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    1. Hi Joanne, I found your comment in spam as well! I hope Scooter is mellow but that remains to be seen ( tomorrow in fact). We have mostly hardwood floors so I don’t know if that’s a factor. I honestly wonder if it’s because I was laid up for a long time with back pain and avoided lots of things that involved bending over ( like combing the cat!)

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  8. When I started to read about the newly purchased trees, I must admit, Jenn I worried right away about your back ... glad to read you had help with the planting. Yeah that your husband decided to declutter his side hustle as you call it. Is that part of the basement clear out? Maybe Scooter will come home with the lion cut & feel renewed to prowl the gardens. ... Mary-Lou =^[..]^=

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  9. Oh definitely, I would have needed help with those holes! It is handy having a strong 22 year old around (and he didn't mind digging the hole that was easy!) Yes, our basement houses many old car parts in bins and boxes. I can't wait to see them go!

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  10. The busy season has begun and sounds as though you've jumped in with both feet! Love to hear of what's happening in your little part of the world as it's always interesting. At the moment I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with our summer plans (what's new?) but I know it's just the start of our "busy season" and I'll soon settled down and be okay! Hubby's folks had a German Shepherd dog that regularly brought snakes into the house . . . always alive so she could play with them later. Once it was a week before one was found in the utility room.

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    1. The snake was a first. There have been mice, birds, chipmunks, baby bunnies, and frogs (some of these have been alive presents). I get overwhelmed by my gardening because I always see what has to be done (and what never ends such as weeding, edging, "whipper snipping"). I make list so I can feel good about checking things off.

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  11. I think a gift certificate to a garden center is the most perfect gift; congratulations on your new trees.

    You have been so busy. Sorry about your cousin; it's weird to see that our family members (and us) are aging.

    The snake in the house is the stuff of nightmares! Darn cat. 😜

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  12. Definite garden progress! Just little and often please.dont want a crocked back again!!

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    1. You caught me as I just came in from “ whipper snipping”, raking and dumping. I’m now taking a break, putting my feet up and having a snack.

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  13. So much here! First, I'm so sorry about the passing of your cousin. Cancer is such a rugged disease. I wish it was easier for assisted death here. Not to be used lightly, of course, but for when it's just time. And what work on the garden with the trees and tilling and all! Whew! I'm exhausted just reading it! But what a fabulous gift. Good luck with the grooming! Cats and mats... yikes.

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