The Good Day All Thread

Happy Sunday everyone. Daniel and MG, I am jealous that you were able to see the eclipse. That is a cool picture Daniel. DHR I enjoyed seeing all of the tools of the trade you have for golfing.

After a long period with no reliable internet, my laptop protested and died. My daughter sourced one for me on line, and I am using it for the first time now. I had to wait a while as it was sent to her, she did her techy magic, and then sent it home to me with a friend. My other was close to ten years old, so this one is a real treat to use.

It has been a busy fall, with the two week weather forecast checked every morning before the list is made. The white stuff will be here soon. The tarps came down over the boat and trailer shed yesterday. That proved a bit of a challenge for me but it was eventually broke-to-ride. The pruning saw let me cut the ties without using a ladder on my own. Today was supposed to be tarping the garden shed, but that will wait a couple of days. Instead I am going to take advantage of big winds that blew some dry pine down on the mountainside just above the shed. Two are pointing straight down the hill, so the plan today is to set chokers on them and use the tractor to hopefully navigate the rocks and pull them down. A little extra heat is always a good thing, and they are super dry as they were "dry standing" up until two days ago. These will go right on the porch instead of the woodshed.

It has been a fall of animals. My neighbour's cows are coming home from the range, and found our green pasture. They've been bedding down by the barn every night. Once the neighbour finishes rounding up the others, they will bring their horses over and gather these ones. Puddins the barn cat has had a tough go of things this fall, but has finally come back as things have calmed. I set up three critter cams in the barn to see what was getting in, and to make sure she was still around. I've shooed a young bear that broke in and found her locked bin of cat food, trapped two pack rats in the barn (that's a total of seven this year between the shop, house and barn - unheard of) and shooed a Pine Martin. I'm hoping the martin stays away, he hasn't shown up on the camera again yet. Everyone seems to be staying out of the Queen's palace now, and she is back to sleeping in the hayloft and looking for a cuddle in the evening. The cows don't seem to bother her.

 

So good to see you again.
There has been some interesting things going on there. You always write the most interesting postings.
Fingers crossed with this new compi.

 

Good Wednesday afternoon all. Currently 10°C and overcast. It has been perfect working weather this week, but the next 2 days are calling for rain.
I was just out in my garden patch, looking at whats left to harvest. I have 2 types of kale, parsley, cabbage and cilantro left, that's it. Beans, cucamelons, pumpkin vines are all ready to be pulled out. And the garlic needs to be planted, that can be Saturdays job. 2 more working days to get through yet!
Have a great day all

 

@Melody Mc. I really enjoyed reading your updates. It's a very busy time for you. I think
I would like dealing with neighbor cows, much better than dealing with neighbor humans. Much better.

I had two contractors over to discuss the bathroom remodel. It's a big job, and I can't do it. When it's done, it will have a senior-accessible walk-in bathtub tub on a platform, a big window for much more light, over the tub, grab bars, a small dividing wall removed, the toilet moved a bit further from the tub, also with grab bars, a heated floor, a vanity with raised sink, a towel cabinet, electric supply for bidet toilet seat, and I forget what else. I think this will have a nice impact on quality of life and aging at home.

Meanwhile, now that the StarLink satellite internet has proven itself, I built a much sturdier support for it, bolted (six 1/2 inch bolts) to the roof girder frame with two heavy steel brackets. It's over-kill but don't want to worry about storms tearing it off. Next, paint it, then attach the antenna support arm, and it's done. All this by someone who is unsteady on ladders and determined not to be on them LOL, and swore off doing new construction projects .

 

Today in addition to garden work, I re-installed the StarLink satellite receiver. The original location was temporary, easy but didn't seem sturdy enough. Now that I know it works, I bolted a 2x6 support, cut to fit, to the roof beam. It's really strong - I think you could hang a 1953 Studebaker Commander from it (OK not really, but sturdy anyway). Now the receiver is on its own extender arm.



The weird thing is, then the signal was very unstable. So I took the connection apart and put it back together again, and now it works fine.

I wish I could do that with several of my body parts.

The old quadruped support will go, once this proves reliable. I bought some roofing tar for the holes where the screws entered the roof.

Here's the old woodstove fireplace insert.



Here's the new fake fireplace / electric heater. It's kind of hypnotic. Very quiet. The woodstove had a blower that was too noisy, too.



So that Rubicon has been crossed. No more fire smoke in the house.

 

I'm impressed with your ability to fix/improve things. I'm even more impressed with how lovely your yard and home are.

 

Daniel—You have me laughing, RE: replacing body parts. That would be something, wouldn’t it. Actually there are so many times when I have not wanted to replace any parts, rather have additional parts. Parts like a third arm. How many times haven’t I had both hands/arms full of something and then need to turn a door handle, add another something to what I was already carrying…or when carrying a cup of tea in each hand and then not having a third hand to carry the bikkies. See what I mean.

But further—What Marlin said about your yard and home. Really nice.
That was a great fireplace solution, BTW.

 

Good Sunday morning all. Currently 5°C and overcast with strong north winds. There is no doubt that autumn is here!
Sunday is my usual day to stay home and get things done, but today I have to go pick up DDs skates from the sharpener. I'm going to take Sargent for the ride as he's feeling neglected since we've been busy a good part of the week. We are going to stop at my work and take a walk around the walking trails - that should cheer him up!
Then home to get some work done!
Have a great day all

 

It is a beautiful sunny cool crisp day today. This will be the last day of warmish weather for us. It is currently +3, and it could eek up to 8 today. The plastic will go on the greenhouse today for ease of access in the early spring to plant spinach and lettuce. The ballast will go in the back of the truck for the plough, and I'm hoping if the 8 happens that I can sneak down to the lake for one last fly fish. Today is my last big day of getting ready for winter, then I hope to have some days in fuzzy pjs and big fluffy socks.

We're expecting an artic front tonight, which eventually will make it's way to you I believe @Daniel W , as well as creep all of the way down to you possible by the end of October @marlingardener . Snow for me and lots of rain for you guys I think. Apparently most of North America will feel some effect of it in the way of temps and storms.

By the way Daniel...I love that insert. Very nice. I agree about wood smoke in the house. It's something I battle with Asthma and a sensitivity to the smoke. It's not an option for me to not have it as a heat source, but I think that was a very smart move for you to replace it. Well done - and it looks lovely! Where will you char your bones now Matey???

 

Good Monday morning! Melody, I'll welcome that arctic front with open arms! The weather has been unseasonably warm (90's) this month. A little cooler would be so nice, then I can start making soups and stews and baking, baking, baking.
Husband is out foraging at the stores. I'm cleaning and doing laundry. Later I'll scan the kitchen for any equipment, plates, etc. that I don't use and take it to the thrift store. With Thanksgiving coming up, people need a roasting pan (why do I have two?), extra plates and platters. The thrift store is part of the food bank, and all monies go back into the charity. My clutter is cleaned out and it goes to a good cause--win, win!

 

@marlingardener I thought you would be excited to hear about the rain maybe coming your way. I hope it happens.

Today is a fuzzy jammie and wool sweater day. FINALLY. We woke to -12 C this am, but the snow has stayed away so far. This is good, because if the ground isn't frozen before the snow comes the plough truck makes a mess of things.

We are supposed to be in the cold for about five days and then it will warm to highs above freezing for a while.

Hubby often says the one thing he misses about living in the boonies and not the city is that he cannot order take-out food. Chinese food in particular. Yesterday in town I found some frozen Chinese food items on sale, so tonight is Chinese food . I even found fortune cookies. He will have sweet and sour pork, sweet and sour chicken, some chow Mein and ginger beef. I made myself some safe (wheat free) sweet and sour pork and fried rice this morning. He will have his take out and I'll have my homemade. I know it's not the same as restaurant, but he is excited. And I'm excited for a relatively easy day today.

I'm behind in posts and photos so I will be making an effort to catch up this week. I have the new SD card reader for the new laptop, but I will have to sort some settings out. Please excuse any blurs.

A couple of days ago life gave me the most beautiful sunset. It filled the window in the living room. It was the change in weather that was coming.


And Angus and I are both enjoying a lazy day. Now that he is getting older, he is not fond of the cooler temps, although winter is still his favourite season.



The best part of the temperature plunge is that the clouds of blackflies are now GONE! I can put the bug dope away for next spring now. Thank goodness. They were so thick that they were going into our eyes, and up our noses. Heaven forbid you opened your mouth...they'd fly in like a space ship docking station. Poor Angus had a cloud around him always. Good bye Bugs!!

 

Angus is beautiful, sleeping on a cozy chair

 

Thanks Buddy. He's my bestest of best friends. I'd be lost without his companionship, and protection. At night I hear him creaking between the sofa, the love seat and his deluxe doggie bed. It's probably good that he can't do the steep stairs to the loft hahaha. I sleep downstairs with him when it's stormy though ( he's not ALL bravery ) hee hee.

 

Not meaning to post something not so uplifting, but I wonder...

I had an angiogram on Monday after hospital stay for chest pain. The symptoms were realm and I'm old enough that checking was needed. It came out fine, didn't even need stents but I wondered about something...

This is a warm and welcoming community. Even though I have not met anyone, I'm actually fond of members here. What is the best way to handle is someone suddenly... "disappears"? Is is better not to say anything, or to plan for it so people don't wonder?

One interesting thing about the hospital - the support workers were all on strike. It added some "interest". That was also true for my dental hygiene clinic visit two weeks ago - different mega hospital "health" system. These are interesting times.

 

There's nothing more heartwarming that a beloved sleeping dog. They are angels sent from the heavens to give us love, and be given love.