Monday, April 10, 2017

HOME MAINTENANCE


Hello - long time no blog!
I've been laid low by the virus of the year, not having received my flu jab because it is late coming to the doctor..
Why is that?

Cyclone Debbie has been and gone, leaving much flooding and other devastation in her wake.  We had a local flood, and some confused wildlife.
Four of these wild turkey chicks were found wandering around our garden...



This is at our local creek, where I walk.  It only lasted one day.
In other areas, people were days cut off from electricity and all services.
It takes a long time for communities to recover from these events.


I went to a High Tea to meet some local Sewists.  Look at those lemon meringue swans, which were mouth-watering.
The ladies were lovely and welcoming, and all wore gorgeous self-made outfits.


I loved the pattern and fabric swap - such fun...



Our garden is finally making an Effort - after all those months of drought.
And the weather has turned a little chilly (big smile)...


In a confluence of events you could not organise if you tried,
carpenters arrived to fix our deck railings which had some dry rot...


the same day Little Aussie arrived to spend a few days of his holidays...
with a broken arm!

He is such a climber, fell out of a tree.
Imagine how excited he was with all the action going on outside:


High decks with railing removed...Danger!


Much carpentry went on down on the lawn...


and we decamped to the local village store - Aussie loves a chocolate milk and croissant... and they have board games to play...


His Lego city construction went on for days...


There now, all better...



I found this little cupboard (the one on top) - drastically reduced floor stock at a local gift shop..  It has improved our laundry room by 150%!


Beautiful lunch with friends on Sunday - that trifle really was the business.

We are all so thrilled with the cooler weather. 
Even put a blanket on our bed...

Stay warm - and dry

XXXX










34 comments:

  1. So sorry you've had a bad virus, horrible flood and a broken arm for your Little Aussie to top it all off. It sounds like you've taken it in stride though and some good things have gone on too. Love that new cupboard for your laundry room and those carpenters did a wonderful job on your deck. What a good idea to do a pattern/fabric swap, I know that sewing as a hobby can create stockpiles of material. I hope you have a lovely week xx

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    1. Thank you Dani. It is amazing how much a new item can lift the house and the mood..especially when it is a good bargain! I hope Spring is coming to your place, and do have an enjoyable Easter. xx

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  2. You may be laid low with a virus Patricia but have still achieved an awful lot - the teaparty and the Sunday lunch both look very inviting.
    Little Aussie is growing up so quickly, I was surprised at just how long his legs are now.

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    1. So true Rosemary, the boy has such long legs; every time I see him I think they grow another inch or two! His father is our tallest child, so I think he will follow suit.

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  3. I'm sorry to hear you've been ill, Patricia. I hope you're feeling much better now. So happy to hear you didn't have more trouble in the flood. I loved seeing the turkey, they are pretty smart to move to higher ground. I hope Little Aussie's arm is healed up quickly. Have a good week!

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    1. On the mend now Jennifer, and we were hardly affected by the flooding, unlike areas to the north and south of us. Those turkeys are very determined creatures, and quite smart too (as well as being ornery pests :)

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  4. I'm sorry you have been feeling poorly, Patricia. You look beautiful in your dress that you wore to the meet-up with the other sewists! Poor Little Aussie. I'm sure spending time at your house helped him take his mind off his sore arm. Your new deck looks terrific. And I'm glad you were spared from the worst of the storm.

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    1. Thank you Kristie. I love that dress, and keep it for high teas and special concerts. It feels quite romantic wearing the full skirt. Little Aussie is such a monkey, he kept trying to climb things even with the cast - my heart was in my mouth all the time!

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  5. Gosh so much water! I was worrying about you when I heard about this awful weather. Glad you are alright and that things around your home are too and it is just routine maintenance required. Sorry you have been icky, hope you are much better now.

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    1. We are fine Amy, and thank you for thinking of us. I grew up in an area which flooded, but we were always above it. I learnt to recognise a flood plain at an early age - and avoid it! Feeling much better today, getting back to normal.

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  6. Sorry you have been below par Trish. You looked gorgeous in your pretty frock! Wow....loved those sweet swans too. Sounds like little Aussie has been in the wars too. I spy some Fabuland there....still a big hit here too. I am so glad that I kept it. The flooding was terrible down this way....such a mess! Feel better soon xx

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    1. Thank you Michelle - I love that 50s style frock. You know, I'd forgotten the name Fabuland, but that is what it is alright, and original pieces from the 80s. Glad you have yours too - good to be a selective hoarder!

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  7. Sorry you have been unwell, hope you are better now!
    Wish I could sit beside you on that deck and have a cup of tea, it looks so inviting!

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    1. I would love to have you visit on my deck too, Kay. We have our tea or coffee out there all the time, it is just the perfect outlook - a view, sheltered but gentle sun. It is great to have it all mended again.

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  8. Sorry to hear you have been unwell. As for the jab being late, the guidelines are a little unclear - also, flu is not so seasonal at the moment - there have been quite a few early cases, which is quite unusual. Benefits of global travel I guess. Glad you did not get badly affected by the floods.

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    1. Thank you Sarah Liz. Yes, global travel probably has a lot to answer for when it comes to contagious viruses. I wonder what bugs we will encounter in Canada at the end of the year. We were fine during the floods, not even a power outage, but thousands of people have a long recovery ahead of them. It was a monster storm. Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather too :)

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  9. It was so fun meeting you at the High Tea Patricia. Your dress was lovely.... it is such a fun afternoon. That we the end of the summer wasn't it. I do like the cooler night and warm days. Hope you feel better and how terrific to get your rails redone. Mine are getting done too but with aluminium now.

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    1. It was fun to meet up and put names to faces, wasn't it. Such a good afternoon. In this climate, it is hard to maintain wood we find. Maybe you are onto the right idea there :)

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  10. Sometimes things just seem to stack up don't they? Hope the water has receded and your virus has gone away. Looks like you managed to entertain your Grandson, broken arm and all. Your deck looks so pretty - don't think I had seen that view before.

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    1. Thank you Darla, and well spotted. I took that shot through the screen door from our bedroom - have not tried that before. The sun looked just right for a pic. It is my favourite spot in our house!

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  11. Patricia, I'm sorry to hear you've been sick with a virus. I hope you're feeling better. wow, look at the flooding in your area. We got lots of rain also this year, but never lost power. The lemon meringue swans look scrumptious. How nice that you had tea with your sewing friends. I'm so sorry that little Aussie broke his arm. Boys tend to be daring, this I know.

    Thank you for the orange flower, it's so pretty. It brightened this dreary day outside. Easter blessings to you and your family, Patricia.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Hi Sheri, Summer seems to have ended with that big flood, and now a hint of Autumn in the air, which I love. My favourite season :)
      Wish I could have brought that line of swans home with me... Easter Blessing to you too.

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  12. Poor Honey! Hope you're feeling much better now and stay that way!

    Glad you're all on the mend from the scary storm and flooding! And a wonderful visitor to help make things even better. ;) That croissant was bigger than his head! Lol

    Love that little cupboard - looks perfect! And love the sewing group share and all the eats in this post have made me hungry!

    Glad you're finally getting better and nice cooler weather. Enjoy snuggling in! ;) Blessings for a beautiful Easter ahead! xoxo

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    1. So funny, that croissant was the biggest I have ever seen, quite a monster. But the lad has quite an appetite for carbs, and polished it off. I think he is growing those long limbs because he is quite slender.
      I am in love with my little white cupboard - funny the things which bring us delight!
      We put a blanket on our bed - our idea of snuggle. Morning temps are going down, and I love it.
      Easter Blessings to you and your family too. xo

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  13. Thank you Val. I see the vaccine has arrived at the local pharmacy, and I will have it when all flu symptoms have disappeared. A bit is lingering still. The boy sure is growing, and he wears me out wanting to play running about the yard, climbing things to frighten me, then having a good laugh! And I love it when he says 'Would you come and play with me Grannie?" :)

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  14. Hello Trish. What a lovely surprise to bump into you today. Lots to catch up on. Did you survive the throngs of kiddies in GOMA? Love the style and fabric of your dress. Going to have to practise making swan choux pastries, you have really given me a great idea. Have a lovely evening. Joanita 😇

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    1. Indeed, a lovely surprise - what perfect timing! I can survive anything in the galleries - and now have to learn up the super-heros for the Marvel exhibition, coming soon. My children don't think I can do it, he he
      You must make a flight of swans in choux, it will be superb. Easter Blessings to you both. xx

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  15. Oh no! Hope you're feeling much better, Trish. Also sorry to hear of the flooding. Evidence of global warming, dispite the silly nay sayers.

    I saw a little boy yesterday jump up and grab onto a subway entrance railing. It peered over a very steep drop (where you take an escalator down to the subway). This alarmed me, but not his father. So would I survive raising boys? You can't make them afraid of everything, and I would be splitting hairs trying to figure out where to let them take risks (like climbing trees) verses setting limits so they don't kill themselves. I am equally as worried about head injuries and I am about death.

    Have you ever been chased by wild turkeys, Trish? There are some very funny YouTube videos of people running from packs of what looks like aggressive gangstra turkeys. Watching the clips help me to feel less guilty about my Thanksgiving dinner.

    Glad to read your doings,
    Debbie

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    1. Yikes a typo -- "equally worried about head injuries as I am about death."

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    2. Some boys certainly are risk takers, Debra. I find I worry far more about the grand-children than I did my own kids as a young Mum. I would be alarmed if I saw what you observed too, but of course people don't welcome comment! Never been chased by our wild turkeys which are smaller than the American ones. They are more likely to run away from us. I'm always happy to eat poultry, I must admit. Duck is one of my favourite meats.

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  16. Oh my you have had a bout with illness but it looks like there have been some lovely bright spots in your week.
    Hope by now you are fit as a fiddle.
    XO

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    1. Thank you, quite well again, just in time for Easter. Wishing you a very special Easter day over in Canada.

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  17. Nice to catch up on all your news, Patricia. I hope that you are fully recovered from that flu and that cyclone and can enjoy the weekend.
    Happy Easter,
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Yes, all good now Amalia, and enjoying the Easter break. Happy Easter to you too, and I hope you have a wonderful day.

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