Hurricane Fiona Strengthens to Category 4

Continuing north toward Atlantic Canada!    As it stands right now....PEI is not going to be spared!  Heavy rain will start Friday evening and continue until Saturday evening!  And high winds predicted...currently Fiona sits at a Category 2....but could be upgraded depending on which way she tracks.  

The Emergency Measures Organization has urged people to prepare for the worst...which of course...sends people to the grocery stores in droves...in panic mode!  This photo was taken very early morning...and it only worsened as the day progressed....how bad did I need Ketchup?  Turns out...not that bad...

Most are hoping with all the hype....Fiona won't land as brutal as forecasted...but people are preparing...and there are emergency shelters setting up in the event people are forced to evacuate....

Fiona is likened to a storms we've been through....Dorian and Juan come to mind.  It's worrisome when the trees still have their leaves...making them vulnerable to high winds....and knocking out power lines.  

Mr. Seventies put away our patio furniture...secured the barbecue, waste & compost carts...I brought in my garden flags.  The pantry is stocked...we have candles, batteries and a good old fashion battery operated radio....and will keep the electronics charged up to be advised of storm updates.  

Batten down the hatches Atlantic Canada...it could be a wild ride!  Stay safe everyone!

A Trip To The Pumpkin Patch

We picked a beautiful day to visit an awesome pumpkin patch....just a few short miles from home....

 Grampie was in charge of transportation around the field for grand baby....

She was able to pick out 3-4 pumpkins....from an assortment of sizes and colours....

So many varieties to choose from....in various shapes and sizes....these smaller ones were awesome...at first we thought they were squash....but they are in fact pumpkins...

And an assortment of "Knucklehead" pumpkins....these ones are my favourite....I chose the orange oblong shaped one....

There were orange and Lumina (white) pumpkins to pick from as well....and bins filled with assorted shapes and sizes of gourds.....

A little patch of gladiola in one corner of the field....happens to be my favourite flower....

Mr. Seventies had attached a few corn stocks to the front bird house....and I set the two blueish green pumpkins I chose on the step....

He tucked in the yellow Knucklehead pumpkin beside the stalks....and a few orange Japanese lanterns for a pop of colour....

My Fortnum and Mason basket arrived!  It is absolutely gorgeous....and a great size for extra storage...

We have been issued a special weather statement for the upcoming days...this is the storm that wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico...

"Hurricane Fiona is expected to bring dangerous weather conditions later this week.

Locations: All of Prince Edward Island.

Time span: Thursday evening until Sunday morning.

Potential hazards include:
- Severe and damaging wind gusts
- Very high waves and coastal storm surge
- Intense rainfall rates

Remarks:

Hurricane Fiona is expected to merge with a trough and transform into a hurricane force post tropical cyclone on Saturday. The combination of Fiona and the trough will produce very heavy rain beginning Thursday night. Flooding and washed out roads are likely in some areas.

Strong to severe wind gusts are expected to begin impacting the province on Friday night peaking on Saturday. Past storms of this nature have produced prolonged utility outages and structural damage. Buildings under construction will be particularly vulnerable."

Time to batten down the hatches!  Mr. Seventies has some final preparations...put away the deck furniture, secure the barbecue and outdoor waste & compost carts....and hopefully we don't lose our power.

Today I will stock up on pantry & food items....and fingers crossed this system veers off to the right of us...and we don't bear the full brunt of it.  Either way...we will get high winds and heavy rains I suspect.

Gotta love fall hurricane season on the East Coast!!

Enjoying Fall

Fall has arrived....with beautiful sunny days....and very cool temperatures over night.  We've been enjoying getting out on the trails with Liesel....it will be another couple of weeks before the leave turn and we can enjoy fall colours ....

As you can see...we are all bundled up for our walk!  The north winds were brisk on this day....even Liesel required an extra layer on...

And look what is back in operation on these cool mornings and evenings!  Purchase a heat pump everyone said.  You will love it everyone said.  We don't love it.   It's no better than forced air heating...one minute you are blasted with warm air...and suddenly when it shuts off...back to cool temperatures until it blasts on again.  I think our home is too small for this beast to be of any significance...we really feel the effects in our small family room when it is running....heat or air conditioning.   I think we can count the number of times we had the air on over the summer.  

We may be just getting old...and accustomed to the steady heat of the pellet stove...Mr. Seventies picked up a few bags of pellets...and we are much more comfortable and toasty warm.  We do run the heat pump overnight....but that's about the only time....

On a recent visit to Home Sense.....I discovered a few more adorable cushions...this one was so tempting...hard to resist a dachshund with wings...

And this pretty pumpkin cushion....

These Halloween trick or treat baskets are adorable....and over priced!  But cute nonetheless...

We spent a wonderful afternoon with grand baby and her Mom....we took in a local football game grand baby's Dad was one of the referees....then some fun time at the park nearby...and headed off to Cow's ice cream for an after game treat!!  

We love this van parked nearby..and are very familiar with the song "The Wheels On The Bus"....

Grand baby was delighted to see such a huge cow in front of the ice cream shop!!  Way too high for her to sit on...

Of course...we had to check out the retail shop...as well as the various flavours of ice cream!  I purchased this pink nightshirt....decided to forgo the slippers....I wasn't sure how well I could navigate them...

Mr. Seventies was picking a few potatoes in the garden...and came across this heart shaped one!!  He brought it in to share with me....

We have an abundance of potatoes and corn on the cob in the garden still...along with buttercup squash and onions.  Mr. Seventies bundled up some corn stalks & set out as a display at the front door...today we have a trip planned to a local pumpkin patch with grand baby & family....then for Sunday dinner afterwards.

Thank you so much for spending a bit of your time with me!  As with most Mondays...we will be sharing later over on Between Naps On The Couch and A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday... be sure stop over & read some amazing blogs here on  Metamorphosis Monday.

Gorgeous Large Hamper

I read about this gorgeous large hamper/basket - (measurements  16"h x 23"w x 16"d)  on one of my favourite blogs the other day....and just had to order one!!  

The UK company is Fortnum and Mason... (not sponsored)....if you wish to check out their website.  https://www.fortnumandmason.com

This is the hamper I ordered...you have the option of filling it with teas, tasty treats, etc.  I added a box of truffles...but it's really the hamper I'm crushing on.  I'm obsessed with the leather straps...and it's big enough to store throws & cushions.  You could even add legs...as suggested on Between Naps on the Porch blog...genius idea!!

I'll be sure & share when my hamper arrives....these would making amazing gifts for any occasion....and I think they ship worldwide!    Just thought I would share....

The kitchen windows have been preliminary measured for interior shutters... the installer will come and do the precise measuring.  The first step was completing the paperwork and getting the order started.  Once the installer does his thing...the shutters will be ordered...through Levolor with a tentative arrival date of 4 to 6 weeks.   We went with the same PVC shutters with 2 1/2" vanes .....consistent with the rest of the shutters in the house.

The first shutters we had installed in the family room a few years ago...were mahogany in colour.   I decided, after a few short years....to have them professionally spray painted white by a local company.  After waiting five long weeks for them to be completed...we discovered when we arrived home with them....every shutter and a long dried drip trail...from top to bottom.  Since they were wrapped in tight plastic...we didn't notice the problem until we began to unwrap them...we did an inspection of each shutter ...and all four had the same drip trail!   Quality control must have been on break that day!!

Back to the company we went... (I was a bit on the cranky side)....after waiting so long to have them completed....only for them to not be perfect.  They were redone within a few days...and I was very happy to see they were perfect.  And they still look amazing today....no one would suspect they had been painted and not come from Levolor in white!

Going to cool down significantly in the next few days....with perhaps some much needed rain!  Everything is very dry...the lawns are hard under foot.    Have an awesome day wherever you are!  

Fall In The Family Room

We've been enjoying gorgeous weather as of late...and evening fires in the fire pit!  And with it getting darker earlier...we've also noticed a few leaves are starting to change colours!  I look forward to cooler autumn days.  When not outside, we light a few scented candles and put a fall scenic video on. the tv....

I remembered this adorable cushion in my linen closet from Pier 1 in Moncton.  So sad it closed....it was one of my favourite stores...

A couple of cushions on the sofa...one says "Fall Harvest" and the other "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" from Anne of Green Gables!   So fitting....since we live only a few miles from there!  

I love the pumpkin garland across the mantle...and Mr. Seventies favourite football wreath "It's Fall...Play Ball"....and I set a basket of colourful pumpkins near the hearth.    And my little dachshund witch in front of the stack of pumpkins.....

The spooky ghost eyes light up....and I set a candle in the pumpkin and burn in the evenings....

My second cauldron with "bubbles" a brewing....

A few pieces I had on hand as well...my scarecrow tart warmer I picked up last year...Pumpkin Spice wax melts smell amazing.....

A good spot to set my Night Fright pumpkins....and a couple of creepy friends...

So that's how we do fall in our home!  I dropped into Winners the other day (since it's in the mall I seldom go there...but glad I did on this day).  They had a great selection of fall cushions....but you had to really look to find them....

This detailed one was my favourite....love the ghosts....

And this one was adorable....love the cat theme...

And furry pumpkins....

And this heavy weighted wooden bucket of pumpkins....was so heavy.  Would be perfect for outdoors....you wouldn't have to worry about strong winds knocking it over!!

We attended a dachshund event in Cavendish over the weekend!  The first annual Wienerpalooza...so many dachshunds in one spot!!  This little pie bald....Brute....I could have smuggled him home with me!!  Is he not the most adorable little guy??  He & his parents live in Summerside!

Doxies came from all over the maritimes....here's an adorable meet & greet...

Liesel did really well....she was content to sniff her way around...and everyone had a great time....

We didn't stay too long...as the day was full sun and there was virtually no shaded areas...we did pick up a couple bags of dog treats from vendors at the event.  There were wiener races, costume events, silent auction and barbecue....to raise funds for dachshund rescue....

On the way home we stopped for a quick visit to admire the waves at Cavendish Beach....it was really windy.  Dogs are not permitted on the beaches in the national parks...so we weren't able to walk with Liesel sadly....

There were a lot of people in the park....mostly on bicycles...and a few on the beach enjoying the views.  I'm likely one of a handful of people who is not a fan of the beach or salt water.  Some find it peaceful....it gives me the opposite affect...

This weather this week looks to be cooling down....as are the over night temps.  We're planning a few days getaway in October...to drive around the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.  We are going to take the ferry from eastern PEI to Nova Scotia...and have accommodations (pet friendly) booked and hope we have good weather...and not rain the whole time.  The leaves will be at their peak...we should see some beautiful sights!!

Thanks for spending time with me today!  I'll be over at Between Naps on the Porch later today...sharing on  Metamorphosis Monday.

Kitchen Fall Tour

Welcome to a little bit of fall in the kitchen!  The days are getting shorter....darker much earlier in the evenings....we've been enjoying our fire pit & chatting with our neighbours around the fire in the evenings!  But we are spending more time inside these days....so added a few fall touches to the kitchen....

I love how my cauldron turned out...with bubbles a brewing!!  And the Mummy wax warmer adds a bit of spookiness to the counter!  I gave the exact same warmer to my daughter....she is in love with it as well...

I keep an apple pie scented candle burning on the cook top......

And strung my truck garland across one of the kitchen windows again this year...

And Marvin the Mummy is adorable....and his pumpkin is filled with Hallowe'en caramel candy kisses....I am so obsessed with him!!

I added some fall touches to the kitchen table as well...and am loving the tiered tray with some fall goodness added...

This wall decor piece holds such special meaning....as my dear friend (who passed away three years ago) and I spent an evening painting them...cherished memories with a cherished friend...

Mr. Seventies set our outdoor fall pieces on the front step....hung a scarecrow garden flag....and fall wreath on the front door.  Usually we pick up a couple of potted mums....but the prices are absolutely ridiculous for them this year!  For potted annuals that will die when the first frost hits!!  If they come down in price a bit we may reconsider...but are holding off for now.  Pumpkins will soon be available at the u-picks....

The measure for the kitchen window shutters is happening on Tuesday.  Once measurements are taken...they will be ordered and an install date will be set once they arrive....

Thanks so much for being here today!  Have an awesome weekend!!

Looking Back

It's hard to believe it's been four years this week since we vacationed in various locations in Alberta! We had long wanted to see the majestic Rocky Mountains....and the weather was amazing our whole trip...

Beautiful Banff...

The views were simply breath taking....we spent a full day discovering Canmore....and hitting all the local shops...

And marvel at the beauty that is Lake Louise....just look at that water...

Just driving the highways was a jaw dropping experience....I love how they incorporated over passes so the wildlife can safely cross from one side to the other....

The highlight, besides the gorgeous views...was the opportunity to see elk...in Jasper!  We spent a couple of days exploring this little railroad town.  One local described the difference between Banff and Jasper..."Banff is Gucci....and Jasper is Dollarama".  Still a great spot to visit...we chatted with a conservation officer who shared his vast knowledge of elk and their habits....

We also visited Edmonton...spent a nano second in the infamous West Edmonton Mall!  The only day it rained...the mall was insane with people!  I rarely visit our rinky dink mall on a rainy Saturday...so was overwhelmed pretty quickly!  

We spent a couple of days in Calgary...got lost in Ikea....a couple of times...but loved Calgary!  We've talked about taking another trip....perhaps early next fall...

I know there are those who prefer the ocean...I'm not one of those people!  Give me a gorgeous mountain view any day!!  

I've turned the corner with Covid...won't be in a hurry to battle it again.  Mr. Seventies still testing negative....grandbaby is positive for it as well.  

I hope you are all staying well & wanting to get back to some sense of normalcy in the coming days!!