Gutter Talk

 We finally are the proud owners of new gutters!  It took the installers about half a day to remove the old ones and install the new gutters. 

We spent the extra money and had leaf guards added inside them...highly recommended to keep them flowing clearly...especially in winter.  If debris sits in the gutters...snow & rain freezes...and things dam up...

Nothing pretty to show...but money well spent.  I though Liesel would bark her wire head off...but after the first few woofs...she seemed not to care.  A crew suddenly arriving with numerous extension ladders...I thought would warrant a stressful dog...but she seemed to take it in stride.  

Daughter and I made a quick trip to the thrift store...I didn't get many photos.  It was extremely busy...maybe people were like us and not visited in months!  One thing I did see...and forgot to swing back around and pick up....was this angel!

While it isn't Willow Tree...I thought it might look nice with my Willow Tree nativity set.  A spare angel never goes awry!  The aisle was crowded...and attempting to keep six feet distance...I meant to to go back and pick it up. But...grand baby was getting hungry...and we still had one stop to make at the pharmacy.  

Her formula is very expensive (since it is required to contain no milk protein or soy)...and she drinks one can each day.  Enter "Seniors Day" at the pharmacy!  My daughter checked each pharmacy location the night before...to ensure there were enough cases in stock...as she gets multiple cases at a time.  One box only contains four cans...a case holds six boxes of four cans.  On Thursdays...20% Senior discounts are offered...well worth this old gal ringing it through checkout.  The saving is equivalent to the cost of one case...so it's like getting one case free!!  Once a month we stock up on formula!  The manufacturer also offers coupons...so those are taken advantage of as well. 

The weather is going to cool down today...more seasonal.  We've been seeing record high temperatures this week...I've seen so many people putting up outdoor Christmas decor!  I suspect between the nice weather and people just wanting something to look forward to after such challenging months.

Some craft fairs are organized with guidelines for the number of allowable shoppers at one time...social distancing and mandatory masks.  Our province has not made masks mandatory...stupid in my opinion...so most shops and stores have taken it upon themselves to mandate masks are mandatory.  Which is fine with me...we wear masks every time.   And use hand disinfectant when hand washing can't be done.  Seems like such little inconveniences...to save lives.  

I truly do not want to see us go into another full blown lockdown and it annoys me they allow flights in and out of the province.  That is how our cases seem to arrive...someone travelling outside the Maritime bubble...(four Atlantic provinces).  Thankfully, the infection numbers are low...for now...our Chief Health Officer has warned of a second wave.  We are an Island...we depend on goods coming from off Island...and truckers have been very respectful to follow protocols...travellers should do no less.

Hopping off my soapbox now....these are scary times we are living in.  If everyone would just do their part...the number of infections would diminish drastically.  On that note...stay safe, be kind...and have a great weekend!!

 

Monday Catch Up

 Happy Monday!!   I hope everyone had a great weekend...we celebrated Mr. Seventies birthday..and it was a milestone one at that!  He loved his cake again this year...depicts him perfectly!  Sitting amongst his flowers..with a cup of coffee...enjoying the outdoors!  I forgot to have a small dachshund placed on his knee...but we were still enjoyed his cake.  We had a delicious meal of pizza and garlic fingers...and he received thoughtful gifts and phone calls to wish him well...

I was out and about..scouting some gorgeous Christmas decor...and as always couldn't resist checking out the decor cushions...and again I was able to resist.  Almost like I'm tempting fate...

Crushing hard on this one...anything with a truck..gets me..my Dad had a truck...brings back warm memories...

I thought these lamps were beautiful...and available in a couple of gorgeous colours...

So pretty on bedside tables...or anywhere a touch of light is required...

Love these plush dachshunds..available in two sizes and colours.  I didn't purchase any...I have a collection of them...and some I've passed on to my daughter already....but oh so cute!

I came across this adorable tree ornament...and since a certain precious grand baby is celebrating her first Christmas this year...I picked it up as a keepsake.... she hopefully will have for many years to come.

One year ago this day we learned she was a beautiful baby girl!  So much excitement at that reveal!

She is required to travel to the IWK  (where her heart surgery was performed) for a check up this week...

We are beginning to look like new parents ourselves...we have a playpen, round saucer for her to sit it...and now a base to her car seat is in the works to be installed in our SUV!  It does make it easier though than having to haul all her baby gear back & forth...and babies come with a lot of "stuff"!

And....my tart obsession continues!  Blame it on Covid...for months...in lockdown...very few were in stock....so I've been hoarding....I pick up a pack or two when I'm in Wal Mart...

And delicious new scents available!  Finally.  The Pecan Waffles smells a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!

Actually they are all heavily scented...which makes me very happy!!

For the past few years...a local interior designer has been hosting a Christmas Decor & Trends night of fun & food!  (last year we enjoyed house tours as well..). With Covid...it looked like the event was going to be viral.  But...it is going ahead..in person..with all Covid protocols in place.  Tickets are limited...the venue has changed...and limited tickets will be available only sold in batches of five.  There will be tables set up...accommodating five people...and each table will be six feet apart.  And screens will be set up so everyone will have a good view of what is being shown.  And we will wear masks until we are seated.  

My daughter, myself, a dear friend, her daughter & daughter-in-law...are planning to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant...then make our way to the event!  We will make up five for one table!  So happy to have this event...some Christmas joy put back into an otherwise stressful year!  A few craft sales are able to be held...of course following all the rules...but I think I will forgo them this year.  

Overcast and very mild here today!  Mr. Seventies built a hand rail over the weekend on the steps leading from the pool deck to the back yard.  Liesel usually zooms down her ramp while I navigate the steps...and a hand rail will provide a bit of stability especially during the winter months.  Something for me to hang on to...after a bit of snow & ice last week...I'm a bit timid without having a hand rail.  Now it works great for me!

Have an awesome day wherever you are today!!

This and That...and Other Things...

A bit of wintery weather here this week...chilly temps, cold winds...and a light dusting of snow.  Typical November weather for us..

The new cooktop has been ordered...and as expected it won't be arriving until the end of the month.  No big deal..we can manage with three burners until then...

I'm excited to pick up a copy of this book...written by two characters from my favourite tv series Outlander!  There is also a television show "Men In Kilts"...due out in a couple of months.  Until then..they have written a book...about their travels around Scotland...and seriously...who doesn't love men in kilts?  Must be my Scottish heritage...so picking this up at the bookstore...it was released on November 3rd. 

I spent some time packing up the fall decor from my cabinet...giving it a good dusting..and decided to showcase a few of my dachshund items...and this is just the tip of the iceberg...also a good spot to share my wire dachshund cushion...in honour of Liesel...

An up close look at one of the shelves...Mr. Seventies collected all the dachshund plates on the first and second shelves...there were eight in the series...then they added an additional four...I've placed ten in my cabinet.  They range from smooth dachshunds...long hair and wire dachshunds...and mean everything to me..

The frame in the centre holds a black and white photo of Liesel..the bottom shelf displays dachshund dinnerware...only one set is on display...the other set is at my daughter's home.  When grand baby is old enough they will invest in a cabinet and can display breakables then...

I've discovered Poshmark!  (the Canadian site)...have been pleased with the two purchases I have made so far...

I've been needing a pair of rain boots...these are brand new from the seller...originally from Mark's Work Wearhouse...I paid a mere $20 for them (shipping was free that day)...they are really cute and comfortable...

And as you can see the tags were still on this leather hand bag...somedays I just need a larger bag...and this one fit the bill...I'm not a fan of the leather tassel...but do not want to ruin the bag by cutting it off...so I will learn to live with it.  I'm not the fringe/tassel type....on anything...

And I sorely needed a rain jacket...the colour of this Columbia jacket is just so pretty...it has a lining and fits beautifully....(Amazon)...it's a pretty dark pink/rose colour...the sleeves have velcro closing..and it zips with ease every time.  I have no patience for a zipper that is constantly getting caught or stuck...

Tomorrow is Mr. Seventies birthday!  We'll be having a celebration at our daughter & son-in-law's home...I cannot wait to share his cake I've ordered!  My son-in-law is picking it up today...the previous place where I used to order amazing cakes from...sold..at the start of Covid!   My daughter in Nova Scotia has a friend who makes the most incredible cakes...but it's not feasible to order from her...so I had to look around for a new baker!  Fingers crossed the cake is not only incredible..but tastes delicious!

No word from the gutter replacement company...but it's only been four months waiting...(sarcasm)...they were supposed to show up last week.  With all the construction going on here...work is plentiful.  So...we wait....

Going to be out and about today...one major road is closed...and traffic was backed up yesterday for over an hour coming into the city from where my daughter lives.  She & grand baby had an appointment..and it took 50 minutes during the morning commute to get through...today we will take alternate routes and go late morning/early afternoon.  People joke because we are relatively small Island...but our roads are not equipped for the amount of traffic we have.  Where it used to take me ten minutes to get to....now is about thirty minutes...time spent sitting at intersections and lights. But it is what it is...

Wishing you a great day where ever you are today!!

Shopping for New Cooktop

We are in the market for a new cooktop!  One burner..has stopped working.  Now...this appliance owes us nothing.  I purchased it at least 18 years ago...from a co-worker...whose parents had purchased a new home with this cooktop and wall oven.  For whatever reason..they wanted a standard range with oven...and removed the wall oven...and cooktop.  The wall oven had sold...and in chatting I mentioned we were shopping for a cooktop.  She mentioned her parents were selling one...it was in storage in their garage..and in perfect condition.   I quickly purchased it for either $300 or $350...

The knobs were originally white...I switched them out for black ones...and it has served us well.  Few stores carry cooktops in stock here...our contractor is ordering a Whirlpool model with stainless knobs...and his electrician will install it.  Because our counters are granite...there is a special adhesive required for installation...(the electrician has installed numerous ones in granite)...he will assure installation is done correctly.  He also has done numerous electrical jobs in our home...

In the last few years...we have replaced our wall oven once (apparently their life span is 7 years)..three dishwashers...one new over the cooktop microwave/vent combo...and now the cooktop.  And they only appliance I really prefer would crash...is the refrigerator!  I have a specific size and model in mind..but cannot justify replacing it...until it quits working.  

It will likely be the end of the month or into early December before the new cooktop arrives and is installed.  Which is fine..three burners will have to suffice until then.  When Mr. Seventies & I first married...we rented a house with no stove or fridge!  And made do until we had the funds to purchase them...second hand!  I was very creative with meals using an electric frying pan & wood stove....and a cooler with ice my neighbour supplied to keep milk & necessities cold!  Oh...the good old days..

It's quite cold here today...chance of the odd flurries.  Great day to do some Christmas shopping!  

Now That Halloween is Over...

 Bring on the holiday cheer!  Yesterday packed away all the fall decor (two totes full)...and Mr. Seventies brought in the outdoor stack of pumpkins and gnome-mobile...and put them in the storage room downstairs.  I love fall...so a little sad to see it move into November...which is usually a windy, rainy and cold month here.  The trees will soon be bare...the time has moved back an hour...making evenings so dark...almost feel like hibernating...

With Covid..there will be no craft shows, Christmas home tours or decorating workshops to attend...although a couple are in the works for on-line events...so there is that...but it kind of dampens the holiday mood...

Our grand daughter Charly celebrated her birthday...mixed with Halloween..she was such an adorable little witch...and just look at her amazing cake!! 

Moving forward...let's get right into the Christmas goodies I scouted out!  I didn't purchase anything...as have a shopping outing planned with youngest grand baby and her Mama...but saw a couple of things I don't think I can resist...this adorable Grinch being one of them!    I love me a Grinch...

The second item is this Santa....I mean..check out those adorable slippers...and yummy cookie & hot chocolate!  Adorable...

I may have to add one new piece...just sayin'.  Moving on...gotta feed my Nutcracker obsession..this life size guy is only a mere $500!!  Whoa...unless he does laundry and vacuuming...he can stand at attention right where he is...

Thankfully there are smaller....and cheaper versions available...like this cute woodsman...

Crushing on these adorable dachshund picks...I picked one up a while ago for grand baby's first Christmas tree...they are so cute...with moveable legs as well...

These lanterns are so pretty...not as large as the ones I have...but I love the off white finish...and they come with flickering battery operated candles...watching to see if they come on sale.  They would look awesome on our farmhouse kitchen table...

Quite a variety of larger picks available again this year...but no elf feet...maybe they haven't got everything out on display yet...if you remember from last year...I have the large red & white lollipops..

Lots of beautiful garlands...however I discovered nearly identical ones as this..in another store...for a much, much lower price...so noted...unless daughter wants one for her mantle..and BOGO is on...we'd pass on these ones...

This will be the first time we have put our tree in our downstairs family room...so likely won't have has much decor on the main floor...but will have some touches here and there...

Mr. Seventies & I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary last week...I woke up to the most beautiful bouquet of roses...a beautiful card...containing two Amazon gift cards!  This man knows the way to this old gal's heart!!  We get Chinese food about once a year...so chose that as our anniversary meal...ordered in rather than dine out in a restaurant.  With restrictions on the number of diners...and social distancing...this was a safer choice.

So..that is a wrap for today.  Today sweet grand baby is seven months old!  We are happy to report she is thriving...such a happy, healthy baby!  Today she meets with her paediatrician...for a check up and later in the month she will be seen in Halifax where she had her heart surgery.  Just a follow up appointment...all is well.

Have an awesome fall day where ever you are!  

 

                   Mr. Seventies & I are celebrating thirty-seven years together on this day!!

        

                           

End of October...Already

 It's hard to believe we are in the last week of October already!  Since Hallowe'en is a go here...Mr. Seventies purchased the "treats"...(which are really for him)...as we seldom get trick or treaters..and if we do..it's only a handful.  With so many housing developments in the area....parents choose to stick closer to home than venture out with little ones on a busy road such as ours.  

Well...this is the end of an era.  After much prodding...Mr. Seventies finally sawed up the old picnic table & used the lumber in the burn pot!  This picnic table has withstood the test of time...it was purchased about 36 years ago...and each and every year since...it has been repaired and stained.  Until...it could be no more...bits and pieces after sawing it up...

It was used mainly for outdoor projects, drying of squash & onions from the garden...a general all round outside work table.  Now it's a pile of ashes...

While Mr. Seventies was doing that...I busied myself and put together apples and raspberries (from our stocks)...a delicious blend for applesauce!  And grand baby loves her some fresh warm applesauce!

A couple of shrubs are showing off their fall colours beautifully...so happy to see our burning bush looking so gorgeous....the tree branch that fell on it last year during Hurricane Dorian...broke a number of branches off...but here she is in all her fall glory...

And a spirea changing into her fall colours....

We've had some beautiful fall days...cool and breezy...just the kind of weather Liesel and I like to take advantage of and enjoy the fresh air...out for a morning stroll...

This day is bittersweet...it is one year ago today I lost my beloved best friend...Christine....

Not a day since have I not missed her...and time has done nothing to ease her loss.  RIP my dear friend....until we meet again...

I'll leave you with a verse from a song at her memorial service...

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today!

Let's Do Some Browsing

 I popped into my favourite home decor store a few days ago...some lovely Christmas decor and goodies everywhere!  Oh...I was so tempted...how cute are these characters?

Not much in the way of holiday cushions or throws...but staff was very busy stocking shelves and setting up displays.  I did manage to see this adorable cushion...

I am so crushing on this piece...a cute holiday camper...it would look amazing on a front porch or step...

Some pretty kitchen towels to put you in the holiday mood...

And this little cutie..hanging out looking all adorable...

In keeping with my promise to myself...I have not purchased any new Christmas decor....yet.  I'm sure there will be that one....or two...pieces that I won't be able to resist...my name is Charlotte...and I have a love of all things decor...

In other news...Hallowe'en is a go here...I'm happy little trick or treaters will be able to get out & about safely.  We seldom get goblins...you've read where I've mentioned we live on an extremely busy road...and although we have sidewalks and street lights...parents tend to accompany their little ones in one of the many housing developments off our road.  But...as in the previous 32 years...Mr. Seventies will stock up on treats...just in case this might be the year we get an onslaught of kids!  As usual I advised him to purchase snacks he likes...because he will be the big kid enjoying them!

Last weekend he tied up a few cornstalks to our bird house pole...and added the traditional dachshund themed carved pumpkin!  He does such a great carving job!!

Update on new gutter install - supposed to take place next week!  The construction industry is booming here...and workers are swamped with jobs...it's taken a bit longer to get the new gutters done...but fingers crossed it will happen sooner rather than later. 

The weather has been remaining warm...except in the evenings and over night.  Remember the gorgeous knitted wrap I ordered a few months back from a seller on Etsy?  I had the opportunity to show it off on date night!   Due to Covid...we don't tend to venture into restaurants...but felt a night out was long overdue!  We enjoyed a delicious meal at a local seafood and pub restaurant!

Our little grand daughter...now six months old...continues to thrive!  Her feeding tube was removed a little over two weeks ago..and she has begun "real" food!  Her Mama mixes fresh veggies and fruits in her Magic Bullet...and Annabelle loves to eat!  

I have some fresh cooked squash from our garden and slow cooker mix of apples and raspberry applesauce to drop off today. Milk protein and soy are still an issue...she remains on a prescribed formula...and discovered certain pablum contain milk proteins.   And...drumroll please...she rolled over all on her own yesterday!!  My heart is so happy and full when I hear her laugh...and squeal...she is such a happy little baby now!  

Here's hoping you have an awesome day wherever you are today!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday at my daughter's house...it was a wonderful afternoon and meal...this is the first time my daughter had the opportunity to use her passed down china (from her grandmother)....and her mother's gold flatware.  The flatware case (sorry, I didn't remember to get a photo)..belonged to her great grandmother...Mr. Seventies re-finished the outside and had it professionally relined as a gift to me a number of years ago...and I have passed the case & flatware to her.   I'll be on the look out for some pretty napkins and table runner....in the meantime...the table looked lovely and very sentimental ....

Mr. Seventies completed one row of the patio walkway...the plan is to do two more rows (to the left) similar to a patio setting....

My precious oldest grand daughter gifted me with some awesome smelling Bath and Body Works hand soaps (she knows her Mimi well!)...a package of delicious smelling tarts...body butter from Body Works...and a cute beer sign for her Grampie.....such a sweet girl....and yes...I am biased...

Lastly, I want to share my Hallowe'en candy corn nails!  Almost good enough to eat....

Wishing my fellow Canadians a very Happy Thanksgiving!  We enjoyed turkey and all the fixings...with not one but two pumpkin cheesecakes and pumpkin pies with whipped cream for dessert!  Time to lace up my sneakers and walk off a bit all that food!!  Thank goodness for stretchy pants!!