Summer's Final Bow

It has been pointed out to me on a couple of occasions, that I haven't put up a post for a while.  I really don't know what happens with the time, but I thought I'd bore you all once again with tales from the Gentle Island.  (Sorry, PE Island friends...but I kind of like the nickname.)

We had visitors, in the form of my father and his wife.  (Mike and Margaret.)  They stayed for a three days as part of their East Coast journey.  Thankfully the weather was fairly accommodating and we were able to enjoy some of the sights, sounds and tastes of the Island.

As you can see it was a beautiful day along one of the beaches in Cavendish and there were very few people around and about.  After Labour Day, the tourists pretty well disappear.  The day before Dad & Marg left, the weather turned and the rains came.  Autumn came in like a soggy blanket, but the temperatures only dipped for a day, so we've been having this kind of humid, wet unpleasantness.  Not that we can complain, as I've mentioned before, the summer has been perfectly stunning. 

Today, summer showed it's face again which was a lovely surprise. (Not so good for running, but fantastic for sitting out on the back deck; which I did with a certain wild abandon (didn't even put on sun screen!) that comes with knowing these types of days are fleeting and rare now. Here are some of the fauna that live with us out in the country.

Webber the Chipmunk stealing the bird's seed. (Note puffy cheeks!)

Even puffier cheeks.

Rasputin - public enemy number one.

Ron says "Wanted Dead or Alive"

Resident Blue Jay - unnamed, as there are several of them and I can't tell them apart.

There is also a suspicious something-or-other ripping up our lawn.  We're not sure whether it's a raccoon or skunk, but it does seem to be having a field day digging up grubs and what have you.  Two years ago today, we were checking out Chicago & as I recall it was also a lovely day where we sat out and had lunch on the patio of Topogigo's, a very good Italian restaurant.  Life is good and we are grateful.  I hope this installment finds the same with you and yours.  I must hie off, as I have chores and obligations to take care of - so much easier, now that I've taken a moment to enjoy our little piece of paradise.  Our thoughts to all of you!

PS: you might wonder why Webber is tolerated while Rasputin is not.  Truth be told, Webber won't climb up into our house - he's a burrower and the same can not be said for Rasputin.  He hasn't gotten in to the house, and seems content to live in the outbuilding, but you can't trust him,  I mean really - would you trust that face?  He also refused to go anywhere near the live trap no matter the bait - too smart for our taste!  Who knows what he's plotting?

Near the Close of Year Two

It is very hard to believe, but two years ago, at this very time, Ron and I were getting ready to start our cross country adventure.  We were packing and making last minute arrangements and generally celebrating and panicking all at the same time.  Our adventure was in front of us, as was the unknown and everything seemed possible.

Two years on, we've settled well into this little piece of the world.  We're still renovating...I never saw that coming, that's for sure.  The list of improvements on the house continues to grow, as does the list of things still needing to be done.  (Now tell me, how is that possible???)  We installed geothermal heating & upgraded the duct work, some of which was done before we arrived, we reinforced the foundation and plastic lined the crawl space and filled it with some good gravel for drainage.  We had someone put in a proper outside access to the crawl space/basement and then once we arrived, we attacked the living areas.  We painted the upstairs bathroom hoping to make it more appealing and then took on the living room walls.  (Side note...that's our most viewed post "Battle Wallpaper"...it seems everyone has similar problems and is surfing the internet for solutions.)  We painted the dining room and Ron then renovated the upstairs bathroom (we couldn't live with it...I could barely use the shower it was so icky!)  Last summer we levelled the porches and painted the front porch, having improved the banisters and rails...no PVC lattice for us! along with most of the trim.  (We still haven't completed it, as we need to rent a 40 foot ladder to reach the peak of the house.)  We seeded the lawn where the geothermal went in and did a bit of landscaping and planting. 

We decided to rest a bit, (if you don't include the fact that we had 4 windows replaced - the best money we've spent...such a difference!)but not long after, Ron decided it was time to redo the downstairs washroom, which is now completed (except for the roman blinds, which I have yet to sew.)  As requested, here is a picture of the shower area downstairs, plus our newly covered chaise.

Not beige, I swear...it's a silvery grey!

Now, there is some stuff from the living room in the bathroom, as we've started on the living room floors...why not, we thought?  How hard could it be?

Yes, those are the original barn board floors, but they're to patched to refinish...plus you can see in to the basement through the cracks.  The upper picture shows some of the quarter inch plywood that they used before carpeting the floor...they used 3 pounds or so of nails to tack down the plywood...so evil.  I was on nail pulling duty, but Ron had to wodge up all the plywood with pry bars etc.  The floor actually looks much better in the picture than it does in real life.  We're hoping to have the three quarter ply laid down by the end of the weekend so Ron can lay down the felt and start installing the hardwood that matches the dining room.  (Can you say continuous flooring? Well, in two room and a hallway, at least.)  Then perhaps we can rest, once we finishing painting the back porch posts and replacing some of the fascia that has seen better days.  (Our motto for the house..."Better than what was there before!")  I'll throw in a picture of one of our local blue jays, just to finish up.  My back is sore and my knees feel like goo and I'm ready for a gin and tonic (I think Ron feels exactly the same).  We're thinking of you!  Lots of love from the "Gentle Island"...a particularly hated moniker around these parts!

Next installment...apple trees (yes, autumn is approaching)...try not to get too excited!  For now, the barbeque beckons and the heady smell of mesquite grilled pork chops is on my mind.