Mid summer

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It is really summer now. We have had extended periods of high temperatures and blue skies. What a gorgeous place to live. Of course people tell us that this is all very unusual. We are learning to get up early and use the cool hours of the day to get things done.

Wilma's routine is an early walk with the dog and watering the flowers and the veggies in the greenhouse and outside. It is quite a job. She is facing quite a harvest too. The lettuce, beans and peas, etc. are a slow and steady affair, but the berries are abundant. This morning she picked a pail and a half and there will be just as much tomorrow. Then there will be a lot of apples in the Fall.

I have tried to get to work on the garage etc. before the heat of the high sun zaps all the energy. The mosquitoes or not so bad anymore. Work is progressing well but slower that I had hoped for. The ceilings and walls are done. We had some very helpful assistance with that from Jackie and Wilfred Dijkstra. The overhead doors and the doors and windows are in so we are in lock-up stage. Ian has been helping along as well. He wants to learn how to use the nail gun and brad nailer so that he can build stuff in the future. He is already talking about building shutters for the windows. Right now we have some windows that we cover with a drop sheet during the heat of the day. Shutters would indeed work much better and certainly look nicer. Everything in time.

Ian and I finished the siding on the front awnings over the garage. We moved the scaffolding to the east side to start there tomorrow. In the mean time he moved quite a bit of gravel to level and shape the drive way and the yard.

We do get some R&R in as well, though maybe not enough. When the days hit the upper 30s we did escape to Tyhee Lake for some afternoon and evening time. Ian and his buddy Loren love to float on the water, Wilma and I prefer the shade and a good book. Are we getting old or something?

Tomorrow we expect Jerry and Nellie Scholtens here. They will stay with us for just a few days. Then, on Wednesday Pa, George and Els arrive. Amy touches down on Thursday night. [If you have not heard her latest story yet, do talk to here and ask her about August 24 and her international departure. It is really quite exciting]. Jonathan and Judith will be here on Saturday. So, by next weekend we will have a crowd of 9 people. We are looking forward to it.

Oh, and Judith asked to see a photo of the workbench I made. Pretty well all left over materials so it is a bit overbuilt, but that makes it solid.