Oct 1 - a new month

Yes it's a new month. That's a good thing.

I did more work on the rock wall yesterday, pouring concrete in the a.m. and placing flat rocks on top. I did a little grouting as well -- on top. I'll hopefully finish that up today, unless I finish the bag of sand first.

Sandy did some cleaning, running the vacuum around. We're now on the last of the hemlock, stacked in the inside woodbox. It burns very quickly so by the end of today I'll be onto other wood. Tomorrow Jim and I will tackle the standing tree ... hopefully.

The sun has just crested the trees across the lake. The internet temp is showing 32F / 0C but it's supposed to hit a high today of 15C. I may get out for a bike ride, if it warms up quickly enough. The coming week looks even better, so I'll leave my slothful ways behind.

There's a lot to do in the next three weeks as we cleanup for the winter, but the biggest (pain) project is wrapping the gazebo. Other stuff is relatively minor -- put one of the boats in the barn, put away the kayaks, deck chairs, muskoka chairs, on and on. I'll get David to help me with the kayaks -- easy except for Aaron's which either takes two to carry it up or takes the 4-wheeler, which is what I did last year. At least this year I already have the rack up there to hold them, no construction required.

I also have to clean the gutters, which by now will be full of pine needles. The pine trees drop roughly half of their needles each year and that big pine in front has carpeted everything.

I know, I should probably make a list.

Anyway ...

I talked to Jason yesterday -- yes, on the phone, which is unusual ! -- they are coming up Wednesday and will stay for a week, leaving next Tuesday or Wednesday. They are bringing dinner for Saturday night and Sandy will be doing turkey for Sunday night -- it's Canadian Thanksgiving, after all. Now that I think about it, we should probably do some Frites ... if Jason reads this perhaps he'll pick up enough potatoes and of course he has to bring up jalapenos for stuffing and grilling.

David's coming up for Thanksgiving but we're not sure when. He's been super busy in the store and might want to wait until Saturday evening.

Alnasir and Nimet called, having seen my email and expressing their condolences. Sandy talked to Sue Cockroft (Palmer) and Bonnie. Sandy had forgotten but Sue lost a sibling to SIDS, can remember her mother screaming but nothing else because the kids were sent away for days afterwards. I had thought that Emma was at school when Sara found Alexander, but she was home. I wonder what lasting memories she'll have ? Probably more because of all the pictures. Hopefully the pictures will fix joyful memories in her mind, not unhappy ones. Christine Kavanagh saw my Facebook entry and Allan sent an email.

For dinner we had steak, splitting a Costco boneless ribeye. It wasn't too bad, but we've had better. Sauteed mushrooms, nuked broccoli and grilled potatoes completed the picture. At least I wasn't grilling in the rain like the night before.

Onward ...