The landscaper just dropped off their plans for all the plantings. It incorporates a living rock (bubbling rock) to the left of the driveway, fire-pit, deck, and a pond/waterfall area outside our living room window etc. Martha wants to check out some of the pond installations they have made before approving any plans. For a first draft of the design click here… 1st landscape draft (popup 700×570)

Thanks Martha for brightening up my life this weekend. The grey is all gone and the colour is great. Martha played hairdresser at my place and gave me a makeover. It was a quick visit but amazing how much we can talk and share stories. When we get together it is as if no one else exists. Thanks again for helping out at the Hockey “Schtick on the Ice” gala fundraiser. The Burkes really appreciate all the work you did helping the team (more than some of our parents and definitely more than the other team’s parents). Nothing went un-noticed!

Today I am at a workshop at the board office. It is about linking the new Dell laptops to curriculum in the classroom. I am here with Peggy and Dina. We are working through various tasks and having a very enjoyable afternoon.

What a gorgeous Thanksgiving weekend we are experiencing here in southwestern Ontario. Jaclyn is home for the weekend to enjoy turkey and pumpkin pie and John and Rosemary made it down too!
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Today was a wonderful Indian Summer 24oC, sunny and blue sky. The preparations are all done for tomorrows turkey dinner. We are going to try for the first time barbequing a fresh 22lb turkey. It will take 4 1/2hrs outside and will keep my kitchen from overheating. The neighbours will all enjoy the aromas coming from our patio. I baked my pumpkin pies today by special request. We invited the Edmonds to join us and the two Grandmother as well. I hope that everyone has a happy day tomorrow.

The more we do, the more things I see need replacing. All the cement is poured now and yesterday I decided it was time to find the one leak in our roof. During the rains last week, Martha noticed one spot in the kitchen that dripped about 10 drops during a major downpour. I got up on the roof to apply some repair tar and got my shock of the week. All the shingles are brittle and crumbling and there is no way the roof will make it to the spring without leaking in other spots.
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My friend Sara who I’ve known since I was 19, will be coming to Haileybury on the train next weekend to visit Bill and I. She’ll arrive at 2:45AM Sat (if the train is on time). We missed one another this summer – she was in biking Newfoundland when I was in Toronto – so now we’ll have a chance to catch up with one another while we enjoy a Thanksgiving with friends and neighbours.

Wow, today was a long day. The cement truck arrived late afternoon and the cement was laid on the front stoop, side patio ond sidewalk. We chose a salmon tinted concrete and it really compliments the brick walls on the house. They have just finished up and it is 10:30. It looks great! They have taken much care putting a swirlly textured design on the surface with ridged edges, perfect!  
 Laura baked chocolate chip cookies, made a pot of coffee and took it out to the guys. The temperature is on the chilly side and they said it is perfect to cure the mixture.

Today they started on the courtyard and sidewalk construction Martha and I wanted done this fall. They are digging up parts of the cement driveway and entrance today, then re-grading and forming up for a small courtyard out front with a sweeping bow shaped sidewalk down the west side of the house. This is Stage 1 of our landscaping project that should have started 20+ years ago. We also have to replace the windows on the west side of the garage. I’ll post some pictures as they progress here.

Saturday’s weather was great so Martha and I took off in the convertible for a leisurely drive. No destination in mind just back roads and sunshine. My only regret was I didn’t bring a camera for pictures (doh!) As we were driving along we passed through a village and noticed all the parked cars and discovered it was…
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