latest goings-on

Hello folks.

I see the last time I posted we about exactly a month ago.  There is “new” stuff going on here in that, it’s the end of the school year.  So it’s the same old wind-up as always, but it’s a new page in the book so to speak.  It never fails to amaze me that we assume the kids are just ready to move on to the next level.  I mean even if they are ready grade-wise and “socially” (whatever that means), four years of high school just doesn’t seem nearly long enough to learn everything there is to know.  There is so much to know!!  And then only 4 years of university?  I don’t know; it just doesn’t seem like enough.  Anyhoooo, enough of my soap-dish (not quite a full fledged soap-box).

So, yes, school is about done for another year.  As I type this, I have just a few more parent-teacher meetings left and then the big old senior dinner where we honour all the graduates, then graduation Saturday and all the parties one is virtually required to go to, Sunday too, then teacher meetings Monday and THEN I’m done.  It seems to drag on here.  Then quick pack up the car and Jan, drive to Minnesota to spend happy days with fam.  I think David will be working his bum off here on the fireplace; I fully expect to see him bum-less when we get back.  Then, quick like a bunny, plan for summer school, then 4 weeks of summer school.  As soon as that’s done, we have a visit from more fam here and then it’s back to school!  Phew!  Where did that summer go?

In addition to all that and getting ready for the year to end, we have managed to find some time to work in the gardens.  A lot of this was donated and planted by our former house-mate and (still) friend and colleague Tom Dits.  So without further ado, here are a few photos of Jan (of course) and some of the gardens and flowers.

  Jan made a train with tupperware lids.

Petting an unimpressed goat at the zoo.  More goatlies.  .Beautiful bird at the zoo.

  Clearly the most talented artist of his generation.  And what a painting smock, I tell ya!

.  I am told this is making Santa.  Obviously.  How could I not see it?

.  These tiger lilies are in the backyard, but everything else is alongside the driveway.

This is in the front of the house under the dining room windows.  We pulled out a hydranga that was determined not to bloom and suddenly had loads of room.  It’s currently filled with annuals, but the idea is to put all perrenials in there.

This is a hawthorn tree that we got for free from the hydro company (??) and we thought it was dead, but there are signs of life.  Hopefully you can see my red circle around the very few leaves.  We removed a super straggly juniper from this corner and put this here in the hope it will be colourful and lovely.  Someday.

The only major (to my mind) yard problem that remains is this perpetual trench we get whenever it rains.  No amount of dirt will fix it; it just is washed away no matter how much tamping down and rolling we do.  It won’t stay long enough for grass to grow and hold the dirt on.  It’s just a stumper what we’re going to do with a mini-river running across the middle of the backyard.

I believe that is all the news from here.  I hope your gardens are flourishing.