Our Message Archive
July 2024
Monday July 29
Brunch in the kitchen
We have enjoyed a full week inundated with kids and grandkids. On Monday, we all took the ferry to the Halifax waterfront so Andrew and Alex could play at the submarine playground near the Maritime Museum. We had lunch on the upstairs patio of the Halifax Beer Garden before returning on the ferry.
I have had lots of help from Andrew and Alex looking after my garden. Alex was particularly excited to help keeping everything watered; he was very disappointed when it rained one night and I told him that we didn't need to water anything that day. Harvesting lettuce, beets and carrots was also a highlight and Alex also planted some more lettuce for the fall in the space where I had recently harvested my garlic.
On Wednesday, Katy, Ben and the boys went to visit Ben's mum and then went to a friend's house for dinner. I took the opportunity to bike around the Lake Loon loop while Ann stayed at home and got stuff done around the house. Other than that we didn't do any biking over the week though we did get out today, joining the Railers for the usual Monday ride to Lawrencetown Beach. On the way home, we stopped for a coffee at Cottage Café where we ran into our old next-door neighbour Kathi.
On Thursday evening, Morgan was not feeling very well and a test showed that he had COVID. That put a spanner on the works for our plans for the rest of the week. We were going to have a party on Friday so that our friends could come and say hi to the kids, but that had to be cancelled. We also had to alter the sleeping arrangements, setting up a separate space for Morgan in the basement; previously he'd been sharing the bedroom upstairs with James and Myles. He spent much of the next couple of days on the sofa on the patio in the back yard though he did come with the rest of us to Rainbow Haven Beach on Friday, masked of course. So far the rest of us have managed to avoid catching it.
On Saturday, Katy, Andrew, Alex, James, Myles and I walked around Lake Banook. Actually, Alex ran about three-quarters of the way then decided he was too tired and needed to be carried. Along the way we stopped at the Banook playground and at the Kiwanis ice cream stand at Graham's Grove.
James, Morgan and Myles left for Ottawa early on Sunday morning and, in the afternoon, Katy, Ben, Andrew and Alex decamped to Ben's mum's place leaving us with what seemed like a very empty house.
We have been watching the Olympics over the past few days starting with the opening ceremony. We watched both women's soccer games and were delighted to see them win twice despite all the controversy over the drone scandal. The consensus here is that the 6 point penalty unfairly penalizes the players and should be reduced; but we shall see. Summer McIntosh's gold medal in the 400 IM today was also really impressive.
Sunday July 21
Our new solar panels
We currently have a full house. Morgan, James and Morgan's friend Myles arrived by car late on Thursday having left Ottawa very early that morning. Katy, Ben, Andrew and Alex arrived this afternoon having spread the drive over two days. They stayed in Fredericton last night and stopped at the zoo in Moncton today before finishing the drive.
Yesterday was James' birthday so we began by making Eggs Benedict for brunch. David, Morgan, James and Myles then headed over to Halifax to watch the Pride Parade. James shares his birthday with both Carl and Glen so we hosted a birthday party for all three of them with Carl, Roxanne, Jim, Valerie, Kim, Glen, Ingrid and Mike in attendance as well as all of us. It was a lovely day so we all sat out in the shade in the back yard. I cooked three large salmon fillets and some icing for a store-bought angel food cake, Morgan made pigs in a blanket, and Ann made several salads and a chocolate cake; no-one left hungry.
On Wednesday, Ann and I rode with the Roadents from Laurie Park to Monte Vista then joined the rest of the Roadents for a barbecue at Dick's place in Fall River. He lives on "A" Lake so quite a few of us, including Ann, went for a swim before lunch.
The other big news this week is that our solar panels are now installed; that happened on Wednesday while we were at the barbecue. We have 19 panels for a maximum output of 9.5 kW. Since they were installed we have added a bit more than 40 kWh a day to the grid which is considerably more than our average daily usage. Of course, we won't generate as much when it is cloudy and in the winter when the days are shorter and the sun lower.
Monday July 15
My vegetable garden
We have been subjected to a heat dome over the past week which, for us, means temperatures in the very high 20s with very high humidity making it feel like the mid-30s. We are happy to have our heat pump up and running. Unlike us, my garden is enjoying the heat, especially the peppers and eggplants.
Last week we also had the "rough-in" for our solar panels; that meant that rails were installed on the roof and wiring connected to our new electrical panel. The panels themselves are supposed to be installed this week but we don't know yet which day. When that is done our carbon footprint will have been substantially reduced.
Despite the hot weather, we have got out on a few rides, mostly the regular ones with the Railers and Roadents. There was a Rambler ride on the South Shore yesterday (postponed from Saturday due to rain) but we decided not to go so that Ann could go to church while I went for a ride around the Lake Loon loop, leaving early to avoid the worst of the heat. This morning it was Ann's turn to go on a ride, joining the Railers while I stayed at home to baby-sit the electricians who came to finish a few odds and ends related to our recent electrical upgrade. Last Sunday we also went on a ride along the Dartmouth waterfront with Roxanne, stopping for coffee and sticky buns at the Cottage Café on the way back.
Over the past couple of weeks Ann has continued working on getting rid of a lot of the junk that has accumulated over the years. That started because we needed to make space in the basement for the installation of the heat pump but it has taken on a life of its own. With the expected arrival of the Ottawa and Renfrew contingents this weekend, there is a deadline to clear up the various piles that have accumulated around the house. That is causing a modicum of panic but I'm sure it will get done in time if only by moving them all into the garage.
For Canada Day this year we had planned to revert to pre-pandemic practice and invite our neighbours over for refreshments and a lively game of boules in the back yard. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, so it was deferred until July 3 which was much more pleasant. Jim and Valerie, Dave and Nolda, Carl and Roxanne, and David's friend Aaron came over. Only one game of boules was played and I was not a participant, so I can't report on the winner. In the late afternoon we ordered a bunch of pizzas and everyone joined us for dinner on the back deck.
Ann's monthly Mahjong game has become a weekly affair recently. Last Friday it was at Paddy's but the week before it was at our place. That day Ann had to pop out to help our friend Erika get home from the hospital, so I was co-opted to make up the table for a few rounds. I did not do very well. When Ann got home, I made batch of chowder and Paddy, Marilyn and Carol joined us for dinner.