Midnight and I’m off to bed! A busy day, lots of heavy rain showers but also breaks for sunshine. I visited the lady who wants to rehome her 2 hens and we made a sort of plan before sitting in her garden to chat over a cup of tea. I came home with a bowl of her home grown garlic and tomatoes that are growing well in advance of mine.
I’m watching Olympics too and got hooked on tai quando (spelling?) what a sport! Legs of rubber to be able to face an opponent and kick the back of their head!! The surfing competition looked dangerous as I gather it was during a typhoon so the seas were wild.

The electrician should visit tomorrow but I don’t hold my breath where he’s concerned.
Jackie

Happy Wednesday – time flies… weather has been nice (80’s sunny w/ just enough rain). Kids are back from Yogi Camp Ground and had a great time. Sunday was a birthday party that was great for 12 yr old great nephew. Barely remember Monday and yesterday was at the dentist (replace old filling) and cookout in the afternoon…gorgeous day but rain hit about 3pm so we cancelled evening plans for park concert. Spent time working on Uncle Jack’s 90th birthday card for next month. Haven’t gone to gym yet and tonight it is Letizia park concert. Her band has been around forever and very popular for all kinds of events. Still amazed at her graphic design / cookie-making abilities (pic). Friday is ophthalmology follow-up and Rx.




Almost forgot – Melanie sent a pic of her new braces “just installed” – she was so proud! Brooke called last night all excited about losing another tooth…wish I could relay her voice, excitement and “story-telling” style – OMG I could listen to her voice forever.

Lin – Yup I missed a gym day… it took 2 minutes to forgive myself and not care. LOL. I have a feeling Melanie would have a penguin teapot proudly displayed on her dresser…she is turning into such a young lady. The love the kids show each other is amazing. They watch out for each other. Hope you get to see your State Fair at least once. Ours is 17 days long…and I’d be happy with just a couple half days, but know it will be more. I do like when we go “real” early before buildings open and get to observe animals waking up etc and take lots of photos and then leave about 12pm as the hoards arrive. No idea post-COVID what things will be like.

Hope you can protect your tomatoes from the cardinals. Jean told me this morning the brief storm bent some of her plants and she recovered a few green tomatoes that were on the ground. Love your workstation and demonstration of what can happen with a liquid embellishment product.

Sandy – Hope you figured out the Jamaica birthday trip expenses to your satisfaction. LOVE the advice your kids gave re: the life insurance policy. Not long ago, we said something similar to Jean’s uncle. He was paying a fortune in monthly premiums (not just a couple hundred $) because he bought it later in life. Now with his wife and disabled daughter having passed on – what was the point in keeping it going when he could use those funds for himself. Congrats on keeping your weight in check. I am amazed that I can fluctuate 5-8 lbs in a matter of a couple days, if I don’t watch things closely. In a couple weeks, I have another cardiologist appt and will certainly get very strict by Aug 1st… funny how those weigh-in’s at the doctors can keep us in line. LOL

Patsy – Glad you had a sunny warm day and sorry about the “traffic.” We tend to adjust much of what we do to avoid heavy traffic / crowds…even if our activities might paint a different picture. As for the Tokyo Olympics, I have only seen a few online clips. In the old days, I was always glued to certain events…I can only assume between politics, COVID, daily activities my it impacted my desire to watch. With a record 33-year low in TV opening (only 16.7 million), I guess I am not alone. Glad you got to enjoy some great events. I love thinking back to the awesome moments of athletes like …Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, Florence Griffith Joyner, The Dream Team etc. Sweet of you to “Bless his (John’s) little bald pointy head! LOL


Jackie – Midnight bedtime – I’m impressed. Hope you didn’t get too soaked with heavy rain. A bowl of home grown garlic and tomatoes sounds delicious. Between you and Patsy I might have to tune into some Olympics. Good luck with the electrician.


Anne – Hope you got some decent sleep hours and that things settle down on the home-front. I was impacted by your comment “Love friends but am also quite happy with my own company.” Jean and I say that ALL the time. It may sound like we need to always be on the go….but that is not true. We BOTH love our time as “just us” and “alone.” I leave Jean alone for a few hours min every day. She goes off by herself or girlfriend on a regular basis and I can amuse myself for an entire day alone. I have friends / family that seem to hate being “alone” and talk of being bored. We are never bored and “alone” isn’t the same as being “lonely.” I have one family member that has no interest in anything…I mean that literally… not reading, learning via any medium, TV, nature, games, rides, fresh air --- and they admit as much.

Oh my – did I get carried away on that topic. LOL

Time for gym… I will leave with a bit of humor! Enjoy the day everyone. Bob

Hello gang…..what is going on? We are going to Costco and dropping by the Subway to try one of their new menus changes. I want to try one of their veggie sandwiches. We will bring it home to eat.

We have a very hot weekend coming up. The temps just keep increasing until after the weekend. That will drive people to come to the coast. It is cooler here. Still warmer than our “normal.” The 80s that Bob enjoys seems horribly hot to me. John just wilts and we both get cranky!

I trimmed ONE of Katie’s toenails last night. She was devastated. Good grief she almost needs anesthesia. Oh the pain! It was only the very end of the nail. No blood. The worst thing was being forced to sit still for at least 30 seconds. What an impossible wimp.

Ordering new nightie and robe. I am not sure why but I rarely wear a robe. I envision me in a pretty robe sipping morning coffee and noshing on a piece of toast. Well! If I ever try to be a more genteel
woman, I will have a pretty robe to wear as I begin the day. This fantasy has little hope of coming true.
Patsy☘️

Good evening. Nothing interesting here. Just hot, hot, hot today. Lots of watering this evening.

Be safe everyone.

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Nice little set

A typical day for me with a long walk following an early shopping trip then more painting. The snug is almost finished and I hope to clear the decorating paraphernalia out and furniture back in during the weekend.
A nasty storm has unexpectedly developed in the Atlantic and hit us this evening. This one has been named Evert but that doesn’t make it any more friendly as I can hear the wind roaring outside. It’s my bedtime so I’ll see if I can sleep through and miss the worst of it.

Everything about that tea set appeals to me Lin, something about the shape of the cups and pretty pattern. Not so much watering required for my tomatoes since we didn’t see much sunshine but at least the water butt will refill ready for the next hot spell!

A lovely family photo Sandy and I particularly love Ewok doing what lots of dogs do… look the other way. You are certainly making the most of your freedom out visiting. Your brother’s birthday dates remind me of my nephews who was born 7.7.70 so was 7 on 7.7.77. Seems like only yesterday but now in his 50’s! He sent me a photo of himself with his girlfriend having a holiday in our Lake District for his birthday looking more like his dad every day. I didn’t tell him that!

Off to bed. Take care everyone.
Jackie 🥰

Max Out in the Lake District won an award this evening. Here’s what Kerry posted.

“ Well not to sure what to say just now really. We weren’t expecting anything tonight in The Pride of Cumbria Awards and to be nominated twice and then win The Oustanding Contribution Award?

So many thank you’s, to you the people who nominated us and join us daily, your loyalty and love is unprecedented. The people who support our walks and give so generously. The ones who come and talk.

To the three boys who make our world a much happier place, Max Paddy and Harry. To the one who sent me out for milk.

A massive thank you each and every one.”

Hellooooooo! I am up way too early and I suspect I will drift off during my coffee. It has been known to happen. I sit very sleepy, with a mug of coffee firmly in hand. Then quiet unexpectedly, I drift off and upset coffee in my lap! A rude way to start the day.

We have warm sunny weather. Everyone is praying for rain but worried about lightening. August is usually our dry warm mon. However this year things have been strange and scary.

Our son is coming on Tuesday. That will be wonderful. He is sailing all weekend so he will be sunburned and relaxed. His next big project will be later in the month.

Jackie: I think I will do a bit of house painting later this summer. John will have a hissy because of the mess. I believe I have mentioned (whined) about his problem with change even if it is temporary. I just press on and ignore the hissy. Getting things refurbished is healthy. But we know there is always a certain mess factor.

Sandy: financial rearrangements are indeed part of life. The trick is to be able to do those things that give you pleasure while making sure you have enough for emergencies. You are good at that. And you take good care of yourself! By the way, that was a wonderful photo of your family. Standing there next to your son, we can see such a strong resemblance in your facial features. Handsome family.

Lin: I have looked at a video of this amazing man and his doggies. Heartwarming and so very addictive. Thanks for sharing. The Chicken china set is the best. Not for actually using…but great to look at.

Anne: a rainy day adventure for you? It is Katie’s favorite thing. Me in my rain jacket and umbrella, and she is running around off leash. As totterly as I am, I always feel blessed and very lucky to make it back home in one piece. Then we towel off and Katie gets to run around with the damp towel, playing “catch me if you can!” I admit, there might be those who find this rather simple. It appears, I get entertained very easily.

More coffee then the day will begin in earnest. Dish washer going, laundry, fresh strawberries and cereal for breakfast.
Patsy☘️

I slept well so assumed storm Evert had blown itself out but this morning when I said to neighbour Louise so what happened to the storm we were supposed to endure she looked mightily surprised. Hadn’t I seen the news this morning? Trees down, dozens of campers doing their best to sleep in cars as tents collapsed while others were put into community halls for safety and so many sea rescues as yachts were blown towards rocks. I slept through as did George and Betty!
Still raining this morning so I pulled on waterproofs to take the pooches round the block. Stopped to chat to a lady I would often see walking her Scotty dog Mac during lockdown then it was home to watch the GB ladies football team get thrashed by Australia but did hear Anne that Canada won their match against Brazil and move on to semi finals. I’ll support them from now on!
A 2nd coat of Velvet Plum has been painted on to the snug feature wall and it’s now time for a tea break.

Patsy, mess is something I’ve lived with for 18 months now, when I first had a notion to do “a little decorating” and that’s the incentive to crack on to finish and put my feet up. Well, you know what I mean; none of us sneakers spend much time with feet up. John will love the result whatever you do and I don’t imagine you are a plain white or magnolia kind of girl so will love to see your colour choices.
Next week will be Buttercup and Grass green for me in the dining room and I’m already excited about brightening the area.

Anne, that’s so sad about little Amber but if any veterinary group can help it will be a teaching environment. If you have ever seen a programme called The Supervet with Noel Fitzpatrick who is the most committed vet you will know just how many advances have been made and some treatments for animals are being taken up in human medicine. I will of course be thinking of them. ❤️

Lin, The Pride of Cumbria sounds a perfect award for Max. He must have brought as many tourists to the area as Beatrice Potter who lived there and wrote her books.

Sandy, have a wonderful weekend away and take care.

The sun has appeared late in the day so I’ll visit the chooks and throw them a handful of corn.

Jackie

Hello. It is the season of lease negotiations for my little farm. I will be listening in on a number of farm-related meetings online I’ve rather next several weeks. I did receive a call from gents involved in the company that rents the farm. The grandpa has pretty much retired to enjoy life and his grandsons are now in charge. I will call him back after I get through a number of these virtual meetings but before he leaves for vacation.

Jackie, what a good night’s rest. Wonderful. And Betty didn’t wake you. That is very good. Have there been additional fox sightings? Eighteen months of disruptions?!?! You are stalwart my friend. Well, yes, Max, Harry and Paddy along with the humans Kerry and Angela have done a lot for the area but even more for people all round the world. I think maybe they are suffering a bit from the notoriety. They are having more problems finding places to walk where people leave them alone. And people visit to walk the same paths but they also leave trash and build fires. I guess that always comes with lots of people.

Anne, so sorry about little Amber. Absolutely the best place to go is a veterinary college. It will be the best and most recent information available. We have such a facility about an hour away where people flock with both small and large animals. An excellent reputation and I am certain from your description that Guelph is just the right place. No rain here. We may receive some, along with a storm, this evening. We have been warned to stay indoors until around 4pm today due to air quality issues.

Sandy, another busy day. I hope the eye appointment goes well. And an exciting weekend coming! Wahoo!

Patsy, how wonderful. Your son will be visiting. Couldn’t be better news. How long will he be able to stay? And I hope he has an enjoyable sailing weekend before coming to visit. Now, new paint at some point. Some friends made a huge change. But it was not indoor painting it was exterior. They went from a house that has always been white to a shockingly striking red exterior. I think it is marvelous. I have heard some rumbles that others in the area have a different reaction. Since most other homes are white the red is too jarring for them. Well, they will get used to it right? And I am addicted to the videos. I love the dogs and his interactions with them. So I do spend some time each day smiling at those dogs.

I must run. Zoom meeting starting in a little while.

Lin🙋🏼‍♀️
❤️❤️

Wonderful news…..

Thanks Anne.

Its my day! Amber with a good chance, Mark finally feeling better, and now the Canadian football girls have beaten Brazil. Love the Canadian goal keeper!
Thank you for supporting little Amber. I'm sure your positive thoughts helped a lot!
Annsie.❤️

A Very early good morning. Thought I'd put you in the picture though about Amber.

The local vet imparted the bad news when Sandy took her to him because of the accident, bleeding tongue and loss of two teeth. He took a blood test and later told Sandy it showed Amber was born with a liver defect from birth. Sandy couldn't believe this because Amber is a happy. bouncy little dog but was admittedly looking a bit seedy after her accident. She was terribly upset, and decided to take Amber to the veterinary school because if she could have an operation to cure this defect Amber deserved a shot at life. We were going to have a whip round for an expensive cure.

Mike drove them there because Sandy had a horrible feeling Amber would be euthanized and couldn't face driving home alone.

Hours and numerous tests later she received the wonderful news.
NO liver defect, she's quite normal. But the blood tests showed she is deficient in certain "enzymes". She needs a little less protein but a bit more variety in her diet. therefore on pills daily for now. I hope I've got this right about the enzymes, either too little or too much anyway.

Moral of this story. Don't entirely trust your vet [or doctor for that matter]. Get a second opinion.

HAPPY DAY TO ALL OF YOU AND ESPECIALLY AMBER AND HER MOM.

Anne. 🙃❤️🐶❤️