Musings on a Small Life

We had a minus 15 Celsius windchill this morning (it'll be colder tonight and tomorrow!), so I went back to bed this morning. The boys came and snuggled with me, then lingered in bed after I got up for the second time. Later I found them downstairs on the couch, doing Easy Sunday Part 2. Part 3 followed later, for all of us. Don't tell Derry I posted this pic, below.  :-D I hope your Sunday was as relaxing and "easy". Peace.

In light of a freezing rain warning for our city, which never materialized, I opted to stay at home today and putter around instead of running the roads, as the old saying goes. Nicki and Derry certainly had no problem with having an "easy" Sunday! (Excuse the usual crappy indoor snapshots.)           Even I had a desperately-needed nap for a couple of hours. I also, finally , tackled my linen closet, bathroom cabinet, and under-sink storage, which took longer than I anticipated. I got rid of stuff, reorganized all the remaining items, and I think it will do for now. I'd like to have matching storage baskets, but whatever. (Found an awesome heavy fabric tote with rope handles at Dollarama yesterday, for $4. Should have bought more.) Foldable, filled with stuff and in the linen closet now. Nicki helping me resize pics and do this post. We hope everyone is having an "easy" Sunday.  :-) Peace .

Today is a lazy day, a stay at home and do very little day, with the (desperately needed) rain giving me the perfect excuse. I would not have done this with the previous neighbours, of course. Now, after three weekends with the new person/people on the other side of the wall, I'm starting to de-stress enough to be able to nap, to stay at home on a rainy Sunday instead of heading out early just to get away. This morning I even turned off the white noise machine on my basement steps and have left it off all day, for the first time in three - four years. It feels weird. It feels wasteful, time-wise. I feel a bit guilty, in our "hurry up and do more" society, to just stop, unplug and spend a few hours reading instead of working on house projects or trying to capture every furry dust bunny, scrub every corner. Oh, sure, I de-cluttered a bit this morning--got rid of one of my basement storage shelving units and rounded up more clothing and housewares for do...

8AM and I'm still in my jammies. Can't believe it. I have to head out around 10AM to mail Mom's birthday and Christmas box, as well as my holiday cards-- finally got that all done yesterday evening. I was out the door yesterday at 7AM, up to WalMart for stocking up (litter, other heavy stuff), cabbed it home around 8:30, then was out again at 9AM for various errands: Costco (quick in and out for prescription pick up), Henry's Camera (way too much money spent on things needed for the new Nikon, thus eliminating the 48% savings on the camera), Michaels (crafts), Jysk (nicely renovated, still crap merchandise), Dollarama, PetSmart and finally, Farm Boy for a few groceries.  I gave up after that. Six hours of running around, then house stuff that had to be done that took the rest of the afternoon and evening, including the wrapping and boxing of Mom's stuff, the cards, etc. Thankfully, I do not have that kind of "to do" list today! Not the nices...

It's a hot and sticky weekend, none of us is too energetic at the moment. I'm looking forward to cooler temps come Thursday. Lots of errands and running around and housework the past couple of days, I'm hoping for more r&r tomorrow. The fleas have been hyper, at least the girl. I'm having so much fun.... I upgraded to Windows 10 on my laptop...only to discover that our university's licence for the antivirus program doesn't support the new Windows version. So I'm currently without protection, as it were, and pecking this out on the tablet. Oops. This must be why, in part, ITS recommended NOT upgrading at work right now. Oh, and I've found the best storage containers ever - - the ones filled with stuff I really don't need and am donating. Today I pared my Christmas decorations down to one tote and got rid of a slew of old stationary and home office supplies. At this time in my life I feel strongly that most of my "stuff' is a burde...

If I weren't melting in the heat, I might be able to come up with a creative post. As it is, the humidex is 100F+ and the house 85F on the main level, so my remaining brain cells are fried. I know it's not that hot to many who live in more southerly climates, but it's hot for us. Typical of our summer weather, but uncomfortably hot nonetheless. White echinacea, I believe. However, I was happy for my big "strawberry": The next door neighbours headed to Toronto on Friday sometime, and they weren't home in the afternoon or evening, and weren't around at all yesterday. Yay! They got back around 10PM last night, apparently. (So said the mom when we spoke briefly today.) It's the son's turn to spend the week with his grandmother; the daughter is home now. I reveled in the peace and quiet, I assure you.  Anyone know what this is?   Looks rather strange, coming into bloom. Oh, and I had popped in to Value Village yesterday for someth...

The little black girl was back this morning, with Toby, mewing softly for breakfast. No pics today. Toby wasn't inclined to give up his fish-flavoured canned, so she got the chicken. When I left for work Toby still was on my step, but she was long gone. One day at a time with her. There's nothing I can do for her right now, vet-wise, but if she keeps coming back, maybe I can get her into a carrier and get her the vet care she needs at the end of the summer or early fall, when the techs are not so booked up (at the clinic that did Toby's neutering for a discounted "barn cat" rate). Dad will be here sometime in September, with a rental car....I'm just throwing this out to the Universe, that I will be able to act for her Highest Good and the Highest Good of All Concerned. To reply to a comment Rian left: No, she's not feral. Neither is Toby. I don't know where she comes from, but I suspect she was abandoned. I also think the same of Toby...

Five days without chocolate...There ought to be a universal rule that for every day you don't have chocolate, you lose a pound . It's not been intentional. I went three days, then realized it was, well, three whole days since I'd had any. Yesterday and today have been intentional, however. I could stand to "de-tox" for a little bit. Payday is Friday the 29th, I can stock up then.  :-) I haven't seen hide or hair of that little black cat since Wednesday. She came with Toby just those two days. I think she was looking for a daddy for kittens and when Toby couldn't help her in that regard, she took off with the other short-haired tabby I saw on Wednesday. ::Sigh:: Yet another young cat will be having more unwanted babies, and since she's so thin and malnourished, I can't imagine she'll be in great shape to nurse them. I'll keep my eye out for her all the same, though. Today is Derry's birthday . Well, today is the birth date ...

I went down to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour this morning, surprised to see that CORK (sailing regatta) still is taking place, with adult races at this time. I had thought it would be over by now. So the Harbour was busy, but because it was only shortly after 9AM, not as busy as it was when Dad and I went down the other week. So I strolled around there for a while, out to the end of the pier, then walked along the waterfront path to Lake Ontario Park. I saw "Ellen, my love..." along the way. This old-style mailbox caught my eye. Maybe it is old?    CORK flags  She left shortly after I snapped this--I think I scared her off, even though I was quite some distance away.  Along the path to Lake Ontario Park  Looking back toward the Harbour, with the Kingston Penitentiary in the distant background.  I had walked out to the end of the pier first.  I hope Ellen said yes.  I like this small rock. I have pics taken in the winter of this rock.  Not ...