The Warm Months ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  

Warmer days

Spring has come and Summer is approaching.  Linda says the temps in Florida are already in the 90s and humidity through the roof.  But days are growing longer for everyone.  How does it affect you?

1.  Daylight is getting longer... what do you do with the extra daylight?  Is it useful, productive or not?

I like the extra daylight because sun and light lift my mood from the dreary, dark days of winter. I'm not sure it makes me more productive but it makes it easier to see things indoors when doing handcrafts or cleaning corners of the house. Sometimes in fact, the light is too good when cleaning, lol.

2.  If you live where its more moderate do you spend more time outdoors?  If you live in the tropical climate does it keep you inside?  Does the extra day light cause more heat and more use of utilities for you?

I don't spend more time outdoors when it's lighter. I just enjoy the light inside with curtains and doors wide open until a chill fills the air.  Even though I live in the rainforest we've been having drought like conditions for years over the summer months. It can get super hot and since I don't do well in heat and don't have air conditioning, I remain indoors and keep movement to a minimum. I also have the fans going and lots of water on hand. The utilities usage balances out because I use more heating in winter and more fans in the summer.

 

3. How do you cool your home?  How do you cool yourself off in the heat of the day?

With fans, cold drinks and staying in the shade. If I go out most places are air conditioned. Sometimes it's even a bit too cold in such places so I usually have a wrap or a light jacket for covering. Often though I'm just relaxing at home. I know many people flock to the beaches and parks but I personally don't find it that comfortable especially because you have to carry everything you need with you. I'd rather be at home where everything is at hand including the washrooms which I don't have to share with the public. If I go to the park, I like to go to one that has refreshments nearby and lots of public restrooms.

4. Do you enjoy a good barbeque outside in the warmer months or do you cook outside and eat inside?  What foods do you enjoy on the barbeque?    If you don't barbeque, what foods  and drinks do you enjoy in the warmer months?

I used to enjoy a good barbeque outside but haven't done that for many years.  I enjoy simple foods like green salads and potato and egg salad, cold cuts or cold chicken, the occasional smokies, corn on the cob and lots of fresh fruits like watermelon.  I enjoy a sweeter drink but can't indulge in them too much due to the high sugar content. I do not enjoy stevia sweetened products or artificially sweetened items. That means I drink a lot of cold water. I will sometimes steep some tea leaves in the cold water overnight. I like the taste without sweetener but I sometimes add freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Life Update

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you are all well and fine. I'm still keeping busy here at the homestead. This will be a long post so settle in with a refreshing drink and relax awhile.

~~~~~

I saw that the building contractors seemed to have packed up and finished with their patio reconstruction. However there was an issue I had been raising with them all summer to no avail. Apparently they said it was due to the instructions they had received from the engineers. I kept trying anyway. Once they completed the work but still hadn't dealt with my issue (actually an issue for most of the owners but no one else seems to have raised it), I called the building management company and explained the situation. The management then spoke to the engineer and I couldn't believe that within the hour, the contractors were here having a look at the issue and brainstorming how to resolve it. We just had a long weekend so no work happened until today but I am pleased the work was done. It isn't perfect but it is much better than it was and I'm satisfied.  Moreover the other owners' balconies are getting the same solution. When I spoke to the management, I told them that we owners had spent a considerable amount of money to get the patios redone and by leaving them the way the engineer recommended, we would likely be having to spend even more money in the not too distant future. I had to emphasize that because I think there was some misunderstanding that I was merely raising a design or aesthetic idea. Anyway that is done. Over the past week or two, I have also purchased new patio chair pads and a new patio umbrella. I also had time to wash the patio doors and all the windows and sills from the outside and move or position all the patio planters. It's doubtful that I'll plant anything in the planters until next spring. I will try to find some suitable greenery to plant this fall if there is anything at the nursery that fit within our new planting guidelines. If not, I'll have to wait until next year. 

Before table and chairs were washed.

In addition to the patio, I'm still working in the master bedroom. I've been moving and rearranging things. I also finally called the movers to discuss some claims items (2 of my belongings were damaged) so resolving that will be the goal over the next week or so. The moving company is eager to resolve the issue so they can also get paid their considerable sum by the insurance company.

One thing that has added to my already busy schedule is potluck dinners every week at the church. I don't need to take something every week but as the church gathering is not usually that large, I have taken something for several weeks in a row. Last Sunday my contribution was dessert. I was going to take dessert bars because they are easy to make and easy to transport on the bus but in the end I decided to take a reduced sugar version of Peach Cobbler and a version of Bliss Balls which I made up with ingredients on hand.  Both were quite good and a hit with people who attended.  Now I'm taking some time off from baking and will take either a main course or a salad for the potluck at the end of September.

Bliss balls made with dates, shredded coconut,
walnuts, peanut butter and cocoa.

Reduced sugar Peach Cobbler 
I also used ground muesli mix instead of flour

I've been busy shopping for a few needed items: a new heavy duty backpack from Swiss Gear. This is a laptop backpack but I bought it just for every day use and I'm very happy with how sturdy it is. I've already gotten a lot of use out of it.

I bought a few dresses on clearance prices and a pair of Mary Jane shoes which are suitable for wearing with dresses or pants. I've decided to try and dress more traditionally (dresses where possible) for church.  I thought long and hard about these purchases but looking at my closet, I realize I have very few wearable dresses for certain occasions. 

Since these are summer dresses, I'm planning to wear them as much as possible before colder weather arrives. I'm also experimenting with how to extend their wearability as the weather gets cooler by pairing with tights, scarves, jackets, cardigans, covered shoes and boots. These ideas will help in reducing the number of new purchases as well.

I've already enjoyed wearing this one.  DH liked it too!

So much of the past few months has been all about work, some of it very unexpected like the leak several floors above me and the ensuing damage in the master bedroom. It's meant a lot of extra work for me in so many ways.  To take a break from it all, I've done a fair bit of reading and watching the boob tube or the You Tube. These are easy ways to take a break when one is tired of work.  

The reading statistics thus far

• 18411 pages 
• 47 books

I'm currently reading 4 books. 

The book on the Vagus Nerve.

These books should keep me busy for a while. 

Last but not least, I'm still trying to declutter. I've made good progress but more to go. I need to make more progress before my niece comes to stay for a brief visit later this month. I'm also hoping to hear from my brother and his wife but they will be staying elsewhere.

I certainly haven't been leading what one would call an exciting or fun life of late but I know it's certainly better than the alternative. A good friend passed in July. She was seemingly healthy and a bit younger than me. It is still difficult for me to accept that she's gone and sometimes I think of calling her to get together. I guess it will take me some time to get used to the idea that she is no longer with us.  Losing her reminds me that every day we have here is a gift and it helps me to be content with what each day brings. Actually, I've been working on that principle for many years already however losing someone close to you brings the principle more sharply into thought and focus.

If you've read this far, thank you. I truly appreciate your time and interest. Let me know you were here and how your summer went or if you are on the other side of the globe, what did you do this winter?

Skywatch Friday ~ August 24, 2024

Hello once again fellow bloggers and friends, 

Can you believe that the month of August is almost over? I just blinked and here we are. I haven't been able to enjoy much gardening this summer so when I take a walk I am always happy to see the green trees and lovely flowers all around the city. 

These beautiful hibiscus give me joy during my neighbourhood errands. Did you know that there are over 100 varieties of hibiscus? I believe this one is called Hibiscus Syriacus.  I'm not 100% sure so if you know, kindly educate me by leaving a comment. I'd appreciate it so much!

Other than enjoying the flowers I really enjoyed the clouds in the beautiful blue sky.

 Thank you for stopping by to read my Skywatch Friday post today.

The First Friday in July

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you are all well.

It's Friday and I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit. I'm going to the Rolling Stones concert tonight. The ticket was my Christmas gift from my younger brother. Wow, I haven't been to a concert in decades and things have changed dramatically. I cannot even take a purse into the venue. I could use a fanny pack but it ended up in storage when the contents of the master bedroom were moved out a few weeks ago. I just found this out yesterday when I decided to read all the rules and policies about 'bags'. I almost skipped over that part but I'm glad I didn't because I wouldn't want my purse being confiscated. Anyway I'll have to really pare down and make sure I wear clothing with pockets. That's a tall order too given we are suddenly experiencing a heat wave. 

I'm not going to let these challenges get to me. I'll probably be the 'lightest' I've ever been going anywhere in recent history, lol because I can't take much into the venue. That might be a good thing. I'll take an empty plastic bottle to fill with water, my wallet and my phone. These are a must because you need a debit card or a credit card. It's a cashless venue. Also you need your phone with the Ticketmaster app so you can scan your ticket. No paper tickets or screenshot tickets are allowed. Things have really changed a lot for those of us who never go to sporting events or big concerts but if you've been to these big events lately then it's all common knowledge for you.

I went out for some errands on Thursday.  It was very hot and there was not a cloud in the sky. Here are a few photos for you.

I was on my way to dinner and I happened to pass by a flower shop which is relocating this month. They had various sale signs in the window. I spotted this trolley and tried to enter to buy it. The store was closed but the owner saw me pointing to the item and let me in. I bought it and then had to return to my home before I could go out to dinner.

As many of you know, I am decluttering but I do still buy certain things that I need for how I want things to be in future. For sure I want plants and greenery and I currently lament that I have very few flat surfaces. This little trolley will help solve that. It can also be used as my DH bedside table because I'm getting rid of a big chest that we have been using as his night stand amongst other things.   The table takes up way less space than the chest.

I ended up going out for Vietnamese food instead of Japanese food. It was very tasty and the young water struck up a conversation with me about my phone because he has a similar one. I've learned he has only been here for 10 months from the beautiful coastal city of Danang, Vietnam.

A fabulous meal.

That's it for now. Have a wonderful Friday.

Joining in with Skywatch Friday today.

The Sky in July

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

It's been awhile since I participated in Skywatch Friday.  

These photos were all taken in downtown Vancouver, BC on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. 

The weather here has been very hot and we are in drought at a Level 4. I learned that on the news recently.  Here is a map of British Columbia.  All of the areas in red are at drought Level 4.

Vancouver, BC is just north of the border from Seattle and definitely in the red zone. As many of our neighbours in the USA will know, we've been having a lot of wild fires all over Canada and BC is no exception. It makes air quality in some places very bad but thankfully we are not suffering the thick haze and smoke we had 2 years ago (or maybe it was last year). I can't keep track any more because this type of thing is sadly now a regular occurrence.

I wish you a wetter summer or winter wherever you are living and that you stay safe. 

 

Summer Solstice ~ Tuesday 4 Meme

Welcome, it's Tuesday 4 time.  Annie keeps the meme going in memory of her friend Toni Taddeo who really enjoyed her blogs. 

The Summer solstice arrived and some got hot weather and some got chill and rain.  But summer is the time for holidays or vacations, summertime activities and being outdoors more.  It's also a time, like winter, for complaints and we realize that people in Texas, Arizona and Florida stay inside in summer.

1. How is summer treating you so far this year?   Could things improve? How do you make summer fun in your neck of the woods?

This year is a rather different summer for me. Normally I try to get out and enjoy some events and outdoor venues as well as take a few short trips a few hours north, see some local friends and try and stay cool. This summer we had a very hot start to the season but just prior to and after the intense heat, I've been consistently busy with small home improvements.   In addition to the usual daily routines, appointments and continual decluttering process, I do a little on various projects almost every day when I'm up to it.  I'm finding my schedule very full this summer with all the above, health related things like lab tests (lots of those, and a few doctor appointments. In between I'm reading, crafting and spending time with friends.  I'm also clearing out all the stuff from the patio because the patios will be totally redone in my building. They should have started work already so they are behind schedule since we don't even know what the financial costs are yet. The owners have to vote on the work plan at a special meeting too.

Looking back at my blog posts I see that I began home DIYs way back in August 2022. Wow! I think it has all really been much more work than I originally planned.  All of it is for the purpose of making my small home work much better for us than it did before and making more space by getting rid of a lot of things.  I'm spending all my 'free time' doing projects so now and then I take a break and do something like get a massage or a mani-pedi. I simply haven't had much time for blogging though. I hope to improve on that but not quite sure when I'll be up to doing more of it.

As I go along I see something else that needs or improving.  While I get rid of things I am also adding a purchases here and there. I'm trying hard not to buy anything that isn't strictly necessary because it's probably much better to wait until I've fully decluttered.  (Does one ever reach the point of full decluttering. I know that decluttering is a constant process but I'd like to get to the point of just maintaining rather than doing big clear outs.)  Things always seem to crop up.  For example, a knob broke off the top of a perfectly good floor lamp.  I wasn't planning on buying any more lamps so now I had to add it to the list. Of course I couldn't find something similar at a price I was willing to pay so ended up ordering something else altogether.  It will be a few more weeks before it arrives. Only then will I see if it works in the space. I did consider repairing the lamp but the piece that broke felling into the lamp and is no longer accessible.

2.We give you magic powers! You can change the climate, the surroundings, even  your house and anything you like. Tell us what you are doing to make your summer or your entire year better..... GO!

Oh goody! If I had magic powers I would have all my DIY projects done in a flash and done just the way I want them without having to try several times to get the project 'just right'.  I'd also like to expand my space by about half of what I have now and I'd love to have a dog and a cat.  

In the not too distant future I expect it is going to get very hot again. I don't enjoy the heat so I'd want to have more moderate temperatures so everyone can get outside and enjoy nature.  I'd also like to take some day trips or overnight trips with DH so he can see more of this beautiful country.

Another thing I would do with magic powers is take another trip. I'd love to go somewhere different but also back to Kenya.

3. The puppy on the boat at the right is your new friend.  He wants a name.  What name will you give him and would you like to be in that picture (if you can't sail we will provide someone for you!)

I've never been on a sailboat but it looks like fun with the wind blowing back one's hair as they sail across the ocean. I'd name the puppy Jerry in honour of my very first puppy.  Like most puppies he was very sweet and loving.

4.   It's friendship potluck day at your house this month.  Everyone is  coming. Please assign us what dishes each of us are to bring to make for a great day.  (By the way, you needn't use names. Just name some dishes  you would like people to bring along),

A few dishes to bring, potato salad, fruit salad, water melon, grapes and cherries, corn on the cob and various meats for the grill as well as buns. Rotisserie chicken is always great too.  These foods are more for a summer picnic which everyone loves.  One thing I used to love was a refreshing punch a friend would make. I can't remember quite what went into it but basically orange juice, pineapple and a fizzy drink like ginger ale.   That is probably far too much sugar for me now so I'd have much with a lot of ice.

Hello September

 

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

Happy September!

It seems the main part of summer is over.  For me the best part of summer is in September because the weather cools down quite noticeably.  There are only 22 days left before summer ends and fall arrives.  Fall is one of my favourite seasons because of it's beauty and crisp, fresh air but unfortunately is such a brief time before heavy rains arrive and we prepare for winter.

Summer arrived somewhat late in BC this year. It rained a lot for the first part of the season but made up for it in July and August. On the last day of the month of August it was still blazing hot. My garden has been pretty much done for the last week.  I probably didn't water it enough at some critical moments of the season.  It's always a challenge for me and I can sometimes miss a day here and there when it is critical to give the earth some sustenance through watering. I'm still pleased that the blooms lasted up until about a week ago and some of the container blossoms are still hanging in there.

Instead of gardening my main focus in the early part of summer was helping Jonah get situated to his new life and our life together in this city and country which is new for him.  There was a lot for him to do and we also tried to have a little outing here and there for relaxation. Then came August and I decided it was time for me do as much as I could to catch up with much needed DIY's around the house and continue with the major decluttering I've been working on for some time.

The DIYs have mostly been a learning experience.To be honest I don't have much patience for it.  I made a mess of a few things which had to be undone and then re-done. I'm not finished yet and will continue working until at least the official end of summer. Even simple things can be a bit confusing if you've never done them before.  I've been relying on You Tube for tutorials for almost everything. Thank goodness I can turn to You Tube.

On the last day of August, I remembered my dear late mom who would have turned 89. I miss her but know I will see her again one day. Also on this day I received a card from a friend in Colorado. I couldn't believe it when I opened the envelope to discover a Christmas card written back in December. I understood from the note that my friend and her husband have been temporarily living in another state so they can look after her mom.  I'm hoping by the time I write back she will still be at the temporary address. 

I have the sense that I'm turning the corner on the long list of DIYs I've been working on.  Today I received a shower curtain and the new doorknob for the master bathroom.  I didn't waste any time in steaming the wrinkles out of the shower curtain and putting it up. I absolutely love and I intend to keep it.  It means I'll be returning the creamy white waffle weave curtain I bought last week. The off-white colour was too 'yellow' and clashed with the natural white paint colour on the bathroom walls.  Later in the day I'll return the items to the stores and on Saturday I hope to repair the small holes I made in the door and touch up paint before I install the new door knob.  The rest of the weekend I'll give the bathroom a thorough cleaning and see what else I can declutter before moving on to other projects. If you are interested in seeing what else has been accomplished you can click here.  

Until we meet again on blogger, stay safe. 💗

Summertime and the Living is Easy?

 Welcome back to Toni's Tuesday 4!  We need to enjoy every season to the fullest even those of us for whom summer is not the favourite season.

1. What do you like to do in the summer?

Sad to say that summer is not my favourite season. Primarily because it is too hot. So what I like to do to avoid heat is to stay indoors and sit as still and as quiet as possible. It's my time for watching television, reading and doing slow housework. When I have more time I like to go to the beach and have a nice walk to enjoy the ocean breezes and spectacular scenes.  

 

Summer is also usually the time I enjoy having a visitor or two but the last few years this didn't happen. Hopefully next year.  This year I've been spending a lot of time downsizing and doing small DIY projects so I can enjoy the months ahead.

2. What is your favorite summertime food and beverage?

My favourite summertime food is probably a well done cheeseburger with potato salad and a very cold lemonade with ice (not too sweet) or a iced coca cola with lemon juice. Oh, and let me not forget many varieties of ice cream and fruits, especially watermelon to quench the thirst. In former days I enjoyed having a Mr. Misty Float from the Dairy Queen. I had a few this summer but now I find them too sweet and tart at the same time.

3. How do you beat the heat?

I beat the heat by sitting indoors at home or in an air conditioned coffee shop. When I go outdoors I tend to walk in the shaded areas as the sun is too hot for me.

4. What do you really like about the summer season?

The best thing about the summer season is going for a walk on the beach to enjoy the ocean views & waking up very early just to watch the glorious colours in the sky. I also like to enjoy the garden when it is in full bloom.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

 

Happy Friday, Happy Skywatch & Happy Weekend

Hello folks and blogger friends,

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer to date. It certainly is different from the last few years in many ways. I'm thankful to have the freedom to go out and about more than the previous years. But I didn't get a chance to go out of town for several years now.  This year was no exception.  Even though restrictions were mostly lifted, I really don't care to travel right now and contend with all the travel/transportation delays and related issues.

 

We've had a heat wave for much of (July and ) August.  Even when the posted weather has been in the lower 20s Celsius, it has still felt sweltering.  Even Jonah who is used to the heat and dry areas in Kenya has commented about how hot it has been here. At last we had a dip in temperatures today and a sprinkling of rain. It wasn't a lot of rain but combined with lower temperatures it made all the walking I did today much more bearable.

 

 

I had to go deep into downtown Vancouver today to the Purolator service center to return a few Amazon parcels. Normally I send items back through the post but these items had to be returned by Purolator. It was very convenient to get to the center by bus as it let me off across the street. I thought I would return straight home and the bus stop was right outside the center's door. However when I got to the bus stop there was a sign saying one had to catch a bus at Burrard Street. That was a lot of walking for me especially since my knees aren't fully rehabilitated. Fortunately I managed to do what I needed to do.

 

After I finished downtown, I did more errands in my neighbourhood.  I was shocked at how many people were out and about.  There were lines of people everywhere waiting to get into virtually every single restaurant and drinking establishment  Of course it is Friday and many people go out on Friday nights but tonight it was noticeably busier than usual.  I don't know if it was because the weather was cooler and more comfortable or if suddenly people are realizing that the end of summer is almost upon us and they're trying to soak up every minute left of it. It's probably a bit of both.  It was also very busy with tourists downtown though it doesn't seem so in the photos. It was nice to see so many visitors walking and enjoying the sites.

 

The photos I'm sharing are from downtown Vancouver in the city's West End Coal Harbour area. For most of the day the sky was a very dull gray. The sun came out around 6 p.m. but I couldn't stop to take photos.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend.

 Joining in with Skywatch Friday

What I'm Working on in August

I've slowed down in the month of August from a lot of blog postings, IG and FB posts though I'm still visiting a lot of blogs and leaving comments.

Slowing down is enabling me to survive the heat and focus on my goals for the month of August.  I also have small house repairs that I simply haven't had time to complete. Over late spring season, I was working furiously to declutter  and get organized before Jonah's arrival. While I made good progress, I ran out of time to complete what I wanted to accomplish.  Now that Jonah is working and more or less acclimated, I want to make some progress on these outstanding tasks before the summer ends and the days grow darker.  I'm also still very busy with physio and massage therapy appointments and in between we are trying to enjoy the last days of summer while getting things organized for fall season.  Before you know it summer will be gone. I don't look forward to it but it happens every year.

Some time ago I repaired and painted one wall in my living area and intended to put up curtain rods and black out curtains in the living room. In all the time I've been living in the condo I've only had blinds, no curtains.  To be honest the framing of the windows doesn't make it ideal for putting up curtain rods but I find it quite cool in winter and thought the curtains would be a good way keep out drafts. I also intended to paint the master bathroom.

Instead I made a mess in the living room and left everything undone because I ran into issues when drilling into the concrete or steel wall.  So I left it all aside while I focussed on decluttering.  Jonah has helped by pulling out some of the anchors I'd put in the partially drilled holes.  Monday night I filled all the holes in both the living room and the master bathroom walls in readiness for sanding and painting.  It feels good to finally have these tasks done.

In another project, I'm getting rid of more clothes. I managed to put together a few large bags of clothing which hopefully will be picked up on Tuesday.  I've been inspired by a few women on You Tube who create 10 piece wardrobe for each season.  There is no way I will get down to 10 pieces per season but I can whittle down the number of items I keep.  I'm going to try to keep things that I really wear often and see what I can let go. I get rid of a few bags every now and then and will keep on going with that approach.  Of course Jonah also needs space for his clothing and personal items and this is another incentive for me to reduce mine. 

One bag of summer knit tops and PJs

A few scatter rugs also went out the door today. It didn't take long for people to respond to my adverts for giveaway. I'm always pleased when someone else will make use of what I no longer want. Tuesday update: Someone came to pick up all the clothing and another person picked up the scatter rugs. I'm so happy to get them out the door. I'm now going through the kitchen trying to get rid of excess mugs and water bottles.

Two rugs, one red/cream, one blue/cream

The rest of this month I plan to get rid of the remaining papers I didn't shred in April  2022 and a few small tubs or old journals and planners.  Once this is done I will tackle the entryway closet and the bookshelves again. I've already done a big clear out of books I'd collected for decades so I won't have quite as many to sort through this time. I also think it's time to offload my music CDs and instructional DVDs.  I haven't listened or watched any of them for at least a decade.  That means they are just taking up precious space. These days I learn 'how tos' on line and listen to music on You Tube.

In case you are curious about my current reads, these are the books I've recently right.  Right now I'm reading The Soviet Sisters:  A Novel of the Cold War by Anika Scott.

Mission Possible: Go Create a Life That Counts

by Tim Tebow

A good motivational book for anyone who needs/wants a pep talk about finding your purpose in life.

Run Rose Run

by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is such a powerhouse with all the different activities she engages in and in her philanthropic work. She has co-authored this book with best seller author, James Patterson and writes about things she knows best, female count...

The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free

by Paulina Bren

A fascinating look at the NYC hotel that primarily housed young women headed to the big city to experience a bit of an independent life at a time when independence for women was not readily attainable. The book focuses on the stays of a ...

French Braid

by Anne Tyler

The Distant Shores

by Santa Montefiore

Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful rest of the month!