Wordless Wednesday

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

There is a first for everything! First time seeing our backyard in the autumn season. Yep lots of leaves to rake but they will be put to good use as we are adding them to our semi raised garden beds pictured behind the doggy fence. 

Told you previously that we are doing a bit of an Office renovation. Old carpet & glued down underlay have been removed, plywood floor has been given a white wash & three coats of lacquer & walls have been painted a warm gray. Will be painting the trim today. Not sharing any Office pics until the room is done so keeping you in suspense for awhile longer. Stay tuned for pics coming soon!

In the meantime, here's a pic of hubby's clothes closet and yes it is on a chair in the living room and yes it will remain there until his closet in the office is ready for his clothes to return.

Penny Lane on the mend from life altering surgery

Where has the summer gone & Renovations Continue

Hard to believe it's September already; where has the summer gone? Well actually I know where it's gone to!... from an RV trip to Ontario to visit family & friends, a couple of family & friend visits to our new home here, the installation of new windows on our main floor and a few other small renovations here and there as well as outdoor yard work & regular maintenance. Well that's where it's gone. Thought I'd share a few pics of some of the happenings around here.

So all the Main Floor Windows are brand spanking new! Hubby & Our Two Darling Sons helped install them all except for two smaller ones in the back which I helped Hubby with. Saved a ton of labour costs by DIYing it! Just cost us a few pizzas and beer! Front door & Shutters were painted a warm grey, better known as Welded Iron from The Behr Collection. No more Pepto Bismol blue here except for some remnants of it on the front step. Yeah still need to work on that one; just need to think about it some more!

Penny Lane loves hanging out & ripping around in her new Penny space. So much easier for us to just open the door & allow her run freely outside. 

We didn't want to fence off the whole yard due to the expense of it and we really didn't  need a big fence either cause Penny's one small pup, so we just fenced off a smaller portion of the yard using chicken wire and discounted pieces of pressure treated lumber from the remnant bins at our nearby Lumber Yard. The existing 8 foot or so frost fence on the left side of the yard, saved us from having to fence that side. Just had to block off a few possible Penny escape routes along the bottom! 

Meet some of my new neighbours! Just happened to take a break from my computer and peeked out of my office window to spot this Mama Pheasant & her 9 young ones across the street on my neighbour's lawn.

We had a couple of rain barrels back in Hamilton Ontario and wanted to carry on conserving water here as well. Always trying to do our part for the environment & re-using water saves money too. Got this one delivered right to my door for free. Well not exactly for free. Been doing surveys for a company for several years now and finally decided to redeem some of the points I had earned for this new addition. Kind of late in the season to put plants in the planters that are meant to sit atop of the barrel, but come next spring they will definitely be put to good use.

Never a Dull Moment in Sack Vegas!

Hello Again Hello, Hello My Friend Hello!

Stole that line from Neil Diamond. Not actually stealing cause I am giving him credit for it. Just thought it was an appropriate way to begin my post since I've been an absentee blogger.
Now that the weather is nice there is just so much to do around here. And who wants to be inside blogging when you can be outside watching fertilizer grow! Yep you read that right!
A few weeks ago we purchased some grass seed to fill in a few spots in the lawn and we've been patiently waiting for the grass seeds to sprout ever since. Hubby has been faithfully watering the areas & regular rain and warm daytime temps have been ideal for growing grass. But not a single blade of grass to be seen. We both were puzzled as to why the seed was not sprouting since we bought xyz brand of grass seed which is supposed to be one of the better brands. And we had purchased cheaper brands in the past with better results. So earlier this week, hubby finally decided to check out the grass seed bag in the garage to see if it would tell him when we could expect to see some green... and he came in grinning.
For the past few weeks we had been growing fertilizer or at least attempting to!

But seriously I have really been busy and here's why. Our RV now known as Olaf arrived just in time to celebrate Canada Day and we've been busy spiffing him up ever since. And why did we call it Olaf? Well no particular reason. We were just sitting around after dinner sipping wine & chatting and hubby thought we should give the RV a name. Hubby had volunteered  in Tunisia many moons ago and had traveled in a van called Wilma, and that lead to our discussion of naming the RV. We wanted something simple & memorable so Olaf it is. I will no longer be calling it an RV or a trailer which was stuck in my head due to being a previous camping trailer owner.

Well speaking of Olaf, let me tell you about some of the mischief he has already created. Firstly found a mouse nest in his insides, thankfully no mices. Then one of his dirty rugs decided to remove it's backing and clog up the filter in my washing machine. Oh that was fun & a lot of unexpected amount of time consumption. Can't wait for what other mischief he will bestow upon us next!

Our Olaf Mobile

On another note we bought a bike carrier so we can take Penny Lane along on bike rides with us. Finally got around to giving it a practice ride around the block. Hoping to take a much needed break from spiffing up Olaf & heading out on a longer bike ride soon.

Hubby & his new cycling buddy Penny L

Why buy new when used will do & !st beach walk with Penny L

Had this old picture frame kicking around. Actually found it in the trash several years ago. It's damaged but it will be perfect for my basement bathroom. Gonna leave it as is, except for a few coats of lacquer to prevent it from further deteriorating & gonna add a piece of mirror glass. I know it's easy to just go to the store & buy everything brand new but sometimes a used piece has a bit of character and helps you achieve a look that is unique. And of course, using something you already have saves a bit of cash too! Ya probably have figured it out by now that I'm a fan of the distressed, weathered & worn look! And I love giving an object a new purpose in life!
Right now downstairs bath is being used by visiting Ontarians so downstairs bathroom pics coming soon! Stay tuned!

Why buy new when used will do!

Went for a beachy walk with Penny. Penny L loved digging in the sand & barking at people & dogs. The beach we visited was Lawrencetown Beach which a popular beach for the surfing crowd. Not much of a surfer so didn't do any of that. And besides it was mighty chilly & windy the day we went. Could have, should have put on an extra layer or two!

Achieving Balance, Dandelions & Painting with Chihuahuas

I don't know about you, but I often struggle with finding balance in my life. No I'm not talking about standing upright or balancing on one foot or anything like that. I'm referring to finding a balance of spending time on a variety of tasks & fun stuff  I want to do it all and despite having just as many hours in a day as anyone else, I never seem to get my too do stuff all done. Oh there are so many things that I want & need to do like exercise, bike ride, go for walks with Penny L, clean the house, do laundry, work in the yard, enter contests, coupon, shop, read, research and blog, the list goes on and on ...

Although I have a difficult time focusing, once I do get focused on something, I get totally obsessed with completing the task and neglect doing other things. And right now I'm obsessed with digging dandelions out of the lawn, as fun as that may sound! (Yeah unfortunately there are dandelions in Nova Scotia!)
In fact I've had to limit myself to digging out just one bucket a day weather permitting, otherwise I would be out there digging from morning till night!
After all a bucket a day keeps the doctor away right? Oh right that expression is solely for apples and it's just one apple and not a whole bucket of them!

While hubby worked on installing the downstairs bath tub surround, I primed the old vanity. Well Penny L insisted on helping out. She took great interest in the paint roller as well as the foam brush and so this is what painting with a chihuahua looks like! Didn't read anything about painting with chihuahua's in Chihuahua's For Dummies! Perhaps that's a chapter that will be added to a new revised edition!


Painting Chihuahua Style

My one overflowing bucket of Daily Dandelions! 

Oh by the way, downstairs bath & surround are fully installed & functional. Walls are being prepped for painting and flooring is here and waiting to be installed. And a gym friend who lives in the neighbourhood stopped in while walking her dog and she is gonna loan me her dandelion puller. I wonder if I'll be able to fill my bucket faster. Maybe I should increase my daily dose of dandelions to two buckets! 

Although indoor renovation continues, gardening is also on the go. Hubby has been digging up a patch of grass in the backyard to create a veggie/herb garden. Got the railway ties for free from the other side of the fence in No Man's Land! 

Exploration & Penny video

Well been backing off on cleaning up the yard and back is feeling a whole lot better. Rode my bike to gym for the second time ever. Maybe it wasn't such a great idea. Did a spin class just before, had nothing left in my tank and there was a strong headwind combined with a few climbs. Done need I say more! 

Took a mini stroll to no man's land just behind my backyard because I'd been officially cut off from doing yard work ( thanks to my sore back ) and discovered this cool stream & mini waterfalls. Not the best pic cause I just took it with my phone. Need to bring hubby back here when he's done with all the yard work. 

We had pork chops on the barbecue yesterday and hubby decided to give Penny L a bone to chomp on . Well kind of freaked her out. Here's a mini video of what it looked like.

Gym Guilt, Walk Find & Contest Prize

So I skipped going to the gym the other day and I feel guilty about it. I always feel guilty when I skip going to the gym. I have a mindset that tells me I need to go at least 3 times a week.  But my back has been super achy and I know from past experience that it is telling me to back off. Maybe it was my first bike ride to the gym  that did it in. Although it was a shorter bike ride than I used to do to get my old gym, it was definitely a tougher one with a few pretty good small hills to climb.And it was also my first outdoor bike ride this season.
I'm sure that the floor that I've been patiently scraping, has also contributed to my back issues! Hopefully I can get to the gym at least one more day this week!
On another note, I did go for an hour long walk with Penny L today, hoping it would loosen up my back. But it didn't. But Penny definitely needs a little more exposure to the outside world after this long long winter.

Oh look what I found on my walk! No not the Cesar's Rules book; that was given to me to read, by a new gym friend & neighbour. It was the $5 dollar bill that I found wrapped around a tree. Kind of glad now that I went for a walk instead of going to the gym!

Super happy that my $500 gift card prize from a contest came in! That is a prize we definitely can use. Well who can't use groceries right? Been spending a fair bit of cash on renovating & stuff for the new house. Kind of freaks me out even though we did budget cash for that reason. 

Well folks it's the first of May. Kind of hard to believe as we still have some snow in the backyard. And I'm sure there are still snow mountains at the plaza &  in parking lots. Kind of been a drab, gloomy kind of week.Right now I don't care if it's cold out but I just wanna see some sunshine! 

Here's to sunshine! 

And The Good Lord said Let There Be Satellite & Bath Reno Begun!

And The Good Lord said Let There Be Satellite! 

Well The Good Lord didn't actually say that, but I'm thankful for all he provides! 

After roughly 2.5 months of being without live television, except for getting to watch selected channels at the gym, I'm happy to report we have LIVE TV once again. YAY! Back to watching home shows, diy shows and yada yada.... while I enter my daily contests. 

Have been going for lots of walks with the two dogs! Was a lovely day on Sunday; so we went to Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth and then hooked up with another trail that had this cool outdoor fitness equipment. Gotta love it! 

Although a little sooner than planned, downstairs bathroom reno has begun. Well I guess it actually started the day we removed the laundry appliances shortly after we moved in. When we bought the house the bathrooms were first on our list to reno but the kitchen became a priority cause we spend more time in there. And in our planning process, we realized we have to do the downstairs bath first cause if we do the upstairs first, we will be without a place to shower or bathe. Not good, so need to get the downstairs done first & include a bath/shower unit.

Original Basement Half Bath with laundry appliances. We're planning on keeping the original vanity & medicine cabinet but updating them with a little paint & new hardware. Although you can't see it very well, the sink is a seashell type of sink & has got to go as does the water wasting toilet.  

Half Bath with everything removed except toilet, sink and vanity. But with a temporary addition of our little grow-op of annual seedlings of marigolds and such. These little guys can't wait for the time they can head outdoors, whenever that may be!

Hanging Laundry on the line and then there were two dogs

Even though there is still snow on the ground especially in my backyard I'm thrilled to be able to hang out the laundry on the clothes line. To make this happen, had to spend a bit of time searching for my clothes pins. Since we moved seems like everyday we are searching for something!

Love the fresh outdoor scent of bed linens after they have been hung out on the line to dry versus tumbling around in the dryer. Finally starting to feel like spring is in the air! 

Purchased some new outdoor globe lights to replace the black and also rusty builder grade original ones from ages past. Got them for a good price in the clearance section at The Home Depot.

Whilst darling son & daughter-in-law are basking in the Cuban sunshine, we are experiencing a double dose of the canine kind.Yes we are dog sitting! While Penny L and Mr.Cash have met on short visits, they are still getting used to one another. Hoping Mr.Cash will teach Penny a few good dog pointers! 

Cash & Penny hanging out on the couch & getting a little more comfortable with one another! 

Penny & Cash hanging out together with Daddy/Opa! Progress! 

Senor Cash basking in the Nova Scotian sunshine on our back deck!  He is loving that spring is upon us! 

How Much is that Doggy in the Window & Snow Melting!

Darling hubby made a step stool that Penny could use to get a view of our front window. She figured it out with a little encouragement! Way to go Penny Lane! 

Although there are still snow piles taller than I am, I've been able to abandon my boot grippy things on my walks home from the gym. Kind of liberating in a sense and makes my walk home seem so much easier & faster too! They have this snow melt predictor thing going on & they predict we will have snow on the ground into early May and that doesn't even include the snow mountains in parking lots. Front yard is melting really well but back yard  has more shade so snow is not melting not as fast and haven't been about in the back yard yet. Have set up our patio table & bought some new chairs and had our first glass of wine on the patio the other day! Can't see it cause we drank it all! 

Thankful Thursday

Kitchen Reno Update, Boychoir, Penny L outing & Dreaming of a White Easter

Sometimes, just sometimes, it's nice to wake up and have nowheres to go! Stores are closed as is most everything else & although I could have gone to the gym, decided on a day off since I already went 3 days this week. So today was a day to go nowheres except for a short neighbourhood first ever walk with Penny Lane.
Although we didn't really go anywhere doesn't mean we weren't busy. Plenty of projects on the go & kitchen reno continues. A new kitchen window was installed today, remaining upper shelves were hung & we added some under shelf lighting. We're really loving the look although it may not be a look for everyone!

Received some free passes to an advance movie screening of Boychoir. Loved, loved, loved  the movie and not just saying that cause I got to go for free. It was a feel good kind of movie; a much needed uplifting kind of movie! Especially after this long hard winter!

I'm dreaming of a white Easter
not like the ones I used to know
where the treetops glisten
and children listen
to hear the bunny in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Easter
with every Easter card I don't write
May your days be spring like & bright
And may all your Easter's be not white...

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

More Snow Penny sitting & Smoke Alarm

Ups & Downs & In Betweens!

Good News, the shiny brand new kitchen appliances finally arrived! Not So Good News, the kitchen range has a ding on the door panel & someone has to come by and replace it  & also the old dishwasher wasn't originally installed with a proper shut off valve, so installing the new one has created a bit of a plumbing headache, no nightmare! Pics of the new appliances coming soon once they've all been properly installed and the kitchen is all tidied up. 

Easiest way to get rid of the old dishwasher was to toss it out the patio door onto the deck Fridge wasn't quite as easy to remove since it didn't fit through the patio door. Good thing Dear Son came by to help get it out the front door. Received a post card from Efficiency Nova Scotia & apparently they pay cash to remove old appliances like fridges, freezers & air conditioners so will be getting a little bit of cash for our fridge & freezer! And I'm sure the new ones will save us a ton of energy too!

Here's a before pic of the dishwasher pre winter storm! Yes we are expecting another storm! 

And here's a pic of it in the midst of the storm which is not over yet!

On another note, here  is Penny Lane hanging out with her new toys from the Target closing sale. I think she is happy with our finds!

  

Blue Skies & Kitchen Reno

The skies were blue & the sun was shining so we went for a drive to The Bay of Fundy. I'm not sure if it's my imagination but when the skies are blue & when the sun is shining, the skies appear much bluer and clearer than in Southern Ontario. 

We had planned to visit a lighthouse at Burncoat Head but unfortunately the road leading us there was icy & we didn't want to risk getting stuck with only having all season tires. Kind of disappointing not to get to see the lighthouse but the drive was a diversion from all the renovating we've been doing.  And it was one of Penny Lane's first outings too. She didn't fare so well on the drive home thanks to car sickness. Won't be sharing any pics of that. 

But here's a pic looking out at Cobequid Bay

And some updates on the kitchen reno. Walls, ceiling & lower cupboards have been painted, original globe light above sink has been re-invented. ( Wall colour is Benjamin Moore mt. rainier gray & cupboards are Benjamin Moore normandy ) Range hood installed. Purchased a new sink & faucet & awaiting on a new window & counter top. We have a pretty good idea on the tiles we want for the back splash as well as the cabinetry handles. We have the wood for open shelving, hubby just needs to get on it. And a few other minor details to iron out. And hopefully new appliances arriving tomorrow! Can't wait but I know I haves to! More to come; will keep you posted! 

Too Much Information

Back has been bugging me a bit, probably from walking home from the gym with my backpack carrying everything but the kitchen sink. So part of my workout routine today included hanging out in them massaging lazy boys at the gym. Was gonna take a selfie hanging out but I'm pretty sure taking pics at the gym is frowned upon and considering those chairs are situated right across from where management & staff hangout, I thought I'd forget the selfie. 

But here's another one I thought I might share. So maybe too much information for some but this is what going to the bathroom now looks like! Good thing hubby knows photo shop & was able to photo shop the hair off my legs. Never been a fan of shaving legs; it's kind of up there with ironing and in the winter the shaving of legs is one thing I avoid like the plague! Makes my legs super itchy and makes me want to scratch my legs till they bleed. So unless absolutely necessary no leg shaving until spring! Would appreciate any tips/secrets to help avoid itchy legs in winter! 

On another note, should have asked hubby to photo shop  me a fake tan on my legs so I actually look like I went somewheres warm this winter! 

Tried out a new route walking home from the gym. It's more scenic and off the main drag with less vehicle traffic. Thinking it might be a quicker way home, but hard to judge on a day when the sidewalks were like an ice rink. It was great to have a day or two of plus temperatures, sunshine & melting snow but when all the melted snow freezes up overnight, it creates super treacherous walking conditions. 

Came across this poor stop sign on the walk home. I reckon, a snow plow got the better of it. 

Wordless Wednesday

Propane Oops, Penny's 1st bath, gas prices & FNC license plate

Well the gas prices went up today in Nova Scotia, up to $111.6. Friday is the day that gas prices change. And you don't have to go searching for cheaper gas cause unlike in Ontario, gas prices here are regulated and it's the same price no matter where you go. ( Although some stations give you a lower price if you pay with cash ) Only thing that is different from one gas station to another is their loyalty program. One may offer air miles and another station such as Atlantic Superstore will give you a coupon towards your grocery purchase. So which gas station you choose is more about which loyalty program you prefer. I kind of like getting a discount on groceries cause that is something you always need. 

Oops on another note, we noticed the propane fireplace went out yesterday at some point. Positive we basically had free propane since the time we got the house until the propane ran out.  Negative we ran out of propane and have to wait 7 business days to get the tank filled unless we are willing to pay a premium to get it filled sooner. Never had propane & a propane tank before, guess that's something we need to be on top of especially since we will soon be cooking with propane once we get our new range. And good thing right now, propane is not our only source of heating our home. 

We got Penny Lane about 2 weeks ago. I figured it was time to give her a bath, not that she was dirty but just want to get her used to the idea. I don't think she was totally impressed but she's so tiny the bath took no time at all. And she did enjoy being snuggled in the towel afterwards! 

Hubby finally got around to changing his license & plate and stuff like that. So we got ourselves a FaNCy new license plate. Only 1 plate cause that is all the province requires and it goes on the back of the vehicle. Even though our vehicle is fairly new, from 2014 because it came from out of province we had to do a Motor Vehicle Inspection. All set now for a couple of years.