Ay up, I've gorra bean coming through!

A very very rainy day today. In fact it rained all through the night and most of the day up until 6pm when the sun came out.

As the boys stood there waiting for their school bus I suddenly wondered if their school was shut for the day as there have been strikes today at the High Schools in our region (luckily it doesn't affect us). We left Huffle in his bunker and Grandma, Grandad and I went off to a different Mall. Perfect weather for Mall shopping.

TL: how many of those pink tutus can I fit in my new case?

Grandad went off in one direction looking for tops and Grandma and I went off in another direction looking for Smallest's belated birthday present. We found him a baseball top and managed to find a place to get Bautista's name printed on it (the best Blue Jays player) and a baseball hat.

Let's go Blue Jays

We met up with Taff and had a chat with her and then went and had lunch in the food mall. We chose a sandwich type place with a Chinese man serving. I asked for a bagel with egg and I asked what kind of egg he had (meaning poached, scrambled fried etc). He went into the fridge and bought out a jug of liquidy egg - this egg he said! He kind of scrambled it in the microwave but without touching it (it was okay). When we went to pay for it, the girl asked me if it was egg, bacon and cheese and I said no just egg, she laughed and said Oh just egg?. Grandma had a Caesar salad which was vinegary and Grandad had grilled cheese.

We came home, dropped Grandad off to do some painting and Grandma and I went back out to the Thrifty Store, Consignment Store and then did a quick supermarket shop for tea.

We drove through torrential rain on the way home. The boys were home and playing on their tablets waiting for their piano teacher. Grandma and I made dinner while the boys had their lessons. They are both coming along so well and practising hard at their recital pieces. We thought that the the recital was a week on Sunday when Grandma and Grandad were back home but it seems we were wrong and it is this Sunday. The piano teacher lives in Port Perry and we wanted to go there to test a new beer and buy a tee-shirt, so she said we could pop by her house and the boys could practice. I asked her if Saturday would be any good and she said "why don't you drop the boys off and go and have a beer". Oh yes, what a lovely lady. I've waited three years to hear someone say that to me. As she was leaving I asked her what the boys needed to wear "whatever makes you happy" she said. Hurrah.

We all had dinner and Grandma had bought us some cake for pudding which we gladly helped her eat. Smallest went off to Beavers where he did Bird Watching and Grandad and I went to the Garden Club and listened to Jeff (from the Nursery I work at) talk about Tropicals inside and out.

The talk was excellent and although I don't normally like to plant annuals because they seem a waste of money, I may have changed my mind as there are many beautiful, quick growing plants that would look great in our garden and the kids would love them.

Here is my list of look for plants for this year (in case I forget). Mina lobata which can be grown from seed and is a quick growing vine with beautiful orangey yellow flowers that the hummingbirds love. Apparently they put on their beak and the top of the flower falls on their heads, they go to the next flower and the same happens. This is how the flowers are pollinated. Amazing.

Moon vine which is a night time flowering white Ipomoea (Morning Glory). Mandevilla which is a good container plant for trailing but there are also compact varieties. Jasminum Fiona sunrise which has less flowers and more foliage - Great for height and a lovely leaf.

Sweet potato vine marguerite is the lime green leaf that everyone uses for planters here. Penisetum vertigo is a tall grass with no seed heads but grows very quickly and loves the sun. It is green when you buy it in the shops but turns dark when in full sun.

Castor bean - ricinus - grow from seed - I can't remember what this was but I know I want to grow it. Birds of paradise (no blooms) - grows very tall and has impact. Cordyline - nice in pots and can be grown as a houseplant in Winter. Musa basju banana (needs a lot of moisture and a lot of fertilizer) needs to be grown in a sheltered spot as the large leaves would not work in strong winds.

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I'm the Fire Starter, Twisted Fire Starter

Pancakes for breakfast with lashings of fruit, golden syrup (only brought out for special occasions) and Smallest's own personal supply of Maple Syrup collected by a Beaver friend.

Everyone but Grandma went out into the garden. The boys played on the trampoline, Jungle Gym and football. The Bigger boys (or Axe Men) cut down trees and I dug over the veggie beds (with a small bit of help from Small who helped me spread some new top soil). Grandma made cheese biscuits and then scones later and chatted with CousinPest who has just come home from America and was having Christmas Dinner with Aunt Pear, HB and M&M.

Grandad attended the fire while Huffle cut up the trees they had lopped. The boys helped with cutting the smaller bits with their little cutters and then the bigger parts with the loppers. The fire was a big success and we successfully burnt everything including our very last box from the move over here.

We all worked very hard for a very long time with a small break for a quick sandwich and a cheesey biscuit courtesy of Grandma's baking.

Later, Grandma came out and we had a wee glass of wine and beer and sat around the fire while Huffle and the boys toasted marshmallows.

There was some trampolining from the boys and I and then Grandad and I which was very funny.

Late afternoon the boys played on the Wii. Huffle and I looked around the front garden and found a small blue flower and a nearly daffodil. Aw nice.

After dinner we played S'Quarrels and Grandad tried to cheat!

 

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You suck, hic!

We had an early start today as we were off to see The Blue Jays play baseball in Toronto. We had breakfast and Huffle told us all it was AIS (ass in seats) before 10am. We made it, just! Two cars to our nearest Go Bus Station in time for the bus to Toronto.

The naughty boys secured the back seat and the bus soon filled until there was only standing room. The express was very busy and the driver decided he would take an unscheduled detour off the expressway. It was somewhere none of us had been before but the road was quite bumpy and stop and starty due to all the traffic lights. Eventually we arrived (much later than we should have) and walked off towards our favourite Gelato shop. Unfortunately it wasn't open yet so we went to the grocery shop next door and bought a pack of choc ices and shared them out between us.

We walked to the stadium and found all new metal detectors and self scanning ticket machines. Our seats were in the gods as usual but not quite as high and we had a very good view. Unfortunately we were sat next to five rows of drunken, loud, juvenile (immature considering their ages - says Huffle) idiots. They were shouting You Suck, I'll give you a donut for that last effort, Your mother is a .............And various other rubbish that wasn't at all funny, even though the rest of their group laughed loudly. They had a few warnings from security but it didn't really stop them.

The kids had a go on the 'drop the ball down the shoot' and won a table mat each, a drinks container and a stand up puzzle. We took a small lunch with us and ate whilst watching the game. The Blue Jays won 6-5. It was very good and we saw five home runs.

I don't know if HB or CousinE read this but the photo top right is just for them. Grandad doing the lemon pout.

The boys decided to run round the bases at the end and we queued up to get down to the pitch and watch them. It was a long queue but it moved well. Smallest beat Small round the bases and then we made our way out of the stadium and off to find somewhere to eat.

It was a beautiful day with temperatures of 18* and very sunny. Smallest and I struggled a bit with an allergy but we don't know what to. I gave him medicine before we left and he was quite drowsy on the bus but he soon got his energy back. Grandad wanted to go to the same restaurant they all went to before seeing Dame Edna last week but we couldn't get in so we tried another one called Fred's Not Here but once again we couldn't get in so we went to one that appeared to have no-one in. It soon filled up though. We weren't sure what to expect but it was nice. Smallest had a huge 10oz steak which he couldn't quite manage so brought some home. Small had a huge plate of pasta (and brought some home). The rest of us had a nice green salad and pasta or chicken or salmon. Very nice.

We walked through The entertainment and Financial districts to get back to the bus. There were plenty of photo opportunities.

Back on the bus, there was a lot of clanking and Grandma was worried the Big End had gone or maybe the Axle. After lots more noises, it seems that an empty bottle was rolling around the bus floor. It also seemed to come from Grandmas way so we told Grandma off and asked her to close her bag to stop all her empties falling out. It was very funny, everytime we turned a corner the bottle came rolling out, followed by an empty can of Budweiser. Naughty Grandma.

Lovely day.

 

 

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Digging up Pauline

Grandad's preferred breakfast

Boys went to school - no jackets required. Huffle bunkered. Grandma prepared dinner. Grandad painted. I went to knitting and picked up the English Rose on the way. There was a full table today and I managed to almost finish the first of HB's sock (maybe she won't have to wait until next year for the second). I took ER home and then had lunch with Suffolk where I helped her undo and correct her knitting. We had a lovely lunch and a good chat and then I came home.

Grandad had finished yet another pot of paint (no2) and was working on compost corner. Grandma was still preparing dinner and Huffle had planted up some seeds and repotted the seedlings I bought home from the nursery.

I helped Grandad as he fitted a door to compost corner and we dug over the corner bit and added soil to the top of the compost to hold the leaves down and create a layer. Grandad found a tiny buried doll and added her to his creation. We called her Pauline.

I think Pauline needs a bath! Grandad is very pleased with his work, his compost sign and his new best friend Pauline (she's blonde, leggy and doesn't answer back).

The boys came home and Small's friend Log came over and they played on the trampoline and Wii. After Huffle finished work he made a start redefining the border on the front garden. Grandad and I visited the Beer Store and got some supplies. He was amazed at how many cars are left outside with their engines running but that's what they do here - very trusting.

We all had dinner which was lovely. Huffle, the boys and I played basketball Bump again and then the boys and Huffle played football.

Grandma, Grandad and I watched from the sun room but Grandma was forced inside as the mosquitoes were eating her.

 

 

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Are you related?

A beautiful sunny day. Huffle worked in the bunker for the morning only and then we all went out in the afternoon.

Grandma and I watched Poldark whilst eating our breakfast. Grandad took down the old rusted guttering from the barn and did a bit more painting and I made a start on laying the new path at the side of house.

The Olds, Huffle and I then went for a lovely lunch/dinner where I sampled the new beer made in Port Perry (very slurpable). We then drove around and visited three garden centres. The first one was a nice set up but had no perennials at all (maybe getting some next week). The second one was one we have passed many times but never visited, they too had no perennials but were expecting a delivery on Tuesday. The third one was the most eccentric and can really only be described as a shack. There were not many plants but they probably get more due to all the tables out the front. It was also a market shop and we were hoping we would get Grandma some pudding from here. We encountered the owner who was Italian and liked to talk A LOT. He asked if Grandma and I were related as we looked alike. He said Huffle was a good man but was shy. He told me that Grandad was a good man and I should keep him. He talked about Fish and Chip shops, Italy, London and Football teams. He had no idea where Leicester was or that they had a football team - how dare he! As we were leaving (we did buy a big jar of local honey and a couple of packets of seeds) he shouted "Mama, mama" and handed Grandma a small rose. Awwwwwww she was pleased. She wanted to put it in our sun room until it died but Grandad planted it next to a yellow rose we already have (if it has survived the winter).

We also visited HillBilly ZimmerStore

When the boys came home we all had an ice cream on the porch.

Huffle asked me yesterday about clearing the leaves form the front garden but I said it didn't need to done as the leaves were good for the soil. Today he told me Grandad thought we should clear them. I tried to disagree but in the end we did it despite being bitten several times by those blasted mosquitoes. I have to say (and I say it through gritted teeth) that the garden does look much better without the dead leaves on it. There is plenty of new life coming through and lots of green. We are hoping a few daffodils will be out soon as they are shooting through nicely. There seems to be plenty of tulip leaves.

Lots of trips to compost corner and tools put away and we finally came in. The boys had dinner (made by Grandma) and then Huffle, the boys and I played football and BUMP (a basketball game that Snall did last night).

 

 

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Honey I dismantled the cafetiere

I left the seniors at home today as I went to Aerobics and Quilting. I left Grandma browning mince to put into the slow cooker for chilli later. The chilli cooked all day and when I got back I made my chilli.

At aerobics there were only two of us and we were in cheeky moods. It was hard work and very warm. I came home, showered and went straight out to Quilting. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get anything done but the stage we are at means that it is all homework now. I bought my batting (for the inside) and some thread for the quilting and some spray glue to stick it all together and we discussed what kind of quilting I would do. I know what to do and how to do it so it should be okay. MrsSew has taught me a lot and Suffolk knows it all anyway and will help me.

I left Quilting and popped to the supermarket to pick up a few veggies and bread and came home. Grandma had finished washing the windows which were sparkling and was mopping the floor. What a lovely clean sun room it is now. Grandad was still painting and listening to music around the pool area. He also mended the old lock on the door.

Huffle had a terrible day taking to French people all day who didn't seem to know what they were doing. He wasn't happy.

The boys came home from school with homework and got straight on with it. They both did a good job and went on their tablets until dinner. We had a huge dinner of chilli and rice (with enough rice to feed the church) and Smallest went in the bath (there was talk of him and Grandma going for a pint in the local Legion later!!!!).

Grandad, Huffle and I took Small to basketball.

It was very entertaining, very competitive and a lot of noisy fun. I loved it. It made me want to join in.

 

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What Nationality is she then?*

Boys went to school with no coats on today as the temperature was a whopping 20* and sunny all day. Huffle bunkered, Grandad painted the trellis and Grandma cleaned the Sun Room windows. I went to work and potted up tomatoes, Californian Poppies and Peppers and even managed to bring home some of each plus three big bags of wood chips for our paths. Jeff had started his job so we didn't have him there but MrsM gave us our jobs and made sure our coffee was ready which we had with Jan's beautiful Lemon Ginger Shortbread.

I was home by 1pm and we all had lunch before Grandma, Grandad and I went out and visited a few shops where we purchased a new lock for the sun room door (which doesn't fit but we didn't find that out until Grandad had spent considerable time trying to make it), Top Soil and compost for the veggie beds and a pair of jeans for me.

We wanted an ice cream but couldn't find anywhere nearby to have one so we came home and had one as the boys were back form school too. Grandma and I made dinner in time for Smallest to go off to Swimming lesson which Grandad and I took him to. Small stayed at home and did his homework and then played football with Huffle when he had finished.

Huffle was mentioned on BBC Radio Leicester today. He tweeted the cricket commentator and they read out his tweet and said "We have a tweet here from 'Huffle' in Canada saying he is enjoying having the commentary back. It truly is the World Wide Web isn't it?"

*We told Grandad that Smallest swam with a boy called Trent and a girl called StokeOn. "Oh what nationality is she then?" Not realising we had fooled him - Stoke-on-Trent. We still don't know what the girl is called.

 

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