Catching up on the miscellany

With "the kids" safely home... time to play catch up on what's been going on here in town.

I thought the trash cans had got hauled away, but when I went out to put a bag of trash in the rolling bin the next week, I was greeted by this:

Yes, those considerate trash men has put the empties inside the big bin!  No wonder it seemed a little heavy rolling it back into the garage!

So I put them outside with the others, and I still have five bins for weeds and branches.

Saturday the 14th was not just the start of the kids' adventure, it was my first kayak outing of 2022... have to put that gift card to good use.

It was a perfect day for a first outing of the year.  I managed to work up a small blister (normal for a first outing for me).  On my right hand, between the thumb and forefinger.  Same place as last year.  Oh, well.

Sunshine, blue skies with puffy clouds, calm water, and people enjoying the day!

On Sunday, I was noticing that I kind of strained that right arm I had been re-habbing.  I took it easy Sunday and Monday, and by Tuesday I was fine for working out with the coach / trainer.

While the kids were at the shore, my tree service guys showed up and cleared out the back yard.  It went from this:

To this:

That was phase one.  The same day, the boss man worked up an estimate to replace two sides of the fence... two different estimates... one with the same style of fencing I have on the front side, the other with a little "cheaper" style of plain picket fencing.

I called the utility line locators and they will be done marking the yard by 8 a.m. tomorrow, supposedly.  One has already "cleared" my property as not having lines.  Another has marked where their lines are buried.  Seven yet to hear from.  

This morning I called them back about the phase 2 estimate that I wanted done before the fence work.  This would involve stump grinding so that the area could be mowed over.  My wallet is crying over the estimate so far, and there's a part of me that wants to drag my feet.  But we'll see.

Same day, the geese decided to pause on top of the neighbor's house:

I made jokes about supply chain issues, as they were expecting a child, "any day".  Could not source the storks normally arriving with baby?

On Sunday the 22nd, balloons went up, but I can't tell from the colors whether it's a boy or a girl they brought home in the carrier.  And I'm not quite a nosey enough neighbor to cross the street and ask.  Need to find a gift first!

That pretty much catches y'all up on what I was up to while they were on the road.  The kids got home Sunday afternoon, and took Covid tests before Lacey went over to pick up the birds from her parents' where they had been cared for during the trip.  My son opted not to come pick up his textbook that he had delivered to my house until today.  And they are already planning next weekend's Memorial Day grill-out to show off their Spiedie marinade skills.

Wishing my Canadian friends (and elsewhere in the Commonwealth) a Happy Victoria Day today... for once the two holidays are on differing weekends.

Don't forget to take care of yourself and your health as a priority... because...

LIFE is good.  Spark on!  🔥✨✨💖