Spring Weather

 

    We are back to normal spring weather. It is bright and sunny today but it is not very warm. After a few days of 24 and 26 degrees you get spoiled. We just have such a long winter that the slightest taste of nice weather and people are out in their gardens and sitting on patios having their coffee. It is a long time to stay indoors. I have often thought it would be nice to live somewhere warm but Christmas certainly would not be the same. I spent one Christmas in Florida and that was enough for me. Maybe if I lived in that kind of climate all the time it would be different.

     I have not done any work in the pond in the last few days. I am excited with the prospect of having a working pond. I have a big pile of leaves, branches and vines at the end of the yard that I must get rid of. That is what I get for all of my hard work. It is great to have the backyard. I really enjoy spending time there. The trees look different every day. I have seen a junco, heard cardinals and watched a hawk soaring above the pine trees. He was so close that I heard the swoosh of his wings. I really love being able to live in a small town.

Love Always Kim

The Fish Pond

     I have been working on my fish pond. There are no fish in it at the moment. I started by cleaning the rock garden around the edge of the pond. I  raked all the dead leaves and branches, took out all the weeds and then I had to remove another dead bush. I started taking the water out. I wanted to get as much water out as possible. I found a huge piece of slate in the middle of the pond. There is a build up of dirt, decayed leaves and sand at the bottom. So far the liner appears to be in good shape. I will continue tomorrow removing the remaining water. I am hoping that if I remove enough water I will be able to climb into the pond with my rubber boots on and be able to get the rest of the muck out.

     The pond is a fair size. I have not actually measured it but it is approximately 4' by 8'. I want to put some goldfish, waterlilies and some tadpoles in the water. We have a lot of slate that would make a small patio  at the end of the pond. I would like to make some glass candle holders to place around the pond. It would be a wonderful place to sit on warm summer evenings and drink in the atmosphere.

     It is a beautiful day. The temperature is 17.8 degrees. I started working early in the yard this morning. I am very pleased with all that I accomplished. I raked some more of the lawn, I picked up branches and I cut dead vines off the side fence.

     Rudy was sitting at the back door. He loves to be outside when we are in the yard. He just sat and cried for the longest time. He came out for a  while. He doesn't go very far. He was having such fun chasing the flies. He even had his eye on a bird. He was stalking it but I don't know if he would ever catch anything. He is almost 2 and this is his first experience.

Love Always Kim

The Robins say Good Morning

     I woke to the song of the robins this morning. The sun rose like a glowing orange ball. Everyday it is easier to see the buds on the trees. I love watching the sun rise in the morning; there is something spiritual about the dawn. We are blessed with the most amazing sunsets here. I have often sat at the beach and watched the sun slip below the water. We once went to the harbour and sailed out into the lake to watch the sunset. It was so peaceful on waves.

     I have swam in Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, the ocean off the coast of Maine, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and Cuba. I must say that I love Lake Huron. I prefer the fresh water. I like to be able to see the bottom of the lake. You can always see the minnows and the tadpoles swimming close to the shore. 

     When the weather is warm we love to take a picnic to the beach and spend a few hours relaxing on the sand. I look forward to feeling the sand on my bare feet and dipping my toes in the cool water. I have swam in Lake Huron since I was a baby. I loved to chase the seagulls when I was a toddler. No matter how cold the water was we always went for a swim. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents had cottages at the beach so I spent quite a bit of time there as a child.

     I am basking in the sun and enjoying my tea in our breakfast room. I started to clean around the pond yesterday. I had to remove one bush so far; as it was dead. I am considering transplanting my dogwood. I need to make a trip to the hardware store for seeds. I need something brightly coloured  to plant in the rock garden around the fish pond. I am going to try and finish cleaning around the pond today. Homemade lemonade sounds like a nice treat when I am finished my work.

Love Always Kim

Working in the Yard

     The sun is shining this morning. The birds are singing and the grass is getting green. I got all the tools I need to work in the garden on the weekend. The fish pond really needs some attention. I think I will be spending a lot of time on my knees today. I am just having my tea and watching Smokey are adopted outside cat eating his breakfast. Rudy loves Smokey and greets him by sticking his paw out the back door. We do not let our cats outside unless we are in the yard and can keep our eye on them.

     The weather man says we should reach 10 degrees today. I want to get the yard, the pond and the flower beds cleaned out. My project is to start a vegetable and herb garden. I want to grow tomatoes, herbs for cooking and  lettuce. We love salads. It will be great to go out in the yard and pick everything we need to make a salad. I got my green thumb from my grandmother and my dad. 

     One more pot of tea and then I am off to garden. Have a wonderful day.

Love Always Kim 

Happy Easter

     I hope that you have a wonderful day! The sun is shining and it is 17 degrees Celsius. It is just after noon and I will be getting ready to go soon to the in-laws for our Easter dinner. We have been blessed with beautiful weather so early in the year. It seems almost too good to be true. I am also blessed with family and wonderful friends.

     A lovely person gave me a pot of sunny yellow tulips the other day. It was so thoughtful. A pot of sunshine for my kitchen table. Flowers have a way of changing our attitude of the world around us. If you are sad the best thing to do is to buy yourself a little pot of flowers and keep them in your sight. I always thought that receiving fresh flowers every couple of weeks would be the most amazing gift. 
Love Always Kim

Summer is Here if even for a Day

     I am sitting in my backyard in my beach chair because it was the one most handy. It is 22 degrees and the sun is shining and all of the birds are awake. I was so warm I had to go in and put my shorts and t-shirt on. Two of our three cats have ventured outside. This will be the first time for them. We moved into this house last September. They are very comfortable here now. Rudy has always been the most adventurous. He is chasing flies and investigating everything. Eva the kitten is not as adventurous. 

     Chubby came out which is a real surprise but he went back into the house to lay in his chair for his nap. I am sure we will see him later.

     This is the best day. All of the windows are open, the breeze sifts in and I can hear Diana Krall's voice in the background. This is heaven on earth. I can hear the grackles, starlings, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, the chickadees and the robins.

Love Always Kim