poplar road

An update:

Richard sold another Unimog just after my last post, making it three in an 8-day stretch. He's now about to take a well-deserved vacation.

We had a great long weekend visit with Jason, Mari Ann, Alex and baby Zach. The guys finished up the ducting for our heating system while Mari Ann and the kids and I checked out the local farmer's market. We spent one day at the wildlife centre and Richard and I got an annual membership.

On the holiday Monday I came down with a bad cold and have done little but rest and watch movies for a week, including old favourite French Kiss and new favourites Elizabethtown and In Her Shoes. Typically when I'm on the mend from a cold (and get my taste buds back) I get the urge to bake, and this time I experimented with muffins using rice and rye flours instead of all-purpose (wheat) flour, with apples off our trees. Richard had a bite of one and then helped himself to two more so I guess that means they worked!

And I should mention the weather: smells like fall despite the 28 degree highs, and if we get the rain forecasted maybe our crispy brown yard will get green again. Still lots to do in the garden but looks like I won't have much time for pruning projects until spring.

Catchup to do now on the work front, but I've got a series of project planning sessions on Thursday that will decide just how busy I am between now and January. I'm hoping these projects will involve me so I can maintain full time hours until Christmas.

One new development on the reno front: we are now the proud owners of a used commercial-quality stainless steel stove, with two ovens and 8 burners. Thanks to Chris for scavenging it for us! Unfortunately it's about twice the size of our existing stove, so fitting it into our kitchen will be a massive project for sometime down the road. Maybe after my master bathroom? Richard is still burning the candle at both ends doing Mog sales so renos have been the last thing on his mind this year so far. But if his success continues maybe he'll be able to spare some energy for the house. Ah, if only I were a plumber. I am trying to be patient...

Rumours of a new baby llama being added to the flock for my benefit, but I'll believe it when I see it. Meanwhile Buddy waits at the fence for me to open the gate and he runs across the yard so fast he kicks up dust, making a beeline for the apple tree in the corner. I'm glad the llamas like them, because the bugs are so bad this year that they're mostly inedible for us.

That's about it. Pretty quiet around here these days. Nothing but brown grass and blue sky.