Springtime & Birthday Bust-Out ( April 6 - May 3, 2020)

Spring has run the gamut between snowstorms and 18 C days. It's fun watching Montague waking up from one of my favorite spots overlooking the waterfront.

Frosty morning

Lobster traps stacked

Fishing boats preparation

Working most days off I try to get something done besides basic cleaning.

Decorating drawer insides for the dresser I've been fixing up didn't take too long. 

Researching family history is keeping me entertained for hours. Currently working on Scott's moms side of the family. I'm using MyHeritage.com because they offered a great rate but so far I'm not enjoying their search functions or layout as much as Ancestry. Would love to hear from anyone else using either what they think and any tips you might have.

Our driveway got very rutted in March so Scott rigged up something to smooth it out. It worked pretty good and now after having it rolled our driveway is on par with the average PEI road LOL!! a little bumpy but passable. I'm just very happy not to have gotten stuck in the mud during the thaw.

Dragging the driveway to smooth out and fill in the ruts

Worked for the driveway and to smooth the yard

Our driveway being rolled

With Covid 19 restrictions we have not been going to "town" (Charlottetown) very much but in early April we headed in and it started to snow with very low visibility while we were there. On the way home, we came out of the storm but could watch it following us. Hard to capture on film but here's a couple of shots - was very dramatic in person.

Snow on the right, sunny on the left

A pretty clear divide

Scott has been planning to build and plant gardens. Luckily he got his Vesey's seeds order in before the onslaught brought about by Covid 19. Vesey's (catalogue sales across Canada) is by co-incidence located in PEI. They've had such an increase in business, not only did they hire a pile more people to help ship the orders, they stopped taking orders April 19th and today, May 3rd, are working on shipping orders from April 9th. Scott cleared a good size spot in the "backyard",  leveled for easy mowing and walking, built six 4' x 12' raised boxes, and is set to plant his first seeds today. He's got a plan mapped out for the year and we're look forward to the vegetables of his labours.

Cleared and leveled

Building boxes - it was still pretty cold out

Plenty of room to mow between them

A couple of weeks ago we took a drive for a change of scenery. We headed around Cape Bear and Murray Harbour (very closeby) - so windy it was hard to walk on the shore.

Wind blown hair - we could hardly hear ourselves talking

There are lots of islands at the mouth of  Murray River - we're hoping to do some kayaking there one day

Scott got the groceries one day and brought me these awesome dishwashing gloves.. so cute.

The main floor bathroom got painted, tiled and the toilet is back in place.  It was tough going upstairs to the washroom .. LOL!! A little spoiled.. we did miss it.

Main floor bathroom tile

Vanity in place

Back in business on the main floor

When we bought the property the front yard was a mess of weeds, wild raspberries, a septic covered only by rotten wood and a broken down shed. Not only did the "shed" have a massive pile of junk, it also housed a well... you guessed it, covered only by rotten wood.  It has taken many days over the past year cleaning the yard and shed area up. It's finally done. The sandstone well is filled in with the top stones exposed. We're planning a garden in and around it but for now we're just happy it's safe and tidy.

Before

After (flowers still to come)

Rolling while picking up rocks as he goes.

Scott used the same contraption he used for the driveway to smooth out the front yard so it would be safe to mow at high speeds. With it smooth, I seeded it with grass seed (adding to the seed from last fall). Scott then raked it (modification on the contraption) and rolled it (borrowed).

Should be grass covered soon

Treasures found among the garbage while seeding the yard.

PEI has had 27 Covid 19 cases to date, all travel related, none of the people admitted to hospital, 26 now considered recovered. No unnecessary travel is allowed to or from the island at this time. Not sure how we're going to reenter real life but with this being the current situation we felt comfortable busting Scott's mom, Veda, out for a birthday BBQ and ice cream treat.  We enjoyed a BBQ with Scott's sister Pam, Trevor and Emily and then headed to the local ice cream favorite which opened for the season that same weekend.  "What's the Scoop" is open - drive thru only. The line up was crazy but what the heck, something fun to do and Veda loved it. You only turn 85 once.

"What's the Scoop" drive thru line up

Soooo many choices

Veda enjoyed her birthday ice cream - so did we

April Showers in Snow form.. our house when I arrived home from work

Scott's daughter Sarah has been largely staying and working at home so she got herself a sewing machine and made some masks. Ours arrived in the mail last week. Thank you Sarah.

In keeping with the sewing theme I couldn't resist adding a picture of this wall quilt I found online. It looks to be a work in progress. Absolutely love it.

Idea Covid 19 Quilt

With the bathroom well on it's way work on the main floor hallway has also moved ahead. Small storage closet on the right, window and electrical panel framed in.  Fingers crossed, he'll be working on the kitchen soon.

Hallway towards upstairs

Small storage closet helps hide water pipes

Electric Panel will have doors on it

Hallway - looking toward mudroom and 2 piece bathroom

We are lucky enough to see our resident fox several times a week. Here are a few pics.

Resident Fox

Marking his territory

We've seen him hunting often. 

Here he is in action - pictures through a screen but still neat.

Sneaking up

Pounce

No luck this time

I would be amiss not to mention a tragic event which happened in nearby Nova Scotia April 18-19. Canada's largest mass murder. 22 people killed, 3 injured and 16 crime scenes.

Our nephew Jim and his partner Angela are both RCMP officers in Nova Scotia and one of the people killed was a fellow RCMP officer and friend. My close friend Brenda's daughter, Robyn and a friends husband, Micheal, are both RCMP officers in British Columbia.  This tragedy has hit so close to home for so many, the RCMP in particular. In a very difficult situation, they were able to stop the killer and they should be commended for their bravery and service.

Be kind to each other and stay safe.