There is a bit on you tube and elsewhere where Jeff Foxworthy, Drew Carey and others are sitting around comparing decks and all the innuendo that comes with it. It believe it is a skit from Blue Collar TV. Well I'm going to be getting into decks for a minute too. We have a roof on ours at our RV lot as of about 5 o'clock last night. And it was a good job. Art and Brian two older renovators from the campground are doing them just to keep their hand in but not to have too much work. They are semi-retired or so they say but they worked all weekend on mine and another project. If that's retirement I'll keep working.
Anyway they got 'er done. Beat the rain shower by about an hour. But there was a casualty. We lost a tree in the process. Had to take it down because it was crowding the roof. OK more than crowding by about 6 inches which was just about the thickness of the tree at the bottom. So down it came. Next weekend or when ever the sun comes back I will cut it up into firewood.
I was lucky that it was the small tree I could have been up against a big one. If we had had to go any further the next tree is a good foot across at the bottom and 70 or 80 feet tall. I think we may have had to build around that. But we didn't have to so we were lucky.
What a difference a deck made to the trailer and what a difference the roof made to the deck. It near doubles our living space. And the dogs can go outside rain or shine. That would be a perk for us but not probably not for the girls. Dixie, the summer dog, is partial to the creature comforts. But she did not mind the deck yesterday after the construction noise stopped. Dixie was beside herself with the noise form the drilling and power tools. She did not know where to hide when the fellows were using the hole saw to install the downspouts. If she could have gotten into the wall she would have as it was she was trying to make herself disappear into a corner every time they drove a screw home. The whole deck roof amplified the sound and believe me it was not her cup of tea. Belle, the winter dog, on the other hand napped through it all except when it was very loud. The noise was an inconvenience for Belle.
So in just over a day and a half we went from a plain deck to a roofed in outdoor living room it was a fantastic transformation that I should have done years ago, But I used to have an awning and it was sort of the same but not quite. The new trailer didn't so I kind of missed it. I like the idea that you could put it up and down but I wont miss the 2 am roll ups when the wind started up Or rolling and unrolling it until it was stowed properly. Nah on second thought aluminum is better. If I need sun I can move my chair off the deck.
It is calling for rain this weekend and part of me hopes that it will. I'm looking forward to sitting and listening to the sound of rain on the roof, even a tin one.
On the edge of our seat waiting for the weekend...
Randy
Monday, June 2, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Eau De Wet Dog
The girls are sporting a new fragrance this week. Eau De Wet Dog. It is raining again just like it has been for week now. And Belle and Dixie have to go out so they get wet. And voila Eau de Wet Dog. That lovely aroma that permeates everything. And put a curb to our trailer visit this weekend. We went up but came right back again after we completed our errands for the day. A new trailer should not smell like an old wet dog this soon. And the wet makes them rowdy and I'm sure that despite their being good last week a set or two of muddy wet feet would almost certainly wind up on the new couch. So we did not stay and the girls did not get to come into the trailer.
60 millimeters of rain is what we got over the past week about 3 or 4 inches for the non metrics in the crowd. When it gets warm every thing is going to pop. I think I'll have a 20 minute window to mow my lawn before I need a swather. Maybe we will be lucky this year and the rain and snow pack melt will not coincide and maybe we wont have flooding any worse than we already have. High River has high water again for the umpteenth time in as many years it seems. The Elbow in town is threatening the poor folk in Rideau. Those large estates are getting smaller as the Elbow river washes them down to the Bow and on to Medicine Hat.
But we need the rain. Make that needed the rain. But enough is enough. It can stop any time. The rain barrel is full the apple trees in my yard are well watered as are the Saskatoons. And yes Belle has been over inspecting the blossoms on them too. Judging by the blooms it will be a good year for grazing if they don't get washed off.
A friend at work here lucked out on the rain though. He sodded his yard on the long weekend. Got all his new sod in and just as he was finishing the rain started and has not stopped. It was just exactly what he needed. When it dries up he can let his little ones out on new grass. And he didn't even have to drag a hose around. What's more rain is better for the new grass than the treated city water. He was the only guy smiling at the forecast around here. Well even he is not smiling any more. Seems he can't let the little ones out of the house in the rain and they are going stir crazy. Not a problem in our house, our problem is Eau de Wet Dog.
Just sitting here with the Glade...
Randy
60 millimeters of rain is what we got over the past week about 3 or 4 inches for the non metrics in the crowd. When it gets warm every thing is going to pop. I think I'll have a 20 minute window to mow my lawn before I need a swather. Maybe we will be lucky this year and the rain and snow pack melt will not coincide and maybe we wont have flooding any worse than we already have. High River has high water again for the umpteenth time in as many years it seems. The Elbow in town is threatening the poor folk in Rideau. Those large estates are getting smaller as the Elbow river washes them down to the Bow and on to Medicine Hat.
But we need the rain. Make that needed the rain. But enough is enough. It can stop any time. The rain barrel is full the apple trees in my yard are well watered as are the Saskatoons. And yes Belle has been over inspecting the blossoms on them too. Judging by the blooms it will be a good year for grazing if they don't get washed off.
A friend at work here lucked out on the rain though. He sodded his yard on the long weekend. Got all his new sod in and just as he was finishing the rain started and has not stopped. It was just exactly what he needed. When it dries up he can let his little ones out on new grass. And he didn't even have to drag a hose around. What's more rain is better for the new grass than the treated city water. He was the only guy smiling at the forecast around here. Well even he is not smiling any more. Seems he can't let the little ones out of the house in the rain and they are going stir crazy. Not a problem in our house, our problem is Eau de Wet Dog.
Just sitting here with the Glade...
Randy
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Victoria Day Again
It was Victoria Day weekend again last weekend and once again the rowdies proved that God made more horses asses than he made horses. And first among them were the off roaders on their ATVs. According to the paper some 5000 people crammed into the McLean Creek Campground and took their gas guzzling noise making terrain destroyers out and tore up some of Alberta's best wilderness and camping land. All for the sake of getting drunk and muddy. But on a positive note it wasn't just the male of the species getting stupid. There were women too riding around in bikinis without helmets (real smart).
They are just too many idiots in the world. Too much money and not enough brains. In fact some times I think money and brains are inversely related. They must be. Let's take your average ATV er. He is driving a truck to pull his trailer or carry his ATV. or one truck driven by the significant other to pull the trailer and one by the nut in question, that would be 40 to 60 grand for vehicles, another 10 large for the toy and 20 more for rolling accommodations. Now add to that 160 dollars for gas out from town and back and another 120 for camping fees thirty dollars per night x 4 nights one of which you don't even use because you have to get out early to save a spot. Then 60 bucks for beer, another 100 for groceries (Steaks or better). I don't know how much for dope but you are what you smoke I'm told. And judging from the reports in the paper there was a lot of doping going on. Well you get the idea this is not a cheap pastime and what was the outcome acres of terrain torn up and drunken revelries and destruction. Loads of garbage strewn about and a good time had by a very few. Now the government wants to do something but fortunately they'll get over it by next week.
On the bright side we spent the first weekend of the summer up at Sundre. It was 25 degrees (Celsius for our American friends. ) and we got to try out the air conditioning. What a great perk. The weather was great. We got to see old friends who we had not seen since last fall. The new deck was really nice. All in all we had a good weekend. The brother-in-law and sister-in-law came up for a visit on Sunday and we had a good visit and to top it off the guys beat the gals in a game of Aggravation. I have not played that for years. Oh sure the gals drew first blood just when I was almost home and sure they gloated then but the guys stormed back to win it all! Winners and still family champs! I wonder what the girls meant when they said they "let us win?"
We also made arrangements to get the roof on the deck. There were a couple of surprise showers on Sunday afternoon and we had to run for cover. The roof on the deck should prevent that problem. I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks.
And last but not least we gave the new armchair a workout. There was a spot that just cried out for an armchair in the trailer. So we have been keeping a eye out since last fall for a small leather armchair and we found one just the right size. Along with our old foot stool it is just perfect and the dog kennel makes a perfect side table for it. Just one little problem the chair is the best seat in the house and I'm told it is very comfortable but it looks great and Ellen looks great in it. She promised to let me try it next weekend.
Looking forward to our next visit up there...
Randy
They are just too many idiots in the world. Too much money and not enough brains. In fact some times I think money and brains are inversely related. They must be. Let's take your average ATV er. He is driving a truck to pull his trailer or carry his ATV. or one truck driven by the significant other to pull the trailer and one by the nut in question, that would be 40 to 60 grand for vehicles, another 10 large for the toy and 20 more for rolling accommodations. Now add to that 160 dollars for gas out from town and back and another 120 for camping fees thirty dollars per night x 4 nights one of which you don't even use because you have to get out early to save a spot. Then 60 bucks for beer, another 100 for groceries (Steaks or better). I don't know how much for dope but you are what you smoke I'm told. And judging from the reports in the paper there was a lot of doping going on. Well you get the idea this is not a cheap pastime and what was the outcome acres of terrain torn up and drunken revelries and destruction. Loads of garbage strewn about and a good time had by a very few. Now the government wants to do something but fortunately they'll get over it by next week.
On the bright side we spent the first weekend of the summer up at Sundre. It was 25 degrees (Celsius for our American friends. ) and we got to try out the air conditioning. What a great perk. The weather was great. We got to see old friends who we had not seen since last fall. The new deck was really nice. All in all we had a good weekend. The brother-in-law and sister-in-law came up for a visit on Sunday and we had a good visit and to top it off the guys beat the gals in a game of Aggravation. I have not played that for years. Oh sure the gals drew first blood just when I was almost home and sure they gloated then but the guys stormed back to win it all! Winners and still family champs! I wonder what the girls meant when they said they "let us win?"
We also made arrangements to get the roof on the deck. There were a couple of surprise showers on Sunday afternoon and we had to run for cover. The roof on the deck should prevent that problem. I guess we will find out in a couple of weeks.
And last but not least we gave the new armchair a workout. There was a spot that just cried out for an armchair in the trailer. So we have been keeping a eye out since last fall for a small leather armchair and we found one just the right size. Along with our old foot stool it is just perfect and the dog kennel makes a perfect side table for it. Just one little problem the chair is the best seat in the house and I'm told it is very comfortable but it looks great and Ellen looks great in it. She promised to let me try it next weekend.
Looking forward to our next visit up there...
Randy
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Spring is in the Air
It looks like, could possibly be, maybe, spring is here. Yeah we been fooled before and it did snow on Wednesday. And there has been a chill in the wind but it was sunny and warm today so it could be that spring is here. At least the plants think so. They are starting to bud out.
The Saskatoons look like they will be loaded with blossoms this year too. For those who don't know what they are, Saskatoons are a small blue berry that is native to western Canada. And the northwestern states too but I think they call them service berries. It doesn't matter they make a great pie if you can get enough.
It is a struggle here though. Belle discovered Saskatoons last year. I could not figure out why all the lower branches had no berries. I thought maybe a low frost got them. Or some sort of bug. Well it was a parasite alright a fat little beagle. I came out one night and there she was grazing. She cleaned the branches off as high as she could reach. If she had stood on her hind legs we would not have even got a taste. If they look like they are going to be a good crop this year I am going to fence the bushes off. I will fight with the birds for them but Belle is supposed to be on my side. It could have been worse Dixie is taller and smarter than Belle and she would have figured a way to get all of them if she had know what Belle was up to.
But I digress. Spring is here! Shh not too loud. Old man winter is probably not out of earshot yet. He can always make a return visit. Just our luck he likes the scenery round here. Every time we think he's gone he comes back for a short stay. He's like Peter Falk in the old Columbo movies "Ah Just one more t'ing!" He hit us twice in the last couple of weeks once just in Calgary a 12 inch dump and then a week later all over the southern half of the province. We thought the Calgary dump was a good omen for the Flames because they won when we got a late dump of snow in the playoffs. Yeah right another old wives tale bites the dust. We need the moisture. That is true but the snow comes and then a Chinook comes and it all runs away. I'll settler for a good 3 day rain later in May.
I have had enough of winter. It's May. According to song in Camelot winter exits March the second on the dot. Old man winter has overstayed his welcome by two months if that is the case. I just hope he is gone till November. But as I recall he came for a visit to the Stampede one July and then was late for Christmas the same year.
But despite his persistence the grass is getting greener and the leaves will be on the trees soon and Belle will be munching Saskatoons before you know it.
Its spring ... pass it on.
Randy
The Saskatoons look like they will be loaded with blossoms this year too. For those who don't know what they are, Saskatoons are a small blue berry that is native to western Canada. And the northwestern states too but I think they call them service berries. It doesn't matter they make a great pie if you can get enough.
It is a struggle here though. Belle discovered Saskatoons last year. I could not figure out why all the lower branches had no berries. I thought maybe a low frost got them. Or some sort of bug. Well it was a parasite alright a fat little beagle. I came out one night and there she was grazing. She cleaned the branches off as high as she could reach. If she had stood on her hind legs we would not have even got a taste. If they look like they are going to be a good crop this year I am going to fence the bushes off. I will fight with the birds for them but Belle is supposed to be on my side. It could have been worse Dixie is taller and smarter than Belle and she would have figured a way to get all of them if she had know what Belle was up to.
But I digress. Spring is here! Shh not too loud. Old man winter is probably not out of earshot yet. He can always make a return visit. Just our luck he likes the scenery round here. Every time we think he's gone he comes back for a short stay. He's like Peter Falk in the old Columbo movies "Ah Just one more t'ing!" He hit us twice in the last couple of weeks once just in Calgary a 12 inch dump and then a week later all over the southern half of the province. We thought the Calgary dump was a good omen for the Flames because they won when we got a late dump of snow in the playoffs. Yeah right another old wives tale bites the dust. We need the moisture. That is true but the snow comes and then a Chinook comes and it all runs away. I'll settler for a good 3 day rain later in May.
I have had enough of winter. It's May. According to song in Camelot winter exits March the second on the dot. Old man winter has overstayed his welcome by two months if that is the case. I just hope he is gone till November. But as I recall he came for a visit to the Stampede one July and then was late for Christmas the same year.
But despite his persistence the grass is getting greener and the leaves will be on the trees soon and Belle will be munching Saskatoons before you know it.
Its spring ... pass it on.
Randy
Monday, April 7, 2008
Could Have Been Worse
It was a bad weekend or so it seemed at the time. On Saturday morning we were driving over to a new place for breakfast and enroute I lost power steering, the temp went up and the charge light came on all on a van less than a year old. First reaction was that the belt had failed and broken. But I had not heard it go. So suddenly breakfast is delayed and we're on our way to the dealership to fix the belt. Well the girls and I get up well before the service tech at the dealership and it is an hour or so wait until we can even get the car in, then they don't do service work on the weekend. And what is wrong with the van the alternator fell off. It sheared the bolts off and depending on what they find in two days it may or may not be covered by the bumper to bumper warranty.
I phoned Enterprise rent a car and they came and picked us up at the dealership and we rented a van for an unspecified duration. Enterprise were the first shining light in what was shaping up to be a dreary weekend. Very professional and friendly, I have to recommend them for all your car rental needs. They go over and above.
Now it is three hours since we set off and we have the rental and are on our way back for breakfast. On our way there we see the traffic lights are all out. The south end of the city is having a major power failure. The restaurant is closed. So we had to find an alternative and we finally get our breakfast at noon. Not an auspicious start. We wanted to run some errands so we thought that we would take the cell phone because the way things were headed we might need it and the battery on it was dead again. The battery had been charged just two days before but was not holding a charge. A replacement for it was $70 so we went back to Telus and we wound up getting new phones, one for me and one for Ellen.
Sunday was uneventful, considering that Saturday certainly had been this was a good thing. Now with only the van to worry about I started to relax.
Now it is Monday. I phoned Courtesy Chrysler (still one of the best Dealerships in town for nearly 20 years now) to find out the bad news on the car. Turns out that it was a warranty item and it would be ready later today. I went home to see about the upgrade to my security system. They were able to do it by just replacing my keypad at the back door. No charge as long as I signed up for another 3 years at a lower monthly rate than I am paying now. Winner,
Then Courtesy called my car was ready and at no charge. So I took the rental back and they gave me a ride to the dealership and I got my car back, The rental was only $180 for three days including full insurance. Which was the full cost of the weekend.
Sure I have a new cell phone plan and an extra charge there but we were planning that for a while because we knew the old phone that worked fine could not get a replacement battery. The car well things happen and what can you do? The service manager said that the alternator that was replaced was noisy but he had no idea why it sheared the bolts off. But they fixed everything and it was all covered and they were quick. All in all I got good service from everyone I dealt with.
What could have been seen was a bad weekend turned out to be not too bad at all. Good service from Enterprise, Courtesy Chrysler and Telus all helped make the pain go away. Thank you everyone.
Oh and the breakfast place, Cora's was open and busy on Sunday but we got there before the rush and it was terrific. Lots of real good food and good service, Just remember to get there early or you will be waiting. We'll be back.
Counting my blessings...
Randy
I phoned Enterprise rent a car and they came and picked us up at the dealership and we rented a van for an unspecified duration. Enterprise were the first shining light in what was shaping up to be a dreary weekend. Very professional and friendly, I have to recommend them for all your car rental needs. They go over and above.
Now it is three hours since we set off and we have the rental and are on our way back for breakfast. On our way there we see the traffic lights are all out. The south end of the city is having a major power failure. The restaurant is closed. So we had to find an alternative and we finally get our breakfast at noon. Not an auspicious start. We wanted to run some errands so we thought that we would take the cell phone because the way things were headed we might need it and the battery on it was dead again. The battery had been charged just two days before but was not holding a charge. A replacement for it was $70 so we went back to Telus and we wound up getting new phones, one for me and one for Ellen.
Sunday was uneventful, considering that Saturday certainly had been this was a good thing. Now with only the van to worry about I started to relax.
Now it is Monday. I phoned Courtesy Chrysler (still one of the best Dealerships in town for nearly 20 years now) to find out the bad news on the car. Turns out that it was a warranty item and it would be ready later today. I went home to see about the upgrade to my security system. They were able to do it by just replacing my keypad at the back door. No charge as long as I signed up for another 3 years at a lower monthly rate than I am paying now. Winner,
Then Courtesy called my car was ready and at no charge. So I took the rental back and they gave me a ride to the dealership and I got my car back, The rental was only $180 for three days including full insurance. Which was the full cost of the weekend.
Sure I have a new cell phone plan and an extra charge there but we were planning that for a while because we knew the old phone that worked fine could not get a replacement battery. The car well things happen and what can you do? The service manager said that the alternator that was replaced was noisy but he had no idea why it sheared the bolts off. But they fixed everything and it was all covered and they were quick. All in all I got good service from everyone I dealt with.
What could have been seen was a bad weekend turned out to be not too bad at all. Good service from Enterprise, Courtesy Chrysler and Telus all helped make the pain go away. Thank you everyone.
Oh and the breakfast place, Cora's was open and busy on Sunday but we got there before the rush and it was terrific. Lots of real good food and good service, Just remember to get there early or you will be waiting. We'll be back.
Counting my blessings...
Randy
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