Morningside Spirit
April 15 to May 7 – We travelled across Canada from Nanaimo, BC to St. Stephen, NB in the ‘Spirit of Adventure’. Parked the Spirit at the end of 300 metre driveway in Lynnfield where the kids are staying while they’re building their own house in Canoose.
Stayed at Lynnfield from May 8 until July 1 when we moved the Spirit to our property on St. David Ridge after the septic field was completed & we could hook up to dump the black water – & the well is drilled – in prep for Disher moving our house onto this property on July 8.
And so – we begin the New Brunswick ‘Morningside Spirit’ gardens on St. David Ridge!
So far, we brought with us a fragrant red rose, wooly lambs ear, valerian, French tarragon, common thyme, bronze fennel, lovage, lady’s mantle, green boxwood & variegated boxwood, white pine, violets, arbutus, rhubarb, ‘Azure’ rhododendron, ‘Valley Valentine’ pieris, rue, coral bells, black peppermint, rosemary, asparagus, a yellow-flowering currant, & an amaryllis.
We’ve been given Jerusalem artichokes, chives, oregano, peppermint, Jack-in-the-pulpit, & tamarack trees.
And we’ve purchased curly & flat-leaf parsley, summer savory, cat mint, basil, thyme, rosemary, chives & garlic chives, cilantro, chamomile, lemon verbena, sage, catnip, butternut squashes & sugar baby watermelons, a pink & white fuchsia in a hanging basket & in another hanging basket, yellow & purple ‘Million Bells’. Not to mention approximately 5 acres of blueberries!
I think we have enough to get us started!
new house is coming
So here we are, land owners! It’s hard waiting for the house – this isn’t something we sort of went shopping for – it’s all brand new. We shopped around for the right piece of land, of course – found a nice little 17 acre place with blueberries & lots of trees… Then we went to Disher Homes to order a nice new, customized the way I want it, mini home – which will be delivered July 8! The property is being set up now, with a new well, septic, & power – no one else had before on this land! Did I say it’s hard waiting? Less than two weeks now until “D” day! Aaaahhhhhh
Observations one day
May 1 –
Flying clouds – turbulent cotton – shadows running across the road
Road sparkles – magical
Mystery tour
Revell River
Winding, Relentless
Rusty red, black and deep
Suddenly swans
Here’s a post from my iPhone
Hi Mike! Posted this one for you from my phone! 
the Spirit is reviving
OK, so – investigating further into the biffy pump situation reveals that we actually don’t have to replace the pump! The pump works – it just keeps shorting out – SO – because it has just a switch on it, we’re having it hard-wired instead – that will solve the problem & will cost a lot less money!
The trailer thermostat arrived today – thought it would be Friday before we got that – so things are looking up! Mike will be able to install that tomorrow, & then we can move back into the Spirit!
Pi in my Face
My flu is going going going – still coughing a bit, feeling tired, but much better than I was a few days ago!
I can tell, Dolly
The great adventure
A totally stressed week. Electricians here for a day & a half instead of three hours. Almost all the work Mike did had to be undone – basically because it wasn’t covered up – PLUS – a bunch of stuff WE bought with the house had to be brought up to code. Note to self: next house we buy we get an electrical inspection done as well as general!!
That wasn’t enough – been moving stuff into the trailer so we can live in it – in fact, we moved into it Sunday night – everything’s cool, right? Except I get sick (from the stress so far!) – started feeling like crap Wed, Thu stayed in bed, also most of the day Fri -
That’s not the end – Fri all frikkin day we’ve got a blowing raining storm happening – knocking the trailer about & scaring the kitties – it was bad enough the ferries quit running to Vancouver – THEN the thermostat gives up or shorts out – whatever – so we move back into the house – except, now that the carpets have been cleaned, (Mon) we aren’t in the bedroom – just have the bed in the dining room. No biggie.
Wait! That’s not all – after the electrician left on Tue, we find that the downstairs biffy won’t flush – so I’m plunging away & blew the wax seal!! Turns out after he rewired the pump – it shorted out – so now we need a new pump & wax seal for the damn toilet!
So far, it’s been a helluvan adventure all right!! Let’s get the shit over with before we leave so we have a smooth trip!!
Golly, gee, fellas
Final Countdown
T minus 26 days to take-off – the party is on the 24th, which is Mike’s last day – don’t know where yet – All we need now is a buyer! C’mon! Let’s get this show on the road! At 289,900 this house is a steal!
The weather has been fabulous – early spring. Flowers everywhere. My ‘Valley Valentine’ pieris bloomed real nice – hope it does as well out in NB! No snow on Mt Benson – that’s unusual – there’s generally snow up there until May! Could be a dry summer here.
Went to see Avatar 3D – second time we saw the movie, and the 3D effects were cool. Definitely on the list to buy when the DVD becomes available!
Waiting for the carpenter fella to come & fix the soffitt – he’s got a nice day for it, but I have to sit here – I have lots to do though, so it’s not like I’m floundering or anything…
Planning to head to Victoria tomorrow to see Sandy & Mike & also pick up some stuff at Lee Valley for the garden show next weekend. See how it goes.
Find her a vacant knee, fellas
Wishing I had Photographic memory
Tried & tried – trying – to get a phpbb set up – but can’t remember or figure out what the setup is – no matter what conflagration I enter I get errors – oh well – maybe I should just be happy with the eblah – that one was very easy – it basically installed itself.
Dealing with a web-geek who thinks he’s the only one who knows anything (prima donna?) – when really, it would be so simple to just do what you’re asked & quit bitching about it – trying to make the client think it’s so difficult is beneath you – come on! You’re name isn’t Scotty & this isn’t the Enterprise. You still get paid & if it was easier to deal with you, the client would be happier about paying what you ask! Really!
take a deep breath ~
On the lighter side – packing is going smoothly – stuff is piling up in storage & I’m getting the rest sorted to start loading the trailer. Truck’s in with the mechanic today – for a checkup & oil change. Got new tires last week ~ it’s starting to feel like we’re really moving! Countdown to retirement is at 43 sleeps – but Mike’ll be off work sooner than that because he has vacation time coming! Woohoo!!
You’re lookin’ swell, Dolly
How do we rip thee off?
- let us count the ways -
Canada Post is going about it with enthusiasm – it’s Christmas – and they’ve decided to start charging us 13% HST because the destination charges HST.
(We’re supposed to be paying 5%!)
This is a new thing. We have HST coming in July 2010, but that will be 12%. CP has implemented a new rule that says they can charge 13% HST NOW instead of waiting until July!
Bah Humbug Canada Post! Gotta capitalize on all that Christmas mail going out, eh?
People really ought to protest this treatment – it won’t end here – some companies are already following suit – charging the higher rate of tax. WTF is going on? It’ll be all the couriers & telephone companies next… do we just keep paying? Are we going to lay down & let them screw us?
I’d like a little foreplay & some kissing first!
Find her a vacant knee, fellas