Ben has his wisdom teeth out

Despite everything closed down, we managed to get Ben an appointment to get his wisdom teeth out.  They were really starting to bother him and we had intended to get they out way before now.  He seems to be doing OK, but had a bad reaction to the anesthetic.  Hopefully all will heal without any problem

Garden in April

I am trying to keep a record of my garden so that I can decide if I want to keep things or move things or figure out if they just don't do well in my garden.  It's also really useful to look back and see if we are ahead or behind each year.  

These pasque flowers on the front are still one of my favourites.  I first saw them at MBG and had to have them.  I bought three of them, but this is the only one that has survived for the past few years.  It doesn't last very long, but is beautiful while it does.

I have brought a whole bunch of English bluebell bulbs from Mum's garden over the years, but they have been taken over by Spanish bluebells (as Mum said they would).  I suspect that my English ones are among them and just haven't flowered because they get too much sun.  I dug up all the bulbs along the front this year and replanted what I think are the English bluebells in the back.  I gave all the others away

We have a bunch of "stepables" in the front, they are doing better than I thought they would

The plants in the rain garden are starting to grow quickly.  These are Culvers root and something similar that is taking over, but they are fine so far & the bees love them when they flower

The native perennials are growing well, although we lose some each year and I may take some out this year as they grow too tall and lie all over everything

I'm going to try to exercise a modicum of control over the herb garden this year, we'll see how successful I am!!!!!

Birthdays in the time of COVID

Ben's was the first Birthday to arrive while we are all social distancing.  All the restaurants are closed and there really is no place to go, so our options were limited.  He wanted to get Sauce on the Side for dinner, so we ordered and did curb pickup.  

Arline had run by the house and dropped off a stealth cookie cake for Ben, so he had about as good a birthday as you can have while not being able to go anywhere or see anyone.  That's pretty hard for someone who is a social as Ben is, but he did OK.

Easter at home

 What a strange Easter this year.  We have gone to Jan and Julie's for almost 20 years.  WE used to go to church with them, then go over to their house to hunt for eggs and then eat dinner.  It is one of our few traditions.  It just does not feel like Easter when we are not doing that.
We have also gone to Arline's for many years (at least 10) to dye eggs and fill up Easter baskets. 
The Easter Bunny (aka Arline) brought us some Easter goodies

Chocolate goodies for the kids and toilet paper for us-we are NOT sharing!!!!!

She even dyed some eggs for us.....

Working from Home

Well, I have been working from home for 3 weeks now and it feels like 3 years.  I now know that my suspicions were correct and I HATE working from home!!!  There are so many positives that I try to focus on, the biggest one being that we are all still healthy, but it's hard to stay positive all the time.  I have been trying to walk several times a day, just to get out of the house and stay somewhat active.  Despite all the doom and gloom, Spring has arrived and brought some beautiful sights with it.  The trees have been beautiful as ever, and I have paid much more attention to them than I usually do.

This redbud at work always has the coolest flowers on the trunk and branches

I planted about 100 anemone bulbs when we fist moved it.  This is the only one that came up this year, but it's been flowering for a while and I just love to see it

My pasque flower is one of my favourites, I wish it stayed around for longer and that I could get more of them

This white redbud is near Tilles Park, you don't see too many of them around

The redbuds have been amazing this year

While I have been home, I started crocheting again and made this Baby Yoda.  I gave him to one of my colleagues at work

Working from Home

The vast majority of people are now working from home. Andy has been at home for a week already, but I went in to work the whole of last week. I decided that I really can't justify going in to work every day any more, so I packed up all my things and brought them home.  I don't think my office has ever looked this bare, not even when I had just moved into it!!!

It looks pretty sad (and very strange) to have everything moved out

So, now that I have brought everything home, I have completely taken over the dining room table, it's a good job we don't use it too often.  

Mum and Dad's house-new agents

Marie has not been happy with the estate agent that she was using to sell the house, so she decided to move to the agent that sold hers.  The house went back on the market at 245K, let's hope the lower price and Spring brings us a buyer.  The house has been empty for almost a year now.
They had to take new pictures, luckily, it looks like it was a nice day when they did!!!!

 Mum absolutely loved the back garden.  It is still beautiful, but nothing like it was when Mum put so much time into it.  It's one of the major selling points in my opinion as it's so large, but of course not everyone wants that these days

 They spent countless hours in the conservatory.  We used to sit out there for ages almost all year long.  It made Mum very happy.  Even when she was gone, Dad sat out here a lot, I wonder if it was so he could remember her.  Dad's camellia looks beautiful right now too

Marie had just had the bathroom redone, Dad hardly even got to use it

 Mum absolutely loved this fireplace when she got it done.  Wonder if buyers will like it or think it outdated?  Also the wood ceiling?  Not always what everyone would want

 This used to be my bedroom before the conservatory was added and the door taken out.  I can still remember Walter building this arch right after I moved out.  Apparently Mum did NOT want me moving back in!!!!

 The kitchen.  To be honest, I hadn't realized that the ceiling was wood.  Mum must have really liked that effect.  It's amazing what you don't really pay attention to until it's empty

 Mum and Dad's bedroom

 The conservatory view

 This is interesting, I hadn't really seen a floor plan of the house before

I'm always going to look on this house with nostalgia.  Mum and Dad lived here for 60 years.  But, looking at these photos makes me realize that the house needs a lot of work.  Hopefully someone can see past that to what it could be.  Fingers crossed