daily life as life goes on . . .

Last night's storm dropped 1/2 inch of rain in about 15 minutes. I'm sitting in my bedroom hearing gushes of rain.  Coming from the eavestroughing. Out the window I see the water pouring right down onto the cement foundation.  Right where we don't want H2O to accumulate (seepage in the basement and all that entails!!). So, out I head to the downspout.  I see the problem.  Up by the roof. Haul out the step ladder.  Place it by the downspout.  Climb up.  The ground gives way.  I grab the eavestrough.  Hang for a second while pushing the ladder back.  Happens again.  Push back again. The third time wasn't lucky.  I relax as I fall.  The grass is like a carpet.  I hardly notice.  Back up once more.  This time the rain is pretty well done.  I fix the downspout.  Head into the house.  The clothes go into the wash.  I shower.  The bed feels great. Another day, another adventure.

But it's not night yet! We looked out the window and the black clouds are rolling in.  In Saskatchewan, with warm weather, the upsurge of heat and the humidity combine for sever thunderstorms.  With them come thunder and lightening. Not the best thing for computers.  So off goes this computer.  See you tomorrow!

We were just going for an hour or so. As we headed out around 4:00 we discussed whether we should stay for supper if invited.  Then, after having hamburgers we settled into chairs on the outdoor deck.  Soon we were watching kids play.  A water fight was in progress.  The 8:30 hour approached and we began to make noises that we were leaving.  At 9:00 we made it to the door.  I knew we were in trouble when a stool came out and the talk kept on.  At 9:35 we were in the car heading out their farm lane! No need to talk church, or plan strategies or even mark down another "visit".  These were friends from 30 years ago whose home we had not visited in probably the last 25.  Their daugther was in our youth group, and she now has youth of her own.  Their son farms just down the road.  They now attend a different church in town so an opportunity like this is truly that -- an opportunity to renew, refresh and remember. Thanks Art, Sylvia, Cheryl, Robin, Brenda and the "kids".  Loved the visit!!

For some people their e-scape has been land-scape. My father loved the soil.  A friend I talked to yesterday relished having three hours to just play in the dirt.  Countless books have been written on rearranging loam and planting flowers, shrubs and trees. How many of those books have I read?  All the way through? Let me think . . . OK, so I'm not a garden fan but I do enjoy the esthetics of a yard well kept.  This spring we are moving to Phase 2 in our property renovation plan.  The strategy is to build up the grade around the house so no water seeps into the basement.  We also hope to get rid of dandelions, plant some flowers and generally make our neighbours happy! By 8:00 this morning I was out taking up sod, shovelling in dirt and raising the grade around the house.  Don't let anyone know, but there actually is pleasure in seeing a job come together!  I guess there is a place for escape in landscape!