Manual Labour Sunday

Towards supper time last night I hear a beep beep beep coming from the back alley.  I look out to see a bobcat loader dropping off cement tiles just outside of our gate. Hmmm. curious. About 15 minutes later, I hear it again and this time I see DH heading out. Apparently he bought patio cement tiles for our backyard so there is a solid place for the patio set.  (as you can see - apparently we don't consult each other on big purchases which I do NOT recommend for any couple starting out. short of finding a new spouse, there is not much I can do at this point)

The hardware store who delivered it is only four blocks from our place (gotta love small towns) and they were kind enough to deliver these at no cost to us, instead of us having to load them in the truck and unload them again later. Thanks hardware store peeps!!!

The patio/deck has been a source of contention for us for years. He really wants  a deck. I really want to add to the back of the house to make a kitchen we can sit in (no dining room. If we add a deck that pretty much means no adding on. So this purchase surprised me.

The tiles were on sale for $11.21 and DH bought 40 of them...so roughly $492 including tax. DH paid for this and I let him. He didn't help with the patio set or any of the grad costs. And so the manual labour began.

The boys and I dug out the grass in a sometimes shaded area of the backyard and leveled as best we could while DH ran to the farm to get sand. When he got back the testosterone began putting down the sand and blocks and levelling it. It was HOT here. 32C for us is really hot, especially after a very cool and rainy spring. I never do well with heat. blargh. By the end of the day the job was done and we went moved the patio set back onto it. The four remaining blocks we put down just a bit to the side to set the firepit I bought at a silent auction over the winter.

Our house has no AC and it's nice to sit outside in the shade and enjoy being outside if there is a breeze. I can read out there, eat out there or just relax and recharge (fully laden with OFF, of course).

Mom and dad were bbq'ing for supper as a pre Canada Day celebration. Was really nice to just go over and have food ready and not have them mind how hot and sweaty we were. Thanks mom and dad!

Below is a pic of the patio cement area and the new set. Half of it is wet from watering the grass we edged back in on the side. Notice the hockey stick and ball that keep DS1 from going crazy, and DS2's maine coone, who loves him more than anyone else.

As you can see, it is against the one piece of fence we did not replace as that neighbour wasn't ready to do a fence yet. Perhaps next year. With the new fence, the digging out and gravel new driveway and this patio, it certainly adds up to enough, for this year.

Sweet Saturday Night

Today was a good day. Puttering and cleaning took up most of it. Apparently while I was busy 24/7  the last 10 days of school, the rest of the people in my house suffered domestic amnesia and no one did dishes, or laundry or tidying.....basically they did squat. It really annoys me that no one picks up the slack, especially when they are walking past things that need to be done repeatedly.

Dishes were tackled and a few loads of laundry done to start the process. It was a good day to hang things on the line. 

I got in two walks today and it was so good to just have time to reconnect with the outdoors and know I could take as long as colitis would let me, and didn't have to be back on a timeline. I swear I could feel my cells literally expelling stress as I walked.

We BBQ'd for supper and sat down at the patio set I bought in May. I have wanted a patio set the whole time we've lived in this house (17 years) and DH never thought it was a good idea because we didn't have  a deck or patio. I just wanted to be able to sit outside and enjoy a meal or read a book and have............a place. It came to just under $500 for a table and chairs for 6. It didn't have the glass top on it as we both hate that grunge line that develops between the glass edge and the seam of the table.  I scrimped on grocery $ to funnel extra cash to pay it as well as redirecting some summer 2013 money so that the CC balance was 0$. I know...I should have saved for it ahead of time.  I faltered.  I took away from a self chosen savings goal, but I did not add debt. That has to count for something. I hope :-)

I enjoyed eating out there and tomorrow we plan to do something about the lack of patio surface.

Storage Container on Wheels

Today was spent cleaning out my suv. It's amazing how much was stuffed in there that I didnt have the time or energy to get out as I ran from one big activity to another all month.

5 ties - these I am guessing are from prom. None of them belong to DS. I am surprised none of his buddies have looked for them yet. I will  have to scan the photos to see which tie belongs to who and have DS text them.

1 cooler - It has beer in it. No ice, so it didn't go skunky. This was from our staff party last weekend.

1 fold out camp chair - from above

1 container from DS's prom escort's corsage

3 stuffed gift bags - I received some very lovely gifts from students and got them safely in the house where I can appreicate them.

2 bags of books from school - when the spirit moves me, I should read some of these as I am teaching a new grade next fall

4 blankets and a pillow - from my beach blanket for our school's lake day to my blankets from my overnight trip with my students.

1 suitcase - DS received this from one of his aunties for grad

1 memory book - DS presented this to me along with a rose after graduation mass

too many randon papers - from everywhere

library books - these need to go back tomorrow so I don't get fined, which would defeat the purpose of borrowing books for free

5 containers of OFF - mosquito city here.

1 pair of runners - I kept them at school for activities with the kids. I want to put them to good use wherever I happen to be so I can walk.

7 socks - no clue why there is an orphan sock

so many other things too. Honestly I am not that messy, though this list disputes that fact

AHHHHHHHH

What a month!

I feel like a train that  has been going full speed down a bumpy hill and it's now finally come to a halt with a bump and screeches and more than a few thuds.   You know that moment when it comes to this eerie silence, dust in the air and you still feel like you're still moving? that's where I am.

It's been a heck of a month with year end exams and document after document for school admin, field trips and award ceremonies. At home DS 2 was sick, we finished our fence and we had DS1's grad.

My house is a mess, my vehicle is a mess and my finances are messy too.

I haven't even logged on the past few weeks to read your blogs and THAT is unlike me. Boy did I ever have a boatload of spam anon comments. I had to turn the moderator on for that. sorry folks.

After we handed out report cards, I spent the evening  with my staff at my vice principal's house. She  hosted last year too. What a great time to sit around in the fresh air, have a burger and just enjoy each other's company.

This long weekend will be one to rest and slowly put pieces of things away and enjoy not having to rush rush rush.

Sorry for being away, if anyone is still out there.

Milestone

Well I made it through prom night. 

After  9 months of anticipation and planning and making decorations it has come and gone. Fancy suits and dresses.....heels so high I have no clue how they can dance in them. Dresses were long this year - flowy. Some of them lovely to do the formal walk in, but impossible to dance in without hitching them up. We did pictures with DS and his escort earlier in the day. She looked lovely, and I am not bias just because she was once a student of mine.   There were 125 graduates at prom with their escorts. They danced, danced, danced for over 6 hours straight. The evening went until 3:30 AM then we cleaned up the hall and headed home.  

A short entry for a big evening. I find it hard to put it all into words.  I am tired, and more than a little nostalgic (pretty speak for weepy) at this milestone.  I have enclosed a small pic of them, looking out across the valley.

Where the money stands

as of June 4th

Debts
Mortgage - $27 590.03
LOC - ZERO!!!!!

Total Debt - $27 590.03

Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $2062
(set aside waiting for full $1000 to formall add to TFSA - $155)
RESP - $14 040
RRSP - $6100
Plates - $1200
Summer - $500

Some of my extra grad/prom costs have eaten into my progress of my savings goals. I need to get going on that.

Very glad I got that LOC to zero. feels like I got something accomplished :-)