What Have we been doing all summer?

The summer has not gone quite as planned but we are having a great time never the less. I thought we would be in Bakersfield doing home projects and playing in the garden everyday. We have had a few days of tree trimming and a short stint of weed pulling but it certainly has not been the quality time I had expected. No new plants to replace ones that are not doing well and not one bedding flower to add a bit of cheer to the place. I did purchase two succulents to put on the patio table but that hardly counts as gardening. That being said we have had the summer to remember!

We spent the month of July just ordering all the new gadgets that will make the next cruising season even more enjoyable. We have our new Engle Freezer that should double our frozen food capacity, two more solar panels that will double our amperage on the boat, noise canceling speakers for the SSB as well as a new grounding system so Di can better communicate, and new sandals for both of us. We are all set to drive down.

August saw us visiting Canada for the first time. We went to Saskatoon to share the Baptism of our grandson Nicholas with our son in law's family. Andy's parents Peter and Sofie played host for five beautiful days while we got to soak in all of Canada's charm. I have never seen a city with more beautiful flower pots decorating each corner of the streets. Truly beautiful, and the climate was perfect! Not too hot and just a hint of rain to keep everything green. Loved every moment we were there.

September has brought us to Carmel in order to help Di's Dad move into an assisted living facility. Many of our friends have had to do this already but for us it came about very suddenly. Dad is 96 and has been living at home with some daytime assistance but it became apparent to us that he just was not safe by himself. So with little complaining we moved him into a lovely assisted living facility in Monterey which is close enough all his friends could still come by to visit. That has just left us the job of sorting through thirty years of personal effects, cleaning an acre of land that was badly neglected, insisting that the Gardner remove his chickens from a back yard pen, finding a home for a very distructive cats, selling all the furniture and finally painting the house inside and out as well as installing new carpet. If all goes as planned we will be out of Carmel by the first of October and the house will be on the market. Rog has earned his time back on the boat!

The patio roof has to go!

House looks better already

We filled three dumpsters with all yard waste! What a job it has been

Dad is very happy at his new home and has admitted that he had no idea that he could make so many new friends at his age!