The Big Thaw

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Last night, late, the ground thawed to let the heavy rains settle into the earth without impediment. I know this because the sump pump startled me, as it fired up for the first time this year. It rained all day yesterday, and will rain all day today, giving the pump a good spring workout. Thank goodness we installed the sump pump several years ago, to cope with the broken water main in front of our house. That problem was solved when the town dug up the entire street and our front yard, to replace the water mains and the road. Now the sump pump has only the spring run off to contend with.

Good news on the dog versus rat poison front; Wiggler has been given a clean bill of health! Her blood is a bit thin, but healthy, according to the blood test results. She was to be spayed, but that has been forestalled until she completely recovers. The poor puppy!

And, no surprise, the vet bills were breathtaking. Terra and Lares do not complain though, they love their dog.

I drove out to Terra’s place for a visit, and enjoyed the company of both Terra and her menagerie. She and Lares live with three cats, and two dogs; almost all of them are rescued animals who are much loved.

The 1879 Atlas for the Parry Sound District made it into the travel bag for this trip. So many of my relatives are listed in it. I managed to complete the transcription of one complete Township yesterday, and will begin another today.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

After some discussion with the family, the “Christmas” get together looks like it will finally take place this coming weekend. The weather is predicted to be fine, the roads good, visibility good, so if all else goes well the event will take place, at last.

My last haircut was nice, but it only lasted about five weeks before becoming unmanageable. Another haircut was in order. I called the salon where Terra gets her haircut and inquired, they could schedule me for an appointment, starting in ten minutes! Now, this is the total beauty of living in an urban area, it only took me five minutes to get there, so I was early! It was time for a change, so off came my wavy locks and voila, a very short head of hair emerged. It looked great coming out of the salon, but that doesn’t mean anything. The test comes when I wash it myself, run a comb through it, and then forget about it. If it still looks good after my efforts, then it is a great cut.

The surprise was, that there was a lot more grey up there than anticipated. As the light brown locks fell to the floor, the grey began to emerge from underneath. It looks pretty good to me.

This afternoon was sunny and mild, spring was in the air. After collecting fallen branches around the yard, the pinecones on the driveway were collected in a bucket and transported to the compost in the back yard. The birds were everywhere, squabbling over the berries in the tree, swooping, and singing in a huge celebration of a sunny spring day.

Tomorrow is the big day around here; the refrigerator is due to be delivered. This is the moment I have been waiting for, the motivation for staying at the little house in the city for more than a week. I hope this one lasts a very long time!

Worldly Distractions

Weather

Attila’s World: Country House

5°C
Date: 2:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 April 2014
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.3 kPa
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: 4.5°C
Dewpoint: -7.3°C
Humidity: 42%
Wind: W 21 km/h

My World: Little House in the City

3°C
Date: 8:00 PM EDT Wednesday 9 April 2014
Condition: Clear
Pressure: 101.3 kPa
Tendency: rising
Visibility: 24 km
Temperature: 2.7°C
Dewpoint: -3.2°C
Humidity: 65%
Wind: WSW 18 km/h

Quote

“The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.”
William Hazlitt
1778-1830

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WendyNC

Maggie, so glad to read the news about Wiggler. I’ve been thinking of her daily and hoped for a good outcome.

It’s also great that you seem to have made it through another winter and are in full spring bounce. Enjoy your new haircut.

Bex

A professional haircut is a luxury I have not afforded myself since – oh, Richard Nixon was in office I think! I do it myself. I hate doing it, too, but I can’t see forking over all that cash if I can do it in 10 minutes in the bathroom!

So glad about Wiggler! Such a worry our pets can be. As a very famous vet once said, “If Only They Could Talk” – but then, we’d probably never be able to shut them up!

Maggie

Wendy and Bex, thanks for the good wishes for Wiggler, I will pass them along to Terra. On my visit to Terra’s Wiggler was being a puppy in full force, so affectionate and enthusiastic about everything, and of course, her bottom wiggling right along with her tail, what a riot!

Maggie

Wendy, I waited to begin my personal spring thaw until there was some hope of spring weather! Attila says I will be returning to winter when I drive back to the country house; but I am not going there to see winter, I am going there to see Attila, so will be happy to be there!

Maggie

Bex, I tried cutting my own hair, and although occasionally I do an acceptable job on my bangs, the usual results are, well, lets say eccentric looking. Your hair looks wonderful however, so I can see why doing it yourself works so well!

Joan Lansberry

I’m glad Wiggler is better. I can cut my own bangs decently, but wouldn’t attempt the rest. I let Julia cut it, however, so it’s still free! Enjoy your “Christmas” get-together!

Maggie

Mist and Attila never want to cut my hair! LOL So I guess I will just have to either grow my hair long, or attend the hair salon on a regular basis. Still, getting one’s hair cut could be construed as supporting local small business, so I will think of it as a donation to the economic well being of the community; yes, that way i do not feel so self indulgent!