My non-biplogical grandbabies come for a visit!

Aaron, baby Luca (3 months) and Mama Silvia came for a visit yesterday and a dip in the pool. We don't see too much of them in the summer as we are so busy but we sure look forward to a visit. After a little pool time we went in the house for a little play time while Silvia had an opportunity of a little swim alone. Can you tell I enjoy spending time with these cuties?

A great day for a dip.

The happy face ball is just out of Aaron's reach but he's enjoying the water anyway.

Aaron and I have a little dip - the water was about 85 - just about bath water temp.

Aaron floating in the turtle - this used to be Brenton's when he was a baby - I made a new fabric seat last summer and the turtle has been enjoyed by many kiddies since. Momma Silvia is looking on.

Pond up-date

Our pond is looking really great - just a little landscaping to finish up. Brenton has worked very hard on this - it's pretty much his project and we're really pleased with it. I think it will look really awesome next year when the plantings are more mature.

A pic for the super cute great nieces and nephews!

This little frog thinks the pond is great - especially the lily pads!

A pretty bloom on our Hybiscus tree.

Strawberry Jam anyone?

I managed to get some strawberry freezer jam made before we got too busy. Freezer jam is sooo easy to make - no more sweating over a hot stove like Mom used to do!

More baby ducks!

Jake & Daisy are the proud parents of 4 new baby chicks!

New baby ducks at the Mailman farm

I thought my cutest ever little great nieces and nephews might enjoy seeing these pics of baby ducks. If you look under Mama's chest you can see an egg that is just hatching!

I've been a poor blogger lately!!!

I know I've been kind of (very) slack on my blogging lately but we are into our busy season so most nights I have just enough energy to check out the family blogs before I hit the bed. Brenton's report card inspired me to get it on the blog - click on this pic to see his great marks! He passed grade 9 with Honors With Distinction. He sure puts Gary's and my report cards to shame when we were in grade 9! He and Gary are still working on the pond and it is looking great - hopefully we'll have some pics of that completed soon. Anyway, don't forget to check in on us now and again - I will try and get some pics up when I can.

The finished project!

Actually the next picture shows the project a little better. We're quite pleased with it - a major improvement over the old concrete. When we get the pond at the end finished, it will look even nicer! The lattice panel at the end of the concrete (seen in the next pic) will also be removed so that the pond will be seen while sitting at the cafe table.

Another view of the finished project

Concrete repair project.

So we had this cracked and ugly concrete deck around our office entrance and rather than dig it all up and replace it, we decided to try the new Home Hardware product called 'Flexrock' that you trowel on. The first step was to repair the big cracks and remove any loose concrete and then power wash it. Then we painted on this primer. The next photo shows the grout lines that we made since we decided to make it look like slate. The last photo shows the Flexrock that I have trowelled on. Then a sealer goes on top and, apparently, it is very durable - we'll see about that!

The next step - those lines will be the grout lines

Getting close to finished!

As you can see, it is taking shape here and we will show the finished results if it ever stops raining! We managed to get the second coat of sealer on and just about dried before the rain started last night. I guess this will be a good test to see how durable this stuff is!

Am I a cute kitty or what?

I had this mattress protector on the kitchen floor as I had to do some alterations on it. Callie took it as a invitation to curl up in it - not very helpful!

Or how about this, do I look cuter this way?

Still not helping, Callie!

Sleeping toddler

Today is probably one of the last Tuesdays that I will have Aaron until the Fall. We are getting busier with guests and reservations and last minute stuff. Here Aaron is having a big nap in "Margaret's bed". No more playpen for him - our babies are growing up Michelle!

Margaret's laundromat!

Need any laundry done anyone? Last week I got my second large washer - now I have 2 washers and 1 dryer - all very water and energy efficient. Fewer buckets of water to haul for some people! Kerry, one of my cleaners, says that my laundry room looks like a laundromat! Apparently I can wash 16 pairs of jeans in each washer - hopefully I'll never have to try that one out.