Return of Mike Johnston and the Kitchen Demolition Blues: Monday, July 2nd!

The measure of a country's greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis. -Thurgood Marshall, US Supreme Court Justice (2 Jul 1908-1993) 

Image: someecards

Up at 7:30 this morning, surprising myself at the relative lateness of the hour. Made my way to the Summer Kitchen to put the kettle on to boil. It was raining, not all that heavily, but steadily, so after I prepared my ice-cream laced java, I went to the front door to find both Etta and Duke huddled under the settee, their umbrella. Both dashed in and on my way back to my Office I found Miss Etta in Chloë's bathroom, in the sink, licking the tap. Turned on the cold water for her so that she could drink her fill. Some people's cats!

Big question for today is "Will the washer and dryer be hooked up, at some point?" Hope so as I still have quite a few items of clothing, from my trip, that need to be laundered and KVR Goil is chaffing, at her obsessive-compulsive bit, to wash her gym/walking outfits. 

Once w/d are hooked up, Mike can turn his attention to removing last stub wall in hallway/pantry and then scraping the "popcorn" ceiling finish in former hallway and part of kitchen. Lady Dar has always "hated" this aspect of the house's interior. Once these removals are complete we should be able to have the plastic sheeting, protecting most of the living room from dust, etc., removed and then be able to use the round table for meals. Time will tell but every day sees a step or two forward on the Renovation Front!  

Hi Patrick, Thanks for the update. Do let us know how your well-being improved, especially news of your renewed taste for alcohol, along with other plans for the summer. We await pictures of the new open-plan living area - I am sure it will be great once the pain of renovation is over. It will seem strange when Chloe moves next month - I am sure the cats will miss her too. Sorry for the relatively brief response but I am still suffering from shingles - a very painful experience which has lasted over a month - and trying hard to rest and get better before our next guests arrive later this week (Canadians) and then my girlfriends on the 11th in time for the annual Bastille Day celebrations. Take care my friend and look forward to speaking soon. Much love to you all, Rosemary XXX

Hello, Dearest Rosemary! So sorry to hear you are still suffering from shingles. Cannot even begin to imagine how terribly uncomfortable you must be. Rosie-the-Riveter, Lady Dar's Mom, has suffered from this affliction, over the years, and endured more than a great deal of sheer agony. In her case, heat, (ie. elevated outside temperatures), seemed to be a critical factor in initiating outbreak and prolonging bout. In any event we wish you well in your fight to a full, pain-free recovery.

Must away as I want to have a spot of breakfast, yogurt sprinkled with fresh raspberries and blueberries! Fondestos from both Lady Dar and Chloë, to you and Andre, wishing you, Rosemary, well in your battle with ever so painful shingles. All the best and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Latest snapolas of front yard garden and back patio, taken yesterday, on Canada Day. Fantastic pics! So much better than your old camera....Chloe said you were very nice like Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry after he gets shot in the liquor store...but then later in the evening Mom said you were obviously feeling better as you'd begun to tell everyone what to do again! Hip hooray! Our perfect boy is returning!! Now go do dishes in the backyard and then make Chloe vacuum the construction zone twice while you nap and point to areas! Love to all Chloe you should let him have the camera as he has been through so much xoxo Lol

Hi Tinsel Town Support Group! Great to have people in my corner even if light years away! Glad you enjoyed the pics! Quite enjoy using Chloë's Canon G12 even though mine was a G16. With her Smart Phone she seems not to use the camera all that much so for now I'm more than pleased to snap away. Mike is here now and with all the sawing and drilling the felines have disappeared! Chloë left for work an hour or so ago and Nana just went in to see if she could fax a release form to insurance company. Fondestos to all the Tinsel Towners and Winstonian! All the best and Cheers, Almost Perfect Patrizzio!
 

Tummler, We are glad to know you are home safely. So Sorry to learn of your sagas in Europe to punctuate your adventure. May your full recovery be pain free and fast. Hoping to see you and C soon. Fond regards to all, W&CJ y Morita Hello Calamity and Whirlygig! Lovely to hear from you and thanks for your wishes for recovery. I feel I'm making progress, slow but sure. To this end, had a call from my dottore, yesterday, and he said all my latest results, (CT scan, chest x-ray , blood and urine samples), all came back supporting a clean bill of health. Was quite moved that he called on the weekend to give me the welcome news. However, still no taste for hootch so I guess you'd better send some rot-gut porch cleaner to help me fall off the wagon! Fondestos to all the Salish Sea Folk and Morita! All the best and Cheers, Patrizzio, Il Conduttore, Tummler!

This evening we enjoyed a lovely evening with Judy Pratt and Linda Ervin, over for dinner. Lady Dar did ridiculously delicious spicy corn-on-the cob with maple syrup flavoured bbq'd salmon. Judy Blue contributed a wonderful mixed salad. Since she had used olives for garnish I assumed, wrongly as it turned out, that somehow some pits found their way into the salad, so I threw them into bowl the stripped corn cobs were placed in. When I discovered my mistake I rooted through the same bowl, much to the dismay of fussy Chloë and embarrassed Lady Dar. Our guests just laughed!

Not sure how you spent your Canada Day weekend, but here was boring. Spent our time on painting the front porch and steps. Great fun. Patrick's back!! So glad to hear from you. So sorry to not have sent a better message--will do so tomorrow. Lots and lots of love--so gald to know that you are recovering--please please take care. Jo-Anne

Old Farts hiking…….-will be led by Rick -to Apex -meet at 0800 at Home Hardware north parking lot. (0740 at IGA in Summerland) -carpool and head for Apex (probably the Gunbarrel -hike and enjoy -return to Penticton for debriefing and refreshment Interested? Let Rick know. Cheers, Jim