Highs With Lows & Life with Love

 Last week my days were filled with the joy of autumn. Sunny warm days & the burst of colour in the trees. I was preparing for the arrival of middle-son Mitchell, to be followed by his dad & youngest brother 4 days later. This was going to be the time that we're all together for Thanksgiving, flight as Thanksgiving morning was the departure time for all 3 as they all had work for Tuesday morning.

 Everyone was laid back, Tommy was shaded by the bench (the same bench that flew into the bumper of my car on July 5th when Hurricane Arthur came for a visit...it will be put away at the 1st announcement of any other visiting hurricane). Those are squash that I'm toughening the shells up for to take back to Ontario next month, to feast on when I'm homesick. lol

 Bose, Rexton, & Boris were lounging too!

 These too are always together, Boris has accepted Rexton, the 4 month old kitten that thinks she's a dog!

 Saturday was the arrival of Mitch & it was good to see him, it was Mother's Day in Calgary the last time I saw him...and snow as the plane was deiced to take flight to Toronto.

He came carrying a present for me that he saw & purchased last August at a Cracker Barrel. As he handed it to me, he said  ' I saw it & immediately though of you mom'. What a heart hugger this one is. Thank you Mitch. XO

                                                            It's a fiber-optic lighthouse!

Our time together this week was made even more special to me as last Tuesday Bose passed away & Mitchell was there to help me bury her & console me through this ruff patch.
On Monday night I come home from a UCW meeting to notice that Bose was no where to be found. She had been at the door several times that day, which is very unusual for her as she's been an inside cat for the past 16 1/2 years.
We found her in the basement hiding behind somethings. As I looked at her I had a sunken feeling, she was lifeless, I called for Mitch & as he placed her in a blanket she cried out. We brought her upstairs & she never moved, she was lifeless but still breathing. At 12:30am I went to bed, knowing full well what was going to happen overnight. She passed away in her sleep  in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

                                               She was so loved by us. RIP Bose, my baby girl.

 I cut pink fabric up & wrapped her in Namama's chair's slipcover. As I wrapped each pink ribbon around her my eyes filled with tears as I prepared her for burial. They're filled again right now thinking about her. I will miss her so much.
Mitchell placed white stone over her grave as we were on a quest to find a round cement stepping stone. Home Hardware did not have one, so off to Miramichi's Kent Store...nope none there, nor could I order one from there book. Canadian Tire maybe, no not there either.
But what we did find at All Decked Up was a monument that was so fitting for this sad time.

 This small monument will be placed on the white stones to honor Bose. She is the first pet to be buried in our new backyard, under my favourite maple tree. Very sad morning for Mitch & I as we said good bye to Bose, the baby girl cat of 16 1/2 years. :_(   Her mother, Smokia aka Momma, lived to be 17 years old & Bose's brother, (from Smokia's 2nd & last litter) Tommy is not showing any signs of slowing down at 15 years young, these cats have longevity or nine lives!

That day Mitchell flattened a truckload of gravel for the new parking place next to the house & I planted 10 peonies around the yard with the new bags of top soil, fertilizer, & mulch that we had picked up the day before.
I'm beginning my gardens around the yards. I know from everyone telling me that it takes time, so I'm going to be eager to see this work in May as Mother Earth comes back to life after the harsh winter winds & snow.


With that day behind us we welcomed the arrival of  Bill & Nicholas.

                                                     Smile Nick...you've got internet!

 After having him & his laptop at the kitchen table last year, he was given his own laptop table in the greatroom.  At least he was 'with us' as he gamed away with pleasure.

 Mitchell 'played' outside all day, nearly everyday on the tractor or cut down trees with the chainsaw.

Bill was just happy to be back to the east coast again...to see me. ;-)

 The guys had started a fire in the stove to take the chill out & I ran outside to see the smoke coming out of the chimney but it was too windy to see it rise vertically.

We celebrated our Thanksgiving early on Saturday, that way we could eat leftover turkey sandwiches on Sunday as everyone would be gone by 9am Thanksgiving Monday.

 What a feast we had!! We had also invited a few neighbours, Theodore, Jean, & Mary Beth all joined in with the feast of ham & turkey & all the trimmings. Good food, family & friends, our day was a very good one!

 More yard work...
It has been heaven to be out in the sunshine & have NO mosquitoes to torment & bit you!

 Bill prepares for the transplanted lily of the valley from Jean's overgrown batch.

 Mitchell played in the woods & made this opening & soon there was an area that you could actually stand in. Our woods have not had anything done to them in over 25 years.
 Hurricane Arthur had taken down several trees but the winds from the hurricane that came afterwards were strong too (can't remember its name) but it took down even more trees. So now it was a job to remove so many trees & take down so many weak & dead poplars. Birch, maple, & evergreens were left in place.

                                             How inviting are these woods going to be?!!!

 These are branches that will be mulched for the path that's being pushed through these dense woods.

 Nick was helping too & after his stay/work with the woods...he was down 5 pounds! I caught him pulling up his loose pants! lol Oh so different is this life than his work life, everyone sleeps soundly here. I can vouch for that as I would awake to here a symphony of snoring. Very different sounds to hear when your use to living with just pets, Boris snores too & did join in with the others! lol Like I said 'A symphony of snorers!'.

We now have quite the stack of wood to use in the firebox,  next fall when it's cold.

 Bill planting the lily of the valley...they're going to reside all alone at the side of the shed as I know how they can spread. I will enjoy picking the flower bells in June, or what a sweet fragrance!

I hope you too had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day & I'm wishing you one right now!!
It was garbage day today & those workers never get the day off, so Bill & I left them a Tim Horton's gift card to have a coffee & sandwich as our treat! I hope they like their Happy Thanksgiving Day surprise!

Thank you for stopping by & do come again.
It's going to be a busy week as I prepare a hook-in with the Miramichi Rug Hookers potluck day at the cottage! Hope Mother Nature joins in with sun for this day of laughter!

I'll keep you posted! lol Happy Thanksgiving!