• Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:49 a.m.

    We had some children from the Conservative Mennonite Church/School a short distance down the road come and pick up fallen branches for us early this afternoon for a 'donation' to the school. They would have done it without the donation because they want to be of service to the community. A very nice group of people that attend the church and fine neighbours!

    After the branches were done I mowed for about three hours. Mowing grass does not bother me much as it is a seated position. I went slowly so it took longer than it normally would have. Before I mowed I took about fifty images in the gardens, all single shots, no stacking as there was a bit of wind. I have only processed four so those are below.

    Andrew

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    and a miniature iris. I have been waiting for it to bloom because it is usually an early bloomer.

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    JPG, 3.3 MB, uploaded by 19andrew47 on May 11, 2023.

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    JPG, 4.0 MB, uploaded by 19andrew47 on May 11, 2023.

    Z5100006 -1.jpg

    JPG, 4.1 MB, uploaded by 19andrew47 on May 11, 2023.

    Z5100010 -1.jpg

    JPG, 4.1 MB, uploaded by 19andrew47 on May 11, 2023.

  • Members 40 posts
  • Members 336 posts
    May 11, 2023, 7:56 a.m.

    The flowers are beautiful, Andrew, and your photography is great. Your flower photography seems better than before and I know why. Pain makes the artist strive for perfection. Van Gogh knew this, too. However, you are as good as you need to be. Please do not aspire any higher and cut off your ear to get there.

    I also like this idea of yours to purchase the children into serfdom for a day, work them until they have manicured your yard, pay them with a stale crust of bread, then run them off when they are broken and too exhausted to be of any further use. The firm of Scrooge and Marley would be happy to have your services. 🤣 If you hear chains rattling just after the wishing hour tonight that will be Jacob Marley coming to have a word. Rich

  • Members 222 posts
    May 11, 2023, 8:01 a.m.

    Fine looking tulips Andrew. Lovely rich colours

    Good to hear child slavery/abuse is still going strong

  • Members 318 posts
    May 11, 2023, 11:15 a.m.

    These are Beautiful Andrew such lovely rich colures u must have a big and lovely Garden take it easy 🙂

  • Members 676 posts
    May 11, 2023, 2:15 p.m.

    Your garden appears to be in full bloom, Andrew ... very nice ...... avoid bending over or anything quick and get that back better soon ... statement obviously not needed but hope you do get back to normal soon ...

    WhyNot

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 2:46 p.m.

    Thanks Craig. If you are posting on the other forum I will have a look in there to see.

    Andrew

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 2:46 p.m.

    Thanks Keith.

    Andrew

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 2:52 p.m.

    Thanks Rich. I need my ears. No chance of self mutilation in that regard.

    The children asked to come again! Go figure! They came on their lunch hour and there were eight kids, likely grade 7/8 age, four girls, four boys, and their teacher. They were here for less than an hour. They also did a very good job and I did not have to pick up anything. Scrooge and Marley eat your heart out!

    I did not take any pills last night. First time in a long time. Maybe there is hope!

    Andrew

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3 p.m.

    Thanks Rich.

    Yes, I have reservations about it all but the kids seemed to happy to be here and not at the school. A very polite and helpful lot. Part of their beliefs seem to be geared toward 'community service' as stated by the 'teacher' that came along with them. We have several factions of Mennonites in this area. This Conservative group seems to be the 'nicest' of the lot. Religious indoctrination is what it is I guess and is not going anywhere soon it would seem. At least this group is a very pleasant group to have near by and I do not see the hypocritical behaviour of some groups.

    Andrew

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:01 p.m.

    Thanks Paul.

    We live on 5.25 acres of property Paul and planted too many gardens when we were younger and did not realize the burden they would become!

    Andrew

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:04 p.m.

    Thanks WN.

    I did little bending yesterday. The back 'popped' three times while I was riding the tractor, when I turned by head and body one way or another to either look for traffic or avoid a branch to the head. Each time there was a stab of pain. This is new. Afterward I felt better than in about a month.

    Andrew

  • Members 318 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:10 p.m.

    Wow that’s big Andrew a lot of land did u ever farm any of the land 🙂

  • Members 567 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:16 p.m.

    No farming Paul. Here it is large enough to qualify as a hobby farm and we could get farming write offs but all of that is work. The reality is likely half of the property is not farmable in any case as the north side of the property is a ravine about 70 ft deep and the west side behind the house falls off to the valley below, again about 70 ft. My guess is I mow about 2 acres. The gardens are around the house, out front of the house, the pool out back, and down the side of the ravine. Far too much work for us geezers now. Age takes its toll on the bodies and the willingness to abuse them. That said, we are resisting leaving our 'country home'.

    Andrew

  • Members 318 posts
    May 11, 2023, 3:28 p.m.

    We have a medium size garden Andrew but a high hedge all around it which I cut once a year I never look forward to it , it takes about half a day to cut it and about two days to recover from the stiffness after 🙂

  • Members 336 posts
    May 11, 2023, 4:27 p.m.

    Andrew, I got a covid booster shot yesterday. The pharmacy I went to gave me a pamphlet with information on the various types of vaccines available. It stated that the Pfizer vaccine is the only one updated to deal with the latest strain of covid, called Omicron. That is the one I got. I hope you get that one, too.

    Edit: I opine that the children came back because they got Stockholm syndrome. This is a condition in which hostages develop a psychological bond with their captors due to the power imbalance of captive to captor. Well done, I say. I suggest that when they return, and they will return, you set them to picking dandelions so your air cleaner won't get clogged. 😈 Rich

  • Members 567 posts
    May 12, 2023, 4:20 a.m.

    Rich

    We will be getting the Pfizer vaccine Rich. That is the one the pharmacy has. My first three were all Moderna but the ones since have been Pfizer. I can not say I have had any reaction to any of them so I guess it is all good!

    Kim Carnes on the cans tonight. I saw the GP today, had blood work and xrays. MRI to come. About time. He said pinched nerve likely. Same diagnose I made myself. If I could have ordered the xrays and MRI a year ago I could have saved a lot of time and perhaps pain. I got some new drugs and more of the old one. I tried the new one tonight. It is a nerve blocker. I think it is the lowest dose it comes in and they go up in dosage to 30 times more than I getting, could have been more as the number did not sink in. The drug seems to be working the proof will come when I try to sleep.

    I really don't understand religious folks. Strange from someone that at age 14 wanted to be an Anglican priest.

    Well Kim just finished and I need to find something else and I think a different set of cans to try. I have five to choose from. The AKGs I bought I don't really like as the ear cups are too small for my liking. The same goes for the Beats studios. The Beats don't have the clinical sound of any of the three pairs of Sennheisers I have but they sound pleasant. The AKGs I expected more from but they are not in the same price range as the Sennheisers. See, I have GAS but it is for audio equipment more so than photographic equipment. When one is confined to a chair listening to music is something you can still enjoy!

    Hope things are getting better for you and the mess is nearing an end. Then you will be able to get out and enjoy yourself once the cloud has lifted.

    Andrew

  • Members 281 posts
    May 12, 2023, 2:24 p.m.

    Lovely shots of lovely flowers Andrew.
    I took a few shots of my wife's flowers, maybe I'll post some, but, they won't compare to yours.

  • Members 567 posts
    May 12, 2023, 4:23 p.m.

    Jim
    Thanks Jim. Our crab apples were not open on Wed. but I suspect they are today. I will have to go out in a while and have a look.

    Andrew