A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt  https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/red-pill-blue-pill/

It’s Friday, which is reason enough to do a happy dance (although it’s been a good week at work, and I am glad to be back), but today also marks the end of the house painting (well, there will be some touching up on Monday, but today is the final stairs, doors, and final coats of all) as well as new hair.  So, tomorrow will appear a rare “selfie” of the new ‘do for your viewing pleasure.  And, of course, it also marks the fact that I can sleep in for the next 2 days.

So, let’s recap yesterday, except for work.  Work is work, except that I got to hang out at work today with colleague/friends Susan and Jen, whom I haven’t really seen in weeks.  And had lunch with Jen.  And did manage to get some work done as well, so that was all good.

Anyway, got home yesterday, and found this: No scaffolding left on the house!  Yay!

Painter stuff is being slowly wrapped up

I should explain that the water bowl is for JP (our main painter)’s dog Fitz.  He doesn’t help a lot, but he does like to hang out and keep an eye on things.

Then, the bathroom window.  Our carpenter Davyd has not only restored the window itself, refinished the hardware, and made it fit a pretty wonky window space, he has built (from scratch) the frame and the ledge to match the original windows in the rest of the house.  It looks amazing!  now I really have to paint that room!!

I had to water the garden, so decided a few garden pics were in order

These are crocuses.  I didn’t plant them, but they keep coming back in the fall.  I know – it’s still August, but like everything else, they are early…I think winter is coming…

And, of course…

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/nothin-but-a-good-time/

You’d think I did nothing more with my day than take pictures of our kitties, 2 of them particularly. Hmmm…that does sound like I may not be avoiding the prompt for today, but trust me – only coincidence!

Well, aside from work yesterday, and dropping by mom and dad’s to help mom sync her iPod (I never thought I would say that series of words), dropping off to pick up deck plans for the City (one day I will tell you THAT story), doing some things around the house, watering the yard, running to the post office to pick up my passport, and getting some dinner started, you’d be right.  What else would I really have to do by take kitty pictures?

So, without further ado…here’s Jasper sitting in a sunbeam and Elliot bouncing around.

Oh, and a new window being put into the back bathroom on the main floor.  I’ll show a closeup of the glass tomorrow.  It’s really nice!

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/helpless/

Yesterday the scaffolding started to come down, so you can start to see the final product.  There are still lots of bits and pieces and some second coats to do (like the columns and the stairs), but it’s almost done!

At the end of my run today, I walked home and took a few pictures along the way.  I thought about taking pictures during the run, but I opted for running instead of photo shoots.

And here are a couple of shots from our backyard I took after I weeded (I hate morning glory, have I ever mentioned that?  HATE it!)

And, of course, kitties.  Being, well, kitties.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/community-service/

Yesterday I cleaned house.  Literally.  Why?  Well, besides the fact that I do believe you should clean the house every once and awhile, whether you think it needs it or not, mom and dad were coming for dinner.  So, I cleaned the house.

Then mom and dad came for steel-head trout on the BBQ, with wild rice, braised greens and steamed fresh beans.  It was a yummy dinner.  And no, I didn’t take any pictures because I forgot to.

However after mom and dad headed off for their home in Oak Bay, I took these pictures of relaxing kitties to end the day.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/i-pledge-allegiance/

I need more of these this morning.

But I do have the energy to post pictures of the deck before…

and the deck after the first coat of green has gone on!

And, of course, Jasper…

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/breakdown/

By popular demand….

Jasper perched high in the dining room.

Oh, and Elliot too…looking for Nico…

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/break-the-silence/

So, it’s Friday.  Stating the obvious, I know. What does this mean to me?  Well, mostly it means that I can sleep in tomorrow.  But, let’s do today first!

And I’ll start, as I always do, by looking at yesterday.

I got up, I worked, then I went for a walk at lunchtime:

I walked up Mt. Tolmie, in case you’re wondering where all these pictures were taken, and at the top is a big concrete platform you can walk out on and look over the hillside.  This is looking out across the platform…

And this is looking back to the road…just thought it was cool.

Here are some shots from the edge of the platform:

And here are some things I saw on my way back to work.

After work, I went home and toured the house and garden.  Nothing much to report on the house painting.  We are at the stage where it’s hard to see what they’ve done, but I think I’ll see a bit more after today (there is still some salmon left at the back of the house, and I’m hoping it’s gone today!)  So, instead of house pictures today, here are some garden shots.  I think it’s been a few posts since I had any of those.

And that was my day in a nutshell.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/sweeping-motions/

Yesterday I was at work.  It was nice, partly to see people at work again, and also frankly because it was nice to have a day away from contractors at the house.  Not that the guys we have working on the house right now aren’t fantastic – they are.  It was just a really nice change.

Anyway, in addition to a nice walk at lunch, I also went for a run after work.  I decided to run down to Clover Point, and while I would love to say – surprise!  Look at what was going on there!  I knew full well what was going on there, and went down at the time I did completely on purpose.  I was, however, surprised that I managed to finish my whole training run during the madness, but I did, and then saw this.  What was that, you say?  Well, check it out here:  http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/snowbirds/index.page and here:  http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/snowbirds-bring-thousands-to-victoria-waterfront-for-aerobatic-show-1.2029263.

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/delayed-contact/

Ok, I haven’t slept well for 3 nights running now.  I think it’s just the change in tone in the morning.  I mean, now I have to get up so I can get to work.  It always takes me a few days to readjust to that.  But, I’m feeling tired this morning.  Yes, I know.  Poor me.  It’s ok. I will actually be AT work today, which will be good.  Then I can run after work and relax a bit.

So, check it out…

What do you think – green columns, or red?  You can kind of see both possibilities in the picture below…

And now, kitties!