🚙 ... august closing out sale is now ... on

  🚙  XXVII of augusting The morning so far. Coffee [ yesterday s brew ]. Gather fishing gear and out the door.
Headed for Pt Union Waterfront Park, about 8 Km away. Access to the Lake, and free parking.
A well organized, general purpose layout,  walking etc + playground facilities and exercise area.

The water was scummy w / the wind bringing in debris. The wave action was deep and breaking near shore. I tired a bit and gave up.
For an exploratory mission, it went well

Typing and looking at the view. Sunny but clouds are thickening a bit from earlier

Breakfast is clearing out the fridge b / c it is get garbage ready day. Regular garbage and recycling [ wet ]

We got WhatsApp d from UK relatives, they are stout hearted but burdened by family court trauma

My afternoon was. Nap. WhatsApp and exercise

🎃 26 th of augusting

  🎃 .... sitting and typing green tea in hand - coffee is perked and waiting
the view, is hazy and undecided big time. Rain is due but in 29 h or so [ ? ]

have a good 'un

follow up. the front flower bed dismantling. The situation at present, has the loose assembly of pavers etc covered by garden fabric. The pavers need time to settle. Especially, in this case, where the bedding is inconsistent and the pavers [ split stone ] not flat faced either.
Thinking ahead, I envision sand filling the gaps and then adding resin sand [ polymer on sand particles ] that will harden.
Esthetically, the baby carriage is a distraction from the crap underneath.

🚜 augustinian 25

   🚜 ... coffee in hand and typing, looking out on ...... a clearing day. Some warmth will build in. Rain chance is small

follow up. maybe time is sobering, maybe reality is reality. the re construction on the flower bed structure, looks ragged. Now, I do intend to fill the gaps between the slabs. What with, well, its being considered. Options include aggregate [ varying sizes ], patio sand [ will harden slightly, polymeric sand which will set quite solid [ and cost $ 250 to 300 ] or mortar [ like in bricks or block construction ].
Cheapest is sand
Expensive is the polymeric sand [ easy to apply and sets ]
Aggregate can be a good choice but might need topping [ to limit air gaps ]

mortar is what they used to use and CURSE in big letters

I'm trying a garden baby carriage as a focal point or distraction, bought 15 years ago. Rusty and supposedly ornamental
- just a try for fit and suitability

" little by little, we meet in the middle .... "

For temporary or semi temporary cover, mulch loosely layered. Or garden fabric stretched over the opening [ anti - weed also ]

back from shopping at $ 170 [ way below are average of 220 ] at Metro

⛽ 24 th of augustinian

  ⛽ ... sitting and no coffee  - yet. Dreary day and dribbles fall. Somehow, there is a lawnmower humming

more, when I awake. Breakfast was tomato and smoked meat on a rye sauced w / mayo and mustard

the project out front. it is not a large area. Approx nine rectangular stones 8 inches in depth, roughly 20 - 25 inches in length and ten inches across.
After this morning, I had approx 18 stones but only 3 - 4 inches in depth. Basically, the stones were halved horizontally, where they were easiest to separate [ layered construction ]. 

The weakest portion closest to the puddling water was deepened and filled w / coarse stone and topped by smaller aggregate and then sand [hoping for better drainage ] The limestone screenings that I dug out was soaking wet.
Now, the whole 4 x 4 area is covered in sandstone slabs but there are large [ 1 - 1 1 / 2 inches ] gaps b / c the slabs are irregular in shape on the ends and slightly on the sides. 

The hope is that these slabs will settle [ and they will in the coming rain and time ]. Next, I perhaps can cover the area  w / fairly fine stone to level out the appearance. 
The area will be covered by 4 flower pots or containers so people will not walk on the area. In winter, I hope that I can remove the pots and the landscape service can shovel the area.

Now, I wait for gravity to do its job and settle the slabs.

🚇 August 23 in MMXXVI

  🚇 coming at you live, from the window seat. view, is gloomy and threatening 
of course, the sun streaks some light as we sit here [ w / tea ]

Being Sunday, a Giant Tiger run is planned for milk, cheese, coleslaw, and meat pies plus ?????
follow up. Well, $ 58 later and I was out of the Tiger. Xtra s include pretzels [ not the culprit ] and a flap steak [ last layer of a bottom round ] which can be tough and grainy. However, takes a marinade well
Obviously, flap is prime for experimenting.

And yes, the rain came. However, I went ahead w/ a little project in the walkway.

 There is a raised flower bed 4 x 4 ft bordered by slate or some layered rock slabs. This arrangement sticks up about 4 or 5 inches above ground. Very little grows in the bed and actually, the structure is an impediment to snow removal [ leaves too ] and gets in the way for walking 

My solution was to turn the stones on their sides and level the whole thing. 

On first try the rock split horizontally. Hence the slate call or its sandstone 

 So, split them all and take the tops and put them into the middle, sealing the hole.
It was raining but I split 4 stones, a third of the way done. But this job is doable.

I've been procrastinating b / c last year, I tried lifting the smallest stone. A manageable piece but the biggest stone was 4 x that one 

🍥 the 22 of 8

  🍥  oh kay, back in the window seat, coffee and typing and wondering if I am awake

the view is threatening but that s been the pattern - swirling rain fronts

is the holiday relaxing ? different and we didn't do a lot. Even ate - in one day. the major trauma was my bite wound [ horsefly ???? dragon or gila monster ]

further to the week that was : FISHING or rather my kind of fishing or what I actually did.
Dreaming of far flung oases w / hidden lakes and fly in fishing  NO
I was able to walk down to the dock in three minutes. Drop in a trout magnet [ lure type ] and haul out 3 and 4 inch sunfish at will. Coming along were Largemouth bass ranging from 6 to 8 inches and up to 12 or so. Perfect for me.
New. Actually, what I have always loved and been able to do. 

The reality. Going to a new place requires some prep and luck. Not knowing the actual water conditions depth / weed cover etc I packed a varied assortment of lures and hooks. Turns out that my first go to was the charm.
 A trout magnet kit is based on  1 / 32 weight jigs and 1 inch plastic tidbits. Really, tubes of plastic stuff and a split tail. Nothing super special.
The sunfish took runs at the offering and swallowed the trout magnet.
That was my fishing. Yes, tried other ideas but came back to the original every time

rain and thunder and white flashings as the day ends

 

🗼 21 days into the month of aug

  🗼and the day was superb. Full sun, wind and seasonably mild
We have been away. So, finally, back in the window seat, looking at the street.
Comments.
relaxing ..... yes, I would say
truth here, I got bit on Tuesday in the lower thigh, four inches above the knee. Wednesday thru today, itching but burning mostly. I have been icing the area [ night and day ]. I was up three times to ice in the night

This is hay fever season and my histamines are already engaged. I guess any irritation rises to inflammation level under the circumstances