Delta Surges!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairies. The weather has moderated, and we're enjoying beautiful Fall weather. We managed to make our votes in the Federal election at the local office, so that's out of the way. There is a lot of advertising and another two debates this week. Our brightest hope is that no one will get a majority, so the parties will have to cooperate. I got out for another round of golf with Dale on Friday. We went to Tor Hill, but the course was not in good shape, and I always disapprove when they've top-dressed the greens without so much as a "by your leave"! I also got some more work done on my latest project, and the schedule is now looking possible for having it completed next week. Just one tough job left on that one which is installing the chair back into slots in the rear legs. Then, it'll be down to the sanding and applying finish. The wood is rough, and Wendy is dubious about its final appearance! Wendy has continued her work on repurposing clothing and equipment that Erin has no further need for. Wendy also has plans for more painting at Erin's. Her main target is the upstairs landing, while we continue to puzzle over how to paint the 16' stairwell! She cut my hair today, so I'm trimmed up once again!

Good for what she had to work with!

The markets were very bad this week. It seems the combination of concerns over how covid's resurgence will affect the economy along with the Democrats self-sabotaging of their own stimulus bill. So, it was a down week for me, and I barely remain in the green for the month so far. To be sure, covid is running rampant over the USA, and most of western Canada. The control level is considered to be 100 cases per million per day. All USA states are above that level with the country running about 450, and Tennessee leading the way at over 1000 cases. Saskatchewan is our worst case at just over 300 cases. Alberta is almost at 300, and BC is also over 100. Canada, as a whole, is right on the control line of 100, and has been increasing so we're not doing well, either. Riders dropped the Labour Day game to the Bombers, and fared no better in the return engagement, Banjo Bowl, today. C'mon Riders! Blue Jays ran off an eight-game winning streak and are right back in the playoff race. In college football, my two Oklahoma teams won (Yay Sooners & Cowboys!), but my Texas team lost—c'mon 'Horns! 

Erica writes, "Eric and I enjoyed a week in Bonn. We did a little bit of sightseeing including a side trip to Cologne to the Cathedral and a farmers market. I’m feeling a bit better and stronger every day and Eric is trying his best to make sure I don’t overdo it. I had a follow up with Dr Busch on Tuesday and again Friday. There is still a lot of swelling, especially in my lower abdomen, but that will continue to go down. On Thursday, we did a small trip to a couple music stores. At the first store, we saw the basic strumming instruments. At the second store there was brass instruments, and ukuleles in the window. We went inside and Eric was looking at a Banjo-Mandolin and asking questions. The owner showed him a ukulele-banjo and played it. Eric bought it and has been enjoying getting better acquainted. On Friday, we checked out of our hotel in Bonn, rented a car and drove to Kassel, including a few fun side roads. After all these trips, it’s so nice to see some of the country and it’s beautiful. We have had a few chats with the boys and they are all doing fine."

Erin continues her training on "bringing up a teenager"! It is not all fun and games! Once the boy is grown up, she will be ready! Sadie had an incident Friday night. We're not certain what happened, but she was screaming in pain. Erin thought she might have rolled over onto her and squished her poor little body. We're thinking she may have had some kind of seizure or heart event. She seems okay again today, but she's getting quite old for a dog, so we may be into the tough days of pet ownership. Kristian continues to have regular UV treatments, and we're thinking that is helping. Erin scored a box of local apples this week, and we enjoyed receiving many of those, so I was busy making apple crisp—delicious! 

Amazingly good Saskatchewan apples! 

Travis, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew continue to manage well in Thunder Bay. Trav is preparing for a trip to New York for a WWE event—sigh! The Fall colours are glorious in northern Ontario as well. Gemma and Rhys got back from their Labour Day weekend trip, and are now back in class. Andrew and Patricia are putting in lots of hours in personal care. 

And that's about enough for this week.