Moving Along!

Another week has passed and finds us relocating from the shore of the North Saskatchewan to the shore of Lake Wascana. Thanks to Mike's help, we cleaned up a number of tasks and moved on to Regina. Our main work there included the erection of a garage/shelter for them, along with the demolition of the existing dining area, kitchen, bathroom and laundry room, and the installation of a new bathroom and laundry room. In the photo, you can see the new bathroom, including a shower. Behind that wall is the new laundry area. We feel confident that it will prove useful, and that the space has also been opened up to build the new kitchen. 

Bailey new Bathroom

Temporary Kitchen

We have mostly been resting here, but issues continue to find us! We have begun the installation of the new vanity here at Erin's place. I removed the old one, and located the new one, but now the painter is hard at that part of the assignment. Anyhow, we are feeling much recovered, and have been able to get some jobs done here as well. Today, we travelled to Bengough with Bern & Alicia to help the Taylor family celebrate Aunt Grace's 100th birthday. It was a wonderful family time.

Her Majesty, Their Majesties!

We plan to head east next week as I have a dentist's appointment coming up soon. Along with painting, Wendy has been able to help Kristian get a few things done. Eric/A, Liam & Mercedes are on the tour west, including Vancouver Island, and we expect their return early next week. In the meantime, we are enjoying the batches of pictures they've sent our way. Mike has kept up with his thesis work and has also contributed to the home renovations. Erin and Kristian have hosted us luxuriously here—thanks! The world situation remains in chaos as Trump has pushed forward with his meaningless tariffs, inflicting major new taxation on the USA folks. The investment pundits hope the additional certainty of the taxes actually being imposed will play out beneficially for the markets, but so far the indices are unconvinced. It appears that Trump is prepared to throw Ukraine to the wind and award part of their land to Russia in return for a truce—that is not how both countries, along with the UK, promised to make this work. After the fall of the USSR, in the 1990s, the UK, USA and Russia promised to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine if they would give up their nuclear weapons. Now, it seems that at least Russia and USA are breaking that pledge. Shame! In the world of sports, the first place Riders have the bye week. The Blue Jays had a good series in Colorado, but are finding the Dodgers a much more challenging opponent. As a result the surging Boston Red Sox are closing in on first place. 

Travis, Joanna and the dogs are enduring a hot summer in Thunder Bay with frequent storms and thunderstorms. The forest fire activity continues to be elevated. We look forward to seeing them in another week. 

And that's enough for this week. 

Developments

Another week has passed on the shore of the North Saskatchewan River. The weather has turned uncomfortably hot, and we grow weary even more quickly each day! On Wednesday, I advanced to the grand age of 75, and that development also leads to more frequent rest periods. We made good progress on the bathroom, the laundry room and the destruction of the area that will become a kitchen. The plumber delayed us all week, but finally arrived on Friday and completed the work we've been expecting of him. He left us with some problems due to his relocation of the shower. We feel we have a solution for that, and began work on that today. Mike arrived on Friday, and he has proved very helpful. Wendy keeps working on insulation and vapour barrier and on cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. She has dedicated much effort to making the destroyed ktichen back into a functional unit. We have been able to do several loads of laundry in the new laundry room. The back door is installed, the sidewalk motion light is active again, and I may obtain some progress on the siding tomorrow. 

Bathroom is functional

Mike & I installing the ceiling

In world developments, the Orange Menace is back with tariff threats, now scheduled for Aug 7th. He has walked back his promise of 90 deals in 90 days, having not obtained any, and now avers that his announcement of new tariff levels is actually a deal! Of course these threats are subject to frequent revisions, and many countries are beginning to just ignore him. But, it is also the case that these import taxes and hitting the USA economy hard resulting in rising inflation, reduced jobs numbers and are hitting the stock market hard. The Blue Jays have fallen off their torrid pace, but remain in first place in their division and in the league. The Riders won again today in Montreal, and they also remain in first place in their division and in the league. 

Eric, Erica, Liam and Mercedes packed into the car and headed west on Friday with plans to make it to the Island to visit Haaken and the family out there. They also expect to drive up Island to visit Parksville area where they lived for a while. In anticipation of that trip, they re-tired the car, and also did a major mechanical repair to the front suspension. 

Enchanted!

Erin and Kristian are enjoying hosting Kali this week. She seems to have settled in well, and is now taking over the food bowls since she has found she also likes cat food. Erin even took some time off work to enjoy the patio area and relax with Kristian and the pets. 

Enjoying the Patio

Travis and Joanna are enjoying a visit from Gemma. Jonas' schedule is delaying his arrival from UBC. Andrew is kind of between jobs, coursework and house sitting, although he should be moved into this new apartment by now. 

And that's about enough for now.