Posted on February 3, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees

What a Week!

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….plumbing woes are finally resolved

This time last week our plumber came to check out our sewer drain because we had a bit of backup coming through the basement drain. After scoping the pipe and cleaning up the build up in the pipe he informed us that the break this time was on the city side and we had to give them a call. In the meantime we were probably okay to use the water sparingly.

On Monday we finally got through to the city and within a couple of hours workers appeared at our door. Again they scoped the pipe from inside our home and then decided they needed to do it from the outside. In the meantime, however, the storm of the season was upon us and despite efforts made on our behalf no one would be able to come until the snow was cleared the next day. A potential problem with the gas lines meant that the gas company had to make a trip and check first to see how close the sewer pipe was to the gas line.

On Tuesday the gas company arrived to determine where they had to drill and the next day, on Wednesday they came back with their massive trucks and started drilling into my neighbours driveway to see where the pipe was situated. The good news was that the gas lines were a good two feet away. Now the city could come and dig up the broken pipe and replace it with a new one.

On Thursday a city truck arrived and again the drain was scoped and the extent of the damage was determined. We were classified a number one priority and a crew would arrive within 12 to 24 hours. That meant that they could come in the middle of the night. Later that day they checked in on us to see if we could hold off until Friday morning. We had gone this long without a shower or doing laundry so we figured a few more hours wouldn’t make much difference.

Yesterday, the street was blocked off and the work began in earnest. It was fascinating to watch. We just kept reminding ourselves that they knew what they were doing and we need not worry but the pounding and drilling throughout the day was quite disconcerting.

When the weather improves the city will be back to repair my neighbour’s driveway, the sidewalk and the street in front of the house. For now I can get to a week’s worth of laundry. I just had a long hot shower and washed my hair. Heaven!

More Plumbing Woes on the Snowiest and Coldest Days of this Year

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….after replacing the sewer pipe on our side of the property on New Year’s Eve I thought we were good for another 20 years

This time last week water started coming back up through the sewer drain again. We immediately called the plumber who did the job and he arrived early the next morning. He cleaned out as much as he could and he discovered that the problem was with the sewer pipe going out to the road on the city side of the property. He said we were good for awhile but the problem needed to be addressed as soon as possible.

My husband was on the phone for a couple of hours on Friday but couldn’t get through. Over the weekend we rationed our water usage by not taking long showers, using the washing machine or the dishwasher. On Monday Kevin called the city again but this time he got right through. A couple of hours later a crew showed up to see where the problem was. In the meantime the biggest storm of the season was upon us.

All afternoon the problem was being assessed by several people and finally the all important phone call was made to declare a potential sewer fail. The problem was that the gas people had to come out first because the gas lines are in close proximity to the sewer pipe. Due to the bad weather we had to wait another day before that could happen.

The next day my husband spend hours clearing away the snow and the city plows cleared the street and the sidewalks. When the gas people finally arrived there were more measurements and detection devices deployed to determine where the gas line was situated. Green paint was sprayed onto the area where the digging needed to take place but that wouldn’t happen until the next day (today).

I went to the Inn to bake bread and Kevin stayed home in case the gas people needed to talk to him. They finally arrived about 1:00 in the afternoon with about three trucks and a digger and front loader. Apparently it was pretty noisy as they dug up my neighbours driveway, sucked up the water and waste and pulled out the broken pipe. The good news was that the gas lines were about two feet away from the sewer pipe and now the city can come back and replace the pipe. Hopefully this will happen tomorrow. In the meantime we continue to ration our water usage. I have to give these workers credit because they came out on the coldest day of the year and tomorrow doesn’t promise to be any better.

A Blast of Winter

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….for the longest time I complained that there was NO snow

Who complains about the lack of snow? Unless you’re a skier or a child dreaming of a ‘snow day’ when all the schools get closed, very few ‘sane’ people, especially seniors, would dare utter those words. Well I guess I’m a little bit crazy because I love watching the snow come down from the warmth of my bedroom or living room and because I’m retired I can just hunker down and enjoy the beauty from my window.

Brrrr!!!

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….it’s sooooo cold

At first it looked like winter would never arrive but then the snow came and the temperatures dropped to -13 degrees Celsius with a wind chill of -20. For my American friends that would be the same as -4 Fahrenheit.

It’s even too cold for my dog, Frances. When nature calls she goes out and comes right back in.

Sunday Trees – 375

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees

Art at Montgomery’s Inn

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….the new art season at Montgomery’s Inn has begun

Now that the renovations at the inn are 95% complete they are able to host art exhibitions in the Briarly Room once more. Just over two weeks ago I helped curate and install the art work of Shannon McManus.

Shannon is an abstract painter who uses different mediums on Terraskin and Yupo papers. In her artist statement she describes her work thusly: My abstract paintings depict visions of a natural world largely untouched by humankind. They portray the alchemic reactions inherent in stone, water, and earth; in decay, germination, migration and transformation.

Ten days after the installation the inn hosted the opening reception for Shannon’s show. It was very well received and close to 100 people showed up.

Shannon is on the left side of the previous photo.

Last April, Shannon was invited to display her work in China.

If you’d like to see Shannon’s work first hand you can still catch it at Montgomery’s Inn until March. For more information about Shannon and her art go her website here.

Friendly Friday Photo Challenge – Pathways

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks to Amanda from Something to Ponder About for hosting the Friendly Friday Photo Challenge

The pathways here are from the neighbourhood, at Highgate Cemetery in London, Kensington Gardens in London, an autumn path along the Lakeshore, a path through the garden at Montgomery’s Inn, a path to a neighbour’s house on Hallowe’en and a path through the woods when we were ‘hunting’ for the perfect Christmas tree.