My Generous Friends

 All five winners from our cards have asked us to put the money to good use in the community.  I copied the President of the Optimist Club on the winner message so he also got your responses.  He has sent me the following message:

"Bud, you have some great and very generous friends.....and some with a sense of humour.  Anyway, you make the decision on where to donate the cards - I know the Stoney Creek Food Bank would welcome the donation as would Food4Kids.

Stay safe.....

Al"

We will be directing the money ($150.) to the Stoney Creek Food Bank and I want to thank all of you for your generous support.

Having said that, I am a bit concerned about the Ham Roll which will be coming up in the spring.  I'll likely be after you again then, and I don't want our supporters to think that they have to give the prize money back if they win.  So, if we do get your support again, I will be insisting that you take the gift cards.  If you want to donate them to another good cause yourselves that will be your choice.

-----------------------------------------

Yesterday, I commented that I have good golf friends.  That wasn't a broad enough statement.  Mardi and I have wonderful family and friends as you have all demonstrated.  We are indeed very lucky people.

We won't be able to get together with anyone over the holidays, but be sure that you will all be in our thoughts!

------------------------------------------

Spent a few minutes at the greenhouse today with Mardi.  I had looked in the field for the missing pin from the broken dump wagon a couple of times but couldn't locate it.  I went into the greenhouse for a minute while Mardi started to search.  When I came out she was returning with the pin.  Life isn't fair!

I'll work on putting the wagon back together tomorrow.  Will need a different approach.  The cheap Chinese welded pin isn't the answer.

-------------------------------------------

And, in answer to Al Knapp's question:  yes Al, anybody can see that they are reindeer......you can tell by Rudolph's red nose ......they just had their antlers removed (a Bullivant Safety requirement).

----------------------------------------------

As Render's Tree Farm recommends: Practice Safe Six.  Stay well.  

Christmas Is Coming

 Finally got my computer to behave.  Our Christmas tree with star on top and angel below.  Hopefully, Santa will be able to get to the stocking - no fireplace, but it's hung on the HVAC door.  Hope that's good enough.

We do have an in-house Santa on his sleigh.  He has a couple of wrapped gifts on the sleigh already.

The "Christmas" cactus behind it is being obstinate this year.  For the past few years it has been so anxious to bloom that it comes at Hallowe'en.  This year however, it looks like it will skip the flower stage altogether - it's putting out new leaves instead.

-------------------------------------------

I'm more relaxed now that my machine is talking to me.  Stay calm.

Turkey Roll Winners

 For those of you who weren't able to watch the youtube video of the Optimist Club Turkey Roll this morning, here are the winners:

Card #5 - Monica Maguire

Card #6 - Ron King

Card #16 - Roger Craig

Card #18 - Mardi Bullivant

Card #19 - Ron Leach

Congratulations to our winners, and a big round of applause for all our supporters.  Our five cards generated $344 in profit that will help support the Stoney Creek Optimist Club's many programs.  

And sincere condolences to Mardi's brother Steve Lougheed who is always our biggest contributor.  Despite that, Steve came up empty this year.

The "turkeys" in this coronavirus year are $30 gift cards to Fortinos.  When Mardi and I receive them we will figure out how to get them to the winners.

Thanks again!

------------------------------------------------

You will recall David's response to my Thursday blog, when he invited my friends to enjoy the view at Trillium Hill while working eight hours.

Well, unbelievably, one of my golf buddies, Sandro Cervoni, showed up yesterday for cleanup duties....and put in eight hours!  I am truly amazed by the golfing friends I have.  I am a lucky man!  

David appreciated your help Sandro.  Sorry I was taking the day off and missed you.

------------------------------------------------

It's Christmas time at our house.  Mardi has decorated the "tree".

Unfortunately, Microsoft updated my programs today and now I can't get into my pictures or downloads.

------------------------------------------------

Stay well.  And stay calmer than I am right now!

Odds and Ends

 From my friend Al Knapp:

"It took "CLICK IT OR TICKET" to get people to wear a seatbelt

I wonder if "MASK IT OR CASKET " would work ?"

I bet it would get everyone's attention, that's for sure!  Worth a try Al.

--------------------------------------------------

And, from my friend John Buckley, for the golfers in the crowd.

Even if you don't golf, it's worth seeing the scenery.  It costs over 1500 pounds sterling on a stay and play for one day (the only option available).  It would probably cost another 1500 pounds in lost golf balls.

https://youtu.be/Pkzk7xK-18A ----------------------  Stay well.

Thoughts of Easter.

We completed the Lily planting today.  Over 50,000 bulbs planted.

This picture captures almost half of them.

The yellow tape is sticky, to capture any gnats that decide to fly by.  David's environmental plan intends to avoid, where possible, the use of chemicals.

Between this project being finished, and the ground being snow covered, my activity at the greenhouse is currently at a stand still.  I'll have to find something else to talk about.

--------------------------------------------------

Stay well.  Happy Easter.

The Dirt Machine

 First, a couple of housekeeping items:

1 - I will not be paying Dr. Sven's bill, due to misdiagnosis.  My problem is not Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.  The nerve that is causing the problem is in my shoulder.  Too much lifting of Lily boxes on Monday.  Two shots of Rye and six hours of heating pad on the shoulder seems to have resolved the issue.

I put tags in pots all day today and had no problems.

Nevertheless, I would like to thank my friends for all of their medical advice (but they won't get paid either).

2 - Let me explain the "dirt machine".  It is comprised of a Bouldin & Lawson Inc. Heavy Duty Maxi Filler (a.k.a. flat filler), and a Logitec Big Bale Dosage Unit (a.k.a. bale breaker).  Seems easier to me if the combination is referred to as a "dirt machine".

The bale breaker is loaded with a "big bale" of peat moss.

The plastic is stripped off, the machine is tilted vertically and the skid is placed inside.

The bale breaker then scrapes along the side of the bale and moves the peat moss up and into the flat filler.

The flat filler then "dispenses" the peat moss onto the pots as they move through the line.

Mardi and I spent most of the day inserting tags in the filled pots.  Roughly 14,000 in total.

Tomorrow should complete the planting.

------------------------------------------------------

While she was inserting tags, Mardi was able to enjoy this view.  Nice.

I got to enjoy looking at Mardi.  I win!

---------------------------------------------------

Stay well.  

Called in "sick".

 Paid a price for the eight hours of cleaning bulbs yesterday.  Ended up with numbness and pain in my right hand that lead to a sleepless night.  So I had to beg off today.

A heating pad and rest seems to have worked, so I'll have another go tomorrow.  Maybe stick with easier jobs.

Mardi did go back and alternated between cleaning bulbs and tagging pots.  A soak in the tub each evening seems to ease her aches and discomfort. 

------------------------------------------------

Will try to include more explanation about the "dirt machine" in tomorrow's post. 

------------------------------------------------

Stay well.