Montreal:
Nice trip to Montreal in the rain on 28 April, via folk concert in Gananoque.. Have managed to little bits of clearing up here and at the mill. The LR looks so much bigger with the black cabinet gone (this am) – to the curb – and the stuff behind it. Have packed some of the shelved stuff and de-cluttered the shelves of years of dust.

Today R collected enough boxes to pack lots of the books that are on the staircase and the plan is that he will bring a whole lot on the truck to Beaver when he arrives for some part of next weekend. I thought my desk was empty but… Will empty the rest of drawers into one of those boxes today. On the other side of the LR is an electric organ that he found last week and brought in out of the rain – for how long???

Yesterday R divulged the amazing news that he no longer feels a need to collect stuff but only to find things good homes. Clearly this does not include books as 4 more bags full arrived on Saturday from the Little Green Library! But he found a good home for 3 nice light fixtures – installing them in Geri’s LR so we can see in there for the first time – in 30 years, she says! It was an exciting event to be able to really see her art work – by her! But he came home with the 3 old ones! Thrift shop, we agreed!!

Picked up the printer from the mill to take to Beaver. It worked fine last time I used it. Also found the instruction booklets and discs for it, if need be.

Will check with credit union when I get back on how to purchase things on line safely, and pay odd bills. No apps, Maggie, My phone is archaic.

Will leave early tomorrow to return to Beaver so I can be going north before the sun is in my eyes. (driving west)

My cat Friendly was the best of all possible cats for 17 years. Have no intention of taking a chance on another one! And, when I suggested to a friend the other day that I might like another dog, she responded in horror! NO! you don’t want to do that! Borrow one, offer dog walks… I have to agree. No more dogs.

No housemates either! Susan! What a dreadful end to a long trip! Thankful for the misplaced pawn ticket! Hope it leads somewhere! This far beats the worst “housemate” experience of my 81 years!

Rec’d email that plants were shipped on 4 May. Responded with a curt note that advance notice would have been acceptable as I am 4 hundred Km away. Hope all is well tomorrow and that I can find someone to dig the necessary holes! Cherry trees, blueberry and raspberry plants! And the yard a morass of roots that are almost impossible – for me – get a spade into, or a fork – maybe a pick!

Mags gardening notes are so amusing; our climate zones…! I am looking forward to getting back to Beaver to see what is up. In Montreal, the crocuses have bloomed and daffodils are in bloom. I saw a forsythia the other day. WOW!

R bought a brand new guitar at a yard sale on the weekend for $50, in a case. We will keep it until my django jazz son visits in June and dispose of it according to his advice. Googled at about $250 US at Amazon. He thought of putting it at his airbnb place in the Laurentians but I would like to know someone was going to get good use and appreciation from it.

Bro uses “walk the plank for mice: a bucket of water and a suitably placed stick. Or several of same if needed!