Springtime

Today I cleaned and raked some more for about three hours. Oh my goodness, I am so glad it's done (till bedding planting time).

As I was raking and cleaning the back lane, which borders the lawn on the side of the house, this little old Filipino man walked by and in broken English complimented me on a nice job. Then he pointed to the winter grid in the gutter (around the corner) on the street side. I think he said: "What about over there?" Or something like it. I answered him that I would leave that for the city crew.

When I rake I don't leave it on the street, I bag it. I saw my neighbours across the street piling it all on the street. Actually what I do, I load most of the sand on the snow pusher and use it around the outside of the house. The leaves and other rubbish go in a bag.

This same cute little man also walked by a few summers ago, when I was attacking a pile of soil delivered a few hours earlier. He smiled at me and then asked: "You no 'usband?" I said: "Well sure, but he is watching television. I don't need him, I am strong look at my muscles!" (while showing him my skinny arms)!" He shook his head and walked on, hahaha!

Now I am waiting for the city to clean the street. Like my son in law Jason said before: "You can take a "Dutch" girl out of Holland, but you can't take the "Dutch" out of the girl." Well he's got that right. In Holland you keep that portion of side walk in front of your house clean. Actually my mother used the soap suds that the clothes were washed in. But I am sure things  have changed there as well. I have been in Canada for 49 years. As a matter of fact I arrived here on April 20th, 1960.