Free Peonies!

I sometimes shoot myself in the foot, just because.  A friend recently mentioned he was helping his neighbour pullout their peonies and asked if I wanted some.  I said that I would love some.  Well, he took it took heart and being the generous soul that he is, announced a couple days later that he had brought my peonies for me!  I told him that I would grab them on my way out.  He then informed me that I would need about six or so boxes to put them in.  I stopped dead in my tracks and I had a feeling then that I was in trouble. 

"How many peonies did you bring me?"

"Oh, I got you about fifty or so plants." he quite proudly told me. "They almost filled the back of my truck up - what do you drive?" 

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or groan as his generosity sunk in but he was so pleased with himself and had spent all that time putting them in his truck to bring them to me that I couldn't, in all good conscience, do anything but thank him.

I went home and changed from my work clothes into my gardening clothes, stopped at the liquor store and picked up about eight boxes.  Sure enough, the back of his truck was filled with peonies!  Totally filled with them.  I filled up the boxes, put them in the back of my van, cleaned out the back of his truck and headed home. 

I love gardening and being outside but the I also have allergies.  I discovered on the way home that peonies sent my allergies into overdrive. I had to stop a couple times and get out of my vehicle just to be able to breath!  This, despite the fact that I live only about five minutes away from where I work!! 

The first thing I did when I got home was to head straight to the computer and post "free peonies!" on our local on-line market site.  I am happy to say I now have just the right amount left to plant at the lake!

I swear I am cursed!

Remember in my last post when I said that I swore I was cursed?  I am.  I really think that I have an invisible bull's eye attached to me somehow.  Why might you ask?

My hubby and I went shopping for a new fridge because we are hoping to redo the kitchen very soon (the current one is about twenty-eight years old and was a wedding present from both sets of parents- still works great though).  We checked out a couple places near us and then headed up to the north hill to Dufresne's Furniture.  I went to park between a couple cars but hubby said to park at the end because there was no-one there.  So, I did and I agreed it was a much better spot.  The bonus was that it was even closer to the door, which, most of time is a good thing - right?  Except this time!

We were in there for about fifteen minutes when we could hear someone calling out on the main floor.  We walked out of the appliance area and they were asking if anyone owned a gold van.  I sort of had this sinking feeling and asked if it was possibly a grey van?  As I hoofed it outside I realized, that indeed it was my van that they were referring to!

McMunn and Yates Building Center had been delivering some building materials to the furniture store through the front of the store because Dufresne had had a great deal of water damage from a broken hot water heater - or pipe of some sort that filled the place overnight with water.  When the young fellow that was driving went to swing back out my van was unfortunately directly in his path and blind spot.  He was so upset I honestly thought he was going to cry.  It was an unfortunate accident and he apologised at least three times when telling us.  Poor kid.  Even my husband felt bad for him.  We were impressed that they were honest enough to come and seek us out rather that doing a hit-and-run scenario.  He will probably lose his licence because of how the legislation works here for newer drivers.

My taped up light and some of the damage.

I now have a basketball-sized dent in my back hatch, all my right back lights broken (didn't we do a nice tape job on the lights?), a smashed in bumper and the adjacent quarter panel needing repairs.  The catch is that my van is old - 1996 - but is almost like new in appearance with very little mileage on it.  Unfortunately, MPI only really looks at the year and my van is no longer worth much.  Their initial estimate of repairs is $2500 - borderline with its value.  So, I wait with bated breath whether or not I have a write-off or if they will repair my van.  As my hubby said - the van is worth $30,000 to us regardless of the book value. 

It all took the wind out of my sails and I still haven't had the heart to go back out to look for a new fridge.  I guess it will have to wait until I am done dealing with the van.    sigh.