For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone! It is so dark today it does not even feel like it is morning. Heavy clouds prevail outside and it is raining, has been most of the night. Snow? What snow? There are bits of snow here and there still, but I would not be surprised if the last of our snow disappeared today as well. But there is a big snowstorm coming across the prairies, however, it has gone further north now, along with the main part of the snow.
And here it stays warm enough to rain instead. This is our nicest winter in a long time, though the winter of 2020/21 was also very nice with little snow, but this winter is still nicer. The worst part is, that bone chilling cold rain really aggravates my arthritis. That means my arthritis is the worst it has been in years. Oh well, minor details.

Male Red-breasted Nuthatch, I named him Ned.
Cold weather is returning to us this weekend and maybe 1 or two inches (2 to 4cm) of snow. I picked up some rustic wood crates at our local _ _ _ mart store and put them in the living room window for my plants. It looks so much neater and nicer this way. It was too sunny for some plants, so these crates will help them by letting only sun shine through the gaps in the boards which should be just perfect.

Here he is again.
I am trying to make some changes in here. Just little things. But often those little things can make a big impact, and those little things are very budget friendly as well. I am using a couple more of those rustic crates for making a new laptop table for myself.
I was going to make this table a long time back, but my first idea did not work out so good. However, these crates are perfect for the bottom, now I just need to add the top to it. I have to cut the board to the right size first, that part is a bit noisy.

And again.
However, no one lives next to me at the moment so that definitely will help. I will not be able to do the finishing touch (meaning urethane) until it warms up this spring so I can do it out on the balcony. I will show some pics of what I have been doing very soon. Well, I hope you all have a great day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
I had given Aari more information about Christopher which he had in turn given to Francis. Mainly, if they do not find Christopher, then it means he escaped to his chalet in Switzerland. Francis had her men attack the compound where Christopher had been living, but he and his girlfriend were not there. He had taken off somewhere the day before.
They told Francis that 4 of his men had surrendered and asked what to do with them. ”Kill them,” she said, “I do not want prisoners.” So that is what they did, then returned to the place Francis told them to meet her. She and 6 men were waiting at the chalet and greeted Christopher and his girlfriend when they arrived.
She beat them by thinking ahead and going out there to wait for him. ”You never were very smart nephew,” she said, smiling at them, “that other girlfriend of yours betrayed you. I knew one day all those girlfriends of yours would get you in trouble. Now you are mine and you are dead.” She had a grenade in her hand and stomped on the deck for whatever reason, and that was her downfall.
Bees had made a nice hive under that deck and did not like the stomping. They came up after her and stinging her. She dropped that live grenade which exploded, killing her and one of her men. Christopher had brought four of his men with him in his van and they quickly jumped out, killing two more men. But Christopher and his girlfriend had been shot, though only wounded.
Two other men from Francis’ side came out of the house with their hands up to surrender. ”What should we do boss?” asked Christopher’s bodyguard. ”Kill them,” was all he said, and the man did so. Christopher knew that Francis was talking about Jennifer and that really angered him. ”She will die for this,” he said coldly.
“I told you to do that a long time ago,” said his girlfriend, “but no, you just had to keep that pretty gal around just so you could look at her.” ”You could end up like them too,” he growled. ”Oh hon, I’m sorry,” she said, “I’m just mad because my arm pains from being shot.” ”Doc will fix us up good as new,” he said. Then he told the others to get rid of the bodies somewhere.
Meanwhile, back home. I wish we knew who won that fight. I was hoping it would be Francis since she would be weakened and easier to fight. Christopher is much more dangerous, even though Kat and Jennifer found a way to stop his weapon so he can no longer kill them. But he is still dangerous and probably will wait until he is stronger again before he comes after us.
At least that would be the smart way and I am sure he will do it that way. Francis is more impatient which makes her an easier opponent. Guess we will find out some day. Aari might find out for us, especially if Francis wins. Aari and his team planted listening devices so they can listen in on the conversations of Bertha and her daughters.
“You better get to the bank before it closes momsy,” said Betty, “we need that money for those guys or they will likely cut our throats!” ”You worry too much,” said Bertha, “I do not need the bank, I keep enough here in our safe to pay him. I want to find out how much he actually knows before he gets anymore money though. It was really you who killed him anyway Betty, you are the one that fixed his car so the brakes would not work in that old thing he liked to drive.”
“Hey, careful momsy,” said Betty angrily, “I just did what you told me. I am the mechanic in this house, good thing Christopher taught me things like that.” ”Yeah, well, when you are beautiful like me, you don’t get messy working with stupid cars,” said Brook, “and mom, don’t forget you killed Uncle Bernie too and your first husband, pushing them both down the stairs. I do not know why the police didn’t arrest you the second time it happened.”
“They had no real evidence,” said Bertha proudly, “I know how to do things and get away with it.” ”What about the neighbors husband?” asked Betty, “that one worries me, the police are still looking for his body and if they find it, they will find the belt from your coat tied around his neck.”
“You worry too much,” said Bertha, “like I said, I know how to do things, they will never find his body buried under that big compost bin she has at the back of her yard.” ”I still hate you for killing Uncle Bernie though,” said Brook, “I liked him a lot and he was nice to me.” ”Yeah, too nice to you,” said Bertha, “I knew what was on his mind and he was not going to have one of my daughters.”
“I knew it too, that is why I hate you!” Brook said angrily. ”Oh shut up,” said Bertha, “we have big problems right now and we need to get rid of that Black Knight character.” ”How much money do you keep it that safe in your bedroom?” asked Betty. ”Enough,” was the answer. Aari was back at 10am, just like he had told Bertha…
To Be Continued.
©2024 Steve McLeod.