Month: May 2017

It seems that there is no end to our gardening. Today, MY Jane is busy transplanting periwinkle from an out of sight area to a more visible location. It’s shaded there, so a hardy flower like this is needed.

 

 

Last night, shortly before we retired for the evening, MY Jane heard a commotion at Minnie’s window. she jumped up and got a flashlight just in time to find Minnie coming back in carrying something wriggling in her mouth. 

Ah Minnie. Ever the hunter.

Chris has been working hard this last weekend putting in a new patio at the back of his house. He and a friend tore out the old patio stones and hauled sand and screenings from the front yard to the back. A lot of very hard work.

He sent us a few pictures of the progress he had been making and it was looking pretty darn good.

I mentioned that we would like to see pictures of the finished project and Chris, being the tease and trickster that he is, texted back “No way. You have to see it in person.”

MY Jane and I were just finishing supper and I turned to her and said, “Let’s drive down to his place right now and surprise him! He won’t be expecting us to show up unannounced! We’ll turn the trickster tables on him.”

And Jane, the waggish woman that she is, immediately grinned and said, “I’m in!”

So we jumped in the car and off we went to Toronto. It was only an hour and ten minutes away. We joked and laughed all the way, thinking about how much fun it was going to be to surprise him and Tonya. 

When we got to their place, we snuck around to the back of the house and sat down on the patio ledge and took a selfie which we then sent to Chris on FB messenger. 

We waited a bit for him to see it, but he was busy making popcorn, so he didn’t see the message right away. So I tried phoning – no answer. Finally I just tapped on the window and saw Tonya’s look of surprise and then a big grin on Chris’ face.

He didn’t believe that we drove from Barrie to see the patio. Well not just the patio. We got to see them too.

We stayed a short time, had a few laughs, they called us crazy and we left for home even though they invited us to stay over.

It was fun. And the finished patio looks fantastic.

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to find that a bunch of irises in the far back corner of our garden had flowered seemingly overnight.

And the more I sit and look at the back yard, the more I come to the realization that our goal of trying to block out the fence with greenery is beginning to work.

The hanging flower pots help too.

MY Jane has done a masterful job of selecting different types of plants so that, when one flower dies  off, another type is ready to bloom. That way, there’s always some colour to be seen.

And the sweet scent of lilacs wafting in the breeze, is so pleasant when you first walk out onto the deck.

Our little oasis.

MY Jane and I decided, after breakfast, to take a ride up to Honey Harbour so we could take Shenanigans, our dinghy, for the first spin of the year.

 

 

It was a good day for our plants yesterday. We had an all day rain that soaked them very well. Despite that, Minnie was in and out several times. She kept us busy opening the door for her. But, on one occasion, while MY Jane and I were watching a movie, we forgot she was outside. Needless to say, she was pretty wet and pretty unhappy when Jane realized she was still out and let her back in.

It was on our second round of searching that I finally spotted her, watching both of us with curiosity. She had a new spot. On a dining room chair underneath the dining room table completely out of sight!

Today, I’m going to finish off the obelisk that I am working on. MY Jane believes that the yellow would look better if it was white instead.

So I took the old yellow one apart and re-assembled it with different construction method i.e. by putting the cross pieces in between the struts and adding some crisis-cross braces for looks.

I bought a fence post cap at Lowes to give it a bit of pizzazz.

This morning, after breakfast, MY Jane and I began the task of planting annuals in the back garden. There were 48 Dusty Millers and 96 Vincas to do. We are trying the Vincas instead of Impatiens this year because they are supposed to do well in both sun and shade. We’ll see.

Yesterday Jane did arrangements in all the flower pots.

We spent about four hours out there this morning but the weather was perfect for doing this job. Not too hot and no bugs.

Yesterday morning, we checked out of Les Suites and took a taxi to he train station, headed for home. On the way there, we talked with the taxi driver about all the activity around and how busy we suspected it would be on Canada Day, celebrating 150 years as a country.

Even our Canada 150 tulips are hanging in.

Later today we will head over to the garden centre to purchase some impatiens and Dusty Miller for the back yard to be planted tomorrow.

It was a great trip, but we’re glad to be back home and sleeping in our own bed.

Yesterday, as soon as we got up, MY Jane and I walked over to the Government of Canada office across the street from the Parliament Buildings to obtain a couple of free admission tickets to tour Parliament. Even though we arrived an hour before the office opened, there was a huge lineup. 

But, eventually, we got to get tickets for the twelve twenty tour.We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the Gothic Revival architecture throughout. We were surprised to be told that, next year, the Centre Block in which the House of Comlmons and Senate are situated, would be closed FOR 10 YEARS to undergo extensive renovations and repairs.In the meantime, they are doing extensive alterations to the West Block so the House of Commons etc. can continue to function there.

Yesterday, after breakfast, MY Jane and I took a walk up to Parliament Hill to have a look around. There were lots of people there, especially around the eternal flame display.

 

We walked around to the rear of the Centre Block, stopping at many of the huge statues that are located there.

 

We were impressed with the architecture of the building. Unfortunately all the tour tickets for the day were gone so we could not see inside.

 

After a while, we took an Uber to Lansdowne Park to see a Tulip Festival display. They also had a WWII battle re-enactment on the field which we were not expecting to see.

We returned to our room for a bit and then went out for dinner to a nearby restaurant in the Byward Market.

MY Jane and I had a most enjoyable train ride from Toronto to Ottawa, arriving in Ottawa right on schedule. We took a taxi to Les Suites in downtown Ottawa, got settled in our room…..( it’s more like an apartment), then took a stroll over to the nearby Byward Market where we bought a few grocery items mainly for breakfasts while we stay.

Later, we met up with Lise and Neil Campbell for dinner and to watch the televised hockey game at Sens House. 

Today our idea is to take in the sights nearby, have a stroll up to Parliament Hill, and later tonight take in the Fireworks display.

They are predicting rain for tomorrow so we will do indoor type things like visiting the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum. Maybe we’ll even take advantage of the pool they have here in the hotel.

By the way, it is possible to feel like being on vacation even if you’re retired.

MY Jane and I are heading to Ottawa for the weekend Tulip Festival. We will be staying at Les Suites near the Byward Market and plan to take in the sights as well as meet up with Lise and Neil Campbell for dinner tonight.

Our across-the -street neighbour, Jenny, has kindly agreed to check in on Minnie from time to time while we’re away.

Well, it’s finally happened. Someone has recognized that Donald Trump should be held to account. An independent counsel has been appointed to investigate Russian ties to him. I hope the investigation can proceed to completion, but when I hear that, somehow, Trump can fire the Counsel investigating him, my optimism fades.

 

After all, he did fire Comey, the Director of the FBI, the agency which is currently doing that very same investigation.

I feel sad for those good American citizens who simply want a President who will do things for the betterment of the citizens and their country.

Donald Trump has shown time and time again, as a candidate and in the last few months, that he does not have the best interests of anyone, other than himself, family and cronies, in mind while occupying the office of President of the United States.

This will not change. This is who he is.

Today my cousin George will be coming over to our place with his truck to take away a bunch of pavers left over from deck construction last year. I had kept many of the existing brick patio stones to use at the side of the house for another project and these are surplus.

After breakfast this morning, MY Jane and I headed up to Honey Harbour to do some cleaning on our dinghy, Shenanigans. 

We got the outside done and, once it’s in the water, we’ll do the inside of the dinghy.

I took the opportunity to re-connect the battery and verify that it is fully charged. The stainless steel prop will be changed out for an aluminum one, then it can be put in the water for the summer.

Let the camping begin.

Yesterday, MY Jane and I took the GO train from Barrie to Toronto to celebrate Mothers Day with Steven and Chris along with Sara and Tonya.

We were met at Union Station by Steve and Chris and then to Steve’s place for snacks and libations, after which we went to The  Rex Jazz and Blues Bar. The guys know Jane misses the Jazz scene, there being no venues in Barrie, so this is where we went.

We were joined there later by Sara and Tonya and spent a couple of hours listening to a small blues band. 

We later went to Biff’s Bistro for dinner. This is a high end restaurant catering to attendees at the nearby Sony Centre, formerly the O’Keefe Centre. It enjoys a very good reputation which they did not live up to for us. The meals were not hot, it took a long time to get them and all of us were disappointed.

Sara, asked to speak to the Manager and, after doing so, he investigated and returned to tell us that everything, including wine and cocktails, was on him. He apologized profusely and we left for Steve’s place.

Besides the flowers, cards and dinner, Jane was most appreciative of everyone taking time out of their busy lives to give to her. A very happy Mothers Day celebration for a very deserving and very loved Mom.

Happy Mothers Day, Jane!

This morning, after breakfast, MY Jane and I are heading to Toronto for the weekend. We’ll be going by GO Train and staying at Steven’s overnight. Both he and Chris will be celebrating Mothers Day with her.

Last night, we had our across-the-street neighbour’s, Allan and Jenny, for dinner. It was a great time as usual . Once again, MY Jane outdid herself with a great meal and a wonderful dessert.

Today, we are not going to do much of anything. We are heading up to Georgian Mall shortly to have a look around and later tonight, we’ll have Fish and Chops from our favourite place  – Danny’s Fish and Chips store.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, the back corner of the yard was in need of attention. So, today, after breakfast, I went to the nearby Garden Centre and picked up some sod and, as soon as I returned home, I laid it in the bare spots.

I still need a few more rolls but even with what I had, there is a vast improvement.

Tomorrow I will get a couple more pieces of sod to finish the job.

This morning began with the sun shining and the back yard garden on the cusp of breaking into full colour. 

It’s The new furnace we had installed a couple of weeks ago was not working properly. When the thermostat called for heat and the furnace fired up, the AC unit powered up as well.

This morning, after breakfast, I went to the local hardware store to buy a long handled cultivator to make it easier to mix topsoil into the flower beds.

It also involved the dismantling of my temporary archery target that I used yesterday.

So, MY Jane and I got busy spreading the soil in the back flower beds.

After we finished that, I went back to get more bags of soil so we could do the front flower beds. But when I returned, it was time to take a break, so the front flower beds will be tilled tomorrow.

So un”till” tomorrow.

MY Jane asked me to get some garden soil for the flower beds, so I headed off to Home Hardware to do that. But, on the way, I dropped in to the nearby Cabelas Store to see about getting an archery arm guard. Yesterday, when I tried the bow test made, I ended up with a bruised forearm caused by the bow string, so I needed something to eliminate that.

Here’s a link to a little video.

https://youtu.be/Go7h5kLDSrk

Who would have thought that archery and gardening go together. And no more bruising to my arm!

This afternoon I made a trip to Ballistic Bowstrings in Bradford to exchange a bowstring for the bow that I made out of a 1 x 3 oak board. 

I tried a dozen shots in the back yard, just aiming at the grass. The bow performed very well, in my humble opinion. But I did find out that I need an arm guard when using this thing. I ended up with a bruised forearm from the bow string hitting as I fired the arrows.

Can you believe it? They’re calling for snow this weekend up in Temiscaming and even around Newmarket. It has messed up our plan for the Temiscaming reunion. Part of what I had in mind was to walk around some of my childhood haunts to show MY Jane what they like looked like. As well, I had this notion that other attendees might be doing the same thing and we might run into someone I knew.

This afternoon, my friend Burdie came down from Midland to join MY Jane, Myles & Maureen and me for lunch at our place.we had a great lunch and afterward, went down to the Family Room to continue our visit and trade tales of our youth.

Burdie had to leave later in the afternoon but Myles and Maureen were staying another night before heading to Temiscaming for the reunion.

With the weather forecast calling for snow up there, it is likely that Jane and I will not be going. Feeling disappointed.

Myles and Maureen Prince will be arriving shortly at our place enroute to the Termiscaming reunion happening this weekend in my hometown.

They will stay at our place for a coup,le of nights and then all of us will head North to Temang, as it is sometimes known.

Mylers and I were boyhood chums and it’s been quite sometime since he and Maureen have been back there.

MY Jane and I will be staying at my cousin, George’s, camp right on Lake Temiskaming. Apparently, with all the rain that has fallen, water levels are pretty high up there.

There is supposed to be about 100 or more people converging on ther little town and I’m looking forward to re-connecting with people that I havent seedn in over four decades.

It will be fun.

Today, MY Jane and I are going to Assumption Cemetery in Mississauga to finalize the wording for Ted’s grave marker. It’s a sad thing to do, but something that must be done.

Miss you, Ted.

Today, I spent some time doing more work on my red oak long bow. I cut in the arrow rest first.

Then I formed the hand grip using a rasp and sand paper. I would take some wood off then grasp the bow to see what it felt like. Once I had the rough shape conforming to my grip, I sanded it all down.

All I need now is the bow string which was mailed last week. I’m anxious to try this on a target. Maybe even take it with me to Temiscaming this weekend.