Month: July 2017

A few days ago, MY Jane and I picked up some balcony tiles for Steven and Sara at IKEA. They just snap together for a very nice effect. 

Yesterday, My Jane and I drove up to Penetanguishene to attend a Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Band at Discovery Harbour on Penetang Bay.

When we finally got to Discovery Harbour, we were surprised to find very few in attendance at the show despite the great weather.

Then we realized that there was another competing attraction – The Urban Slide – which is a giant water slide going on in  downtown Penetang.

A great day, nonetheless.

MY Jane and I sit on the back deck having our morning coffee whenever the weather permits. We are always scanning the garden flowers, looking for new blooms and those that need deadheading. This morning was no exception.

And, after a few moments of scanning, we noticed that a white lily had blossomed overnight as well as one of the three Rose of Sharon bushes.

Once they have fully bloomed, they will make an amazing display.

And, later this morning, we are heading up to Penetang’s Discovery Harbour for a picnic and to listen to a Gordon Lightfoot tribute band.

Gonna be fun.

I find it fascinating how the garden flowers seem to cycle through growth spurts followed by periods of flowerless displays.

Yesterday I received an interesting e-mail from a longtime friend and former school mate, Mark Beyeler. He included 3 pictures of a pencil he has carried around with him for the last 50 years or more.

Yesterday, MY Jane and I met up with our good friends Annemarie and Jim in Midland where we had lunch at the Boathouse Eatery before going to the Kings Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene.

The play we saw, Jonas and Barry was very entertaining and, afterward, Annemarie and Jim headed back home while Jane and I dropped in to see our friends Larry and Marge at Bayport. They were out so we missed them.

It was time for us to head home too. When we arrived in Barrie, we decided to have dinner at Donleighs overlooking Kempenfelt Bay. 

Another great day!

MY Jane and I have been researching the possibility of renting a Georgian Bay cottage next summer. We want something not too far from Barrie, something that’s close enough for our Toronto people to travel to.

Tomorrow, MY Jane and I are meeting our friends, Annemarie and Jim, at the Kings Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene  to attend a matinee performance of a play called Jonas and Barry in the home.

Two seniors are searching for friendship, love, and elusive happiness at the Gateway Gardens assisted living home. Barry Butterfield, a newly retired dentist, is unsure of what to do with all his free time. Jonas Ainsworth, a suave stage actor, spends his days wooing the ladies. Proving opposites attract, the men quickly become an inseparable duo and embark on clever ways to spice up their lives – and the lives of those around them.

A mirthful and thoughtful exploration of friendships forged and relationships renewed, Jonas & Barry in the Home is a testament to living each day to the fullest – regardless of your age or stage in life.

We’ll have lunch first, then attend the play.

Looking forward to this.

Yesterday, MY Jane and I took Chris & Tonya, Sara and Maria out to Beausoleil Island for a dinghy ride and a little picnic. Before getting to the island, though, we stopped at the Hive in Honey Harbour for a look around and bit of a snack. Here’s a view from their patio.

On the way there, we ran into a lot of boat traffic coming our way, some of them leaving rather large wakes. It was impossible to avoid getting a bit wet. Fortunately the bilge pump on the dinghy kicked in and the two or three gallons of water that had come in was quickly pumped overboard.

 Yesterday, before Chris, Tonya and Maria arrived at our place, Steven and Sara spent some time decorating the place to surprise Maria for her birthday. 

They blew up balloons and hung banners inside and outside the house.

Maria was surprised when they got here.

Chris and I BBQ’d chicken kebabs, veggie kebabs and shrimp that MY Jane had earlier put together. Sara had put together the rice. Then, after dinner, we sat around a bonfire sharing stories and enjoying a libation or two.

Of course, no birthday would be complete without cake – an ice cream cake at that!

This morning, Steven and Sara will be arriving for the weekend. And, later today, Chris and Tonya will also be coming with their friend, Maria. 

Yesterday, both MY Jane and I were doing some household chores around the place. Once I was done my stuff, I went down to the Family Room to watch a little TV.

When MY Jane and I first talked about what we would like to see in our back yard garden, we thought it would be nice if there were plants that would provide ongoing colour throughout the summer and that most of the fence would be hidden by greenery.

And, when I stand back and look at the overall appearance, most of the fence is hidden from view, just as we envisioned.

Other than the annuals such as the dusty Miller, begonias and impatiens as border plants, the rest of the flowers are perennials. Jane has done a great job of selecting them to achieve the look we talked about.

The Rose of Sharon bushes at the rear of the yard and echinacea, when they bloom later, will keep up the “continuing colour” concept. We’re happy!

 

This afternoon MY Jane and I went shopping for some clothes for me. I got a couple pairs of summer shorts, a short sleeved shirt and some pyjamas.

I haven’t done a woodworking project in quite some time so, yesterday, I decided to make a crokinole board. This is something I had in mind for quite awhile. It’s another game we will have available when we’re looking for some fun.

A few days ago MY Jane got an e-mail advising that the cemetery marker for her Mom had been set in place. We wanted to see it, so we arranged to meet up with Steven and Sara there. Chris and Tonya were unable to come.

The inscription says it best:

Each day was an adventure

With your style, wit and love of life

Your family cherishes many precious memories

It was some of those precious memories that we reflected on afterward at a restaurant in Port Credit. The photo in front of Steven, pictured below, is one that was taken 10 years ago at that same restaurant when Ted, Jane and Steven were there for lunch one time.

And, shortly after getting there, just as Steven was saying that he thought he was there before, Jane handed him that very photo. Turns out it’s one of Sara’s favourites too. 

Yesterday, after MY Jane came up with the idea of a road trip, she went to pick up some maps and tour books. She spent some time researching travel locations and then we sat together and came up with a very loose itinerary.

Montebello overnight (largest log cabin in the world)

Trois Rivieres – 2nd oldest French City

It was damp and overcast when we left Beausoleil Island yesterday and it’s damp and overcast this morning. So, in hindsight, it was a good call to return home. We like camping, but camping in wet weather is not much fun.

We are all set for the next time.

After that, we sat in the sitting room getting caught up on Internet news and CNN and Jane read a piece written by Dan Rather who wrote that he was taking a break from writing to go on a road trip with his grandson. That’s when Jane said to me, “I have an idea. What do you think about us doing a road trip?” I said, “I’m in!”

So, sometime in August, we will be heading down to the Gaspe area for a few days. We have no definite schedule. Just wherever we feel like going. And we’ll take turns driving.

It’s always nice to have fun things to look forward to. Especially with MY Jane.

With very severe weather predicted for the Picnic Island area and an email from a concerned neighbour, MY Jane and I decided to end our camping 1 day early.

Yesterday we made a trip over to the General Store in Honey Harbour to get ice and afterward took a trip to Ojibiwa Bay to visit with Berc and Roza who were tied up there on Roza’s Dream.

We had our tent and the dinghy unloaded in no time yesterday. While MY Jane organized the kitchen stuff in the newly constructed gazebo, I set up the tent on the platform.

We spent the rest of the day just enjoying the scenery and serenity of the Bay.

This morning we get to enjoy more scenery and coleman stove perked coffee.

We have car all packed with our camping gear and are heading up to Brandy’s Island Marina, then a short dinghy ride to Tonch North on Beausoleil Island.

Everytime I look at all the stuff we are taking, I wonder if we can get it all in the dinghy so as to only make one trip without losing stuff overboard.

I’ll let you know!

Today, MY Jane and I will be preparing for our five day camping trip up on Beausoleil Island. Jane has already sorted through the bins we have a made inventory lists of the things we will need. 

This morning, MY Jane and I are heading up to Honey Harbour where we will meet up with our nephew, Geoff, his wife Angie and their two children, Jayme and Ben.

I have one more mobile work station to construct. I want one to accommodate the bandsaw and belt/disc sander together. Right now the bandsaw is sitting on a small portable work stand and there isn’t a place for the Ryobi sander.

Last night turned out to be a beautiful summer evening. Sitting on the deck, enjoying the fresh air and the summer wind was the moment I decided to sleep outside.

MY Jane, despite thinking to herself that I might be a bit crazy, (she didn’t say anything, but the look said it all) helped me get set up. She brought out a couple of pillows and an extra comforter. 

Minnie wondered what all the commotion was about.

I enjoyed looking at the stars while the rope lights on the arbour cast a warm glow over the deck and me.

The solar powered garden lights added to the atmosphere. 

Before too long, I was sound asleep!

That’s when the attack happened! Several intruders first buzzed me then struck. Yup. Mosquitos – and they were hungry. This was about 2AM. I tried to withstand the onslaught, but they were relentless, so I beat a retreat inside the house. 

Next time, I’ll put up the tent.

This morning, bright and early, I emptied out the garage again so that I could clean and power wash the floor readying it for epoxy paint.

Once it dried, I then began painting and, this afternoon I was done.

Today I am going to tackle a project that I have been meaning to do for some time. I want to repair the garage floor which has a lot of damage caused by deposits from winter road salt. Over the years it has gotten increasingly bad and sometimes I have difficulty rolling my mobile work stations out for use.

My first step will be to remove everything that’s on the floor and thoroughly power wash the whole surface, after which I will use this repair grout to fill in all the holes and cracks. 

Then I will let that cure overnight and, tomorrow, I will roll on this epoxy sealer to finish it off.

Hopefully the weather will co-operate.

Last week, MY Jane noticed that the exterior front entranceway to our house seemed kind of stark. So, yesterday over breakfast, we brainstormed about ways to enhance the appearance. 

Jane had already bought the flowers and pots to go inside it. No pressure to get it done quickly…….

She plans on painting it white and, after the summer season, she will use it as a seasonal accent piece that she will decorate in the Fall and at Christmas.

Heres the painted version:

The older Steven and Chris get, the more they seem to look alike.

This is a picture of them taken while they were up at Blue Mountain during the Canada Day weekend.

That’s Chris on the left and Steven on the right.

A couple of weeks ago, I took this photo of Steven, Sara and MY Jane.

Later, I showed it to Jane and said, “Look at this, Jane. Here’s Chris sitting beside Sara on our dinghy ride.”

She responded, “Oh, you just photoshopped that in there!” Only when she looked more closely did she realize that it was actually Steven in the picture!

Two fine young men!

Last evening, Chris, Tonya and Maria arrived after an unusually smooth drive up from Toronto. Normally, it’s a traffic nightmare, especially on the eve of a long weekend like this Canada Day.

Maria brought some temporary Canada 100% tattoos which all of us put on.