Month: June 2019

This morning MY Jane and I had McDonalds Egg McMuffins for breakfast down at the Barrie waterfront, after which we went to Walmart to pick up a couple things in readiness for visitors.

Tonya Chris and Max actually arrived at our place while we were out and Steve and Sara will be coming later this evening

In the meantime we got to have some holding time with Max while Mom and Dad went to get ice cream at the Marble Slab creamery.

Later on Dad took Max for a little swing in the backyard hammock.

Yesterday, MY Jane and I spent some time on our back deck just enjoying the garden and each other’s company. It was an overcast but warm day when we heard the sound of jets overhead. We then remembered that the Barrie Air Show was scheduled.

Last year we had driven down to nearby Minet’s Point to watch the show, but had forgotten about this year’s display.

It didn’t really matter, though, because we got to see the show without leaving home.

As usual, the highlight of the show was the famous Canadian Snowbirds precision flying team and they did not disappoint.

This morning I was surprised to see so many Clematis in amongst the honeysuckle on the arbour.

Yesterday only one was visible, now there are five or six.

In the meantime, I am sitting on the deck watching the different planes perform their stunts over Kempenfelt Bay.

Our front and back yards are full of glorious colour. Here in the back yard, the honeysuckle embraces the arbour and is just beginning to go right over the top. The wormwood is lush and the peonies are spectacular.

And the front yard is splendid as well. The hostas have thrived, the Japanese Maple looks regal, and the transplanted Rose of Sharon is doing very well. The planter at the front door is very welcoming too.

I remember seven years ago saying to MY Jane, “We need a garden plan.” That’s when she told me with a smile, “You can’t plan a garden. They just evolve.”

She was right…….again!

A couple of days ago, Sara sent me an e-mail asking if I could help them build a vertical garden planter because she and Steve want to plant their own fresh herbs.

She sent me the link to an example of one they liked, so I went ahead and picked up the material at Lowe’s and got to work.

I’ll take it apart so Steve can transport it more easily in his car when they come to visit us this coming Sunday.

And today, MY Jane is heading down to Tonya and Chris’ place to spend some time with our grandson, Max. She’ll come back tomorrow.

The back corner of our yard has been an eyesore for quite sometime. Nothing seems to want to grow there. I tried grass seed with no luck so, after some discussion with MY Jane, we decided to just cover the bad section with river stone.

We are happy with the result. Big improvement.

And our peony plant has begun to blossom. Spectacular.

Yesterday, when taking stuff from Steve and Sara’s to Raha’s baby shower, Steve did the driving. He had tucked his wallet into the door pocket of our car because it was our more spacious vehicle being used to get stuff there.

This morning MY Jane received a text from Sara asking us to check for his wallet. Sure enough, it was there, so after breakfast we took a spin down to his workplace at Billy Bishop Airport to return it.

Steve gave us a little tour of the place and showed us his new office with a spectacular view of the harbour and the CN Tower.

On the way home, we stopped in Nobleton and had lunch at an Italian Restaurant called Raffaeli’s. Delicious! Fun day.

Yesterday was our sixth wedding anniversary. It’s been the happiest six years of my life being with MY Jane. So we decided to have a nice BBQ Steak dinner on the deck to celebrate. Delicious.

MY Jane headed off to Toronto this morning to attend a baby shower for Raha (Sara’s sister expecting next month). She will first go to Steve and Sara’s because our car can more easily accommodate the things Sara is taking there – like balloons.

The shower is being held at a restaurant between 12 and 3pm and is expected to be a small luncheon.

Jane hopes to return home later today.

In the meantime, It’s just Minnie and me.

Yesterday, we did our day trip ending up at Elliot Falls near Norland Ontario.

The weather was perfect and after a two hour drive, we parked the car and then it was only a three minute walk along a catwalk and well marked trail to the Falls.

We spent about a hour there, enjoying the scenery and taking pictures. Then we went to a nearby chip truck and trading post where we had lunch. Jane had prepared a picnic lunch of egg salad sandwiches which we enjoyed with our fries.

She couldn’t resist getting a little lumberjack sleeper for Max.

Today MY Jane and I decided to do one of our day trips where we pick a random spot on the Ontario map and drive there. We will pack a picnic lunch and seek out a nearby waterfall using the Waterfalls of Ontario book that Jane recently purchased.

These trip always turn out to be fun probably because we have no other expectation but to do just that. And both of us are quick to adapt to whatever unexpected situation that may come up.

It’s all about fun!

Today I began itemizing the things that I have so far gathered for Max’s Time Capsule.

Here are some of them:

Poem by me for Max
2019 coin set
Password for Life Unfolding blog
Memory Stick with recital of poem
Photo of Gas Station Prices
Photos of Jane and me holding him
Millennium Falcon wood kit
Photo of Gas Station Prices
Photos of Jane and me holding him
Millennium Falcon wood kit

Video of his Aunt Mich recording first cries after his birth

I will continue adding relevant things throughout 2019 and until the end of 2019 at which time I will lock up the capsule with a combination lock using his birthday as the combo.

On his tenth birthday, we’ll give it to him.

Today I finished woodburning the plaques for Max’s Time Capsule and staining both.

All that’s left to do now is keep an eye for things relevant to the year 2019 and add them. Also There are a few videos to be added as well as a letter outlining the significance of each item.

While I was busy doing that, MY Jane painted both the front and back doors, am item that was on our To Do list.

Today MY Jane and I went to Lowe’s to check out vanities and shower doors and accessories.

We are getting a better and better idea of what we want to do with our main floor bathroom.

I also received a wood burning kit to use on my time capsule project.

I’m hoping to finish it in the next couple of days.

I tried it out this afternoon and have more to do tomorrow.

And last night Jane pranked me a good one. It has been my routine to always keep the main floor bathroom supplied with toilet tissue. 4 rolls in the standing rack.

I did that early in the evening but later I noticed there were only two rolls. What the hell! I thought I was losing my mind.

Unbeknownst to me, Jane had hidden two rolls on me and when I started retracing my steps thinking I must have put them somewhere else, she put them back, all the while snickering to herself in bed!

We both had a laugh and went to sleep smiling

Yesterday I went to the Millers Tavern in North York where I had been invited for a Fathers Day lunch with them.

We had a great time. It’s rare that just the three of us guys are together, so this was a treat.

I had a chance to wear the shirt Chris gave me too.

MY Jane and I have been talking about re-doing the main floor bathroom for quite a while. It’s the last major project that needs doing in our house.

So yesterday, we decided to check out some tile stores and places for vanities.

At Tilemaster we were helped by a very knowledgeable lady named Ann and, by the time we were finished there, we had all the tiles picked and a good idea of what we wanted the bathroom to look like.

We did try looking for vanities but didn’t find anything. We’ll keep looking for one as well as faucets and shower arrangements.

Fortunately we are not on any kind of time constraints so we can do this at our leisure.

Later today, I will be meeting up with Steven and Chris who have invited me to Fathers Day lunch at the Jolly Miller tavern in Toronto. I am very much looking forward to this. It’s really nice that they are both taking time out from their busy schedules to do this.

And, of course it’s the very first Fathers Day for Chris whose new son Max is just over a month old.

On the way home I will stop in at Lee Valley too,s in Vaughn to get some hinges and handles for May’s time capsule.

Yesterday afternoon MY Jane and I went to see the movie Rocketman, the story of Elton John.

Both of us were enthralled with the film and learned that Elton had a very sad childhood. His mother and father were despicable people who treated him in a cruel and unloving manner.

Learning of this caused us to reflect on the lyrics in many of his songs.

A great movie.

Last night the Toronto Raptors made history by winning the NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors, the first NBA championship for them since the team was formed 24 years ago.

It was a nail biter all through the game with the winning score teeter tottering back and forth between the teams all the way through.

We The North (the Raptors fans’ slogan) changed into We The Champs.

Coincidentally, MY Jane had asked our friend Maureen to make a Raptors hoodie for our Grandson, Max, after Maureen offered to do something for him. How nice is that!

Today I worked on the second Time Capsule Chest, sanding it and putting black screw nails in it. I had to spray paint the heads to do this.

Then I sanded it all over and stained it with two coats of Golden Oak stain.

Tomorrow I will begin putting the first of three coats of lacquer on it to make it shine. Then all that will be left to do is add the hardware which will include handles, hinges and hasp.

Then we can begin filling it with things relevant to the year 2019 that Max can open on his tenth birthday.

This morning, MY Jane planted some annuals in both the back and front yards to add some colour. Looks fantastic! And her new gardening kneeling pad arrived just in time to try it out.

In the meantime, I began making a bigger Time Capsule Chest for Max, one that will allow documents to lay flat.

I decided to offer the first one to Allan & Jenny for their grandson, Ben instead of selling it. They had given Chris and Tonya gift cards for Max so it seemed the right thing to do.

After a dinner on the deck, we capped it off with frozen yogurt topped with caramel. Delicious.

Yesterday I started working on the Treasure Chest Time Capsule for Max. I made very good progress, but I realized I had miscalculated on the size.

I wanted the chest to be big enough to hold an 8 1/2 x 11 inch document flat. What I failed to take into account was that the arch of the lid would make it narrower than planned.

So I will finish this one and try to sell it on Kijiji and make another one. It’s no big deal because I enjoy doing it and I hadn’t yet personalized it.

Yesterday MY Jane and I made a trip to Chris and Tonya’s to see our Grandson Max. Tonya expressed some surprise to Jane that we would travel all that way to see him. For us, it’s just a little more than an hour each way and well worth the time to see and hold him. We are retired, after all.

Besides, although pictures are great, there’s nothing like real life to get a feel for how he’s getting bigger.

It was great seeing Chris and Tonya, too as it always is.

On the way back, we stopped in at Lee Valley to get some hardware for the Time Capsule Chest and while in the store, the Manager tried to talk me into doing seminars at the store on how to make one of these chests.

Quite flattering, but as I said to him, “It sounds too much like a job.”

We got home in time to have a great Bbq dinner on the deck.

Not long after our Grandson, Max, was born, I came up with the idea of making a time capsule for him. After talking it over with his Grandma, we decided that his tenth birthday would be a good date for him to open it.

Since then, we have been gathering up things with relevant dates, the plan being to include them in a wooden treasure chest that I will make.

We’ll put a combination lock on it using his birthdate as the combo.

Some examples of things we’re including are photos of us holding him, a recording of his first cry, souvenir coins celebrating the 75th anniversary of D Day, gas prices etc.

We will continue adding appropriate things for the rest of 2019 at which time it will be locked up and stored away for him until his tenth birthday.

We think it will be fun for him to open along with his Mom and Dad who will be on hand to answer questions that Max is sure to have.

Yesterday was a long awaited day. MY Jane and I went up to Honey Harbour to clean the Winter grime off Shenanigans and put her in the water.

Jane had packed a picnic lunch and as soon as we had her launched, we headed over to Beausoleil Island hoping to spend the afternoon at Tonch East, the very spot we got married 6 happy years ago.

The sun was shining brightly on the beautiful blue waters of Georgian Bay and we were excited to finally be on the Bay.

Unfortunately, the water level is unusually high this year; so much so that most of the docks were severely damaged over the winter resulting in the season closure of many sites, including Tonch East. We ended up tying up at nearby Tonch North where we had our lunch. This was where Chris proposed to Tonya in 2015.

Afterward, we toodled around Chimney Bay then to Cedar Springs which is also closed and where we saw one guy unbelievingly using the boardwalk as a dock!

We got home about 6pm, tired but very very happy.

This morning, after breakfast, MY Jane and I will head up to Brandy’s Marina at Honey Harbour to clean up our dinghy before launching.

Shayne Ronald, the manager there, stored it at his place in Victoria Harbour over the winter. He has indoor storage there.

Normally, we would have Shenanigans in the water by this time, but it has been a very long winter.

It will be interesting to see just how high the water is. We have learned that many of the Parks Canada sites on Beausoleil Island are closed for the season because of the unusually high levels.

Great visit with my sister, Terry. She just left to return home. On her way, she plans to stop in at our nephew, Geoff’s, place in Bracebridge and visit with him.

MY Jane is still at Chris and Tonya’s and is going to plant some flowers today.

Last night they went out for their anniversary dinner while Jane babysat Max. They went to a nearby restaurant because they didn’t want to be too far away. In fact, the restaurant is about 500 yards from their house. But the point was that it was a dinner out.

After Jane finishes with the gardening and maybe staying a bit to help Tonya, she will swing by Steven’s place to pick up our shovel.

I am working on my latest project which is to put together stuff for inclusion in a time capsule for Max.

This morning MY Jane headed off to Chris and Tonya’s place in Toronto to babysit Max while Chris and Tonya celebrate their third wedding anniversary.

In the meantime, my sister Terry and I are enjoying our visit together.

We played some YatzyAddict on our I pads and had some good conversation, reminiscing about our childhood growing up in Temiscaming and just kibitzing around.

Great to have Terry for a visit.

My sister, Terry, arrived yesterday around noon to visit for a few days. Great to see her.

We had BBQ hot dogs for lunch and I did a rotisserie chicken for dinner. MY Jane has perfected the scalloped potato recipe and the meal was delicious.

After dinner, which didn’t happen until around 8 pm, we tried some YatzyAddict on our I pads and just had a lot of conversation.

For a long time we have had a regular visitor at our back door looking for peanuts. This cute black squirrel came to be known by us as Petey, a name used by Jane’s Dad when he referred to a similar squirrel when Jane was younger.

Petey has an endearing habit of standing on his hind legs much like the posture used by butlers.

The other day, though, when Petey assumed that position, I could see that Petey had a number of visible teats. Clearly Petey was not a male.

We have re-christened her ….she is now Petunia

We are looking forward to having my sister, Terry, visit for a few days. She will be driving from Thorne tomorrow morning and should arrive in time for lunch.

MY Jane has been busy baking and planning menus because she will be going to Chris and Tonya’s for a few days to babysit Max while they go out to celebrate their anniversary.

It will be good for Terry to get a chance to just relax for a bit; she has been very busy since Dan passed away.

As she said in her text when she asked about visiting, she just needs a big brother and sista hug. That’s exactly what we’ll do. Gladly.

It should be a fun few days.

Today MY Jane and I plan to move the climbing rose bush to a more visible location on the fence. This will require the trellis to be re-located.

In addition, Jane will plant some ground cover flowers in front of the waterfall.

That will pretty much finish off the major gardening for now….until something else comes up.

The front of the house is looking good too.