Happy Birthday Sherlock!

Happy Sunday everyone! A typical November morning with snow on the way later today. 

Today is a very special day. It is our sweet boy Sherlock's 2nd birthday. What a blessing to have him in our lives! He has a one of a kind personality with many cute quirks....he's a spinner through and through. He's also a low growler...that's his way to communicate with the world.  Sherlock didn't want cake....a stuffy squirrel was way more fun! Happy Birthday sweetie, we love you to the moon and back 💝

This past week was good. Sherlock went back to the vet for his dew claw. It was a little inflamed. We are putting an anti inflammatory cream on it for one week. It is looking much better now. He has to wear a cone for the first 30 minutes or so after applying the ointment....he doesn't mind it at all. Such a good boy. Our other sweet boy Merlot is doing well. He is such a play monkey. We were actually saying the other day that Sherlock is two going on four whereas Merlot is 30 months going on 18 LOL! 

Yesterday, we gave the final push on our outdoor Winter preparations. We're ready. We decided to buy an electric shovel instead of a snowblower (thanks Linda for planting the seed). Russell will pick it up this morning. Between that and a shovel, I should be good to go. Our driveway snow removal company sent an email yesterday. They are also ready. There is major water conduit work happening on our street at the moment. It could make for interesting snow removal 😉

Our Habs are having a good start to the season. We will be at the Bell Centre this coming Saturday for the game against the Bruins. I can't believe it's that time already. Russell bought the tickets at the end of August. I can't wait!

In today's blog, I include three short videos, all with squirrel content... the birthday boy with his stuffy squirrel, a short reel that I call "the one that got away". Finally one of our boys in the kitchen looking out, a snippet of what they do most of the day, back and forth between the patio door and the mud room door. They sure get their steps in LOL!  Have a great week everyone!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sherlock....make a wish,
yes, you get a squirrel!

Sherlock wondering what to do with this 
squirrel...smells normal but doesn't move!

A new game...the 'squirrel tug'!

Where is Sherlock...

A little snooze is always a good
thing especially after looking out the
window.

The Japanese maple burst into fiery red in the
corner bed of the backyard.

Japanese Maple with the golden
hues of Sugar Maple in the 
background.

Cooper and Spicy soaking up the warming 
sun on a bright November 6th, 2020.

Welcome November!

Happy Sunday everyone! As predicted, Russell and I didn't really get that extra hour of sleep and woke up at 4:45 this morning....despite going to bed well past midnight after watching the Blue Jays game. Such a heartbreaking loss but they left everything they had on the field. Well done Jays! There is something special about how sports can bring us together as a country. 

So, here we are on this first Sunday of November. Our trip to Barbados in March doesn't seem so far away anymore. Time is going by much too quickly. This month is very busy for us with all kinds of appointments and a hockey game at the Bell Center. Christmas is now full on with TV ads and all. Much too soon for my liking. 

This past week was good. Last Sunday, we enjoyed another afternoon on the deck, all bundled up. Sadly, that's it for this year. Now we move inside and our boys won't get to watch the squirrels as much although they make a run for them when we take them out, as you can see in the video below. As much as we make them wait before exiting the door, they can't help themselves.  

Friday was Halloween and our neighbourhood kids ventured out despite the rainy weather. We put a bowl of mini chocolate bars on a small table by our front door, under the overhang. Nobody rang the doorbell as Russell was on guard duty, in a "I'm watching you" kind of mode 😈 Our boys took it all in stride. That morning, Merlot & Sherlock's Halloween photo appeared on Global Montreal News. I was quick to take a video of their first TV appearance (sound on). Such cute little munchkins 💕

We finished most of our yard work yesterday. The rain and wind basically brought down the rest of the leaves. We're almost ready for Winter. 

That's it for today's blog. We will go to the polling station later this morning. A big day everywhere in the province but here in Beaconsfield, we will have a brand new mayor after 12 years under the leadership of George Bourelle. Change is always good.

Enjoy the photos and the two short videos. Have a great week everyone!

Knock, knock....who is there? The
Boys on alert for trick or treaters!

Sunday deck time...everyone was 
snuggling and comfy on the couch.

Nothing better than play time for these fellows...

Snuggles, comfort and a cozy
place to rest and read...the boys
know how to settle in.

The majestic willow at Edgewater
Park was beginning to show Fall
colour on our walk this past week.

A view from the deck, the golden 
colours and blue skies made for a
wonderful contrast.

Halloween night, Cooper and Spicy knew how
to get the treats for their tricks...this moment
captured October 31, 2021.

It was a gloomy week

Happy Sunday everyone!  We woke up to a cool 6 Celsius. It looks like cooler temps are here to stay with lots of sunshine on the way in the coming days. 

This past week was good but very gloomy. It called for some indoor play for our pooches and afternoon naps for the humans.  With the cooler and rainy weather, our trees are now almost bare. Russell got the drone up on Friday morning to catch the last of the colours in our neighbourhood. The drone was 280 feet up, the highest so far. Pretty cool! 

Our snow removal company put up the driveway markers. The snow tires are being installed this week.  It's that time of year. We haven't bought a snowblower yet for the backyard. I might shovel paths again and keep it to a minimum....I say that ever year and then I get carried away LOL! We will block off half the yard though as we did last year.  

Our yard work is basically done except for raking the last of the leaves. Russell might cut the grass one last time. This week, we will sort out the garage and get the shovels ready. Yikes!

Merlot & Sherlock are doing wonderful. Yesterday, we took them to the vet for their Lepto vaccine and a wellness exam. We spent some good quality time with Dr. Stiles, talking doggies and municipal elections. It was a very calm vet visit and our boys were the perfect patients, both in the exam room together. 

October is coming to an end so quickly, with Halloween and daylight saving time just around the corner. Our deck days are also coming to an end. Soon time to hibernate and catch up on some Netflix series LOL!

That's it for this last blog of October. Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot love their views from the 
front porch watching the world go by and me
doing yard-work!

Merlot seems to be asking 'who is
at the door?' while Sherlock keeps
an eye on developments.

Hockey Night in Beaconsfield...this must have
been in between periods...LOL!

Merlot on his chair at the kitchen table...
what's for dinner?

Fall colours in Beaconsfield as seen from 280
feet above our house looking West.

Cooper looking majestic in a patch of Fall
colour, this precious moment captured
October 6th, 2022.

Ms. Spicy, pretty bow in her hair and looking
lovely in the Fall foliage, this precious
memory also captured October 6th, 2022.

It was a cozy week

Happy Sunday everyone! A sunny and warm day on the way ahead of some rainy weather for the next few days.  

This past week was good. We got more yard work done. We also spent some nice time on the deck, all cozy with blankets and doggies. Our boys love their comfort as much as we do.

Sherlock had his bandage removed on Thursday. His dew claw is healing the way it should. Chasing squirrels is now allowed but he must refrain from climbing trees for a bit 😏 The boys regained their full backyard with baby gates around the base of the trees for a while. Those squirrels are driving all of us crazy. Russell has even taken to using a water gun to chase them off LOL!

On Tuesday, we watched the opening night of the Habs. It was a great game that ended with a win. Our boys didn't really care and slept through my screaming and excitement. I include a short video of them asleep, completely unfazed by the game chaos! I didn't capture Russell who was also having a nap LOL! All this while my friend Linda and I were exchanging messages throughout the game and comparing notes 👍

My email account got hacked somehow. On Thursday afternoon, within minutes, hundreds of spam messages started flooding my inbox. I immediately changed my password and it stopped. Weirdly enough, that same afternoon, I received a message from my credit card company advising that my card had been compromised. Luckily, all fraud charges were reversed immediately. Little gremlins invading our privacy perhaps 🎃?

It's soup time and tomorrow I will make a batch of garlic soup, made with 52 cloves of garlic, onions and ginger. I will double the recipe for freezing, so 104 cloves in total! Funny enough, it doesn't taste like garlic as half of it is roasted. It has a lot of heat to it, coming from the ginger. I've been making it for years and it's guaranteed to keep colds and flu away. I include the recipe link if anyone wants to give it a try 😅 https://annalizemoutonrecipes.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/garlic-soup-made-with-52-cloves-of-garlic-can-defeat-colds-and-flu

That's my blog for today. Have a great week!

The boys on the run checking in....
'you talking to me?'

Squirrel patrol, the boys send up
the alert and Russell uses the super
soaker to chase them away.

Always on the alert...not much
escapes their attention.

Total comfort on the couch with
blankets to snuggle in, the boys
enjoy their deck time naps.

What is said on the deck stays on 
the deck...Merlot in deep
conversation with me.

Fall colours, leaves and pumpkins abound,
Cooper and Spicy in all their glory, 
captured October 3, 2021.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends! We wish everyone a day filled with the warmth and happiness of the season. On this day, and every day, Russell and I are grateful for what we have...each other, good health, living in the most peaceful country in the world and all the little things that are so often taken for granted. We are also blessed to have Merlot & Sherlock in our lives. We can't imagine life without them 💕 

This past week was good. The weather was simply wonderful and it will continue this week, albeit a bit cooler but that's OK. We are noticing that the leaves are falling very quickly this year. We have work to do in the coming days 🍂

Our boys are enjoying the weather as well. The squirrels are busy hiding their Winter stash and have been a constant frustration for Merlot & Sherlock...and us.  On Friday,  Sherlock thought he could climb the tree to catch one and caught his dew claw in the bark. That didn't stop him from running after the critter and sure enough...he caught it by the tail. All this fun required a trip to the vet to repair the damaged nail. All is good now and Sherlock is recovering nicely. He is a tough little boy and never complains. The only whimpering coming from him since has been from not being able to run after the squirrels. This activity is off limits for one week. The backyard has been reduced to a small area, away from all trees LOL! Merlot is going along with the flow although he is missing the running games with his brother. 

Russell is doing well. He's keeping very busy these days with the Beaconsfield municipal elections. It's his way to help keep the residents informed and engaged. 

We will have a small turkey tonight. It's in the fridge now, stuffed and ready to go in the oven this afternoon. I bought it two weeks ago and I'm glad I did. Our Provigo had so many and they sold out in a week. Our home will smell good later 😋

That's my blog for today.  Have a wonderful day and week ahead! 

Sherlock and Merlot want to wish everyone a 
very Happy Thanksgiving!

The calm before the treat storm...these two 
have learned their "wait and stay" command!

The boys in the TV room, 
hurry up, the Habs game is 
coming on!

Visitors to the backyard need to know
the password - Sherlock and Merlot
on duty.

Sherlock in rest and recovery mode with his
little yellow bandage keeping his dew
claw protected while it heals.

Some Fall colour beginning to happen, this is the
maple in front of our house from 120 feet up.

The sights, sounds and smells that
make memories, here Spicy and 
Cooper sniff and inspect the 
turkey, October 9th, 2023

Summer in October!

Happy Sunday everyone! Another gorgeous morning on the deck...this Summer weather just keeps on coming. We are on track for a high of 30 Celsius today 🌞 We'll take it!

This past week was good...how bad can it be when the weather is so beautiful. It puts everyone in such a fantastic mood. We got a lot of walks in by the lake and our boys happily brought home twigs and leaves. It's that time of year 🍂

Russell and I have started our Fall yard work. We're not done yet but we made good progress. The leaf blowing season is in full force in Beaconsfield...we're allowed to use this wonderful tool from October 1 to May 31. At this time of year, it makes for a quick clean up of the yard when the leaves start falling. 

The Montreal Canadians season starts this coming Wednesday. I look forward to some exciting games. On that topic, the electronic tickets for our November 15 game have arrived! I can't wait. We will make a weekend out of it and stay in Montreal overnight. 

Merlot & Sherlock are doing well. They are very happy now as the squirrels are darting around in the backyard, busy hiding their Winter stash. We have two determined boys sprinting up and down the deck stairs all day long, tails wagging and eyes locked on those little critters. They haven't caught any since last Winter though. That's a good thing.

We were reflecting last night on how quickly our munchkins settle down when we have guests over. Sure, they get excited at first but within minutes, they are as calm as can be. A huge improvement from months ago. We saw it again yesterday when our friends Paul & Marie came over for drinks. It was a lovely afternoon, sharing some stories and good laughs. Happy Anniversary guys! 

That's my blog for this first Sunday of October. Enjoy the photos and a short after dinner play video. Have a wonderful week!

These two relaxing in total comfort
on the deck on what else, our chairs?

Caption this...what is the look
that Sherlock is giving while sitting
at the breakfast table?

If there is a table on the deck then it's available 
to sit on and Merlot has claimed this spot.

Guess which end is which....
are they coming or going?

On the alert....and fully stacked

The Lake was very calm on our morning walk.

Living room comfort for Spicy and Copper as
they relax...this moment September 28th, 2019.

A gorgeous start to Fall

Happy Sunday to all! It is 7:15 am, we're on the deck with the boys. It's a lovely morning with a temperature of 17 Celsius. Nothing but sunshine for the next seven days. What a gorgeous Fall so far!

This past week was good. We had rain one day so I decided to tackle the closet in our TV room which was mostly filled with some of Russell's old clothes, the kind that doesn't fit our lifestyle anymore... dress shirts, blazers, dress pants. I was hoping to get his help in deciding what to keep/donate but no luck on that front so I moved everything to the closet in the guest bedroom in the basement LOL! From one closet to another. On the plus side, I made room to store other stuff 😏

On Friday, Lise and Diane came for lunch. It was a fun and long overdue get together. The weather was nice and we were able to eat outside, amongst the few wasps that decided to make an appearance. Russell cooked planked salmon and it was delicious. Our boys were gracious hosts. A wonderful reunion. Until next time ladies!

This past week was also packed with sports events. The Montreal Canadians started their preseason games. Last night, they got their revenge against Toronto, following a rather bad loss against them on Thursday. Then, there was the Women's Rugby World Cup. Canada won the silver medal, a well deserved win. The Ryder Cup is also capturing the world's attention. It will end today with what looks like a win for Europe. I don't normally watch golf on TV but this tournament is like no other...worth watching on all fronts. If you know you know.

Merlot and Sherlock are doing well. We got them new Bowsers cushions for their sleeping area. After some serious sniffing and face planting, they both approved. Lucky boys 💕

Those are my little news for this blog, the last one of September. Crazy! Enjoy the photos and the short video of the boys with their DIY snuffle baskets. Have a great week everyone and enjoy this beautiful Fall!

Last Sunday, the boys enjoyed a post
bath snuggle on the couch,
with a soft blanket on my legs

Backyard play time...it is fun
to run in the grass.

On their way to play downstairs....
it was supposed to be a "stay and wait"
at the top.

Morning rituals...we have coffee and 
catch up on events while the boys
hop on their chairs at the table.

A dewy spider web in the morning
sun.

I captured this Blue Jay while
lounging on the deck couch.

A perfect reunion with Lise and Diane. The
boys decided to photobomb the moment...
they were actually most welcome to join in.

A daily ritual with Cooper and Spicy, 
they always looked forward to their afternoon
chews...September 15th, 2022