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

Pumpkin Palooza

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to a cool 6 Celsius this morning but lots of sunshine on the way and warm temperatures. We've had such gorgeous weather lately 🌞

This past week was good and ended on a high note. Yesterday, we went to CitrouilleVille in St-Zotique, a family farm with 1500 acres of fun. It's been around since 2019. What a fun place and so well organized. Merlot and Sherlock absolutely loved walking through the fields of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.  It was very busy with families and kids but we didn't feel crowded. It is very spread out. Our munchkins were well behaved throughout the whole time we were there, such good boys!

I got a little bit of yard work done last week. There is still lots to do. Russell cut the grass again although it is not growing as fast due to the lack of rain. We might get some tomorrow. I'm kind of hoping so as I need to get stuff done in the house 😏

We have a resident chipmunk that is driving our boys crazy, even more so than the squirrels do. Sherlock is especially obsessed with it. Even if he can't always see it, he can smell it from a mile away. Merlot follows Sherlock's nose LOL! 

This coming Thursday, my friends Lise and Diane are coming over for lunch. The three of us worked at JTI-Macdonald. We call ourselves "Les Sexygenaires"... we turned 60 in the same year and have been having an annual lunch ever since. This year, it will held at "La Terrasse Duncan". It will good to see each other again, lots of catching up to do!

I end this blog by remembering Radar, another Havanese friend who crossed the rainbow bridge last week. He was 10. Although I've never had the pleasure of meeting Radar, I followed his life journey with much joy. He was the darling boy of Angela and Ed, and the soulmate of Patches. Our hearts go out to the three of you. Run free little one. You will be in good company with your other Havanese buddies. Say hi to our Cooper & Spicy for us 💖

That's my blog for this last Sunday of Summer. Have a great week!

Family fun in a pumpkin patch!

Russell and the boys visited one of 
the many pumpkin houses.

The view from the pumpkin widow was special 
and the boys enjoyed it totally.

Sherlock and Merlot were happy
to be able to roam and rest in the
pumpkin patch.

Pumpkins as far as the eye can see
and all of them were for sale.

The grand entrance to CitrouilleVille.

Run free sweet Radar.

A Japanese lantern, black-eyed Susan and 
Spicy and Cooper...this moment captured
August 16th, 2017.

Glorious weather

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Another beauty of a day on the way. We've had such glorious weather so far this Fall and lots more on the way. We're on the deck with the boys. It's 15 Celsius, not bad at all for early morning although I have my sweats and fleece on just to feel cozy. Merlot & Sherlock are lounging on the couch with their blankets. Such comfort! It is a peaceful morning in the neighbourhood.

This past week was quiet. I wanted to get more Fall cleaning done but the weather was too nice. It can wait. I did spent a few hours in the kitchen though one morning and cooked a batch of meatballs, Greek and Italian. I find meatballs incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in countless ways for an easy dinner. We finally invested in a vacuum sealer so freezing those little nuggets was fun LOL! 

We smoked another batch of cheese...mild cheddar, gouda, havarti and provolone. They are tucked away in the fridge for a couple of weeks to let the flavour mellow.

Our boys are doing well. Sherlock has perfected playing with the Kong Gyro...he grabs it with his mouth then rolls it in the hopes that a treat will fall out. One has but it is not easy 😜 Merlot gets frustrated with it. I think he prefers the snuffling basket, which also frustrates him as I put a squeaky ball in it that is hard to get out. A little video of their fun is included below.

Hockey season has somewhat started. Yesterday was the first of two Prospect Showdown games at the Bell Center. It was a sold out event. This afternoon, Montreal and Toronto meet up at 3 pm. It will be a fun game to watch. So far, Ivan Demidov is impressive... the first round, fifth overall pick by the Canadians in the 2024 entry draft. 

Russell made the appointment for the snow tires, end of October. We have our snow contract for the 2025-2026 season. We are still debating whether we will buy a snow blower for the backyard. Some days I feel like I can shovel paths no problem...some other days, I'm not so sure 😏 On the topic of snow...Russell saw Christmas decorations at Canadian Tire yesterday. Yikes!

Those are my little news for today. Have a good week everyone!

The boys basking in the early morning sunshine,
seems the coffee table/storage unit makes
a great lounger.

The crabapple is a constant focus of
attention for these fellows....never
know what is up the tree.

A few quick tricks while tending to the BBQ.

Merlot and Sherlock understand that
there could be a taste test at any 
moment.

Applewood smoke rolling and 
kissing these blocks of cheese
for 2 hours...fantastic aroma.

The smoked cheeses, vacuum sealed and tucked
away for two weeks to let the smoke mellow and
migrate.

Our Fall corner in the backyard, the 
bench sits quietly beneath the Japanese
maple with a Fall Mum as its only guest.

A togetherness pose we simply adored...
Cooper and Spicy side by side on the deck, 
this moment captured, September 17th, 2023.

Hello September

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a clear morning and the long range forecast is looking gorgeous. Let's enjoy to the fullest!

This past week was good and uneventful. I'm not sure why but we've been sleeping in a bit...one morning we got up at 5:30 😉 Our boys just go along with the flow although their 6:15 am breakfast time comes that much sooner when that happens LOL!

We haven't seen the skunk again since Russell blocked off the few areas that were vulnerable for an entry. We do a full check of the yard though every morning and night before we go out. You can never be too cautious. 

I started some Fall cleaning, rearranging and tidying up closets, one at a time. I got the mud room pantry done where we keep small kitchen appliances and the dog food/treats. This week, I will tackle the closet in the TV room. This one might take me a while and it will require Russell's help on deciding what clothes he keeps or donates 😏

Merlot & Sherlock are doing well. We have been reflecting on how they have matured since they came into our lives some 14 months ago. They are such good boys and they bring us so much joy, each and every day. They are still crazy puppies though and we love it! Lately, they have been enjoying their game of fetch outside. Sherlock is quite good at it, brings the ball back even with distractions around him. Merlot, on the hand...he retrieves the ball and runs away with it. He is such a character. 

Yesterday morning, we woke up to the news of the passing of Ken Dryden, the best goaltender to ever wear the Montreal Canadian jersey. It is a very sad loss in the hockey community. A little tidbit about Mr. Dryden...he lived in Senneville while playing for the Habs, a small suburb in the West Island. I grew up in Senneville and I got to babysit his children for a little while.

That's it for today's blog. I leave you with a few photos and two videos of our boys playing retrieve. From time to time, I will include a video or two in my blog, just for fun. Have a great week everyone!

Merlot and Sherlock love catching some sun 
on the warm patio stones.

Labour Day deck patrol for these two

Sherlock enjoying some lounge time
with me on the couch.

Merlot watching the sun rays
and the street action from the
comfort of the living room sofa

The backyard crabapple tree had a visit from
our resident chipmunk...must be time to
forage and build up a winter food supply.

Cooper and Spicy enjoyed the communal
piano at Edgewater Park, this moment
captured August 19th, 2022

Fall is in the air

Happy Labour Day Weekend everyone! It's a cool 11 Celsius this morning and it's been feeling like Fall for the past few days. Sunny and warm weather for the rest of the week though! Regardless, we're on the deck at the moment, bundled up in our fleeces. Our boys have blankets on the couch, they also like their comfort. This is the time of year when we want to stretch out our outdoor deck time as long as possible. All things being equal, we should have a solid two more months 🌞

This past week was good. I had a routine eye appointment which was over due. All is good although it's time to get new glasses. My distance vision has improved and my near vision needs adjustment. The beauty of aging.

We had friends over for lunch on Wednesday and we had a blast. Great conversations, good food and the weather was superb. 

Our boys also had a good week. I got them a new interactive toy, the Kong Gyro. As soon as I saw it at the store, I knew it would drive them bonkers. It is a wobbly toy with a rotating treat ball in the center. Only one or two treats are needed, for our boys anyway. Then the fun begins...both enjoyed it thoroughly although Merlot was the most vocal and frustrated. They were not able to get the treats out. They will try again today 😊 I don't know who had the most fun...me or them LOL! Russell was trying to nap upstairs, to no avail with the racket that Merlot & Sherlock were making.  I'm including a short video of Merlot with the Gyro, he's a riot! 

The highlight of my week was...drumroll please...Russell got us two hockey tickets for the Habs/Boston game on November 15. Club Desjardins seats, level 201, row A, behind both benches. It doesn't get any better than this. It will be one weekend to remember, whether we win or lose. I can't wait!

That's my blog for this last Sunday of August. My brother is coming over for lunch. Tonight, we are having a Labour Day feast of wings and potato skins. Yummy! 

Have a great week everyone! So long August, hello September 🍂

It is Fall blankie time for the boys on the 
couch.

Dappled in sunshine, Merlot and Sherlock
love to inspect their yard.

Nothing like sleeping while on 
watch....Merlot takes his job of
guarding us very seriously.

Sherlock and Merlot have that 
squirrel up the tree with no
escape route.

Sherlock is giving that Kong Gyro
a very good workout.

The object of their frustration or
affection...the Kong Gyro, the boys
love it.

Cooper and Spicy...relaxing on a walk, this
moment captured September 13th, 2017.

Wrapping up August

Happy Sunday! We're on the deck with the boys. They are chilling after a good breakfast, Merlot perched on a chair, Sherlock lying down with his giraffe tucked under him, both just watching the light rain falling. 

This past week was good but it came with a bit of excitement. On Thursday morning, we took the pooches out at 5:30 am. Although we have lights on, Russell and I both carry a flashlight so we can better scan the yard. I quickly spotted a skunk by the back flower bed. Neither Merlot or Sherlock saw it so I calmly (emphasis on calmly) brought them back in the house while Russell, our brave soul, kept an eye on the skunk who was furiously making his way out. 

Despite blocking the two spots that we thought were the entry points, it came back Friday morning...this time, it was desperately trying to dig his way out and eventually did. Russell found one other entry point that we missed so he took care of it. We haven't seen it since but Russell scans the backyard every morning now before we go out.

Although we've always considered our backyard fairly skunk-proof thanks to the mesh we added to the fence years ago, a couple of spots have weakened over time. No doubt our cautious habit of leashing up our pooches when it's dark has paid off and saved us from a skunky fate...for now anyway 😏

Other than that, it was a quiet week.  I introduced the boys to a new enrichment activity...find a treat in a DIY snuffle basket. They enjoyed it but quickly got too good at it so I had to be creative and increase the level of difficulty. They are very smart boys!

It's hard to believe that this is the last week of August. Summer is going by much too quickly. The Fall Chrysanthemums are out in the garden centre. I bought one for the deck. A sure sign that another season is around the corner.

That's my blog for this Sunday.  Have a great week everyone! 

What else would these fellows be
called other than "Sofa Dogs".

Merlot enjoys catching up on
world events at the breakfast table.

Sherlock and Merlot like the new location of the 
bench in the backyard.

Keen eyes survey the backyard
for intruders like squirrels.

It was a lazy afternoon and Sherlock
made himself comfy on his chair.

The snuffle baskets were a big hit with the Boys!
Kept them busy and engaged.

A dragon fly taking a break from its
airborne patrol for mosquitos and 
other flying snacks which it eagerly
devours.

Cooper and Spicy enjoyed their 'lickin' of a pup
cone of ice cream with bacon sprinkles from
Wild Willy's, this moment captured
September 4th, 2018.

Squirrels, go away

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a cloudy morning and not humid. We might get a bit of rain later. We need it badly. Everything is so dry. Our crabapple tree is dropping its leaves. It's been a hot and dry Summer so far.

We had a good week. On Tuesday, Brian and Janie came over for lunch.  Brian and Russell go way back, they went to high school together. It was fun for them to go down memory lane. We had lunch inside as it was much too hot to eat on the deck. Our boys were good and played around while we chatted away. It was a very nice get together. 

The squirrel obsession continues. As I'm writing this blog, Merlot and Sherlock are watching one from the deck. They are squirming and whining. They almost caught one again the other day. When they are fixated on a squirrel that is up on a branch, nothing will break their attention away, not even treats. I wish they would go away, the squirrels that is 😏

Yesterday, as we sat on the deck, we saw a gorgeous sharp-shinned hawk land on the fence. He stayed there for a few minutes then flew away. During that time, there was not one bird around. Smart little ones!

Russell and I decided to go back to Barbados next Spring, after a four year hiatus. We are returning to our favorite hotel, Southern Palms. We contacted Stephen, the reservation manager, and requested our special room. It's time for a relaxing beach vacation. We are looking forward to it. 

Not much else is going on. August is just flying by. Labour Day is in two weeks. How crazy is this.  Hockey and football season will start soon!

Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot are wondering
what Paul is cooking, it smells so
good!

The view from the living room sofa
is always entertaining for these 
two buddies.

Cannot get much closer than this -
Merlot and Sherlock's version of
yin yang - ebony and ivory.

Things are looking up...for this 
squirrel the boys have cornered up
in the tree.

Merlot knows when to take the 
time to chill and soak in the view.

Sherlock has deeply penetrating eyes,
he knows what you are thinking.

Brian and Russell...this is what
50 plus years of friendship
looks like -- looking good guys!

Cooper and Spicy like peas in a pod...
this moment of togetherness captured on
August 15th, 2019.