Those April showers

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a dark and rainy morning. We've had rain for the past two days. It's OK, we all know what those April showers bring 🌷🌸🌺

This past week was good although it brought some unexpected family challenges. The last couple of days have been somewhat unsettling but as the saying goes...that too shall pass. I am grateful for Russell and our pooches who always keep me grounded during these times. 

Our week started with the sighting of a gorgeous fox staring at us through the side gate last Monday morning at around 7:30 am. Merlot and Sherlock were the first to spot it, of course. I had never seen a fox that up close. We are confident he couldn't get into our backyard unless he jumped the fence but we are vigilant just the same.

We got a lot of yard work done. Our flower beds are cleaned up and everything is popping up. Next on the agenda is to remove the soil from the VegTrug so we can move it to another location before our landscaping work begins. I also have to empty all four wood barrel planters as we will move those also. I will attempt to do that this week. 

We had a number of walks by the lake. It was quite amazing to see how busy the beavers were during the Winter. So many trees that were along the lake are now reduced to small trunks.

Russell assembled our new deck couch and our boys love it! We are so pleased with it and it looks really nice. We are waiting on the delivery of a small coffee table to compliment it. 

Hockey fever is still going strong. Our Habs had an amazing win on Friday. Next game is tonight. Go Habs Go....and yes, the Quebec language watchdog says it's OK to use that expression that has been rooted in our history for decades.

Our boys are doing well. It was one year ago on April 23 that we met them "formally" and got to hold them in our arms for the first time. It was during a conformation class that Myriam was teaching. That night, those little darlings stole our hearts 💕

That's my blog for this last Sunday of April. Have a good week everyone!

The new outdoor couch assembled and in
position...the Boys approve!

Who would not be smitten by this
shaggy little face....Sherlock stole our 
hearts - April 23, 2024.

Merlot is as charming now as he was
the first time we held him in our 
arms...he too stole our hearts
on April 23, 2024.

Chilling on the deck watching
the grass grow....where did all 
those squirrels go!?

Sherlock is a snuggler and a true
Mommy's boy!

Merlot always seems to have a
different perspective on his world...
flat on his back relaxing on the 
living room sofa.

"Timber" beaver style, the remnants of trees
along the lake at Edgewater Park...the beavers
were busy this past Winter.

Cooper and Spicy on the back deck - celebrating
Spicy's Gotcha Day on June 25, 2017. Both
forever in our hearts!

Happy Easter, Joyeuses Paques!

Happy Easter Sunday everyone! It is a beautiful sunny morning, perfect for an outdoor Easter egg hunt. We might just do a little kibble hunt for our boys 😊

This past week was quiet. We wanted to get some work done outside but found an excuse not to do it LOL! Russell did leaf blow the yard though, front and back, so it's looking cleaner. It was nice enough to sit on the deck a few times. 

Of course, the highlight of our week was the Montreal Canadiens win on Wednesday. What an exciting night it was.  That playoff spot was tough to clinch but they did it. First game is tomorrow night. Go Habs Go!

Our pooches continue to thrive. Not a day goes by without both of us saying "they are such good boys". It's coming up to a year when we first met them. I will post some photos next week of our first encounter with them.

Merlot's newest obsession is with robins. We have quite a few around and he is mesmerized with them. Of course, the urge to chase is there but birds are faster and they can fly. Sherlock's current obsession is still with the bull stuffed toy. He keeps it in his mouth for literally an hour after his breakfast. I've had to do a bit of surgery to it so we can preserve its life for as long as possible. 

Our Italy trip is just a little over four weeks away. Our airport transfer from Rome to Sorrento is booked. We're busy shopping for the little things that we need, like shoes. It's all coming together. 

It will be a quiet Easter for us. We will go for a walk later. Our dinner is simple...ham, Irish scalloped potatoes and some greens. Easy peasy and we will have leftovers this week. 

Have a wonderful Easter and week ahead!

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

Nothing better than a little deck time on a 
sunny day with all your toys at hand!

The bull gets a lot of attention - here Merlot and
Sherlock are engaged in tugging for possession!

Sherlock misses nothing, he is 
inspecting the 'surgery' on his bull!

These two are very nosy...Merlot standing at the
gate while Sherlock stands beside him.

Merlot is a keen HABS fan!

Cooper and Spicy wished everyone a very
Happy Easter back in April 3, 2021.

 

One point closer

Happy Sunday everyone! It smells like Spring out there. Yesterday, I noticed that some of our Daylilies are starting to come up. 

This past week was good. We didn't do too much. It's this time of year where you itch to do some yard work but it's still too wet to do anything. In preparation for our landscaping work in late June, we will have to move everything from our existing patio to somewhere on the grass. We have three barbecues to move and my VegTrug. We will attempt to do all this before our trip to Italy.

Hockey fever is very much in the air. The Montreal Canadiens are one point closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs. We were hoping it would have happened by now but the hockey gods were not on our side. Yesterday I found myself studying the NHL standings very carefully. We are so close.

Russell had one last physio appointment on Friday. The final knee flexion measurement is 125 compared to 124 for the right knee, which was done six years ago. It's hard to get any better than that. Well done Russell, you're all set for walking the streets of Italy!

My mom's last living sister passed away yesterday. She was 98.  She never married or had children. She loved her nephews and nieces as if they were her own. That's the end of the line on my mom's side. Yesterday, we were listening to a new oldies music station and the song "Que Sera Sera" played. The last time I heard that song was at my mom's funeral service in 2018. It was her favorite song and her palliative care attendants would sing it to her. It was a tad nostalgic to hear that song again, on that particular day.

Our boys are doing well. As I'm writing this blog, Sherlock is still doing his walkabout in the kitchen with the bull in his mouth. It is seriously funny to watch. Merlot is just chilling. It is bath day for them today. 

That's my blog on this gloomy Sunday. I realized yesterday that Easter is next weekend. With everything going on in the world and in sports, it skipped my mind completely.  Have a great week everyone! 

Morning rituals....Sherlock on his 
walkabout with his bull and Merlot
lounging on lookout duty.

Wednesday morning rough housing in the
fresh snow blanketing the backyard.

...and poof, Thursday morning 
dancing with no snow...what a 
difference a day makes.

TV time on my lap, Sherlock 
looking cheeky.

Merlot has his preferred spots in the TV room...
close beside me on floor.

Sherlock and his 'bull', this toy has lots of 
miles on it as he carries it everywhere!

Spicy and Cooper take time out to relax on a
walk at Edgewater Park, June 29th, 2019.

April vibes

Happy Sunday everyone! It's cloudy, damp and yucky out there. It will be the perfect day to make a chicken pot pie for dinner. April vibes are plentiful...the trees are budding, our robins are back in our tree making a nest, nature is awakening.

I start this blog by remembering Kona, another Havanese friend who crossed the rainbow bridge last Thursday. He was 14 years old. Kona was one of a kind. He lived a beautiful and full life with his human mommy Kathy. He was known for his adorable pink tongue, always peeking out. Kona's passing is very sad to all of us who knew him, even from afar. We are sending Kathy our love and comforting thoughts during this difficult time. Kona was Kathy's rock, he will be missed beyond what words can express. Run free sweet Kona 💜

This past week was good. On Monday, we met with the fifth landscaper and knew right away that he would be the one. We signed off on the quote yesterday. In a nutshell, the main project will be extending our patio by about 20 feet into the backyard, with a few other improvements  here and there. It is anticipated that the work will get done towards late June. Perfect timing for us.

Until then, we decided to invest in some heavy duty geotextile fabric to cover the area that will be dug up, the area that is causing us much grief with mud. It is such a brilliant temporary solution in helping keep those little paws clean, albeit not the most pleasant site to look at but we don't care. Merlot and Sherlock are happy not to have their paws washed each time they come into the house. We are happy not to have to do it. It's a win win for all LOL!

Yesterday was "purge our closets" day. I created two piles...keep and donate. The donate pile ended being almost as big as the keep pile. My theory is as follows: if I haven't worn something in more than two years, it's time to donate. I was able to convince Russell of the same. I even came across two pairs of pants with the store tags still on them! It's a good job done!

Our boys are doing well. Sherlock still walks around in circles in the morning with his bull toy. It's crazy to watch. Merlot looks at him and wonders what the heck is going on with him 😂 Last week, I found the carrot patch snuffle mat that I had bought for Cooper. It is one of the few toys of his that I kept, that and his lamb chops. Our boys loved it. It's their new favorite game on a rainy day.

The Montreal Canadians are still in the running for the last wild card spot. Only 6 games left. It is so exciting to watch. Go Habs Go!

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

One carrot...Sherlock and Merlot, who will
own it..tug on!

Hidden under those carrots a few treats...these
fellows really love sniffing for the treats
and "uprooting" the carrots to get them.

We stand on guard for thee...these
two are super alert at the front 
window and no barking!

Geotextile fabric to the rescue...
no more muddy paws for the boys and
they love to romp and play on it.

The comfort of an armchair on a sunny
afternoon...Merlot knows how to live life!

Sherlock in the classic pose...what is next!?
His eyes say it all....

Comfort for all, Sherlock and 
Merlot snuggle on my lap and legs
on the couch as I read. 

Run free sweet Kona with your pals over
the Rainbow Bridge.  Your little pink
tongue and wonderful spirit will be
forever missed.

Spicy and Cooper loved their time
on the deck,  June 8, 2019.