Where did July go?

Happy Sunday everyone! Another beauty of a day on the way although we are dealing with some poor air quality due to the fires from the Prairies. We are still enjoying our deck though.

This past week was good although it seems like a blur right now. This month is virtually done and we don't know where it went. Time is simply going by too quickly. We have a busy August on the horizon with some entertaining, appointments, our anniversary, etc. This morning, I looked at the calendar and realized that Labour Day falls on September 1 this year. It seems early. Soon the Fall Mums will be on sale LOL!

We are thoroughly enjoying our new patio. We find ourselves sitting under the cantilever at times throughout the day while our boys romp around the backyard. Merlot and Sherlock are enjoying the tall grass from the newly established sod. We will not cut it for at least another week. It is growing nicely, thanks to Russell watering it diligently morning and night. The grass is also growing well along the flower beds. Not stepping on it makes a difference. 

Our daylilies are spectacular this year. I love the combination of the purple and yellow. Our rudbekias are not doing so well in the back garden. Not sure why, they simply haven't grown much. We think there is something in the ground that is killing them. We might have to dig up that garden bed one of these days. For now, it is what it is 😏

That's my blog for today, short and sweet. I leave you with photos taken during the week. You will notice a "certificate" that Russell gave me for my birthday...now I have to choose a visiting team, likely one of the original six teams. Exciting!

Have a great week everyone and I will write again in August! 

A Muskoka chair for two! These 
guys know how to make themselves
right at home.

Morning routines on the deck, 
Merlot lounges while Sherlock
parades with the giraffe.

The morning dew and a few sprinkles of water
from the sprinkler sure seem tasty to these boys.

Don't leave your chair at the kitchen 
table unattended or it will be 
claimed by Merlot and Sherlock.

The new sod is getting long and it is nice
and cool to wade through while on patrol.

The side path creates a nice welcome
to the new patio, we love the clean look 

The daylilies are doing nicely in the back 
garden.

My 'certificate' to a HABS home game
with an overnight....can't wait.

Spicy and Cooper taking a small break while
on a walk at Edgewater Park, July 31, 2020.

All done!

Happy Sunday everyone! It's cloudy and a little on the cool side. We had some rain overnight, it's good for the new sod.

Our backyard renovation is all done. All got wrapped up on Wednesday. The finishing crew worked really hard to finish it all that day, despite the high temperatures.  This project was seamless and with no amount of stress. All in, it took about four weeks. Not bad considering that we had some rainy days to slow things down a bit.  

We are very happy with the way it all turned out. Bronson and his team did an amazing job. Now we can fully enjoy the rest of the outdoor season. It felt good to put away most of our baby gates although we will be keeping the area along the flower borders blocked off for a while as we seeded. Our boys are happy to have their full yard again.

We spent the past few days reorganizing a few things. Russell set up his barbecues strategically. For the time being, the Big Green Egg is where the old VegTrug used to be, which we gave to one of the workers.  I haven't decided yet on how I will grow my herbs next year. On Friday, we set up our cantilever umbrella. It looks nice. We also found a new spot for our bench. Things are coming together.

We planted two cedar trees on the side of the house. As they get taller, they will block off the view from the street. We also planted a Limelight Hydrangea which acts as a focal point as we enter the backyard. It is those little details that make a difference. 

Merlot and Sherlock are doing well. They got to see Errol yesterday, who came for a visit. After he left, I did some retrieve in the backyard. We hadn't done that for a while and it was a good way for them to expel some energy.

That's my blog for this Sunday. It will be a quiet day although our boys are getting a much needed bath. They don't know it yet LOL!

Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot tethered to the
post of the front door...calmly 
keeping an eye on the comings and 
goings on the street.

Backyard aerial photo taken in the Fall of 2024
before the reno.

Backyard aerial photo taken July 19, 2025
after the reno, the patio is now about 480
square feet.

A delightful Limelight Hydrangea
is a focal point on the way into
the backyard.

The teak bench has found a new resting 
place under the shade of the Japanese maple.

The boys enjoy a good tussle on the 
new sod.

Airing out the new patio umbrellas.

Merlot and Sherlock love to cuddle
with Russell in the morning.

Sherlock and Merlot decided to 
mob me! It was a true love fest!

Cooper and Spicy had a very special
bond and they enjoyed surveying
the backyard from the deck...
July 30, 2022.

Mid July heat wave

Happy Sunday everyone! It's 6:45 am, we're on the deck enjoying a quiet Sunday morning. It's very peaceful, a little background music and the sound of the birds. Our boys are side by side, pretending to sleep but they are keeping their eyes out for either squirrels or birds. 

This past week was very productive. The stone work was completed on Friday. Tomorrow, Bronson (the boss) will come by and we will do a walkthrough to finalize details that need attention... river stones/mulch here and there, weeding the flower beds, some planting and sodding. Then the finishing crew will show up. It is expected that they will be here for 2-3 days.  The excavator will be brought back to remove most of the grass at the base of the patio. There is lots of levelling that needs to be done before sodding. It's all coming together very nicely.

We ordered a large cantilever umbrella along with a matching BBQ umbrella, which were delivered on Friday. We got them from Midtown Umbrellas, 100% Canadian company from Mount-Royal. We are still thinking about what patio furniture we will need. We are also rethinking whether we will use the VegTrug again. A more refined herb planter might look nicer. So much to think about LOL!

Despite the care taken to minimize the dust, we hosed down everything once the stone crew left on Friday. Yesterday, Russell washed all the windows, including the deck glass panels, which were due for a wash anyway. They are spotless. Russell is the best window washer going! 

Merlot and Sherlock are doing well. They will soon regain full access to their backyard. We still don't let them out loose in the patio area as there is a lot of debris and crushed stones.  We take them out on a leash until they reach the safe zone.  Both have baptized the new patio, well done boys 😍 

Last week brought some very sad news. Our friend Roland lost his son at the young age of 49. He died of a heart attack. He leaves behind a wife and two twin daughters. Roland was our next door neighbour in Mississauga. He lost his wife seven years ago. We have stayed in touch with him ever since we moved away and do a video chat every few weeks. Terribly sad.

This coming week should bring the end of our backyard project. It's good to have it all done by mid July. We still have many months of enjoyment until the snow flies.

That's my blog for today. It will be another hot one. We just had a brief sun shower.  Have a great week everyone!

Merlot and Sherlock on deck doing backyard
surveillance...nothing escapes their attention.

Aerial view of the completed stone work, the 
patio is now about 20 wide by 24 feet in
depth.

The little nook where the VegTrug
or planter will reside...

This photos shows the nice dry
laid stone border, the new deck
skirt and a few weeds (they will 
soon be gone).

Russell like his 'new' BBQ station, 
it is very secluded.

Nothing better than chilling with me
inside when it is 34C outside.

We are considering changing Merlot's name to
"Flopper", he loves to flop on his back.

Sherlock has his routines and here
he is in post breakfast lounge mode.

It is the stand-off with the boys and
the carrot is the tug toy. No one
gave in.

BFFs, they shared almost everything including 
this chair...Cooper and Spicy, August 1, 2021.

Backyard in progress!

Happy Sunday everyone! It's July and it feels like it this morning. We woke up to a lovely 23 Celsius. We have a heat warning for today only. It will be a good day to sit on the deck and admire our messy backyard!

This past week was good. The landscaping work resumed on Wednesday. The pavers were actually delivered on Canada Day, very early in the morning. No construction is allowed on holidays so it was a quick delivery, with little noise involved. 

The stone crew is wonderful, Nico and Josh. They know what they're doing. Two young boys are helping them...it's their Summer job. It's hard work and they know it. No slacking off boys, we're watching LOL!

Bronson, the owner of Paysagiste BJR Landscaping, comes by often to make sure that all is being done as it should. Cut once, measure twice. We were concerned that the stone cutting would be dusty but they are using a dustless stone cutter. Pretty neat. 

Merlot and Sherlock are doing well.They are oblivious to the noise and mess in their backyard. They are also used to doing their business in the front yard, on leash of course. It is good conditioning for them to be exposed to the comings and goings of our street. No doubt though they will be glad when they can be let out loose out the back door or the deck gate....so will we.

Russell is taking progress photos with his drone. Our boys were intrigued by it yesterday, they kept looking up. They probably thought it was a big bird.

I resumed my mat pilates workouts.  I am in great need of stretching these days. During this construction process, there is not much to do outside so I've been cooking a little more. I also bought new planters for the front. The ones I got before we left for our trip were looking very sad. 

Not much else is going on with us. We hope to get a few walks in this week with our pooches although we have a number of appointments on the agenda, including going to the vet for some vaccines. Another busy week on the horizon, which will bring more backyard progress.

Have a great week everyone!

Early morning deck antics...Sherlock parading
the giraffe while Merlot watches.

Nico making quick work of moving the 
load of screening stone dust.

Nico and Josh placing the mega
pavers...each weighs about 200 
pounds.

Nice progress...more to come!

Russell launching his drone for
some aerial photos.

The drone in flight...moving up.

Drone on the landing pad.

Aerial photo of the patio progress from about 
120 feet above, the patio stones will extend
to where the machines are parked.

The boys watching the 
construction.

Always time for a pup-cone, Spicy and
Cooper enjoyed this treat on July 1, 2018.