And the tradition continues...

For Christmas, we always send flowers to our parents.  This year was no different.  My parents got a beautiful arrangement for their bay window.  Russell's Mom and Dad got a beautiful Christmas wreath.  So, sometimes, traditions can continue even if life events change.

We hope you all had a nice Christmas.  Ours was quiet and nice.  We had a fire going all day, watched the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular show on DVD and had a great meal.  Russell and I saw the Rockettes Christmas show in New York City a few years ago.  It is a must see at Christmas time if you are in NYC.  What a great show for both children and adults.  We liked it so much that we ordered the DVD and we watch it every year at or around Christmas.  As for our great meal, I cooked a prime rib for the first time.  I must say that it was delicious and very tender, although I wasn't sure at first how it would turn out.  I find that cooking a turkey is much more predictable in terms of cooking time.  Our friend Darlah gave me a couple of good tips for cooking it.  So, I would cook it again.  We had lots of leftovers both for us and Cooper.

On Boxing Day, two things happened.  I joined FITT gym.  There was a big one day event and the yearly membership was 40% off.  So I decided to bite the bullet and became a member.  I still suffer from plantar fasciitis but I will deal with that in the New Year. After that, although we didn't hit the mall (there is only one in Huntsville), we went to Home Depot and bought ourselves an electric snowblower for our deck and the dog run. It weighs 25 pounds and will do the trick.  We can't wait for the next dump of snow to try it out.

The weather has been quite nice.  We went for a number of walks this past week and took in the nice winter scenery. On our walk on Friday, I took my video camera with me and took some pictures.  Russell made a fun video which I attach to this blog.  I hope you enjoy it.

It is now Sunday, 4:30 pm, and it's been a busy day.  Our good neighbours John & Terri came back from Australia yesterday.  They came over for coffee this morning and we had a good visit.  This afternoon, Sandy and Marc came over for a visit.  They brought with them their 9 year old doodle Brenna, one of Cooper's many girlfriends. What can I say, sometimes he goes for older women.....Sandy owns the doggy day care where Cooper goes every week. It was nice to have them over.  It was also nice to see Coop and Brenna play together in our house instead of her house.

Cooper is now having a nap.  He is tired for having entertained all day.  As for Russell and I , we will now relax in front of the fireplace and enjoy the rest of the day.  It is hard to believe that New Year's Eve and Day are fast approaching.  Somehow, we have lost track of time this week and I just realized that I have to get ready for yet another round of celebrations.  Next week, Russell and I will get back on track with both our fitness routine and better eating.  Just in time for our trip to Barbados in February......

This is it for the last blog of 2013.  I hope that all those affected by the Ice Storm are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  It is my understanding that some still don't have power and hope it is restored shortly.  It's been a very difficult week for many people. Having said this, I  wish you all a very happy New Year.

Art and Terry, together forever.

A Christmas floral flourish for my parents.

A quiet winters night in front of the fireplace....enjoyed!

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel!

As we approach Christmas Day, many families have to deal with the aftermath of the ice storm that hit a good part of Ontario yesterday.  Many are without power and for some, it is doubtful that power will return for Christmas.  Mother Nature sure has a way to put a damper on things.  The weather is one of a few things in life that is totally out of our control.  Most of us spend countless hours reading about the weather forecast so that we can plan our lives.  Crazy, isn't it?

Russell and I are no different.  This past week, we had to make a small change to our plans because of the impending ice storm.  We had planned on leaving Friday morning for Toronto but decided to leave on Thursday instead so that we wouldn't be affected by the storm on Friday.  Our friend Darlah gave us the push that we needed to make this decision.  So, on Thursday, after Cooper's bath, we packed our bags and drove to Richmond Hill to drop off Cooper.  We then made our way to Mississauga where we spent the past three nights.  We stayed at the Novotel near Square One. It is within walking distance to the mall and to many restaurants.

So, on Friday, we woke up feeling relaxed about not having to tackle the drive from Huntsville in bad weather.  We even took the Go Train for our hair cut appointment in Toronto.  It was actually nice not to have to drive to downtown Toronto.  Saturday, we hit the mall quite early and we were done shopping by lunch.  In the afternoon, we visited with our friends and old neighbours on Parmeer Drive.  It was the first time since we moved to Huntsville that we were back on our old street.  We had a very nice visit with Roland and Loraine and we spent a few hours talking about all kinds of stuff and reminiscing about the past.  We also took the time to visit with Ken & Keitha, our old friends from 30 years or so. It was nice to see them again. We ended the day by having dinner with Gord and Karen.  We had a good time and the food was very good.  Luckily for all of us, the roads were still in fairly good condition when we left the restaurant.

This morning, we woke up early, looked outside and decided that we would drive home regardless of the weather.   When we got to Richmond Hill  to pick up Cooper, we couldn't believe the damage that the ice storm had done to the trees.  It was both amazing and sad to see all those trees bent or broken.  I attach one of many pictures that Nathan took.  Just incredible to think what an ice storm can do to nature, let alone the damage to houses, cars and injuries to people.  The drive to Huntsville took much longer than usual as the roads were very snowy.  We took our time but made it home safe and sound.

So, here we are, back home with our Cooper.  We didn't get ice but lots and lots of snow fell while we were away.  I will say though that snow is far better than ice, both for humans and our lovely pets.

I hope that your preparations leading to Christmas go well.  As for us, it will be a quiet one, in Huntsville.  Merry Christmas to all!  Hugs from the Duncan family!

The Duncan Family....Christmas photo!

Cooper, all decked out to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Ice storm damage in Richmond Hill.....the awesome power of Nature.

T'is the week before Christmas

A little more than a week before Christmas and it sure looks like it will be a white Christmas in many parts of the country.  In Muskoka, we got a fair amount of snow last week and it's been quite cold but it is very pretty.  

This past week, despite the cold weather, we went for many long walks including this morning, even at -17 celsius.  We were all bundled up and it was nice.  Cooper had his Muttluk booties on and today we even put his coat on, the first time this year.

It's been a quiet week.  Russell and I went to the gym a number of times, Cooper went to doggie daycare on Thursday and he had a bath on Friday.  In between those everyday events, we shovelled the deck and Cooper's dog run a number of times, I baked more Christmas goodies and Russell took many pictures.  In particular, he took one of our outdoor Christmas tree when we woke up on Tuesday.  It was so beautiful with the lights still on and the snow on it.  On Friday, we also took Cooper's "official" Christmas picture as well as a picture of the three of us.  I will post those in next week's blog.

Tomorrow, I plan on checking out Motivations Fitness Gym.  After that, I hope to be able to make a decision as to which gym I will join once Good Life closes on December 20.  Although I look forward to joining another gym, I currently have a very bad case of plantar fasciitis in my left foot.  The pain is quite intense at times and basically everything I do aggravates it.  I suppose if I stayed off my foot for a few weeks it would go away.  Easier said than done.  From what I read, it can take months to a year before it goes away.  Sweet!

My dad has recuperated well from his surgery and he is almost back to his old self.  My mom is doing well also.  They lost a dear friend last week and it was a reminder that life is short.   

We will be going to Toronto and Mississauga later this week for a couple of days.  We have hair cut appointments and we need to do some shopping for our trip to Barbados in February.  We will also catch up with some friends and old neighbours.  We look forward to it.  Cooper will be spending a few days at Camp Talemaker and have his own fun.

This week, I thought I would share a few pictures that Russell took of our Christmas tree.  I am also including a few pictures of Cooper snow surfing.  I will now sit by the fireplace with my two favorite guys and rest that foot of mine.  Have a great week everyone!

Cooper's stockings are hung on the tree and mantel...lucky dog!

The tree from Sandhill..a very full tree.

A wise owl...watches over the tree.

Outside tree...day after the snow squall...7:30 AM.

Cooper is ready for take off ears a flipping!

Crash landing or snow diving...you be the judge.

I'm back

I've been  blogging since May 1, 2011 and never missed a week until recently.  Suddenly, our lives got busy and I wasn't able to write my blog last Sunday.  A little recap of the past two weeks is in order. Since my last blog, lots has happened.  First, and most importantly, my dad was admitted to the hospital on Friday, November 29.  That is the day that we actually left to go to Montreal for the weekend.  Our timing couldn't have been better in the sense that we got to visit him in the hospital and spend time with my mom.  As a result, our trip got extended.  After a week of tests and waiting, my dad finally had his gallbladder removed yesterday and was released from the hospital a few minutes ago.  He is happy to be back home and my mom is happy to have him back.

So, our trip to Montreal was going to be about having a pre-Christmas celebration and instead we spent a lot of it at the hospital.  Such is life sometimes.  Russell did manage to have lunch with his sister and aunt. As for me, I also got to see my sister and brother and we had lunch with my mother in between visits to the hospital.   Mom and I even did a little shopping together.  It was actually nice as we don't get to shop together very often.  While we were away, Cooper was at Camp Talemaker having the time of his life.  He even got to meet a new 10 week old puppy, Leti, who flew all the way from Prague and now lives with Darlah and Nathan.  Leti is the cutest puppy ever.  She looks like a little plush toy that is alive.  Courtesy of Darlah, I am including two pictures that she took while Coop was playing with the dogs.  He truly has a great time when he goes there.

The day before we went to Montreal, we went to the Red Barn in Barrie for a good part of the day for some indoor agility.  I include a few pictures that Russell took of us in action.  We had fun and we look forward to another indoor agility session this winter.

This past week was crazy busy.  We had a lot on the go including our first ever attempt at the sport of pistol and revolver shooting.  Cathy and Larry are members of the Huntsville Pistol and Revolver Club and invited us to give it a try.  Much to my surprise, it was a lot of fun.  After Larry took us through the rules and regulations of firearms etiquette, we got started.  We fired .22 and .40 caliber pistols and a .45 caliber revolver, a Colt 45 revolver to be precise - it is Cathy's, go figure.  It was like a shoot-out at the O.K. Corral, with shells flying all over.  It goes without saying that we had ear and eye protection.  My ear protection even matched my blue top.....(that was a fluke, truly). We then had lunch at Cathy and Larry's  place in Dwight.  They have a beautiful log home on a private lake.  It was a really nice day.

On Thursday, we went to Sandhill Nursery and bought our Christmas trees, for inside and outside.  This year, we chose Fraser Fir trees. They are beautiful trees.  I decorated the inside tree yesterday afternoon.  If Cooper likes the tree, he doesn't show it.  He doesn't even go near it, which is a good thing.  So, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house.

That's about it for this week's blog. I have a mishmash of pictures this week. That's what happens when I miss a week of blogging.  Next week, I will include Christmas pictures.  I hope your Christmas preparations are going well.  Have a great week everyone!

Anne getting ready to strap on a pistol!

Russell doing his best "Dirty Harry".

Ready....aim....aim....fire!

Bonnie and Clyde, Huntsville style!

Cooper flying around the obstacle course at the Red Barn!

Anne working her magic, Cooper knows how to hover!

Cooper daring any Hav to play with him!

Cooper loves his Camp Talemaker buddies....

Brrrr...it's cold outside!

I think that Winter has arrived in Muskoka.  Today was a beautiful sunny day but mighty cold with a windchill of -25 C.  We got snow yesterday but so did many other areas of Ontario.  I think that the snow is here to stay, at least for a while with more on the way tonight and tomorrow.  That's OK because we prefer snow to mud at this time of year.  It is much cleaner for Cooper and nicer to look at. So, when it's cold, we sit by the fire and stay warm.  It appears that Cooper also likes to do the same.

All is good with us.  This past week was rather quiet.  I am in the process of looking for another gym.   I went to FITT Gym yesterday to check them out.  This week,  I will go to Motivations Fitness.  In the meantime, I continue to go to GoodLife and do my own thing.  It is not as motivating as doing fitness classes but I got some good workouts in anyway.

We are slowly getting ready for the holiday season.  I started my Christmas baking yesterday and got quite a bit done.  I normally don't do it that early but we will be going to Montreal this coming weekend and I want to bring my parents some goodies. We will also visit with Russell's aunt and we want to give her some baking as well.  So, it's a good excuse to bake early.  Funny thing with me, when I bake, I have no desire to taste what I make.  I am grateful that Russell doesn't mind...not that I have to twist his arm or anything but he does enjoy tasting the odd cookie.  As for Cooper, he is never far from me, looking for crumbs on the floor.  Unfortunately for him, I am the ultimate "clean up as I go person" so very few crumbs, if any, hit the floor.

This week is looking up to be busy.  Russell and I have dentist appointments, we also have indoor agility on Thursday in Barrie.  This will be the first of three classes that we will attend during the winter. It is also my mom's birthday on Thursday and we get to see her on Friday.

The wild turkeys have been hanging around our property lately.  Must be a sign that Christmas is around the corner...or as my friend Maggie said, they are probably hiding in anticipation of American Thanksgiving.  I took this picture of them in one of our trees.  Quite the sight.

That's about it for this week's blog.  I hope you all have a great week.

Cooper 'chilling' by the fire...smart boy!

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush...what about turkeys?!

What goes on at night....

Since we live in the forest, we often wonder what goes on at night while we sleep.  More often than not,  we hear noises coming from the forest just outside our bedroom windows.  Sometimes, Cooper will hear things before we do.  After all, his hearing is far better than ours.  Our friend Darlah sent us a link a while ago for a critter cam.  That got the ball rolling and we decided to get one.  It is attached to a tree on the side of the house where our bedroom is.  It's pretty cool.  I attach a couple of pictures that we got from the camera this past week.  I'm afraid the deer were our only visitors but we hope to be able to see more night time critters over time.  The critter cam even caught Russell blowing leaves yesterday.  The pictures are not the best quality but it's kind of fun to be able to see what goes on.

All is good with us.  We had a pretty good week and didn't do a whole lot.  Having said this, the week went by like a flash so we must have been busier than I thought.  I find it very hard to believe that we are more than half way through November.  I have to start my Christmas baking soon.  I did get my outdoor winter pots done and I think they look pretty nice.  We had snow the day after so Russell took a few pictures.  The snow didn't last long but it was pretty for a little while.

I found out on Thursday that the GoodLife gym will be closing in Huntsville on December 20.  I am very disappointed.  I was getting into a nice groove and I really liked my classes, especially Spinning.  Although the gym closes in a few weeks, there are no more fitness classes as of now.  So, I have to figure out what to do next, which gym to go to.  I have a few options and will explore them this coming week.   I feel bad for the staff as this news was totally unexpected.

Russell had his snow tires put on and so far, no snow in the forecast, although very high winds for today.  Yesterday, the weather was beautiful, sunny and mild.  On Tuesday, I went for a nice fitness walk with Terri, our neighbour down the Lane.  It was a bit cold so we bundled up nicely but it was a very good walk.  Russell, Cooper and I also went for a walk on Wednesday.  That was also nice and it was good to get some fresh air.  Cooper went to doggie daycare on Thursday and had his usual fun playing with Brenna.

We continue to hear gun shots throughout the day.  The hunters must be doing well....That's about it for my blog this week. I will spend the rest of the day sitting in front of the fire and try to finish my book.  Russell will alternate between watching football and tending to the fire.  As for Cooper, he will follow us around, play with his chews or sleep.  I wish you all a good week.

Winter posts.....ready and waiting for Winter.

Large leaf blowing critter....

Night time bandits on the septic berm.

Smile you are on the critter cam.

Orange is the colour......

Hunting season is in full swing in Huntsville and the surrounding areas.  How can we tell?  Well, for one, I drove by the local butcher's shop this morning and saw this written in their window:  "Run Bambi run or you are on a bun".  Last week, it was a different tag line:   "You drop them, we chop them".    Those are exciting times for hunters.  It is a very serious sport after all.  The deer that visit us should not be in any danger or at least that is what we hope.  It is illegal to hunt in our neighbourhood but one never knows.  For the past few days, we have been hearing gun shots early in the morning and at dusk.  Sound does travel so I am certain that the hunters are no where near our property.....  Having said this, when on walks, people do wear "orange" so that they are seen.  So, I thought I would play the part and bought myself an orange hat., which has now become Cooper's favorite toy.  As for the Coop, well, he doesn't wear his "rack" outside.....We're just having fun!

This past week was quite busy.  We started the week by going to the Cottage Fall Show last Sunday.  It was a good show and Matt and Ali had a very nice display.  Our house was used as the "poster child" of their booth.  We hope the show generates some good business for them.

Russell washed all the windows, inside and out.  Wow, they are really sparkling. We went to the gym a few times and had a few walks with Cooper.  It took a couple of days for the Coop to adjust to the time change but his sleeping pattern is back to normal now.  Can you believe that it was two years yesterday that Cooper came into our lives.  He has brought us so much joy and love.  Although he is now more mature (somewhat),  we still think of him as a puppy.  As for us, we have become very comfortable in our role as dog owners. It's all good.

We went to Toronto on Thursday to get our hair cut.  We did a bit of shopping and had a nice dinner on Thursday night.  We picked up Cooper at Camp Talemaker on Friday morning and drove back to Huntsville.  Cooper had his usual good time while away from us and played his heart out.  He slept all the way home and then some.

Not much else is going on. The weather hasn't been that bad, a little cool but no snow.  Russell will get his snow tires put on this week so I'm betting snow is in the forecast soon..... I will get the outdoor winter pots done as well as the window box, all decorated with Christmas boughs, boxwood and curly willow branches.

I end this blog by remembering all those who fought for us and sacrificed their lives in the military service.  I wish you all a good week ahead.

Cooper and his 'rack'...Anne in her safety headgear...nice orange!

When not playing retrieve with this cap...Cooper uses it to snooze.

Time to Fall back....

Time to Fall back again.  The good news is that we get one more hour of sleep.  The bad news is that as we are approaching winter, the mornings will get darker and darker, so will the nights.  Oh well, you can't win them all.  So, don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour at 2 AM on Sunday morning.  As per my usual habit, I already turned the clocks back earlier today so that we don't forget.  Not that it matters terribly when you are retired but we do have to get up early tomorrow morning as we are going to the Fall Cottage Life Show in Toronto.

In this week's blog, I thought it would be very timely to post a picture of a special clock that we bought in New York City last August.  It has an important meaning to us.  When we moved to Huntsville, Russell's Mom wanted to buy us a clock for our new house but she didn't know what kind. We told her then that we would look for one and when we found it, she would be the first one to know.  So, time when on and we still hadn't found our clock until we walked back to our hotel on August 27 from the Winter Garden Theatre in NYC.  We walked by this unique store, which was still open at 10:30 at night, and saw a doggie clock in the window.  We knew then that we had found our clock.  So we bought it and brought it back home to Huntsville.  Unfortunately, Russell's Mom never got to see the clock in our house but she saw the picture of it and was happy that we had found the right clock.  It has a special place in our house and in our hearts.

This past week was wild as far the weather goes.  Lots of rain, strong winds, even snow and very little sun. It was actually spooky on Halloween night as the winds were really howling.  We didn't get any kids.  We didn't really expect a whole lot but were hoping for a few.  But, given the weather, we were not surprised that no one came.  So, we are left with our mini chocolate bars and will eat a few here and there.....This past week also brought a tow trip for my Mini Cooper.  On Monday, we had to have it towed to the dealership in Barrie as it had an oil leak.  We picked it up on Tuesday.  A bit of a drag if you ask me to have to drive 1.5 hours to get a car fixed.

So, we are going to the Toronto Fall Cottage Life Show tomorrow.  Matt, our builder, will have a booth and we will be there to support and cheer him up.  He has also lined up interviews with a few magazines, one of them being Cottage Life Magazine, and he asked if we would be part of the interviews.  It should be a fun day.  Cooper will spend a few hours at Camp Talemaker while we are at the show.  He will be having a good time as usual.  He will be returning there on Thursday when we go back to Toronto for our haircuts.  So, a busy week ahead.

That's about it for this week's blog.  I wish you all a good week and hope you make the most of this extra hour of sleep!  I include Cooper's Halloween picture as well as the pumpkin that Russell carved.

Doggie clock....from NYC...it is always treat time!

Cooper - a very spooky dog...wishes everyone a Yappy Howl o ween!

Jack o lantern waiting for goblins...but only a few turkeys showed up.

Toad on the road

This afternoon, we went for a walk at Fairy Vista Trail.  It was sunny and not too cold. Quite a few people were out, including many dogs.  As we were walking, we saw a toad cross the trail very slowly.    Cooper was of course intrigued by it but that's about it.  He didn't even try to grab it. They both stood still long enough for Russell to take a picture.  Another life experience for the Coop! Having said this, when we got home, I Googled "toads and dogs" and found out that toads can be poisonous to dogs, especially in the US. Interesting fact to know.

We had a good week.  Russell and I went back to the gym.  I went to a few spinning classes, including one this morning.  The forecast for this past week was supposed to be rain all week.  It turned out that we did get some rain but also some sun.  Oh, did I forget to mention that we also got snow?  We woke up to snow on Tuesday morning.  It was actually nice while it lasted. So quite a mix of weather but that is to be expected at this time of year.

We bought a pumpkin and Russell will carve it in the next day or so.  We do not know if we will have kids on Halloween night but we will be ready.  Our neighbours down the road will send the kids up to our house if they get some.  If we don't get kids, I guess Russell and I will have to eat the mini chocolate bars that I bought.....maybe just one a day....

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend, as a volunteer, a Therapeutic Paws of Canada dog evaluation.  Six dogs were being evaluated as therapy dogs.  As one of the volunteers, I had to play the role of an older person on crutches as well as drop a stainless steel bowl on the floor to gauge the dogs reaction to a sudden loud noise.  There are twelve tests that the dogs must pass in order to be certified.  This was a great experience for me, especially since we want to get Cooper certified next year.  I got to see first hand what we will have to do in order to pass the tests and what we need to work on in order to get there.  Not a whole lot actually.  No doubt that Cooper would make a great therapy dog.

I end this blog by sharing a recipe with you, which I already shared on my Facebook page. It will no doubt boost your immune system.  It is a "52 garlic clove soup".  I made it last Friday and doubled the recipe....so I used 104 garlic cloves.  Yes, I counted them all! It is delicious, not garlicky at all but spicy because of the ginger.  You should give it a try.  On that note, I wish you all a great week and a Happy Halloween.  Cooper's Halloween picture will be in next week's blog.

Cooper investigates his first toad.

26 garlic cloves (unpeeled)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) organic butter (grass fed)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 cup fresh ginger
2 1/4 cups sliced onions
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
26 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup coconut milk
3 1/2 cups organic vegetable broth
4 lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 350F. Place 26 garlic cloves in small glass baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and toss to coat. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake until garlic is golden brown and tender, about 45 minutes. Cool. Squeeze garlic between fingertips to release cloves. Transfer cloves to small bowl.

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, thyme, ginger and cayenne powder and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add roasted garlic and 26 raw garlic cloves and cook 3 minutes. Add vegetable broth; cover and simmer until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes. Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to saucepan; add coconut milk and bring to simmer. Season with sea salt and pepper for flavour.

Squeeze juice of 1 lemon wedge into each bowl and serve

Cranberries anyone?

This past week went by very quickly.  Maybe it was because it was a short one....however, when you are retired, is there such a thing as a short week?  Regardless, it went by fast and the weather was cloudy and rainy for the most part.  We lucked out though on Friday when we went to the Bala Cranberry Festival. The sun came out and it stayed out until we got home, then it started raining.  We had a great time.  We took Cooper with us and he also had a great time.  He walked nicely, watched an outdoor band and sniffed all the cranberry goodies that were being sold.

We bought cranberry tarts and loaves.  We bought white chocolate covered cranberries and apple juice dried cranberries.  Yummy!  Cranberries are good for you so might as well eat them in every shape or form....After doing the town, we went to Johnston's Cranberry Marsh where we got to see the cranberry bogs.  Pretty neat. Did you know that cranberries do not grow in water. They grow on a low, dense ground cover.  The beds are then flooded to make cranberry picking easier. We also visited Muskoka Lakes Winery and bought a blueberry port.  Something different to try maybe on a cold Winter night.  All in all, it was a fun day and we are glad we went.

We didn't do a whole lot this past week.  We both wanted to go back to the gym but decided to take the week off. We will be back at it tomorrow.   The leaves are virtually all gone now.  I finished mulching today and cut back some plants.  Russell cleaned the eavestroughs.  We also turned on our heating system.  Our floors are nice and toasty now.  We made a pile of leaves and Cooper ran in them while trying to catch my beat up hat.  I took a small video of that as well as a video of Cooper weaving through Russell's legs.  It's a game we play often, and it is especially frustrating for Cooper when all he wants is the treat that Russell has in his hand. Even more frustrating when the treat is a small piece of cheese....  He huffs and puffs while weaving through the legs.  Quite funny.

That's about it for this week's blog.  It is supposed to rain all week in the Huntsville area, I think in Toronto also.   I hope they got the forecast wrong.  It was supposed to rain all day today and so far we've had nothing but sun.  Have a great week everyone!  Enjoy the video with music!

The freedom of a butterfly

There are many symbolic meanings associated with the butterfly, one of them symbolizing the passing of a loved one and the freedom associated with the end of life. When Russell's Mom passed away on Monday, October 7, at the Vivalis Palliative Care, a small decorative butterfly was applied to the door of her room.  This small gesture had a profound impact on us.  Mom was gone, free to join her beloved Art.  This poem about a butterfly was given to us by my aunt and uncle and I thought I would share it on my blog:

"A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam.  And for a brief moment, its glory and beauty belong to our world.  But then, it flies on again and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it". Unknown author.

Terry was a wonderful lady and stayed strong to the end.  Russell and I are grateful that we got to see her one last time.  Although she was weaker when we arrived in Montreal last Sunday, she was very  coherent and we had some nice conversations.  When we left her room Sunday night,  she asked us to turn off all the lights and smiled. She was probably sending us a message that it was time for her to go.  We got the call at 5 am the following morning that she had gone into respiratory failure and we knew then that she only had a little time left.  When we got to the palliative care, she was gone.  She looked peaceful and her favorite music was playing in the background.

Her funeral service was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.  The sun was shining and it was warm.  Family and friends gathered afterwards to celebrate Mom's life.  It was nice to spend some time with Russell's sister and her family. Mom is at peace now, no doubt having a good laugh or two with Art, watching over us.

It feels good to be back home and to be able to sit back and reflect on the past week.  It also feels good to have our Cooper back.  We missed him a whole lot while we were in Montreal.  Of course, he didn't have time to miss us since he was having such a good time at Camp Talemaker.  But he was glad to see us when we picked him up on Friday.  He showered us with non stop licks and kisses!

Today is Thanksgiving Sunday.  When we woke up this morning, it was raining but the rain has stopped.  It is cloudy and a bit cool.  Russell has a fire going and we are taking it is easy today.  We will cook our turkey tomorrow.  We always name our turkey after someone who has made an interesting impression on us...... not always the best impression but not necessarily a bad one either.  This year, our turkey will be named Fabrizio.  You see, Fabrizio was the man in charge of the cemetery details for Mom's funeral.  He was present the day of her funeral to make sure that things didn't go wrong. And they didn't.  However, Fabrizio was quick to try to sell plots and what not to some of us, including my father.  We thought that was a tad cheesy to do this right after a funeral but, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he was just doing his job....so he did make an impression on us and we will name our turkey after him.  Hope it's a good one.

This coming week will be quiet.  Nothing special going on.  That's about it for this week's blog.  I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Blown away .....me or the leaves?

Here I am, writing my blog on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, in front of the fireplace.  At this rate, we will be burning all the wood that we stacked up a few weeks ago....  Russell has had a number of all day fires so far this Fall and today is no exception. We love it, especially on a rainy or cloudy day.

This past week's weather was simply gorgeous.  Every day brought warm sunshine and a nice breeze.  The leaves are falling rapidly.  I used the leaf blower for the first time on Thursday.  Wow, I was almost blown away by the velocity of it.  It is a pretty powerful blower but actually quite light to carry on the shoulders.  It certainly does the job, although at the rate that the leaves are falling, it is hard to keep up.  It goes without saying that Cooper, with his full coat, is a leaf magnet.  He brings them into the house every chance he gets!  He loves running around in the pile of leaves.

We got a few things done around the house this week but I didn't finish mulching.  Every time I wanted to do it, something better got in the way, like sitting on the deck soaking up the sun.  Those days won't last so we want to enjoy every singe one of them.  I did get the winter gear organized and I also donated two bags of clothes that I no longer wear.  It makes me feel good to do this once in a while. We also made arrangements to have our boat put away.   On Wednesday night, Russell took his photography gear to the bottom of our driveway and took some nice pictures of the clear sky.  I attach a picture of the Milky-Way in its glory.  This is a hobby that Russell truly enjoys and Huntsville is a great place for it, especially for night photography.

Cooper had a busy week of his own. On Wednesday, we went to the vet for his yearly Lepto vaccine. As usual, he didn't flinch when the vet tech gave him the needle.  For him, going to the vet is a good experience.  He loves the technicians to pieces and they love him in return.  After the vaccine, we went for a walk near by just in case he had a reaction, which he didn't have.  On Thursday, the Coop had a play date with Brenna.  I promise to get a picture of the two of them playing.  They have become great friends.  I should add that we are pondering whether we should get a playmate for Cooper.  It is a big decision, which we will not make lightly.

Russell's Mom is holding on but is getting weaker and sleeps more. We do speak with her every day and we are in touch with the nurses and doctors on a regular basis. We are driving to Montreal tomorrow morning to visit her.  At this point, we don't know if each visit with her will be our last so we want to make the most of each.

That's about it for this week's blog. I wish you all a great week leading to the Thanksgiving weekend.

Anne with the Stihl, Magnum BR 600...a brute of a blower.

The Magnum and Anne make quick work of the fallen leaves.

Milky-Way from our driveway...awesome!

Fall colours, sheep and goats

Fall has always been my favorite season.  I love everything about it:  the colours, the smells, the decorations and the fun activities that can be enjoyed with our loved ones.  This morning, we took Cooper to Sandhill Nursery to take in their Fall Festival and their Christmas Open House.  What more can you ask for:   my favorite Fall and Christmas decorations, all under one roof.  In addition, they had a zoo with sheep and goats, and Cooper got to sniff a sheep.  It was a nice way to spend a beautiful and warm Sunday morning.

Yesterday, we went for a boat ride, our last of the season.  With everything going on with Russell's Mom, we will make arrangements to have the boat put away for the winter.  We did enjoy our cruise yesterday and Russell took many pictures of the Fall colours.

Another week has come and gone.  We spent a good part of it in Montreal, visiting Russell's Mom. We had a good visit and had some good chats and laughs.  She is more tired now and weaker.  We have noticed a change in her since the last time we saw her.  Her spirits are good though.  We will be returning to Montreal in a week's time.

Cooper is doing well and had a great time at Talemaker Camp while we were away. We do miss our little guy when we are away but are grateful for the updates that Darlah posts on her blog.  We get to follow his antics with his other Havanese friends.  We do know that he likes playing with the gals.  We also know that he pulverized a duck toy while at Darlah's place.  The joys of being a dog......

This coming week will be a bit busy.  We have a few things to do around the house.  I want to finish mulching and start cutting back the plants.  We will have to cut the grass once more.  We have a little bit of Fall cleaning to do in the house and I want to get the winter gear organized.  Cooper will be going to doggie daycare on Thursday and play with Brenna.  It's hard to believe that September is done.

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Fall weather that we are having.  We have a nice fire going right now and it smells so good, both inside and outside.  I wish you all a good week.  Hope you like the pictures.

Fall color as seen from Lake Vernon.

More Fall splendour....

Anne and Cooper relax and enjoy the scenery aboard 'the Coop'.

Cooper nose to nose with a Jacobs sheep...four horns no less!

Soggy Saturday

It has rained all day so far, including all of last night.  It is soggy out there but nice and comfy in the house.  Russell has had a fire going since early this morning.  Cooper doesn't like the rain much so he has only ventured outside to do his business.  Given this soggy day, I thought I would include two pictures of the Coop:  one with his Tilley Hat, ready for the rain, and another one taken at the end of August by Darlah, when Cooper went swimming.  In this picture, he is posing with Roxie, one of his two girlfriends (the other one is Brenna from his doggy day care).  He is such a lover boy!  As for me, today was a day to do a bit of house cleaning and some baking.  Don't know why I'm in the mood for baking as I usually only bake at Christmas.  So, those of you who are getting some freshly baked cookies, consider yourselves lucky....  I normally only give out baking goods in December :-)

Russell's Mom was transferred to palliative care on Monday and he has been in touch with her daily since.  His sister has been by her side for most of the time.  As for us, we are going to Montreal tomorrow (hence Saturday blog) to spend some time with her.  Today, I made Terry her favorite cake, carrot cake.  I will bring her a few pieces tomorrow.  We will stay at my parents' house and get to spend a bit of time with them also.  We will drop off Cooper at Talemaker Camp, again.  He must think that he is spending a lot of time there lately but he loves it so it's a good thing. And, bonus, he will get to see Roxie again!

This past week was a bit quiet but good nonetheless.  We didn't go boating but we did manage to go for a few walks.  The leaves are really starting to change. It is such a nice time of year.  I also managed to get some mulching done.  I am making progress, slowly but surely.  The flower beds are looking nice and refreshed with the thick coat of mulch.

I don't have much else to write about.  Our lives are a little bit in limbo right now.  That is what life is all about sometimes.

Roxie and the Coop after a refreshing dip in the pool.

Cooper sporting his Tilley...ready for the rain.

Tomorrow marks the start of a new season.  I hope you enjoy all that Fall brings.  Have a great week everyone!

The Underwear Bandit strikes again....

When I woke up this morning, I was wondering how I would start my blog this week. I had in mind to start on a happy or funny note but wasn't sure how to do it.  Then, I saw Cooper going through the laundry basket and, once again, he was running away with my underwear.  He landed on one of his favorite chairs and was having a ball.  So I took a picture and voila!  No matter what happens in our lives, we can always count on the Coop to make us laugh.

It is cloudy today. For us, it is a day to sit in front of the fire place, read a book, listen to music or watch a football game. Russell has had a fire going since this morning. It is also a day to think about Russell's Mom, Terry.  We got back from Montreal yesterday, after spending some good quality time visiting with her. She was told that she has between 4 and 8 weeks to live.  We know it is not an exact science and only one person will decide when it is time for her to join her soul mate.  We had a good visit and, to quote her, "we got things done".  Terry has always be a very pragmatic woman.  So, despite her prognosis, she wanted to get certain things done now so that she can spend the rest of her time with her family without worrying about those things.  So, when we got to Montreal, Russell and I were ready to face the music.  We are also pragmatic and organized people so helping Russell's Mom get things done was fairly easy, albeit not without emotions.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention Darlene, Russell's sister, who has been a huge help to her Mom in more ways than one.  Lorraine, Terry's sister,  has also been by her side.  She will be transferred to palliative care tomorrow.  We plan on going back to Montreal next week.

While in Montreal, we stayed at my parents' house and Darlene stayed at her Mom's place.  It was nice to visit with my parents, although I wish it was under better circumstances. During our absence, Cooper was having his usual fun at Talemaker Camp.  We picked him up yesterday and he showered us with kisses.  We missed him while we were away.

This coming week will be a bit busy as we want to get a few things done around the house before we go back to Montreal.  If the weather is nice, I may be able to finish mulching. I also need to prune back some plants. Who knows, we may even get a boat ride in if the weather cooperates.  That's about it for this week's blog. I wish you all a good week.

Cooper on one of his favourite chairs....with what else, undies to chew.

Dark Skies

Huntsville, amongst a few other cities in Muskoka, has dark sky friendly street lighting, which means that the city lights face down, not out or up.  This means that the night sky, which is often washed out by city lights, dazzles with constellations, shooting stars and the Milky Way.  When we bought our exterior light fixtures, we made sure they were dark sky friendly.  What a great opportunity for Russell to practice night photography.  He did just that this past week, on a couple of clear and cool nights.  He took his "night camera" gear outside at about 10 pm and took pictures, two of which are attached.  He plans on doing more of this as the sky gets much clearer when the weather is colder.

This first week of September went by like a flash.  We did more work outside but not as much as we would have liked.  On Thursday, although it was a beautiful day, it felt like the dark skies that Russell likes so much were all around us.  We received some bad news about Russell's mom.  She is now in the hospital, battling a cancer that has literally taken over her body.  Even though she has had cancer for some time, it had been under control.  But it came back with a vengeance in the past week.  Russell's sister has been with her mom since and we are going to Montreal this week to be with her.  We do not think that she has that much time left so we will do our best to spend quality time with her.

We are lucky that we can leave Cooper with Darlah and Nathan while in Montreal.  We don't know what we would do without them.  They are such a big part of our lives and Cooper's life.  The Coop has been sensing that we are sad and wants to cuddle more.  This afternoon, as I was attempting to mulch a little bit, Russell was sitting on the front porch with Cooper.  When I saw them sitting together, I went inside to get my camera and took the attached picture.  He sure loves sitting on his daddy's lap. He brings us so much comfort during difficult times.

I don't have much else to report.  My thoughts right now are with Russell and his mom.  I hope you all had a nice week and are enjoying a nice Fall weekend.   I wish you a great week ahead.

Just a few steps from the door....the Milky Way beckons.

So many stars....so little time.

The Coop and his Daddy pretending not to watch me mulch.

Watching from the Rainbow Bridge

Yesterday, our good friends, Darlah and Nathan, lost their beautiful Golden, Terra.  She was 10 years old.  She was, as they call her, the Havanese Socializer.  Over the years, Terra was introduced to the small pups as a way for them to get used to bigger dogs.  She was a wonderful family member and our Cooper got to play with her when he would visit Talemaker Camp.  All of us who have become part of the Talemaker Family over the years are feeling the pain of their loss.  Terra is now watching over her family and furry friends from the Rainbow Bridge.  I am taking the liberty of attaching two pictures of Terra that Darlah posted on her blog.  Pictures are worth a thousands words.

Today is September 1 and it feels like it.  Although the weather is sunny and very warm, the leaves have started to turn and even fall, from lack of rain.  Russell will have to blow the leaves soon otherwise Cooper will bring them all in the house.  Yep, the fun season of pulling leaves out of Cooper's coat has started.  But we don't mind.  It is part of the joy of having a full coat Havanese.

We had a great trip to NYC. The weather was sunny,  hot and humid.  We walked miles and miles.  We didn't buy anything except a few dog toys and a dog clock which is pretty original and it fits nicely in our home.  We ate at nice restaurants and tasted some good wines.  We saw Mamma Mia for the 5th time and we thought the cast was the best we had seen.  We went to the Top of the Rock and admired the view of New York City.  Pretty impressive.  It was a fun few days and a nice way to celebrate our anniversary.

As usual, while we were away, Cooper was on vacation at Talemaker Camp.  He had a great time and even ran in the mud with Kat.  He also went swimming with Roxie.  Darlah took many pictures of his exploits.  I attach a few, including one that she took of Cooper after she gave him a full bath, which was soappreciated by us.  It was a thoughtful gesture on her part.

We are still doing some hard manual work outside:  on Friday, 12 cubic yard of mulch was delivered.  Today,  2 bush cords of wood was delivered (equivalent of 6 face cords).  Russell and I put it all away in the wood shed. It took us about 5 hours.  We should have enough wood for a couple of winters....  I will start mulching away in the next few days.  I have a bit more planting to do first.

This is a short blog.  I will be honest.  After putting away all this wood, I am totally spent, so is Russell.    We have no energy left.  It was hard work.  I hope you are all having a nice long weekend.  I wish you  a nice short week.

Terra and Andy

Lola resting on Terra's head

Cooper navigating the pool...a natural swimmer.

Shake it baby......after a nice swim.

Cooper behaving as best he can post bath...the treats keep his attention.