Lemons and stuff...

I don't know about those of you that read my blog but I LOVE using lemons in recipes, whether it is in a savoury or sweet dish.  I find that lemons add such freshness to anything that we eat.  Of course, we all know that drinking warm water and lemon in the morning is the best thing for you...but that is for another day.  So, today, in anticipation of going to visit my parents and Russell's aunt, I baked two kinds of lemon cookies:  Lemon Ricotta Cookies and Lemon Shortbreads. What can I say...I'm on a lemon kick....  Those cookies were tested on a few people today and they appear to be a hit....I think they will be on my Lemon Repertoire from now on.

This past week was busy with stuff going on around our house such as "warranty work" as Matt calls it.  Nothing major but stuff that needs to get done to "tidy up" the house.  We also made the decision to dispose of our hot tub.  Although we thought we would make great use of it, in the end, we didn't like it so much and it became a real pain to maintain. So, gone it is, and we now can make better use of our screened porch.  Casey did a great job at removing it and no one would know it ever existed. The door to our shed was also installed this week, although a bit more tweaking needs to be done. So, lots happened around our house this week.

This past week, I spent a lot of time doing some yard work, getting the flower beds ready. The plants are growing nicely and quite fast.  Our birds are still eating up a storm so Russell bought a second feeder today.  Coop and I had a good agility class last Wednesday and we are enjoying it.  I am focusing my energy on having fun, while training Cooper, rather than trying to excel on doing all the obstacles right.  As someone said to me last week, if you take it too seriously, it is not fun.  And it's true.

Not much else is going on.  We are off to Montreal tomorrow for the week.  We plan on helping my parents out as much as we can in terms of getting their house ready for selling.  We will also have dinner with Russell's aunt on Monday.  We look forward to it. Cooper will be at Camp Talemaker for the week having the time of his life.  The pool is open so he may even go swimming.  We will miss him, as we always do when he is away from us for even the slightest amount of time.

I leave you with one picture this week. Russell took it first thing this morning.  A little bit of fog, new leaves on the trees, no snow for a change......I think that Summer is here for good.  Have a great week everyone!

Nine photo panorama from the deck looking at Lakes Robinson & Vernon.

They call it the May 24 Weekend....seriously?

According to all the news channels, this Victoria Day weekend marks the official kick-off to Summer.  People open their cottages, plant flowers, go boating, swim, do all the things that Summer brings.  Except that the weather is not Summer like, not by a long shot.  Here, in Muskoka, we have had frost warnings for two nights now, woke up this morning to +2 C, but an improvement to the +1 C of yesterday morning.

The garden centres are crazy busy just the same.  People are buying flowers, I guess because that is what you do during the May long weekend.  We haven't bought any flowers yet and we will not until the end of the month.  Too iffy especially with a risk of frost.  Having said this, the sun has been shining so that is a comfort.  Today, we are expecting a high of +16 C and nothing but sunshine.

All is well with us.  Russell is over his cold, finally.  It lasted a full two weeks.  He will be going back to the gym this week.  As for me, no cold, just some allergies that come and go.  In last week's blog, I mentioned that the finches and chickadees had found our bird feeder.   We now have two new birds:  Eastern Blue Birds and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks.  They do not eat off the feeder but they are everywhere.  They are so beautiful and colourful.  We were sitting on the front deck one day last week and Russell was able to catch one in action.  We hope they stick around.

Yesterday was Cooper's third birthday.  He had a fun day.  We went to Port Carling for a walk, he had a few special treats and lots of extra cuddles.  A few tidbits about the Coop:

* his name at birth was Sinner - his registered name is Pocopayasos Sinfully Delicious
* his mom's name is Teaser - her registered name is Pocopayasos' Striptease
* hi dad's name was Mogawy (Mugs for short) - his registered name was Pocopayasos' I'm Too Sexy

Coop's dad went to the Rainbow Bridge on February 6 of this year.  When we got Cooper, we changed his name from Sinner to Cooper just because, no special reason.  In hindsight,  we could have kept the name Sinner because we do think that he is sinfully delicious.  I though I would include some family pictures in this blog just for fun.

What else is going on?  Well, the big news in cottage country this weekend was the sighting of Rob Ford in Bracebridge.... Our boat will be going in the water sometime next week.  Coop and I had our agility class last Wednesday.  It was a good one although I was a bit frustrated with myself.  I don't always "get it" which means that Cooper doesn't get it either.  We are still learning and having fun, that is what's important.

That's about it for this week's blog.  We have a busy week coming up before going to Montreal next Sunday to help my parents with their preparations to sell their house.  I hope you are enjoying your long weekend.  I know we are, despite the coolish temperatures.  Tonight, we will have a bonfire and S'Mores.  John & Terri, our neighbours, will join us.  Should be a fun night.  Have a great week everyone!

Cooper in his early puppy days.

Cooper at 3....he is maturing nicely AND he still is a clown!

Mugs, Coopers dad....a strong family resemblance.

Teaser, the Coop's mom....she is a pistol and still going strong!

A Rose-Breasted Grosbeak....awesome colors.

Happy Mother's Day!

I wish all moms out there the best day ever!  A loving Mother's Day wish to my mom, whom I will see in two weeks time.  A loving Mother's Day wish to Russell's mom who is watching us from up above. We miss her dearly, especially today.  I do not want to forget all those women who never had children, but are just as motherly as can be.  As for me, today I will spend it with Russell and Cooper.  We often refer to him as the child we never had so those that know me well know that I am every bit a "mommy" to Cooper and I love every minute of it.  So, I am making today a special day for me also.  Lots of extra snuggles, hugs and kisses with the Coop.....and Russell  xoxo

It is a glorious Sunday.  The sun is shining, it is warming up and the trees are finally budding.  Our grass is starting to turn green but it is a slow process.  We had our lawn aerated last week and we seeded.  Most of the plants that I planted last year are coming back.  It's all good.

We put a bird feeder in front of our kitchen window a few weeks ago and the birds have finally found it. The chickadees and the gold finches are eating up a storm and it is so nice to watch.  We used to feed the birds when we lived in Mississauga.  When we moved to Huntsville, we had read that it was not recommended to do so as the seeds can attract bears.....after living here for almost two years, we decided that we would do like everybody else and feed the birds.  So, we shall see.....

Last Wednesday, Cooper and I started Level 2 of Agility.  I was a bit rusty and my feet were not too coordinated but it was fun.  It is a small class of only three dogs so we get a lot of practice time.   It didn't take Cooper long to get back into it.  Last year, he showed some apprehension on the A-Frame and the teeter-totter but last week, he went up on both with no hesitation. Those are considered "contact obstacles" so he needs to learn to make full contact on both the up and down sides of the obstacles.  I need to teach him how to do it.... This coming week, we will continue to practice those obstacles as well as learn the weave poles.

Russell has had a bad cold since last Sunday.  It started out as a head cold but it is now in his chest.  He is somewhat better today but not quite himself yet.  Hopefully it will break this week.  As for me, knock on wood, I didn't catch it.

This is it for today's blog.  I wish you all a great day and a wonderful week ahead leading up to the May long weekend!

Cooper learning to find the pivot point on the teeter totter.

Steady.......

....and down we go!

Charging up the A-Frame.

Perfect timing!

Cooper bouncing off the A-Frame....he needs to hit the contact point.

Cooper up and over, or is he levitating!

A human Mommy and dog moment, Happy Mother's Day.

Jeepers Creepers, we've got Peepers

A few weeks ago, the wild turkeys were mating on our septic berm and they woke us up very early each morning for almost one week.  Now, we are kept awake at night by the sound of the Spring Peepers.  The peeper is a chorus frog which lives in forests and woodlands.  The peepers are the first frogs to call in the Spring, when the ice melts on the wetlands.  As a chorus, they resemble the sounds of sleigh bells.   I thought I would include this short video that Russell found so that you can hear what they sound like, and what we have to endure at night......oh but it could be so much worse, like having to hear the sound of traffic, airplanes, sirens.  I will take the sound of the peepers any time.

So, here we are in May but it sure doesn't feel like it, except for the sound of the peepers.  The snow may be gone, along with the frigid temperatures, but it is taking a long time for the weather to warm up for good.  I was out with Cooper a little while ago and I was freezing.  We also haven't seen the sun much this past week, including this weekend.  Today, it is only +6 and it's raining on and off.  But...the sun is in the forecast for the next three days.  I hope it is nice on Wednesday as we start our Agility classes, rain or shine.

We were in Toronto on Thursday for an overnight stay.  It was very nice, as always.  We had dinner at our favourite restaurant in Yorkville, Dimmi Bar & Trattoria, and it was great.  We've been going to that place for many years so we are known customers.  It's nice to go to a place and feel truly welcome by the staff.  While we were away, Cooper was at Camp Talemaker.  Darlah said that he was in rare form, playing with the usual gals: Cali, Leti, Adele and Jeannie.  He seems to have a thing for Adele though....He had fun, as always. I include a picture that Darlah took of Coop chasing Adele. I think she is faster than he is....

Russell woke up with a sore throat this morning and feeling a little bit under the weather.  So, I made my 52 garlic clove soup for lunch.  Hope it chases away any bug that he may have. Cooper is doing fine and he is his usual happy dog.  He will be three years old in a few weeks.  Not sure what to do for his birthday yet...but I will think of something.

All the lots on our private road have now been sold, the last one being sold last week.  Two houses are currently under construction, with an expected move in date of Summer/Fall.  Two other lots will start building in the next few months.  We have met most of the people who bought the lots and they all seem very nice.

That's about it for this week's blog.  Russell has had a fire going since this morning, it's that kind of gloomy day.  I include two pictures that Russell took of the Coop last night when he was having a nap in "his" chair.  He does it every night, with no exception.  Dogs are indeed creatures of habit.  Have a great week everyone!

This chair 'fits' the Coop to a tee...he loves it!

Hey.....did I hear a crumb hit the floor!!

Adele sure is fast....the Coop needs more practise.