Wrapping up 2020

Happy last Sunday of 2020! What a beautiful sunny day we're having. Not too cold and the ground is now covered with a tiny dusting of snow. A nice change from our very green and mucky Christmas day. 

We went for a nice walk today and took some photos of the waterfront. So pretty with the icicles on the branches.  Lots of people were out and about walking, some sitting on the park benches taking in the sunshine. 

Christmas came and went as it always does. This year's celebrations were more subdued but nice just the same. It was just the four of us. My sister spent the day with her two sons. My brother, who lives alone, well, was alone for Christmas. I did however drive to his place on Christmas morning to deliver a care package of homemade holiday nibbles. We met in the parking lot, with a mask, safely distanced, in the rain. I was glad to be able to see him even under those weird circumstances. We later video chatted with my sister. All in all, it was a good day.

Our pooches are doing good. We finished the Advent exercise program on a high note...doing the Limbo! Both Cooper & Spicy enjoyed the exercise and they are getting very good at walking backwards. 

Boxing Day was an ordinary day for us, as always. We have never set foot in a store on that day so the fact that we are now in a lockdown makes no difference to us. Funny enough though, Russell finally sold his Canada Goose Parka on Boxing Day, which had been listed on Facebook Marketplace for a few weeks. A nice young man, who works for the Starlight Foundation, bought it and picked it up Saturday morning. A whole new meaning to Boxing Day shopping! 

So, here we are, just about to wrap up 2020. When I think back to the first few months of the pandemic, Russell and I were anxious, nervous, frustrated about not being able to do the things we wanted to do. We felt all kinds of emotions. As time went on though, we became calmer and less anxious. Somehow, the things that we couldn't do became less important, things such as travelling, going to a gym and eating out. We decided to focus on the present, one day at a time. We stayed in touch with family and friends through the magic of the internet, be it emails or video chats. The one thing that I learned to do really well is to set some quality time aside for myself, daily. I read a lot of books, watched some good Netflix series, enjoyed spending quiet times with Russell and had fun relearning to play the piano. I also enjoyed training and exercising Cooper & Spicy, something that I didn't do as much before the pandemic. Having said all this, the one thing that we have missed, and still miss terribly, is to be able to see our family and friends up close and give out hugs. That will come.

This week will be quiet for the most part. On Tuesday, Cooper has another consultation with the internal medicine specialist as well as blood work to check his triglycerides and pancreas function. He will have to fast again. Poor thing, no food until lunch time. Thursday is New Year's Eve, I will make a special dinner. We don't always stay up until Midnight....but this year we may, just to usher in a brand new and better year.

We're thinking of Russell's Dad today who left us 19 years ago. He is always in our thoughts. That's my last blog for the year. We wish every one of you a Happy and Healthy 2021! We know deep in our hearts that it will be a much better year, filled with renewed optimism. Love and hugs from the four of us!

Russell, Spicy and Cooper took time to sit
and relax while taking in Lake St. Louis.

The ice has formed again on the lake, looking
Eastward toward Montreal.

Just a light dusting of snow to keep things
clean and bright.

A forest of sails in dry dock at the Pointe
Claire Yacht Club.

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noel!

Happy Sunday to all! Here we are,  just five days away from Christmas 2020. I know I sound like a broken record when I say that it will be a different one for most of us this year. Russell and I have been reflecting on past Christmases since we've been married...about 38 of them to be precise. We spent our very first Christmas as a married couple alone. We lived in Edmonton then. We went to Jasper Park Lodge for a few days. It was lovely and romantic. Oh, I so remember the wood fireplace in our room and those Rudesheimer Coffees! Many years ago, we went to Los Cabos, that was also very nice.  We also spent a few others alone over the years because it's always been important for us to create our own memories. This year, it will be just the four of us but not because we want to. We're doing it to stay safe, keep our family safe and protect our health care system. We will miss my brother, sister and our two nephews but they will be with us in thoughts. Next year will be a better year.

Today is Day 20 of the Advent Fitness Calendar. I have to say that I've had a lot of fun exercising our two pooches these past twenty days. They both have mastered most exercises with the exception of a couple. That's OK, there is no rush. This is fun for us and good for them so it's a win win for all. 

Last Wednesday, I received a beautiful gift from my good friend Lori, a heart shaped necklace with Cooper & Spicy's names and birthstones engraved. I will cherish this gift forever. Lori, Roger, Russell and I have developed a special bond of friendship over the years. Our respective pooches keep us connected in more ways than one. It's very special.

Russell got to visit his aunt last week, even if it was for a brief moment, through the entrance door of her retirement residence. He brought her a huge container of my Christmas cookies, some for her and some to share with her friends. She was happy and Russell was glad to be able to see her.

This past week was terribly cold and most days windy. We are getting a bit of snow now but it doesn't look like it will stay on the ground for long, rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast for Thursday. We may not have a white Christmas after all.

On Friday, Russell took Cooper to the vet clinic for his last weekly B12 injection. It will be monthly starting January 18. At the same time, he brought food donations for Sun Youth, a non-profit organization that has been serving the Montreal community since 1954. This year has been difficult for many families so any help we can give is greatly appreciated.

That's my story for this week. The four of us wish you a wonderful and healthy Christmas. Stay safe and well my friends! 

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas - stay
safe and be kind to each other.

Our stockings are hung with care, Cooper and
Spicy are excited for Christmas day!

My parents' Christmas wreath, with love

Russell's parents Christmas wreath was set in 
place on a bright sunny morning.

Cooper and his Daddy catching a few winks
while 'watching' TV.

A lovely new addition to our Christmas 
ornaments, from the Bears!

Pretty in pink with Cooper and Spicy
and my wonderful necklace from 
Lori, Roger and the Bears

Looking East to Montreal from Edgewater
Park in Pointe Claire, ice on the lake and no
snow on the ground.

Making it work

Happy Sunday everyone! It's another cloudy day for us, truly haven't seen the sun much since the start of the month but it's in the forecast for this week. We got a sprinkle of snow one day last week but it's all gone now. Not sure if we will have a white Christmas. Time will tell.

Today, I had an outside gathering with my brother and sister...by outside I mean in our heated garage with the door open. We're trying to make it work the best we can. Technically, no gatherings are allowed, inside or outside. Having said this, it was important for me to be able to see my siblings in person before Christmas so we decided to tempt fate. We wore a mask and were safely distanced from one another. Gotta do what you gotta do during these COVID times. I never thought that one day I would be sitting in our garage entertaining family! While I was doing that, Russell was busy giving our pooches a bath. They both smell and look delicious. Thanks to my hubby for having taken on that role. He truly excels at it. 

This past week was quiet. I started my holiday baking and I'm almost done. I was able to bake enough to share some with my brother and sister. I had some good workouts with this new online Obe Fitness outfit. I managed to get 12 "classes" in, including some pilates and stretch. My body is still somewhat hurting from it, in a good way, but it will get better as I become more nimble.

Cooper & Spicy are doing well. They seem to enjoy their daily Advent Fitness Calendar exercise. It's so much fun and what a great library of exercises I will have after this is done. Coop has one more weekly B12 injection this coming week then it will be monthly. Both have adapted well to their new food. I had to tweak their portions downward a bit. Their weight was up slightly. It's back down now and it's been stable for two weeks. My friend Angela feeds her two Havanese the same food. She kindly shared with me how much she feeds them and it's been extremely helpful to us.

I find it hard to believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away. So different this year but I'm very hopeful that next year will be much better. Our province may (will) introduce more restrictions during the holiday period. More on that in a day or two. It won't change a thing for us. 

Last week, Russell put together our Family calendar for 2021. We started this tradition years ago when we only had Cooper. Each month has a special photo of our pooches. It's quite nice and we use it to keep track of our busy social life 😊

Those are my little news for today. One more blog before the big day! Have a great week everyone. Stay safe and well!

Our display of Christmas cards continues to
grow - it is nice that the tradition of sending
cards is sustained by a number of our friends.  

Spicy and Cooper in their 
"spots" - is it Christmas yet?

Our annual Family calendar for 2021.

These BFFs gladly watch me sweat it out during
my morning workout - happy puppies!

A good start to December

Happy Sunday everyone! We finally saw the sun today after a somewhat cloudy and rainy week. We went for a nice walk before lunch and soaked up the sun, although the wind was brisk by the lake. 

The month of December started off on a good note. On Tuesday, the pooches and I got going with the first day of our Advent Fitness Calendar. What a brilliant idea to do this. The person who came up with the concept is the owner of Fun Fit Canin, right here in Quebec. Her name is Marie-Josee and she is a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer. Although I haven't had the pleasure to meet her in person (yet), I met her via Facetime last April when she put together a fitness program for Cooper and Spicy (thanks Wanda for recommending her). It's been fun to wake up every morning since December 1 to a new exercise. Today is Day 6 and we worked on the shoulders and stretching the neck. Coop & Spicy had to put their front paws flat on my thigh, which was at a 90 degree angle, while stretching their neck upward in order to get the treat. To make it a little harder, Cooper had his back legs on a cushion. It's all about balance! It's so much fun for all of us.

On the 1st of this month, I also started a new on-line fitness program. Since the start of the pandemic, my fitness journey has had its ups and downs. My motivation level just hasn't been the same so getting some meaningful workouts in has been difficult. That's OK as I've learned through this pandemic that we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves. This is not an ordinary year by any stretch. Having said all this, last Monday, by accident, I stumbled across a post that someone made on Instagram (a Food Network chef that I follow). It had to do with this "online fitness boutique" called Obe Fitness, which offers live and on-demand workouts, geared for people of all ages and fitness levels. Long story short, I signed up for a seven day trial and I'm loving it. I can honestly say that I think I may have found the perfect "online gym" for me. It has a library of over 4,000 workouts, from Pilates to Strength to Yoga, etc. Workouts range from as little as 10 minutes to 60. I get to pick and choose what I want to do depending on my mood, what my body can handle, and when I want to do it. It doesn't get any better than this. I feel motivated all over again. My trial ends tomorrow and I plan on signing up for a membership at the low cost of $27/month. It's all good.

Russell is doing good and has been keeping busy refreshing his family tree. While doing so, Russell renewed contact with possibly his 5th cousin, Sandy in Scotland. They became friends on Facebook two weeks ago and they have been exchanging ever since. I include a snapshot of his most recent family tree. Quite fascinating!

Christmas is a little over two weeks away. For sure, it won't be a normal one this year. Our Government has made it official that gatherings will not be allowed this year. We had already decided not to have family over this year. Just too risky. Although there is a vaccine on the way for 2021, the next few months may be the toughest. Better be safe than sorry. Next year will be a better year.

That's my blog for today. I leave you with a few photos of our doggies by the Christmas tree. We often catch them just sniffing the tree...perhaps they wonder why there are no gifts under the tree yet? Have a great week everyone. Stay well and safe. 

Spicy and Cooper stretch for it, doing the Fun
Fit Canin Advent Program.

Russell's family tree...on the Duncan side, he has
traced back to 1686.

Spicy lounging by the Christmas
tree, what a present she is.

Cooper wondering when the gifts 
and treats arrive. What a sweet face!

Spicy making sure everything is in
order and well placed.

Cooper and Spicy waiting on the next event
in their lives.

Snow, rain, sun...a little bit of everything

Happy Sunday to all! The last Sunday of November and a pretty mild one too. It's overcast now but we had beautiful sunshine earlier on. We didn't have much sun last week. On Wednesday, we got about 8 cm of wet snow, then it rained and the snow is now all gone. 

This past week was good. Our deck railing got installed. We are so pleased with it. It gives us a better view of the backyard and makes our deck look much bigger. Cooper and Spicy were a little confused at first....they sniffed it then thought it looked pretty nice. It also gives them an obstructed view of their yard.

On Thursday, I decided it was time to put up our Christmas tree. This year, we are only doing the one in the living room. I will post photos next week. It looks quite nice. 

Cooper and Spicy are doing well. They have adjusted to their new low fat diet and seem to like it. It took a bit of serious calculations to figure out the right amount to feed. I was in touch with our vet clinic a few times and we got it all figured out, I think. We may have to tweak their portions depending on whether they lose or gain weight. I will continue to do weekly weigh-ins and monitor this very closely. I have to admit, I lost a bit of sleep over this....I'm very rigid when it comes to calories and weight, for humans and canine LOL!

On Friday, Cooper had his first B-12 injection, weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly for probably 6 months. Our Coop seems to be reacting well to his gallbladder medication and we have noticed a difference in his output. I won't give you the specifics but suffice to say that we think it's working. Good news for the Coop and us!

I haven't done any Christmas baking yet. I won't do nearly as much as in the past years though. Tomorrow, I will take a look at my "holiday baking folder" and figure out what to do. This will not be an ordinary Christmas for us, and for most people I suspect, but we will do our best to make it as festive as possible.

I signed up for the Advent Calendar - 24 days of dog fitness, with Fit Fun Canin. It starts on December 1. Daily, for 24 days, I will get a new exercise for our pooches, no equipment required. I look forward to it. 

That's it for this last blog of November. I wish you all a wonderful week. Stay well and safe!

Cooper and Spicy inspecting the new glass railing
on the deck...they approve!

The awning and railing are now installed, clear, 
weather protected views on the deck now.

The deck with the original railings, it
served it purpose.

First snow and Cooper and Spicy want to play

Same backyard a few days post snow...these two
adapt well and love the grass.

Cooper says, hello there...what you doing?

Spicy in her "on alert" position...you looking
at me?

A little over four weeks away

Happy Sunday everyone! I heard that we may get our first snow fall tonight.....if we do, our doggies will be happy campers tomorrow morning. The first snow fall is always exciting for dogs! With mild temperatures, it will be even better...snowballs galore! 

All is good with us. Cooper had his consultation with the internal medicine specialist last Wednesday. Basically, we're dealing with intestinal and gallbladder issues, both being managed for now with a change of diet and medication. Cooper had more blood work done that day and he will now require B12 injections for 4-6 months. His follow up appointment is on December 29. At that time, we will check the triglycerides and pancreas. At this point, we feel optimistic that the outcome will be a good one, having caught these issues early on. We started the low-fat diet a few days ago. We are half way through the transition from the old to the new food. We have switched Spicy to the same food after discussing it with our vet. A low fat diet is not a bad thing especially with heart issues. Both are doing well on the new food. 

With a little more than four weeks away until Christmas, I thought it was time to buy our outdoor planters. They look nice and festive. We plan on putting up our indoor Christmas tree next Sunday. We're not quite in the mood yet for Christmas, with COVID-19 putting a damper on things, but we will do the best we can. We will not have my family over this year, just too risky. Our government is "allowing" gatherings between December 24 and 27 as long as people voluntarily isolate one week before and after the holidays. Just not practical when my brother, sister and nephews have to work, and cannot work from home. There is some promising news on the vaccine so let's hope for a better Christmas next year.

Friday, I went to Chapters to buy Cooper and Spicy's favorite blankets, the softest blankets ever. I get them every year around Christmas.  Did we need more blankets? Nope! We have them all over the house, they are so cozy 😊  I met my friend Lillian and we chatted for a while. It was nice to see her again. 

Yesterday, I baked some treats for the dogs, 450 to be precise. Thanks to my friend Wanda who gave me the idea of using a silicone dot mat and recipes using baby food. They were a hit in our family!

Today, my sister, brother and nephews came over for the final estate paperwork and settlement. I realized, as we were all meeting outside on the deck,  that we were essentially "breaking the law" about the "no gatherings allowed". There were four cars in the driveway, including ours. Thank goodness none of the neighbours called the cops on us.

Our deck railing will be done on Tuesday. We look forward to having it all completed so we can put away the baby gates. Other than that, it will be a quiet week.

I leave you with a few photos that Russell took during one of our walks last week. I just love the ice on the branches. Have a great week everyone. Stay safe and well!

Shoreline grasses nicely iced with a view of
the Pointe Claire Yacht club in the distance. 

More grass encased in ice on the shore of 
Lac St. Louis.

The spire of Saint-Joachim Church in the 
distance along an iced shoreline.

450 treats, fresh baked yumminess.

Treat batter in the dot silicone mat ready for the 
oven.

Cooper basking in the afternoon sun
with his BFF - Spicy.

Spicy warming up my side of the bed!

A beautiful morning sky

Happy Sunday to all! Today, we woke up to a beautiful pink sky. When I first walked into the kitchen, one of our walls was literally pink. I grabbed my phone and went outside to take a photo. Seconds later, the sky was grey. So glad we woke up early or we would have missed it. 

This past week was good and the weather was exceptional. It felt like Summer in November and we enjoyed every moment of it. It was also the perfect weather to get our awning installed. The workers showed up bright and early on Monday. It took two full days to install. The crew came back at 7 am on Wednesday to put in the retractable blinds. Later that morning, we had someone come to measure the deck for the railing. We are getting clear glass panels. It will look very nice and much more open than the railing we had before. It should be installed in less than two weeks. Wednesday afternoon, we sat on our deck while a little rain was falling. It was kind of nice. Our patio heater can no longer be used under the awning but we have it near the barbecues. No doubt it will be useful for next year's outdoor gatherings! We did buy a table top heater that works good, not as well as the tall one but it does the job. Having said this, our deck season is almost over unless we get warmer temperatures. That's OK. We can now look forward to sitting outside from Spring all the way to late Fall next year, rain or shine! We are very pleased with the end result. Well worth the investment. 

Russell is doing good and the physio on his knee has helped. He may have one more treatment and that will be it. As for me, I started physio again, this time for what seems to be a compression of the neck...the reason for the pins-and-needles tingling in my arm. Life would be so boring if we didn't have aches and pains.

Last week, I started watching the Netflix series Designated Survivor. I am totally hooked, one season in one week, a record for me!. After lunch today, I watched two episodes of Season 2. That's it for today though. After I write my blog, I will be glued to my iPad and watch the live launch of NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 Mission to the ISS. So far, launch time is scheduled for 7.27 pm ET.

Cooper & Spicy got new beds last week, not that they needed them (hahaha). They really like their new digs and they each have been in both. They're happy campers, so are we. Yesterday, I got their 2020 Christmas ornament. It's a cute one. 

This coming week will be kind of busy. On Tuesday, I will have my last meeting with the notary to finalize my parents' estate. When all is said and done, it will have taken almost three years to settle the estate. Crazy! On Wednesday, our Cooper will have his consultation with the internal medicine specialist. He will have to fast again in case the specialist wants to do more exploratory tests. Because of COVID, we will not be able to go in with Coop. We will wait in our car and the doctor will call us and take us through his findings and discuss next steps. Needless to say we are anxious to find out more. 

That's my blog for today. I wish you all a great week. Stay well and safe!

A fantastic sunrise as seen from the backdoor....
here for 30 seconds and then gone.

Cooper and Spicy making themselves right at 
home in their new tartan doggie beds made by
Bowsers, a Canadian company. 

Spicy snug as a bug, post
breakfast nap.

Cooper loves his bed..perfect for a nap.

Spicy and Cooper's traditional Christmas
ornament for 2020. 

Tabletop propane heater, tiny but does 
the job of keeping the chill off.

The awning gives us protection from the 
elements...Spicy & Coop approve.

Installing the awning was a 2 man job and it
took 2 plus days...a job well done.

Cooper and Spicy enjoyed the awning install 
from a worker friendly safe distance.

A Picnic in November

Happy Sunday everyone! My goodness, what a beautiful stretch of weather we've had and are still having. Summer in November, it doesn't get any better than this. I can't believe I'm writing this blog outside. Apparently, there are a few more days of this gorgeous weather on the way!

This past week was somewhat exciting, given the US election. A wonderful victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The next few weeks will be very interesting no doubt. A new chapter for America is about to begin, let's hope filled with unity and peace.

Aside from the US election, our week was pretty normal except for Wednesday when our Cooper had his abdominal ultrasound. He did well and he was a trooper. Coop was a bit groggy from the sedation but he bounced back quickly. We got the results on Friday night. We're dealing with what is called Protein Losing Enteropathy as well as some gallbladder issues. Our next step is to have a consultation with an internal medicine vet, which will take place on November 18. We are of course concerned but we know Cooper is in good hands and we are hopeful that the early detection of these issues will be manageable and treatable.

On Friday, we decided to have a picnic by the lake. We packed up a lunch, a blanket, treats for the pooches, and off we went. It was lovely. Who would have thought a picnic in November!

This exceptional weather is also making it possible for us to have our awning installed tomorrow, finally. We can't wait. Once we're done sitting outside today, we will move the deck furniture on the grass. The workers are showing up around 8 am tomorrow. Then, on Wednesday, the company who will install our new deck railing will come for final measurements. All things being equal, weather wise, our railing will be installed in a few weeks. Until then, we will use our baby gates. I laugh every time I think about how often I wanted to get rid of those....I'm not a pack rat at all so it's a wonder we still have them, but I'm happy we do. They will be useful until we have our new railing.

That's my blog for today. I wish everyone a wonderful week. Stay safe, stay well!

A picnic by Lake St. Louis with Cooper and
Spicy, in November ... doesn't get any better!

Cooper and Spicy always enjoy deck time on, yes,
you guessed it, a shared favorite chair.

Ready for more outside time or a treat...you decide.

Cooper showing off his shaved belly
post abdominal ultrasound...he is a
trooper and a sound sleeper.

A rainy start to a new month

Happy Sunday everyone! Our day started cloudy but it's raining now. After today and tomorrow, we are in for a nice stretch of sunny and warm weather. That's good news as our awning is now scheduled to be installed one week tomorrow, as long as the weather holds. 

Our week was good. Russell cut the grass once more, maybe the last time this season. We'll see. Our flower beds are put away for the Winter. We got our snow tires on yesterday and the driveway snow markers were also put in. Our Winter gear is ready to go, for us and the pooches.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Spicy's 10th birthday. It was a fun day. That night though we got Cooper's blood liver enzyme results and they were not what we, and our vet, had hoped for, despite being on a liver supplement for 8 weeks. We owe it to Cooper, and ourselves, to investigate further so the Coop will be having an abdominal ultrasound this coming Wednesday. We are grateful that our vet could make it happen so quickly. We pray and hope for positive results. 

We dusted off the piano keyboard that Russell got me when we lived in Huntsville. I plan on resuming playing the piano this Fall/Winter. I took lessons in Huntsville and luckily I remember most of it. I guess it's like riding a bike....as long as I know where the C and F notes are, I'm good to go!

Halloween was a success on our street. We had a good turnout and it was done in a very safe way. As a matter of fact, we were talking with our neighbour this morning and we thought that doing it the way we did it is probably the best way moving forward. Much less disruptive for us and the doggies, no door bell ringing. We were able to eat our dinner at the dining room table while watching the kids help themselves to candies. I think we have reinvented the way Halloween will be in the future!

Our province continues to be in a semi-lockdown until November 23. Covid cases have stabilized for the past 4 weeks but now they need to really come down. The pandemic is not looking good anywhere else, be it in Canada or in other countries. As if this wasn't enough for people to deal with, there was a terrible tragedy that took place in the old part of Quebec City last night. Two people died as a result. Our hearts go out for the families of the victims and the whole province. 

That's my blog for today. I leave you with a couple of pics from last night, one taken during our walk yesterday and our famous NYC doggie clock. We bought this clock in 2012, in New York City, as were walking back from a Broadway show one night. We fell in love with it. It's actually a gift from Russell's mom, who wanted to buy us something special for our home in Huntsville. When we saw the clock in the window of a tiny store, we just knew we had to get it. It will always have a special place in our hearts.

I wish everyone a wonderful week. It will be one for the books, I suppose, with the US election on Tuesday. We hope the right person wins but we're not holding our breath too much. Our focus though will be on Cooper's exam on Wednesday, our main priority at the moment. Stay safe and well!

Our gift from Russell's mom,
a NYC doggie clock.

Cooper and Spicy at the shore of Lake
St. Louis yesterday

Trick or Treat...Halloween reinvented...
with the honour system "take just one, or two". About
45 kids later it was all done.

Cooper and Spicy had a front window
view of the kiddies from the 
dining room.