Goodbye October!

Happy Sunday morning everyone! It's a cooler morning than what we've had the past few days. We have enjoyed such beautiful and warm weather lately. Yesterday was very windy so our leaves were falling fast and furious. Still lots more to fall though.

This past week was good. The highlight was our little girl Spicy's birthday on Friday. It's hard to believe that she is now 13. She thoroughly enjoyed her special day and was treated like the princess that she is. Her day was even more special since she made the Global Montreal Morning Show 💝

We enjoyed a few walks by the lake and marvelled at the beautiful display of colours. Yesterday was very windy and we saw a number of kite surfers on Lake St-louis. 

My friends and I postponed our lunch to November 7. One of them was in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. Luckily, she didn't get it but we felt it was best to be prudent. On that note, Russell and I are getting our booster and flu vaccine tomorrow. It's been a while since we've been jabbed. So far, neither of us have had either the flu or COVID in the past three years. Fingers crossed that we keep our record clean LOL! 

Russell had his "meet and greet" with his new doctor last Monday. He really liked him and they connected right away. He switched to the same private clinic that I go to. 

I finally bought the Halloween candies. There was a good sale at Pharmaprix so I went for it. Yesterday I made 60 bags and saved just a few for ourselves 😜 So far, the weather is looking good for Halloween night. I will take photos of our display and post them in next week's blog.

Cooper and Spicy are doing good. They will both have an echocardiogram on Wednesday. This will most likely be their last one. If need be, we will get thoracic x-rays done in the future. We don't expect much change for Cooper since he is in the last stage of MVD. So far, his meds are working as they should. We are looking forward to getting Spicy's results as she is still in stage 2, as far as we know. I will share the results in my blog next week. We've been living with these diagnoses for quite some time now and continue to take it one day at a time knowing that things can change so quickly. For now, we are very grateful that both are doing well 💕

That's it for today. I will soon prep an eye blade roast that will braise in the oven for 3-4 hours. I will then shred the meat and top it with a potato and parsnip mash. Yummy dinner on this cool Fall day. The perfect day to snuggle up with the pooches, read a good book and watch some football. No hockey today although Montreal had a great win last night! 

Have a wonderful week everyone and Happy Halloween! I will write again in November!

A very precious and special moment, Spicy
sharing her pup cakes with Cooper! Nose to 
nose, reminiscent of the Lady and the Tramp.

Spicy taking it all in on her special day...the 
rose smells very fragrant.

A happy girl, getting ready to dive in to her
pup cakes but making a wish first!

So regal as she surveys her birthday spread.
Happy 13th Spicy xoxox

  

Spicy got some air time on the Global TV
Morning show with a big shout out to 
wish her Happiest of Birthdays.

An amazing sunrise in the backyard on 
Spicy's birthday...very fitting, an awesome
sky for an awesome girl.

This maple has given us a brilliant 
display of color over the past week or 
so...the leaves are falling quickly now.

A vibrant yellow Fall dress adorns this
majestic Trembling Poplar in
Edgewater Park.

A close encounter

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a rainy and cool day for us.  It was 6 Celsius when we took the pooches out first thing this morning but I'm still wearing shorts, just can't give them up yet. The temperature in our house is set at 19 Celsius, comfortable enough for those shorts!

The Coop and I had a close encounter with a skunk yesterday morning. I took him out at 5:30, it was raining and I had a golf umbrella covering the both of us. Our backyard lights were on and I had a flashlight so I could scan the neighbourhood. All was good until we were ready to get back in the house. We then noticed a skunk outside our fence, in our neighbour's yard, just staring at us. I dropped the umbrella and scooped up our 17 pound pooch with one arm and off in the house he went. The brave girl that I am, I went back outside to get the umbrella. My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to explode. The fact that Cooper didn't lunge at the skunk is a miracle in itself. We bought a 6/49 😂 From this point on, both are on a leash when going out in the dark. We just can't take the chance of either one getting skunked. They don't mind, they know that going out at night is strictly for business.

We are thankful that we put up that mesh all along the fence a few years ago to prevent critters from entering our yard but it's not stopping them from standing outside the fence. This was our first sighting of a skunk this year, so not bad but one encounter was enough to scare the bejesus out of me.

This past week was good. We had our Monday morning walk with our usual peeps, Matisse, Pauline and Errol. We also ran into Jim and Maureen, a lovely couple that we see often while walking. The foliage is beautiful by the lake at this time of year. 

We've had lovely weather, Saturday being spectacular and warm, truly a gorgeous Fall so far. We finished our yard work and put away the VegTrug.  

We have a very busy week coming up. Tomorrow, Russell has a "meet and greet" appointment with his new doctor. He will then book his physical for November. Both of us also have a pedicure this week. On Thursday, I will have lunch with my good friends and former co-workers, Lise and Diane, in the Old Montreal, our yearly gathering to celebrate our birthdays. It will be nice to catch up.

Then on Friday, it will be a very special day. Our little girl Spicy will turn 13. She brings us endless joy and deserves the best birthday 💝 I will post her birthday pics in next week's blog. 

Those are my little news. Not much on the agenda today other than making a batch of soup and prepping a few meals for the week. Russell has some NFL games to watch. Last night, we watched the HABS against the Capitals. It was exciting, with an overtime win for Montreal ... and I didn't fall asleep this time. 

Have a great week everyone! 

Three amigos watching life unfold on our
walk at Edgewater Park - Matisse is on the
left, he is a Polish Lowland Sheep dog.

Just hanging out on the sofa, keeping
an eye on the neighbours.

Cooper looking a little frisky.

Which end is up...Spicy knows
how to totally relax.

Front row seats with a 
stunning Fall backdrop.

Crimson beauty...

Flaming glory, a majestic maple
greets the azure blue sky.

A beautiful Fall

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a lovely morning, looks like the sun is about to make an appearance. After a cloudy and wet start last week, the weather turned out to be quite lovely. It's a beautiful October so far. We've been spending quite a bit of time on the deck. It's not over until it's over. 

This past week was quiet. We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner, our turkey was delicious and so moist. We ate most of it and I froze some. Coop and Spicy enjoyed some with their kibbles. There is just something about the smell of turkey that really appeals to them.  

We enjoyed a few walks by the lake. Some of the leaves are starting to change colour but they haven't dropped much yet. Yesterday, Russell cut the grass, most likely for the last time this season. I gave a big push and cleaned up the flower beds. We have lots of yard bags for tomorrow's pick up. Next up is to tidy up the garage, get the shovels ready, stock up on pet friendly ice melt and cover the VegTrug. We're almost ready for you know what 😂

Our birds are enjoying the food that we provide them. Yesterday, we noticed that the juncos are back. There were lots of them on the grass. This will be our first Winter feeding the birds. I can't wait to watch them from our kitchen window. 

Last night was the HABS home opener and they won against Chicago. It was a good game although I fell asleep before the end. That makes me so mad.  My friend Linda sent me a note to say that the HABS had scored a shorthanded goal...which I missed. I think she knew that LOL! Eighty more games to go!

Halloween is two weeks away. I haven't bought goodies yet, waiting until the last minute for two reasons...they should be on sale and no temptations in the house! We always enjoy giving out to the kids in our neighbourhood. We do it in such a way that is not disrupting to our pooches. More on that when the time comes 🎃

It will be a quiet Sunday for us. I will get the snuffle mats out later this morning, some fun for Cooper & Spicy. I am making a meatloaf for dinner tonight. Another meal that will give us leftovers. I'm all about cooking once, eating twice (at least). I will also do a little food prep for the week. Wishing you a great Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!

Cooper and Spicy are excellent Fall clean up
supervisors!

A slow start to Fall colours but this
maple was flashing some red on 
our walk at Edgewater Park.

The limelight hydrangeas are a wonderful 
dusty rose colour.

Spicy snug in her blanket making the most of 
deck time.

Cooper likes a higher vantage point in case
a squirrel comes along.

On yard patrol...

Spicy likes to take a little break every now and 
then.

A double rainbow in our backyard on 
Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our family to yours, we wish our Canadian friends a Thanksgiving holiday filled with love, laughter and good health. Happy Sunday everyone!

After some spectacular sunshine and warmth last week, we are now experiencing cooler weather. Yesterday, it rained all day, at times very heavy downpours. It is currently only 10 celsius, cloudy and windy. The perfect weather to roast a turkey later. On that note, I began the thawing process of our 23.7 pound Butterball on Thursday night. In the fridge, overnight, followed by a two hour cold water bath in the sink, then back in the fridge. Repeat on Saturday. This morning, after my first cup of coffee, I cleaned it, stuffed it and put it back in the fridge. I will put it in the oven at 1 pm, out by 5:15, rest for one hour then we will devour this beauty. I was just reflecting that I've been cooking a turkey for four decades now. I could do it in my sleep.

This past week was good. We had a number of nice walks with the pooches although those walks seem to be getting a little shorter and slower. We have noticed that Spicy has slowed down somewhat on walks. We follow their pace. They met their friend Matisse the PON on Monday. His human mom gave me a crash course of Sudoko, thanks! I think I've got the hang of it now. We also saw Errol almost every day. It's always nice to see him. 

Russell has been sorting through his many Mont Blanc fountain pens and listed a few on FB marketplace. Last Monday, he sold one to a young man from the West Island, sterling silver, bought in Toronto some 30 years ago, not a scratch on it. It made Russell feel good to know that his pen found a new home. This young man was so happy to get his hands on it. 

This coming week is looking very gloomy, weather wise. I don't think we will get many walks in. It will be the perfect time to make all kinds of soups with the turkey stock that I will make tomorrow. The highlight of my week will be the HABS opening season on Wednesday. I look forward to sharing another great hockey season with my friend Linda! 

Russell and Cooper just had their breakfast. Soon time for Miss Spicy to eat. She has been quite fussy in the morning lately. Dinner is a different story. We go with the flow these days. Whatever they desire, they get 💕

As we celebrate this day, we count our many blessings and never take anything for granted. The rest of our day will be quiet, just waiting with great anticipation for our turkey dinner.  No doubt our pooches will be grateful for some turkey sprinkles on their kibbles this week.  Have a wonderful day and great week ahead! 

Cooper and Spicy want to wish all their furry
friends and humans a Happy Thanksgiving!

Cooper has laser focus on the chipmunk who has
been raiding the crabapple tree for his winter
food stores.

Spicy catching a few of the last warm
sun rays this Fall.

Spicy and Cooper taking a small break on 
our walk at Edgewater Park.

A Fall sunrise seen through the crabapple tree.

A nightly ritual, Cooper in the TV room doorway,
no one gets by him without the password.

The busy little chipmunk in the crabapple tree.

Russell's Mont Blanc LeGrand Stirling silver
fountain pen has found a new owner
after 30 faithful years of signing his name.

Glorious Fall weather

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Today, we welcome a brand new month with more spectacular weather. It doesn't get any better than this. 

I am starting this week's blog by remembering Tre, a lovely Havanese who crossed the rainbow bridge last Thursday. He was a little over 11.5 years old, much too soon to leave his loving human mom Gerda. Tre had the same heart condition as his uncle Cooper. He was a brave boy until the end. I was very sad to hear of his passing as I have followed Tre's journey for the past few months. As Gerda so well said, "it was time to let him lay down his sword to run free with Cali and Kismet". Rest in peace beautiful Tre. Your paw prints will forever be in the hearts of all those who knew and loved you 💙

This past week was good. Cooper and Spicy enjoyed many lovely walks by the lake. We had a meet up with Pauline and Matisse on Monday and saw Mr. Errol almost every day. 

I had my physical on Thursday. All is good and my various tests results were perfect. I spent one hour with my doctor and it was probably the best medical appointment I have ever had. We even exchanged doggie photos! Next up is a bone density and mammogram.

Russell is doing well.  Yesterday, he smoked another batch of cheeses. I've been meaning to give an update on our first experience at smoking cheese four weeks ago. It was a total success. The cheese was delicious and the smoke taste was not overpowering. We ate the last of it last night, in a salad with apples and nuts. Yummy! The new batch will be ready to eat in a few weeks. 

Today is bath day for our pooches. It's been five weeks already. Time sure marches on.

I leave you with various photos taken last week and one of beautiful Tre. Have a good week everyone! 

A lovely Family photo under the famous 
willow tree at Edgewater Park - this moment
captured by Errol.

Errol got some 'bench' time with his buddies
Cooper and Spicy.

Nothing better than doggies helpers when 
changing the bed sheets.

A fresh supply of doggie 'crack' for Spicy
and Cooper - naturally, they had to inspect
the shipment.

Tre lived a very happy life... he will be 
sadly missed.