Christmas vibes

Happy Sunday everyone! It's 7 am and we've been up for two hours. It's crazy how our internal clock just knows when it's 5 am. We try to sleep in but we simply can't. Our boys also know when we're awake.  They start moving around and doing face planting in their x-pen. Time to get up people!

This past week was good...funny though how we both thought it went by slowly. It is a rare occurrence to feel that way. Perhaps because we were looking forward to the Thursday Thanksgiving football games (Russell) and the two day games for the Habs on Friday and Saturday (Anne). Regardless, we made it to the end of the week and all is good.

Last Sunday, I put up our Christmas tree. It turned out to be quite the process at first as, after trying to connect all three sections together for the better part of an hour, we realized that one of the tiers was no longer working. So, we bought a new tree that afternoon. We love it and the best part...all sections connect easily thanks to the pre-wired pole-to-pole connection. It's brilliant. Our little Merlot has been napping under the tree everyday since. It is too cute for words. Sherlock hasn't been near it yet. I'm not sure if he even noticed it LOL! 

Christmas vibes are starting to be felt everywhere. Some neighbours have their outside lights on. Russell will take the drone up as we get closer to Christmas to try and get an aerial view of the lights. I will start baking this week. It's time. 

Tomorrow, the boys and I will open the first "door" of the virtual Fun Fit Canin Advent Calendar. Each day for the next 25 days will bring an activity that I can do with them. I've done this calendar in the past and this year will bring brand new, never seen before exercises. We're looking forward to it. 

In this week's blog, I leave you with two short videos and some photos that I took throughout the week. I captured one yesterday afternoon of Merlot on the chair with me, looking at Russell's desk top photo of Cooper & Spicy. He was simply mesmerized by it. Then the screen went dark and he was looking for them. It was very special to watch. Meanwhile, our Sherlock was stretched out on the pouf watching the game. 

Have a great week everyone! 

The tradition continues, Christmas
ornaments - Merlot & Sherlock 2025!

The morning 'watch' crew on duty
under the Duncan Family 
Christmas stockings.

What is the best part of playing outside...
waiting on the porch to come back inside!

Merlot was mesmerized by the 
screen saver of Spicy and Cooper.
Do Havanese recognize their own
breed - only Merlot knows for sure

Sherlock found his space on the 
ottoman and decided to watch the 
Habs and the Avas from this perch.

Cooper and Spicy - the perfect 'gifts' sitting
under the Christmas tree, this moment captured
December 1st, 2020.

Last full week of November

Happy Sunday everyone! It's cloudy, we might get a few snow flakes later. We haven't seen the sun much lately although we did yesterday. It felt like a Spring day. We even raked some leaves. It's crazy how many leaves are still on the trees! 

This past week went by so quickly. If you ask me what we did, it's all a blur somehow. A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  Christmas is just over 4 weeks away. Time to get organized and that I did.

On Friday, I went to Bulk Barn and bought my baking supplies. For now, my staging area is the dining room table and our boys have been sniffing around. The nose knows. 

We got some fluffy snow on Monday and it's all gone now. Merlot & Sherlock enjoyed it while it lasted. Despite the dreary weather, we enjoyed our daily walks by the lake. It was very foggy one day and kind of eerie. 

Wednesday, the CPKC Holiday Train made its way to Beaconsfield. Russell took some fantastic photos with his drone. It's amazing to be able to see so far away. We will investigate whether we can bring it to Barbados. We know the guy who does photography for our hotel so he should be able to help us. It would be cool to get some aerial views of our beach.

Today, I will put up our Christmas tree, one week earlier than usual. It will add some extra sparkle to our home, especially on those gloomy days. I will start my holiday baking in a week or two. Russell has volunteered for his role as chief quality-control 😋 

That's my blog for today. Last full week of November, how crazy is that! Have a great week!

From the comfort of the kitchen, 
Sherlock and Merlot continue their 
squirrel watch - the giraffe is never
far away.

Nothing better than a run in fresh snow and
the opportunity to sniff for treasures hidden
beneath the snow.

Sherlock in full repose on 
the living room sofa.

Merlot is one of the bakery
bandits....caught here sniffing
for tasty ingredients.

Sherlock can reach and sniff
higher up and he thinks he
has found the jackpot!

An eerie view of Lac St-Louis shrouded in
fog and icy mist.

A lonely pier and a vanishing horizon.

The CPKC Holiday train rolled into 
Beaconsfield station, this was the view from our
backyard 80 meters up.

Spicy giving her BFF - Cooper, a tender
sniff, this moment captured December 12th, 2021.

Fun times!

Happy Sunday everyone! We got a little bit of wet snow overnight...snow balls for the boys!

Here we are, back home from our overnight stay in the city.  Our getaway started with a late lunch at Chez Alexandre, a great bistro just a few blocks away from our hotel. It was delicious and very "Parisian".  We then changed into our hockey gear and made our way to the Bell Centre for the pre-game festivities. Such fun times and so entertaining. This was my first time at the Bell Centre for a hockey game. It didn't disappoint. Our seats were fantastic, row one in section 201, so nobody in front of us. Although our Canadians didn't win, it was great just the same. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a hockey game at the Bell Centre, especially on a Saturday night. Along with all the other fans, I was loud, ate popcorn and enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you Russell for this wonderful birthday gift! It was a memorable night 💖

Merlot & Sherlock spent the night at Myriam's and had a great time also. We picked them up a little while ago. 

This past week was good. We got some snow on Tuesday, a little more than expected. It came as a bit of a surprise. Our electric shovel came in handy. We also woke up to another surprise that day...no water. The City of Beaconsfield has been doing some major water conduit work on our street. The temporary hoses that were installed a few weeks ago froze overnight. The whole street was a big mess, between that and the snow. We got our water back 12 hours later. 

That's my blog for today. I'm thinking that an afternoon nap will be on tap later. Not used to those late nights! I leave you with a couple of short videos from our first snow last Tuesday, some random shots and a few pics from last night. 

Have a great week everyone!

Nothing better than a romp and a game of chase
on fresh snow!

The Japanese maple still holding on to its
leaves and was draped in heavy wet snow...
a pretty picture that didn't last

Now this is a sleepy face...Merlot
in total comfort.

Sherlock is a quick study and he
has mastered 'paws up' on the 
stability ball while Merlot
waits his turn on the trampoline.

The view from our seats Row A,
Section 201, seats 11 and 12...
perfect to take in the pre-game
warmup.

Me grabbing a little HABS for good luck! My
Lane Hutson #48 jersey was perfect.

Cooper and Spicy loved their time in the 
training room...this moment captured
November 21st, 2018.

Happy Birthday Sherlock!

Happy Sunday everyone! A typical November morning with snow on the way later today. 

Today is a very special day. It is our sweet boy Sherlock's 2nd birthday. What a blessing to have him in our lives! He has a one of a kind personality with many cute quirks....he's a spinner through and through. He's also a low growler...that's his way to communicate with the world.  Sherlock didn't want cake....a stuffy squirrel was way more fun! Happy Birthday sweetie, we love you to the moon and back 💝

This past week was good. Sherlock went back to the vet for his dew claw. It was a little inflamed. We are putting an anti inflammatory cream on it for one week. It is looking much better now. He has to wear a cone for the first 30 minutes or so after applying the ointment....he doesn't mind it at all. Such a good boy. Our other sweet boy Merlot is doing well. He is such a play monkey. We were actually saying the other day that Sherlock is two going on four whereas Merlot is 30 months going on 18 LOL! 

Yesterday, we gave the final push on our outdoor Winter preparations. We're ready. We decided to buy an electric shovel instead of a snowblower (thanks Linda for planting the seed). Russell will pick it up this morning. Between that and a shovel, I should be good to go. Our driveway snow removal company sent an email yesterday. They are also ready. There is major water conduit work happening on our street at the moment. It could make for interesting snow removal 😉

Our Habs are having a good start to the season. We will be at the Bell Centre this coming Saturday for the game against the Bruins. I can't believe it's that time already. Russell bought the tickets at the end of August. I can't wait!

In today's blog, I include three short videos, all with squirrel content... the birthday boy with his stuffy squirrel, a short reel that I call "the one that got away". Finally one of our boys in the kitchen looking out, a snippet of what they do most of the day, back and forth between the patio door and the mud room door. They sure get their steps in LOL!  Have a great week everyone!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sherlock....make a wish,
yes, you get a squirrel!

Sherlock wondering what to do with this 
squirrel...smells normal but doesn't move!

A new game...the 'squirrel tug'!

Where is Sherlock...

A little snooze is always a good
thing especially after looking out the
window.

The Japanese maple burst into fiery red in the
corner bed of the backyard.

Japanese Maple with the golden
hues of Sugar Maple in the 
background.

Cooper and Spicy soaking up the warming 
sun on a bright November 6th, 2020.

Welcome November!

Happy Sunday everyone! As predicted, Russell and I didn't really get that extra hour of sleep and woke up at 4:45 this morning....despite going to bed well past midnight after watching the Blue Jays game. Such a heartbreaking loss but they left everything they had on the field. Well done Jays! There is something special about how sports can bring us together as a country. 

So, here we are on this first Sunday of November. Our trip to Barbados in March doesn't seem so far away anymore. Time is going by much too quickly. This month is very busy for us with all kinds of appointments and a hockey game at the Bell Center. Christmas is now full on with TV ads and all. Much too soon for my liking. 

This past week was good. Last Sunday, we enjoyed another afternoon on the deck, all bundled up. Sadly, that's it for this year. Now we move inside and our boys won't get to watch the squirrels as much although they make a run for them when we take them out, as you can see in the video below. As much as we make them wait before exiting the door, they can't help themselves.  

Friday was Halloween and our neighbourhood kids ventured out despite the rainy weather. We put a bowl of mini chocolate bars on a small table by our front door, under the overhang. Nobody rang the doorbell as Russell was on guard duty, in a "I'm watching you" kind of mode 😈 Our boys took it all in stride. That morning, Merlot & Sherlock's Halloween photo appeared on Global Montreal News. I was quick to take a video of their first TV appearance (sound on). Such cute little munchkins 💕

We finished most of our yard work yesterday. The rain and wind basically brought down the rest of the leaves. We're almost ready for Winter. 

That's it for today's blog. We will go to the polling station later this morning. A big day everywhere in the province but here in Beaconsfield, we will have a brand new mayor after 12 years under the leadership of George Bourelle. Change is always good.

Enjoy the photos and the two short videos. Have a great week everyone!

Knock, knock....who is there? The
Boys on alert for trick or treaters!

Sunday deck time...everyone was 
snuggling and comfy on the couch.

Nothing better than play time for these fellows...

Snuggles, comfort and a cozy
place to rest and read...the boys
know how to settle in.

The majestic willow at Edgewater
Park was beginning to show Fall
colour on our walk this past week.

A view from the deck, the golden 
colours and blue skies made for a
wonderful contrast.

Halloween night, Cooper and Spicy knew how
to get the treats for their tricks...this moment
captured October 31, 2021.

It was a gloomy week

Happy Sunday everyone!  We woke up to a cool 6 Celsius. It looks like cooler temps are here to stay with lots of sunshine on the way in the coming days. 

This past week was good but very gloomy. It called for some indoor play for our pooches and afternoon naps for the humans.  With the cooler and rainy weather, our trees are now almost bare. Russell got the drone up on Friday morning to catch the last of the colours in our neighbourhood. The drone was 280 feet up, the highest so far. Pretty cool! 

Our snow removal company put up the driveway markers. The snow tires are being installed this week.  It's that time of year. We haven't bought a snowblower yet for the backyard. I might shovel paths again and keep it to a minimum....I say that ever year and then I get carried away LOL! We will block off half the yard though as we did last year.  

Our yard work is basically done except for raking the last of the leaves. Russell might cut the grass one last time. This week, we will sort out the garage and get the shovels ready. Yikes!

Merlot & Sherlock are doing wonderful. Yesterday, we took them to the vet for their Lepto vaccine and a wellness exam. We spent some good quality time with Dr. Stiles, talking doggies and municipal elections. It was a very calm vet visit and our boys were the perfect patients, both in the exam room together. 

October is coming to an end so quickly, with Halloween and daylight saving time just around the corner. Our deck days are also coming to an end. Soon time to hibernate and catch up on some Netflix series LOL!

That's it for this last blog of October. Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot love their views from the 
front porch watching the world go by and me
doing yard-work!

Merlot seems to be asking 'who is
at the door?' while Sherlock keeps
an eye on developments.

Hockey Night in Beaconsfield...this must have
been in between periods...LOL!

Merlot on his chair at the kitchen table...
what's for dinner?

Fall colours in Beaconsfield as seen from 280
feet above our house looking West.

Cooper looking majestic in a patch of Fall
colour, this precious moment captured
October 6th, 2022.

Ms. Spicy, pretty bow in her hair and looking
lovely in the Fall foliage, this precious
memory also captured October 6th, 2022.

It was a cozy week

Happy Sunday everyone! A sunny and warm day on the way ahead of some rainy weather for the next few days.  

This past week was good. We got more yard work done. We also spent some nice time on the deck, all cozy with blankets and doggies. Our boys love their comfort as much as we do.

Sherlock had his bandage removed on Thursday. His dew claw is healing the way it should. Chasing squirrels is now allowed but he must refrain from climbing trees for a bit 😏 The boys regained their full backyard with baby gates around the base of the trees for a while. Those squirrels are driving all of us crazy. Russell has even taken to using a water gun to chase them off LOL!

On Tuesday, we watched the opening night of the Habs. It was a great game that ended with a win. Our boys didn't really care and slept through my screaming and excitement. I include a short video of them asleep, completely unfazed by the game chaos! I didn't capture Russell who was also having a nap LOL! All this while my friend Linda and I were exchanging messages throughout the game and comparing notes 👍

My email account got hacked somehow. On Thursday afternoon, within minutes, hundreds of spam messages started flooding my inbox. I immediately changed my password and it stopped. Weirdly enough, that same afternoon, I received a message from my credit card company advising that my card had been compromised. Luckily, all fraud charges were reversed immediately. Little gremlins invading our privacy perhaps 🎃?

It's soup time and tomorrow I will make a batch of garlic soup, made with 52 cloves of garlic, onions and ginger. I will double the recipe for freezing, so 104 cloves in total! Funny enough, it doesn't taste like garlic as half of it is roasted. It has a lot of heat to it, coming from the ginger. I've been making it for years and it's guaranteed to keep colds and flu away. I include the recipe link if anyone wants to give it a try 😅 https://annalizemoutonrecipes.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/garlic-soup-made-with-52-cloves-of-garlic-can-defeat-colds-and-flu

That's my blog for today. Have a great week!

The boys on the run checking in....
'you talking to me?'

Squirrel patrol, the boys send up
the alert and Russell uses the super
soaker to chase them away.

Always on the alert...not much
escapes their attention.

Total comfort on the couch with
blankets to snuggle in, the boys
enjoy their deck time naps.

What is said on the deck stays on 
the deck...Merlot in deep
conversation with me.

Fall colours, leaves and pumpkins abound,
Cooper and Spicy in all their glory, 
captured October 3, 2021.