Glorious weather

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! Another beauty of a day on the way. We've had such glorious weather so far this Fall and lots more on the way. We're on the deck with the boys. It's 15 Celsius, not bad at all for early morning although I have my sweats and fleece on just to feel cozy. Merlot & Sherlock are lounging on the couch with their blankets. Such comfort! It is a peaceful morning in the neighbourhood.

This past week was quiet. I wanted to get more Fall cleaning done but the weather was too nice. It can wait. I did spent a few hours in the kitchen though one morning and cooked a batch of meatballs, Greek and Italian. I find meatballs incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in countless ways for an easy dinner. We finally invested in a vacuum sealer so freezing those little nuggets was fun LOL! 

We smoked another batch of cheese...mild cheddar, gouda, havarti and provolone. They are tucked away in the fridge for a couple of weeks to let the flavour mellow.

Our boys are doing well. Sherlock has perfected playing with the Kong Gyro...he grabs it with his mouth then rolls it in the hopes that a treat will fall out. One has but it is not easy 😜 Merlot gets frustrated with it. I think he prefers the snuffling basket, which also frustrates him as I put a squeaky ball in it that is hard to get out. A little video of their fun is included below.

Hockey season has somewhat started. Yesterday was the first of two Prospect Showdown games at the Bell Center. It was a sold out event. This afternoon, Montreal and Toronto meet up at 3 pm. It will be a fun game to watch. So far, Ivan Demidov is impressive... the first round, fifth overall pick by the Canadians in the 2024 entry draft. 

Russell made the appointment for the snow tires, end of October. We have our snow contract for the 2025-2026 season. We are still debating whether we will buy a snow blower for the backyard. Some days I feel like I can shovel paths no problem...some other days, I'm not so sure 😏 On the topic of snow...Russell saw Christmas decorations at Canadian Tire yesterday. Yikes!

Those are my little news for today. Have a good week everyone!

The boys basking in the early morning sunshine,
seems the coffee table/storage unit makes
a great lounger.

The crabapple is a constant focus of
attention for these fellows....never
know what is up the tree.

A few quick tricks while tending to the BBQ.

Merlot and Sherlock understand that
there could be a taste test at any 
moment.

Applewood smoke rolling and 
kissing these blocks of cheese
for 2 hours...fantastic aroma.

The smoked cheeses, vacuum sealed and tucked
away for two weeks to let the smoke mellow and
migrate.

Our Fall corner in the backyard, the 
bench sits quietly beneath the Japanese
maple with a Fall Mum as its only guest.

A togetherness pose we simply adored...
Cooper and Spicy side by side on the deck, 
this moment captured, September 17th, 2023.

Hello September

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a clear morning and the long range forecast is looking gorgeous. Let's enjoy to the fullest!

This past week was good and uneventful. I'm not sure why but we've been sleeping in a bit...one morning we got up at 5:30 😉 Our boys just go along with the flow although their 6:15 am breakfast time comes that much sooner when that happens LOL!

We haven't seen the skunk again since Russell blocked off the few areas that were vulnerable for an entry. We do a full check of the yard though every morning and night before we go out. You can never be too cautious. 

I started some Fall cleaning, rearranging and tidying up closets, one at a time. I got the mud room pantry done where we keep small kitchen appliances and the dog food/treats. This week, I will tackle the closet in the TV room. This one might take me a while and it will require Russell's help on deciding what clothes he keeps or donates 😏

Merlot & Sherlock are doing well. We have been reflecting on how they have matured since they came into our lives some 14 months ago. They are such good boys and they bring us so much joy, each and every day. They are still crazy puppies though and we love it! Lately, they have been enjoying their game of fetch outside. Sherlock is quite good at it, brings the ball back even with distractions around him. Merlot, on the hand...he retrieves the ball and runs away with it. He is such a character. 

Yesterday morning, we woke up to the news of the passing of Ken Dryden, the best goaltender to ever wear the Montreal Canadian jersey. It is a very sad loss in the hockey community. A little tidbit about Mr. Dryden...he lived in Senneville while playing for the Habs, a small suburb in the West Island. I grew up in Senneville and I got to babysit his children for a little while.

That's it for today's blog. I leave you with a few photos and two videos of our boys playing retrieve. From time to time, I will include a video or two in my blog, just for fun. Have a great week everyone!

Merlot and Sherlock love catching some sun 
on the warm patio stones.

Labour Day deck patrol for these two

Sherlock enjoying some lounge time
with me on the couch.

Merlot watching the sun rays
and the street action from the
comfort of the living room sofa

The backyard crabapple tree had a visit from
our resident chipmunk...must be time to
forage and build up a winter food supply.

Cooper and Spicy enjoyed the communal
piano at Edgewater Park, this moment
captured August 19th, 2022

Fall is in the air

Happy Labour Day Weekend everyone! It's a cool 11 Celsius this morning and it's been feeling like Fall for the past few days. Sunny and warm weather for the rest of the week though! Regardless, we're on the deck at the moment, bundled up in our fleeces. Our boys have blankets on the couch, they also like their comfort. This is the time of year when we want to stretch out our outdoor deck time as long as possible. All things being equal, we should have a solid two more months 🌞

This past week was good. I had a routine eye appointment which was over due. All is good although it's time to get new glasses. My distance vision has improved and my near vision needs adjustment. The beauty of aging.

We had friends over for lunch on Wednesday and we had a blast. Great conversations, good food and the weather was superb. 

Our boys also had a good week. I got them a new interactive toy, the Kong Gyro. As soon as I saw it at the store, I knew it would drive them bonkers. It is a wobbly toy with a rotating treat ball in the center. Only one or two treats are needed, for our boys anyway. Then the fun begins...both enjoyed it thoroughly although Merlot was the most vocal and frustrated. They were not able to get the treats out. They will try again today 😊 I don't know who had the most fun...me or them LOL! Russell was trying to nap upstairs, to no avail with the racket that Merlot & Sherlock were making.  I'm including a short video of Merlot with the Gyro, he's a riot! 

The highlight of my week was...drumroll please...Russell got us two hockey tickets for the Habs/Boston game on November 15. Club Desjardins seats, level 201, row A, behind both benches. It doesn't get any better than this. It will be one weekend to remember, whether we win or lose. I can't wait!

That's my blog for this last Sunday of August. My brother is coming over for lunch. Tonight, we are having a Labour Day feast of wings and potato skins. Yummy! 

Have a great week everyone! So long August, hello September 🍂

It is Fall blankie time for the boys on the 
couch.

Dappled in sunshine, Merlot and Sherlock
love to inspect their yard.

Nothing like sleeping while on 
watch....Merlot takes his job of
guarding us very seriously.

Sherlock and Merlot have that 
squirrel up the tree with no
escape route.

Sherlock is giving that Kong Gyro
a very good workout.

The object of their frustration or
affection...the Kong Gyro, the boys
love it.

Cooper and Spicy...relaxing on a walk, this
moment captured September 13th, 2017.

Wrapping up August

Happy Sunday! We're on the deck with the boys. They are chilling after a good breakfast, Merlot perched on a chair, Sherlock lying down with his giraffe tucked under him, both just watching the light rain falling. 

This past week was good but it came with a bit of excitement. On Thursday morning, we took the pooches out at 5:30 am. Although we have lights on, Russell and I both carry a flashlight so we can better scan the yard. I quickly spotted a skunk by the back flower bed. Neither Merlot or Sherlock saw it so I calmly (emphasis on calmly) brought them back in the house while Russell, our brave soul, kept an eye on the skunk who was furiously making his way out. 

Despite blocking the two spots that we thought were the entry points, it came back Friday morning...this time, it was desperately trying to dig his way out and eventually did. Russell found one other entry point that we missed so he took care of it. We haven't seen it since but Russell scans the backyard every morning now before we go out.

Although we've always considered our backyard fairly skunk-proof thanks to the mesh we added to the fence years ago, a couple of spots have weakened over time. No doubt our cautious habit of leashing up our pooches when it's dark has paid off and saved us from a skunky fate...for now anyway 😏

Other than that, it was a quiet week.  I introduced the boys to a new enrichment activity...find a treat in a DIY snuffle basket. They enjoyed it but quickly got too good at it so I had to be creative and increase the level of difficulty. They are very smart boys!

It's hard to believe that this is the last week of August. Summer is going by much too quickly. The Fall Chrysanthemums are out in the garden centre. I bought one for the deck. A sure sign that another season is around the corner.

That's my blog for this Sunday.  Have a great week everyone! 

What else would these fellows be
called other than "Sofa Dogs".

Merlot enjoys catching up on
world events at the breakfast table.

Sherlock and Merlot like the new location of the 
bench in the backyard.

Keen eyes survey the backyard
for intruders like squirrels.

It was a lazy afternoon and Sherlock
made himself comfy on his chair.

The snuffle baskets were a big hit with the Boys!
Kept them busy and engaged.

A dragon fly taking a break from its
airborne patrol for mosquitos and 
other flying snacks which it eagerly
devours.

Cooper and Spicy enjoyed their 'lickin' of a pup
cone of ice cream with bacon sprinkles from
Wild Willy's, this moment captured
September 4th, 2018.

Squirrels, go away

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a cloudy morning and not humid. We might get a bit of rain later. We need it badly. Everything is so dry. Our crabapple tree is dropping its leaves. It's been a hot and dry Summer so far.

We had a good week. On Tuesday, Brian and Janie came over for lunch.  Brian and Russell go way back, they went to high school together. It was fun for them to go down memory lane. We had lunch inside as it was much too hot to eat on the deck. Our boys were good and played around while we chatted away. It was a very nice get together. 

The squirrel obsession continues. As I'm writing this blog, Merlot and Sherlock are watching one from the deck. They are squirming and whining. They almost caught one again the other day. When they are fixated on a squirrel that is up on a branch, nothing will break their attention away, not even treats. I wish they would go away, the squirrels that is 😏

Yesterday, as we sat on the deck, we saw a gorgeous sharp-shinned hawk land on the fence. He stayed there for a few minutes then flew away. During that time, there was not one bird around. Smart little ones!

Russell and I decided to go back to Barbados next Spring, after a four year hiatus. We are returning to our favorite hotel, Southern Palms. We contacted Stephen, the reservation manager, and requested our special room. It's time for a relaxing beach vacation. We are looking forward to it. 

Not much else is going on. August is just flying by. Labour Day is in two weeks. How crazy is this.  Hockey and football season will start soon!

Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot are wondering
what Paul is cooking, it smells so
good!

The view from the living room sofa
is always entertaining for these 
two buddies.

Cannot get much closer than this -
Merlot and Sherlock's version of
yin yang - ebony and ivory.

Things are looking up...for this 
squirrel the boys have cornered up
in the tree.

Merlot knows when to take the 
time to chill and soak in the view.

Sherlock has deeply penetrating eyes,
he knows what you are thinking.

Brian and Russell...this is what
50 plus years of friendship
looks like -- looking good guys!

Cooper and Spicy like peas in a pod...
this moment of togetherness captured on
August 15th, 2019.

Hot Summer Days

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! It's 6:35 am, we're on the deck with the boys. My favorite time of day, with a little background music and the birds chirping away. It's already 25 Celsius.  We have another heat warning in effect for the next few days although it's not feeling as humid as the last warning we had. 

This past week was good and quiet. The boys had a few walks by the lake. It was nice and breezy. Russell got his usual outdoor chores done. The backyard grass is growing like crazy, thanks to the new sod. Our front grass hasn't been cut in a few weeks. It is looking rather brown due to the lack of rain. Even our perennials are looking a bit sad but they will bounce back, they always do.

I followed the Canadian Tennis Open in Montreal. I'm not a tennis fan by any stretch but was rooting for yet another Canadian athlete. Well done Victoria Mboko! 

Merlot and Sherlock are doing well. It's interesting to watch how their personalities seem to evolve with time. These days, Merlot is the play monkey and Sherlock is the "I'll do anything for treats" kind of guy. They are liking the "find it" game, especially since I'm making it harder and harder for them LOL! It's a good mental enrichment activity and it's something we can do anywhere in the house. Bonus, it only involves a couple of kibbles!

Not much else is going on with us. We will both resume our workouts in September. We took some "time off" since our return from Italy. It will be time for a reset soon. September will also bring the sale of the 2025-2026 tickets for the Montreal Canadians....I'll be on it like white on rice for possibly a game in November with the Boston Bruins.

That's it for today. We have a busy week starting with friends coming over for lunch on Tuesday. The Montreal RibFest is on this coming weekend...I smell ribs on the menu 😋

Have a great week everyone!

Always time to investigate under
the shade of a tree on a hot day!

Merlot says, Sherlock...look the
squirrel is up there!

The boys returning from backyard
gate duty...they love the new
patio stones.

The morning chill...quiet time
on the deck with Daddy.

TV time...snug as bugs in a rug,
these boys love their comfort.

Spicy and Cooper loved to sit on the
bench in the backyard. This moment
captured September 11th, 2021.

Hello August!

Happy Sunday everyone! August is off to a good start, weather wise at least. The past few days have been gorgeous and the long range forecast is looking amazing! 

We had a good week and got a few things done around the house. Russell sanded and stained our Muskoka chairs. We debated for a while whether we would keep them or not. We had them made by a craftsman from Bracebridge Ontario before we moved to Huntsville, back in 2011. They are still serving a good purpose. 

We removed the last of our baby gates from the backyard, except for a tiny corner in the very back of the yard, by the side gate. We will bring them out again in December when I block off half the yard for the Winter months. Less yard, less shovelling LOL! Our sod has taken nicely. We are still watering it once a day, we will do so for another week or so.

We are noticing that it is darker in the morning when we get up. Yikes...I have to turn the backyard lights on. We take Merlot & Sherlock out on a leash for their first and last outings of the day to avoid coming face to face with a wandering skunk. We know they are out there, we can smell them 😏

I have been following the exploits of our Canadian athlete, Summer McIntosh, at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. I will be watching her last event at 8 am this morning.  She will try for her fourth gold. Go Summer Go!

Our boys are doing well. They get a little bit of training daily, they get walks in, they romp around and play with each other. They love eating grass, leaves and twigs. Their days are always filled with something interesting. The squirrel chasing has resumed. We didn't get many the past few months but they are now back, trying to eat the crabapples. 

That's my blog for this first Sunday of August. It is a long weekend for most of Canada except Quebec. Enjoy it with family and friends! Have a great week!

Our sumo wrestlers....loving the 
new sod.

Merlot seems to be telling Sherlock to move 
over and make some room.

A good nap any time of the day is always
on the menu...Merlot does it in style.

Sherlock's eyes penetrate deep into
your soul when he locks his gaze on
to you.

Ready for some fun, patiently waiting on the 
trampoline.

Thursday's sunrise with a warm glow.

Spicy and Cooper a little soggy on a walk at
Edgewater Park, August 14, 2023.