A rainy Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to rain and cool temps.  It will be a sweater kind of day. Russell seeded in some spots yesterday so it's good for that.

This past week was good. Sherlock's tooth extraction site healed beautifully and the giraffe came out of hiding. That was the highlight of the week for our boys. It even made its way to the basement for some fun games LOL! All is perfect again!

The highlight of my week was the Habs' win last Monday. They have surpassed everyone's expectations in a big way. No matter what the outcome of the Eastern Conference Final is, we will be proud of their accomplishments. Go Habs Go!

Our sweet Merlot turned three last Friday. He enjoyed a little bit of cake and some belly rubs. We went for walk and ran into our friend Errol. More birthday hugs were had. Both boys tried a new maze with jumps and did very well. It was a good day 🎉

A pair of cardinals has built a nest in the yew by our back door.  Both the male and female have been in and out of it for most of last week but we haven't seen much action since yesterday, although we saw the female going in this morning. We're curious to see whether they decide to stay given the constant door traffic with the boys. Part of us hope they relocate if chicks hatch and the fledglings start their flying lessons. It could be problematic with our ever so curious pooches 😉 I suppose nature will takes its course either way. 

I leave you with random photos and videos taken last week. I also include two photos that came up as a memory of the pontoon boat that we had when we lived in Huntsville. Of course, we named it "The Coop". We had some good times on that boat. 

Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot on the 
trampoline and guess who joined them,
the giraffe!

Merlot enjoyed his 3rd birthday on the deck 
with some cake - Happy Birthday Merlot!

A little cool on the deck, so it was
Uggs, a pashmina and the boys to 
keep me warm.

The COOP pontoon named after our best first mate 
ever... Cooper.

Russell at the helm and Cooper on watch with his
life jacket and hair blowing in the wind.

Beautiful crabapple blossoms set
against a perfect blue sky. They don't last long

A birthday belly rub for Merlot. Heavenly!

What could be more fun than a new maze

on your birthday - well done Merlot

To help celebrate the birthday, Sherlock also

ran the new maze - awesome skill.

Spicy on her chair and Cooper 
always nearby, this moment
captured, June 8th, 2019.

Long weekend vibes

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to double digit temps, very nice! We are finally enjoying some warm weather, just in time for the first long weekend of the season. I suspect the garden centres are buzzing with activity. I went to Jasmin Nursery on Thursday. It was raining, not busy, perfect time to buy plants. 

This past week was good. We had some rain and it was rather cool. I had every intention of weeding but the weather gave me an easy way out. On my to do list for this week. 

Our boys are doing well. Sherlock's tooth extraction site is healing well. He has a follow up appointment on Tuesday. We're hopeful that, by then, the giraffe can come out of hiding. Both Merlot and Sherlock look for it every morning. It's too funny to watch. Meanwhile, Merlot has been playing with the rooster. Sherlock has no interest.

Hockey fever is still going strong. Once again, we will have a game 7 which will determine who will advance to the Eastern Conference final. Go Habs Go!

Yesterday, Russell smoked baby back ribs for dinner. A May long weekend tradition. They were the best ever! Tonight, we will have plank salmon and a salad...a lighter meal. It's all about balance LOL!

Today, we're thinking of our sweet Cooper who would have turned 15 on this day. The photos below are of his last birthday, three years ago. He still feels so present in our hearts and memories. At the same time, we are so grateful to be able to celebrate our Merlot's third birthday this coming Friday. A reminder that love continues in new ways. We love our boys so deeply 💕

That's my blog for today. Enjoy this long weekend and have a great week! 

Sherlock and Merlot...all quiet on 
this side of the yard.

Merlot enjoying a little nap with his
rooster.

Sherlock likes to bask in the morning
sun on the steps.

Merlot enjoying a quiet
moment on the patio.

Nap time for Russell and Merlot decides
it is time to wake up while Sherlock
measures his jump to get up.

Relaxing on the sofa with my leg 
warmer - Sherlock.

The boys enjoy hamming it up with

Russell.

Merlot is always ready to amuse himself even if

it means playing with the rooster - instead of

'his' giraffe.

Early morning zoomies and then some 

wrestling for good measure. Energy to burn.

A family birthday photo - celebrating Cooper's
12th birthday...this moment May 17th, 2023.

Cooper was truly unique and a precious soul,
he enjoyed his licking of the icing on the 
pup-cakes, May 17th, 2023.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Sunday! On this special day, we celebrate all mothers, including pet moms and those we carry in our hearts and memories. We are all extraordinary in our own way. Enjoy your day and cherish every moment 🌺

This past week was good and somewhat eventful. It all started last Sunday afternoon when I dropped off Merlot at Myriam's for his first shot at breeding. He spent four days being a good boy. Now we wait to see the fruits of his labour.

So, it was just the three of us that watched the Habs win game 7 a week ago today. It was such an exciting night. I spent a good part of the day Monday watching the post game interviews, replays. I couldn't get enough of it. 

Sherlock managed fairly well without his buddy. He was looking for him at first but then got used to this one on one attention. I carried on with our normal routine of training and fun games. Our home was definitely more quiet and lacked this puppy chaos that both boys bring together LOL! It's good to be a whole family again 💕

On Friday, Sherlock had his OFA x-rays and dental cleaning, which included an incisor extraction. All went well. Now, we have to put up with a couple of issues:  no chew toys allowed for 12 days or so. That means no giraffe and believe me, both boys are looking for it. We also have to soften the kibbles before eating, that takes about 15 minutes. The wait drives Sherlock bonkers LOL! We could feed him wet food but it's too messy.  Patience my boy!

Our weather last week wasn't the best. It was cool and rainy. We did manage some walks at the park and took a photo of the beautiful willow tree that has been standing for so many years. 

That's my blog for this week. Tonight is game 3, round 2, Go Habs Go! Our boys have been sporting Habs bandanas purchased at our vet clinic. They are perfect! Have a great week everyone!

Happy Mother's Day!

Who needs a comforter on a cool afternoon
when you have these two lap warmers.

Merlot always finds a new spot to rest
his head...here he found my Uggs to
be the perfect pillow.

Sherlock enjoyed the Habs 
victory in our company while his 
buddy Merlot was away.

The blissful look of a tired pup after
sowing his oats.

Sherlock decked out in his Habs
bandana ready for the game tonight.

Merlot is also ready to cheer the 
Habs to victory on home ice
tonight.

The solitary old willow gracefully
emerging from Winter's grip
with fresh foliage.

Sherlock's breakfast dance - is it ready yet?

Sherlock going through his paces - smart boy.

Memories of a Mother's day passed with 
Cooper and Spicy - May 12th, 2019.

Bleu, Blanc, Blood Pressure

Happy Sunday everyone! Happy Game 7 to those who will be watching! Tonight's game promises to be an epic finale to an exceptional series. Both teams have pushed each other to the limit, trading momentum and proving why they belong on this stage. Our Habs have shown relentless effort and have played their hearts out. No matter the outcome, Montreal and Tampa Bay will meet at center ice knowing they gave everything they had. For some fans, the anxiety level will be high, blood pressure might go through the roof. No matter what, it will be an exciting game. 

The four of us had a good week. It started quite warm and ended on the cool side.  The rain we had was much needed. We are noticing how green everything is now. The trees are also budding very quickly. We blocked off two areas of our backyard where we will seed today. 

Our boys are doing well. They are becoming quite good at figuring out the mazes. Today, I will buy another batch of pylons LOL! Merlot seems to have a sudden obsession with the giraffe. Yesterday, he carried it in his mouth everywhere he went.  Sherlock said "whatever"! The giraffe was their very first toy (thank you Valerie) and it's the one that is always within their reach no matter what. Funny boys 💕 

Our nephew and his wife Julie are in Italy at the moment for their belated honeymoon. It is giving us the itch to go back. We're thinking maybe for my 70th birthday in 2028...yikes, did I just write that?

Those are my little news for this first blog of May. It will be a quiet week until Friday when Sherlock gets his dental cleaning/OFA testing. No breakfast for him, it will be fun to manage 😆.

Have a great week everyone! GO HABS GO! 

GO HABS GO! 

Sherlock and Merlot, under the table
and waiting for the next event

Merlot and his giraffe...everyone
needs some fresh air and the 
giraffe seemed to enjoy the
outdoor experience.

On no...not another overtime game...when is 
bedtime?!

Sherlock found his spot on the 
couch for a nap while I read.

Merlot likes to sit on his human
Daddy's lap.

A new day, a simple maze this time... Merlot says 

easy as 1,2,3.

Sherlock ever the quick student...says easy peasy.

Even the local woodpecker enjoys the feeder!

April showers bring May flowers and here 
Spicy and Cooper took time to smell the 
tulips on May 20, 2021.

Hockey Fever

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up a little late today, 5:30 am LOL! It was already light outside and the birds were feeding up a storm. We have quite a few Cardinals near by, a pair of them nesting in the yew tree next to our back door. Surprisingly, they don't seem bothered by our comings and goings. Nature right outside our doorstep.

This past week was good. It was a bit cool though and I found myself wearing gloves and a hoodie during our walks. I got myself a long Zipup hoodie from Flatout Apparel, an Edmonton based athleisure brand. Superb quality and very good price, perfect for those early Summer days/nights on the deck. 

We continued our yard work. Yesterday, we raked the front lawn. Today we will tackle the back. Our daylilies are coming up nicely. The trees are budding but we find it is a bit slow this year. Not enough heat yet. The pansies that I bought two weeks ago got some frost but they have recovered. 

Merlot & Sherlock continue to thrive. Their routine has changed somewhat as they spend more time on the deck now, which they love. I brought their daily fun games outside and they enjoyed it. It took a few minutes for them to focus on the task at hand as there were many distractions. Good boys!

Montreal is buzzing with hockey fever right now. Our Habs picked up a win on Friday, hoping they can do it again tonight. The weather has been perfect for all the outdoor watch parties, but we all know that bad weather wouldn't stop the fans anyway. Yesterday, I was listening to Jon Cooper (coach of Tampa Bay and a Canadian) praise the Bell Centre as one of the best hockey venues in the NHL. He is right. Not to mention that the Habs fans are also the best out there! Go Habs Go!

That's my blog for this last Sunday of April. A new month is on the way already. Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot sporting their Habs-wear
cheering for another win tonight.

Peas in a pod, the boys love catching a few 
morning rays during their post breakfast nap.

Long shadows in the early morning and 
these guys are always on the alert.

A cardinal in flight as he leaves
the feeders in our crabapple tree.

Part of the morning routine, these guys love

to run, tussle and have a great time with each

other.

With so much new growth, it is difficult to

find just the right blade to chew.

Pre-dinner antics on the deck couch...

Merlot is the instigator and Sherlock 

is his sometimes reluctant accomplice

Looking as majestic as ever, Cooper and 
Spicy enjoyed their time on the front
porch, this moment April 18th, 2020.

Let's go Habs!

Happy Sunday everyone! A very big day for all Habs fans! Round one, game one of the playoffs. Go Habs Go! 

This past week was good although somewhat rainy. That's OK. It gave me a chance to run a whole bunch of errands that I've been putting off for a while, those that require driving all over the place. I got a bit of Spring cleaning done in the house. I also purged our closets and made a healthy clothing donation to NOVA. Good job done!

Our weather turned really nice and warm on Friday and Saturday. We got more yard work done and spent time on the deck. It looks like the sod we planted last year survived the Winter. We will have to seed some areas in the back yard though. It seems to be a yearly process. 

Russell is over his cold, finally.  He cleaned his barbecues and smoked our first chicken wings of the season. They were so delicious! Next on his "to do" list is to stain our backyard bench and deck table. 

Merlot & Sherlock are doing well. I created another maze for them and they caught on very quickly. Through ChatGPT, Russell found me some new designs 😁 Lots of fun on the horizon. I'm also spending time with both doing some basic training/fitness exercises that I learned from Fun Fit Canin. Each day brings a new challenge and they both love it! They are such good boys and have become quite bonded, more so in the past few months. It's nice to see.

As we move into a new season, we look forward to spending more time outdoors, embracing the fresh air and longer days. The other day, I picked up a pot of pansies, a small but cheerful glimpse of what's ahead. 

That's my blog for today. This coming week, we get the snow tires off. It's time. Sherlock also has a vet appointment for bloodwork in advance of his OFA testing/dental cleaning in a few weeks. 

Have a great week everyone! Let's go Habs!

Front porch sentries as we do some clean-up
in the front yard.

These guys always find new spots to grab a 
nap...here Sherlock thinks the arm of the sofa
is a great place to snooze.

With the warming glow of the morning
sun streaming into the kitchen, Sherlock
takes the time to stretch while Merlot
naps.

A lovely pot of pansies on the deck, a 
splash of Spring colour is always
welcome.

Maze courses courtesy of ChatGPT, course
layout, cone count required and degree of 
difficulty specified.

Maze design...a new challenge.

Merlot making his first run in the new 

maze design...a breeze.

Sherlock took to the maze like a duck to

water....easy peasy.

The boys enjoying a first romp on the couch

on the deck...outdoor time is back.

Cooper and Spicy loved to snuggle with their
human daddy...this moment captured on
April 15th, 2018.

Spring cleanup

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to a clear sky and the sun is shining. I do believe that Spring is here to stay. I hope so as I put away all the Winter gear. Good riddance!

This past week was filled with Artemis II daily updates. Each update turned into an unfolding story.  This lunar mission gave people around the world a reason to feel united, even if only for a moment. We watched their return home with anxious anticipation and felt a sense of deep relief the moment they safely splashed down. Congratulations to Canada's Jeremy Hansen, our hearts are filled with pride!

Other than being glued to the TV screen, we enjoyed many walks by the lake with our boys. We also started our outdoor Spring cleanup and opened our deck. Merlot & Sherlock were very giddy and quickly resumed their spot to watch the squirrels.  We're ready for another season! 

Russell is doing well. His post Barbados cold is still lingering but he's much better. He resumed his "municipal duties"... now working on his questions for the next council meeting. 

I resumed fun training with our boys. For the past few months, I've been focusing on what I call the "bowl to bowl" thinking games (Vito games). While on the beach, I started thinking that it was time to introduce our munchkins to the "maze" games.  If you've followed me for a while, you will recall that I used to create mazes for Cooper. He so enjoyed it, so did I.  It didn't take Merlot & Sherlock long to get the concept that you must follow a path in order to get the treat. I am so incredibly proud of our boys.  I spent the past few days looking at all the videos that I have of Cooper and his maze exploits.  While it's been a nostalgic trip down memory lane, I am thrilled that I get to do this again with our boys 💕 My creative juices are flowing!

That's my blog for today. We will attempt to finish our yard work this morning. I hear April showers are on the way for the next few days. I leave you with some photos and a few videos for your enjoyment. Have a great week everyone! 

Winter covers off the furniture and the
'boys' are right back on to catch a
few warming sun rays.

And the dance continues...they enjoy each
other's company immensely.

After the backyard romps comes
nap time...full out and not a care in
the world.

Merlot and Sherlock are excited to have the 

deck back so they can watch the squirrels from 

up high and in comfort.

It is a finch fest in the backyard juniper (sound on)

Merlot is smart and he got the new maze design 

in no time. A very proud moment.

Sherlock is no slouch and he too very quickly

figured it out...proud moments for both of

these boys.

Cooper and Spicy on their boulder on our 
walk at Edgewater Park, this precious 
moment captured, April 20th, 2022.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! It's a rainy and mild morning for us. It sure feels like Spring. The trees are budding, the snow is all gone and our boys are eating grass again LOL!

This past week was good. We arrived home late Monday night. Our flight was on time and it was a breeze getting through customs. I woke up very early on Tuesday, emptied our suitcases, got some laundry done and went to Metro. Then we made our way to Myriam's to pick up Merlot & Sherlock. The anticipation was palpable. They were so excited to see us. They looked wonderful, freshly bathed. They had a great time. They played with other dogs, a few pugs in particular, and got along with everyone. The boys didn't miss a beat when they got home 💕 

We're all back in the groove. It was good to be able to watch hockey again and WOW, last night was our 8th win in a row. For the past two days, Russell has been providing me with the "playoff mathematics" based on the wins of the previous day, thank you! The HABS are now just a point away or so from clinching that playoff spot!  So exciting! 

The boys resumed their fun games and got right into it...except for Merlot who decided that it was more fun to face plant than to wait his turn on the trampoline 😂

On Wednesday, we watched the Artemis II launch. It is history in the making and even more special to have a Canadian astronaut taking part in this mission. I've been following the daily NASA updates, so incredibly fascinating. Tomorrow will be the long awaited lunar flyby and splashdown on Friday at 8:07 pm. Another week of being glued to every NASA update 🌙🚀

Russell came back with a cold but also with a craving for turkey. I got a very small Butterball which we will have tonight. I'm having mine with a strawberry and pecan salad. Russell will get all the trimmings. Since we're on the topic of eating, let me tell you that the food in Barbados is very good. Our best meal though was at Champers. We had the ahi tuna which was simply divine. We finished the meal by sharing a coconut cream pie, which was also to die for. Those are the only food photos I took so I'm sharing them. 

That's my blog for today. My brother is coming over for an Easter danish. The rest of the day will be quiet for us. Have a wonderful day and a great week!

Sherlock and Merlot want to wish everyone
a Happy Easter!

It is good to be back home and to be
able to stretch out in comfort.

Sherlock was back at his spot at the
breakfast table, keeping an eye on
us and world events!

Neighbourhood watch must go on,
even when Merlot is having a bad 
hair day.

The ahi tuna was superb at Champers...it
was melt in your mouth delicious, cooked to
perfection.

How do you top off an exceptional meal...
coconut cream pie to the rescue....it was
heaven on a plate.

Pre-dinner time antics...Sherlock doing his 

whirls and Merlot flinging his plushie!

I cut Merlot some slack on his first day back at

fun games...face planting is so much more fun than

waiting patiently on the trampoline for your turn.

Cooper and Spicy were the best at holding a 
pose for a photo...this moment wishing everyone
Happy Easter was captured, April 2021.