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.

Last day in paradise

Happy Sunday everyone! This is our last full day in Barbados, we fly home tomorrow. The past 12 days have flown so quickly, it's unreal. 

Here's a small recap since my last blog. Our week started a little on the slow side. Russell came down with a bug of some kind which lasted 24 hours. We're not sure what caused it. Ginger/lemon tea and bland food for a couple of days did the trick then he was back to his old self. 

We haven't done much since we got here other than relax completely. Yesterday, I finished the 963 page book that I started just before leaving, Southern Man by Greg Iles. What a book, what a story, very in tune with the world that we currently live in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect vacation book.

We've been eating well, lots of fish. We went to a number of our favorite restaurants, Tapas and Champers. Last night, we went to Tides on the west coast and it was a huge disappointment. We had been twice before in past trips and really liked it but this time around, it didn't do it for us. The vibe and the food just weren't there. 

There are two cats that roam around the hotel. One of them reminds us of Sherlock 😂 only because she likes to stay close to people, most likely hoping to get some food. She doesn't beg, she simply lies down on the ground and pretends to sleep. We named her "mooch" although her name is Maxime. I am not a cat person at all but I do find "mooch" a little endearing. 

We will be going home with a nice glow and a good dose of vitamin D. We look forward to seeing Merlot and Sherlock again. We miss them a whole lot. We've been showing their photos to anyone who's interested LOL! We will pick them up Tuesday morning. No doubt they will be over the moon happy to see us 💕

Our routine will resume and so will watching hockey, starting with a game on Tuesday night. Thanks again Linda for keeping me in the loop with the play by play updates. Our Habs are doing so well, hoping to get that playoff spot. Then, on Wednesday, if all goes according to plan,  Artemis 2 moon mission will launch at 6:24 EDT. I will be glued to the NASA live TV all day!

That's my blog for this last Sunday of March. As we're about to say "au revoir" to Barbados, we're also saying "see you next year". We have booked our return for March 2027. Have a great week everyone! 

Panorama view from our balcony at sunrise!

A long view of the Dover Beach, 
end to end it is about 1.6 kms long.

Sunsets rarely disappoint and this one was
spectacular!

Here I am having a swinging good
time, with the waves crashing
behind me.

Can there ever be too many sunsets...
like snow flakes, no two sunsets are the same!

Sunrise from our balcony!

Two fishermen, wonder what they'll be having for 

dinner...a daily appearance on Dover Beach.

The All Star Barbados steel band, they are all

aging well and never fail to entertain.

Bajan vibes

Happy Sunday from beautiful Barbados! It's 6 am, we've been up for an hour, just like back home. It will be another sunny, hot and windy day although we are now having a little bit of rain. Liquid sunshine as we call it. 

Our journey to Barbados went very smoothly. We arrived last Wednesday and received a huge "welcome back" from the staff that we have gotten to know over the years. Hugs and big handshakes were plentiful. We had requested our favorite room and we got it. Our last visit to Southern Palms was in 2022. It feels good to be back.

We've been putting our steps in, walking up and down Dover beach. The sea has been a little rough with a red flag warning not to swim in a section of the beach. It's great for those who like to surf though. 

We've been eating well. The food at our hotel is delicious, especially the grilled Mahi-Mahi. We had dinner at Mimosa on Friday, it was also good. On Tuesday, we will be going to one of our favorite restaurants, Tides, on the west coast. Then on Thursday, we're going to Champers, another favorite of ours. 

It goes without saying that we miss our boys. We hear they are doing well. It looks like there is snow again back home. Hopefully this is the last of it. 

Although I haven't been watching hockey, I've been following each game thanks to my friend Linda who's been sending me the play by play by messenger. A few quick peeks at my phone to check out the score...can't help myself. What a win last night! 

Today is the famous Sunday Pie Lunch at our hotel...chicken pot pie, macaroni pie, shepherds pie...you get the idea. It attracts so many locals. There will also be a steel band playing. It will be fun and very Bajan.

That's my blog for today. Our photos are simple....sunrise and sunset landscapes. No two sunrises or sunsets are ever the same, yet each one feels like it belongs perfectly to that moment.  Have a great week everyone!

If you have ever watched the Simpsons...
you would know these clouds as puffy
Simpsons clouds.

A warm radiant sunset as seen from our balcony 

Pastel skies painted by the setting sun
and a lonely palm tree.

Magical colours and waves to match.

Me deep in thought; how are the boys doing,
what to eat, will the Habs win, oh and
where is Russell?

A lovely evening at Mimosa restaurant, 

seaside with Russell.

Early morning views from the balcony of

 our room at Southern Palms.

Counting down to island time

Happy Sunday everyone! We're half way through the month already. How did that happen! 

This past week brought a mix of crazy weather. We started the week with mild temps and gorgeous sunshine. We had great walks by the lake and it was especially nice to walk on grass. Then the ice storm hit us on Thursday, although it did not seem as bad as predicted. Since we had so much grass showing in the backyard, it made it easier to maneuver through the ice build up. 

Yesterday morning, we woke up to about 5 cm of wet, sticky snow. We immediately decided to put the slush suits on Merlot & Sherlock. It was a wise decision. They literally spent a whole five minutes chasing each other before they even got their first pee done LOL!  Watching those two crazy puppies play in the snow is pure joy 💕 Despite the heavy snow, Russell was able to use the snow shovel on the patio and I put my snowshoes to work to pack down the rest of the doggie yard.

Russell and I are officially counting down the sleeps until our trip to Barbados. Last Friday, we both had a pedicure. Despite having had an ice storm the day before, the parking lot was dry so I was able to walk out with my flip flops. When I got home, all the boys wanted to do was lick my freshly painted toes! You gotta love them!

Today is my brother's birthday. He is coming for lunch. It will be nice to see him again. After he leaves, I will get some packing done. Russell is basically packed, I'm nowhere near done. It will all come together, it always does. 

That's my blog for today. The next one will be from beautiful Barbados! I leave you with a few photos and videos taken last week. The one of Merlot & Sherlock with their Barbados caps is now our screensaver on all our devices. They will be in our hearts every day of the trip 💓 Have a great week everyone! 

Bajan dogs on the beach...

Slush suits and snowball paws...did these two 
have fun romping in the sticky wet snow?!

Icicles graced the bird-feeders after
the 'big' ice storm.

Early morning catch me if you can in slush suits 

in the sticky snow...so much fun!

TV time normal moments on the sofa...

Post dinner nap for the boys and their toys 

Cooper and Spicy were dwarfed by
the mounds of snow in the 
backyard, this moment 
captured March 5th, 2023.

 

Spring forward into the light

Happy Sunday everyone! With the clocks moving forward, we are given the gentle promise of longer and brighter days ahead. I love this time of year even if it brings messy and sometimes treacherous outdoor conditions. 

Yesterday morning, we woke up to an inch of water covering our entire patio area. When we took our boys out first thing in the morning, they literally stopped dead in their tracks as if there was nowhere to go. It was actually funny to watch them. They have become quite the puddle jumpers. Throughout the course of the day, the water receded. As a contrast, we woke up this morning to a dry patio and a glazed and icy backyard. Grateful for crampons!

This is our last full week at home before our trip to Barbados. In preparation for this trip, I got one very important thing done.... I started a hard cover book that I bought in May 2024, Southern Man by Greg Iles, one of my favorite authors who passed away last Summer.  It picks up the story from the Natchez Burning Trilogy that I absolutely devoured in 2018. Incidentally, I read part of the trilogy during a trip to Barbados back then . Although I read most of my books on an e-reader, Southern Man is one worth reading on hard copy. I had promised myself I would start it before our trip just to ease into the story. I am 286 pages into it, 677 to go. The storyline resonates deeply with the world we're currently living in.  It will make for such good beach reading. 

We have a busy week coming up with a few appointments here and there. The weather tomorrow and Tuesday is looking beautiful, sunny and quite warm. I might just bring a chair out on the patio and get a head start on my tan LOL!

Russell is doing well and keeps busy with municipal matters that he's dealing with. He calls himself an agitator....he enjoys it immensely. 

I leave you with a few short videos that I took of the boys. They are enjoying their thinking games. I vary them daily and each game is a new challenge.  I also include a cute video of Merlot and his 4 pm routine every night. He spreads out his toys and goes from one to the other. Too funny to watch. While he does that, Sherlock is on my lap waiting for his dinner.

I end this blog by wishing everyone the best of luck in the Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games. Canada has three medals already, well done!  Have a great week everyone and Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible women everywhere!

Ice Ice Baby...the boys are studying their path
forward from the dry patio to the potty zone.

Sherlock and Merlot enjoying a patch of grass
at Edgewater Park last week.

Who needs to buy Swiffer pads when 
you have these two fluff balls.

Sherlock...sound asleep while the Habs play
the Kings! A 4-3 victory for the Habs!

Merlot on lookout duty!

Merlot navigating a new "thinking" course.

Sherlock is a quick study as he finds his way

through the course.

Rituals...Merlot has his and this one is always

at 4PM just before dinner...he gathers his

friends for a toss around.

Two chews to go please, Cooper and Spicy 
always enjoyed their chews and this moment
was captured March 22, 2018.

 

Hello March!

Happy Sunday everyone! We woke up to some cold temps but I see a warm up later this week. Yesterday was quite mild and sunny and it felt like a true Spring day. One morning last week, we were given another sign that Spring is on its way...there was the unmistakable smell of skunk. Yikes 😏

This past week was good and busy. Russell attended the monthly Beaconsfield council meeting and it got very rowdy. It made for an interesting night. I stayed home with the boys and watched CNN. Far more interesting LOL!

On Wednesday, I had an emergency eye appointment as my floaters were bugging me. I've had them for well over 20 years. I got a very extensive eye exam and all is good. I had this vision, no pun intended, that I would not be able to get on a plane due to some eye issues. 

Our boys are doing well. I signed them up for an online fitness program with Fun Fit Canin. The exercises are not complicated but they need to be done correctly and at a slow, controlled pace so the right muscles are properly engaged. My goal is to slow Merlot & Sherlock down when doing any type of training. Both get so excited, especially little Merlot. Sherlock is a bit more calm. They are still very much puppies at heart and such good boys 💕

Our nephews and Julie came over yesterday. They couldn't make it to our Christmas dinner as they were all sick. It was nice to see them again and catch up on life.

Those are my little news for this blog. It is school break this week in Quebec. The weather should cooperate for all outdoor activities. Have a great week everyone!

Merlot and Sherlock in a snow bank...fun times!

No theses are not new seat cushions...a daily
morning routine, pull out the chairs for a place
at the table for Merlot and Sherlock.

Dancing or wrestling...these guys
know how to have fun.

Merlot on the BOSU...good for
balance and coordination.

Sherlock did his thing on the BOSU 
too....excellent balance and topknot!

New snow, new day and more fun times!

Sherlock engaged in a new version of 

the 'thinking game'.

Merlot was up for the challenge of the 

'thinking game' too.

Cooper and Spicy looking like 
the perfect angels that they were,
this moment February 5th, 2022.