Golden beets and Summer cherries

Happy Sunday everyone! It's a cloudy morning, comfortable temperature although I am wearing "une p'tite laine" as my mom used to call it....a light sweater. We're on the deck and continue to enjoy these precious Summer moments. 

This past week was good although we found ourselves glued to the news as the Canada-US negotiations seemed to change by the hour. It was hard not to feel invested given how much is at stake. In the end, the negotiations broke off. As was said time and time again by many, no deal is better than a bad deal. Whatever one's politics, I have to admit that we felt proud watching Prime Minister Carney stand his ground. 

Other than watching politics, we didn't do much. It was an ordinary week and it was nice. One night for dinner, I roasted some golden beets that I got at our local outdoor market. They are our favourite, especially at this time of year. I also bought some cherries from the Okanagan Valley. We are obsessed with them. So very good 🍒 That's what I find comfortable about this change of season...the Fall bounty and its abundance. Simple gifts that nourish more than our bodies. Good for the table, good for the soul.

Our boys are doing good and are desperately trying to catch squirrels. No luck so far but they come close more often than not. It's exhausting to watch LOL! On the training front, I've been working on trying to slow Merlot down a bit when running a course which means learning to manage my own excitement. Giving him a quieter clue settles him down somewhat.

Yesterday was Family and Pet Day at Edgewater Park in Pointe-Claire. We didn't know until we got there. It gave our boys a chance to walk with tons of distractions around them. They did quite well although at times it was a bit too much so we drifted away from the crowd.

This is the last full week of August. How did that happen? I hope everyone is enjoying the last bit of Summer vacation before school resumes. In Quebec, some kids go back to school tomorrow. Yikes! Have a great week everyone!

BIG smiles from both of the boys as
they patrol the yard.

A leisurely moment on the deck
with the soft glow of the late 
afternoon sun on the Japanese
maple.

It is face time...Merlot is such a 
joyful free spirit.

A face that says it all with one 
glance...Sherlock is very expressive.

A little training with sit /down stay at a distance 

and then a bolt to reward.

Squirrel alert...these guys want the backyard

to be a squirrel free zone.

Merlot on the course...watch his pace...he has

slowed it down a touch.

Sherlock is always consistent and deliberate

in his approach to the course.

What more could you ask for ... a chin on your 

knee and a tail wagging...perfect.

Cooper and Spicy...stuck on each other as they
had an afternoon nap - August 10, 2018.

44 days to go!

Happy Sunday everyone! There is something about mid-August that makes me want to slow down and soak it all in. The days are still warm but the mornings are starting to carry that little hint of Fall. I'm not ready to let Summer go so I will happily throw on another layer, which is what I did this morning. That warm fleece came out of the closet and I'm enjoying the quiet outdoors. It's 15 Celsius, not bad at all but the air feels fresh. 

This brings me to Summer slowly giving way to, not only cozy mornings, but to hockey season. Just 44 days to go until the puck drops on another HABS season and the excitement is building. I'm looking forward to watching every game, following all the story lines and seeing what's in store for the Montreal Canadiens this year. Russell and I also have something special to look forward to...we will be at the Bell Centre on Saturday October 10 to watch the HABS against Detroit. We have secured the same tickets as last year. Can't wait!

This past week was good and somewhat predictable...I spotted Fall Mums at Metro. Same time every year. I couldn't resist and bought one planter for the deck. It adds a nice touch of colour.

The rain that we've had lately has given another boost to our grass. It is green again and growing fast. We are also noticing a lot of morning dew, more than usual. Merlot & Sherlock, of course, don't care and happily wander through the damp grass. By the time they come back inside, their legs are looking a little more than ratty LOL! Morning dew and two happy pooches make for a pretty combination. 

This week, I have another physio appointment and I'm thinking that I might only need a few more.  My hips seem to be responding to the exercises, which I do daily under the watchful eyes of our boys. I know that osteoarthritis doesn't go away but the exercises are helping with the joint stiffness. 

That's my blog for today. I wish you all a great week!

Merlot and Sherlock on watch...
new spot on the patio - same
vigilance!

Merlot and Sherlock watching me exercise, with 
background pillows of Cooper and Spicy 
keeping faithful watch over all of us.
It was a thoughtful gift from Lori.

Sherlock, true to form...my knee 
makes an excellent spot to rest
his chin...while Merlot surveys
the yard.

Merlot and his masters slippers...
he always seems to find a comfortable
spot to rest near to us.

Nothing better than rolling in the fresh scent of

newly mowed grass...Sherlock loves this!

...and the games continue, a morning ritual.

A cardinal and finch enjoying the Summer.

Just like the ebony and ivory of the keyboard,
Cooper and Spicy joyfully sat at the piano at
Edgewater Park, August 19th, 2022.

A soggy morning

Another Sunday has arrived and it's a soggy one although the sun is supposed to make an appearance later. We're sitting on the deck now, wrapped in the quiet of the morning with hardly a sound or a breeze stirring around us. That's what I like about Sundays....the stillness and the feeling of having nowhere to rush to. 

This past week was good and particularly special as I got to visit a beautiful litter of puppies. It made the moment even more meaningful knowing that our sweet Merlot is their proud daddy. Watching those tiny paws explore the world, seeing their little personalities starting to shine and knowing they carry a little piece of Merlot was incredibly heartwarming. I can't wait to watch Monet, Picasso and Van Gogh continue to grow. Elevage Amyla, you make beautiful puppies 💖

Our boys are doing well. I bought another set of cavaletti poles to add to their fun. I quite like mixing the poles with the cones. It adds a new element of amusement while keeping their minds and bodies busy. They each have their own way of tackling the course. Merlot charges through with enthusiasm, quick feet and very little time for overthinking. Sherlock has a more deliberate approach, carefully placing each paw as if there is a serious strategy involved. Different styles but the same results..and most importantly, they both have the same amount of fun.

Russell and I got some yard work done. I weeded, we cut the grass. Soon time for trimming back some perennials. We seeded another area of our yard and fenced it in as it's a high traffic zone for the boys. We'll see what happens.

Before ending this blog, I want to send our thoughts to the residents of British Columbia who are dealing with the worst fires ever. The province is under a state of emergency. We hope these fires get under control soon.

I leave you with some photos and videos taken last week. There is a bit of a chair theme going on, matching the memory photo of Cooper & Spicy. It was not intentional, it just happened that way 😊 

Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock has some unique ways to
rest his chin...ah this table works,
while sharing the chair with Merlot.

Merlot likes to perch on the Muskoka 
chair.

A table and the arm of the chair...
another spot to rest his chin...
Sherlock is unique!

Cute little Monet in her playpen just chilling.

Don't blink or you will miss the speedy one 

running the maze...way to go Merlot.

Mr. Deliberate - Sherlock takes it steady and 

carefully as he clears the maze course.

Mona and her pups....too cute.

Three darlings...all developing very well and

with Merlot's colouration.

Two on a chair with room to rest a chin...
Cooper and Spicy were like salt and pepper..
always together, August 1, 2021.

Hello August

Happy Sunday everyone! It's 6:30 am, we're on the deck and it's very muggy. The sky is looking a bit angry. Rain and thunderstorms are on the menu for today. 

There is something about the beginning of August that feels different. The mornings are a little darker now. If you're up early like us, you can sense that quiet hint of the seasons beginning to turn. This morning, we had to turn on the lights outside. Yikes!

Our garden is putting on a nice show. Our perennials are at their peak, overflowing with colour. The bees are busy going from bloom to bloom. Everything is full and abundant. For us, August is a month that invites us to slow down a little...to linger over a cup of coffee on the deck and soak up every warm, sun-filled day before Summer gives way to Autumn. Thankfully, we should have another three months of deck weather to savour. 

Our crabapple tree is going through its normal cycle at this time of year, mostly due to a fungus that seems to be affecting all the crabapple trees in the neighbourhood. It causes olive-brown spots on the leaves, then yellowing followed by early leaf drop by early August. We find ourselves raking them or the pooches bring them in the house. 

Merlot & Sherlock are doing well. It seems they have moved on from their fascination with the Brown-headed Cowbirds and have returned to their favourite pastime - squirrel chasing. Those little critters have made their way back to the crabapple tree trying to get the fruit. Yesterday, the boys must have burned a zillion calories just trying to catch a squirrel! 

Russell is doing good. He still keeps busy by being an "agitator" with the City of Beaconsfield. No doubt a few people at City Hall see him coming and think "here we go again" LOL! 

That's my blog for this first Sunday of August. We're having our family over for lunch today. It will be nice to get together. Have a great week everyone!

Sherlock and Merlot pause for a brief
moment during our walk at the 
Edgewater Park.

Sherlock is almost very relaxed
while on watch!

...now Merlot knows how to relax
while on squirrel watch!

Merlot and Sherlock believe our 
furniture is their furniture...here 
Merlot is enjoying the patio table.

Sherlock looking a little messy in the 
TV room after digging up the blanket.

 

Release the hounds...

The great escape...squirrel style...with the boys

in hot pursuit.

Always time for a little sumo-style 

wrestling.

A vista of blossoms....

Cooper and his bestie Spicy,
chilling on the patio...this 
moment, August 15th, 2019.