Cactus and Clowns

The threat and eventual reality of rain kept me away from the greenhouse for the past few days.  So, with a few hours of sun before more rain and thunderstorm threats, I needed to cut the grass today.  Three hours under a high U.V. ray sun, but we're good to go for another three or four days.

When we talk about climate change we think of a warming world and milder winters.  But, August used to be hot and dry.  With climate change it's no longer as hot in August but really wet.  When was the last year that you saw your grass brown in August?

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New lesson learned: when you're on your hands and knees weeding in the garden, remember where the cactus is.  Apparently, I didn't remove all of the barbed hairs.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Canada would come back to the table due to its dependence on the U.S. for security.  But who is threatening us?  Russia is busy with the Ukraine.  The U.S. is the only country trying to take us over.  Seems to me that we have to depend on the European Union for security against our hostile "friend".  Hopefully, Europe would remember our sacrifices on their behalf in the two world wars.

Which makes it all the more important that Canada purchase Gripen jets from Sweden (which would be made in Canada) rather than F-35 jets from the U.S. which could later be remotely disabled by the U.S. if they wanted to.  Why buy jet fighters that would be useless against our invaders?

What a clown!

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My love and I decided to eat out.  Chuck's Roadhouse and a delicious, reasonably priced filet mignon dinner, with a glass of wine of course, made my day.  Mardi chose Honey Siracha Sizzler Chicken which was also delicious.

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Jays lost, maybe the beginning of the end.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

 

Life and Memories

 I dropped the ladies off at the Peach Festival again today. Ada, Pat and Mardi were joined by Carol this time.  Their conversation revolved mostly about Lake Ontario (America).  CNN figures that most of the U.S. folks (all except the Republican political class who are afraid of Trump) agree with Canadians about the name change.

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At the greenhouse I cut grass for about three hours.  Rain in the forecast for the next few days gave me little choice, but it was needed anyway.  

Then I drove to Wendy's for my Junior Bacon Cheeseburg and coffee which I took to the Forty Creek park.  It is a pretty place!

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Did some sod moving until Mardi called for their pickup and got home in time for the Blue Jays game.

They had a marvelous ceremony honouring former catcher, manager and announcer Buck Martinez before the game.

He still has a good head of hair, which his fans certainly admire.

The ceremony brought back a wonderful memory.  We had booked a room in the Skydome Hotel for our mom for her birthday and her cousin joined her, so they could watch the game and enjoy each other's company for a day.

I was on the elevator with mom when the door opened and in walked Buck.  Mom gasped "Buck Martinez" and he smiled and acknowledged her greeting.  A special moment for her and for us.

And tonight the Jays won again.  Nice!

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Victory and Peace

 My first duty this morning was to drive Mardi, Pat and Ada to the Winona Peach Festival.  They are volunteering in the Optimist booth.

Then it was off to the greenhouse for some digging, a bit of grass cutting and moving a bit of sod.  The highlight was the weeding and trimming of the Trillium Hill logo garden.

The two male Yew bushes that make up the H are full, but the female T with the berries is still a bit thin.  But at least you can tell what is intended.

When I stopped for lunch I headed to Wendy's for my usual - Junior Bacon Cheeseburg, Fries and a Senior Coffee, which I took to the Grimsby Peace Garden.

Sat there with a beautiful view of Lake ONTARIO while I ate my lunch.

You know, it seems to me that Canada's portion of Lake Ontario is larger than the U.S. portion, so if anyone has a right to name it then Canada does.

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The Peace Garden is where the U.S. troops fled to when they were chased out of Stoney Creek on June 6, 1813.

Two days later, on June 8, the 3,600 U.S. troops who had fled the 700 British and Canadia troops in Stoney Creek, having been joined by another 400, were fired on by two schooners on Lake Ontario and by a few native warriors who fired on them from the escarpment.  Once again they panicked, left their tents, muskets, flour and wounded compatriots behind and headed for Fort George.  Brave stuff!

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Blue Jays won.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Petulance and Insecurity

Spent a couple of hours digging in the gardens today, but that's not worth talking about.  

How about this?   So, the petulant octogenarian has renamed Lake Ontario (he thinks).  We'll ignore it - who cares?

And Howard Lutnick (the guy who sabotaged the tariff negotiations) is now saying that if they are not allowed to put Trump's name on the Kennedy Centre they may have to tear it down.   Really?

How insecure do you have to be to need your name on everything?

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But you have to have some sympathy for Donald Trump(f).  He is descended from grandfather Friedrich Trumpf, a German draft dodger who ran brothels in Seattle, Washington and in Dawson and Whitehorse, Yukon during the golf rush.  He also made many illegal property deals, as did his son in New York.  So draft dodger grandson Donald's sleazy criminality might be generic - not his fault.

Trump(f) admires autocratic leaders like Putin and Kim Jong Un, and seems to be attempting to emulate guys like Hitler and Stalin with his attempts to take over North and South America (and Greenland).

Make no mistake. we are not just in a trade war.  This is their attempt to destroy our economy and take us over.  His MAGA billionaire buddies are unwavering is this quest.

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OK, let's lighten up a bit.  This cartoon was forwarded to me - thanks Carol.

And there has been another name change!  The Blue Jays are now the Boo Jays.  Sad outcome.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Vote!

 Not much news today.  I spent a couple of hours gardening before my body complained about the heat.

But Mardi and I did a good thing today.  Voted in the advance poll for the Ontario election.  Cast our ballots for Jeff Beattie because he's done a good job as councillor plus he's running for the right party.

I consider us lucky right now because we have Progressive Conservatives running Ontario, and as long as Carney stays in power we effectively have a Progressive Conservative party federally.  The disastrous left wing Trudeaus are history thankfully.

In any event, make sure that you vote.  Pick a person that you think is right for the times we are facing - we need strong representation in the current environment.

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Jays won today.  It's not over yet.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

LakeAmerica

 Lake America.  Sounds like something a ten year would suggest.  Although I suppose a petulant octogenarian might fit the mould too (I should know, from experience).

If he does make the change we'll ignore it, but we could get even.  Ontario has a Trump Lake which we could rename Lake Kiss My Ass (I told you I was experienced).

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The Blue Jays lost again tonight.  Makes their chances of hitting the playoffs pretty slim.  Too bad - it would have been fun knowing that Trump had to watch a Canadian team win the World Series!

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Canada United - Elbows Up

 Special birthday wishes to Al as he achieves 80 years.  Birthday wishes to Grant Maclean as well, but he's much younger.

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I got back in the saddle today, cutting grass.  And the swallows have not yet returned to Capistrano so I got to play the Pied Piper as they swooped around me while the mower stirred up insects for them.  What an enjoyable time!

Tomorrow I start my weeding duties.  It's amazing how big the weeds can get in just two weeks!

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Former U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence was interviewed from the Ukraine yesterday morning by CNN.  He praised the Ukrainians for their resolve and determination to succeed in their war with Russia.

Seems to me that resolve and determination can be attributed to Canadians as well as we fight our economic war with the U.S.  They are trying to break us so they can eventually take us over.  

In the meantime, their 40 trillion dollar debt is climbing dramatically and will eventually bring them down.  They need global financial support to buy their debt and with the way that Trump is treating the world that may not be possible long term.

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There is lots that could be said about the trade war going on at the moment, but my first observation is that Trump may have done Canada a favour by challenging our language protections.  That has definitely brought Quebec onside - their support was a bit in question.  A nice unity moment - the first of many I expect.

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Stay well.