Gardens and Grudges

 Spent a couple of hours at the greenhouse today before the humidity drove me home.  Moved a bit of sod, weeded five gardens, and watered the things that I have planted or moved.  Met my targets for the day. despite the weather conditions.

While I was doing that, Greg and his partner took Mardi to the Tiger-Cats/Argos Labour Day matchup where she met a new friend.

Why didn't I go you ask?  Well, let me tell you.  Back in 1972, Chuck Ealey won the Grey Cup for Hamilton.  A great quarterback, but Hamilton traded him in 1974.  So, I didn't renew my season's tickets and I haven't followed the CFL since.

And when Bobby Orr retired, I stopped watching the NHL.   

Do I hold a grudge?  I don't think so - I still watch the Blue Jays even though they traded Hall of Famer Roy Halladay.

And speaking of the Jays, they start their game at 10 p.m. EST tonight so I'll be watching that tomorrow on Blue Jays in 30.

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Elbows up.  Stay well.

War and Peace

 I cut the grass yesterday and worked in the gardens today.  The Swallows have left for the year, but the Killdeer are still here...

...and they don't care how close I get these days.  The kids are grown and almost ready for the flight south.

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David has had the plastic replaced on the greenhouse, a task that is required every few years.  

He has offered the old plastic to the public and today I saw two couples taking advantage of that offer.  Maybe they're going to build a backyard rink.  Lots of old plastic sheeting left if you're interested.

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I totally agree with the folks who want the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Peter Hoegstra, to be declared persona non grata (not welcome in Canada).  He's an arrogant Trump surrogate, part of the Republican plot to take over Canada.

But I also agree with the folks of Newfoundland and Labrador who have invited him to the 9/11 commemoration.  If he has the courage to attend it will be all over the U.S. T.V. networks.  And reminding the Americans of what the Newfoundland folk managed to do in those fraught days may change some minds about what is going on today in our relationship.  And if he doesn't have the courage to attend, that will tell them something as well.

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Greg came to town to speak to the Limeridge Legion about his 36 years of service, inclluding his army time in Cambodia and his air force time in Afghanistan.  He's staying with us over the holiday weekend.  Nice to have him visit.

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Blue Jays lost today leaving them one game short of the playoffs.  But they still have time to get there.  Fingers crossed!

Elbows up.  Stay well.

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.