Canada Day

 Our Provincial Conservative Member of Parliament's office delivered a Canadian flag sign to us yesterday, which we will proudly display over the Canada Day weekend.

Being a proud flag flying Canadian is a bit of a challenge these days.  If it's not hateful protesters co-opting our flag, it's Trudeau's Liberals ignoring the Chinese government's intrusion into our society.

Justin's dad, Pierre, admired the communist government of China and he tried to be a dictator as well.  Justin has been bought out by his dad's Chinese friends and, as a result, they now have "police stations" in our country to prey on their ex citizens and they also try to bend our elections the Liberal way.

And he won't do anything about it because it helps him politically and helps his foundation monetarily.

Pierre Poilievre is not the nicest guy in the world, but I think that we need him to win at least one term to turn this thing around and bring some pride back into our democracy.

Please pardon the lecture, but my country is in trouble and something needs to change.  Happy Canada Day weekend.

Fun Time

 Two very important shoutouts to Liz Knapp today:

First, very best wishes on your birthday.  Enjoy!

And, second, condolences for the extra time you have had to spend with Al while his leg recovers from the accident.  I think we should give you recognition in our "ride with Al" challenge at the golf course!

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Cut grass at the greenhouse for an hour and a half, but didn't do any digging due to the air quality advisory.  Sure was a grey escarpment!

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And, finally, recognition of my daughter Barbara's sense of humour for the Father's Day gift I just received.

Thanks Barbara!

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Stay well and laugh a lot.

Fixing Things

A very happy birthday wish goes out to Judy Rivers.  Enjoy your day!

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Similar to the way I try to use "Charlie Brown" trees and shrubs around the greenhouse property, Mardi looks for plants at the greenhouse that don't quite live up to their standard to sell.

This balcony treatment is a good example.  Some pruning and care and voila!

Mardi's comment was "It doesn't take much to make me happy".  Kind of explains why I've lasted so long😁!

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A rainy day so my chance to three-peat as a Quoits champion at Gary Parker's was postponed and we were stuck indoors.  Turned out to be convenient because we needed a visit from the HVAC guy.  We had a water leakage issue on the balcony from the unit.  

Turned out to be just a loose hose connection.

During the repair, Mardi commented that the ladies in the pool rave about Wayne.  We had a humorous conversation regarding what his wife would think about that.  Great guy!

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That's it for today.

Stay well.

Kitchen Utensils

First off, a shoutout to daughter Kathryn who is celebrating a birthday today.  Hope you have had a wonderful day!

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The following is sort of an addition to my response to Barry's question about my survival skills when Mardi was away.  I am confessing only because my loving partner has threatened to "out" me if I don't.

 While Mardi was away I couldn't find the can opener - you know, the thing that clamps onto a can lid and then you turn the handle to remove the lid.  I looked in every drawer, unsuccessfully.

When Mardi returned, I was stupid enough to ask where it was 😕.  She pointed out that we have an electric can opener (which I have previously used) and it is kept in the cupboard that I built and wired for it and our other electrical appliances.

So, my conclusion is that this is not due to my lack of kitchen expertise, but it is simply an early sign of my dementia 😇.  What a relief!

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Ewen and Tyler have started putting the first Garden Mum planters in the field and inserting drip lines.  Thousands more to go - our September sales crop.

I need to also acknowledge that Ewen and Tyler are my rescue team when I get the mower stuck and things like that.  Great young men, eager to help!

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My project today was spreading broken bags of soil between the driveway and the pond.  Someday, this driveway will be the route to Sue's and David's dream home, so let's make it look nice.

Weather permitting, this will be completed tomorrow or Sunday.

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And finally, having tired of my kitchen duties, I decided to take my lover out for dinner.  The local Thai restaurant has changed hands again, and a nice young man and his mother are running it as the Thai Diner.  This will be our "go to" place for the next while to help them be successful.  Food was excellent!

Stay well.

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Golf and Gardening

 I'm "batching it" for a few days.  My sweetie has gone to Sauble  Beach to spend some time with the girls.  In the process, my farm truck got its semi-annual vacuuming.  Thanks babe!

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Weeded a few more gardens today.  I did finish the Trillium garden the other day.  Looks better now............

..........................but!  Those innocent looking green plants around the circumference of the centre.........

.......are pumpkin vines.  Enjoy the look of the Trillium for now, because it will be obliterated in the coming weeks!

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Had my telephone "appointment" with the heart doctor this morning.  To update my family, and with due warning to my golf buddies, I will be getting a stent inserted sometime next month.

And, sometime over the summer I will be having cataracts in both eyes removed, so I'll miss a bit of golf and gardening while all of that is going on.

More time for drinking I guess.  There's always a silver lining!

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Stay well.

Gardens and Gore

 Did some gardening at the greenhouse today.

First off, I planted some "Charlie Brown" (deemed not up to standards for our customers) Red Star Cordyline Spikes.  With some care I think they'll look OK.

Next up, I started to clean up the Trillium planting.

Got one "petal" done before my body told me to sit on the mower and cut grass for a while.

I'll finish that project tomorrow.

After cutting the grass, I weeded the cactus plants that we have for sale.  You would think that those big spikes would be dangerous, but as Monica and I have discovered, it's the tiny brown hairs that are the vicious ones!  Thus I used pliers to weed them.

Those plants won't bloom this year, but the ones in the greenhouse's front garden are close to putting on a show.  Dozens of florets that can hardly wait to flower.

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Mardi and I attended "Brock & Sophia" at the Stoney Creek Battlefield tonight.  How General Brock found love in the quest to save Canada.  It was an intimate setting in the historic Jackson house.

It covers the period from July of 1811 to Brock's victory at Fort Detroit and his death at Queenston Heights in October of 1812.

The romantic relationship may not have happened, but it was used to examine the tragic realities of our treatment of women and of the First Nations against whom we have committed genocide.  Without the support of Tecumseh in the war, we would have lost to the Americans and today we'd be Democrats trying to prevent the reelection of Donald Trump as our President.

A really good show put on by a talented cast.

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Stay well.

Highs And Lows

 My activities at the greenhouse are not always evident, but on occasion they do show well, as these geraniums demonstrate..........

..........and then there are other times.........

...when rotten skids are a pain in you know where.

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Speaking of pain, the Blue Jays got wiped again tonight by the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles.  Sad to watch.

Stay well.

Anniversary

Nothing exciting happened today, but.........nineteen years ago is a different story!

 Happy 19th anniversary to our special friends, Maureen and Matt.  

Stay well.

 

A New Canadian Hero

 Blue Jays had a surprising comeback win today against the Minnesota Twins, but............

.............the biggest news of the day was the 72 foot putt that Nick Taylor sunk on the 4th playoff hole to win the Canadian Open, first time a Canadian won the Open in 69 years!

Absolutely awesome!

Stay well.

War Stories

 Had our HVAC system repaired/rebuilt the other day.  The guy who did it had been recommended by other residents - good advice!

He suggested taking the old unit out completely and cleaning it outside before making the required repairs.  Mardi found the original warranty after the HVAC was removed - 48 years old, so a lot of grime had accumulated.

So out it went, and came back as good as new (at least for a few years I hope).

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Speaking of old bodies, I have a telephone appointment with my heart doctor next week, so I'll find out what needs to be rebuilt there too.  Can't be too serious if it only needs to be shared on the 'phone over two weeks after my stress test!

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Greg has been staying with us for a couple of days, and tonight, Mardi and I attended a get-together of Greg's old military buddies at the Power House Restaurant.

Lots of old stories of their good and bad times together.  An entertaining night!  Special friends whose love for one another was very obvious.

Greg leaves for B.C. very early in the morning.  Mom will deliver him to the airport.

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Blue Jays lost their second game in a row to the Minnesota Twins tonight.  Maybe it's the Toronto air that negatively affects Toronto sports teams!

Stay well.

Happy Birthdays

 Two important family birthdays today.  My niece Robin (Judy's daughter) and my daughter Jo-Ann.  Best wishes to both!

Sue and David hosted a birthday party for Jo-Ann tonight, inviting her parents, sisters, nieces and nephews.

Jo-Ann appeared to have a good time.

At least I think that she did....

She and Barbara are in town for a week, so we'll get to see them again, including tomorrow night for a game of cards or dice.  Looking forward to it.

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Blue Jays lost a stinker to the Astros tonight.  Pitcher Alex Manoah needs a break and should be sent down to Triple A for a reload.

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Speaking of reloads, my golf game took a step backward today.  I should be sent down, but the local mini golf won't take me.

Tomorrow is another day.  Stay well. 

Oh Canada

 After Mardi returned from church this morning we headed to Battlefield Park for the 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek reenactment.  The park was filled with tents and reenactors.

There were various vendor tents as well, such as the doctor's tent that this sign was posted outside.

Mardi and Monica were both in attendance and considered applying for the post.  Unfortunately, the "sober" reference killed their 

chances😢.

Marching into duty.

And beginning the battle.

Small cannons were lethal in the war, with each shot capable of taking out several soldiers.

Lots of noise and smoke!

According to the lady holding the gun, this weapon is 1813 vintage!

There are at least four reasons to be thankful that we were able to chase the Americans across the border 110 years ago:

1) We now live, on average, five years longer than they do, thanks to our health care system and our gun laws.

2) We don't have to live with loaded guns hidden around the house.

3) Ron De Santis can't bus homeless Central American immigrants to our hinterlands.

4) Although we have a spoiled frat boy for a Prime Minister, that's better than having a complete criminal who thinks he's still President.

All in all, we have a monument of which we can be proud!

And the Optimist Club appears to have found a new partner for our fundraising efforts.  Thank you Pizza Pizza!  And thank you to the three student volunteers (the two young ladies in the background and a young man who was on an errand) who helped us this weekend.

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And, the Blue Jays swept their three games with the Mets.  A good day indeed.

Stay well.