Frogs and Forges

 Weeded at the greenhouse for a couple of hours before the humidity drove me to quit.  But, while I was there, David uncovered a couple of frogs that had been living in a wet spot under a soil skid.

He released them into the pond out back.  They'll either thrive, or be eaten alive by the small mouth bass that live back there.  Mother Nature will decide.

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Mardi and I attended at Winterberry Clinic today - our last visit related to the RSV vaccine trial we have been in for the past couple of years.  A bit of a surprise when we were told whether we were given the vaccine or a placebo.  I had assumed that I got the vaccine and Mardi got the placebo, because she had a bout of RSV this year and I did not.

But, apparently we both got the vaccine.  Not sure what that says about the efficacy of the vaccine.

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Tonight, Greg treated us to a Hamilton Forge FC soccer game.

As you can see, I got my Tiger-Cat hat back after the Peach Festival.  Seemed like the right thing to wear tonight.

The fans in our corner were loud all night, and colourful at times.

Not really a fan of soccer, but I have to admit that they're amazing athletes.  An enjoyable evening.  Thanks Greg.

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Stay well.

Greg Is Here

 Golfed (an unusual term for what I do) today.  Nice weather.  Too bad about the wasted time.

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After an eight day motorcycle trip across the country, visiting friends along the way, Mardi's son Greg arrived here today.  On his anniversary!  Sorry Angela.

Tonight we headed to 447 Wing in Mount Hope......

 ...........to meet some of his friends, and Aunt Diane and Uncle Greg.

He'll be with us for a couple of days before heading to Petawawa for his next posting.

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Stay well.

Proud Grandpa Reprise

 As you are aware, I have often extolled the accomplishments and virtues of my grandchildren, Yancy, Sean, Kyle, Anna, Malcolm, Sarah-Jean and Ewen.  Yesterday it was Malcolm's turn again.

Today, I am commending Anna for her accomplishments.  At age 28, she has become a self-made millionaire, thanks to her computer game business.  Awesome!!  Lots of dedicated work that has paid off.  Well done Anna.  Your Mom and I are pretty proud!

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Spent this morning hand casting Weed and Feed on the front and side lawns.  Couldn't use a spreader due to the danger of spreading on the many gardens.  So, lots of walking on a hot day.

Tomorrow, presuming no rain overnight, I will water it in.

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The Blue Jays lost tonight after winning five in a row, but it's still fun to watch the new kids play the game.

Stay well.

Proud Grandpa

 Mardi's brother Greg, and Diane, are celebrating their 36th anniversary today.  Congratulations!

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And kudos to grandson Malcolm Davis Scott Craig, who has received his Engineer's license.

Well done Malcolm!

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Golfed today.  Not too much to talk about there.

But we enjoyed the after golf conflab.  Thanks for the Frings and the beer David.

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Tomorrow it's back to the greenhouse.

Stay well.

Stories

 First of all, a postscript to Al's birthday yesterday.  Barry mentioned Jim dePass and then, coincidentally, Mardi saw Jim yesterday at the Peach Festival!

But!! when they were talking, he didn't mention your birthday Al.  So you'd better check with Barry and find out what the story is.

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I dropped Mardi and Pat off at the Peach Festival again today.  They've put in three shifts on behalf of the Optimist Club.  Well done ladies!

By the way, Mardi needed some extra hats in case the students came without.  Must wear a hat when handling food.  So, I let her take my Hamilton Tiger-Cats hat.  Don't need that anymore!

Then I headed to the greenhouse to cut grass.  I talked Sean into letting me borrow Mateo, a nice young man who has been working weekends at the greenhouse.  And Mateo willingly took on the digging that I had to abort due to a sore back and leg.  He filled the wagon three times with sod, which I used to build up a space back by the rink.

He did a fine job.  I'll have to beg Sean for his help again next weekend.

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Blue Jays won again today.  This is fun!

Stay well.

Peachy

 Today is the birthday of Al Knapp (makes you wonder what the creator had in mind that day, doesn't it?).  All the best my friend.  And Liz, you have our sympathy!

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This weekend is a big event for the Optimist Club as we man our booth at the Peach Festival.  This is our biggest money maker, supporting most of our charitable activities.  

Lots of volunteer workers, such as Mardi and our friend Pat, and one of the many great student volunteers, Ion.

They were on food detail.  I was working the till. 

Beautiful weather and big crowds.  

Should be a big success.

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Since the trade deadline when the Jays shed some of their older players, the games have been fun to watch.  The young guys who were traded for and brought up are making waves!  Lots of exciting hits, and today a no-hitter taken into the ninth inning.

Almost as exciting as watching the U.S. Presidential run since Kamala became the Democrat nominee.  Can't wait to see her and Donald in the debate!

Stay well.

Still Alive

 Best wishes to Jim and Monica on their 53rd wedding anniversary.  Quite a milestone!

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My lady has been busy at the cottage.

And I'm surviving her absence!

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That's it for tonight.  Enjoy the Democrats convention and/or the ball game!

Golf tomorrow.

Stay well.

Is That All There Is?

 It's been quiet the last few days, so no blogging.  Well, quiet but not boring.

Saturday night we headed to the theatre in Port Colborne expecting to see "Mary's Wedding" - that's what the ticket said.  But, what we saw was "Sweet Delilah Swim Club".  Later on, I remembered that we saw Mary's Wedding last month.  Surprised that I even remembered that much 😒😟.

Nevertheless, the show was great.  Five ladies who swam together have a reunion every year.  We were invited to a few of them.  Lots of humour, but also lots of moments that have you thinking about life.  Their final reunion comes when one of them has just died, and another is deep in dementia (did I mention that I have trouble remembering some things?).

In the end, the show reminds you how important friends are in your life.  Certainly mine are!  Thank you friends.

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I've been watching the Snapping Turtle nest every day.  It's almost time for the hatching.

So far, nothing.  But there must have been another nest nearby because the folks at the greenhouse just found this little fellow.

Love Mother Nature!

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In other news, my lover has left me.

Well, for a couple of days.  Mardi is visiting Jo-Anne VanStone at her cottage in the Muskokas.

I'm wasting away.  If you don't hear from me by Thursday night, send help.

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Working on another garden.  Will report when it's done.

Stay well.

Oak Opera

 With the heat and intense humidity, I only lasted an hour today.

But that was long enough to plant my Oak tree.  Four broken bags of soil and one broken bag of mulch and we're done.

The Smoke Bush behind it, which is just starting to bloom, will enjoy its company.

When I rescued that little devil from under a Pine tree this spring it only had three leaves.  If it can maintain its current rate of growth, David's kids won't have to wait 50 years to see it mature!

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Mardi and I are into culture this weekend.  Last night we headed to Dundas to enjoy a classical music concert.

This young lady.........

...will be heading to Europe for an operatic audition tour.  The proceeds from the night will go toward the expenses of her trip.  Awesome voice, but opera singing isn't one of my favourites.

Her husband plays the classical guitar.

We also enjoyed the harp...

......and this cutie on violin.

And a bit of Broadway musicals finished off the evening (apparently, she was singing some unhappy words when I took this picture!).

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Tonight, we're heading to Port Colborne and the Lighthouse Theatre production of Mary's Wedding.  Some lighter comedy to balance off last night's experience.

Stay well.

Nettled

 I've really enjoyed the Jays games the last two nights.  The new young recruits are showing off their talents and the team won both games.  I won't be watching tonight however - early rise for golf tomorrow.

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With the heat and humidity, I only lasted a couple of hours today, but I did accomplish some stuff.

Yesterday, this area...........

..........looked like this one.  I paid a price to the stinging nettles in the process.

And this area.......

..........now looks like this (that's the old Peach King Arena boards in the background).

And I defined a spot for one of my Oak trees.

Baby steps.  Still lots to do.

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Stay well.

A Good Day

 Today is the anniversary of Kayt and Yancy.  And also, Jim Lougheed's birthday.  All the best folks!

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Today was a golf day for our group, with meal included.

In our foursome, David had a birdie, so I got out the birdie juice and some small glasses to toast the event.  You've never seen so much hysteria from a group of guys, who claimed that Mardi's Sambuca had poisoned them.  I have to admit that it was a bit fiery 😳😣  - maybe that's why we avoided having another birdie after that one.  Playing it safe!

But it was a good day with good friends.

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Staying up late to watch the Blue Jays play in Los Angeles, so I'll post this in case they put me to sleep.

Stay well.

Birds and Hammers

 The Swallows were out in force on the weekend, so I did my Pied Piper routine.  They swooped around me as I cut the grass and stirred up insects for their meal.

Who has more fun than an old guy who loves nature?  Sorry, but no Swallows in the picture - they're too small, athletic and fast.

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Summer McIntosh and Ethan Katzberg were given the honour of carrying the Canadian flag as the Olympics ended.  Well deserved!

But, it might have been more appropriate for these gender equity games if Camryn Rogers was with Ethan.  Both won gold in the Hammer Throw, something that never seemed to be in the cards for Canada.  How symbolic would that have been?

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Stay well.

She's Three!

 A big happy birthday wish goes out to great granddaughter Rowan as Yancy and Kayt help her celebrate her third birthday.

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Did some weeding and grass cutting today.  Noticed a flock of Turkey Vultures circling and landing in the back field so I went to have a look.  They were savouring a dead skunk.  Bon Appetit boys and girls!

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Break dancing at the Olympics!  It won't be in the next ones, but........quite a display!  And a Canadian win!

More of the same tomorrow...grass, weeds, Blue Jays (they lost 1-0 today) and Olympics.

Stay well.

Back From The Missing

Between my Covid hiatus and the hot, humid and wet weather we've experienced, life lately has been pretty boring.  So I've been a bit quiet (a situation some might relish) on the blogging front.  

But, yesterday was a good day, and, after a three month absence due to back and knee problems, Matt rejoined our golf group.

John has been filling in for Matt during his absence and we thought that we would really miss John today.  But, as it turned out, not so much!

Thank you for the cookies Maureen!

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Today, the first highlight was a haircut by my personal barber.  Followed by a Quiche that she made for lunch.  As I've stated before, I'm a lucky man!

Today's second highlight was booking a week of timeshare in Myrtle Beach for early October.  Ed (the matchmaker) and Rose will be joining us.  We will have lots of fun on the beach - and at the bar!

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Back to watching the Olympics and glad to see Andre de Grasse anchor the Canadian men to gold in the 400 medley.  A positive finish for him after a couple of disappointing events.

And who knew that Canada was a powerhouse in the Hammer Throw?  Men and women of the world, look out!

Stay well.

Olympics Ups and Downs

One of the "benefits" of Covid has been that I've been able to watch more of the Olympics.  The athletes are incredible, but two of them deserve special admiration in my mind.

Eleanor Harvey, the fencer, is one of them.  Her mother sold their house to help fund her training costs, they moved in with grandma and her grandmother slept on the couch so that Eleanor could have her own bed (it's not just the athletes that are incredible).

Felix Dolci, the gymnast is another.  The young man won Pan American gold and was on his way to a medal in Paris when a strap broke, sending him crashing to the floor during his spectacular horizontal high bar performance.  He got up and tried again, but another equipment failure occurred.  Nevertheless, he remounted and finished the routine.  Afterwards he talked about how he would do better next time.  Four more years!

I'm stubborn and determined at times, but their level of commitment is well beyond anything that I can comprehend.

You can admire the tennis players and golfers, but they are well paid athletes.  It's these kids who are really special!

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On the down side is Damian Warner's failed attempt to duplicate his gold medal performance at the last Olympics.  Unfortunately, age has caught up to him.  But, well done.

And the Women's Soccer team, after a valiant and successful effort to overcome their six point penalty for the spying scandal, lost out in the quarter finals.  Sad, but probably fair - I assume that the team knew about their coaches cheating.

Let's clean up the mess and do better next time. 

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Feeling much better today.  I'll test again tomorrow and see how we're doing.

Stay well.

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