Hockey Time

 So, yesterday David attended a Winnipeg Jets game with eighteen thousand friends.  Today I attended a Cayuga Stars game with a couple of hundred friends (David's obviously more likeable than me!)

Watched Lincoln Brownell's team go down to defeat at the hands of the Glancaster Rangers.  But Lincoln put up a good fight.

He was taken down in front of the net trying to prevent a goal.

I'd forgotten how much fun it is to watch tyke hockey.  It's been a few years - my grandkids are all past that stage now, and I have a bit of a wait before Great Granddaughter Rowan takes up the game.

Of course there is another side to hockey.  Nice to see this banner in the arena.  

I remember breaking up a fight in the stands at one of David's games.  Parents can get stupid sometimes.

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Tomorrow Greg is coming to dinner.  Looking forward to the visit.

Stay well.

Date Night

 Mardi and I visited the Canadian Military Heritage Museum in Brantford today.  

Very interesting place!  Exhibits are well done and very moving. 

 Ended up with a wet face a couple of times, reading letters to home, etc.

Next, I took my date to one of our favourite dining spots, the Banana Leaf Asian Cuisine.

Tom, our host, is of Chinese descent, born in Vietnam.  He worked as an interpreter in Hong Kong before emigrating to Canada.  Speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese and English.  Wants to learn French.  Makes you feel inadequate!

No more than half a dozen people at either place.  Very comfortable.  I'm still not quite ready to attend crowded events.

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Stay safe.  Stay well.

At The Greenhouse

 The current planting project at the greenhouse is 15,000 Boston Fern baskets.

Not too impressive now, but they will be overflowing by spring.  And yes, you will get the pick of the crop Monica!

Meanwhile, I'm still removing sod from around the trees.

And relocating it to help resolve a drainage issue at the back of the field.

Assuming that I finally get all of the gardens around the trees under control, the next step will be to fill in a couple of major holes.

David determined that the reason that the shipping dock kept flooding was that the drainage down front was plugged up and the water kept backing up.  So he had one of the lads dig down to the drainage tile and then had it blown out.  Hopefully this will solve the issue.

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Stay well.

Lest We Forget

 We watched the CBC presentation of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.  Well done, and nice to see a strong Indigenous presence.

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While we're on the subject of Remembrance Day, perhaps we can also spend a moment thinking about the plight of our Japanese citizens during the Second World War.  Families were split up, they were taken from their homes and sent to Concentration Camps, their homes, cars and possessions were confiscated and sold by the Canadian government, and when it was all over they were given (over 40 years later) $21,000 each for the pain and suffering they went through (and still are, for those alive and now in nursing homes).

A modern day corollary for that is the attacks on innocent Chinese citizens after the so-called Wuhan virus found its way to North America.  Unfortunately, stupidity and hatred are common human attributes.

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Last night Mardi and I attended our Optimist Meeting at the Optimist Hall - first time in the building in 23 months for us.  Even though the Club raised the funds and had the building built, because it is on municipal land (at Little League Park) we weren't allowed inside during the pandemic.

After dinner and the business part of the meeting we played Bingo, with an online game.

We found out that the recent Fall Fair had raised $1,600 for our projects and bursaries, etc.  Thanks in particular to David and Trillium Hill for donating pumpkins and straw bales, which made the event a success.

The Club is now working on two projects.  The first is the sale of Poinsettias, but they've set the price too high, asking $15 for a six inch pot.  The big box stores are likely going to be in the $10 range for that size.  So, with the likelihood of failure there, Mardi and I are going to concentrate on the other project - the Turkey Roll.

You remember that one!  Many of you participated and because of your help last year, Mardi and I brought in the most money for the project. 

Circles on the cards remain at $3.00 each, or 7 for $20.00.  Let Mardi or me know if you would like to participate.

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Got some more gardening done today.  Should be able to do some more tomorrow, but after that the weather will become an issue.

Stay well.

REMEMBER

 Apparently Anna and I won at cards last night after all.  I get so used to being a loser at cards when playing against Mardi that I missed the applause.

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Another beautiful day.  More gardening.

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Don't forget to take time tomorrow to remember our veterans.

Stoney Creek will not have a ceremony again this year due to Covid.  So Mardi and I will be watching the CBC instead.

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Stay thankful.  Stay well.

Leftovers

 When David closed the garden centre he had some perennials left over.  So I grabbed several Torch Lilies for one of the gardens up front.

They grow 3 to 4 feet high.  That should put the flower heads just about the level of the Hydrangea tree, hiding the trunk.  Should make an interesting and, hopefully, spectacular sight!

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Kathryn and Anna joined us tonight for dinner and cards.  Anna and I lost - again!

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Tomorrow night Mardi and I head out for our first meeting in the Optimist Hall in two years.  It will be good to get back in our volunteer digs.

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Stay well.

Confused

Beautiful weather today.  Got another garden under control.

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Today is Indigenous Veterans Remembrance Day, and I have mixed emotions.

While I can understand why they would want special recognition for their sacrifices, it seem to me that this just emphasizes the "us versus them" narrative.  Will they not be part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies?  Or do they want to be remembered twice?

I will honour Remembrance Day on the 11th, thinking about all veterans, including Barbara's and Jo-Ann's native grandfather.  May those who made the ultimate sacrifice rest in peace.

Stoney Creek, due to the coronavirus, will once again not have a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph.  So Mardi and I will make do with watching the tribute on CBC.

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Stay well.