Remembrance Day

I didn't post yesterday so I missed Barb Galina's birthday wishes.  Sorry Barb.  Hope you have a nice dinner with the ladies on Wednesday.

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This morning, Mardi presented a wreath at the War Memorial on behalf of her church, Stoney Creek United.  I couldn't get into a position to take a picture of that event, but I did catch her on her return.  Well done!

When I listed our family connections to the military I forgot to mention Mardi's Uncle Arn and Aunt Kay - Cousin Jill's parents.  He was a second world war air ace who did three tours.  

We've asked Jill for more info about her mom's service and will pass it along.

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I took yesterday off due to the rain.  Took today off due to lack of interest 😎.  But I'll be back to work tomorrow Sean.

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Took my date to Chuck's Roadhouse for steak dinner tonight. 

 Their beef is excellent - the wine and beer are OK too.

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Stay well.

Lest We Forget

 Completed another project this morning.  What used to be here....

.......is now here.

By spring that should look a lot better.

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Tomorrow's forecast calls for a lot of rain and I won't likely have much news for posting.  So, as we approach Remembrance Day, lets celebrate the folks who protect us.

I was named after a great uncle who was a Grenadier Guard.  And I had an uncle who participated in the liberation of Holland from their German nightmare.

Mardi has much closer ties with her son, Warrant Officer Greg Bullivant (on the right), who served in Cambodia and Afghanistan, and grandson Officer Cadet Ethan, soon to graduate from university and become Lieutenant Ethan Bullivant (and outrank his dad!). 

Lest We Forget.

A Late Tribute

 I didn't publish yesterday so I missed recognizing the following:

Birthday greetings to Rose Strecker.  I hope that Ed did something really special for you Rose.

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Spent a bit of time yesterday repairing a couple of benches that I made a few years ago.  The humid conditions in the greenhouse take their toll, even on pressure treated wood.  Replacement is eventually on the horizon.

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We're getting close to Remembrance Day and I thought that it  appropriate to recognize what has been created near the Stoney Creek War Memorial.

Mardi and I will be there Monday morning.  She will be presenting a wreath.

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My current project at the greenhouse is to repair the area where Braden piled up the sod he removed while expanding the circumference of the tree garden.

So far we've gone from this...

to this..........

Tomorrow I hope to have that area covered once again with sod.

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Stay well.

Uncross Your Fingers

 While most of us are dismayed by the election results in the U.S., for Mardi and for me there is a bright side.  If the Democrats had won we would have headed in January to a country where the Republicans where fomenting a civil war.  Since the Republicans won we can count on a sane transfer of power by the Democrats.

It will be an "interesting" time, but presumably non eventful.

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I took a helper bee to the greenhouse today.  Our project was to remove several wagon loads of hay from the rink.

I think that we filled about ten wagon loads.  There may not be ice here this winter, but at least the area will look good.

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I  thought that Kamala's speech today was right on.  She accepted the results of the election but noted that the fight for democracy is not over.  I hope she is the candidate next time and that she triumphs.  But, that will only happen if the Democrats manage to get more in tune with what the people want and need.  Not sure if that can happen.  Closer to home, will the Liberals get more in tune with what Canadians want?  Unfortunately, both of those parties seem unlikely to change as much as they should.

But stay positive.  Stay well.

Dry Gardens

 Birthday greetings today to Diane Lougheed who is being treated to  a birthday dinner with her family tonight.  Enjoy Diane!

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Did the Dad thing and cut the lawn on Hunter Road, to welcome Sue and David home.  Sean would have looked after that, but their lawn mower balked.  So I have cut it twice.

At the greenhouse, I cleaned up this garden a bit.

The plants and shrubs in this area (succulents, including Hens and Chicks, Sedum, Sage, Irish Moss - more about that in a minute, and more recently, Cactus) don't require watering, which is an important feature in my book.

At one time, the Irish Moss covered about three square feet, but the Sedum has taken it over and this little bit of green is all that is left.

Some of the succulents have been overtaken by the dominant Sedum as well.  To some extent I try to let Mother Nature decide these things, but this time I'm going to clear the Irish Moss and see if it can recover.

Next year, I may try to establish some Irish Moss elsewhere, in an area where it can succeed without fear.  It is a nice groundcover and you can walk on it without hurting it.

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As I post this, the U.S. election is unfolding and it's a bit scary.  Kamala may still win, but it's a real tossup at this point and Trump is doing better than expected in several areas.

Stay positive.  And stay well.

The Lazy Gardener

 Today's project was to clean up the Day Lily garden.

These Day Lilys didn't come from Trillium Hill.  They're the common orange guys that you see growing wild along Ontario's roadsides.  I figured that being native plants they would survive without any special attention (a priority requirement for me).  Right on!  For several years the only time that I have spent on this garden is when I prepare it for winter.

The smaller plants to the right are Forget-Me-Nots.  Mother Nature decided to put them there.  I have no idea where they originated, but once again no special treatment required.  I assume that as the Day Lilys spread in that direction the Forget-Me-Nots will have to retreat.  That's their problem, not mine.

And this is how that space looks now as we head into winter.

One more small step for mankind.

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I don't know if I'll be able to keep my fingers crossed all night, but I sure do hope that Kamala can pull off a victory tomorrow.  Trump seems to be acting desperate, which could be a good thing.

If he loses, there may be a civil war. January 6, here we go again!    

They used to hang folks for treason.  Not likely to happen this time but, eventually he may go to jail in disgrace as he deserves.

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Stay positive.  Stay well.

Remember

 Got my flu shot this morning.  Next up is a Covid one.

And I blew out the outside water lines.

Based on the forecast I may have been a couple of weeks early.  Might have to open one up again so the folks can water the plants at the front of the greenhouse.  Otherwise they'll need to use a hose from inside.  I'll talk to the boss tomorrow.

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Tonight Mardi and I filled in at a euchre game at Maureen's and Matt's, for a couple who were taken ill.  Mardi won more than I lost.  That's good, right?

I decided to dress up for the occasion.  It is close to Remembrance Day after all.

Thank you Barbara.

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Also, I hope you all Remember to reset your timepieces so you aren't late for church tomorrow.

Stay well.