Two Long Days

 I didn't publish yesterday, so I missed mentioning Lori Misuraca's birthday.  But I can make amends next Wednesday when we head to take in a show at Stratford and visit with Lori and Frank.  We're staying overnight - so that's why I can't golf on Thursday guys.  Sorry 😏.

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Yesterday, after I did my dig in the garden and cut the grass gig we watched some of the Calgary Stampede.  Had fun watching the kids ride wild ponies.  These young ladies were successful, sort of.

First, it was all that they could do just to hang onto the rope as the pony dragged them around the arena.

Somehow, one of them made it onto the horse.

But it didn't last long.

Tough young ladies!  Fun to watch.

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Then, I stayed up late to watch the Jays win their third game in a row.  Maybe we shouldn't give up on them yet.

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Today it was yard sale day with Mardi and Pat.  I bought a $2 hat that said "Canada Strong - Elbows Up".  It remains to be seen if I'm stupid enough to take it to Florida.

Then it was on to the greenhouse for more weed digging and lawn cutting.  A cooler day but I still worked up a sweat.  More digging and some planting are on the agenda for tomorrow.

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Just 5 hours sleep last night and tonight's ball game featured two inept pitchers.  Ten walks in two innings!  The game didn't start until almost 9 p.m. and looks like it will go on into the morning, so I'm calling it quits.  Tomorrow's recap will have to do.

Stay well.

Quoits Anyone?

 Today we enjoyed our annual Quoits Day at Gary Parker's home in Burlington.  He is a great host, providing our meal and hydration liquids.

Quoits partners were drawn for and the challenge began.  In the picture below you can see Gary's custom quoits pitch and yours truly trying to throw as far as the other end.

If you weren't playing you took to the cheap seats on the sidelines to cheer on the other teams (and hydrate).

Lose twice and you were eliminated from the competition.

In the end, possibly due to his acquaintance with the pitch, Gary and his partner Wayne took home the trophy.

It's a day we all look forward to.  Thanks partner!

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And, later in the day, the Blue Jays surprised us once again.  They beat San Francisco Giants 10 - 1.  Pitcher Dylan Cease took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.  And, most unexpected, Vladdy hit a home run.

If only they could play like this on a consistent basis!

Stay well.
 

 Some digging and lawn cutting today.  And I noticed a change.  The baskets of annuals that had been lined up beside the driveway are now mature enough to go on driplines, so they have been moved.

All but one.

I don't know what's taking those Killdeer chicks so long to hatch, but I'll keep watering that basket so that their camouflage doesn't die.

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So, the Blew Jays lost 10 - 1 last night.  Quite a showing these last few days (actually for quite a while).  So what has happened?

Last year they were arguably the best team in baseball and could/should have won the World Series.  After the season ended they made some trades that strengthened the team.

And now this.  Sure they have had a string of injuries, but those were mostly to pitchers, and pitching isn't the issue.

There are a couple of changes that I can think of.  

First, last year they had the all-time best first baseman, Don Mattingly, as a bench boss.  This year Don is interim head coach of the Phillies and they are having a renaissance.  

They miss him.  Could it be that simple?  I wouldn't be surprised.

Or, maybe it's the pitching coach.  David Popkins is the current hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, "known for revitalizing the team’s offense with a creative and individualized approach".  So what happened to the revitalizing?  The only guys who are hitting decently right now are the newbies whom he hasn't had enough time to screw up.

Having wisely figured that out, I stayed up till midnight to watch tonight's game and, lo and behold, they won 9 - 3.  Looked like the old team.  So I have no idea what's going on.

Stay well.

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In other sporting news, Donald Trump coerced the FIFA folks to overturn a red card that had been issued to the U.S. star player.  So he was cleared to play against Belgium.

But justice prevailed.  The Belgians were incensed and managed to use that emotion to defeat the U.S. 4 - 0 and eliminate them from the tournament.  YES!!

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After a couple of very far left candidates won Democratic primaries, the Republicans have begun fearmongering about Communists.  I'm surprised that the Democrats haven't returned fire to castigate Fascists!  The midterms should be very interesting (and a bit scary).

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Beatles Music

 Finally, a dry Monday so we could golf.  Unfortunately, I've forgotten how.  'Nuff said!

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My daughters gave me a gift certificate to the Innsville for Father's Day, and tonight we used it.

Mondays in the Innsville pub are Beatles music nights.  Liz and Al joined Mardi and me to enjoy their music.

As you can see, we were pretty close to the stage, and they were LOUD!  Mardi had an advantage - she could take out her hearing aids.  But it was a fun night.  Thanks girls!

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It's 11 p.m. and the Blew Jays just gave up a third run.  It's also 27 innings (equal to three games) that they haven't scored a run themselves.  So I'm off to bed.

Stay well.

Birthday greetings today to grandson Yancy, and to Bonnie and Steve's grandson Jonah.  Enjoy your day!

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Yesterday, I spent an hour or so of slugging, with first Mardi and then Sean helping, to get the wagon back in action.  We had to separate the box from the base to access the bolts, two of which had to be ground off.

But that was enough sweating for the day, so then we headed home for a refreshing drink 😉.

Today, I used it to take a load of weeds to the compost.  We seem to have a wheel wobble issue - maybe there is a reason that the wheels were so reasonably priced!  Have to drive slow I guess.

Then I cut grass for about three hours.  I don't like to cut grass on Sundays, but the flat tire, incessant rain, and my golf game tomorrow, gave me no choice.

Some areas were still pretty wet.

And one area couldn't be cut.

I got stuck there the other day - that's how I know.  See the ruts?

One other thing that the rain has affected is the cactus plants.  They're not flowering the way they normally do.  This one would normally have more than a dozen flowers by now.........

...................and the one in the front garden has just one bloom.

How has yours made out this year Monica?

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We watched the Blew Jays implode yesterday.  An 11 - 0 drubbing.  And today guess what?  Much improved - they only lost 4 - 0.

Hard to watch!

Stay well.

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Wheels

 A couple of days ago the front wheels on the wagon finally gave out.  They're not happy with the heavy dirt loads that I inflict upon them.  So yesterday, I assumed that I would just stick with lawn cutting.

But, fate intervened.  A flat tire on the mower.  So my job switched to taking the mower tire for repair.....

..... and purchasing new front wheel assemblies for the wagon.

Why not just buy new wheels you say?  I did that once before and paid over $50 for one.  Believe it or not, these complete, revolving assemblies cost just  $38. each at Princess Auto!  (The boss clued me in.)

Today, I started to take the wagon apart to replace the assemblies but ran into a snag.  I need a second person to help and decided that with the heat and the Mum planting in progress this might not be received favourably 😓.  So I did the honourable thing - I took the day off.

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Yesterday afternoon, Mardi and I headed to our MP's office to fill out applications for passport renewal.  I chose the ten year option - now I don't have to worry about reapplying until I'm 99!  It's important to plan ahead!

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I stayed up late to watch the Blue Jays game in Seattle.  Worthwhile decision - they won 2 - 0.

Stay well.

Happy Canada Day

 I decided to take the day off today and celebrate Canada Day.  Of course we had to dress for the occasion.

We headed to the "vista" and joined many other owners.  Elizabeth asked us to get on our feet at 1 p.m. to sing "O Canada".......

...........following which we lined up to enjoy cake and ice cream, which the group below dished out.

Fortunately, we were able to find shade under a big tree, and with a strong breeze we lasted outside for about an hour.

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Then, this afternoon we, along with Matt and Maureen, were invited for a swim and BBQ at Ed and Rose's.

I found two new friends in the pool.

Ed fired up the BBQ, but before the food was ready he had to deal with some heavy rain and strong winds.

The food tasted great.  But we moved inside for the feast.  A good time with good friends.

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We only saw one inning of the Jays game before we left for the pool party, so Mardi taped it and we enjoyed the rest of a good game after we got home.  They're "Blue" again.

Stay well.