Conkers

 Today was a popular birth date among the people that I know.  Ron King, Al Addis and Jo-Anne Vanstone celebrated the event.  Best wishes to all!

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I reminded Mardi that she wouldn't be able to enjoy her favourite Canadian Club when she's in Florida due to the U.S. embargo on Canadian alcohol.  Pretty sobering news!

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I almost finished planting the Oak trees this weekend.  An hour tomorrow should do it.  And the sod that I removed to make room for the trees is now helping to replace that infertile clay scar at the top of the front hill.  Two birds with one stone.  I'm now over to the Chestnut tree (second plant in this picture).

Speaking of the Chestnut tree, today I discovered some chestnuts under the treee.  Most Chestnuts are not self-pollinators, except for Horse Chestnuts, which are also the only variety that is toxic.  For all other varieties it takes two trees to tango.  But this Chestnut came from Mardi's garden in Stoney Creek, and as far as I can tell there are no Chestnut trees near Trillium Hill, which I guess proves that this is a Horse Chestnut.

As far as I can remember, this is the first time that I've held a Chestnut in my hand since public school.  Wayne and I used to stop under a huge tree (since sacrificed to development) on the way home from school and collect the nuts for games of Conkers.  Fond memories!

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And we have booked flights to Merida, Mexico for the end of November.  A week with Greg at A.J.'s condo on the Gulf of Mexico (known by another name in some quarters).  Should be fun.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Forest Remembered

 We returned from Forest late afternoon yesterday, but I had no energy to put together a blog.  Mardi and I collapsed into bed at 9 p.m.  Ten hours later I got up.

Obviously, it was a great weekend, so let's go back to the beginning.

Sunday morning I headed to the greenhouse to water a few plants and the sod that I had previously laid.  Just 15 minutes, but necessary.

Then we picked up Rose and Ed and headed to Forest.  Lunch, then golf.  With ten players, we had two foursomes in one group, then three ladies, and three men.  Scramble format to make sure that we all had fun.

We had a couple of water holes to get over.  The ladies made it.

The last hole.

Dinner was included in the package and Sandy (front left) joined us.

We had a cake for our Ed (Roll Out The Barrel) Strecker, and the waitress joined in the fun.

It was shared for dinner and then lunch on Monday.  Congratulations Ed!

I'm not sure if it was the cake that made the chorus line crazy.........

...........whatever it was, it obviously bypassed Mardi!  Maybe she was thinking about what to say when she held court.

A fun time for sure.  Thanks to Maureen for making all of the arrangements, and thanks to Sandy for arranging the cake.

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Today was somewhat anticlimatic.  I headed to the greenhouse to do some weeding and then set out my Oak trees for planting.

Sixteen Oaks will line the back driveway.  In addition, I dug up another six this year, five of which have been replanted, with one spare held back in case we have an expiry.  A banner year - thanks squirrels!

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An awesome last Blue Jays game celebrating Mad Max Scherzer and George Springer, whose contracts have expired.  Two greats that we got to enjoy while they were with the Jays.  Maybe Max will be back.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Every Chile Matters

 Today, Mardi and I put on our Truth and Reconciliation shirts (and my hat) to acknowledge that Every Child Matters and to honour my Oneida daughters.  The painting behind us is by an Oneida artist and it depicts the various native clans

On our most recent trip west, I met a man who was taken from his family at age six and didn't get back together with them until he was thirteen.  Then in his 60's, he was celebrating his recent success at beating his alcohol addiction, caused by his horrible experience.  A very moving meeting for me - one that I shouldn't and won't forget!

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I know that it's a bit early for Indian Summer, but the fall colours of Sumac, Goldenrod, and especially Asters is making me think that way.  

It is both a comforting and relaxing scene.

I cut the lawns today, partly because they needed it, partly because the forecast calls for rain tonight, and partly because my wagon broke down.  A steering wheel came off and I'll need to disassemble the wagon to get it back on.  That's a job for tomorrow.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Elbows Up

Dave Jewett has noted that Cowbell no longer labels one of their beer tastes as "Elbows Up" ..........

...........so he's stopped drinking Cowbell.  Good for you Doc!

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Thanksgiving must be getting close.  I saw these folks in the back field today.

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And, tonight we attended the Stoney Creek United Church silent auction/dinner.  Food was great.  But all that we accomplished in the auction was to drive the prices up.  Although Matt did win a wine basket (forgot to take a picture).

Tomorrow, five couples are heading to Forest for golf, dinner, cards and an overnight.  I'll report on the winners, whiners and winers after the event.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

A Mixed Bag

 Mardi is still swimming every morning but, even with the pool temperature at 28C (83F), the air temperature at 9C (48F) means that you have to add a toque to your bathing attire.  Crazy lady!!

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The Garden Mums that David sells are considered annuals in our temperate zone.  But sometimes, after a mild winter, they manage to return, as these beauties have done.

A Canna Lily also managed to rebloom.  I have subsequently split it and planted the five parts, with the hope that it can duplicate its feat this coming El Nino year.  

David grows so much that it would be easy to just use new plants each year, but that would ruin my fun 😎.  When Mother Nature lends a hand I help her out.

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This afternoon we headed to Port Colbotorsrne for the Norm Foster play "A Woman's Love List".  I don't know how that man's mind works, but he is a genius!  A hilarious show, put on by three gifted actors.

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Tonight, the show "Slow Pitch" that was filmed at our Optimist Park debuted on Crave.  We haven't seen it yet since we were out to dinner with Kathryn and Anna, following which Anna and I whipped their butts at Skip-Bo.

'twas a good day!

And brother Roger passed along these links to a Canadian game devised by students that utilizes the current political situation in a very creative way.  Smart kids!

https://youtube.com/shorts/dgCjavwPotI?si=BJ7_yMbwrDIf6Yd

https://www.e-upgames.com/

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Not Much Ado

 Birthday greetings today to Jill Parker and Sue's mom Sarah who, at age 94, outranks Jill by quite a bit.  All the best to both.

On Sunday we entertained most of the folks who will be heading to Forest on Sunday for some golf and fun.  Dinner and a game of Farkle (dice) were on the menu.

Tonight we attended the Optimist meeting which featured bingo games.  Our usual brand of luck prevailed.

Otherwise I've been doing my usual grass cutting and weeding at the greenhouse.  And, that's what is on the menu for tomorrow so I won't likely be posting.  So, in that case, I will wish Al and Liz an early congratulations on 38 years together.  Liz you are a saint!  Enjoy your day my friends.

Elbows up.  Stay well.

Family Ties

 Birthday greetings to my friend Ron Leach today.  And, in case that I don't post tomorrow, birthday greetings to my younger friend Calvin Wong who is a junior at just 77.

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I had coffee today with "the kids", Bassman and Squirt, at a Tim Hortons in Ancaster.

I was a couple of months shy of my 15th birthday when our Dad died.  Roger was 2 and Judy was still in the womb.

I had three part-time jobs after that and started full time employment when I was 17, so our relationship was not really a normal brothers and sister one.  It was something different, and in the end, special.  Roger later wrote a song titled "My father, my brother, my friend" which brought me to tears when Fishguts and Dave Jewett played it for me.

So today was a bit of a nostalgia trip, and a very enjoyable one at that.  Brought back lots of memories (once we were able to remember the names of those we were remembering).  A very nice day!

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Sadder news comes from the baseball world, as the Blue Jays continue their mediocre quest to make the playoffs.  Not going to happen!  Their pitchers are worn out, their hitters are mostly absent, and they're starting to make some careless errors.  Hard to watch.

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Our Prime Minister should have been a ball player because he's hitting them out of the park!  Quite a performance compared to that of the King of the Americas.

Elbows up.  Stay well.