Total Eclipse of the Yard!

We were fortunate to be in the path of "totality" for the solar eclipse, meaning we would have over two minutes of time where the moon would completely cover the sun. All along the narrow path from Mexico to Newfoundland, people were gathering in an attempt to witness the spectacle.

For the hour or so of partial eclipses on either side of totality, we could only watch using special glasses or a pinhole camera.....BUT, during totality, we could actually take off the glasses and enjoy with the naked eye. Jane had planned ahead and secured our glasses early, from a friend with a store that was stocking them for the event.

Luckily the weather also favoured us, with fairly clear skies. I worked from home, so we could enjoy the eclipse right from the comfort of our back porch.

The experience was surreal. The skies went dark, the temperature dropped considerably, and birds got excited then went eerily quiet. The sun's halo was visible as a perfect diamond ring encircling the moon, as we traded day for night. Two minutes went by quickly, and suddenly it was time to put the glasses back on again.

It was a once in a lifetime experience, at least here (next total eclipse in the year 2144 in these parts)....unless we choose to chase one elsewhere in the world!

Glasses all ready!

Gazing skyward

Totality time....

....and mere seconds later!

Total eclipse!

C'mon Spring

Spring has arrived a few times now, but refuses to stick around. While we haven't had any snow to speak of since January, the temperatures have shot as high as 20 C but keep dropping back below zero here and there. The birds and flowers are confused.

We are awaiting the removal of the oil furnace and installation of a new heat pump system, currently on back-order. This also involves the delicate balance of trying to use up what oil we still have in the tank, but not so fast that we run out of oil and need to order more.

We started making magnets as a new offering for art shows, and a great way to use up scrap slate. Jane has been coming up with all sorts of new designs, including some beautiful butterflies that will likely be very popular!

Momma developed a persistent "wound" that won't seem to heal, mainly because she won't let it - so we had to take drastic measures. She was forced to wear a onesie or a soft cone, to keep her from overgrooming and giving it time to heal over.

We also booked a cruise, and are watching too many travel videos and eagerly looking forward to that!

Vincent stole my chair!

Crocuses emerge....then retreat for a few days!

Momma in her onesie

We're making magnets now too!

Some soft cone time to air out the wound

Quiet January

We had a fairly quiet January, as we tip-toed into 2024. We had one small bout of snow followed by an extreme chill lasting several days, which of course has since relented and given way to rain and soggy greenery. 

Aside from a few walks down at the provincial park and painting the kitchen, an inordinate percentage of weekends were also devoted to watching NFL playoff games. There was also some of the obligatory vacation planning, involving watching way too many Youtube videos of all the places we want to go.

We did manage to get Dave down for a visit mid-month, before the winter storm hit. Besides the usual visiting, we also got him out to an OHL game as the local Windsor Spitfires got smoked 11-3 by the visitors from Saginaw. As we kept saying, at least we saw lots of goals! We also got to take advantage of the handicapped box in the upper level for ease and a nice viewing experience.

We also had a home energy audit done, in advance of (hopefully) making some upgrades to our heating and cooling system.....and taking advantage of some government incentives while they last!

Dave enjoys some home-cooked prime rib!

January 22.....

...and January 26!

Three tiers of fun for Three Nugs!

Great vantage for the game!

(note - pics were pre-game, there WERE actually fans in the stands later!)

King for a Day!

The Spitfires take the ice!

Dave wants one of those blimps!

Vincent is not amused

Happy New Year 2024

New Year's Eve itself was a little lame - we paused our Hobbit marathon near midnight, and started looking for any sort of live coverage on Canadian channels.....but there was none. We ended up frantically switching over to Ryan Seacrest in NYC just to see some sort of live countdown. Alas. Moving on.

The New Year started green, as it often does these years. Before settling into the second half of our movie marathon, we went for a nice walk down at the provincial park, before diving back in with all three Lord of the Rings movies.

Of course, that was accompanied by more appetizers and a few beverages, along with the customary bevy of cats, all cuddling in for added warmth.

Welcome, 2024!

Hello, 2024

The Pennywise memorial blanket arrived!

Literally, the Path of Least Resistance

A nice walk down at the park

One Trilogy to Rule them All!

A New Year's movie marathon arrives precisely when it means to!

You Cannot Pass!

Shelob with a leg up on lunch

Return of the (Witch) King!

My Preciousssss

Happy Festivus

The 2023 festive season was upon us, in a myriad of venues.

A visit to the Orillia area to help my Dad saw the only real wintery weather of the "winter" thus far. Nothing crazy, and at least travel conditions were good, but they at least did have some snow.

Back home, we had yellow dandelions, double digits and fog pretty much right up the Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with close friends, for some homemade chili and fresh beer bread by the fire.

Having secured a fresh turkey from our neighbours, we feasted on delicious fowl on Christmas Day. We continued to mourn the loss of Pennywise, whose absence in the house was palpable. We drowned our sorrows in an onslaught of the usual holiday movies.

Off to Coxmas, where we had chinese food and homemade deep dish pizza, along with some high quality time with the Coxes. We watched Norway trip videos and some World Junior hockey tournament, both involving Gothenburg, Sweden. We also played Wingspan and enjoyed some fires out back with a 99-song playlist curated by yours truly.

We ended 2023 by watching The Hobbit trilogy, as a prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy in store for the first day of 2024. With grey skies and green grass, we grazed upon the usual selection of appetizers.

Counting up to the New Year....123123......

Oro looking the most festive!

New dandelions for the holidays

A foggy festive walk at the provincial park

Fresh 17 lb. Turkey for Two!

Coxmas started off with a nod (or many nods) to the summer Chip Champ

Assembling a kit-kat log kabin!

The holidays keep on giving!

Warming our feet at Coxmas

Vincent makes himself comfortable

The Hobbit Trilogy to end the year.....

....from fog to Smaug!