Monday, March 31, 2025

More March Marching On

March continued doing its thing, deviating back and forth between Spring and some late winter weather. On a particularly windy day, both strong and from exactly the wrong direction, the roof tin on the garage started flapping and bending, threatening to tear a whole sheet off from the eaves right up to the peak. I could only reach the bottom corner, and only when the wind subsided enough that the flap slammed back down onto the roof.

I climbed as high as I could go (did I mention how windy it was?) with Jane securing the ladder, and did my best with little leverage to hammer some nails into rotten boards and pulled nail holes. It held about as long as it took me to climb down. In the end, I managed to affix two sturdy clamps along the edge, and they miraculously held for two days until someone more capable (and better equipped) arrived to properly fasten the metal back down. Crisis averted.

We broke the van out of captivity, and Jane took it to the local rec centre....and forgot to turn off the lights while she swam for two hours. Dead battery. Luckily that annual CAA membership came in handy and they arrived promptly to get her going again. He also really loved the van!

With better weather we made an overdue run to Kingston area for some family visits.

The next weekend we were visited by Keith, Ashley and Kristen. Originally, we were supposed to go over to Detroit for a Red Wings-Bruins game, but we cancelled in light of all the political tension. We opted to stay local instead, and they rented a nice Airbnb not far away where we could hang out (sans cats) and use as a base camp to show them the area. 

We hit The Grove in Kingsville for lunch, then carried on to Amherstburg to explore Fort Malden, Navy Yard Park, and some shops. On the way back, we visited Point Pelee National Park to walk the marsh boardwalk, climb the new observation tower, and make the sandy hike out to The Tip. It was a great visit, but unfortunately they had to head back into the ice storms that were ravaging central and eastern Ontario - thick layer of ice on everything, trees down, power out for days. They grabbed a few generators here, to take back there and help out a few people without heat or power.

Sketchy Reno Co. and the Saga of the Flapping Roof Tin


Spring Bloom

CAA to the rescue!

Jane making butter for Burt's Birthday!

Someone loves his packing paper

Amherstburg sculpture - how timely!

Security turned fowl at Fort Malden

Touring the boardwalk at Pelee National Park

Climbing the Observation Tower...

...for a view of The Tip of mainland Canada!

Jane's dizzying descent

Walking out to The Tip


Local Airbnb for weekend visitors

Our friends loading up the car for the trip back into the State of Emergency!


Sunday, March 9, 2025

Concerts and Sprung?

We were excited to have a few big rock shows lined up for back to back weekends at the casino. In late February, we hit Caesar's with John and Julie to see The Glorious Sons. Given the questionable road conditions and a chance to visit, we opted to get a room and stay even though we don't live far away.

We arrived nice and early to take full advantage of the hotel and casino, and had drinks and appetizers at Spago while waiting for John and Julie. Given their later arrival, they found themselves in an increasingly long check-in line that snaked around the lobby and according to our server was the longest line they had seen. Once checked in, they joined us for a nice Spago dinner before the show.

The openers were The Raffouls, consisting mainly of Billy and Peter, nephews to local rock legend Jody Raffoul. He even appeared and joined them on stage for the last few tunes. Then The Glorious Sons hit the stage and brought the house down - including Brett's antics and vocals - what a great show!

Trip prep continued as we booked tours, buses, ferries and trains - among other things - all while trying to spread things out over different months on the credit card bill. We also ordered some waterproof shoes from a company in Vancouver (Vessi), and started wearing them on walks down at the park to break them in. We even broke the van out of the garage after a few months on the shelf.

A week later, we were back in Windsor as spring continued springing. We met up with Megan for an early dinner at Eastwood's along the river, before walking back to the casino for the show. Royal Tusk from Edmonton was a heavy opening band, before headliners Thornley and Big Wreck came out. We also met a nice couple from Ohio who made the trek. Sadly, before leaving home they felt the need to google whether Canadians hated Americans at the moment (see Trump, Tariffs, Annexation, etc.).

For those that know, they are two bands with the same lead singer, guitarist and songwriter - so basically they did a full set from each of the two bands' catalogues. They even trash-talked the "other" band during the individual sets. Thirty years in, and Ian Thornley can definitely still bring the vocals!

What an incredible week of rock music. Good for the soul, and just what the doctor ordered these days with all the chaos going on in the world.


International view from the Augustus Tower

Appetizers at Spago

Packed house at Caesar's for The Glorious Sons

Great show!


Brett brings the vocals!

Breaking in the new Vessi shoes down at the Park

Dinner at Eastwood's before Big Wreck

Royal Tusk opens for Big Wreck/Thornley

Thornley brings the rock...


...and Big Wreck brings it home!


Spring appears here to stay in early March

Vincent and his Elvis sneer - he may need another toof pulled!


Monday, February 24, 2025

Winter Weary

 It's been an interesting winter thus far, on many fronts.

With President Trump taking office in late January, the political climate has been rife with turmoil surrounding punitive tariffs threatening to be imposed on Canada, along with notions of annexing Canada as the 51st State, buying Greenland and taking back the Panama Canal. 

Tension further rose during the recent Four Nations Face Off, with Canada and the USA squaring off directly in the round robin (US won) and again in the finals (Canada won!!!). Anthems were booed. Three fights in the opening nine seconds....of an international hockey game. This was one of the those moments in history when a sporting event was much more than a sporting event.

We journeyed to Barrie and Orillia through a break in the winter weather, to attend a book signing for two great friends, and squeeze in a round of visits with friends and family. While the roads were relatively bare, they definitely had a record amount of snowfall.

Back at home, we had far less snow, but still the most we have had in several years. As always down here, with snow comes drifting and whiteouts....and often freezing either on top or underneath the little snow we do get. We even got a few days of "polar vortex" as the first true test of the heat pump and auxiliary coil - we got down to -30 C, and other than a steep hydro bill, all was good. On the whole, we keep the house noticeably warmer and it's still cheaper overall than oil!

We had a nice night out in Chatham, starting with drinks at the Elephant's Nest followed by dinner at Mamma Maria's. We crossed the street to attend the "Hyprov" show at the Capitol Theatre, with a hypnotist putting people under before Colin Mochrie led them through some hilarious improv. 

After another stop at the same bar, this time with live music added, we took a U-Ride back to our motel before heading onto London the next morning.....bringing Dave back for a five-day visit starting with the Eagles crushing the Chiefs in Superbowl LIX! His home was in lockdown, so he was very glad to get out for a few days to enjoy some company and cats, and eat some different foods.

Jane started "designing her feelings" and promoting her designs on Redbubble and other places, featured on items like t-shirts, mugs and pins. The new side hustle looks promising!

We voted early for the provincial election, and promptly treated ourselves to brisket tacos and poutine at Renny's! We also met friends at the Comber Legion the week before for a nice perch dinner for Valentine's Day.

On the feline front, we made several visits to the Vet with both Momma and Vincent. Momma ended up with several meds and a soft cone, which she embraced as a travel pillow. Vincent had six teeth pulled and was not pleased with his experience. Between them we had five different medications to manage.

Winter appears to be waning, and perhaps that is Spring we can feel in the air?

Winter in Orillia!


Winter in Wheatley

First real winter test of the heat pump

We even have snowbanks!


Night Out in Chatham

Treating ourselves to Renny's after voting!

Another year of trading recycled Valentine's cards

A few of Jane's early designs


Repping Flag Day!

Vincent less than impressed following dental surgery

Momma embraces the soft cone!

Jane cuddling with the big boys!


Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Happy New Year 2024-2025

After some medical issues in mid-December, we enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home, following some family visits further afield during better travelling weather in late November. We watched a full slate of the "usual" holiday movies - Scrooge (the 1951 version), The Grinch (original cartoon version), Christmas Chronicles, Klaus, A Boy Called Christmas, Noelle, One Magic Christmas, Serendipity and The Holiday. It was another green Christmas here with mild weather and a few dandelions.

We headed off for Coxmas and enjoyed a lovely second Christmas, complete with the customary Chinese food dinner and the annual Chip Choosing competition, wherein we each bring a bag of Lay's salt and vinegar chips and then hold a "blind" taste-off to eliminate one bag each round. John managed to win again, so for the third straight year since inception, the trophy shall stay in the London area. We enjoyed fires on the back deck with Dave, with unseasonably mild weather (+12 C!) accompanied by the World Juniors and NFL.

This year's festive streaming service was Disney Plus, so back home for New Year's we plowed through a number of Marvel franchises for the annual "marathon" - mainly X-Men, Avengers and Moon Knight - with lots of Modern Family in there for breaks. For food, we opted for the usual sporadic grazing on appetizers and snacks rather than actual meals. New Year's Eve was also green, though considerably more soggy than Christmas.

Bring on 2025 - a year sure to bring many political and cultural changes both at home and south of the border, some highly anticipated concerts and sporting events, at least one wedding (no, not ours), and an epic trip to celebrate our 25th anniversary together. 

Happy New Year to all!

Another Green Christmas

The Chip Gauntlet is thrown down!

Mike's bowl is the first one out!

....and then there were two....

The Trophy stays at home!