Ours at Last!

So today was closing day at the new house in Wheatley....but of course the bank and finance company kept us waiting until late in the day. Jane waited patiently outside the vendor's lawyer's office in Tilbury, waiting for the keys....with a car fully laden with valuables....and slowly fading good humour....

But as of about 4:30pm today, she was finally in possession of the keys, and on her way to the new place! Now we'll see if this vaunted Rogers Remote semi-high-speed internet thing works out....

Tour de Wheatley

So we made our way down to Wheatley (again!) last weekend, for the final home inspection prior to the legal closing. To our relief, all buildings and trees were still right where we left them....

We took the opportunity to tour Leamington and then Wheatley on a sunny Saturday, to acclimate early to our new surroundings. A brief walking tour of Wheatley revealed more than we thought - as the closest town to the house (a mere four minutes drive), Wheatley offers: a Mac's, an LCBO (already knew about that one), two gas stations, a Home Hardware, a Co-Op, a restaurant/pool hall, a cafe/diner, a pharmacy, a dollar store, a bakery, a post office...and five (???) hair establishments. We also took a quick look at Two Creeks, a conservation area with trails and live concerts, about one minute's drive from the house.

OK, so on the way out we also started the vineyard tours early, stopping at Smith & Wilson winery outside of Blenheim. They're pretty free with the samples....which bodes well.

We take possession on Monday...and with last night's two and a half hour visit with the lawyer out of the way, it appears to be a matter of time at this point!

The Back of the House

The Big Barn

The Man Crib!

Old Man Willow guarding the bonfire pit

Idiot's Guide to Camping

So we have tons of experience setting up the tent....but problems arise when your air mattress springs a leak, and Tanya offers you her double-height queen mattress...especially if you're too stubborn to deflate it first, to get it into the tiny tent....

Step One - The Planning Phase

Step Two - Implementation

Step Three - That Finishing Touch

Step Four - A Well-Earned Rest

Canada Day!!!

So how does a group of friends celebrate two birthdays in one weekend? How do we mark Grayson's 6th anniversary...and the nation's 140th, all at the same time?

Well let's see....how about cake (obvious) and soccer (not so obvious).....intermingled with alcohol, euchre, music and fireworks?!?!

Highlights include the food, the Saturday Brick Beer tour (where for the first time ever, the entire group completed the "tour"), an all-Canadian playlist featuring over 120 songs, hot euchre/scrabble action, tenting, grass hockey, and Keith's finely engineered fireworks display. Grayson may cite the gifts as the overall highlight, but in my opinion it was the quality time spent with friends!

Happy Birthday (not so little) G, and Happy Birthday Canada! Thanks to all for the memories - Tanya, Keith, Grayson, Sarah, Jessie, Joel, Amy, Kyla, Jade, Aiden, Eric, Michelle, Little Lars (?), Tom, Donna, Kevin and (of course) Jane!

The Rowdy Soccer Hooligans

Spidey Cake

Y'arrrr...these be friends!

Fireworks....that really work!