Long December

Much to the delight of all, winter appears reticent to show it's frosty face. We had one small dumping of snow, which came one morning a few weeks back and was gone by that afternoon.

Then it started getting warmer. This past weekend (Dec.12-13), we topped out at +18 C, not too shabby for double digit December. Trees, roses, dandelions, birds and bikers alike appear confused.

It's a great opportunity to finish all of that fall maintenance that one didn't manage to get to in the fall. Oh, and a final barbecue or two before that becomes a lot less pleasant.

Snow, white

Wintergreen

Decembar-BQ

December sunrise - feels like spring!

Visit to The County

I had an opportunity to get down to The County for a brief but long overdue visit. Beautiful autumn weather continued to cooperate, making travel and outdoor activity far more enjoyable, including a run to the far back of The Farm.

The woods at the back have been encroaching and slowly making the tenth field smaller, so my uncle is taking out the venerable fence row between the ninth and tenth to make one larger and more useful field.

I say "larger" as these are standard ten acre fields in The County - whilst at home we are surrounded by a single field exceeding sixty acres. Of course the Wheatley area is much more flat and far less treed.

Once darkness fell, we also explored the barbeque and the deeper meaning of Kozel and goats.

We also managed to visit some friends and family further east, always nice to accomplish before the snow flies. The opportunity also arose to sample some local microbreweries, including MacKinnon Brothers in Bath, and County Road Brewing just outside Hillier, and a few others along the way.

Lake Ontario and Amherst Island from just outside Bath

Waiting for the Glenora Ferry

Awaiting a Ferry Tale ending

Clearing Maple and Beech

The Tenth Field

Slowly taking out the fence row between the 9th and 10th fields

The woods at the back of The Farm

Hallowe'en Havoc!

Better late than never, someone once said. We spent Devil's Night and Hallowe'en in style - for the former, we attended the local drive in for the season's final offering, a fright night triple play involving The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street, and the original Halloween.

The best part of the night was when the proprietor came around early into the third movie, to give away all the left over popcorn before they closed the concession stand. He knocked on the passenger side window. Jane screamed. The ten-year old in the car beside us looked over to see what all the fuss what about.

For Hallowe'en itself, we journeyed into Windsor to see three bands at the Dominion House with friends, including awesome band The Motorleague from Moncton. We know the guitarist (more his girlfriend) and have taken advantage of their hospitality a few times whilst in the Maritimes. Great show! Check them out if they are in your area.

And of course, there's nothing better than autumn bonfires with crisp nights and feline company!

The Boonies Drive In - Tilbury

All work and no popcorn makes Jack a dull boy

Cat Blanket at the firepit

The Motorleague at Dominion House

Redshirt Nathan survives to lay down some lead licks!

R.I.P. Bill

We lost one of the furry troupe today - coming home in the dark and found him on the road in front of the house, hit by a car.

Bill was so named for his rather large fangs (even for a cat), after Bill the Vampire from True Blood. He showed up a few years ago and never left, other than when we caught him and shipped him to the Vet to have him fixed before letting him stay in our barns.

He quickly became the erstwhile companion of fellow stray Keiko (aka Booty), and the two would cuddle and fight like a furry married couple. He had a great life, and as fate would have it enjoyed one heck of a last meal with leftover chicken last night.

Rest in Peace, buddy.

Bill and Booty

Off the Vet!

Back from the Vet!

Goodbye Bill

Autumn Time in Northern Michigan

We rented a cabin in late October Northern Michigan for a midweek fall getaway, having missed our usual September window for autumnal camping. The cabin was essentially a wooden tent with indoor plumbing and hydro, and required us to bring everything else, like bedding, cutlery, cooking gear, and so on.

We chose to cross into Michigan at Sarnia/Port Huron for a more peaceful experience, and once clear of Flint and Saginaw we eschewed the Interstates in favour of a scenic drive along the Lake Huron shoreline. The fall colours were amazing, and something we both miss down here in Wheatley.

The cabin was a great base camp for exploration, set on the shore of Lake Huron in a very nice and well-kept campground, complete with a view of the Mackinac Bridge. This bridge connects Lower Michigan with the Upper Peninsula, but also essentially represents the divide between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

We explored a few of the many local microbreweries, some local shopping in Cheboygan and Mackinaw City, and crossed the bridge to the U.P. and back, but otherwise we mainly stayed at the cabin and enjoyed campfires, reading and the surrounding natural splendour.

We didn't get a chance to get over to Mackinac Island this time - got to save something for future visits - but this island is a step back in time with no motorized vehicles allowed. One can rent bicycles or tour the small island by horse and carriage.

We opted for the scenic route home, following the Lake Michigan shore along the western side of the Lower Peninsula, before cutting back inland to grab the I-75 for the final run home through Detroit/Windsor. The western shore was equally beautiful and certainly deserves more time and exploration - quaint towns like Petoskey, Charlevoix and Elk Rapids - and each with a microbrewery.

In years where time prevents us from getting to the East Coast, Northern Michigan could become our new fall "go to" destination!

Cabin B6 in the pines at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Options from St. Ignace in the 'U.P.' or Upper Peninsula

Mackinac Bridge - fifth longest suspension bridge in the world!

The Mighty Mac dividing Lake Huron from Lake Michigan

The Cabin

Some local beverage options

Getting ready to cook dinner

Mackinac Bridge at dusk

The view from our front porch

The bridge from our campsite

Hamburger Helper over the campfire, with bread and cheap wine!

Beaver Canoe.....at Mackinac Island Brewhouse and Winery

Lunch at Wienerlicious in Mackinaw City

Folk and Football

A beautiful October weekend seemed the perfect occasion for a mix of music and sports. On Saturday night, we saw venerable folk legend Gordon Lightfoot at the Windsor casino, still wowing the crowd at 76 years old. The voice may no longer have the power, but the sound is still there, and more importantly, the stories. As Jane put it, it was like watching history.....especially when he opted to play his lengthy opus, the Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

The next morning, I set out for Detroit with two co-workers, for our annual Bears-Lions game at Ford Field. As fate would have it, the tunnel bus had to drop us off at a different stop, due to the running of the Detroit marathon - right in front of the Old Mariners' Church, the very place the memorial was held after the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The football game was exciting at least, though my team lost yet again. One of these years we'll head to Chicago so we can enjoy home advantage. After a see-saw battle, the Lions went ahead with a long touchdown in the final minute. Miraculously, the Bears charged back down the field and kicked a field goal to tie the game as time expired. Alas, the Lions ended up winning 37-34 with a field goal late in overtime, but it took almost the entire overtime for either team to score. Unfortunately, my camera mysteriously died well before then.

After a sunny walk back to the church, we boarded the tunnel bus and returned to Canada. 

We'll get 'em next year!

 

Gordon Lightfoot at Caesars Windsor

A musty old hall in Detroit

Tailgating in Lions country

The view from Section 325

The Lions prepare the Defend the Den

Da Bears defend Matthew Stafford's plans

TV Timeout - very different when you're on the other end of things!

Bears QB Jay Cutler takes aim

Cutler spies WR Alshon Jeffrey breaking free!