Giving Thanks

An absolutely stunning fall weekend provided the perfect backdrop for a Thanksgiving feast, our second in three days. Colourful leaves, earthy fragrances and a delicate chill to the air....that's right, it's Turkey Time again!

We also managed to enjoy a therapeutic bonfire before the tryptophan (and perhaps the wine) finally sent us off to bed.....

Stuff it!

A steaming stovetop

Now we're talking turkey!

Pie Graphs never lie - this pie is 85% eaten

The finished product - one delicious Thanksgiving Dinner!

A cheery bonfire prompting spontaneous poetry

Twig and branch and bark ignite

Dancing flames hold wood alight

Turns Ash to ash and char to coal

To pierce the dark and chill of night

Fire without stokes flame within

And kindled spirits rise again

Ember forged in orgy of orange

A bright beginning from a fiery end

The strength to meet tomorrow's gaze

Found in crackling logs and this blank page

Embers burning low

Of Monsters And Men

One of our favourite bands made a rare appearance in our area, namely Icelandic folk group Of Monsters And Men. Even when they do play within a few hour radius, it's generally a large three-day Fest of sorts. To my delight, not only were they appearing at a relatively local venue (Detroit), but at an old and large architectural marvel (Detroit Masonic Temple) that would surely make for a memorable show.

Accompanied by Dora and her friend Mike, we made the short tunnel jaunt under the Detroit River and made our way to Harry's for a quick dinner before the show. Apparently the manager hadn't factored in the OMAM show and understaffed the place.....drinks were slow, food was slower, and we got the last burgers in the place, which thankfully were wicked, and more than good enough to make up for the wait.

Ironically, the somewhat sketchy area around Harry's and up to the Masonic Temple is where the new Detroit Arena and surrounding urban revitalization is taking place - a massive development dubbed District Detroit - which will definitely make this a happening (and safer) place by 2017.

On to the show! The Masonic Temple did not disappoint, a grand old building with character and atmosphere, the likes of which are sadly diminishing. We had great seats in the upper mezzanine, far above the packed main floor, where standing room only looked pretty tight.

Words don't really describe the band. OMAM brought the magic - a total of NINE band members playing multiple instruments, at times soulful, at times tribal, and at all times full of folky goodness. Easily one of the best concerts I have seen - sure, the great venue helps, but they put on a fabulous show and if you're a music fan then this is a band for you.

They played all the popular and upbeat hits off the first album, "My Head is an Animal", while seamlessly blending in the more mellow offerings from the new record "Beneath the Skin" without losing momentum. Nanna even offered a particularly moving solo rendition of "Organs".

Great show, capped off by making it safely back to Canada without getting capped.

Pre-Show Burgers at Harry's

Detroit Masonic Temple

Of Monsters and Sam Adams

Iceland's Finest

The Masonic Theatre

OMAM!

Standing Room Only!

Now to get out alive....

Come with me, to the Renaissance Faire!

Friends from afar and a gorgeous autumn weekend seemed like a great excuse to attend the Michigan Renaissance Faire, with the mythical village of Hollygrove located an hour north of Detroit, just outside the town of Holly.

With Jane busy for the weekend, Keith, Grayson and I made the relatively painless crossing at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and sped north along I-75, rather than taking the much more scenic but time consuming Sombra car ferry and rural route.

The Faire was rather busy, including a lengthy line (over a mile!) just to turn into the parking lot, but otherwise did not disappoint. Meat and mead, music and memories.....Huzzah!

Hurry now, we're almost there....

Turkey drumstick washed down with a nice Oktoberfest beer

Keith kicking Grayson's axe

Live entertainment abounds

The Queen did not seem interested in sitting on THIS throne....

A Main Thorough-Faire

Meat and Mead!

Back in Canada!

Lunar Lunacy

Well these crappy pictures won't quite tell the tale, but it WAS a memorable night out under the stars last night, witnessing the lunar eclipse and blood moon.

I should have broken out the "good" camera rather than the point-and-shoot, but of course hindsight is 20/20....except for Jane's because she wears glasses and closes one eye a lot and likely needs her prescription checked at this point. But I digress.

As a bonus, I caught a wee raccoon sneaking down from the roof of the garage under cover of darkness.....that is, until the camera flash turned night into day!

There's nothing I can say, total eclipse of the....moon

Peek-a-Boo Moon

Blood Moon

Busted! 

(applies equally to the raccoon, the antenna, and half the windows)

Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me

A gorgeous Lake Erie sunset as patio season wanes at Freddy's....

Hey, Labour Day!

It's been a relatively quiet summer, fun-wise, largely due to a busy summer, work-wise.

So we make our own fun locally, when we can. A few scenic drives along Lake Erie for fresh produce, free outdoor concerts at Two Creeks, fun darts at The Legion in Wheatley, and some camping action in our own backyard - and suddenly it's Labour Day Weekend already!

Fantasy football drafts and tomato wagons rolling down the highway should have been a dead giveaway, but summer draws to a close. This is often the time of year we pack up and head out for some camping on the east coast, or northern Ontario. Unfortunately this year colliding court dates will keep me close to home for the foreseeable future.

Good thing we love autumn....our favourite season!

Free Sunday concerts at Two Creeks 

 British Beat 66 bringin' the memories

 Dinner - courtesy of the local Boy Scout troop!

 New tent for summer camping

 Free campsite - aka our own back yard!

 Finding some R&R when you can't get away....

 Delicious sunset over the "campground"

 Try to set the night on, FIRE....

BBQ smorgasbord - chicken, pork and cedar-planked cod!

Rawk the Coop VIII

My, how quickly eight years go by!

The usual gathering of friends and family took place over the August long weekend for Rawk the Coop VIII, graced with clear skies and warm summer weather but not the extreme heat and humidity. We did get a good thunderstorm on Sunday night.....but hey, other people got tornadoes instead.

Standard RTC fare included both a fish fry and a barbecue, as well as bonfires and camaraderie. Two dogs, and some uncharacteristically absentee cats. Tents. A small waterpark with TWO pools, and one boy. Lots of relaxation and stimulating conversation. I believe I even saw someone with a beer in their hand at one point.

Thanks all for coming distances both near and far to hang out, and somewhere in there celebrate my birthday.