Mixed Signals from Groundhogs

It's hard to know which rodents to believe these days....particularly during the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries south of the border. But I digress. The Canadian groundhogs couldn't appear to agree on whether spring would come early or not....though it was never clear whether they were asked if winter had actually come yet.

Some said early spring. Some said more winter. Poor Winnipeg Willow out in Manitoba was so anxious about being the tie-breaker that she up and died, mere days before prognosticating.

Winter showed up about a week into January, after a green Christmas and New Year's. Then it went away again, with temperatures climbing to a ridiculous 20 C for a few days in late January. Great excuse for yardwork and barbecue.

As of this entry on February 9th, it just began to snow again today, and winter appears to be returning. Jane has predicted six more weeks of winter, and decided to stay in Chatham tonight with friends, rather than risk sleeping at the Tim Horton's in Tilbury again in a whiteout. To be fair, she did grow up near Wiarton, so maybe some Willy rubbed off on her.

Winter finally arrived in mid-January....

....and promptly left again

Momma Pook is not amused

OK, maybe she's a little amused

Spring by February?

I've got no beef with that!

Well hello there, 2016!

Forgive me, you sort of snuck up on us!

This Blog begins it's tenth year, since inception on New Year's Day 2007 as a house full of groggy friends cleared out The Morning After and headed home. Simply put, Morale has not Improved....and on we go.

Ridiculously unseasonable weather persisted into late December and favoured us with pleasant travel conditions for festive visits to the North....both there and back again. We got home on the morning of December 28th after a week away, literally an hour ahead of a cold front and freezing rain storm that left thousands including us without power, and the roads a treacherous mess. It was great to see friends and family and share in the holiday spirit, even if the experience was slightly diminished by the green backdrop.

Farewell to 2015, a great year by any standards, including a fabulous cruise through Eastern Europe in the spring, a guy's trip to Boston and area in the summer, and some leisurely and colourful northern Michigan camping in the fall.

I managed to make it to a game in all three major sports in 2015, catching the Red Wings and Lightning at The Joe in March, the Red Sox and A's at Fenway in June, and the usual Bears-Lions game at Ford Field in October.

Having decided to make a concerted effort (pun intended) to see more live music last year, we witnessed some memorable shows across Ontario and beyond, including The Trews, The Tragically Hip, Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds, Gordon Lightfoot, Heart, Of Monsters and Men, Big Wreck, The Motorleague and even Weird Al Yankovic.

Work has been good for both of us, fraught with stress at times yet rewarded with success.

But these pursuits are peripheral to the predominant purpose.

We lost a pet late in the year (poor Bill), but otherwise the Furry Crew is healthy and happy and amuse us daily.

We are most fortunate for each other, and the good friends and family who continue to enrich our lives. Continued good health and good fortune to all in 2016!

This time last year, this ship up North was iced in with snow drifted all around....

....but not this year!

Making the best of temporary loss of Hydro with Ticket to Ride!

New Year's Eve 2015

Boardgames and finger foods were the order of the day

New Year's Eve movie marathon

Ringing in the New Year with good wine in Venetian and Bulgarian vessels

New Year's Day movie marathon

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