Lumineering!

We enjoyed a mid-week spring break with an overnight in London, to see three amazing bands play at Budweiser Gardens. The Lumineers were the headliners on their Cleopatra Tour, accompanied by Kaleo and Susto.

We started out with a nice dinner downtown, a short walk from both the car and the venue. We chose Spageddy Eddy's, a small joint downstairs off an artsy alley. Great food, fair prices, and great atmosphere! I did have to make a trip back to the car just to drop off the rest of Jane's spaghetti, before heading to the show.

Bud Gardens is the home of the OHL's London Knights, and a great venue for live music as well. We opted for our usual front-row mezzanine tickets, and took our seats along with some hometown brews.

Susto was up first, the only band unknown to us of the three - and were a pleasant surprise with some "alt-country" rock out of South Carolina. A lot of empty seats meant that a good many people missed out on this gem, in favour of arriving in time for the second band. Kaleo were great as expected, blending their Icelandic folk roots with southern blues reflecting their new home in Austin, Texas.

As good as the opening bands were, The Lumineers were simply fantastic. Their talent and passion shone through in a truly riveting performance. My hands still hurt from all the clap-along songs. They even arranged for a mini-stage at centre ice, and came out through the crowd to play about five songs amidst the sea of fans around them.

Great night of live music!

Good eats!

The menus are classic album covers!

No shortage of food!

Susto plays as the crowd filters into Bud Gardens

Kaleo rocks the house

The Lumineers take the stage

"Making the room smaller" for a few songs

Charlie Boy, don't go to war

R.I.P. Missy Poops

Rough start to the weekend today, as we took Miss into the Tilbury vet clinic. She had been "off" for a day or two, so we thought we'd better get her looked at.....sadly she did not come home again.

Given her condition and the veterinary assessment of her level of pain, we were forced to make the very tough decision to not be selfish - to take her home and spent some more time with her - and instead stay and comfort her during her peaceful final moments.

Miss - aka Tripod, Poopy, Missy Poops - was a Christmas present for Jane in 2004. She had survived an accident in the New Liskeard area, in which she lost her hind foot. She wasn't supposed to survive, but I first met this feisty little Maine Coon kitten climbing a cage at the OSPCA with a giant cast on her hind leg.

She was the ultimate mixture of sweetness and evil - she used to actually take the trouble to make eye contact with us before knocking things onto the floor. Just for fun. Of all cats we have ever seen, SHE was an ear-talker. Her ear movement spoke volumes, especially when she knew she was in trouble.....which was often!

Fortunately we had a very good night with her on Friday, with extra cuddles and a special "treat" dinner. She spent the entire night bundled up in Jane's lap, looking the happiest we had seen her in some time.

Farewell, friend. Thank you for more than twelve years of entertainment and companionship.

Pretty girl

Pfffffft!

Talking back

Not a very festive feline

Cuddling with Poots

Less than impressed

Sassy as ever!

This looks like a good spot....

Farewell to a very Special Kitty

Spring in February?

A heat wave in mid-February brings a welcome break to "winter" - we're well beyond "unseasonably warm" and actually into record-breaking temperatures of nearly 20 C on several days over a week or so. Trees and flowers are budding, birds are confused, and cats are even more confused.

We're just hoping Spring is actually here....versus winter returning now and doing frost damage to local crops like peaches, apples and grapes (wine! the humanity!) that may already be in bud.

We spent as much time outside as possible, including pretty much the entire weekend last weekend....other than a visit to The Pogue pub in Wheatley for Jane's birthday dinner on Friday night, and lunch on the Rennie's smokehouse patio on Sunday to celebrate their liquor license. Otherwise, raw meat was singed, brush was burned, wet clothing was hung outside, wood was cut and stained for artistic purposes, and a few beers may even have been consumed.

Spring also means frisky feline season. We captured and "fixed" two more strays which had spent the winter in the man-garage - a skittish black female we've named Lucy, and a white and grey fellow dubbed Chaps, due to his grey "pants". He was easily caught (by hand), but she required live trapping before handing off to Cindy for a trip to the Vet. As Jane put it, it was time for them to pay the rent!

Winter may return this weekend....but bring on the Spring!

Willow wood salvaged from the topping of the tree

Chillaxing in February - Wheatley style!

Grilling some steak and marinated pork tenderloin

Burning some brush - barrel fire!

Petal power

What's up, bud?

This is what happens when I don't sit often enough - count 'em, FIVE in my chair!

Earl Grey, straight chillin'

Chaps - newly neutered and far more relaxed

Topping the Willow

After nearly a decade, we figured it was time to bring in some professional help to "top" the willow tree and take off some overhead weight, particularly near the hydro lines.

As one can see from the three big main trunks, the willow was previously topped at some point....but was getting out of hand again. She recovers quickly!

We have a standing arrangement with our "tree guy" that he comes during his down times and in return we get a deal....plus we handle all the cleanup, so he can just cut and leave!

The cleanup has already begun, taking advantage of some mild winter days and sunshine....though I suspect a bonfire or two will be in order come springtime.

See you again in a few years, Brad!

Lopping off some risky branches

Some rather handy equipment

Down to the wire!

That's quite a mess!

And now for the cleanup....

R.I.P. Booty

Sadly we lost one of the furry crew earlier this week, our skittish little calico interloper known as Keiko, aka Booty. She showed up a few years back along with Bill, and they made quite a couple before he was hit on the road last fall.

She was never the same afterwards, but continued to hang out in the garage and generally tolerate our arms-length presence, while trying unsuccessfully to woo Earl Grey as a new kitty consort.

She spent her final few weeks in the warmth and comfort of one of our upstairs bedrooms, eating like a queen, before finally being reunited with her Bill.

Keiko, aka Booty

Bill and Booty

Oh that Bill....

Happy New Year!

We opted to ring in the New Year with a six-movie Hobbit and Lord of the Rings marathon.....coupled with finger foods, snacks, beer and mulled wine.

We paused the marathon long enough to catch some CBC coverage from around the country, on the eve of the nation's sesquicentennial year.....and rang in the New Year with Rick Mercer and the crowd on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

After quickly googling Mariah Carey to see what all the fuss in New York was about, it was back to Middle Earth.

Happy New Year, and all the best in 2017! We are planning to take advantage of the free admission to national parks throughout the year to see or re-see this beautiful country!

Movie marathon!

The wine was mulling, upon the hearth....

(hummed to the tune of "Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold")

A decidedly green New Years Day

A Tale of Two Decembers

We finally got our first blast of winter in mid-December - not that we got a lot, but we got an impressive amount (for here) considering it all came in basically one afternoon. Enough that the grader even decided to plow our road....and in the process take out our mailbox. Snapped it right off at the base, but at least box and post are intact.....and temporarily propped up.

We left a few days before Christmas to make the usual festive rounds in the Barrie and London areas, and for the second straight year enjoyed wonderful road conditions throughout the holiday travels. We returned home on the 28th to....green grass. The next day was +5 C and gorgeous, and I actually raked the lawn.

Then I set up our new (slightly used but new to us) compound mitre saw, which will make art prep a heck of a lot faster...AND straighter!

December 12, 2016

The driveway was still easier than the perilous Pass of Caradhras

Maybe this is what they mean by Fedex Ground delivery?

A failing Grade

December 28, 2016

Rake a leg!

Glorious sunshine!

I tawt I Saw a putty tat