Thursday, 3 September 2026

Trip to Kingston

Jordan visited Ottawa. We had dinner with the whole family, then we brought Jordan back to our house. Tuesday morning we drove to Kingston, took Jordan home after grocery shopping, and went out for lunch. 

Usually the grandies sleep in the basement. It was a 1-night sleepover, and Jordan took the guest room. Cinnamon thought he'd like this bed. 


We sent Jordan home with 5 extra toothbrushes. (A mistake I made one Christmas, over ordered.) We had an extra hair clipper he took back with him, leftover scones from breakfast, and a bunch of our old CDs.


A selfie for Momma to let her know we were on our way from Perth to Kingston.

We went to Jordan's local grocery store, he shopped, showed his student card for a 10% discount. We paid for the order, just to get him a good start to the week. His room mate shows up Friday with her mom. Next week the university school year begins. 



Kingston is the home of The Tragically Hip. They were celebrating their last concert Aug. 20, 2016. Gord Downey, the vocalist, died of a brain tumour the next year. 



We took Jordan to Chez Piggy, a great restaurant in Kingston. The trio behind Joe Brian were arguing loudly over an app on one of their phones. The couple to the left of Joe's shoulder asked to move tables and ended up sitting behind me. I just figured out why! Too loud an argument. JB took out his hearing aids, as they amplify the trio and he couldn't hear us. Ain't old age grand?! 


From there we were headed to this cool shop Jordan thought we would like! Martello Alley has lots of funky art. 


From there we went walkies. Musikki has concert. 



My stomach was still a bit iffy, but the other two had sorbet! 



It is a great city, and a fabulous tourist town.



Walking down to the waterfront, we met some feathered friends.







I found out about this tug boat. It is the Radium Yellowknife, a 1948 tugboat! 

I drove there, Grampa drove home. He loathes traffic circles. Probably not as much as truckers. This one doesn't seem wide enough for trucks. It isn't complete, and single lane right now.


And, finally, signs of Autumn! 

This photo shows the corn in the near ground, the trees in the background!

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Back to school!

 Trip to Ottawa!

We were invited to Caitlin's house for dinner. It was an adventure.  Hanging out in the backyard, Jordan used the clippers on Aster. Ah, siblings...

Caitlin worked on dinner, whilst Grampa Joe had a nap. It was a yummy tahini, rice, chicken thingy. 

Grampa asked if they were too old for 'Close Eyes!' Apparently they are not. We gave two rolls of loonies to Jordan, for his laundry machine on campus. Aster was given a bill in the equivalent. Momma got some local honey butter!

Knowing it was close to Back-to-School days, Grampa wrote two poems for the two grandies...

Aster had school the next day, gr. 11.  First day of school!


Jordan was visiting Ottawa since he didn't have any work hours scheduled in Kingston. The plan was for us to go into Ottawa, have dinner with them all, then bring Jordan back to our house. Tuesday morning we planned to drive to Kingston, take Jordan home, and grocery shopping, and out for lunch. 

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Freds, Cinnamon, fox,

ICE Custody  🇺🇸

What a time for chaos! The cruelty is appalling. OK, rant over. Families divided across the border.

49.🇨🇦  Edmonton man CBC news


 I sneak up on Fred to see what he is up to in Burrow 6A at the end of the deck! Just a furry ball in the sand.

 

He roars around to the back, to burrow #3. 


They have an agreement, Cinnamon and MiniFred.  


The fox has been very busy. Every other day if not daily. Well, nightly. She's after the Freds. 

 

 She does like the back yard and the leopard frogs.

   

 MiniFred is putting on his winter weight. 

 

We were sitting out back. I went in to do something. Peeking outside, I saw the fox in broad daylight! 

She's been hanging around for a while.

This is the daffodil garden and the two trailcams.


Kids are back to school today.  It's pouring rain, they'll be happy to see friends. Aster is quite ready. Aster and their friend went to the 🌈PRIDE Ottawa march! 


Monday, 31 August 2026

Crumbly Green Acres

 It is Poison Oak, not poison ivy. I misspoke. 

This entire area used to be covered in it. This is the path down to the meadow. I pulled up  the vines, and sprayed some. That was a challenge. It took me years to get rid of it. Apparently I did not get it all. Those vines have been spreading. I got mad and ran over it with the lawn tractor one year. Rookie mistake! It blew up and through the engine in the air onto my chest. SIGH.

This was 2011, we moved in in 2010.


2017


Last week I got rid of a poison oak boil. I figured out where I'd gotten it from. Thursday it rained and I couldn't spray. Friday, I decided to poison the poison oak. Saturday, it was shrivelling. I won! 


I am about 3/4 the way through the  canister. I use it judiciously, boots and gloves.

I found a little Monarch caterpillar on one of Fred's milkweed in the garden. Apparently he likes it. I moved caterpigly to another plant.


Petunias!

Dinner plate hibiscus!