Thursday, 25 June 2026

PART CXXVI – Consult in Ottawa

Tuesday, June 23 

Joe is managing prostate cancer. Things look good. We see the urologist annually, GP quarterly. We are going to carry on as is, quarterly Lupron injections. All is going well. It'll be 10 years on it in September. He had surgery in 2014. The Lupron is keeping the cancer cells in check. No other symptoms, other than the bone issues. His bone health has stabilized with scan #9, no worse than the previous bone scan. [Bone mineral density scan #8 at Riverside hospital, December 11th.]

Off we went into the city. Lots of fields, and little corn plants growing. We left around 10:00, taking our time. We made it into the hospital, sitting down for 12:00. Parking is tricky, but I nabbed a spot. The guy sitting across from us had been waiting an hour to be seen. We weren't waiting that long, 12:35 for a 12:15. Our appointment was supposed to be the day before, but they changed us to Tuesday. We cleared our schedule! 😉



From there we went to The Swan, made it by 2 p.m. An old pub, new patio, new menu, and all was good, once Joe Brian took out his hearing aids! There was a large group, and he couldn't hear me over them. 

The view of the Marina is lovely, with boats coming and going. There was a nice breeze, a screening in porch. 




Veggie burger for me. It was very good. 

The pub hosts a Farmer's Market!






Joe Brian drove us the rest of the way home. The hay is coming off the fields.


Riverside 

Billings Bridge

Manotick




It was a glorious day, once the driving was done!

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

A new burrow!

 Tuesday was our big trip into Ottawa to visit with Joe Brian's urologist. More on that later. 

The miniFreds have opened up a new burrow. Truthfully, Momma Fred (RIP) began it and I filled it in a couple of years ago. They are on burrow #8, right under the wood pile. I've closed up #3, 7 and 6. 


Can you see it?! 


It looks like Big Fred, last year's remaining kit, has retaken the shed burrow (#2). Squirrel #75 seems to visit.


This is the flag garden, nestled in behind the lilac. It was an attempt to video miniFred, who was climbing the skinny elm tree to the right of the flag pole. 

This is the very best spot for munching on milkweed plants! I'll only need a few blossoms to have seeds for next year, I write hopefully!  They seem to be their favourite food.






There seems to be two that always stay together. At least there is often a pair of the 4 kits. They are voracious. Watch as this one climbs the stairs and has full access to the garden. My dippy little fence is useless. 


 

 We've critters on the move in the night. I haven't seen any coyotes in the day time, but they are sniffing around!

 

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Kiwi Gardens Art Show

 Off we went. It is always a lovely show, whether we are in the market for new art or not. 

Driving through Tay Valley, with the creeks, is perfect.

We drove behind this Nash Metropolitan. 

We made it early, and found some good parking.

Zimbabwi artist, Chaka Chikodzi

A lot of artisans use recycled materials!
Beautiful sculptures, small and big. 
Can you see us in the mirror?!
Home and safe!