Jan 19, 2011

Here again, I see where this is going. Big lag time between entries and far too much to blurt out and expect a sane person to read! But I'm going to do it anyway.

We are now nestled into our 2 bedroom apartment as of the middle of November. This is the shot of the kitchen before we really put more items in... but it looks cool so far.

I had to change the colour of the grey wall because it didn't go with the new sofa colour... I ended up with a brown. It looks good with the Orange accent colour on the small wall in the kitchen.

The cottage had been locked up for the winter on New Year's eve day. It was the first time in 5 years that we didn't keep it open for weekend stays. sigh!

Now, the big news is that we're approved to adopt a dog. It's going to take a bit of work but we'll find a way to get him up here. Garin, a volunteer with WIN in the US has been exeptionally good to deal with (she'll read this so I'm sucking up!) and is going to make sure that if at all possible, we'll have Beckett with us sooner than later.

Here he is. He's the lighter coloured Wheaten. I can picture him, once he can be trusted to come when called, running through the fields. For the winter I'm thinking he'd be just fine snuggled between Darrin and myself on the sofa. OMG.. I just realized I'll be going back to poop-n-scoop days. Ok, it can't all be roses!

Summer has started

To the right you will see three boys... two of which are horses. The other is a sightly older BOY who has always dreamt of having horses in his life. My dream has come true and baby, it's all that I wished for, and more.

The addition came at a price. The setup costs were a bit steep but the proper fencing, electrical contol box, self-watering bowl, individual feeding bowls, and shelter construction were well worth it.

My involvement with Sadies Place ( http://www.sadiesplace.ca/ ) has been that of a 'horse hugger' meaning that with my limited training, I can only do so much with the animals while I have them in my foster care, but it seems to be enough for now. I am about to take "Horse 101" this coming weekend to learn more about the natural activities that I can tap into, or avoid messing with, while in my care.

Considering that the older one is only 12 and classified as being past his prime on the race track, seems truly silly. He is just now in his prime for being a trail horse or yard horse for someone like myself.

One day in the future I will be able to keep a horse full -time but until then, I'll volunteer myself, our yard and any ability I have for training, to get these animals to their Forever Home. If you're interested, check out the link I just posted and should you be interested or know of someone who is interested, I would be pleased to link you to the right people.

This now means that over the summer, my guests will have the ability to truly get the country experience while having the city just a 1/2 hour away. I'm excited about getting the boys out on the dirt lanes for walks. Pictures to be posted. Hiking with horses. I can see that being my summer goal.

So many moons have passed.

You know, as with all other things in life, things change. In this case, it was my dedication to this blog. Not many people I know read it often so it doesn't weigh on my mind when things get busy in my life.

This doesn't mean it isn't important to me, it just means I haven't 'booked' time in on this for one reason, or many others. LOL

This last year has been a good year and a busy year. The busy aspect I will take the hit on, the good, well... I'll just thank my lucky stars.

Now, for the update. The winter has come and gone. The fall was beautiful and the launch of my 'crazy busy' time.

I bought out the co-owner of a small 3 apartment complex that I happened to be part of, in October. Thus started the new and improved plans for my winter. We stayed out at the cottage for the winter and aside from the 1/2 hour drive into work, it was beautiful staying there. I had winter wood delivered and we enjoyed many an evening snuggled on the sofa in front of the fire watching TV or on the computer chatting with friends far and wide.

Our winter seemed to be filled with a lot of planning, and working toward winter rather than hybernating. My plans for the apartment house were throughout the winter as was my attempt to save for the construction costs.

We did enjoy the snow and had an Inner tube slide one day at Brookvale with friends. I, unfortunately, had a business trip but Darrin and our fiends had a good day on the hill and then came back to the cottage for hot chocolate and goodies to warm up. Wish I were there but they had a good time without me.

This spring has been a flurry of activty too. I started renovation work on the apartment in Charlottetown on the first of April and just finished on the 9th in time for a sub-let to take it on until we move into town this winter. Now... to focus on the summer and enjoying ourselves and those who visit.

Big news from the last year. I became a grandfather, again. My son and daughter-in-law had a baby girl on Dec 25, 2009 who is called Peyton. I can already see her dad fitting tightly around her baby finger. Mommy too seems to be fitting nicely into baby's plan.

Tomorrow I go to Burlington ON to have what I call a 'working vacation' to build a large patio for my friends' condo. I return to the deed of receiving horses on our property. We are about to become foster parents for two mares who are being rescued from being destroyed. I'll keep them on our property and prepare them for adoption by handling them and getting them used to being touched and directed. All of which will increase their 'adoptability' prospects.

I decided last fall to volunteer again to fill in my winter free time. LOL... that really never took place by the way. In my need to be around horses again I went into volunteering with an organization that rescues horses from being sent to slaughter. It's website is www.sadiesplace.ca Take a look if you wish. They do very good work.

I've invested a few hundred dollars setting up the property so they can be comfortable while they are here and they've got lots of space to roam around. When I get back from ON I'll be building a shelter before the two of them arrive.

The summer promises to be a good one. Lots of heat is predicted and I'm going to enjoy that. Heat here on PEI is not the same as elsewhere. We always have some cooling time through the day because of the winds over the water coming ashore. Then there is always the endless beaches we can escape to in a very short time. I'm lucky to have a very large and cold stream that runs all year long.

K. that is it for now and I'll try to be better at populating this.

Summer Memories

This one will be easy. It's the Fall and I've collected pictures over the summer from various events. I'll create a "My Summer" review to keep me motivated throughout the fall and into the winter. Enjoy..

Sailing was a big part of my summer... many summer evenings were spent on the water enjoying the Ch'town Harbour. Once, we went up the Northumberland Straight and now that I had a taste of that, I want to do more of it.

I like the shot to the right. It's taken off the side of the boat as the sun was setting.

Although I spent a lot of the time heading down to the waterfront to sail, I also spent time enjoying the ability to work in the downtown area.
As part of this year's tourism, there was the addition of a bronze statue of Sir John A. MacDonald on the corner of Queen and Richmond, otherwise known as the enterance to Victoria Row. As with many other changes in Ch'town, there was much ado about nothing over the installation. Yes, there were the immature people doing things with the statue for the tasteless tourist photo opp but over all, many people could be seen enjoying the sheer playfullness of the likeness.

To the right is the Coles Building at the foot of University Avenue. It sits next to Province house and tends to hide in the old growth trees.

Below to the left is a shop on Victoria Row and is just one of a number of things to see and do in that area. It's a mix of shops, sidewalk Cafes and restaurants. The sidewalk tables stay out into October but then move inside until the late spring.

To the right is the St. Dunstans Bacillica and was undergoing construction to update one of it's steeples. I would have loved to have been able to go up to the top and take pictures of Charlottetown from that angle... but they seemed to have expected that and cut me off at the pass by locking the gate to the scaffolding. http://www.stdunstans.pe.ca/ was rather interesting because it's such a landmark on the skyline of our rather flat waterfront.

The Main point of my summer wasn't to be sailing or any other activity. My main goal was to enjoy the summer with friends and family here on the island. I did go "off-island" a few times but generally speaking, my summer was completely and thorouglhly enjoyed with friends and family.. and friend's dogs.

This here to the left is my partner, Darrin. He's had a rough summer getting ready for his Architect's exams at the end of October so I had to entertain myself with him only being able to join in now and then. Don't get me wrong, he was very good about not making me feel guilty for enjoying my summer without him by my side. I on the other hand, did try to contain myself when I had an utterly fantastic experience. I'll make it up to him.

This is Isabelle and Theresa, the grandchildren. Any time I was able to bring them out to the cottage... I did. There was always the hour of bickering while the rules of conduct while at Grampie Doug's but after that it was fairly much fun and games.

The patio, when the weather allowed it, was a great escape to the outside but without the hoards of bugs to bother you. Thanks again Darrin for the screened porch.

I included this photo of when we had the hammock swings in place prior to getting the patio set. They always will be the quintensential indicators of summer and everything carefree and timeless for children. I can't go back, but I can visit any time I like.

There is one amazing thing that happened this summer, I reconnected with my cousins in St. John NB. I hadn't really been in touch with them since moving to PEI some 30 years ago. It wasn't a delay because we didn't get along... stuff just happened along the way that needed tending I guess. Anyway, through Facebook and a series of threads, I got in touch with one, then another and before you knew it, I was over in St. John having supper with them as if it were only a month ago that we had last seen each other. From the left, cuz Bonnie, Aunt Marg (mom's sister), Cus Andrea and myself. I hope to be seening more of them now that I have some ability to define what I want to do in my spare time.

As you may or may not have figured out by now, I truly enjoy my life and the good things in it. Family is first and without Darrin, the kids, and the grandchildren, along with my other close family, not much would matter a whole lot. Since I do have the good fortune of family I thought I'd take the time to let them know how much they matter to me.

The rest of these pictures I like for one reason or another and I'll add a little blurb to tell you why along the way.

I'm a sucker for walks in the woods a field of wind blown wheat, and fantastic sunsets. What can I say, there is no cure for that.

Now here we have a very good story. This is TammyFaye. She is one of the raccoons we fed through the winter or rather the early spring and through to now. Darrin and I sort of think of her as "ours" and even when faced with moving into town we were thinking of ways to continue feeding her since we got her hooked on cat food and peanuts in the shells. Sometimes WE forget that she isn't a dog.... don't we Darrin!

To the right is my attempt at growing giant pumpkins. You know what... I did. What I did not think about is ... what the hell do you do with 6 giant pumpkins in the fall? I have one destined for carving but in all reality you just don't have a NEED for giant pumpkins. I can't wait until next summer and try again to grow bigger ones. Darrin's dad and I know we can grow bigger ones than these. I think I see where this is heading.

To the left is a wharf shot of Victoria and about 5 minutes away from our place. Darrin and I had the kayaks out in that area this summer for the afternoon. It's great to drift along and snooze in the kayak. It's like a big cradle.

This on the right is my bridge. It has taken me two years but it is complete. I can now start the work on the water wheel to generate power for the cottage to keep it warm for the winter. It's also going to power the lights I have under the water in the stream. It's beautiful in the evenings down there summer or winter when the lights are on.

There are many many other shots I could be adding to this page but for now, this will be it.

Fall Colours

Fall has arrived

For those of us who deny it, there is no way to escape the obvious... the summer has passed for 2009. :( A sigh escapes my lips every time I think of it. I am, and will always be, a lover of summer. I can be the friend of the fall but I'll forever be the lily white guy in search of a tan.... never quite achieving that goal. Similar to poor Charlie Brown who will never kick that damn football. I know his lament for I will never get that tan. There is always next summer!

We have now hauled the sailboat out of the water, the lawn gets one last mow this weekend and the patio furniture will, with great hesitation, be stored away . It's time to stock up on the firewood out on the deck, locate the snow shovels and cover the trees that need that little bit of TLC to endure our Atlantic Canadian winters.

On the UP side... I only have one more mow to do on the lawn and this time I won't have to go at full throttle in order to out maneuver the misquotes and black flies! The trees acting as a backdrop to our place are creating a fantasic pallet of colour that goes without equal the rest of the year.

I think we (Darrin... not me) planted the fall bulbs too early. They're starting to pop up now. LOL

This year is a bit odd. Normally Thanksgiving weekend is destined as our official Anniversary date but unfortunately celebrations have to be put on hold until Darrin writes his Architect exams. It's 'head down and study' this year so I'll have to make due with what I have for activities. Our friends from Sackville, Jerry and Stephen, showed up last weekend for a visit but unfortunately I had already commited to a weekend in Cape Breton NS with my friend Barb. She had not been there previously and needed someone to drive. I've been there maybe 9 times before and loved every trip. This trip was just as nice and continued to thrill me to share it with Barb... while discovering more sites.

Labour Day home treks

It's now the weekend following the Labour Day Weekend. I have to tell you, the short week seemed longer than the regular week.... and I love my job! LOL

Last weekend I jammed as much into the period as possible. It was my so called Line in the Sand, for the summer's objectives. For all the days I said I'd go kayaking, working on projects and just plain old relaxing... I did in 4 days. I swore I'd enjoy local opportunities if it killed me. Well, it didn't kill me. Just the opposite as a matter of fact.

I started my weekend by working from home on the Friday morning just to get a jump on the resting. I'm an odd duck.. no need to point out the obvious. I started by getting the yard work out of the way. Mowing was first on the list since it really isn't a chore now that I have a ride-on mower.

Next came the planting of the trees we purchased early in the summer. Yes, you are reading that correctly. We bought trees early in the spring/summer and I still hadn't planted them. I could say it was because I was trying to place them for the optimum effectiveness, but that would be a lie. I lied a lot to a great number of people this summer. Matter of fact, any time someone asked why I had a beautiful Japanese Red Maple sitting in a pot next to the front walk. I'd say "oh, I can't make up my mind where to plant it so I'm just trying it in different locations". I ended up planting it in the last spot because I got tired of moving it around so it wasn't obvious I was just being lazy. I hope it lives at the end of the house. I hope I can find some way to explain the awkward angle it seems to have ended up having when I stomped the dirt in around the tree.

By the way, a word to the wise, don't throw away the tag that goes with the tree. Apparently it has valuable information on where to plant the tree and if that burlap wrap should stay on or come off. I opted for stay on in the hope that the roots would eventually work their way through. If not, I mark it off to Gawd's Will! It had nothing to do with sitting in that pot the whole summer. Besides, what kind of tree survives a whole summer in a pot with less watering than a cacti in the Sahara Desert, only to end up dieing once it's placed in real earth!

That Saturday morning I did do some work on my bridge to finally, once and for all, finish something I started. Well almost. It is technically finished, but I'd like to do more to it. As you can see here, it's a nice traditional bridge. It spans 25 feet across and is a wood clad metal frame to give the impression that it isn't too sturdy. It WAS intentional. I didn't want the local ATV users to think it was their way across the water. In essence, the bridge is made for ME to be able to cross the water, once I can afford an ATV. :P

On Sunday morning my friend Elly came over and we borrowed my partner's dad's 1/2 ton truck and took off with the kayaks down the Bonshaw river. The day was perfect. Elly had never been down this river before it was my first time taking the river out into the larger river area. It took about 2 1/2 hours but it was breathtaking. I'll have to do it again in the fall when the leaves have changed.

The rest of the weekend was spent just enjoying the weather and puttering around. I did PUTTER more in the tree planting activity on Monday. I now have over 30 new young trees planted around the yard. Darrin helped by pointing out that my arrangement wasn't natural enough so he strategically arranged them in 'natural' formats so as to look natural but good. Lucky for me Darrin is able to improve on Mother Nature's trade. Not many could get away with showing up Mother Nature, but he does! LOL

This weekend I have my grandchildren out for the night and tomorrow morning we're off for a breakfast with friends just before we all go out sailing. I'm holding off posting this until I bring back pictures of the day. I hope there are some keepers out of it so they'll have precious memories for a lifetime.

Waterworks works!

Great times on the Water and in the water

Last week we had a fantastic time on Wednesday evening. The weather was perfect, warm but the wind was a tad bit too low for strong sailing. That was just fine with me because I'm learning the process for flying the Spiniger Sail. I'd rather learn to do it with less wind and gradually move into stronger winds with more confidence.

Hope, Mary and myself were able to pull it off together even though we were missing Elly for that night. All went well and no major issues other than my ability to figure out where all of the sheets (ropes to the sails) were coming from and going to!

On Friday night we had my partner's mom and dad, plus his sister, join us for fireworks in the upper part of the yard. It's our way of celebrating when my grandchildren come out for the night. The evening found us sitting out in the lawn chairs in a semi-circle as I managed to set the fireworks off without burning my finger tips! It lasted for about 30 minutes with the amount I had on hand. After our little light show, we had a call from an appreciative neighbour who also had grandchildren visiting. Fireworks go a long way when set off in the countryside. LOL.. we warned the neighbours first just so as to not cause issues.

We filled the short stay at the cottage with a lot. I taught Theresa how to use a ride-on mower... somewhat!, we had fireworks, played in the yard with watersides, watched some movies, had great BBQs... a very fun time.

This weekend my partner Darrin and I are supposed to go hiking but due to work demands he'll not be joining me. I'll just go into the back fields and explore the old clay roads for a spell or head out for a sail up the coast to a little village call Victoria.

It's kept it's country charm while addressing the tourist market..it's a busy little spot as far as what they offer. I'll have to get more pictures of the surrounding area but here are a few.