LizzieDotDot's five days

A long time ago, LizzieDotDot decided she was coming for a visit.   Once Miss4 was old enough to be left, LizzieDotDot’s hubby booked her a ticket for her Birthday.  We had been ticking off the days and finally she arrived last Saturday late evening when Small and I collected her from the airport.  We took the UK bunting with us and waved it in her direction, not that she was looking in our way.

We took her home where she emptied her case of ‘randoms and orange smarties’, we had a cup of tea and all went to bed.  Poor LizzieDotDot didn’t get a lot of sleep due to the time difference.

The following day, Sunday, Smallest made us pancakes (Small went off to work at the greenhouse) and we had a leisurely morning until Small came home and we went off to the Gourmet Truck Food Frenzy.  There we sampled Curries, Tornado Potatoes and MacDonalds coffee (yuk).  We didn’t like the dessert/ice cream selections so popped to the local supermarket, grabbed a cornetto each and headed for the harbour for a small walk on the beach.

That evening, Huffle, LizzieDotDot and I went on the train to watch FlorenceandtheMachine.  It was an amazing concert, outdoors in the sunshine (until it got dark).  We danced and sang and had a fabulous time.

On Monday, LDD and I went to the local Conservation Area and fed the chickadees, laughed at the squirrels and chipmunks and saw a raccoon.  We walked down to the beach stopping to feed birds and take photos before settling by the lake in the sunshine and eating our picnic.  It was lovely.  We walked back, through a bit of a swamp and went and fed the birds again.

On Tuesday we decided to go into Toronto on the train again and wandered StLawrenceMarket.  We stopped for a mid morning pastry, a coffee and a facetime with Miss4.  Next we walked to the DistilliaryDistrict where we perused shops, had a massive sandwich, a gorgeous coffee and took silly photos.  Then we went and looked at various sculptures around the city.  We finished Toronto with a wander round the harbour and a Gelato before getting back on the train and getting back in time to collect Smallest from his football game while Huffle watched Small’s game.

On Wednesday, as the weather was warning of rain and storms, we had a food shopping morning where I introduced LDD to Walmart and Dollarama.  In the afternoon we went for a lovely long forest walk before collecting Small from his mowing job.

On Thursday, LizzieDotDots last full day, I made the decision to drive to Niagara.  It was a long 2.5 hour drive but eventually we got there and went to see the Whirlpool where we met an old resident who told us about the catch pool that caught dead bodies!! And various other local information.  We drove, stopping for views, to the car park and walked through the amusement part of Niagara.  Noisy, bright lights, lots of people and then gardens and views of the American Falls where we watched the zipliners.

We had our packed lunch watching people feed a fat furry squirrel and picking the tulips (naughty) for the photos!  We walked to the falls taking photos and trying to get out of people’s way.  One man asked us to move (not very politely) so we stayed just that little bit longer.

We visited a few tat shops and then drove to the Botanic Gardens for a lovely walk in the sunshine amongst the many flowers. 

Next we drove to Niagara-on-the-lake whee we had a lovely pub meal and a wander along the shop Lined  streets.  We left to drive home around 6:30pm but my sat nag decided to take me a really silly way and it took us forever to get back.  However we did see a great view of the Toronto skyline.

The following morning we had to get up at 5am in order to get LDD to the airport in time for her flight home.  I had a fabulous time with her.

Her flight was on time but she had to land in Montreal due to a passenger medical emergency.  She got back about two hours later than originally scheduled but her family were waiting.  I bet they missed her.

Back to normal routine for me.  I managed to get through the rest of the day with just one tiny little snooze early afternoon.

Great visit.

Mamas Day plus Don

I was lead to believe that Mother’s Day, over here, was on a different day because it gave the weather time to warm up so the Dads could give the mums/moms a day off from cooking while they barbecued.  Why then was the weather so unbelievably wet and drizzly and miserable?

It didn’t matter to us, except that this is my day in our house, having no other of our Mothers living anywhere near us, and so I can do what I like.  Normally this would include a day on the beach, walking, picnicing or looking for Trilliums in the Forest   No Trilliums out yet and the weather not nice enough for beach so.....

Smallest made us pancakes for breakfast and we had a lovely slow leisurely chomp.  Smallest should have been at a practice.  Honestly, a Saturday afternoon in a non salubrious chain restaurant to celebrate the beginning of the Summer season and to watch the Toronto FC game (no offence but TFC are no substitute for our beloved real football games), followed by Mother’s Day morning practicing!  NO!

After breakfast I had cards to open with drawings from Small and a poem from Smallest.....

KING GOAT AND THE BOAT THAT DID NOT FLOAT
The King of the Castle was the goat
He was wearing his best coat, beside the castle was a moat.
In the moat was a big boat.
Guarding the boat was a large stoat, but the boat did not float.
So the Stoat wrote a note to the King Goat.
It was a nice quote about the boat that did not float.
So they took a vote, to fix the boat that did not float
And then the King Goat told the moat to fix the boat that did not float.

LOVE IT!!!

I was also given a Lemon Tree, a book about Lemons that Smallest won on MrsM’s radio show, a
balloon, hair bands, Hyundai Tyre Valves, chocolate, magnets and a fabric painting made by
Smallest.

After presents, I had a video the kids and Huffle had made which consisted of a Montage of British TV shows including, Ninja Warrior UK, Bake Off Professionals, Grand Tour, Gardeners World,
Undateables, First Dates, Graham Norton, A New life in the Sun and In for a penny in for a Pound.  It was very funny and they all put in a lot of effort.  The last one featured DonNoQuotey from across the road.  I’m sure he thought the boys were completely mad but he went along with it.

We had gone out for a lovely lunch the day before and managed a small walk along the harbour...........

 

............but Huffle insisted we go out again, stopping off at the cinema to book a later performance of Avengers (still very booked up) at 3pm.  Then we went and had Fish and Chips, intending on walking by the lake but the weather wasn’t good.  Instead we got a few bits we needed and then went to watch Avengers.  Small had already seen it with his ‘other family’ (MissNecessary’s family) but he sat next to me so he could explain anything too complicated.  I enjoyed it, it was very good.

I feel thoroughly spoilt and had a lovely day.

Goat herding

This evening Huffle decided we would go to the local goat farm for some free goat poo for the vegetable garden.  Sounds easy enough?  Well it wasn’t.  It was a proper adventure.

First of all, we got the directions wrong and ended up miles in the wrong direction.  We took two cars so we could fill up as many bags and tubs as we could.

We finally got to a run down old farm with a falling down barn and an old lady and her dog.  The barn was full of goats all in pens made of pallets and scrappy bits of wood.  She showed us into a pen with two goats and a floor two foot high of trampled down goat poo.  Huffle and Small started shovelling, but not before the two goats were ushered out to play with Smallest.  Smallest just laughed a lot and once or twice I had my coat sleeve chewed because I wasn’t paying “Fancy Pants” enough attention.

The woman told us about the fact she rented the farm, the electric had gone off in the barn and the woodwork was all done by herself and she wasn’t a carpenter (well that was a surprise as it resembled a goat shanty town with nails sticking out everywhere.  The goat next to the one the poo was in was called McNugget.  He was naughty, but not naughty enough to do what he was brought in to do #winkwink.  She said she hated him and we were to ignore him.  While we were ‘ignoring’ him, he jumped over the wall of his pen and broke through the fabulous carpentry and tried to annoy the dog who just had pups.

So there were two goats outside playing with Smallest and I, one rampaging goat bothering the pups and some more shut in their pens.    When we had enough and wanted to leave, Huffle felt sorry for the old lady and tried to help her get the goat back on his broken pen.  Small stood at the door protecting me and himself with a stick, Huffle had a broom so he looked scary and the lady was throwing things at it.  Once it was beyond crazy and scared and done several laps of the barn, Small finally trapped it near its pen and we got it inside.  During this scuffle, Smallest hid in the car.   Huffle put up a piece of wood to secure McNugget while Small got Fancy Pants, Blind Long Horn and Riley back in their respective pens and secured them.

At this point we tried to leave but the lady wanted to talk to us.  She was desperate for an electrician handy man, none of which we knew.  She had had several break ins so didn’t want to advertise that she lived alone.

What an adventure.  That’ll teach Huffle to try and save a few pennies!!

Congratulations on your new car

Grandma and Grandad left on Wednesday evening.  It feels like we’ve done lots and it flew by.  Shame the weather wasn’t a bit better (we do have snow forecast for Sunday).

......and just to keep a record of heights.....

And now the house is quieter and appears bigger.  We had a scorcher of a day on Thursday and rain all day Friday.  This weekend we have a quiz night to attend and a Jazz night plus Small wants to see the New Avengers film.  

I briefly popped to pottery today to glaze a milk jug I made ages ago.  While I was there I got congratulated on my new car.  Apparently it’s a Canadian thing.  Like when you have a baby!  I was also asked why we don’t say that in Scotland!!!!!

Here lies Grandad, roundabout but not forgotten

Small passed his referee exam and is now eligible to ref games 11v11 which will give him more money and more games.

Both boys took part in Bandstravaganza.  This is an evening where all Elementary feeder schools (schools from surrounding areas that go to the High School where Small is, grades 6,7,8) take part in a band performance individually and then all together with the high school band.  It is to showcase their talents and allow them to see what they could achieve if they take Music a step further.  It was a very good night and nice to see so many people playing that we knew.

,

The boys all went to the Golf Simulator and ‘played’ at StAndrews (but only six holes in two hours).  We all met up at a fancy cafe later for smoothies, ice cream shakes, cheesecake and crepes.  YUm yum.

Grandma’s cheesecake

My little crepe

The boys’ milkshake/smoothies 

Last week I finished my physio on my shoulder and started with the Chirpractor.  Earlier in the same day, Huffle had been to see the same person for his ongoing back/hip problems, but instead she sorted his neck which had pulled muscle.  She popped and cracked it and then did a similar thing with my
spine and neck. It was a very weird experience.  She also told me to use warmth instead of ice, stop
my anti-inflammatories if I felt they weren’t doing anything for the pain and start using my shoulder bit by bit.  I came out with much more movement in my arm.  I think I’m going to like this treatment much better.  I did however have a bruise that really hurts!

On Friday we went for a Birthday dinner (for Smallest, Grandma and Grandad) at our favourite
Italian restaurant.  We were supposed to go to a really fancy place but it was all booked up.  

Saturday evening we had Mr&MrsChristmas round for some card playing.  It was a fun evening with plenty of silliness.  We ended with some trivia questions ready for our quiz night next week.

Sunday we had an Eater Egg Hunt for the boys with clues and lots of eggs.  We decided to go out for lunch and ended up at the Chippy.  It was packed but we ended up with a good dinner.  Afterwards to we went to the garden centre where the boys bought me a Lemon Tree for a Mother’s Day.  Last week Smallest emailed the radio station where MrsM has her gardening show and won me a book about growing lemons.   No I have my lemon tree too!

During our trip, Grandad and Smallest were in my car and as we were going round a roundabout (not many roundabouts here) we almost got hit by a silly girl not concentrating, driving too fast and not abiding by the give way/yield rules.  Expletives fell out of Grandads  mouth and resulted in a discussion about life insurance and Grandad being buried in the top of the roundabout.

Monday the boys, Grandad and I went to work (greenhouse).  I potted things on, the boys moved woodpiles and Grandad, with help later, moved a whole load of branches from place to another.  We worked there until lunchtime.  It was a scorchio of a day and we got to sit outside in the garden (though Grandad was upset that it was allegedly 21* in his UK garden).

On Wednesday Grandma and Grandad go home.   Three weeks have gone by quite quickly.  They have seen all sorts of weather and have been a great help with the garden and house while I have had a bad shoulder.

Knocking our Granny off the log near the Ganny

Today Huffle drove Small to his latest referee course before coming back and driving the rest of us to Port Hope for the “Float your Fanny up the Ganny”.  This is a river race with kayaks and canoes and then crazy floats with crazy people.  It was started 39 years ago to commemorate the town when it was flooded.

We got there about 11:30 just in time to see the canoes and kayaks finish their race.  The river was very fast flowing and looked incredibly cold despite the nice temperatures of 13*.  When the sun was out it was lovely though the cold coming off the river was at times quite cool.  We wandered one side of the river watching the canoes and seeing the various stalls and then we crossed the busy bridge and went onto the other side where we settled in to watch the crazy floats.

We happened to be in a rapid spot where lots of people lost control or capsized.  It was very funny.  There seemed to be a lot of rocks in the river and I can imagine there would have been an awful lot of bruises and scrapes.  Talking of bruises and scrapes, Grandma fell off the log she was sitting on, luckily not towards the river.

We watched until most of the ‘boats’ came through and then walked into the town and got a nice warming hot chocolate/tea/coffee before driving off home again.  On the way we saw the finish line.  Bearing in mind it was a fast flowing river going in one direction, Grandma asked if the start was the same as the finish!!! DOH! The floaters have to get out of the water, take their boats and one,of the team has to get to the finish.  There are trophies and cash prizes.

It was very entertaining and made better by the fact we had our picnic with us including scones and jam and cream.

Huffle collected Small who had done his Part1 ref course ready for Part 2 tomorrow.  There was a lot  of Footballing in the garden, some climbing of ladders and then we went out for dinner.  Good day.

The upside down bench and seahorses

Monday to Friday

Our week has consisted of shopping for food, trying to find a bean bag for Smallest’s birthday, researching bike racks and buying bits for Grandads reconstructed bench and pantry shelves (every year he adds a few more shelves for my organising OCDness.  I am a lucky girl).

When we moved here seven years ago (eeeek) there was an old falling apart bench at the bottom of the garden.  We could still sit on it but it wasn’t very safe.  Grandad decided last time that he would mend it and what a fabulous job he did despite the fact we thought he had put the back on upside down.  Huffle, while we were out, etched a new sign for it.  It has now been placed in our vegetable garden and I’m sure will be used a lot.

Before

After

Yesterday (Wednesday) he mended our spinner which broke in the big winds.  Grandma bought Huffle a new spinner for the front garden but he mended the old one and is now trying it out.

Grandma has made two lots of scones, one lot we ate our way through (just to check they were up to standard) and the second lot were made for our picnic at the weekend.  She also made two lemon drizzle cakes.  One we ate as a pudding with custard due to it falling apart and Grandads ridiculously large portion control, the other was also for our picnic.  She has also made lots of dinners because my poor shoulder is stopping me from doing most things right now.

Grandma and I went to the charity shop and purchased some ‘seahorses’ for Grandad.  Like crocs but seahorses instead.  Oh he was pleased ha ha ha.

The weather has been warm, snowy, rainy, sleety and fog.  Hoping this weekend will be just right!