Summer Solstice

A late spring storm rolling in across the fields

Now that summer is officially here we can celebrate warm weather, camping, barbecues and hanging around outside.  School is almost done for the year and the boys can hardly wait to spend time playing instead of having to be in classes.

We've got some camping scheduled, so that's something to look forward to.  We've already had a couple of weekends away - with the in-laws, and with the London Jeep Club.

The Mounds

With the Jeep Club we went to The Mounds Off-road Park in Mt. Morris, Michigan.  We camped at Wolverine Campground - a great little park right on the shore of the Holloway Reservoir, near Davison, MI - and enjoyed getting muddy with a bunch of Jeep friends.

Christine managed to get stuck in some nice, thick, goopy mud.  Despite some wheels spinning and mud flying she was not able to get out.  With a little tug it all worked out.  The Jeep was covered outside and in.  Even The Teacher's daughter, who was riding with us at the time, was covered.  She was not impressed!

The Teacher climbing up the rock pile

The Teacher's daughter doesn't like mud...

Yeah...  She really does not like mud.
(Brother KP looks on in jealousy!)

Jeeps are just big climbers for kids to play on

Fun getting this dirty, not so fun to clean...  Christine got it dirty, I had to clean it.

Port Burwell

We went to Port Burwell Provincial Park with the in-laws and Tammy's family (you'll remember of course, that she started the feud).  It was rainy one afternoon and the mosquitoes were everywhere.  They weren't really biting but would get in your face and generally prove to be annoying.

The fishing was poor as we weren't set up with the right bait and so we didn't catch much.  Still, getting lines wet is good therapy!

Mosquitoes on the trailer tire after the rain.  

Big driftwood

Sun setting on the lake

Fishing until the last light

An old, decommissioned Lake Erie lighthouse

Sparks dancing at the campfire.

Father's Day

I have to show this picture.  It was of the Sunday afternoon meal we had for Father's Day.  Now this, THIS is a good plate full of meat!  (With a little greenery thrown in there for good health, you know.)

The Grand Pavillion

The backyard project has seen some good progress since Uncle Nate was able to spend a couple of days slapping some boards together.  It's getting there.  With some stain on the trusses and other bits it should be ready for the barn board and then the roof... and then concrete under it... and then a party!

A robin's nest just above the roof line of the pavillion

Discovering the real purpose of the pavillion

Random Pictures and Stuff

We've been undergoing renovations at work in the offices.  This has been 6 months of slow progress, but we're almost there.  With some ceiling tiles and a couple of small things sorted out we will finally be done.  I had to add some personal touches to the place because it was a little stark without some colour.  LP's artwork from school along with a couple of other little pieces add a nice touch.

Artwork in the new office

The boys gathered up some of the pesky pigeons that were dispatched from around the barns

A cute little critter peaking through the flowers

A very odd critter, indeed!

A rusty soccer net in a hay field

Don't leave your Red Solo Cup unattended - even with your name on it.

Here Comes Summer... Perhaps?

We seem to have crawled out from under our blanket of snow.  The plants are starting to bud and bloom.  And turkey season is now upon us!


There's been a lot that has happened since the last post here.  Nothing monumental, just an accumulation of little events here and there.

Two Shots, One Kill

Okay, maybe not the true sniper mantra but Logan was able to dispatch of a raccoon with the little blue Rascal rifle.  It was a first animal taken by both the boy and the rifle.  He was quite pleased with himself!

The easy part is over, now the work begins!

I've spared you the details and photos, but somehow the skin was removed from the coon, taken home and is now being dried and stretched to prepare it for mounting.  He wants to hang it on his bedroom door.  I haven't told his mom.

Go Wings Go

LP also got to go to his first Red Wings game.  He was so excited he sprinted up the stairs to the Joe Louis Arena.  I had to shout at him to get him to stop and take this quick, blurry picture.

Banners hanging from the rafters

Random Pictures

One day I was in the town of Dresden for work.  I snapped this photo at the main intersection because as soon as I saw it I thought of my younger-but-more-mature sister.  She loves spelling and grammar mistakes!  

For those that need help... in the top ad; the word 'PAYED' should be "PAID'.

Helping Erin and Nate move back into their old house.  We were of great assistance, as you can see.

Here's a throwback to the company I used to work for.  Cool to see an old drum of degreaser sitting out behind a barn.

A couple of students show the end results of their labours for the Grade 4 class project on the Mongols.  A talwar-style sword and a horseman's bow. There was lots of other stuff they displayed - but not as cool as swords and bows!

Random picture from behind the blind while turkey hunting.  Still nothing to show for the time and effort, but it's only a matter of time until our paths cross.

Family Work Day  -  2014

It was our turn to begin the onerous duties of hosting the first family work day.  The idea is to feed everybody in exchange for their labour and skills for one day.  A fair deal for us, not so fair for everyone working!

This year we were able to dig six - 4' deep holes for the posts of what is going to be the 'Grand Pavillion'.  Most of the work was done by the teens and LP, with oversight and supervision provided by Uncle Grant.  Trampolining was done by The Littles. 

Posts for the pavillion are planted

Added some pot lights, just because someone suggested it

Added a couple of plugs since we had the wall torn open

Wainscotting removed from bathroom walls

On top of those things we also opened up a can of worms when we tried to repair a small crack in the kitchen.  It turned out to be a bigger project and took most of the day.  Good to catch the problem - a leaking boot on an exhaust pipe on the roof; bad that it was so involved!  Thanks to Poppa, Uncle Nate and Uncle Grant for their help.

We were also able to install a new mailbox, paint a new cupboard and doors, repaint a kitchen buffet, swap in a new window in the back door, install pot lights and generally keep from hurting ourselves or killing each other!  We also had some people tearing out wainscoting and trim in preparation for painting.  Demolition is always more enjoyable than rebuilding. 

And to the girl-ers (Granny, Christine, Kylie, Erin and my younger-but-more-mature sister Marshy) for helping do all that plus help with meals, drinks and snacks; many thanks! 

It's a blessing to have family you can work with and still have fun.  They're good peoples.

Trapped In The Vortex

Hunting Is Work

At work I was tasked with getting rid of a bunch of file boxes with old documents in them.  I called up Farmer Bloomfield and made a trip out to deliver the file boxes to his burn pile.  Since I would be out there I figured it was a good time to take a shotgun and a few shells out with me and assist with some pest removal.  I managed to get three pesky pigeons - and unload all of the boxes!

The third bird landed in the poop pile.  I didn't bother going to retrieve it.

  

Bay Leaves

I have an awesome wife.  (I'm not just saying that, anyone who knows her will attest to it.  How I fooled her into getting married is a mystery!)  However, I think she may have gotten wise to the scheme.  You see, I think she is trying to kill me.  I think maybe her sister, Tammy (who started the feud, remember...) may have something to do with it, too.  

You see, I've found an unlikely number of bay leaves in my soups, stews and spaghetti sauce.  I know - they add flavour...  Whatever.  Do you know how many people choke on bay leaves each year?  Well, not very many, but I don't want to be the unlucky one. 

There is even a medical paper on the topic.  It starts the discussion section with the sentence "Reports discussing ingestion of bay leaves have been exceedingly scant".  They indicate 10 cases in the 40 year period from 1950-1990, and not specific studies on the ingestion of bay leaves. 

It may be safe (for you) to conclude that only a tiny, tiny fraction of the ingested bay leaves have caused problems, else there would be more studies mentioning such cases (and more cookbooks alerting the cook to remove the leaves!).  The paper mentioned is "Bay Leaf Impaction In The Esophagus and Hypopharynx" by Stephen K. Buto, MD; Tat-Kin Tsang, MD; Gerald W. Sielaff, MD; Laurie L. Gutstein, MD; and Mick S. Meiselman, MD.    Look it up. 

You would think she could come up with a way more creative way to remove me and claim the scant insurance pay-out. After all, she works with heart and lungs... 

Oh yeah, the soup was delicious!

The evil Bay Leaf:  bay laurel;  laurus nobilis

Polar Vortex

Well, this meteorological anomaly they call the polar vortex (come on, polar vortex?  Really??  Let's call it what it is... 'winter') has had us in the deep freeze for a while.  I'm getting tired of it all.  I am all in favour of winter activities but it has to end some time soon.  Spring has got to be right around the corner...  I'm betting on late May.

If it weren't for fenceposts it would look all grey with no horizon

Feels like -40C.  Yep, that's cold.

Dash camera photo, limited visibility.

The Dragonfly

LP has saved up his money from Christmas, allowance and wherever else he gets his spending money.  He wanted to buy a small folding knife.  But this is not just any knife, no, no, no.  This is a yellow handled Spyderco Dragonfly, with a rust-proof steel called H1.  This little thing is sharp as a scalpel!  

He had requested it and asked me to order it.  Since it was his money and a good chance to learn the value of spending on quality, taking care of your property and being careful with a sharp tool, I discussed with his mom and ordered him one.

When it arrived he nearly burst out of his skin!  He was so excited.  

Now, for those who might not 'get it', we have put certain restrictions on the use of this little tool.  He can't take it to school, chase his brothers with it or use it during dinner.  He's been instructed in the safe handling and knows to put it away when it's not in use.  He can't wait to put find any reason to good use.  He has a silly grin on his face whenever he gets a chance to trim a thread or open a cardboard box!  

Bonus - he hasn't cut himself with it... yet.

The Rascal

I was able to pick up a little rifle for the boys, too.  A Savage Rascal, which is a small, lightweight, single shot .22 LR rifle.  It's bright blue.  It is easy to load and has a nice little peep sight and a big, fat safety switch on it.  Perfect for teaching safe firearms handling and getting them on the right path for some marksmanship skills, too.

Thanks to Brother Bill for the photo of LP shooting

Brother KP with a dead Coke can.  Sorry to the Teacher for the wasted contents!

Happy Birthday, Special K...

Someone your age should be more mature...  Get that basket off your head!

The birthday girl - finally getting older!

Oh yeah, one more thing...


I've called our boys window-lickers at one time or another.  It's usually when they are doing something a bit strange or weird.  It does happen from time to time.  We were driving home from a weekend visiting the in-laws when Christine heard a bit of commotion from the back seat.  It seems Half Pint was in full 'window-licker' mode.


Licorice is not meant to be stuffed up each nostril, son.