50th REUNION

Yesterday was a special day for Owen and Oma as they got to spend the whole day together.

Owen loves Lego so much of the day was spent building cars and planes.

While they played I went back to the first school I taught at for their 50th anniversary.

Although the attendance was small it was still a pleasure to visit with those who made it.

Extra special to reconnect with those who were there the same time I was.

Not sure if I will be able to make their 100th anniversary but it was a delight to attend the 50th. Thanks everyone for such great memories.

This morning we will head home once we have breakfast with Owen. We will be back in Toronto on Sunday as Mary's surgery is Monday.

Thanks for stopping by and keeping an eye on us.

PRE-OP VISIT

We were up early yesterday and on the road by 7:30. Our destination was Toronto for Mary's pre-op visit. All went well and we were done before 2.

Next stop was Brampton where we drove up and down some of the familiar streets we walked every day years ago; lots of changes and improvements.

We planned to have supper at the Mandarin so we headed there just before 5. We were early and sat in the parking lot until it opened. 

Surprise! All my sisters showed up along with their spouses to celebrate with us. I turned 70 last month and this was a good reason to get together. Mary did an excellent job of organizing it and keeping it a surprise. Truly wonderful!!

Here we are in the "fish" room at the Mandarin.

The ladies posed for a picture. So good to get together.

Supper was over too soon.

A few last words in the parking lot, then hugs for everyone.

Time to head for home. 

Thanks everyone for coming, you made the day special.

LOG EXPO

Every four years the LOG Expo comes to Bancroft. It is an opportunity for manufacturers of logging equipment to display and demonstrate their products.

This truck is typical of the ones used to haul logs from the bush to the mill.

I like this trailer as I could connect it to my truck and load it with the attached boom. Looks perfect for the small operator.

This is a portable sawmill that can be set up for a day or week and quickly turn your logs into boards.

This one is demonstrating how easy it gets the job done. The bandsaw effortlessly sliced through the log. You decide on the thickness of cut and then simply crank the handle to work the blade through the log.

By Sunday these logs will all be turned to boards. They even have portable planers if you prefer smooth boards.

Lots of smaller tool on display too. This little saw and jig from Makita easily cuts into a square log to make a mortise and tendon cut. If I was building a log cabin I would want this tool.

Even got a chance to have a short visit with Peter who was helping out at the Northwood booth with Edward.

It was a great expo and I'm sure they will be busy again today.

Logging, it's the main industry in these parts and most jobs are related to it in some way.

Thanks for stopping by.

COMPANY FOR BREAKFAST

Company for breakfast this morning. She enjoyed her greens while we enjoyed our coffee.

Time to scratch an itch .....

.... then back to breakfast.

This was a great way to start our day.

Now we must get outside and do some weed-wacking before going to the Log-Expo this afternoon.

Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by.

TURTLE TIME

Yesterday was a busy day for the turtles. In total we saw six up by the house looking for the perfect spot to lay their eggs.

Once happy with a location they get busy digging a hole and backing in to lay their eggs. It is fascinating to watch.

It does get a little crowded at times. If you look closely you should be able to see three snapping turtles all digging holes.

This occurs in June every year and happens all over Ontario. If you happen to be driving down any of our county roads this month, slow down and save the turtles.

Thanks for helping.

If you were wondering about our "deer fence" here is a picture taken last Friday. Yes, she is inside the garden. Guess we need to add more rails to our fence. 

Safe travels and thanks for stopping by.

FISH FROM THE LAKE

Just finished our first meal from the lake. Linda and Durl gave us a trout they caught last night and it was delicious. Mary sauteed small potatoes with onions and herbs along with a dish of mixed vegetables. Truly a meal to make your mouth water.

We finished with a slice of homemade rhubarb, strawberry pie which was a perfect ending to a delicious meal. 

Rhubarb and asparagus from our garden, fish from the lake, I call that eating close to home.

Thanks Durl and Linda. 
Now it's time for a walk or maybe a movie.

Thanks for stopping by and safe travels everyone.

BACK TO THE DOCTOR

Yesterday we were back at St Michael's hospital in Toronto. We had a 9 am appointment with Dr Das and he was right on time. All doctors should be so prompt.

He explained what is happening with the tumor on Mary's spine and what options he has to address the problem.

We decided to go for the least invasive surgery which will open up the area around the nerve where it is being pinched. He will also take a biopsy of the tumor while in there just to double check the condition.

Mary will stay in the hospital for one or two days depending on the level of pain. Once home she will need to avoid putting any pressure on her spine until the pain is gone, usually about two weeks. After that mild activity is allowed until her strength returns.

When will all this take place? No firm date yet but he hopes to have the operation done within the next 30 days. We will keep you posted.

Until then we will continue to enjoy this lovely summer weather and get our gardens planted now that the cold weather has passed.

Thanks for stopping by and keeping an eye on us. If you have any questions just send them along and we will reply asap.

Safe travels everyone.