2022-11-20: In a repeat of yesterday and the day before, we cleared snow today. This is the most we have every …

2022-11-14: I decided to leave the snow on our sales pavillion for the photo.

2022-09-09: Inspiration: we met this unidentified gentleman twice on our Lake Louise hike. The first was near …

2022-09-09: We bought some bear spray in Banff before heading onto the trails. It was reassuring to have but …

2022-09-09: Two more Sno Coaches make their way down the moraine and onto the ice. Notice the angle of the …

2022-09-09: The view out the front window of our Sno Coach as we ascended the lateral moraine. The road appeared …

2022-09-09: Our early morning trek onto the Athabasca Glacier gave us an opportunity to feel its vastness. It …

2022-09-09: I have never found an ideal way to portray the vastness of mountains. This photo is of the Columbia …

2022-09-09: We visited a few canyons to see how meltwater had shaped the landscape. I neglected to record the …

2022-09-09: Peyto Lake, Banff National Park: another stop on the Icefields Parkway. The parking lot was …

2022-09-09: We were at first perplexed as to why anyone would carry scads of rope on the Lake Louise trail. …

2022-09-09: Some people chose to ride horses on the same trail we hiked. Not my cup of tea but it worked for …

2022-09-09: Photos of Lake Louise without showing the crowds. Our early arrival let us see the sunrise over a …

2022-09-09: Lake Louise is gorgeous as long as you can overlook the crowd! By 9 AM, the parking lots were full …

2022-09-09: Spiral Tunnels at Kicking Horse Pass from Hwy 1, East of Field BC. These photos are my best effort …

2022-09-09: Several highways in Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks have wildlife overpasses and …

2022-09-09: The TransCanada highway is under construction East of Golden BC. I wanted to see it first hand so we …

2022-09-04: Wildfire smoke blew in yesterday and got worse as we drove west on the Transcanada highway. At …

2022-09-04: Sure are different warning signs on the highways in Alberta/BC compared with Ontario!

2022-09-01: There are two service levels on the Rocky Mountaineer: Silver Leaf (single story, panoramic view) …

2022-09-01: A laid back, sunny day in Banff and a chance for an easy ride on rented ebikes. A nice trail led is …

2022-09-01: Enjoying the view from the open air platform. Masks still mandatory on Canadian trains!

2022-09-01: Abandoned Masonry Bridge This masonry bridge was built ca. 1885 for the original route of the CP Railway. The bridge was …

2022-09-01: Construction on the Trans Canada Highway in BC near the Alberta border is proceeding as they widen …

2022-08-31: Our first view of snow-capped peaks was just outside Revelstoke and happily, there were many more …

2022-08-31: The food was delicious on the Rocky Mountaineer. This was the appetizer tray for 2 at lunch the …

2022-08-31: The last spike in the railway that united Canada was struck at Craigellachie in 1885.

2022-08-31: We passed many spawning Coho Salmon. Being landlocked, unlike other salmon species, these live in …

2022-08-31: Forests, rivers, logs, and railroads all go together. These logs were dumped into the river for pest …

2022-08-31: We passed or were passed by many very long coal trains. The hoppers were open as the coal had been …

2022-08-31: Day 2 on Rocky Mountaineer: Kamloops to Banff. Early morning sun reflects off the waters.

2022-08-30: This female Bighorn sheep was part of a large flock grazing beside the tracks. Females stick …

2022-08-30: This photo almost looks like a Christmas card cover. It’s typical of our view for most of the …

2022-08-30: Our track wound along the river gorge and there was usually another track across the river. Frequent …

2022-08-30: ells Gate. Lots of whitewater rafting and a jet boat too in this area.

2022-08-30: Fishing on the Thompson River. If you look closely, there is a fish in the net at the middle of the …

2022-08-30: Whitewater rafting. This was not the roughest section!

2022-08-29: Arrived in Kamloops BC this evening on the Rocky Mountaineer. Beautiful trip from Vancouver, …

2022-08-29: Several ships are in English Bay, visible from our first hotel room. Container ships, bulk carriers …

2022-08-29: All aboard the Rocky Mountaineer: Vancouver to Kamloops today and Banff tomorrow.

2022-08-28: Lovely view of the sunset over English Bay Vancouver last night as we arrived at our hotel. Several …

2022-08-28: Lots of sights to see in Stanley Park, Vancouver and environs today including Amazing Laughter at …

2022-08-26: Loving this time of year. Lots of fresh produce every day!

2022-02-26: Found these nesting sites in an old beech tree today. It wasn’t long ago when the top two holes were …

2021-11-07: This is the return of the red tailed hawk that was here to raise its offspring in the spring. One of …

2021-10-31: Gorgeous mushrooms from today’s hike. We are certainly lucky to live amidst such beauty.

2021-10-16: The Hoya plant my sister gave me a few weeks ago is doing quite well. I remember tasting their sweet …

2021-10-09: How is this for a bunch of Sweet Potatoes! Our yield wasn’t huge but it’s always fun to dig stuff …

2021-10-09: I finally moved some Doll’s Eyes / White Baneberryfrom our bush to a garden near the house. I just …

2021-09-27: We made tomato sauce today. Sure is nice to have so many beautiful tomatoes and our own basil and …

2021-09-26: The sun came out today to give us a wonderful start to fall colours!

2021-09-25: Bumble bee on sunflower

2021-09-25: I found a puff ball mushroom on the second last night of our trip in St Hyacinthe QC. It’s only the …

2021-09-25: I was quite impressed by the quality of trails in our national parks. This one is in Gros Morne NP …

2021-09-20: Visiting two fromageries today provided us not only with cheese but ideas for our maple products and …

2021-09-20: A fine, frosty, foggy morning to you from Grand Falls NB; 3 C this morning at 7:00. Life is good!

2021-09-18: Today, we went to see the large potato field behind the campground after watching a truck haul out …

2021-09-18: Fortress of Louisbourg, Monday, September 13, 2021 This National Historic Site is an excellent recreation of the fortress that existed on the same site …

2021-09-17: We had a special visitor tonight. The moon, the stars and the clouds all aligned and we saw the ISS. …

2021-09-17: I saw this seagull dive into the ocean and resurface with a crayfish. Once on shore, he started to …

2021-09-17: On Sat, Sept 11, we decided to stay put due to Larry’s windy remnants. The local lighthouse provided …

2021-09-17: Arriving in PEI meant another Covid checkpoint where we had to prove a 14 day stay in the Atlantic …

2021-09-17: Sept 16, we arrived in PEI on our quest for fine weather. Success - wearing shorts once again!

2021-09-15: Last night we stayed at the lovely Plage St Pierre in Cheticamp. The campground had most sites taken …

2021-09-14: Exiting the ferry in NS was a little slow due to the Covid screening checkpoint. Staff had been …

2021-09-14: The MV Blue Puttees provided a decent crossing from Port aux Basques to North Sydney. We rolled …

2021-09-12: We used some extra time today for another wonderful hike. This one is Danny’s Trail. Easy walk above …

2021-09-12: Karen’s steady hands on the wheel got us through Wreckhose NL today. Winds were strong but we barely …

2021-09-12: Score! We have decided to leave NL and spend a few days in better weather in NS and PEI - pending …

2021-09-11: 9/11 Perspective I’ve commented before but I’ll say it again, Canadian news is very heavily influenced by US news …

2021-09-11: September 11, 2021: Alternate plans due to Hurricane Larry Today, we decided not to travel as Larry’s western edge blew passed us. We had planned on …

2021-09-11: Wish I knew bird types better. We watched this little guy for several minutes as it briefly picked …

2021-09-11: It’s very hard to portray the vastness of Gros Morne National Park but this is probably my best …

2021-09-11: We are fine. Hurricane Larry hit the eastern seaboard of Newfoundland last night and did damage …

2021-09-10: Given the number of coves we have visited, surprisingly, this is one of the few lighthouses we’ve …

2021-09-10: Caribou! An early morning, foggy drive out to the lighthouse at Port au Choix yielded us the sight …

2021-09-09: Salt Cod Anyone? Saw some cod today. It was drying on a flake as we exited the campground. The fisherman was working …

2021-09-09: Wonder no more what the winters are like on the Great Northern Peninsula of NL. This ambulance is …

2021-09-08: An awesome day today up the Straits of Belle Isle and then across the Northern Peninsula to the …

2021-09-08: More photos from the Tablelands in Gros Morne. What little vegetation there is must survive the …

2021-09-08: While in NL, we have come across many different bird species, including this Ruffed Grouse. There …

2021-09-07: Gratitude: we don’t realize how fortunate we are until we can’t access something taken for granted. …

2021-09-07: September 7, 2021 St. Barbe NL Tonight, we are in the small community of St Barbe, home to a ferry that crosses the Strait of Belle …

2021-09-06: Always try the local beer. Quidi Vidi 1892 was delicious.

2021-09-06: Today, we walked on the Tablelands in Gros Morne NP. This is one of the few places where the earth’s …

2021-09-05: Norris Point is across the water from Woody Point and makes a lovely picture from the hiking trail …

2021-09-05: Woohoo. Gros Morne National Park!

2021-09-04: One of the sites from our hike today near Blow Me Down Provincial Park. This is the western end of …

2021-09-04: The Canadian election period is so short, we had little time to collect mail-in ballots before our …

2021-09-02: Made it to NL - Channel-Port aux Basques. Next three ferries were cancelled due to Ida’s remnants. …

2021-09-02: On board and soon sailing. Crossings after this one have been cancelled due to the impending storm. …

2021-09-02: Sailing to Channel-Port aux Basques this morning. Weather is overcast with rain forecast for later. …

2021-09-02: Wednesday, we entered NS via our first challenged border crossing. Despite having our authorization …

2021-08-31: Sunset over Coy Lake. I can’t wade to go in.

2021-08-31: After a circuitous detour around Riv. du Loup, and more construction on 85/185 Sud, we finally …

2021-08-31: Camping Transit at Levis QC is a nice park with few trees and many sites. For some reason, it …

2021-08-31: Many years ago, I was here at Camping Transit with a 20’ camper. The park was full but they gave us …

2021-08-30: Covid restrictions vary by province. QC and NB have no border/entry restrictions. NS gave us an …

2021-08-30: Our vehicle swap is complete! Drove west for 300 km, exchanged RVs and then drove back east 200 km. …

2021-08-29: August 29 Update from Saint Roch-des-Aulnaies (80 west of Riviere du Loup, QC) When life throws you a lemon, you make lemonade. We’ve just about completed our lemonade, but …

2021-08-27: Interesting defensive driving in Quebec. There was heavy traffic coming out of Drummondville and it …

2021-08-27: August 26, 2021 Cobourg ON to Drummondville QC I apologize for the layout of this post. One of my goals on this trip is to learn how to use three …

2021-08-26: Safety lesson for the day: when chilling down your pop, don’t forget to to take it out of the …

2021-08-25: Night one on the way to NL. Cobourg East Campground is clean and quiet with large sites. Nice to …

2021-08-25: Off to NL or ? Step one. Car is fully loaded. Pick up time for the RV is 12:30.

2021-08-24: In a few hours, we begin a new vacation - the first one since Covid and 18 months to the day from …

2021-08-03: An Ontario Native Plant Garden in Progress I like this photo as it shows a continuum of what we are doing with our garden. The flowers are …

2021-07-05: A Coral Hairstreak butterfly landed for a while on our Echinacea. Wildlife is amazing.

2021-07-05: An Indigo Bunting entertained us for a few minutes last night as he ate some of our wild grass …

2021-07-01: Canada Day is normally a day of celebration but given the discovery of hundreds of graves of …

2021-05-09: Our friendly fox caught dinner in front of us tonight. Our best guess is a muskrat but it’s hard to …

2021-05-02: Such a treat yesterday to find the trilliums we had transplanted into our bush a few years ago. They …

2021-04-24: A pair of Pine Grosbeak visited today. Sure is a great time of year for bird watching.

2021-04-19: Dose number 1 of AZ vaccine received today. Hard to believe we have multiple vaccines so soon. To …

2021-04-17: We think we have found the reason for the hawk’s presence lately. This appears to be a baby - lots …

2021-04-17: Another photo of the hawk that has been hanging around the past few days.

2021-04-14: A hawk joined us today and hung around for about a half hour. He moved from tree to tree and onto …

2021-03-31: Saw this fox tonight as he hunted for his dinner. Living here is very special.

2021-03-12: This blue line is number 5 of 8 that we use to bring sap down the hill to our sugar house. Close to …

2021-03-11: Winter’s last gasp? Quickly melting snow causes our property to flood. The mud isn’t far behind.

2021-03-11: Our sugar house in the morning sun. Snow is melting which can only mean the sap is flowing.

2021-03-09: For several yesrs, we too had to drive up north to make syrup. I would bring the sweet back to …

2021-03-09: First fire of the season - we’re off making maple syrup. Sweet Ontario!

2021-03-09: Remnants of today’s fire in the maple evaporator. As the sap collection is depleted, it’s a fine …

2021-03-09: Foggy windows in the sugar house can only mean one thing - yes, I was boiling today. First crop of …

2021-03-07: Four refrigerated trailers outside a vaccination clinic and a security guard posted nearby. I …

2021-03-06: Lovely to see these trees today that I planted over 30 years ago. They are over 10m tall and …

2021-03-04: And the cycle repeats…seeds planted for this summer’s crop. Peppers, basil, onions, and …

2021-03-03: In defiance of the very recent extreme cold, the sap has started to flow again this morning. It …

2021-03-02: Privacy is very hard to maintain any more. Technology has penetrated most aspects of our lives. This …

2021-03-01: One of the few remaining bottles of our 2020 Amber or light maple syrup. Now gearing up for 2021 …

2021-02-28: Looking up the hill from our collection point. All of our 8 maple lines come together just above the …

2021-02-27: No pompasetting here; just clothes for a day working on maple tapping. The vest carries my drill, a …

2021-02-26: My favourite sight at this time of year. The maple sap is starting to run. The bubbles in the tubing …

2021-02-25: This code says a fox is following a rabbit!

2021-02-24: Our maple bush is quite healthy. There is a mixture of sizes, from baby trees born this past summer …

2021-02-23: When I was an elementary school principal, I occasionally ate lunch with the students. My lunches …

2021-02-22: This is a typical section of our bush. The blue tubing is just under 5mm i.d. Tubing is connected to …

2021-02-22: How do you spell “crazy”? I spent time today on the side of this hill as I repaired the plastic …

2021-02-21: Blueberries and strawberries with butter and maple syrup for our Sunday morning special. Nice …

2021-02-20: Weather: 90 minutes after my last post, heavy snow is falling. I can barely see trees that are only …

2021-02-20: Today’s weather: -9C, feels like -18C. Partly cloudy with light snow. Wind is currently 22km/h out …

2021-02-19: Today, I started tapping my maple trees by drilling an 8mm hole into the tree, near a previous hole. …

2021-02-19: All of this deep snow is hard on animals and only the strongest will survive. However, the tracks …

2021-02-18: Two years ago, we moved into our new home. We used the tractor to move the bed; set up an aluminum …

2021-02-17: One year ago today, on our visit to New Zealand, we visited the Hokonui Moonshine Museum. We learned …

2021-02-16: In the movies, when they want someone to appear erudite, they give them glasses to wear. I have five …

2021-02-15: This morning, I was able to take this photo through a window and avoid a reflection. That’s a picnic …

2021-02-14: Compassion: the 95 year old father of a childhood friend has died. Sadly, as with so many other …

2021-02-13: We need to bottle our maple syrup after we make it. Today, we purchased 240 bottles @ 375 ml each. …

2021-02-12: Sporg (noun): non-vertical icicles. This phenomenon develops when icicles form at the edge of a …

2021-02-11: It won’t be long before this machine is back on operation. It’s an evaporator for maple syrup. Raw …

2021-02-10: Lots of energy involved here. Firewood releases its energy to warm us a second time when we burn it; …

2021-02-09: I got the blower back today and easily cleaned out the driveway. That’s the snow coming out of the …

2021-02-09: With all of our snow, it’s hard to believe one can get muddy. Lots of rivulets are still flowing, …

2021-02-08: Our snowblower broke yesterday before it cleared much of the most recent heavy snowfall. We can only …

2021-02-07: Sap Tanks These snow-covered tanks behind the sugar house will soon be filling with sweet sap from our maple …

2021-02-07: The Road to Maple. With its brow of icicles, our sugar house waits in falling snow for the maple season to start in a …

2021-02-07: I woke up yesterday with a craving for garlic, onion, cheese bread - a perfect complement for our …

2021-02-06: Very little sport is happening these days but we are enthralled by the Americas Cup Races. Last year …

2021-02-05: When Karen brought home this new dog bed a few weeks ago, we wondered if it was too small. However, …

2021-02-04: Layers of beauty this morning. Frost on the outside of the window made the sunrise sparkle.

2021-02-03: Comfort: cushy seat, wide tracks, fresh powder, warm clothes = beautiful ride.

2021-02-02: For years, my breakfast beverage was orange juice. With the pandemic, came an increased interest in …

2021-02-01: This little guy posed perfectly this morning for a close up. As much as I don’t like watching them …

2021-01-31: Karen and I have been talking about how we will resume travel when it opens up safely. Perhaps our …

2021-01-22: This bottle of Vitamin C, which I started about January 1, contains 500 tablets. I take 2 every day. …

2021-01-01: A pile of snow accumulates each year below the intersection of the higher house roof and the carport …

2021-01-01: Frozen apples on the snow. It looks like they were left by a squirrel as the only evidence of …

2020-12-20: As winter returns in Ontario, most porta potties at picnic areas are gone due to the problems with …

2020-12-09: blog.timokoola.com @SteveSawczyn would you be able to direct us to a resource for this?

2020-12-09: I’m working on a little something for Christmas. Shhh

2020-12-03: I’ve followed Covid 19 news from sources around the world. Each provider has a slightly different …

2020-12-01: I noticed a strange pattern on one of the windows this morning and realized the snow was melting off …

2020-12-01: Sure glad we have stained glass birds on our windows. Otherwise, I don’t know how we’d see many …

2020-11-30: Today I am very grateful for many things. The first snowstorm of the year has started and the …

2020-11-29: Started decorating for Christmas today. Can’t forget the eggnog!

2020-11-04: I’ve been building our house for almost four years and my workshop for about seven. Completeness is …

2020-11-03: I was wondering what would astonish me today. I’m watching the election results and that gives me my …

2020-11-02: It’s hard to concentrate inside when there is so much action outside the windows. Today, a small …

2020-11-01: Dreary but again, fascinating day.

2020-10-29: I have a wonderful collection of tools, including these wrenches. Why then, did I need a 15/16” size …

2020-10-28: We had a visit again today by a raptor. This one was much bigger than most. He made a very quick …

2020-10-28: This morning’s sunrise is beautifully reflected in the front window. It’s funny but I’ve never seen …

2020-10-26: Multiple Birds Today

2020-10-25: What day is it? Why it’s Toque Day!

2020-10-24: A little wet snow today didn’t stop us from draining our RV. It’s ready for winter and with a little …

2020-10-23: Grasshopper and flower

2020-10-23: Thunderstorms, tornado warnings and a rainbow this afternoon. It’s been a fascinating show.

2020-10-17: We love living here. It’s beautiful every day.

2020-10-14: Another day, another beautiful sunrise. It was very red today and the waning moon and Venus shone …

2020-10-14: Exploring a local back road for A Day In The Life. This Niagara Escarpment outlier was lit perfectly …

2020-10-12: Life’s simple pleasures. These photos were taken last night during a walk along my driveway - …

2020-10-12: Happy Thanksgiving everyone who is celebrating this weekend 🇨🇦. Smaller table but delicious food …

2020-10-12: Sweet potato harvest. All of these tubers from one tiny sprout. I’ve never grown sweet potatoes …

2020-10-12: Peeling, coring and slicing apples, into the pastry and onto the plate. Yum

2020-10-12: Here’s a first: there was a faint burning smell when I opened the dishwasher this morning. Karen …

2020-10-10: Three turkeys arrived this morning just in time for Thanksgiving.

2020-10-08: After installing Linux Mint, I have not been able to boot my laptop to Windows 10 for several …

2020-10-08: Yesterday’s production: 10 jars (500 ml) of maple ketchup. Our tomatoes and syrup plus garlic, …

2020-10-06: Three hours with a Bobcat and two loads of stone made a big improvement to the driveway today. I …

2020-10-05: Yesterday’s vegetable harvest - carrots, lettuce, beets, sweet potatoes (my first ever!), tomatoes …

2020-10-01: When I wasn’t watching clouds today, I wired my first patch panel. 13 cables of 8 wires each from a …

2020-10-01: Three photos of more or less the same area, looking east, taken over about 12 hours today. Sunrise …

2020-09-30: This Merlin hung around today for half an hour or more trying to get a bite to eat. Fortuanately for …

2020-09-30: Our soil gets very muddy very fast when it rains. Today was no exception!

2020-09-30: Our new patio and its view to the SE. The fall colours are glorious again this year but they seem a …

2020-09-28: Started the steps up to the patio today. Eight down and 3 or 4 to go. It’s nice to be able to use …

2020-09-07: More vegetables harvested today. Beans, tomatoes, lettuce (red and green) and walking onions to go.

2020-09-07: Tomato harvest time. 27 kg of Beefsteak, Roma and Tiny Tim became 10.75 litres of tomato sauce. Yum!

2020-08-18: Great Lakes freighters such as this one are made by welding together a grid of large steel panels. …

2020-08-16: This Eastern Towhee remained stationary long enough for us to get a photo which enabled us to …

2020-08-15: Not a silhouette unless you stretch the definition but lovely profile just the same.

2020-08-14: Found a giant zucchini among the leaves today. Lots of fresh veggies these days.

2020-08-13: Our water system. It first flows through 20 and then 5 micron filters and then through a UV filter. …

2020-08-12: Ding, ding, ding, pause, ding, ding, ding, pause, ding, ding, ding, pause, ding, ding, … the …

2020-08-11: Didn’t expect to watch the landing of a RCAF C130 Hercules transport today but when you see one …

2020-08-10: When we ordered our exterior doors, we had an option for wavy lines in the glass. By paying a little …

2020-08-10: With a gorgeous view to the SE, our house is all about the windows!

2020-08-09: I haven’t played much with the filters in iPhoto. When I took this photo of pre-English muffins, I …

2020-08-08: Our view is constantly changing but always beautiful.

2020-08-07: My wife and grandson went Daytripping to Blue Mountain Scenic Caves today. I’ve been a few times so …

2020-08-06: I was having a hard time thinking what I could use to illustrate today’s #mbaug word which is …

2020-08-05: Another photo of the stream flow from this week. We have had heavy rain off and on for the past four …

2020-08-04: Peace. #mbaug

2020-08-03: Lots of evidence of a bug infestation. Unfortunately, they have killed this tree and many others.

2020-08-02: We got so much rain today it felt like we were floating. Ended up with a geyser from a broken pipe. …

2020-08-01: Building up the patio; getting ready for concrete. #mbaug

2020-07-31: I downloaded the Canadian Covid alert app today. Anyone who uses Facebook and says they don’t want …

2020-07-31: Cardinal and Mourning Dove sharing a moment.

2020-07-29: Quarantines are forcing us to look at our own communities as destinations this year. We had a nice …

2020-07-29: Clouds fascinate me. Like many, these are gorgeous.

2020-07-26: Local Covid Precautions For everyone’s safety, please follow the directions. Home Depot Orange arrows on the floor - “go …

2020-07-19: An indigo bunting dropped by the other day and joined the goldfinch at the feeders

2020-07-19: Without anything to show his size, this looks like any other rabbit. In reality, he is huge and …

2020-07-19: One of “our” wild turkeys out for a stroll

2020-07-19: This pileated woodpecker sure works hard for his dinner.

2020-07-15: The garden is doing well. I finally had a chance to weed the asparagus.

2020-07-13: Best COVID Safety message yet! Wash hands, wear a mask and keep 6 feet apart! Terrific use of …

2020-07-11: Zucchini, cucumber and tomatoes certainly needed yesterday’s rain.

2020-07-11: The cycle of life: last year’s cattails mixing with this year’s.

2020-07-01: Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦everyone. Maple cheesecake anyone?

2020-06-29: Many, many issues are coming to the forefront because of Covid. Now, Ontario optometrists are …

2020-06-25: I put my tomato cages around the plants today and also transplanted several wild daisies. It was …

2020-06-23: I made some tomato cages today from sheets of concrete reinforcing mesh that were left over from …

2020-06-17: This fox had visited a few times lately but this is the closest it has been to the house. He …

2020-06-15: Slow but sure progress developing a lawn. The brown patches are either future gardens or have many …

2020-06-12: Cedar Waxwings - new to my list. I watched several eat some of last years’ high bush cranberries but …

2020-06-10: Canadians have been slow to start wearing masks in public. During the pandemic, we have received …

2020-06-03: This beautiful guy visited today. He’s a Pileated Woodpecker and stands between 30 and 40 cm. After …

2020-06-01: We gave up on trying to get our grass seed to grow. Instead we hired a hydroseed company and they …

2020-06-01: All wrapped up with somewhere to go. I moved two large rocks today with straps and a chain attached …

2020-05-31: Special breakfast today - home made English muffins which then served as the base for Eggs Benedict. …

2020-05-31: An Antonov AN225 landed yesterday in Toronto with 25000 boxes of medical supplies from China (thank …

2020-05-30: More progress today on assembling the CNC router. The X and Z axes are now one unit and the first …

2020-05-30: We had a new visitor today. Social distance was respected! (Thank goodness for a long lens)

2020-05-29: I played with a Meccano set when I was a kid. Now, it’s paying off as I assemble my Sienci CNC

2020-05-25: A fox came trotting along our path out of the woods today. I (wisely, I think) chose to put the dog …

2020-05-23: It’s pretty hard to get new grass seed started on 1000 sq metres but I’m trying. The leaves on the …

2020-05-21: First fruit blossoms of the season. Vegetation really popped today!

2020-05-20: We have been enjoying the birds so much, we decided to get a longer camera lens - 150-600 zoom. Wow, …

2020-05-20: Today, I was very saddened to see the local veterinarian euthanizing a dog on the clinic’s lawn. …

2020-05-19: I received a nice shipment of tools today and now have a new bandsaw, planer and jointer. Well, at …

2020-05-18: RENOVATION: COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED by Michael Litchfield, Chip Harley is an excellent book I …

2020-05-17: Violets, Vinca, and Trilliums. Lots of violet flowers yesterday and today. Beautiful

2020-05-16: Here is a great piece by Canadian grocer No Frills presented as an effort to remind people to …

2020-05-16: An Indigo Bunting appeared briefly yesterday. He is so beautiful I didn’t even notice other birds …

2020-05-15: A blue jay contemplates diving down to the feeder. Birds are very active at our feeders, making it …

2020-05-14: This is our stream looking up to the top where the water flows out of the face of the hill. The …

2020-05-13: It finally warmed up today and these lovely little yellow flowers bloomed to celebrate: Coltsfoot

2020-05-13: Lots of yellow finch today. They were very patient waiting for me to move away from their territory. …

2020-05-13: When we were kids, we played a challenge game where we tried to disconnect several twisted metal …

2020-05-12: Our Baltimore Oriole finally returned today! Orange bird on an orange feeder makes it hard to get a …

2020-05-12: After 25 years without a tractor, we bought a new orange Kioti and then an older Bobcat - both very …

2020-05-11: The pile of dirt left over from our house construction has finally been cut way down and blended …

2020-05-11: The old, red, David Brown tractor I owned in the ‘80’s did many jobs for me.

2020-05-10: Our view is always interesting. The hills in the distance are maybe 100 m above the water and …

2020-05-10: “Just because you are loud doesn’t mean you are right”. Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders to a …

2020-05-09: Everything is weird these days. This sunset photo is taken looking east. It snowed today - it’s May …

2020-05-09: Quote for the day: “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”. It’s not easy to try explaining …

2020-05-09: Many days I take a lot of photos. Cleaning the house took most of today so the only photo was of the …

2020-05-08: Brand new sign. Meaford Maples is almost open for business! Maple syrup anyone?

2020-05-08: “If a change you are making doesn’t make you really nervous, the change is big enough.” Unknown

2020-05-07: We just watched the most glorious moonrise. Siri was right on when she said 9:04! It sure changes …

2020-05-07: I got the yeast I ordered, Instaferm 01. It even had my name on it! Instaferm sells many types of …

2020-05-07: “Don’t ask the question if you don’t want to hear the answer”. Me, to teachers who should have known …

2020-05-06: A few long weeks ago when the province basically shut down, truckers were left with nowhere to go …

2020-05-06: Picked up a little flour today from Arva Flour Mills](https://www.arvaflourmill.com). 20kg should …

2020-05-06: “Life is a glorious adventure or it is nothing.” Helen Keller

2020-05-05: Lots of seeds planted: some for food and some for show. We are landscaping with native Ontario …

2020-05-05: “I touch the future. I teach.” Christa McAuliffe 🚀

2020-05-04: “Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man …

2020-05-04: I got my first-ever timber frame sawhorses completed today. In many ways, it’s similar to other …

2020-05-04: We have three types of lovely, small flowers already blooming in our bush. They are beautiful but …

2020-05-03: Very few planes go over now and the ones that do are often cargo planes. The one we watched last …

2020-04-30: The Canadian government, just like many around the world, asked companies to step up to help with …

2020-04-28: Stratification: I’ve started some wildflower seeds in the fridge. They are in plastic bags with some …

2020-04-28: I spent time yesterday and today moving dirt around the house in an attempt to blend it into the …

2020-04-26: I have been following the New Zealand response and success fighting Covid-19 and have been very …

2020-04-25: Several bags of firewood cut and split, ready for next winter. With big trees, we can fill several …

2020-04-23: I’m teaching myself timber framing. Test joint cut today. First project is building a pair of heavy …

2020-04-22: This just in: today, many items were out of stock and could not be included in our grocery order. …

2020-04-20: We’ve been making most of our own bread for a few weeks now. I can’t say I’ve ever used an entire …

2020-04-18: Garden progress. Rhubarb sprouting, cold frame in place but where are the peas?

2020-04-18: Modern day stone boat.

2020-04-18: Finally got it out of the snow bank! Who parked it here anyways?

2020-04-16: Mesclun and lettuce seeds planted three days ago are sprouting already! Fantastic.

2020-04-15: I just finished reading Cooped up in small homes and lacking awareness, Jakarta’s urban poor find it …

2020-04-15: A cold frame made from a spare screen door. Now if the snow would just go away…

2020-04-15: Seeds planted for tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. Food security means a certain self-sufficiency this …

2020-04-12: We have now processed the last of this year’s maple syrup. Sap continues to flow but it is worthless …

2020-04-12: A week ago, we went for a nice bike ride through the local base where there was no traffic. No such …

2020-04-12: Time for some virtual travel. I found this interesting documentary modelled after the “slow TV” …

2020-04-10: I’m not a religious person but when I heard there was a Good Friday service held inside Notre-Dame …

2020-04-08: A row of snap peas ready to plant. We can’t wait for the harvest.

2020-04-08: Proud syrup maker! 50 litres of beautiful, light coloured Sweet Ontario Maple Syrup bottled today.

2020-04-06: Today, I made more steps towards food self-sufficiency by working my garden. I doubt I have ever …

2020-04-05: We left our Christmas lights up this year to blink in the quiet night. They look nice, it feels good …

2020-04-02: Sprouting rhubarb and weeds. A sure sign of spring.

2020-04-02: Pussy willows pointing to the moon.

2020-04-01: This was the scene yesterday in my ophthalmologist’ s office. The room is normally standing room …

2020-03-31: A look inside the evaporator at the end of the day. The fire has died down; exposed grates have …

2020-03-31: “Firing” the evaporator. See previous post for a description. This has to be done as fast as …

2020-03-31: My maple evaporator, ready to add firewood: armful of firewood on a chair; fan blowing into firebox; …

2020-03-29: Gone in a Few Minutes: 43 Years of Growth Beards and masks don’t get along. For a few weeks now, I have wondered if/when I would need to shave …

2020-03-27: This story, COVID-19: The New Normal gives us a great perspective of how things have changed from a …

2020-03-26: Views of Auckland New Zealand. February, 2020 From the quai; from Rototora Island; from the water in …

2020-03-24: How Big is the World? Yesterday, I planned a post about meeting international travellers and my concern about how they …

2020-03-22: From my brother before he departed Cancun airport tonight: “50 airport employees are holding up …

2020-03-22: This flight is bringing my brother home from Cancun. Thank you Interjet!

2020-03-19: Sap collection point. Today, I added lines 6 and 7. I may tap the 8th section tomorrow. Each line …

2020-03-19: Here is a really good article by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, the founder of The Next Web. If we …

2020-03-19: A flock of Canada Geese demonstrate perfect social distancing. Are you following their lead?

2020-03-18: Maple sap flowing into the evaporator. The tank holds about 400 litres and was full about an hour …

2020-03-18: Our first maple syrup of the year. The syrup flows out of the evaporator every few minutes whenever …

2020-03-18: Maple syrup! Most of the steam is collected by a hood and gets exhausted out the roof. The front …

2020-03-18: Here is some hope. A group of residents at Massachusetts General Hospital is developing a design …

2020-03-18: Good morning sunshine

2020-03-17: The sky is almost silent now. We usually see and hear several planes during our evening dog walk. …

2020-03-16: What is it with toilet paper? This virus does not give people diarrhoea. Limit of two packages …

2020-03-16: World-wide, hospitals are clamouring for ventilators. The supply is, sadly, very limited but the …

2020-03-15: Rolling Down the Highway immediately came to mind when I saw this photo today. There was certainly a …

2020-03-14: New favourite pizza compliments of our trip to NZ. We had it twice but the one at Mt Cook Village …

2020-03-14: Please read this Stoic link to Covid-19. It’s probably the best coping advice of the multitude that …

2020-03-13: The evaporator has two pans - a sap or flue pan with a large surface area and a flat syrup pan. As …

2020-03-13: Parts of a maple syrup evaporator. These pieces make up three boxes that hang on the outside of the …

2020-03-11: Maple sap tanks are now cleaned and ready. Five small lines feed them and larger tubing caries the …

2020-03-09: What will the cruise ship industry look like in a couple of years? How many of these cruise lines …

2020-03-08: Another sign of spring - our first tapping of the season. We look for evidence of previous taps and …

2020-03-08: The Pussy Willows are starting to bud. That’s a sure sign of spring around here! (That and a high of …

2020-03-07: Perfect night for an owl prowl at Wye Marsh - a little below freezing, snow-packed trails, and a …

2020-03-03: Today, I started relocating the sap lines (5mm plastic tubing) to the new sugar house. Walking on …

2020-03-02: Getting ready for maple. We are missing a few sap flows as we finally set up our sugar house but …

2020-03-01: The vision in my left eye is distorted. Every four weeks or so, I get my vision assessed, often with …

2020-02-29: Formerly, I only used my DSLR’s Auto setting. This trip, I took 4000 photos with Aperture Priority …

2020-02-28: The follow-up to our Auckland eBike tour included a link to group photos from the ride. We also …

2020-02-28: A slow moving transport truck is already in low gear just below Arthur’s Pass NZ. A challenging …

2020-02-27: Review of Auckland Classic eBike Tour Power to the Pedal This was a wonderful experience. Neither of us had previously ridden eBikes and …

2020-02-27: Together at the end of the rainbow in Makarora NZ. We found the $2 coin beside our camper as the …

2020-02-26: After our NZ escape, we cleared our driveway with our snowblower. For those unfamiliar, chains go …

2020-02-26: Many companies support tourists throughout the world. In NZ, there are many that rent campervans …

2020-02-26: Before our escape to NZ, I put my Escape into the garage.

2020-02-25: 41 hours after wheels up in Christchurch, our own driveway: the final hurdle. Last year, after …

2020-02-25: A day with 42 hours: double sunrise; double sunset. Sun up in Christchurch NZ; sunset in Auckland; …

2020-02-24: This double vehicle is called a Hägglund. Fascinating information about the Antarctic at this …

2020-02-23: Another of the world’s abandoned stations. This father and son captured many poses of each other …

2020-02-23: Stations, stations, and more stations. What a great journey indeed.

2020-02-22: Quite a spectacle. 3 endangered kea on a campervan roof. The man in the photo travelled from Florida …

2020-02-21: Making great progress on my list of birds: Yellow-crowned Parakeet and a Weka

2020-02-21: Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, little progress has been made in the restoration of …

2020-02-20: Scale: we are but specks on this thing called Earth. #franzjosefglacier

2020-02-19: Nice space for a campervan

2020-02-18: Prohibition in the 18 and 1900’s. The great debate. People were either for it or they would oppose …

2020-02-17: Little blue penguins. So cool! (No photos allowed; this is from a post card)

2020-02-17: Also cool.

2020-02-17: Cool!

2020-02-16: Nice to see a city try to balance nature with urban life.

2020-02-15: I didn’t even need a rest after riding one of these on some hills. Gotta love eBikes.

2020-02-14: Can’t you just feel the warmth in this sunrise?

2020-02-13: See the mountains rise up in the distance beyond the concentric circle of the irrigation system and …

2020-02-12: Generally, when we are travelling, I have a strong attachment to the steering wheel. Today was …

2020-02-11: A plain wall with great significance for 185 people and their families re: February 22, 2011 Oi …

2020-02-10: Signs, Signs, Signs. I Asked The Man Where To Go For A Pizza... Saturday Sunday Monday

2020-02-09: There was a lull in the traffic and but it ended quickly.

2020-02-08: Two photos taken about two weeks apart. Talk about a contrast!

2020-02-07: Looking down from above and up from below. Lots of construction downtown.

2020-02-06: A new plant for my list. I think it’s time for tea!

2020-02-05: Where I hide stuff when I’m travelling.

2020-02-04: I’m participating in the February MB Photo Challenge: 30 photos in 30 days. The spot on the …

2020-02-03: Taking time to reflect.

2020-02-02: Today is Ground Hog Day. The sight of this shadow greeted me this morning.

2020-02-02: The whole story. Delicious results first time ever!

2020-02-01: The wood stove door is open so I can flip the steaks!

2020-01-31: The feed tank is finally in the sugar house! We bought a lot of maple equipment a few years ago and …

2020-01-31: Air Fare Logistics Interesting experience today booking a flight within NZ. I needed to add a leg to our return trip to …

2020-01-27: Another bird photo while I play with aperture settings. I took a lot of photos today; some …

2020-01-27: Our dog Rusty has become more attached to me recently as we have been spending more and more time …

2020-01-27: Avoid Fake News: do your own research In an earlier blog post, I provided a link to an article I wrote pertaining to a proposed pumped …

2020-01-24: Family Portraits Through my recent work with my family’s history, I have gained an immense respect for the value of …

2020-01-24: Preserving Family Memories Due to the ease of saving digital photos, many people, including me, now take pictures several times …

2020-01-24: Family Memories For the past while, I have been putting together some displays about our family history in …

2020-01-18: Today’s heavy snowfall kept us from relocating our bags of firewood from our bush on top of the …

2020-01-18: Last Monday, I posted a stock image of a red-bellied woodpecker as I forgot I had an adapter that …

2020-01-18: At a meeting Thursday evening regarding a proposed pumped storage facility in our community, this …

2020-01-18: At last weekend’s seminar, we were shown an image of an outline in the snow made by a raptor …

2020-01-13: We were visited briefly today by a red-bellied woodpecker. He was here to eat a few whole peanuts …

2020-01-13: I also booked an eBike tour of Auckland with Power to the Pedal. Given all the cycling I’ve done, I …

2020-01-13: More bookings today for New Zealand. Accommodation is now secured for Wellington, Christchurch and …

2020-01-12: Learn something new every day. Today we attended a fascinating workshop at Wye Marsh about local …

2020-01-12: As of 11:00 pm last night, there was about 1 cm of ice on all surfaces outside. It is beautiful but …

2020-01-07: Air BnB apartment booked for a few days in Auckland. Less money than most hotels and we get a …

2020-01-07: New Zealand trains and a ferry booked. Day 1, Northern Explorer (Auckland to Wellington) and day 2, …

2020-01-05: Today, we returned to Canada from a US maple syrup conference. CBSA interrogation: “How much did you …

2020-01-04: In keeping with my last post on environmentalism, here is an excellent article on reducing waste. …

2020-01-03: If Thailand can ban plastic bags, why can’t every country do the same? Even without legislation, we …

2020-01-03: My perpetual New Years resolution is to learn something new. This year, it’s Fusion 360, CAD …

2020-01-01: Repurposed Christmas tree - now shelter for the birds. Great idea from the Nature Conservancy of …

2020-01-01: Fifteen centimetres of snow - not a lot but enough to justify getting out the tractor. Life is good.

2020-01-01: The “after party”. Santas are done for this year and headed south for the next several months. It …

2020-01-01: Stuck in the snow. This abandoned car sits on our property looking forlorn but providing …

2020-01-01: Aebleskiver with maple syrup and back bacon for New Years brunch. (We are Canadian after all!). …

2019-12-29: Uh oh. Brand new tv right out of the box. :-(

2019-12-25: Another Christmas tradition. Eggnog with Goldschlager and fresh ground nutmeg. Fresh bread too!

2019-12-19: Yesterday we had a snowsquall warning. Early in the morning, we received a quick 15cm dump but very …

2019-12-18: Getting ideas today for my new drill press. Bit holder, table, and dust collector all in one video. …

2019-12-17: If you have a LifeLabs online account, you need to immediately change your password due to a recent …

2019-12-17: Whew! We have a campervan secured! Now I can book the train and ferry. I will also fine tune our …

2019-12-16: Negotiating for a campervan for our NZ trip. I left it a little late but there is till hope. We may …

2019-12-15: New Zealand Prep Spent some time setting up our New Zealand trip today. It started with an email from Air NZ saying …

2019-12-12: My favourite movie is Chevy Chase’s _Christmas Vacation _. In one scene, Cousin Eddie is shown …

2019-12-11: This evening, we went to an info session about the pumped energy storage facility proposed for our …

2019-12-10: At Christmas time, as kids, we had special stars that would hang in the opening between the kitchen …

2019-12-09: Wow! Down comes the building permit!!!!!

2019-12-08: Nuts and Bolts - first batch today. It’s a tradition.

2019-12-08: Looks better now!

2019-12-07: Today, we visited Legacy Lumber in Mississauga and saw some beautiful urban salvage live edge …

2019-12-06: Our ninth(!) Christmas together and our first tree. It needs decorations doesn’t it.

2019-12-05: Today, I installed the ceiling in our office. One more step towards completion.

2019-12-04: In 2020 and for the third summer in a row, Meaford will be replacing a bridge. We went to the info …

2019-12-04: Instead of “Elf on a shelf”, we have “Santas on a shelf” x 2. They can watch for the naughty one …

2019-12-03: I have been using Linux for the past few weeks. Before today, I didn’t see much reason to return to …

2019-12-02: Very special day as we passed our final building inspection today! I even discussed my plans to …

2019-12-01: Hohoho the gang’s all here getting ready for Christmas. Now they will wander off to various spots …

2019-12-01: The storm rolled in as predicted: strong wind and freezing rain. We watched it approach over the …

2019-11-30: Winter is ready to rear it’s head again - ice and snow predicted for tomorrow. Hopefully it won’t be …

2019-11-29: How do you move a shed? Why, you drive inside and push it. A spotter helps because one is quite …

2019-11-28: Today was a very significant day. We received a final electrical certificate for the house and I …

2019-11-27: Today I made a piece of chimney pipe for the evaporator and suspended the front steam hood. Won’t be …

2019-11-26: Here is a really good Cybersecurity article from Wired How to Avoid Black Friday and Cyber Monday …

2019-11-25: I made some pretzels yesterday. It was easy to do with a bread machine: ingredients in; wait two …

2019-11-24: We waited a long time to do this. Three tanks are now placed behind our sugar house, ready for maple …

2019-11-23: This is one of Karen’s favourite spots in our bush. Last week, there were small footprints around it …

2019-11-23: I love taking photos and do so several times every day so I was thrilled to learn of a new app,from …

2019-11-22: I spent a long time today fitting a newel post around a stair stringer and tread. I haven’t done …

2019-11-21: Last night, we received an email from Air New Zealand informing us of the need to apply for an …

2019-11-20: Another step today in the long journey of building the house. I had most of the hardwood installed …

2019-11-19: The blanket of snow is slowly dripping away. This photo was taken to show me the profile of the …

2019-11-18: I had to dodge the snow falling off the roof and weave a path where snow sort of covered the mud in …

2019-11-17: Sign outside a local grocery store. Excellent!

2019-11-16: Great day in the bush today. Cold but sunny which is good for working. The snow kept our logs clean …

2019-11-15: Perspectives on the weather Picking up the lumber today again took me into Mennonite country. The snow caught everyone in …

2019-11-15: I picked up some timber today for the start of a new hobby. Pine 4x4s, 2x6s, and 4x6s for a couple …

2019-11-14: Reading posts from around the world highlights vast time differences. I just read something from NZ …

2019-11-14: Sleeping downstairs tonight while the clear coat hardens on the stairs; ready for light traffic …

2019-11-13: The most beautiful of sunrises this morning. It was snowing with huge, fluffy flakes as the light …

2019-11-13: Shining tractor chains again today. (They get very rusty over the summer. Driving with them easily …

2019-11-12: Winter has arrived with our first significant dump of snow. I thought I was ready but it took most …

2019-11-11: At the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, We Remember.

2019-11-10: I sure enjoyed the beer at Riverside Brewing Company in Cambridge Springs Pennsylvania. Sadly, they …

2019-11-10: For some reason, guitars followed us around this weekend. The first photo was in a building I toured …

2019-11-09: Dinner tonight with our niece. She’s doing well in her first year of university.

2019-11-08: Nice reuse of old sap buckets and lids as light fixtures. I think I have some of those too ready for …

2019-11-08: Toured a microbrewery today. Interesting (delicious) blending of ingredients including maple syrup …

2019-11-07: Well, the snow is here. Forecast calls for a possible 20-30cm tonight. I didn’t get the snow blower …

2019-11-06: Do you ever read the terms and conditions before using an app? Those using FaceApp have agreed to …

2019-11-06: Out on the ATV today to roll the driveway. It was too wet last week when I placed the stone but …

2019-11-05: Two years ago, travel in SE Asia introduced me to Singapore-based Channel News Asia. Their website …

2019-11-04: I got the evaporator levelled today. I had to move it slightly so the chimney would clear the truss …

2019-11-03: Good morning. Sunrise was a little different today!

2019-11-02: Car shopping today but no money exchanged hands. It sure will be nice to have some technological …

2019-11-01: There is a proposal in Meaford for a pumped energy storage facility that has generated a huge …

2019-11-01: For some reason, the Blue Jays decided to use our carport to get out of the wet snow this morning. …

2019-10-31: I learn a lot about technology from podcasts. The October 24 Hacking Humans podcast describes an …

2019-10-31: I’m going to miss Halloween today as it’s unlikely anyone will visit. I used to meet kids on the …

2019-10-31: The cost of checking out yesterday’s digging. My boots were like this all day yesterday and even …

2019-10-31: Snow in the forecast tonight. I spent time today getting ready by putting stuff under cover. Just in …

2019-10-30: After dinner tonight, we went to a business incubator event that was modeled after Dragons Den/Shark …

2019-10-30: Went out tonight for supper and had a lovely rabbit dish. I didn’t wake up this morning thinking, …

2019-10-29: A real clothesline! To dry our clothes, we’ve been using a rope strung along the driveway since we …

2019-10-28: New Zealand: Air travel considerations and booking There are many options for flying from Toronto (YYZ) to Auckland, NZ (AKL). At the time we are …

2019-10-28: New Zealand: Initial planning Yesterday, we booked tickets to New Zealand and I’ve started researching other parts of the trip …

2019-10-28: Travel Blogging One goal I have had for some time is to share our travel experiences so others can benefit - paying …

2019-10-27: Trip to NZ booked!

2019-10-26: We did it! The evaporator is in its new home. It was all the tractor could lift but it did. The …

2019-10-26: This large rock had to be moved when we installed our driveway. It now sits upside down awaiting its …

2019-10-26: A few years ago, we purchased a used evaporator for our maple syrup business. We moved it a few …

2019-10-24: Winter tires are now on both cars. I’m glad we beat the weather this year. Good to have a little …

2019-10-23: This trailer played a big role in the house construction. Originally, it belonged to my dad and then …

2019-10-23: We started building this house over five years ago now. Today, I started installing baseboard which …

2019-10-22: We are very lucky to have access to such a wonderful medical system. I had another Dr appointment …

2019-10-21: Election Day in Canada. Voting renews your right to complain about the decisions made in Ottawa. I …

2019-10-20: When a tree falls in the forest… it sometimes reveals even more beauty. Today, we found two …

2019-10-19: It’s getting dark and chilly but there is life all around. The coyotes are howling across the …

2019-10-18: Toasty!

2019-10-18: Getting ready for the snow with a fresh coat of paint on the winter rims. It seems early but last …

2019-10-17: Dreary day today so I spent time planning a trip to NZ; sure are lots of flight options but none of …

2019-10-16: October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. Stay Safe Online has a wonderful Cyber Security blog …

2019-10-16: I think it’s going to rain soon!

2019-10-15: Today, I helped my brother and nephew put the trusses onto their workshop. More skills from my past …

2019-10-15: Rusty is a lovely dog. Unfortunately, she doesn’t like tractors, skid steers, ATVs or riding …

2019-10-14: Nice to have a fire to warm the house after a long drive.

2019-10-13: Nice walk on a trail today in Kemptville.

2019-10-13: Found a good app to help me identify plants.

2019-10-12: Somber day today. Xo

2019-10-12: I spent time today helping two families with children who aren’t doing well in school. It was nice …

2019-10-11: Yellow and red oak leaves in Algonquin and burgundy and green in Meaford; more beauty from nature.

2019-10-11: Algonquin Park was beautiful this afternoon. Many of the trees have already lost their leaves but …

2019-10-11: We’ve been invaded by Robins! For the past few days, a flock of maybe a dozen has been flitting …

2019-10-10: Nice visit today with Dad.

2019-10-10: The maples are at their finest now.

2019-10-09: I don’t think I will ever get tired of watching sunrises or sunsets. Today gave us another glorious …

2019-10-08: Playing in the dirt again today. Yesterday’s aggregate delivery is now part of the driveway and …

2019-10-07: It is very important to use strong, unique passwords. Using a password manager is the best plan but …

2019-10-07: Sailing hydrofoil-supported catamarans is certainly different to the Petrels I used to learn to …

2019-10-06: As we’ve moved dirt around for the house, we have found many remnants of the old farm. This week, we …

2019-10-05: A bit of the Niagara Escarpment today; Inglis Falls to be precise.

2019-10-04: More examples of nature’s beauty.

2019-10-04: While out for a walk in the woods today, I came across this “face” that nature created by dropping …

2019-10-04: This is a really good Chatelaine article that I hope will sway some voters in Canada’s upcoming …

2019-10-04: Just about finished building our house and of course, Google knows. Before and after views give an …

2019-10-02: Now investigating Synology NAS in preparation for doing my own backups onsite - practical learning. …

2019-10-01: You never know what you will learn while exploring the internet. Today I found this tidbit in Quora. …

2019-10-01: Did a garbage run this morning to dispose of stuff we brought with us from Toronto but no longer …

2019-09-30: A niece has started university and it’s bringing back some nice memories of U of T many years ago.

2019-09-30: About 5 years ago, we planted 2000 little trees. Since then, we have cut the grass between the rows …

2019-09-29: I built this rammed earth house!

2019-09-29: Great rationale for using Micro.blog and other IndieWeb tools. Study: Weaponized misinformation from …

2019-09-28: Selfie!

2019-09-28: I did some exercising today - stationary bicycle and weight lifting. Feels good!

2019-09-27: Lock Gate Replacements I have cycled along many canals - e.g. Lake Champlain Bikeways - and visited many locks but it never …

2019-09-26: Spending the day in Toronto while Karen attends a conference. I lived here for about 25 years but …

2019-09-25: Another phase in life is now complete. 19 months ago, we rented a storage locker to officially begin …

2019-09-24: Coincidentally, I came across this piece after I wrote the previous post. Making avoidable blindness …

2019-09-24: The eye is an amazing thing that we don’t appreciate adequately and often don’t look after until it …

2019-09-24: Sitting for a few minutes while waiting for an excavator to show up. It’s part of our journey to …

2019-09-23: Today I finished installing a t&g ceiling in the carport. Last week’s weather gave me the boost …

2019-09-22: After many years using the same delicious pancake recipe, we tried a different one today made with …

2019-09-21: I came across this wonderful Collection of Raffi songs courtesy of Professor Katherine Hayhoe …

2019-09-21: Days are getting longer and the leaves are turning. This was one of the nicest days in a long time.

2019-09-20: Life’s simple pleasures - home made pizza which we haven’t been able to make for over a year and a …

2019-09-19: It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate. Moving from place to place gives us the opportunity to …

2019-09-18: I was in Collingwood today at the old shipyard area. They have brass plaques embedded in the …

2019-09-18: I finally took time to work in the vegetable garden today. I haven’t done much there since spring …

2019-09-17: Sometimes it’s nice to just sit and enjoy a lovely evening.

2019-09-16: Reading this article reinforced my desire to participate in the Indieweb. ‘Trollbots’ …

2019-09-16: I write reviews now and then and I just finished writing one on Trip Advisor. There are several …

2019-09-16: And then this morning, another gorgeous sunrise. First a glow on the horizon, followed by a gleam …

2019-09-15: Tonight, while others watched tv, the moon entertained us by appearing on the horizon in its orange …

2019-09-15: Today is the Terry Fox Run. While we walk 5km in Meaford, millions will walk or run elsewhere in …

2019-09-14: I’ve been thinking about the landscaping since we visited Butchart Gardens as their displays blew me …

2019-09-14: Pollinator hotel/ insect hotel video

2019-09-13: Saw a video about this insect hotel and decided to make one next summer. It is basically a stack of …

2019-09-13: I enjoy driving both the tractor and the skid steer but can’t say which I prefer. The tractor is …

2019-09-12: Some days are meant for contemplating life. This was one of them.

2019-09-11: Last night I attended my first all-candidates meeting. The focus was on climate change and …

2019-09-10: Loving everything about our house. We wake up each morning and marvel t what we’ve built!

2019-09-10: Gotta work on my photography. I probably could have done a better job capturing this front if I’d …

2019-09-09: Not quite full yet but it was in the right place to light our supper.

2019-09-09: The broken pipe has been repaired and new drainage tile is in place. Two more jobs off the list! …

2019-09-08: Rolling hills of Grey county aren’t the same as the mountains of BC, but they sure are beautiful.

2019-09-07: Mom always says, “take time to smell the roses”. Is that the same as taking time to watch insects at …

2019-09-07: More gardening inspiration from Wildflower Farm

2019-09-06: How do you move your freezer? I like using a skid steer.

2019-09-06: Mucky mess as I fix a leaky tap, extend the drainage, waterproof what will be underground and …

2019-09-05: Moving some fill today so I can backfill the house.

2019-09-04: Finally back on my bike this afternoon. I need to ride more often to get back into shape.

2019-09-04: Visited a Mennonite cabinet shop today to order two closet units. He has a very basic shop but his …

2019-09-03: Helping my nephew start his new floor.

2019-09-03: Happy school day, kids!

2019-09-03: A sunrise like this sure starts the day off right.

2019-09-02: This guy was here for an hour or so today, eating a bit and then disappearing into the tall grass.

2019-09-02: Taking Back Content Ownership First post to take back ownership of my web content once again. It has been many years since I last …