New visitor

We had a new visitor in the yard today. Have never seen this guy before. He is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak. Apparently they are quite populous here in the summer for breeding, but I guess I just missed them. Anyways, this guy hung around for a few pics.

Frosted tips

No, not a new hair colour. We had a light fog all day today that seemed to crystalize on the branches and needles all around the garden.
New catalogues from nurseries and growers have the garden juices starting to percolate again so it won't be long now.

Goodbye to the Noughties

Well another decade is just peeking over the horizon. The Noughties, or O-O's (2000-2009) have been quite eventful to say the least. In 2000 we moved from my hometown Niagara Falls to London. 2003 brought our first child Benjamin and our first house. 2005 brought our daughter Olivia. 2006 put me over the 30 year hump (never to recover). Isaac followed in 2007, also the year that Nina and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. In 2008 we purchased what we plan to be the home that we raise our children in.
I worked at three different places during the decade, Metaldyne, Keiper and Brose (currently).
I have battled my Crohn's throughout, although the last couple of years have been easier than the early 2000's.
Family has changed significantly during the decade; my brother Kyle married Britney in a beautiful wedding and they remain very much in love. However, the same cannot be said for Nina's side of the family; the decade saw the dissolution of three marriages, sadly all with children as casualties. Happily both sets of our parents are still fairly healthy and a major part of our lives.
Good friends have had changes also, with marriage and children coming along. Some have moved further away, some remain close.
Thankfully I have been blessed to travel through the decade with my beautiful wife Nina, growing closer every step along the way.
Bring on the Twenty Tens, or Tweenies, or whatever.

Pining for this

Pinus Contorta 'Chief Joseph'. The holy grail of my conifer want list...turns school bus yellow in winter...the colder the better. Haven't found a source for this one yet north of the 49th parallel. The search continues.

*have found Pinus Sylvestris Gold Coin which would be a worthy substitute

The other woman...

Well here she is, my iron clad mistress...the new Jeep. She kept me from my real family all weekend.

I am the lead Quality Engineer for the our new launch of the 2010 model year seats for this vehicle.

I spent all weekend working to make sure our first shipment to the customer (all 84 seats) were up to snuff. I am pretty exhausted. And all pro bono since 'salary' staff do not receive OT. They are pretty good about getting us a day off instead but it just doesn't make up for the lost time with the family on the weekends as the day off is usually during the week when Nina is at work and the Ben is in school.

Oh well, there could be worse things in the world. Like not having a job.

Touch of fall

It has been a wet fall so far, but still some good colour. The burning bushes are glowing and the ornamental grasses are putting on a good show.

Colourful entrance to backyard



Southwest side of deck



Hedera Helix 'Thorndale' planted 10/10/09 - love the colour variation in a single leaf

No fear

Where did this kid come from? Our Ben has fear of nothing. Yes I understand that this Garter Snake we caught today is not much of a wild beast but the other day we were at the pet store and he was petting a huge African Rat Snake and a GIANT bird eating spider (as in, it is big enough to eat a bird!). Whatever it is that is flicked off (or on) in his nugget of a brain is definitely not from me or Nina. It is probably also why he has had 3 broken arms in the last two years.
The best comparison that I can make is to my late cousin David (coincidentally Ben's middle name is David, in memory). He also was a daredevil and feared little. He turned out to be a good man and husband but tragically died far too early in a car accident.
I see a lot of David's qualities in Ben, he has a big heart and he is a deep thinker for someone of a whole 6 years. While he challenges us some times with his antics, I know he is going to be a good man like David...as long as he stays off the monkey bars!

Western Fair 2009

Time for the classic annual Western Fair. The last few years I remember it being crummy weather during the fair, and although it threatened rain for the first little while, nothing ever came of it.
We had a great time; Trisha brought her kids which worked out well as the boys did the rides they wanted and the girls had theirs.
It was not quite as busy as I would have expected for the first night, but that's not to say that there weren't weirdos a plenty...and that is not to mention the carnies!

Weather cleared just as we got there


"Burning Man" stunt


This guy is apparently Canada's best stunt man; he went all the way around the track on 2 wheels


Dragon Coaster


WOO HOO! That ride was awesome!


Best friends


That is disgusting (No, I didn't have any)


Nina and Trish 'measuring up'


Ferris Wheel at night

Off he goes

Well, another summer gone means another school year arriving. Ben was off to grade 1 today. I took the day off to make sure he got off OK and that I could be home to pick him up at the bus stop. He seemed a little tenative at first but then he seemed to be better once he saw a couple familiar faces in his class from last year. Hope he has a great day.

Nervous smiles to start the day


Feeling a little better after seeing some old friends


Isaac used a little downtime during the hustle and bustle this morning to do some networking with his agent (aka Mom)