Dusty Roads

Gone Fishing

2011-09-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I last blogged. Friends are writing asking how was fishing and it is sometimes easier to just tell the story once.

My Son-in-law Wayne asked me to go north with him, rent a cottage to do some fishing. We went to a favourite Camp Horizon located north of Sturgeon Falls in a tiny outback called Field. High north country approximately 6 hour drive; a get-away….for a couple of good friends.

We had a great time, great weather, scenery, tons of laughs, and of course a couple of beers along with some good cooking. Fishing was off. As the old saying goes; “should have been here yesterday” Seems we missed the big bite by a couple of days. Two women spent a week up there and was getting their limits of Walleye daily. Yeah! I know! shown up by a couple of city girls.

Anyway, here is a pictorial of our trip. Hope your not all on dial-up.

Our Cabin at Camp Horizon.

Interior.
2 bedroom one bath.

View out the window

View of cabin from the dock

Capt. Wayne... our first day out was a little overcast.

We did get some rain that night.

Looking back from the water towards camp.

Main dock and office straight ahead.

Lots of fall colors.

We seen a big change in just a few days north.

Rugged shoreline

Beautiful day to be on the water

I think we fished every nook and cranny but the bite was slow.

But the weather made up for it. Water is crystal clear.

We did manage to catch a few each day.

At least enough for supper.
I know your thinking where did they catch those sausages?
Hey! it was pitch black when we were barbecuing.

We went for walleye and and I kept catching pike.
But they were pretty tasty.

My son-in-law Wayne managed to catch a couple nice Walleye

Just had to get a picture of the boat dock from our front patio.

Another day passes us by.
Notice rods are still out. Making the best of each and every day.
They all end so fast.

Hate to leave this gorgeous day.
Just one more cast.

Sunset and time to call it a day.

After a hard day of fishing this is what we did best.

Had us some good eats, a couple of pops and relaxed.

It just doesn't get any better but all good things come to an end.

Fall colors on the start of our drive home.
We virtually have little color yet in Southern Ontario but travel 5 hours north and there is full bloom.

Thanks to Wayne for great company and a great time.

Time marches on

2011-04-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

It has been 6 months since my wife passed away. They say it gets easier with time. I suppose. People who have experienced the loss of a loved one, may move on but it is not…..easier, it is just accepted. Accepted, that they are not returning, at least in body. They are always there in your spirit and in your thoughts when you awake and when you go to bed. I have found it difficult living in the country without my best friend. It is a lonely life.

Thank goodness for my girls, I will never starve. My computer is my best friend these days; it has been the source contact with many distant relatives, friends and acquaintances’.

The sun has just broken through the clouds but the weatherman says another day of rain. A red headed woodpecker is at the feeder, daffodils are blooming and I can almost hear the grass growing; and here I sit talking to myself.

It truly is a dusty road I travel.

Adventures in the Rockies

2011-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Rugged beauty prevails in the Canadian Rocky mountains. My best friends from the west sent me an airline ticket to visit them in Alberta. My wife had passed away a few months prior and they thought it would do me good to get out of the house. My Buddy Dave and I were going to rough-it in the wilderness of the rugged British Columbia Rocky mountains.

I arrived at the Calgary airport and my buddy Dave was waiting for me. We had about a one hour drive to his home in Canmore Alberta. The plan was to spend a couple of days at their home and then head for their cabin high in the Kootney mountains of British Columbia. Dave’s wife Mary would be out 4 days later along with daughter Julie, grandchildren Benjamin, Maggie and Scruffy the dog.

We had an 8 hour drive from their Canmore home to the cabin. Although we travelled the highways of some of the most scenic vistas in Canada, our early departure was in darkness. I wasn’t too worried, I knew I would see the panoramas on the return trip home. Daylight had arrived three quarters of the way into our trip and I was treated with some awesome scenery. We had to cross Arrow Lake by ferry and we made it with 5 minutes to spare.

I was pleased it was daylight for the 20 kilometre drive up into the mountains on a rustic logging road. We were patting ourselves on the back for making good time. With only a quarter mile to go, we were stopped dead and facing a landslide. We weren't the only ones affected. If we couldn't get in, neighbors couldn't get out. They would bring in some equipment to deal with the problem later in the day, meanwhile we hand-bombed our luggage over and they drove us down into the cabin.

We had to shovel our way into the cabin from snow that slides off the steel roof onto the deck. It wasn’t easy shoveling because it had compacted and froze. Anyway in we go and start a fire and it wasn’t long before we were warm and toasty. Dave had many chores to do to ready the cabin for comfort, haul water, haul wood, get batteries charged for lights etc. He also had to fire up the old jeep to haul his work boat to the lake. It started like a charm after sitting all winter, After the road was opened the local good old boys drove his Ford down to the cabin.

I was pleased to see Mary and the kids arrive 4 days later, I was tired of playing Mr. Mom and felt a need for a woman’s touch. Mary is special, she is a ball of energy, great cook, loves the outdoors and after I showed her once how to fillet a fish, never had to do that chore again. Dave is a lucky man.

Julie and kids left to return home a day before us. She was concerned with getting out, bad weather was in the forecast. That mudslide had created some serious road conditions and rain was imminent, it would only get worse. We fished our last day in the rain, of course, Mary was the hands down winner in the fish catching category. We had to practice catch and release because the daily limit was one. After a good nights sleep, a good breakfast and a visit to the neighbors to say good bye, we were barely able make it through a serious mud hole. Other cottage owners would becoming in for the weekend it would only get more challenging. I spent another 3 days back in Canmore before heading to Calgary for my return flight home. Dave and Mary are such gracious hosts and I would miss them all, the kids and Scruffy but I also was feeling a little home sick for my own family. I know, I will return to beautiful Canmore Alberta, fall is always beautiful there.

I have installed a player showing photos of my adventure. My trip to the Rocky Mountains of Canada.

Alberta and BC Trip - slideshow dvd

Click on a picture for full screen. Hopefully the slide show will advance automatically. The pictures tell the story of the trip.

Dusty Roads something to think about.

2011-01-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

I received an email from a friend and it started me thinking.
How much have I missed in life? By the way, author of this piece is unknown.

PERCEPTION.

THE SITUATION
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After about 3 minutes:
a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded.

There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:

      *In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

      *If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

      *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

    Stop, hug a friend, smell the roses and love someone dearly!

2010-12-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas travel on rough and dusty roads

One fact, that never changes throughout life are the various dusty roads, we must endure. Christmas can be the happiest or the saddest time of year.

This year without my wife it was one of those rough roads.

We have always had the best of Christmas’s. The last few years we have congregated at my youngest girls place for Christmas supper. She has loads of space and a kitchen that can handle cooking for crowds. My wife and I always got up early to see the Grandbabies open their presents. My youngest, lives the closest to us and my daughter being the baby of our family expected Christmas to remain a status quo. This year was slightly different, she want me to sleep over but I have a connection at home that I won’t try to explain, besides, I have no trouble getting up early and driving ten minutes to their home.

This year my girls had an extra special Christmas for me.

I got so many gifts, I felt like one of the Grandkids. Even a stocking from Santa loaded with toiletries. I got everything, from an automatic backup hard drive, Hamilton Beach indoor grill, to new portable phone system, tons of clothes and gift certificates,

Tania out did herself with a beautiful meal. It was a wonderful Christmas except for the one empty chair.

I am so fortunate, to have the girls and their families in my life.

I was proud the way I handle Christmas without my wife, that is, until I unwrapped the framed gift I have pictured here. Sorry to say, it was that proverbial straw, emotionally, I broke down. I hope, I didn't ruin the kids Christmas, I know they were struggling, also. I could see it in their faces. They were wonderfully containing their emotions.

They say it gets better with time but nothing much has changed in 2 months.

My Youngest Daughter's - Euology to her Mother

2010-10-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed to have had 3 wonderful daughters. When we wanted to speak at the funeral, people said, “Are you sure?”

Yes we were sure! My baby girl, is a sensitive child and she did her Mother proud.

Here is her message.

If you believe there is strength in numbers, then our family unit is weaker today. But we still pick each other up, wipe each others tears and hold each others hand; because that is what my mother would have wanted.

She was the rock of our family; Always staying strong for us, now we need to be strong for her.

My Mom’s entire life revolved around her family.She cherished those special occasions and holidays when we all made time to gather together. To eat home cooking, talk and laugh. No matter how full we were, Mom always saved room for desert.

She never forgot a birthday or anniversary. She attended every graduation, dance recital and special event, bursting with pride for whichever one of her 7 grand children she was there to support.

Today as we honor my mom, it gives me peace to know she is surrounded by the things she loved most; her family, friends, and all these beautiful flowers. She will always be the strongest, most courageous woman I will ever know. And her love and strength will carry on in each and every one of us.

My Mother’s Garden

My mother kept a garden, a garden of the heart.

She planted all the good things that gave my life a start.

She turned me to the sunshine and encouraged me to dream.

Fostering and nurturing the seeds of self-esteem.

And when the winds and rain came, she protected me enough;

But not too much because she knew, I’d need to stand up strong.

Her constant good example, always taught me right from wrong- they were markers for my pathway that will last a lifetime long.

I am my mother’s garden, I am her legacy- and I hope she feels the love reflected back from me.

~~~

Tania and Chelsey, Mother and daughter.

My 15 year old Granddaughter (Chelsey) sang. It was so beautiful and the first time she sang in a crowd. Her Grandma wanted to hear her sing but she was so shy we never got the opportunity to hear her. She wanted to sing for her Grandma, and it was the most beautiful voice I have ever heard.

Chelsey

I have so many people that I need to thank.

The Rev Heather Robinson, for her gentle touch to my back; renewing my strength when, I started to stumble.

Annie & Bill, Dianne & Murray, Dave & Mary, who, have always been a rock and keep in constant touch.

All the people, who sent flowers and signed cards to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

To neighbors, and friends of my girls, who provide us with a endless supply of food.

To all the friends, who called and lent support.

To those, who came to the funeral

To all the many internet friends, who have added heart felt comments on the blogs.

To my best friend's Dave & Mary, who wanted to send me a ticket to fly west 3000 miles, to stay a while with them.

To Dennis Toll Funeral Home & Chapel, for providing the very best in professional service.

And most of all my family, who are always there giving comfort and keep thinking, I need to eat.

The Grand Children Carole was so proud of.

Two of three grand daughters, Caitlin & Chelsey

Inseparable, Abby with her idols, her cousins,Chad & Paul

My first born - Tracey, and her first born - Brent

Tracey's youngest- Alex on Graduation Day

A rare picture of Paul, with his girl friend Melissa and not his Cousin Abby.
Usually if I take a picture of Paul, Abby is with him.

And last but not least - My girls
Tania, Tracey, Terri, Carole
Carole passed away 11 days after this picture.
Love! is a beautiful four letter word. Use it often ………Doug

Never Say Goodbye

I am walking with you hand in hand,

I am speaking to your heart.

Listen when I say to you,

"I'm here, we'll never part."

I am with you in the daytime,

I am with you through the night.

I hear the prayers you're sending me.

Can you hear me? I'm alright.

I am happy and I wear a smile,

I'm with some friends you know.

Open your soul and listen to me,

I'm here, I did not go.

I am holding you with living arms,

I am carrying you through your tears.

I am listening to you tell the stories

Of our laughter through the years.

I am shining down a light of love

From the heaven in the sky.

Please believe me when I tell you,

I will never say goodbye.

Travels Down the Dusty Road of Life

2010-10-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Through life we sometimes travel not only a dusty road but one full of bumps and pot holes. Losing a loved one is about as rough as it can get.

On Oct 22^nd I experienced the roughest ride of my life with the death of my wife, my lover, and my best friend.

Carole’s life 1942 - 2010

Carole had many health issues over the last ten years. Starting in 2000 when she had heart surgery, then losing eyesight a result of mini strokes and blocked arteries. But! If you met Carole and asked her how she was doing.

She always said, I’m fine.

I cried when my parents passed, I cried, when my brother passed. I cried for family and friends. They say crying is good. It is a healing process.

None of it prepared me for the tears I have lost losing my most precious possession. My, beautiful wife. Nothing has ever hurt this bad.

Life with my Carole spanned from, Aug 1959 to Oct 2010.

It is those years in between that are so important.

Memories are all that are left.

We were a team for 51 years. And I have lost the most valuable player.

Carole and I met when she was in high school and just 15. I fell in love with her immediately. We married when she was 17..... Aug 1959. We had our first beautiful daughter in Dec 1960. Bought a house and set up a home.

Over the next 10 years we had 2 more beautiful daughters and a two bedroom home; time to start looking for more space. We bought a new home in a survey and I wasn’t happy. I wanted country, she wanted city, and country won. She always did without for her family happiness.

It wasn’t long before she was the happiest person in the country. She had a wonderful neighbor and friend Betty Rock (nee Jolley). The kids were happy, I was happy, the world revolved around one big happy family. She cemented us together as a family. I do believe she invented crazy glue before they bottled it.

Kids grow, start their own families, and move on. We were blessed with 3 wonderful daughters, great son in laws and grandchildren to be proud of.

Grand children were now her number one priority. She loved them all.... equally. She was like a Momma bear in a honey hive when surrounded with her kids. The special family gatherings were important to her and that is how she left this world; Surrounded at bedside with all her family as she struggled to stay with us for just a few minutes longer.

I wish I could stop for a commercial break and turn back the hands of time. I wish, I could say....sorry, for not protecting her. I wish I could wave a magic wand, I wish most of all that my prayers were answered.

For 51 years no matter what transpired, we always kissed each other goodnight.

Thank you Carole, for a life time of love.....I love you.

Please view the photos of Carole's life.

Is there any wonder why I was in love?

She was such a beautiful bride.

One last stroke of the pen and we are legally Husband & Wife.

At 17 years of age she was a mature woman.

A Vacation to Virginia with her parents; Virginia is my mother's birthplace.

This was in Aug a year after we married and Carole was expecting.

Her father died in Nov, a month before the baby was born.

My favorite sailor.

She loved to travel.

Soft sands and far away places.

This picture is only 2 years ago.

Happiness was with her family and

nothing pleased her more than a family gathering.

Here we are all together on my 70th birthday.

Carole's last picture.

Taken by our 11 year old Grand daughter Abby, on Canadian Thanksgiving Day, Oct 11, 2010.

Hard to believe we lost her just 11 days later.

She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and wife. And a fact that people never quite believed, she never colored her hair once in her lifetime and she had no gray.

Put your arms around her Lord

Treat her with special care

Make up for all she suffered

And all that seemed unfair.

With only memories for us to keep

These are the words she would reply

“This life for me has truly passed

I, love you all to the very last.

Weep not for me but courage take

And love each other for my sake.”

Life is Precious

2010-09-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

Life is precious
We had a pair of Cardinals that frequented our bird feeders. He would always crush some sunflower seeds and fly to her and feed her first. It was interesting to watch the love of a mate. One day, only the male came and he spent the next several days calling for his mate. We could tell by the sound that he was stricken with worry.

I recently received an e-mail that reminded me that all things big or small cling to the principles of love and life.

In the EYE of a SPARROW

A female mate was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road, and the condition was soon fatal.

Her male mate brought her food and attended her with love and compassion.

He brought her food again, but was shocked to find her dead.

Aware that his mate was dead and would never come back to him again, he cried with adoring love...

...and stood beside her with sadness and sorrow.

Millions of people were touched after seeing these photos in America , Europe, Australia , and even India .
The photographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to the most famous newspaper in France . All copies of that edition were sold out on the day these pictures were published.

And many people think animals and birds don't have brains or feelings. You have just witnessed love and sorrow felt by God's creatures. The Bible says that God knows when a sparrow falls.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and speak kindly.

Memories of Iris

2010-05-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

I worked for a market gardener at a very young age, crawling along rows of carrots weeding. The rows seemed so long I never thought I would reach the end. My pay was 20¢ per hour, I so badly wanted that new bike my parents couldn't afford.
Since I was an experienced ‘Weeder’ helping Mom weed her flower bed was just an inconvenient chore; One that I hated, after-all! I had that new bike to ride.
My memories of childhood are probably what became en-grained into my soul. Somewhere, between market gardening and chores around the yard, I acquired a love of plant life in general. My mother loved her Iris and without a doubt, that is what attracted me to collect them.
There was a time in my life when I thought I would like to collect all the NORTH AMERICAN DYKES MEDAL AWARD WINNERS
I managed to acquire approximately 18 varieties plus others, that where not award winners. I suddenly realized that Iris take a lot space, a lot of weeding, and a lot of dividing. They also have a very short bloom life and are not good for cut flowers or as pot plants for resale.

Trying to remember the various names was fine until a winter storm blew down and away most of my identifying signs.
Here are a few that are in bloom now.

Wabash

My absolute favorite and I don't remember the name.

Beverly Sills , beautiful in pink.

Double Purple Satin Falls. Heavy bloomer.

Honky Tonk Blue

Jesse's Song

Another favorite. Orange Slices.

Burgundy Red

Silverado - light blue

Another unnamed.

Out in the Rhubarb Patch

2010-05-14T04:06:00.000-07:00

When something is in abundance it is taken for granted.... Rhubarb for instance. There sits a lonely rhubarb patch acting as a border guard to what was once a huge garden; but having kids at home made gardening worth while, all that cheap labor is now grown and raising there own families.

For years working in industry; gardening was an escape from the pressures of managing a plant full of radical union Steelworkers. I shouldn’t complain, there were many really good employees who brightened the days the radicals tried to destroy. The good people made going to work bearable. But my point is gardening is therapy. We got into the greenhouse business after industry.
Being in the greenhouse business left little time for gardening.

For years, we gave away more rhubarb than we ever used. Still do. But! I became determined to make use of some of it after tasting the wife’s first Rhubarb Coffee cake of the 2010 season.

I am pretty good at giving orders, although, I am finding out that I am no longer in management. I have become an employee.
Here is how it goes.
Me...“ How about making one of those Rhubarb Custard Pies”?
The good woman or should I say, my new Boss...“Make it yourself”.
“Okay! How”?
“Follow the recipe”
“But, I don’t know how to make a crust”.
“Well then, you will just have to go to the store and buy a frozen pie shell”.
So off to the store I went.

Follow the recipe, she said.
My first attempt turned out pretty darn good, if I do say, so. The crust didn’t hold a candle to hers but Hey! I wasn’t planning on winning a ribbon.
Rhubarb Custard Pie
2 cups diced rhubarb
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon flour
1 Tablespoon milk
1 Tablespoon melted butter
1 teasp vanilla
1 teasp salt
2 eggs
Mix all together and pour in a pie shell.
Bake 450f for 10 mins.
Then turn temp down to 350f baking another 40 mins.
Easy enough for a guy to do.

I think, I will tackle a Strawberry Rhubarb pie next. That is, if the Boss will pick the berries. I am betting she will tell me where to go.

Mother’s Day, another trip down that dusty road of life.

2010-05-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mother’s Day is all over, but the week before was an extremely busy time for the flower business. I helped my daughter and her husband with deliveries. Load after load delivered to super markets and garden centers. I was glad to see the week come to an end. The week ended with severe storms on the Saturday.
Of course, that is not the end of the season,just the beginning. I help just during the rush towards Mother’s Day. I prefer my comfort zone of retirement, doing what I want to do when, I want to do it.

It is amazing, the different attitudes that I come in contact with. Some people believe they walk on water, while others couldn’t be nicer and more helpful. I have come to believe it is the store managers that make the difference. One such store refused delivery on the Friday of two trucks that had traveled 2½ hours because they were concerned with the coming weather front. They couldn't phone and say hold the shipment; but they phoned the next day and wanted their shipments sent as soon as possible. There is a lot more to the flower business than just growing. There is the control that is required to avoid confrontation and the overwhelming desire to beat some dipstick manager with in a inch of his useless life.

There are a few more baskets to deliver.

Sample the baskets.

Timing is everything. You need color but not too much.
These turned out perfect, we had lots of favorable comments.

Time to load the truck and head out for another delivery.

The Demise of Roadfood Junkie

2010-04-26T16:14:00.001-07:00

The Roadfood junkie website was taken down in favor of blogging. There was more work and costs to maintaining the Roadfood-junkie website than I was prepared to put into it. The website was gaining in popularity but I just wasn't getting the advertising dollars to support the site. Websites rely on a visit to the sponsors to help with maintenance costs.

Blogging seems the easy way to go and Blogger, makes it so easy. Where it took me hours of coding before to get up a web-page; I can now get a blog up in minutes.
Roadfood-junkie Travel Journal was my last creation and where I transferred some of my web-pages to.
It is a long dusty road out there, and I never want to stop learning. I will no doubt try something else, there is more to computing than just emails.

So visit my Roadfood-junkie Travel Journal along with my Dusty Roads Blog and at the bottom of every blog is a comments link. Be nice to know, who is reading the blogs.It makes the effort all worth while.

Spring Flowers

2010-04-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

It was a lot of work getting the flower beds into some kind of shape and the weather never always co-operated. But the housekeeping is done and now we can sit back and enjoy the spring flowers.

After a long cold winter, it is uplifting to see a return to life all those bulbs and roots that made you sweat a year prior when you were planting. Although, I must admit most have been planted over the last couple of years.

This is the first year in many that we feel ahead of the game. Two reasons; first- we did a better job of fall clean-up and second… and most important, no greenhouses business to contend with. We do miss the planting & growing aspect of the greenhouses. The cold snowy days of winter working inside a greenhouse and enjoying being the creator of plant life was very therapeutic.

Our gardens kind of come in stages, right now, it is the yellows of daffodils & Forsythia bushes or the reds of spirea, dogwood, azaleas’ or Magnolia bush’s, along with purples of hyacinth, followed by red tulips. Hostas are showing their heads and buds are forming on Clematis and rose bushes.
The first flowers I see when I turn into my drive.

It won’t be long and the Iris, Peonies and Lilies will be coloring our world. Although we no longer grow as a greenhouse business; we do some plantings for annual color after the perennials peter out. We over winter, Bougainvillea’s, Brugsmansia, Elephant Ears and miniature orange trees for containers around the yard and this is the time to try and kick started them back to life after their meager existence.

I get great joy in seeing my wife stroll around the yard each morning, scissors in hand looking for flowers to cut, or a weed to pull. She has had such a tough time physically, health wise, gardening uplifts her spirits.
She always trys to have fresh flowers on a table.

The birds are singing and gathering materials for nest building. Currently we are awaiting the return of Baltimore Orioles & Humming birds, so put out the nectar feeders early. Last year we had six Orioles that spent more time in the backyard than I did. We feed the birds and with so many shrubs and trees around we seem to have an abundance of varieties. One thing we have learnt, feed the birds and they will come.
Cardinals are a constant visitor to the feeders, summer and winter.

Daffodils come in more than just yellow.

There are white ones also.

These hyacinth were from an Easter Basket of flowers a few years ago and are still going strong.

Our Magnolia seems to be slower than most to open up. Must be the variety.

Of course, there are lots of magnificent Forsythia bushes to bright our world.

What a glorious time of year to watch life unfold.

Soon after I took these pictures, it snowed.

Texas vacation

2010-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Those dusty roads were covered with snow and ice. Jack Frost was nipping at our heels, it was time to get out of Dodge. Weatherman said a snow storm was imminent with in the next 48 hours. We hadn't had much snow to date; it was going down as one of our mildest winters on record; None the less, it is always good to get a winter break.

Friends invited us to South Padre Island,Texas. We had been there a year before and liked it. This time we made our own reservations with the help of our daughter who is a whiz on bookings. She managed a package deal and everything went like clock work; a far cry from the Travel Agent we had last year.

We left our car in Buffalo, NY. Flight plans were from Buffalo to Newark NJ. to Houston TX. To Harlingen TX., pickup a rental car and drive approx 3/4 of a hour to South Padre Island and our Hotel at Blue Bay Inn. Everything went without a hitch. We left at 5am and arrived at destination at 5 pm. Blue Bay Inn was perfect with a balcony view of the bay and night views of the mainland of Port Isabel and its connecting bridge. I could sleep in a tent, but cleanliness is important to the wife and Blue Bay Inn was perfect. We had daily maid service so she was on a truly relaxing vacation. We had a Osprey that would sit most days outside our room on a pole, that was interesting along with many shore birds, like the big snowy white Egrets and a raft of redhead ducks.

South Padre Island is connected to the mainland at Port Isabel by a two mile long bridge. Our friends were on Port Isabel side so we traveled the bridge frequently. Most shopping is on that side anyway unless you want - tee shirts, beach wear, and coffee mugs. One business next to our hotel advertised 60,000 items under $6.95. That is a lot of shot glasses, a coffee mug was $12.95. Ahhh! the power of bullshit would make their nose grow.

Two of our favorite roadfood eateries were in Port Isabel. Whenever I wanted more than a free continental breakfast at the hotel, I would head for a wonderful breakfast at Fisherman's Restaurant. Or a pasta dish at Marcello's Italian. More on these places on my Roadfood junkie Blog

We attended a cookout at a fairground in a town a few miles away. Sampling excellent barbecue from competitors from all over the great state of Texas and beyond. I signed up to be a judge but withdrew when I found out there would be no Barbi or Bikinis.

Weather in Texas was a little cooler this year, I was in shorts all but one day,but it would have been too cool to toast buns on the beach. Fishing was off, they were dredging the shipping channel and blowing water and sand miles down the beach. I am sure this was affecting the fishing, besides a red tide earlier in the year.

The channel was being sucked clean with this Sump sucking giant vacuum. It would blow sand and water miles down the beach. They were working to complete the operation before Spring Break.

Two such water spouts kept the bulldozer busy moving sand from the channel down the beach.

They say, thousands of fish a sea-life had washed up on the beaches during the Red Tide. We seen no trace of it though. Fishing license in that area were a rip. You could purchase a one day for $15 or a season pass for $67, with nothing in between for a two week vacationer. I don't understand their logic, fishing brings in lots of revenue to local businesses.

The Jetty, where we normally fish from. But there was not much being caught, so I never bothered.

We would go down to the beach daily and watch the progress of dredging, sit and read, play cards with friends, sight see, eat out at many different restaurants, sample the odd beer wherever it was 2 bucks for a 20oz draft (which was everywhere).
Just a general relaxing vacation that helped me unwind after the death of my brother; just prior to us leaving. We left for vacation immediately following his funeral. Some may think; how could you? Plans had been made prior and it was non refundable and canceling vacation wasn't going to bring him back. I will miss him terribly, he was the best brother a person could ever wish for.

This was another trip down that dusty road of life.

Another journey down that Dusty Road of life

2010-01-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

After much deliberation, we finally decided to list our farm for sale. It was not an easy decision but one that the two of us have agreed upon. There comes a time when new steps must be taken.
Our kids were raised here. They are also satisfied that it is the correct decision.

We had a flourishing greenhouse operation, that we shutdown a year ago.

My wife was no longer capable of carrying on the day to day chores required to grow top quality plants; due to health issues. She handled the grooming, and attention to various color combinations.

I handled the growing aspect,bull work of hanging and loading, lifting etc.There was too much work for one person and not enough to hire. Besides, we were a team. It wouldn't be the same without each other. We could always count on our family to pitch in, whenever extra hands were required, but they have their own life and we feel the time has come to move on.

We will no doubt move into town, become bored with life and want to travel. That can't be all bad, accept for the fact, that it is impossible for Carole to get travel insurance.
Another of life's little roadblocks along that dusty road.

Remembrance Day

2009-11-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Remembrance day is just a week away.
Have you bought your poppy a gesture of appreciation to all the veterans?

I really feel passionate about this.
I go into the local small town grocery store and outside stands a veteran selling poppies. Inside the store not one of the staff had a poppy on. Men and women put their lives on hold, and some lost their life, so we could live in a free society. And here, we have business people not giving a damn. They don't even stop at 11am to give a moment of silence (last year). How dreadful.
I told the store manager what I thought, I was miffed just enough that I didn't care. Maybe I will write corporate office.

If nothing else I hope to spread this word and make a little difference in our otherwise thoughtless unapprecative world. Please show your support and bring attention to this lack in attitude.

Autumn

2009-10-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

I have always thought of the end of October, Halloween, as the defining moment when our autumn changes to winter. In the past, I would bring the cattle in from the fields and start to feed them hay and grain, they would not go out again till spring rains passed.

Actually, they would spend all winter out, but were limited to a corral behind the barn. They had the option to go in or stay outside, a door into an inside stall was always open. Cattle are healthier out than in, and love to be out. I have seen them stand outside with 6” of snow on their backs. They would only go into the barn to sleep and eat.

Seems like a long time ago that we raised livestock. Never had a digital camera in those days and a lot of memories were lost. Now I am a regular shutter bug and take pictures of every thing.

The winds of winter are nipping at our heels. It won’t be long and the nip will turn into a bite. We have not had a great autumn this year, it has been wet and cool but there have been sprinklings of sunny days. One such day was yesterday, and I made good use of it and took a trail walk.

Such a gorgeous day to be out and about enjoying the last hoorays of fall. There is a silver lining, the colors this year are more vivid and the trees have held their foliage longer.

I took my camera and went walking. As I stepped out the door I realized there was beauty in my own back yard. The deep yellows of Harliquin Maples were more brilliant from the contrasting rust of the Birch.

The reds of a Japanese Maple had its own glow from the early morning sun. I realized it should have been planted more out in the open where it would be more easily viewed. Live and learn, the tree was growing bigger than I thought and had been wrongly situated.

A lone rose peaked out of the trellis, giving a view of the beauty that would soon be history for another year. Or was it a preview of the year to come?

As I drove to the country trail where I would begin my walk, it was hard to not stop, periodically and take a few pictures of Autumns splender.

Corn fields awaiting the harvester have had several reprieves from the knives due to many wet days. Some of the corn will have to wait until the ground freezes before the huge machines can get on the ground.

Rows of Cherry trees sit waiting to shed their leaves.

I finally arrived at my walking trail. Know one else was around but myself and nature. What a glorious fall day.

Sparkling waters as I cross over a bridge.

And waterfalls in the distance.

Seems no matter where I go, sooner or later I wind up down at the lake.
The fog horns will soon be silenced for another season.

The boats are put to bed for the winter and the Marina has become a ghost town.

The beaches no longer have multitudes of bathers but the odd hardy soul still walk the beach bundled against any raw winds off the lake.

The ducks will soon move inland in search of food.

They have been well fed all summer. It must be tough wondering where the next meal comes from.

I love the fall, I love Ontario.

As they say, "Ontario yours to discover".

Thanksgiving in Ontario

2009-10-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well it is another year to be thankful, traditionally, Thanksgiving in Canada is the second Monday of October. This is a time for family to sit as one, and appreciate a great meal, giving thanks to the end of another bountiful season.

Fall fairs are in full swing right now; without a week going by that you can't find one somewhere. 4H club's showing off their prize winning livestock, vegetables, or baked goods and the sights and sounds of the midway, the smell of onions and hamburger patties being tossed around on a hot grill. The fall colors of trees are in full swing awaiting a hard frost and a windy day, to shed their canopy. A signal winters fury can now enter another stage of our life.

There is nothing more important in our life than to sit down to a table surrounded by family. Family values are important.
A traditional day such as Thanksgiving is one of those days, a day of fond memories.

My youngest daughter and her family have a beautiful home in the country, and space to hold our immediate family of 15.

Entrance.

Table is all set and awaiting the arrival of the rest of the family.

The Mom and daughter working like beavers in the kitchen.

Tania is a wonderful cook and hostess, everyone brings something. The good woman, and mother of our three beautiful daughters, brings the pies. This year it was apple, lemon and pecan which replaced a pumpkin by a vote of 2 to 1.

A couple of views out the kitchen window looking for those wild turkeys.

They won’t be in the pool but maybe the woods in back.

Oh! here’s the turkey.... Tom was hiding in the oven.
This turkey was the moistest turkey ever encountered; 30lbs of golden goodness cooked to perfection, a job well done....Tania.

Lets get him plated up. I’m hungry.

One of my most challenging feats is to get a good picture of the grand-babies, they usually turn their heads, put their hands up, or act like their mother’s when facing a camera. This year, I almost got a good picture.

Well I have had my pie. They would all win an award of excellence.
Apple would certainly rank as deep dish blue ribbon quality, but my favorite was the lemon.

This is where I take a break, “please keep the festive mood down, where is the couch”?

Everything about this day and this meal was perfect, except for two Grandsons that couldn’t make it this year.

Travels on the information Hi-way

2009-09-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Throughout my travels along the information hi-way, I have met people that go out of their way to do a kindness. Simple kindness, even though they may be a stranger, that I have never met.... accept maybe on a forum.

Forums are wonderful places to meet people. My first encounter with a forum was searching for gardening information and I settled on Garden Web that had a collection of friendly people. Since my business was plants, I had lots to offer to help others, and I also learnt a lot. A bunch of us met in Niagara Falls and also at a gathering at our house, and some.... through the power of internet email; I still stay in contact with many posters and we have remained friends for 12 years or more.

The second source was through a travel forum on Mexico. I stumbled across a site that provided lots information on a tiny island off of Cancun called Isla Mujeres. Back in those days it had a wonderful forum of people helping to understand why Isla Mujeres was such a wonderful place to vacation too. There have been other forums come and go and a couple still exist. Places like Isla Travelers Board or Isla Mujeres Info & chatter Board the boards have helped popularize Isla. Not a bad thing at all until, some of the Cancun type hi-rises started to put blight on the landscape.

Gardeners and Travelers are friendly people. I have had many offers, places to stay, places to visit and even small gifts. Pictures of family, pictures of homes and pictures of hobbies. A couple of friends also have websites. A dog that writes about life with humans is hilarious, The World According to Tedi B , A retired executive who writes a blog about Eating out in Cancun and my artistic friend in Florida has pages on his hobbies at Geezerman’s world but keeps changing hobbies, a gifted artist that has become more interested in building models. And then there is the JamQueen who just loves to make award winning entry’s in fall fairs, but has a love of photography also.
Meeting new people and making friends is what makes the internet so interesting. Writing keeps the mind active.

Gone Fishing in Ontario's North Country

2009-09-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

A week in the north country with family...just what the doctor ordered. Rest and relaxation, no computer, no TV, and no shopping, plus, the fish co-operated. The weather was great, one of the better weeks this summer.

Our destination was Camp Horizon in the back country of the north. Approximately a 5 ½ hour drive. North Bay to Sturgeon Falls and beyond where the camp sits on Lake Muskosung.

We have travelled to Camp Horizon for the last 4 or 5 years but our kids have been going much longer. It is rustic but clean and well managed, just what the north is all about. Wake up to the call of the loons or the howl of a wolf, this is bear country, wilderness with almost all the amenity trimmings of home.

Six adults and one dog shared a large three bedroom cottage capable of sleeping 10. Our youngest daughter was disappointed that she couldn’t make it this year, the kids love it.

But first before getting too comfy, there is a small matter of putting the supplies away.

This is the sunporch and the view is looking out over the water.
Each morning, ducks would float by looking for a hand out.

Okay! who let the wolf in?

The beach.Remember, this is the Ontario north country and not the beaches of Mexico. You will only share the space with family, how nice.

The beach is safe even for the little guy and his dog.

Time to get out on the water. A view of the docks.

The shoreline

The north puts on some spectacular color displays.
This is the end of another fishing day.

We did catch fish. Lots of fish, mostly catch and release Musky,Northern Pike, Bass, loads of perch, and Pickerel(walleye to some).

Here is a afternoons effort that we kept for a meal.

Get out the cooker.

Suppers ready, Pickeral is being served.

Where were the women? you might ask.....in the kitchen. cooking up another spectacular meal. We certainly didn’t go hungry, its a tough life being a fisherman. Now if we can only train the women to clean fish!

A wonderful week spent with family. Always a great time when you have quality time with the family, only wish they could have all been there.

Some quality time in the north country

2009-07-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

It was nice to get away for a few days with our friends Dianne & Murray.
A nephew(Greg) invited us north for a few days to his cottage that he has been building the last couple of years. Greg is also Dianne’s son.

Greg & Denise Cottage

Greg and his wife Denise are a wonderful couple and their two boys are some of the nicest kids a person may meet.

We spent some quality time on Greg’s lake fishing.

The bass were biting and we caught some monsters. Unfortunately I never had my camera in the boat.

It is a small lake and we caught and released 3 lb fish.

We also had tickets to attend a special event that was being hosted by the Shriners. It was a Surf and Turf cookout and was being held in the Georgian Bay's 30,000 island area.

Leaving Snug Harbor.

On the boat ride Murray discusses world events or the plight of the Canadian Loon?

Arriving at the Surf & Turf event.

Beef is on the Barbi.

Pickerel is in the fryer.

There was no shortage of food. Trays of smoked fish and smoked sausage along with veggies and dip just kept on circulating.It was hard to pace ones self for the main event.

We also toured one of the finest golf courses in all of Ontario, maybe even Canada. Murray’s son is the manager and made arrangements for two golf carts at our disposal. I at first thought, these are awful big greens, until I realized they weren’t greens but the fairways. Incredible golf course, if someone wants to loan me 50 grand, I will take out a membership.

Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car. After all it is only a golf course, see one you see them all. How wrong I was.
I did manage to take a picture of Drew's backyard.This wouldn't be too hard to wake up too.

As we bid the north country a fond farewell, we also had to say goodbye to Pedro. The smartest sweetest dog of the north.

Goodbye Pedro

and thank Greg & Denise and kids for the hospitality.

Graduation Day

2009-06-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go, seems like yesterday that my own daughters were graduating from school. Now it is my Grand daughter that is graduating. By the numbers, we will have one graduation every year now for the next four years.

What a proud moment to see the loves of your life grow into adults. Looking back, I never had cameras and computers to document my own kids nor for some of the Grandsons. I getting better with age myself and managed to capture a few pictures that I like to share.

Chelsey the second oldest of 3 grand daughters(and my youngest daughter’s girl) had her graduation tonight a day after Fathers Day. What a present.

Sisters, Chelsey and Abby. In another 4 years Abby will graduate.

Cousins Chelsey and Caitlin who graduated 2 years ago.

Proud parents of Chelsey and Abby. Momma is our youngest daughter.

Gardening by Color

2009-06-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

Summer has finally arrived and the gardens have sprung to life. The warmer nights make all the difference between so, so and lush growth. My garden has lots of color until July and then green takes over until fall.
First in bloom are the daffodils then tulips.

Followed by, garden phlox a low creeper and garden edger

Then the Irises, which I have 50 or so varieties of start to bloom. They are short lived but beautiful. At one time, I started collecting the 100 most popular Irises. All award winners at one time or another. They expand so fast, I decided it was a dumb idea. Who needs more work?

Peonies are in now but about to give way to the Asiatic Lilies.
I had a huge collection of Lillie’s at one time, but weeds have choked out my garden rows.

My pride are the climbing roses and Clematis inner-twineing on a trellis that hides a big old stump. It has taken me 3 or 4 years to get to this point.

The early months of spring we are busy with hanging baskets in the greenhouses. They are now all shipped out.

I should have some quality time to enjoy the rest of the summer, afterall, winter is just around the corner again.

My favorite Dancing Trio

2009-06-11T19:05:00.001-07:00

The past week we spent a couple of nights watching our Granddaughters competitive dance group dance their hearts out for a packed theater audience. What spectacular performances by all the kids. They compete in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and in various age groups. At the end of the season they perform for parents, grand-parents relatives and friends, they really strut their stuff or should I say, dance their tootsies off. The fin-ally is the whole competitive team plus Dancing Dads doing a number that wins all the awards. Over a hundred on the stage at any one time. Beautiful.
We are so proud of our grandkids, I can’t help but blow my horn and show them off.

Caitlin our straight 'A' high-school student wants to be in the medical profession.

Chelsey a new teenager likes to explorer the world of bugs and animals. Says she wants to be a scientist.

Abby, baby of the family and this years award winner in Hip Hop. She wants to be a Chef already taking cooking lessons.

The three dance members together.

One thing I do know for sure, they never got their talent from me.

Hospital Week

2009-05-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

A long week of travel to and from a out of town hospital. We took the wife into emergency a week ago. She was weak and breathing heavy, they admitted her immediately. Of course, the mind plays awful tricks and the worst scenario is imagined.
I was thinking heart failure, or another stroke. They determined it was an inflammation of the pancreas lining brought on by her medications. She is on so many heavy duty drugs for artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis; they said one of them finally disrupted the pancreas. So now it is a wait and see while they play around and reduce medications and do blood work to keep check on results.

The good news she is home; not as chirpy as before but still too active for a girl that spent a work week in the hospital. She finds it hard to just rest and I find it hard to chase after her and make sure she does. I am still very concern,she is not that well, I see it in her eyes,she never complains.

The lawns looked like the hay field, flower beds have been neglected and some need planting, the greenhouses are full (not ours, I just look after the watering).
Had a helper come in to do the spring cleaning and wash the windows. I have little time to spend working my webpage Roadfoodjunkie and we haven’t been able get out and do a few roadtrips like I would like to add some more content.
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade, or blog to sweeten one’s disposition.

Going green.

2009-05-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

I leased my land to a neighbor who wants to seed it down into a hay crop...the old fashion way. He raises work horses for show and I believe they are of the breed, Belgian. Beautiful horses whatever their breed. He decided he wanted to work the land using the horses and some cultivators he welded together, he wanted to go green, maybe, he visualized himself a Mennonite. I, of course, want my land to look green but worked efficiently and not the cobbled look of the unprofessional farmer, so it was worked first with tractor and discs. His plan is too cut hay and stalk it. (Or is the word stoke it)? It will be interesting to see as events unfold.Haying is hard enough with equipment and a working man always has to work haying into his schedule.

There is something to be said about returning to our roots. It was a sight worth watching; as drivers would slow down and stare. Maybe going green is a good idea. It certainly provides some entertainment for all pass-er-byer’s and first timers’s to farm country. This is big tractor country, horses working a field are a novelty in our neck of the woods.

In the meantime, my wife Carole, and I, were busy planting the flower beds, there are no methods that can ease that chore. Today we planted in excess of 200 Impatients. They add a lot of color when perennials are out of bloom in Aug.
I keep telling her, I think we should go green also; maybe seed the whole damn yard in grass seed and buy a goat.

Here are two pictures a month apart, gives a good idea of plant growth. First picture is April and the second picture is May.

The Baltimore Orioles returned for their third straight year. They have such a beautiful sing song in the mornings.We have five that lobby for the feeders of sugar water. Humming birds have to wait their turn.

On another note,

Our good friends (Punch&Judi) from Rhode Island and travelling companions got a dog, and it has consumed a large part of their life. No more trips to Isla Mujeres unless TedyB, say’s so. You can read TedyB’s blog here, life with humans as seen through... a dog’s eyes. It is quite humorous and a good read.
TedyB likes a belly rub, stop by.

Another site I enjoy reading is Jamqueen, who publishes some great photos.
She is a Isla lover also. Check out her page and pictures

I have been so out of touch with my friends since building my website at www.roadfoodjunkie.com. It has consumed a lot of my time in learning HTML and I am far from done. I think, I might just do a page on Isla Mujeres, it is one of our favorite places to vacation and right up a roadfood junkies alley where there are many good eating places

Doogan has been busy

2009-05-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

The last couple of months I have been busy creating a website
The Roadfood Junkie . It started out as kind of a hobby and gradually started to develop into a monster undertaking. I had no formal training in HTML so it started out very slow and full of frustrations.Those dang winter months can make a person bored, this provided me with a outlet. Maybe I should have taken up cross country skiing.

There is so much to learn in the world of computers, I wish I had taken a interest in my younger days.I certainly took a interest in eating out; one of the reasons we liked Isla Mujeres, Mexico was great eating while basking in the sunshine.Maybe I should do a page on roadfood eating on Isla, after all, a golf cart does substitute as a car.

South Padre Island vacation

2009-03-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Great place to vacation, a Snowbird destination for those who trailer or rent.

We flew from Detroit to Houston, TX aboard an overbooked flight on Northwest Airlines. It was a direct flight and we arrived shortly after 5pm, picked up a rental car at Alamo. We drove to Quality Suites a couple of miles from Bush International Airport.
Room accommodations were excellent, too much actually for two people just staying overnight. We had bedroom, living room and kitchen facilities that were top line clean.
There was not much in the immediate area without a drive on busy roads but I wasn’t going to let hunger get the best of me, so I drove down the road a couple of miles to a Jack-In-the Box. Having never eaten at one before, I opted for a couple of their all day breakfast sandwiches, the wife had a regular hamburger.
Expecting those little breakfast biscuits, our sandwiches were huge. One would have been plenty for a hungry fellow. Is everything in Texas bigger?

Up early at 6am, a quick continental breakfast courtesy of Quality Suites and hit the road. It is a Monday morning and traffic is heavy. Thank goodness! For a Garmin GPS to direct me. Houston TX has a love affair with bridges and over passes, also, toll roads. Who would have ever thought we would need to bring a pocket full of change for toll roads. Six, seven, eight lanes of traffic all rushing to get through the tolls. What a person really needs is an E-Z Pass. I had neither, and I wasn’t about to hold up some pistol carrying Texan while I ran across several lanes to get change. Another good point; get in the right lane; the one that is about two miles long and say’s, Bills Changed. I got on a bumper and almost pushed an EZ Toll’er through the gate, and went like hell before the arm came down. I spent the next six hours looking over my shoulder for the long arm of the law’s blinking cherry.

Texas is big country. Miles of table top flat land. Huge cultivated fields as far as the eye could see. Made me think of some poor Mexican hoeing a row and never seen again.

We finally arrived 6 hrs later, at our destination motel in Port Isabel; a nice little town on the opposite side of the bay from South Padre Island (2 miles by the biggest bridge).
Our friends who were staying at Long Island Village (a gated community) came to meet us and show us around. We spent two quality weeks enjoying our stay, meeting new friends and enjoying some great eats. But! I will save that for another day, when I can get some pictures up.

South Padre Island a Texas Vacation - Part 1

2009-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

Friends have asked us for the last couple of years, to come to Texas for a winter vacation. We booked this year un-be-known that our children had purchased us a Christmas present to Florida which included a cruise.

Our travel agent was a screw-up.
My original plans where to drive down to Texas, I arranged a place to stay for two weeks, in Port Isabel Texas, which is on the bay side of South Padre Island. Then one day while walking through a local mall, we thought, lets just check on flights. Supposedly good deals in flights abound.
The travel agent- Here is a good flight deal that includes a rental car from Alamo. Yes! Why drive.
Two weeks of unlimited mileage, we only had to pay the taxes. Only big problem was we had to drive from Houston to Port Isabel, agent said a two hour drive. We would land in Houston at 11.30 and be in our room by 2 or 3 oclock. Sounds good! book it; no cancellation insurance. Everyone has their hand out for extras, kind of like the extended warranties on purchases. I had faith, we were going to fly instead of drive, unless a health problem arose, we would not cancel. We were looking forward to visiting with friends.

Check the map, Dougie Boy; that looks like a long drive from Houston. It was a six hour drive according to a Texas friend, who happens to live near Houston.
Oh well! We have time and will get to see some of the great state of Texas.

Received our Flight details in the mail after a couple of requests to the Travel Agent who said, “not to worry, I will mail them to you”. When received a week or so before our trip, they were not the times we agreed too. Instead of a early flight out of Detroit aboard Northwest Airlines, we had a later flight putting us into Houston, too dark to drive for six hours in unknown highways and never seeing the land. Coming back, we had a early flight, trouble is, I would have to travel in the dark again to get back to Houston airport.

At this point, I was all for going in and choking the living daylights out of the little-shit-agent. The wife, asked me to exercise, calm.
I did.
Sir! Please cancel my arrangement for flight to Houston. That is not what we previously arranged.
“Can’t do that, there was no cancelation policy”.
“And just who gave you the authorization to reschedule my flight?”
Travel Agent- “I have no control, because the airline rescheduled the flight”
Got you! I was checking the flight details on the computer and it wasn’t rescheduled. Who did he think he was kidding, besides, why would I have to stay overnight in Detroit, I could make the 4 hour drive to the airport for a later flight.

To make a long story, short.
He would pay for a nights stay in Houston upon arrival (one day less in beautiful South Padre). Our Detroit Ramada stay was added to our return instead of our out going. Oh well, we would be tired after our 3am, 6 hour drive back to the airport in Houston and another 4 hours from Detroit to home.
We really were looking forward to seeing our friends, who over-winter in Texas every year. We accepted.

Those taxes we had to pay on the rental car amounted two hundred and some bucks. Did the travel agent again stick it to us? We left a day early to drive back to Houston in daylight hours. No big deal, the weather was cool and rained all the way back. A extra night in a motel out of pocket.

We forfeited our night’s stay at the Ramada on return to Detroit. The parking at Detroit only included one week, so we had to pay one week of $65 to get the car out. In hindsight, I should have just paid straight two weeks to Park & Fly and forgone the Ramada overnight. I had checked with the Agent about that and the answer was it is only 10 bucks more to stay over, Yeah right! If you don’t included the second week in the fee. Park & fly was very efficient to and from airport, the way to go in the future.

Moral of the story, do your own bookings and get all the details.
In summary! I think I will go to the mall and choke the little-shit-agent.

When I get a chance, I will post about our Texas vacation, so bookmark this site if you wish to read more. I will not be giving any further notice of postings.

A wonderful gift, travel/travel

2009-01-31T15:53:00.000-08:00

We have always had the most wonderful Christmas’s, but this year, we were caught by surprise. We were treated to a 3 week vacation in the sun. One of the weeks was a Caribbean cruise. What a joy to get out of one of the most dreadful Canadian winters in a few years. I had mostly resigned myself to the fact, that travel was out of the picture, given the health problems my wife, Carole, has been going through; But she has been doing well lately, and the doctors gave their blessing for her to go and have a wonderful time, which we did.

I will never forget the look on her face when she opened her presents from the kids and found airline tickets to Fort Myers, Florida, and then another present; for a weeks cruising in the Caribbean, complete with new outfits to wear. Dusty old me was also moved, with a lump in my throat.

Our three daughters and their guys. I shouldn't brag, but I did a hell of a job. My specialty, great kids. Maybe I should hang out a shingle,guaranteeing the best.

Here are the nuts of the trip.
We would fly into Fort Myers, Fla. where we were picked up by our son-in-law's parents. They have a home in Port Charlotte (they had also been given a gift of a cruise from their kids, so we were travelling together) , we would stay at their house for four days and then head for Miami and our cruise ship (The Norwegian Cruise Lines, the Dawn). Then on our return to port, we would spend another week in Port Charlotte.

Another highlight was having best friends that just happened to choose that last week to be in Port Charlotte. It was ironic, their kids arranged their trip,also. They are from Alberta and we only get to see them every few years. We were kept extremely busy running the roads and dining out. Just what was needed, after a week of cruiseing.

We flew out of Buffalo and on our return and a valiant search effort found the car buried under two feet of snow. It took some effort to get into the car, snow was up to the windows. Our winter jackets were in the trunk, who needs them in the sunny south? Welcome back to the real world of winter.

Our cruise ship was the Norwegian Dawn. 14 decks, 965 feet long by 105 feet wide, thirteen restaurants and 9 bars and lounges. No small vessel, by any means.
One of 13 restaurants.
It was called freestyle, meaning you could dress up or not, and choose to dine at any time. Food was available 24 hours a day. There was a cover charge from ten to twenty dollars in the upscale restaurants and it was well worth it. The buffets, were just too massive and over indulgence was easy. Besides if you never got enough to eat in the upscale, head for the buffet.

The Norwegian Dawn.

Leaving Miami day 1

Day 1 at sea a great time to find ones way around the ship.
A few pictures of the ships interior.
The lobby and elevators.

Note the glass tube elevators. What a view from the top floor coming down into the lobby.

The theater where nightly live entertainment was preformed. Shows were excellent, no cameras allowed.

Day 2 Samana on the Dominca Republic, a cool 84 degrees & overcast.
Had to be tendered to shore.

We found this island to be very poor and filthy, cluttered, but friendly. The government could certainly do a better job of employing the poor to clean up. In one stop while sitting and having a drink, a little fellow of about 6 yrs approached me with shoe shine box and asked if I needed a shine. I was wearing sandals, but I had a pocketful of change and I asked him to hold out his hands. The look on his face was priceless, never have I seen anyone so appreciative. It was heart breaking, I wish I had given him more. Seemingly, the kids are sent out by their parents to make some money.

Day 3 St Thomas, US Virgin Islands a cooler 82 & cloudy.
Docked and it was a short walk to town.

A shopper’s mecca for gold, us guys left the women to shop and found a quiet alley to have a couple of cold pints. We ran into a local tour huckster who took us on a magnificent tour of the island for twenty bucks. Less than half the cruise line organized tours. Great guy, by the name of Moses, wish I had taken his picture. Beautiful island and very clean.

Day 5 Tortola, British Virgin Islands a miserable 82 degrees again and sunny.

We took a ship arrange tour and had a wonderful young driver who was extremely knowledgeable about the island history. Quite a beautiful island, of serene harbors, rugged mountains, and curved roads that twist and whined their way around the coast line. It is known as Natures little secret.

Day 4 at sea. Weather is getting nasty, it is down to 78 degrees and rain in the forecast but there were only a few sprinkles during the night.
It was time, to kick back and relax.
More ship pictures.
Sushi Bar

Pool area.

Couple of bar flies.

One of many lounges.

Day 6 Great Stirrup Cay, the Bahamas. A cooler 73 degrees, but sunny on the island. I got my first sunburn of the trip, just enough to add some color to my cheeks. Heck! I can get that much of a tan in our beloved Mexico from the sun glancing off my beer as I sit under a palapa.
Tendering from ship to shore.

Stirrup Caye, Bahamas was not what I expected. It was a private island owned by the cruise line. It was no more than a day at the beach. Drinks you purchased but food was free.2500 passengers not counting crew made for a busy beach.
Beach chairs before the rush.

Another boatload from the main ship headed for shore.
The tenders held 400 people and ran back and forth to the ship every 1/2 hour.
I counted 6 full ones before anyone returned.

Day 7 back to Miami and exit the ship approximately 9am after one more excellent breakfast.

Back to Port Charlotte and to all the frosted plants from a two night freeze.
No wonder the cooler days in the Caribbean.

Island of Dominica

Welcoming committee.I think they heard, the infamous Bikini Inspector was arriving.

Cigar production.

We were tender'd to shore aboard one of these.

Welcome to Tortola, Holetown.

A short stop at a bar in the country.

My kind of bar. A place your not likely to run into friends.

Carole and I on deck.

Carole and Annie on deck.

Here I am with one of my many old friends.

Of course, I had to convert the trip into a working vacation and do a little bikini inspection.

Back in Florida a trip to Venice Beach and the pier.
Carole and Mary.

Boco Grande street.

Carole and friend Mary at Boco Grande Fla. beach.

Eating out with friends.

Carole and I at Boco Grande.

One of our last nights, supper with good friends at the Olive Garden.

It was certainly a vacation to remember, thanks to our children, whom we love very much.

Another trip down that dusty road

2008-11-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

The end of an era.

The ground is covered in snow and it reminds me of the days, Carole and I spent together, not in Mexico, but in our own backyard greenhouse.

I was a plant manager in a large brass foundry, responsible for all Production, Carole was a sales order clerk in a huge shoe warehouse. We both got downsized with in two months of each other after 25 years. Both industries have since closed.

Our business since we left industry has been flowers. Hanging baskets, patio containers and bedding plants.

Here is how we got to that point in our lives.
We were driving down the road one day and seen a sign advertising a greenhouse for sale.
Carole said, “You always enjoyed your garden, why don’t you buy that greenhouse, give you something to do”. So! I did.

Sometimes, spur of the moment reactions come with little thought. What am I going to grow in a 100 foot long greenhouse? First things first, I had to remove it, and assemble it on my property. Damn! if I wasn’t energetic back then. We did all the work, electrics, fans, pumping system, furnaces and drip irrigation. I probably broke every building code in the book. All you really buy in a greenhouse is the metal hoops, then purchase plastic to close it all in.

Okay! So now I have a greenhouse; what now? Well I went and seen the fellow I bought it from, and asked for ideas. He said, “why not grow flowers, I have some extra trays of Impatient plugs, I will sell you”. Okay, “sold.” What do I do with them? “Put them in pots of soil, Silly, I will sell you some of that also”. Our first year growing was a blast; I started a way too early and heating the greenhouse with an old oil furnace, was frightful. I had a half a dozen nervous breakdowns and kicked the cat a few times. Of course, the better half seemed to be able to sleep through the night. She would say things like, “don’t worry, it will all work out and stop kicking the cat.” All did work out. Damn! I hate it when she is always right.

We put up three more greenhouses and had a wonderful time working together. Friends, use to enjoy coming out and helping to plant. Carole would put on a big meal and I would buy a case of beer, it was like a big party. We had a ball. Two of my very best friends died in the past couple of years. Good friends are hard to come by, I really miss them.
By this time, we were so experienced at planting, Carole and I could handle it by ourselves, but that fun time was gone.

Now with Carole having some serious health issues, it is time to give it up.
We stopped growing last year, but our daughter got into the business a half dozen years after we started, and is very successful. I always tease her, that she seen her old man make a couple of bucks and wanted a piece of the action. Actually! I could never have done as well, without her. She had the buying experience to acquire new varieties as they became available. Big companies don’t like to deal with small operations...
I could put my operation in the corner of hers.

One point I would like to make, growing is the easy part, marketing the product is the toughest. Quality is the key to success. People say we had the best.
I might as well take credit for something

Here are some pictures of what we do. Or should I say what we did.

Our greenhouses in winter

A distant view of the greenhouses in nicer weather.

Carole putting handles on pots. The heat is not turned on yet until we start planting

Here I am hanging large Moss pots.

Carole cleaning Geraniums.

Pots waiting to be planted.

Plants have grown ready for sale.

We grew a large variety of mixes, someone will always want a mix you may not have.

Get a load ready.

It is sales & shipping time got to load the truck. The most physical part of the business.

Here is that Moss pot you seen me hanging. It is finished and ready for sale.
A small example of our baskets.

Osteosperum Baskets were a big hit.

Petunia basket.

Petunia baskets are very showy.

Window boxes. growing these; they took up too much floor space and were hard to ship.

Begonia basket, this basket is small but they get beautiful.

Just what we wanted a customer. Hope she buys something.

My daughters greenhouse.

It is with sadness that we quit growing. Those wintery days in the greenhouse were therapy. Of course I could go work for my daughter, she grows a few baskets.

Another passing season

2008-10-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Another season has quickly passed us by. I am sure it is not completely over, but when I awaken and step outside to see frost, who! is going to quibble about a few days.
All that work I had set aside for cooler weather....Well! “pitter, patter, lets get at er”

The good woman decided new carpets in the computer room were necessary.
So! up with the old and in with the new. Move everything out, rip up the baseboards and get out the paint brush. Hell, I thought she said carpets not reconstruction. Will us guys never learn. women talk with forked tongue.
I was down for a few days, out of action. no computer! I was having withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, I have been putting it all back together. Great time to organize the piles., although! now, I can’t find a damn thing.
Does look much nicer.

She is full of good ideas. Now, she is talking about re-doing a bedroom. Maybe! I could slap her in the head with a shovel, and bury the bones out behind the barn. It would be less work, but then! I would be without a best friend, one who cooks, cleans, does the laundry and is the best painter around. If only she would clean fish! It is hard to improve, perfection.

Time away from the Honey-do list.
You gotta love the colors of fall.

A hike through the open bush trail is great on a pleasant Sunday afternoon.

I love this view from a local restaurant.

My travels always take me to the lake sooner or later.

Now I feel rejuvanated. Bring on the other rooms.
In fact I feel so good, I think I will go fishing.

Cool Dreams

2008-10-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Dreaming about Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Sitting around on a cool rainy fall day, dreaming of the island we love. So out came some pictures. Many fond memories are captured in photos. Reviewing the pictures, I can feel the sand between my toes a cold Cervesa in my hands and a seafood plate before me.
Life is great on Isla Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres the Island of Women commonly referred to, as just- Isla.

Isla is situated off Cancun approximately 8 miles across the Bay of Bahia de Mujeres..
Travel to and from the island is by ferry companies that run regular schedules every half hour. Ferry service is excellent and reasonable.

Leaving Grand Puerto ferry dock on Cancun side of Bay.

Arriving on Isla.

The original ferry arrives. Visitors have the option of two ferry services. That is what makes moving passengers so efficient.
Old ferry arrives.

Isla is not a big island at approximately 5 miles long by ½ mile wide at its widest.
There is no lack of taxi’s servicing the island. Also, golf cart rentals & mopeds are available. Down town area is small and located in the north end, east to west from shore to shore. Excellent shopping and a zillion restaurants to treat your taste buds. Everything, from pizza to excellent catch of the day seafood, and steaks to tacos is available. A lot is crammed into a few blocks of commercial bliss. Just don’t expect a lot of Cancun style night life.

You gotta love Petey the parrot at the French Bistro.

A stroll down Hidalgo St. where many shops and restaurants are located.

What is so special about Isla besides awakening to a beautiful sunrise morning.

Or to go dining after a beautiful romantic sunset.

Everything between sunrise and sunset is memorable.

There are excellent beaches for the swimmer, snorkeler, beachcomber and sunbather.
The hurricane of 2006 did major damage to some of the pristine beaches but they are still alive and well.

North Beach before the hurricane.

North Beach after the hurricane.

I am hard pressed to think of what is not available on Isla. The once sleepy serene little fishing village, is a tourist destination of day trippers from Cancun or the Rivera.
High rise hotels & condos are springing up all over the island. But this once small fishing village has retained a special charm.

The Avalon complex was the largest on the island until the recent building boom. The Avalon is located on the extreme northeast corner of the island.

The bridge to Avalon.

Inside Avalon grounds.

Some of the pictures may be a couple of years old. That can happen when they get stored in one album. I have not captured the commercial rise, I am more interested in Isla serenity. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Mayan people used the island as a sanctuary.
A Mayan woman taking her sales to the beach people.

Bikini Inspection is a daytime job.

Playa Lancheros is the place for great tixs & chix, a whole open fired seafood treat.

Many pictures are of the beaches in various areas of the island.
Stroll along beaches to the southwest.
Along the west side at Crystal Mar

Mar y Sol Beach (west side)

Playa Lancheros pier.

Snorkel beach Garafon castilla

Rugged but beautiful Punta sur

South end – Punta sur walkway.

A Mar y sol neighborhood.

Zama Beach Club

View from Zama’s pier.

The rugged east coast line.

Punta pierdra beach.

Punta Pierdra back view. (note - they were building next door when picture was taken)

Back to Avalon and a view of the east coast, plus Rock house.

This will tie me over for a while, feel like I walked around the island.
Good Bye Isla, till next time.

My Journey Has Come To An End.

2007-11-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

My seventy mile hike down a rail line has come to a end. It was a great time of year to enjoy the trail but I expected to see more wildlife. I guess they could hear me coming. Other than a few birds and squirrels, I seen little.

A little history on the trail I chose.

My journey took me over rail bridges past grain mills.

Along side ponds.

Farm fields on a frosty morning.

Colorful tree lots.

Along side rivers

These rivers, teaming with Canada Geese.

Wooded trails.

And all the way to the Great Lakes.

One of my favourite places.

Time to look for a new trail before winter sets in.

Railroad of Yesteryear

2007-10-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

A October sunrise, as I step out the door.

October is all but over, and the weather has been the warmest in years. Many records for fall temperature have been broken. I decided to enjoy it while it lasted, and to hike the rail lines like our fathers of yesteryear. A step back in time; As I walk, I can’t help but wonder what it was like to ride the rails from village to village in search of work.

My walk is through bush, meadows, farm land, and small villages; along an abandon rail line. The rails have been removed. It is anything but a easy walk. Large railroad stone that is loose under foot makes for uncomfortable hiking. I do a concession at a time. I park at one end, do a concession and then hike it back to the car. I get to view the leaves from both sides, sort of speaking.

The fall colors are spectacular. My camera is my partner.

I have a 35 mile journey to my final destination, which means I will cover 70 miles by foot. I am at the half way point. It is a refreshing way to start a work day and avoid the honey-do list. The sumac’s red, brightens a early morning.

The sunrise this time of year is between 7am and 8am. I am a early riser but don’t like to hit the trail too early. I wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a deer by some trigger happy hunter. Quite often, I hear guns just a blazing especially near swampy areas of my walk.

As I pass through farm country, the cattle look on in curiosity.

It won’t be long and I will forget our beautiful fall weather and start dreaming about the north beach on Isla Mujeres., Mexico

Another Isla Mujeres Mexico vacation

2007-01-26T03:17:00.000-08:00

It was a early 3am morning that we headed for the Detroit International Airport. A long 4 hour drive, by the time we crossed the border. We were told, be there 3 hours before flight time, and I wasn’t about to start out our vacation late. Everything went smoothly, touch down Cancun, Mexico.
Bestday Shuttle, was there to pick us up and drive us straight to the Grand Puerto Ferry dock. “Two tickets to Isla Mujeres, one way, please”. Hand over $70 peso ($7 bucks) and we are on our way.
Well almost….. the longest line I have ever seen was waiting ahead of us. Two ferries worth of passengers ahead, to be exact. Oh well! the weather was pretty warm and we already had changed into summer attire. Slow down, we have 3 ½ weeks.

We landed on Isla around 3pm and went straight to our accommodations at Chac Chi located down in the Colonia’s.
Chac-Chi, has done some extensive work in a year, adding several new rooms, an office, bar, and pool. All rooms have internet hookup, if any one was to bring a laptop.
The rooms are big with fully furnished kitchenette, bedroom w/TV, fans & air-conditioning. Bathroom, shower, and lots of hot water. There is a balcony, to sit out on, plus, some of the nicest staff, you will find anywhere.
The only lacking item…is surf and sand. But for $40 bucks a night we can take a bus to North Beach.

Picture of Chac Chi,.

Kitchen

Pool area, not big but will cool off any hot flashes.

We chose to spend most of our time investigating and walking the Colonia’s.
Salina Grande (a wonderful walkway that is not utilized), ate barbecue chicken from the friendly locals, or had $5 buck pizza’s, or 9 peso taco’s?
It was our first time to spend time amongst the locals.

Salina Grande walkway.

The chicken cooks, they gladly posed for pictures.

Suppers most nights was a walk to town, until the Good Woman’s feet blistered so badly we had to resort to bus or taxi. Crocs didn’t even help. Finally, bought some soft material sandals to add to her collection. She looked like a patch quilt doll with all the band-aids.

Our first nights supper was at a place we had never tried before….Albachiaria Ristorante Italiano. My wife loves pasta but she wasn’t impressed, neither was I. Those draft beers were just too damn small for the price. ($20 pesos) .

Of course, we needed a trip to the Super Express and Mirita’s grocery store for supplies. Since we were too far from town, the first week’s breakfast, would be enjoyed in our room. But! We were burning up the roads and where else can you enjoy your feet in the sand but at Playa Lanchero’s. Tix n Xic were exceptionally good, not dried out like last year. (huge fillet of open fired fish). We would walk some days to El Pueblito for lunch. We always managed to arrive before opening, but Mariana always served us. Being a people watcher, I observed cart after cart drive by and never so much, as a glance up towards El Pueblito’s open air restaurant. The beauty of the sea must captivate them. I don’t think many people know where this fine restaurant stop is and it has a great view. They needed a sign sea-side of the road.

El Pueblito

I paid pretty good attention to everyone of Isla board comments, about where to eat, road food, new places etc. and wanted to try them all. PP’s was one of these places. Went there for lunch and it was great and very reasonable. 2 Cervesa, Orange juice and good Guacamole/ tip $7.50.

PP’s Restaurant is located south side of basketball court.

French Bistro is always high on my list of places to eat.
We had some disappointment but it is still better than most.

We had a couple of excellent meals at Bally-hoo .

Bally-hoo sits out on a dock.

Alexia y Geovanny, one of the 4 market restaurants always gets great reviews and we have ate there many times. This time we opted to try the others. We had one of the best meals of our trip at the 3rd Loncheria - Carolina. What! nice people run this place. They were kind enough to pose for pictures.

Carolina Loncherio

The owners and cooks

Our worse meal of our trip was at El Veradero- the Cuban Restaurant. It was a short two block walk from Chac-Chi, but not worth the plate it was served on. Tasted, like they spilt the vinegar or tried to cover up the strong pork taste.

Great to sit and watch the boats go by, though.

El Veradaro

Here is the back side doesn't look impressive but it really is quaint sitting almost on the water.

Penquinos has a great view, perfect for dining, but
our worst breakfast was at Penguinos, toast came unbuttered 20 mins before the scrambled eggs and the eggs were cold and had to be sent back for nuking.
I am sorry, but I am tired of giving lip service to mediocre food or poor service without a smile. Some of the places need to pull up their aprons.

Nice view though, from Penguino’s

The first week after New Years, the island seemed to swarm with people. The outgoing ferries were lined up clear down the street.

Ferry lineup

It was very windy and the water was pretty stirred up, didn’t make for very good snorkeling.

We moved to Mar y Sol the second week and rented a golf cart mainly because of the tired and blistered feet, and also, to pick up friends (GJAJ, otherwise known as Punch & Judi from Rhode Island).

Mar y Sol:- the old and the new building.

New building.

We also had friends come in from Texas so we met them also at the ferry and transported them to Mar y Sol. It was their first vacation to Isla. What a wonderful couple of weeks, we all had.

View of Mar y Sol beach.

Sunsets were not the greatest this year due to overcast skies.

Sunrises were nice when we managed to see them.

We became friends with other residents also, one big happy family.
Accept, for the lady that blasted us for talking on the balcony before 8am. I guess when you come in after 1am, you need beauty sleep. She never did show her face after that outburst and only stayed a couple of days.

I fished most mornings off the pier at Playa Indio’s. A lady that stayed at our complex gave me some beef jerky, and it was hot bait for fishing. I had all the fishing, my system required. To me! It is not the size of the fish but the quality time spent fishing.
I did catch some fish.

Shark

The people at Playa Indios are wonderful people and they will cook up any fish caught. Shark is very tasty.

We rented our Golf cart from them and their prices were the best.

Playa Indio’s - stop in for a beer. very friendly people.

We visited friends from Red Deer Alberta that were staying at Crystal Mar. We met them a couple of years ago on Isla. Seems, Isla, is the place to make new friends, as long as you keep it down before 8am.

Crystal Mar pool

Most nights we would walk to the Zocalo (city square), check out the lights or have flan from the street vendor. I must comment on the Zocalo………it is not the wonderful place it was, but….when the fountain was on, which wasn’t often; the kids had a ball getting soaked.And that is what is important. Note:-(the Zocalo was rebuilt and not as quaint as it was, too modern)

Zocalo fountain, keeps changing colours.

Check out the ice cream shop on Madero(it has the best cones). Don’t eat ice cream from the bike vendors (it is ice water with flavoring) and not purified either. Wife and I both got sick from the same shared cone. She bought it, didn’t like it and of course, I finished it. Only time, I have ever had the Hershey squirts in Mexico. Immodium, great stuff.

Some notables:-
Lunch at Mananas, wonderful.

Why did we forget all about Zama’s Beach Club? A wonderful place to spend a day, a good reason to go back..

Squatter Village is still on the east side-south. Same problem as our local Indians, they want free land. Only they are more peaceful.

What is there to do on Isla accept lay in the sun, snorkel, fish, or eat? Kind of a tough decision.

Of course, being a Bikini Inspector required some degree of work.

I need a new career.

A person could go for a pole dance at Bronco’s Strip Club. It was only a block from where we stayed at Chac-Chi. That falls under the category of forget it….the wife is with you.

I managed to read 5 books in the shade and lost 4lbs. Sure wasn't from the lack of eating out and enjoying all the good food. Probably the walking but maybe I was down a pint. Cervesa doesn’t stick to the ribs.

Garrafon – pay to play.

Garrafon Zip Line

Hildago store keep wanted his picture taken.

Punta Sur – the south end of the island.

After the hurricane last season, Punta Sur has most of its walk way intact. It was a little shorter heading towards Garrafon.

Punta Sur walk.

Raging sea due to windy conditions.

The Food Chain

2006-05-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

We buried a family member today.That dreaded cancer killed off another person who was in the prime of his life and nearing retirement.
Cancer is running rampid, the battle is being lost. When you think of all the money that has gone into the No Smoking campaign; consider there are less smokers today but more deaths from cancer. What is being missed?

My personal opinion is that the real cause is in the food we eat, along with the air we breathe. Chemicals are killing us.
There is more preservatives, hormones and flavour enhancers in our food than ever before. Beef are inoculated to grow faster, chickens are fed medicated feed to help them put on weight or produce more eggs, milk does not go sour after 2 days it goes rotten after 2 weeks. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. More than likely keeping the doctors busy. That apple is sprayed with pesticide every 7 days to make it worm free and spot free and it is sprayed with some pretty strong pesticides. We don't have a clue what other countries are spraying but we sure like those imported foods.

We only want the best and nicest looking fruits and vegetables. Chemicals are left up to a farmer to determine how much to spray to get us perfect looking fruit. On the package it may say, don't spray within ten days of harvest. But if the crop is being eaten up with bugs and the farmer is about to lose his pocket book, What do you think the decision will be? We are paying the price with our lives by demanding perfection.

Those prepared and packaged meals in the grocery store are full of flavour enhancers & preservatives. Most of the new generation don't even remember what good food tastes like. Cancers are not as prevalent in some countries because they grow their own with out the help of big companies and their chemicals.

We are what we eat, make no mistake about it.

Immigration and the Criminals Within

2006-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

A recent W5 story makes one wonder, is this country managed by nothing but deceit? W5’s story about immigration & criminals may not be a 100% accurate but this is not as important as the government accountability.
First we have Paul Martin denying what his government knew about corruption and now we have Alain Bellecoeur hiding from the camera like a worm in a hole; avoiding an explanation to the public….to the taxpayer.

If something is broke, then fix it. If you can’t recognize a problem and deal with it; then the truth is being hidden. Alan Bellecoeur refusal to answer to the taxpayer is inexcusable behavior.

Do we want officials that won’t be accountable? Has the Government of Canada become a legalized Mafia? The W5 story has brought up so many concerns; I hope they will pursue this problem farther.

Prime Minister Harper has a opportunity to show he is concerned for the safety of our citizens and the country.
A good start would be to fire Alain Bellecoeur and put in a management team that is accountable. The government should also revamp the immigration laws. It is time to remove criminals from Canadian soil and stop playing a numbers came and covering up the truths of a broken system.

What we don’t need is Alain Bellecoeur sneaking into corners like a little rodent to avoid the camera and the accountability to the people who pay his salary.

Isla Mujeres after Wilma

2005-11-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

Our little island in the sun was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma.
It is only ½ mile wide by 5 miles long and lies off the coast from Cancun approximately 20 mins by ferry.

Hundreds of tourists travel daily from the mainland to Isla Mujeres, they are looking for the tranquil beaches of white sand, tropical waters in technical shades of blue and green, cold beer or fruit drinks spiked with tequila delivered to their lounge chair. Evenings they choose to dine at the many restaurants that serve some of the most delectable meals either traditional or native. Then may chose to sit in a favorite beach bar watching the sun set, or maybe a dance in the moonlight. They realize there is an excellent ferry service that will get them back and forth for a measly sum of 35 pesos / $3.50 US.

Many people chose to ride out the storm, they would endure countless hardships.
It would send all island regular tourists into a tailspin, what happen to their favorite accommodations, the friends, and their usual watering hole? They clamored for tidbits of information on Isla bulletin boards. The island was without power, water and basic necessities of life. Information was slow in coming there was little contact to the outside world, the ferries weren’t running.

It is unimaginable that this tiny island would recover, but recover they did; and in record time.
Most of the electricity has been restored, water has been restored and the ferries are once again transporting visitors and workers back and forth to the mainland. The island called Isla Mujeres has once again proven why it is so resilient. These fine people know how to work together to get mammoth jobs complete. The original estimates where approximately 6 to 8 months but they have done most of it in just over 30 days.

What’s not to like about Isla, few places where you can feel safer and enjoy a vacation with total freedom of old world charm. The people are A-1 the best.

Importance of life

2005-11-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

When is the time to give thanks for all that you have? I awaken some days with this thought in mind.

I have a wonderful family, a wife who is a best friend, daughter’s that are second to none and adorable, well mannered grandchildren. I am great friends with all my son-in-laws and have a long list of best friends. Some that goes back to my early school days and some from industry.

My wife and I work together and enjoy each others company; we like to do some traveling. Through our travels, we have met many very nice people and some have become good friends. I spend time on the computer and have made a few lasting friendships.

There is always plenty of food on the table and a warm roof over our heads. We have family get-togethers at Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and anniversaries. What more in life do people need? Yes! I would say it is time to give thanks.

Thanks! to all the family and friends that make giving thanks possible.

Family Tree

2005-11-12T17:34:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, I had a Family tree program loaded into my computer by a good friend. It will sort all your family and put them in the proper order, organize the family links, create charts and allow for special notes. You name it seems to have it all, a neat program.

Of course, I got busy and started typing in a few names and quickly realized I never knew much about the family. Both my parents had passed away and I never paid near enough attention to some of the stories they past on. I was going to leave this world one day and my kids wouldn’t know much about their roots.

From my parent’s death certificates, I had a little information to start with. My father was born in England and my mother from Virginia. I have kept in close contact with my Virginian relatives over the years, they are my life line, but I have no close relatives on my father’s side. This was going to be a difficult journey, to get information one needs to do some amount of detective work.

Some one said you can get all kinds of information by surfing the web. I soon found out there were hundreds out there with my same name; my searches were fruitless. I called upon my cousins in Virginia and they came through with flying colors and gave me a long list of family members and even birthdays and deaths. I paid a visit and got into City Hall records and found some more. I now had birth certificates, marriage dates, deaths and even some news paper clippings. Newspapers are a great source, most are archived and on micro film.

I was building a wonderful back ground on my mother’s side, but nothing on my father’s side. I knew he came to this country at the young age of 4 months or was it 4 years?
I knew my grandparents full name from a wedding clipping from a local paper archive.
I was at a stand still. Along comes a stranger, who really wasn’t a stranger but a friend whom I had met on a gardening forum. She lived in England and was heavily into genealogy. Before I knew it she had sent me birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, census records and maps of the areas that my grandparents and great grand parents lived. All original copies of such. She had done an amazing detective job and refused to accept any reimbursement. She is still actively trying to move the history back even farther.

As I said in an earlier Blog, there are some mighty fine people out there. There are some lowlife's also. I have been fortunate to have only made friends with the cream of the crop.
All my friends are the best.

The Canadian Taxpayer

2005-05-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

Looks more and more like we Canadians will be going to the polls to elect another Government.

Question is, do we re-elect the corrupt Liberals or go for the sell us down the river Conservatives and who in their right mind wants to elect a New Democrat government that will join forces with the crooks.

We as Canadians only elect liars and thieves and sit back and complain about what a terrible job they are doing. Do they ever keep their promises? Do they care?
How can we continue to allow politicians to mis-manage this great nation? Steal our money, mis-appropriate funds, lie about intentions and not give a hoot about the health of the people and the nation in general?

The problem with Canadian Politicians is they just don’t care what we want. Their focus is on what they want. Our whole system is based on a Monarchy. a dictatorship. They do not manage our country they mis-manage it. Regardless of what peoples needs are, they will mis-appropriate (steal) our funds in the name of tax dollars. We are so close to a communist state, they want all our hard earned money, at least 80% now goes in taxes of some type. The problem is that the money is then wasted or they steal it and have the audacity to say there is no money for worthwhile projects such as health care. $355 million recently has been identified at the Gomry Inquire into the Sponsership scandal.

There is no accountability for where the money goes. Who ever sees a balance sheet of what is spent and where it is spent? There is no company in the world that runs this way (Sorry, a few have been caught and sent to prison). When politicians steal, they have an inquiry. The inquiries are another huge cost to the taxpayer. There should be no inquiry; there should be a trial, which ultimately leads to jail time. It does for us if we steal. Where is the deterrent for political theft?

Canadians are nothing more that a flock of ostriches. Stick there heads some where dark and warm while continuing to be baffled with Bullshit.
When you get your pension, that measily sum, that is still taxed; think of some fat cat politician living it up on a pension that took approximately one term in office.

The Great Canadian Rockies

2005-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Great Canadian Rockies

I believe, there is no greater scenery on earth than the Canadian Rockies.
We flew from Ontario to Calgary, Alberta. My Buddy Dave was there at the airport waiting to drive us to his house. He and his wife Mary would be joining us on our vacation, a drive from their home in Calgary through the Rockies to Vancouver Island and back to their wilderness cabin in the Kootneys of British Columbia.

Calgary was cold when we left the following morning, snow was on the ground. By the time we reached Banff the snow was gone accept for snow capped peaks. What a magnificent place Banff is, but quite the tourist area and we were just passing through. On to Lake Louise our next stop. There is a eye opening view of a huge ice glacier at the end of the lake. Make sure you have a camera when travelling the Rockies.

First night we stayed at a Bed & Breakfast located just outside Salmon Arm. My first experience at lodging overnight in a B&B. The beautiful Log Cabin home made it a wonderful adventure and the breakfast prepared by the German lady was excellent.

You will want to make sure you keep gassed up when traveling through BC. Highways are excellent but sometimes it is miles between stops other than scenic lookouts. Every bend, every turn in the highway is a new breathe taking view.
When high in the mountains you will see towns below, they may take close to a hour to drive through. Wildlife sightings are common. Be extremely careful when leaving the vechicle to photograph. There seems to be no sound of approaching cars and they are usually travelling at a fair speed and no doubt taking in the sights. I had the scare of my life when Dave called out to warn me of a approaching vechicle, it was almost on top of me. I am sure the driver never seen me.

We stopped here many times during our travel to try our hand at stream fishing. A special place for me was just outside Grand Forks. Where I managed to catch a walleye in a stream and witness deer crossing the river. I had visions of buying a few acres for retirement. By buddy Dave was interested in property on Lake Christina . luckily he made a much better choice when buying in the Kootneys.
The biggest blight on the landscape is the logging. Whole mountain sides stripped of their trees, then the brush is burnt. Supposedly to promote new growth.. There are few giant trees left, But you will only find them on protected crown land. Trees so big that a car could easily park in them. But with so few of them left there is no longer safety by numbers. We witnesed a forest hit by high winds that toppled many of them.

Another highlight of our trip west was whale watching on the northern coast of Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island is a trendy spot. Lots to see and do. We were disappointed in the rules and regulations regarding fishing. They have so many different fishing licenses that it costs too much to enjoy.

We motored back to the interior of BC and to Dave and Mary’s hideway. A beautiful cedar 3 bedroom cabin in the wilderness. All the comforts of home even hydro when the generator is fired up, otherwise it is cards by candle light or early to bed. The views are breathe taking when out in the boat. Surrounded with mountains some of them snow capped.
We past the days with boat rides and a shore picnics, hiking and mushroom hunting are what we did when not fishing.
Simple life but very effective.

We always have fond memories when we leave. Dave and Mary are such gracious hosts.

Mexico Travel - Isla Mujeres

2005-04-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

I never wanted to travel to Mexico, I had heard all the stories about Montezuma’s revenge (the stomach disruption). Being a food lover and unable to resist trying new tastes, it just seemed the unlikely place to go.

We had traveled extensively to the Caribbean and were looking for new horizons, something quaint, but yet busy enough to not get bored.
I came across an Isla Mujeres travel board http://www.isla-mujeres.net/home.htm and a discussion forum on the Internet.
All the chitchat sounded like our kind of place and it definitely was.

Isla Mujeres - the island of women is located just off Cancun. A one time sleepy little fishing village, now alive with tourism. It is a 20-minute ferry ride to and from the island via the Puerto Juarez ferry landing.
They have a tremendous ferry service, with ferries leaving approximately every 20 mins. One way cost is $3.50 US per person. Many tourists from Cancun make the trip to enjoy a day on the island.

When landing on the island, there are plenty of wanting helpers to carry your bags to a taxi, or to your hotel if it is located near by. Usual charge is $1.00 per bag but you are free to pay any reasonable amount. The people of Isla are courteous and friendly.

When you come off the ferry dock there are three ways to go, to the left, right, or straight ahead. Turn left and follow the street to the very end (a short walk), you are at the popular north beach. Turn right and keep going you will leave the main business section and headed to the south end of the island approx. 5 miles (very scenic). Bus it or taxi both very cheap.
Travel straight ahead from the ferry dock and you are headed to the main downtown area. Two blocks down straight ahead is Hidalgo the center for shopping and exploring new restaurants. A strip - we frequent often, great dining experiences for people watchers. Walk 4 blocks and you have reached the Caribbean Sea.

Whether wandering the streets, the beaches, or the waterfront, never did we feel uncomfortable. The people are extremely friendly and helpful.
There is a loyal tourist base in Isla, once visited; it is almost impossible to not want to return.
Don’t expect to find Hi-Rise hotels and all-inclusive resorts. Avalon Hotel on the northerly tip being the exception. There are many reasonable accommodations and excellent restaurants to choose from. Every type of eating establishment exists, from a hole in the wall, to fine dining on a beach.

Our bookings have been with Mornings in Mexico http://www.morningsinmexico.com/ run by a lovely lady who is extremely efficient at returning all communicates promptly. She could be a representative for the Allstate commercial, the one that says, "you are in good hands with Allstate". Honest, reliable and highly recommended.
There are a couple of other property rental agencies, Isla Beckons http://www.islabeckons.com/ and Lost Oasis http://www.lostoasis.net/ that are no doubt excellent also according to the chitchat of the Internet.

Best investment for our vacation was a map of Isla Mujeres, they have to be purchased before you leave home and worth every penny. Don’t leave home with out one. There is so much to see and do and the map is a great aid at finding the way around. They can be purchased on line by contacting Map Chick at http://www.mapchick.com/ .

There are many ways to get around the island. You can rent golf carts, scooters, bicyles, take the public transit for 30 cents or a taxi 1to 5 US. dollars, but most of it can easily been seen by hoofing it.

Sitting on a beach under a palm tree sipping a cold refreshment, lounging in a hammock reading a book, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, and dining under the stars, are tonics for the winter blues. Although, winter is not necessary to enjoy a trip to Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres is the island of Isla-holics, those, who return year after year to their little corner of paradise and as many times a year as they can afford to get away.