December 19, 2009-Run Forest, Run

Hello faithful reader.

Well December 17th, 2009 will hold a special place in my memory bank, as long as it holds out i suppose. I was hired at MMM Dec 17, 1973 and the Olympic torch for the 2010 winter games passed through our town between 9am and 10am Devember 17, 2009. However, as with both items, they are now long gone. I was "retired" by MMM June 8, 2007, and the flame is now well west of here.
It was nice to see all of the kids and adults out for this. I had no idea we had that many unemployed here in town.

Just kidding, I'm sure most of the adults were legitimately sick that day.:-)

All of the public schools allowed the students to walk down to main street and watch the runners. It was a great feeling. Lots of flag waving and hoots and hollers. That may not mean much to our friends to the south, but keep in mind, we are usually a quiet, well mannered lot, but we do like to show our pride for our country once in a while.

I can take or leave the winter or summer games, but i do like the hockey. Probably some of the best games i watch are during the winter games. More at stake, not sure.

Well that's it for now, and thanks for listening

DJB

December 3, 2009-The store calendar

Hello faithful reader.

The CFO works part time at a local pet food store, and thought it would be a nice idea to put together a calendar for the owner. I already have a number of worthy photos, but she wanted to include a few of the store cat.

Bella does not wake up well, nor get ready for work in a hurry, as you can see.

Thanks for listening

DJB

Monday November 23, 2009-Run away.

Hello faithful reader.

Had a chance to get out and do a small photo drive on Sunday. Not
to far from home, but i chanced upon this scene.
I saw the cat in a field of geese and had to stop, it was to good to be true.

Cat saw me, scared the geese and this is the one shot i was able to get. Panned at unknown settings.
Not sure who was more scared of whom.

Thanks for listening

DJB

November 4, 2009- I like fall.

Hello faithful reader.

I'm a big fan of the fall season. I almost started a Face book group, that's how much i like fall.

So Dave, whats with fall, eh.

Well, i like the cooler temp's, so i can breath. I like the crisp mornings and the frost on the windshields(I would have said pumpkins but they did not grow to well this year), and, I like the colours this time of year.The fall colours always make me smile. I love to drive around and see the different shades of yellow, orange and red mixed in with the evergreens and tamaracks.
My birthday shows up(every year can't figure that out) around the time the weather starts to turn rainy and nasty. I get a bit depressed from that, but only for a while. A good photo drive usually does the trick.

The colours are just about gone, but i managed these two shots last week.

Thanks for listening

DJB

August 12, 2009-New family addition.

Hello faithful reader.

Well, after two years plus of hanging around each other, buying a boat and recently a house together, my Nephew on the wife's side, asked his Julie to marry him on August 6th, 2009.

Even having known him for two years plus, she still said yes.

That Simpson charm works again. LOL

Congrats's to both of you from Me, Liz and Erin(oh and the three cats)

Thanks for listening

DJB

July 22, 2009, Thrashing day

Hello faithful reader.

Well, this years annual plowing and thrashing demo took place, once again, at the Lewis farm in Markham Ontario, on July 22. This year one new piece of equipment was added, a horse drawn potato planter.
Oh i forgot to mention, this is a day for display and use of horse drawn farm equipment and early gas powered thrashers and tractors. The equipment has been purchased and repaired over the years and a group of local and not so local farmers put them to use every year.
Small crowds ten years ago, the day attracts people from all over, and now a crowd of 150-200 is the norm.

Pictured is Ted English and his team pulling the wheat cutter.

Thanks for listening

DJB

Sunday July 12, 2009- Procrastionation II

Hello faithful reader.

No amount of free beer will help me to get out of procrastinating, in fact it probably hinders it a lot. However as you may remember from my previous posting, i finally got my ass out of the chair and worked on my kitchen.
Not a lot of work, although it could use a full face lift, but just enough to keep the CFO happy.
Well the final paint went on last Sunday and although it took me a few days to get used to the colour, does not look to bad.

However i did not re read the note i left myself in 1986 when i redid the two bed rooms and bathroom walls. Demolition is my thing, not reconstruction. I said back then, no more joint taping by my self, I MUST HIRE THIS OUT. So i looked at the kitchen walls, not to bad i say, just a few imperfections, not a problem.
Well, all i can say is, my taping looked alright when sanded, primed, but when the real paint went on, several seam's and missed divot's can be seen.

Thankfully i have a lot of photos that can be framed and put on the wall. Now i don't see any imperfections.

Now on to the next chore.

Thanks for listening

DJB

Tuesday June 30, 2009-Procrastionation

Hello faithful reader.

I procrastinate. I really do. To prove it, this is my kitchen story.

About 7 years ago, Odee, our newest cat at the time, found a small bit of loose wall paper and decided that would be a great toy for the day. He managed to pull off a few strips before we noticed it.
The SO then decided, well since Odee started the reno, we would finish it, so Liz started to tear off the paper she could reach with out moving furniture.

The walls stayed like that until just before Christmas 2008. Wanting something to do, we moved the furniture and removed 99% of what was left. Now all we had to do is pick a colour for the paint, she did not want wallpaper any more, and go for it. We have two weeks off at Christmas, perfect timing.

So those two weeks go away and i find my self at March break removing the last 1% of paper and fixing up small holes in the wall. Perfect time to do the kitchen, with a week off at March break.

Last Saturday, she finally picked a colour (and remember all this started back in 2002) and we bought the gallon of paint. We are off for the summer, and what better time to reno the kitchen eh, off for 10 weeks.

Well i finally am motivated and so far have managed to sand the wall, and prime them.

See the picture above for a really bad pano of the part of the kitchen.

I need to have this done by July 11th as we are having an open house and Liz wants it done by then. See, i now have motivation, that's all i need.:-)

So i have gone one better and have said it will be done by July 4th. Talk about pressure. But, all that is left is the final two coats and its done. I think July 4th is not out of the question, but i have said that before.LOL

See this space for the final update.

Thanks for listening.

Dave

May 24, 2009- Five more weeks.

Hello faithful reader.

Well, only five more weeks of school and i can park my bus for another season.

We have been doing a lot of charters for field trips lately, I guess they have run out of things to ~try~ and teach these kids.:-)

Seems the zoo is the place to be, not Beverly as the Jed Clampett would have you believe.

Did several trips to the Toronto zoo, and one to a small refuge zoo north of the city.

One little guy seems to like hanging on things. The other guy things I'm dinner.

Thanks for listening.

DJB

May 11, 2009-Getting ready

Hello faithful reader.

A local conservation area, Bruce's Mill, is gearing up for the up coming season of school trips, hikers, joggers and nature buffs.
Here is a shot of some picnic tables ready for use.

Thanks for listening

DJB

April 26, 2009-Good light, bad light

Hello faithful reader.

Well yesterday was quite eventful. The day started out great, partial cloud, warm, just a nice over all spring day. I decided to take advantage of the light in a small cedar bush that remains after some house construction cut most of it down, here in town, around 1995 or so.
Bush is clear of under brush, but there is some nice crowns on the cedar trees that lets in some playful light. This is one from the shoot today.

Good thing i went when i did, as around 5pm a very unexpected storm blew through the region, high winds, heavy rain etc.
Most of the clothes on the line out back ended up in the neighbors yard. He was kind enough to return them.

Any way, i am remembering Saturday April 25th was sunny, so here is today photo.

Thanks for listening.

DJB

April 12, 2009-Ducks

Hello faithful reader.

Mallards have been freed from the ice.

They have their speed back.:-)
Panning helps.

Thanks for listening.

DJB

March 19, 2009-Another one bites the dust

Hello faithful reader.

Well, it looks like another piece of Whitchurch-Stouffville history will meet up with the wrecking ball soon.

The town is expropriating land to widen main street at Hwy 48, and this building is in the way.
March 31 is the dead line for some one to take the building, for free, but has to move it to an approved site. The town is not giving a lot of time to do this, so i suspect they just want to see it go.

Don't know why we have a heritage committee if they don't do anything to save these old bits of history.

The building was built in 1850 and among other things was a general store, post office and from 1990 this lunch shop and ice cream store.

Time will tell.

Thanks for listening

DJB

February 18, 2009- Snow Golf

Hello faithful reader.

Well, last Saturday, the 14th, was not only Valentines day, but the day of our Annual Wagg Road Open snow golf tourny.

Good weather, nice and sunny, with about 1 1/2 feet of snow still left in the bush, after our week of warmer weather.
Snow had a nice crust so walking around was pretty good this year. In past years, it was not uncommon to walk through waist deep snow, and still swing a club.

As always, a pot luck brunch of stews, chilie, meatballs and beer, lots of beer. What else would motivate us to do this eh.

Thanks for reading

DJB

January 31, 2009- Churchill Church

Hello faithful reader.

My daughter and her fiance, are still looking for a church and hall, so they can get married.

I like this one.

Thanks for listening

DJB

January 11, 2009- I spent to much money

Hello faithful reader.

I went to an auction on Saturday.

I went by my self.

Bad idea.

I spent to much money.

I saw this cast iron, horse drawn fire wagon, and thought it would be neat to own. It is.
Thought I could buy it for $30-50 dollars.

I did not.

Spent way to much money, but it looks good in the house.

Now i need to buy some driver figures.

Bad idea, going to an auction with out a spotter.

Next time.

Thanks for listening

DJB