Jean and I left Ottawa last Saturday in this,

and flew to southern California. I love a place where you can grow your own grapefruit in the back yard.

Jean surprised me big time with an electric acoustic Washburn guitar for Christmas. Rob's already taught me enough that my fingers are numb from my dedicated practice schedule of at least 15 minutes or first blood every night.

Jean's brother Mike was a torch bearer today in Gatineau as part of the Olympic Torch run. It was minus 5 in beautiful sunshine and while the crowds were sparse along this part of the route, Mike said the final stretch before crossing over to Ottawa was lined with thousands of people.

We got to examine the torch at lunch afterwards. It's a beautiful design (well done Bombardier) with a very clever propane burner designed to stay lit while running.

Jean was absolutely beaming with pride during the whole ceremony and I know, for Mike, it was all very, very special.

Up an hour early this morning(duh) and I got thinking how nice it would be to go sit in the sun somewhere and watch the paint peel. Ahhhh, it's going to be one of those days...wait a minute...leafs in the eavestrough, tons of leafs! It's a another bad day for Leafs.

We had a surprise in the back yard this evening... a pair of huge wild turkeys. That is until the cat took a run at this one, chasing them both up into the oak tree.

The clamatis were few and far between this year. The whites, so plentiful for months last season were out sparsely for a week this year. These reds only showed in late August after a few weeks of nice weather.

It's been a busy late summer with a new arbor to cover the deck and provide some shelter from the summer rains.

Now to get rid of that white lattice. I'm a plastics guy but not on my deck please! I love the smell of the cedar in the rain.

This hot little Cobra was sitting across the street from the outrageous Porsche.

Saw thsi little baby onCrescent Street in Montreal Saturday night. Anybody have a guess what one of these costs?

BLUESFEST OTTAWA 2009

Our first night a Bluesfest...opening act (coming to a great northern town soon) was Mair's own Brock Zeman

Steve Earle followed up with a great two hour set (mostly new/old stuff from his latest Townes VanZandt tribute album). .

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood......
Our garden has blessed us with an abundance of red for today.

and a surprise of the burgundy clamatis which we usually see in the fall.

We're still trying to figure out if this is a wildflower or a weed. It's staying in the garden regardless.

Ottawa has some beautiful religous architecture. Unfortunately, it also has some of the most ugly utility infrastructure.

A rare picture of Jean (she hates having it taken) enjoying the deck and the Clamatis.

We inherited a wonderfully productive Clamatis with the house that at present is over ten feet tall.

It provides a very nice shade on the deck in the summer. The bench seat is nearly five feet off the ground.

Here are some aerial views of the Aardvark Ranch taken from over Trout Lake looking south towards Highway 17, the Trans Canada Highway.

It was a cold, windy weekend at the Great Northern Cabana. Fortunately, the locals kept Jean and I basking in the warmth of their friendship. Thanks to all for a wonderful time...as usual!

It's Tulip time in Ottawa and our garden is blooming.