Creative Spelling

You'll probably have to click on this photo to enlarge the spelling mistake.

I rather like it. It's definitely different!

Gentlemen... Start Your Engines!

It rained all week. Hard. And you know what that does to a grassy field?
That's right.... MUD!
We went to Schomberg Fair to take in the Demolition Derby on Friday night.

If you've never been to a Demolition Derby at a country fair, go prepared, expecially if it's been raining. It's loud, it's dirty and it's a mud bath. You need boots, something dry to sit on, plenty of food and drink, and earplugs. Did I say it's loud? The cars compete in a concrete lined jousting arena bunker, and the main aim is to disable all the other competitors by the drivers deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another. Forwards, backwards, sideways, anything goes.

I personally think you have to be a little touched to compete in this sport.

The cars look like they've been through the wars before they even enter the battleground. They are stripped of anything that might be dangerous.... nothing left inside the cars except the drivers seat and seatbelt, no glass, no windscreen, no upholstery, no trim, no nothing. Doors are welded shut so the driver has to hop in through the window.

There's even a class for minivans!
The only major rule is that you don't ram the driver's door, and that's why Demolition Derby rules require the drivers door to be painted white with black numbers.

We met up with this car and driver after the race when we stopped at Timmy's for hot chocolate. He said he only built the car the previous night, stripping the interior and getting it ready for the race.... bought it from a little old lady who only drove it on Sundays! But he came second in his class, vanquishing 4 opponents.

And this is what happens to the tires after the race..... I don't fancy changing that flat by the side of the road.

Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria!

Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819. She became Queen on the death of her uncle, King William IV, in 1837, and presided over Great Britain and it's extensive Empire until her death in 1901.

And here in Canada, we still celebrate her birthday with the first long weekend of the summer, the Victoria Day weekend, despite the fact that Good Queen Vicky has been dead and gone for 110 years. Any excuse for a day off.... thank you Queen Victoria!

Victoria Day is the traditional day in Canada for fireworks. There's no evidence that Queen Vicky had an opinion one way or another about fireworks, but we love 'em!.

After letting off some awesome fireworks in OlderSon's front yard, (TessaDog had to be shut in the bathroom to avert a doggy panic attack) we broke out the sparklers. No firework display is complete without sparklers!



It was fun for all the kids, big and small.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game....

Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Crackerjack....

Well, we had peanuts and beer instead of Crackerjack. It was Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays. Jays and Rays... ha ha that rhymes! The stadium roof was open, although it doesn't look like it in this photo.

It was a good game, but over far too fast, too many scoreless innings. However we saw 4 home runs (2 for us, Rivera and Arencibia, 2 for them, Upton and Shoppach). Jays win, 3 to 2! It's always good when the home team wins.

Callum was kept busy with grapes, peanuts, a giant hot dog and yellow liquorice strings. Yuk! He went home with a ball that had been used in batting practice, given to him by one of the staff.
Last time we were at a Jays game, he went home with an actual game ball caught by ACE, the Jays mascot. This was his third MLB baseball taken home from a Jays game. That's an impressive haul for someone who's only 3.

Gloxinia

The annual neighbourhood Variety Show is over for another year, and my involvement as Producer has come to an end. I've done the job for 3 years, and now it's time for someone else to take over the Producer's duties.
The pay is terrible. Each year I insist on getting a 10% raise but 10% of nothing is still nothing!

My sweet DIL, The Equestrienne, gave me this lovely flowering plant to mark the occasion.
Thank you, thank you, it's gorgeous!

BOOT - i - ful!

Isaac is getting ready to be a Big Boy by clumping round the house in Daddy's workboots. After all, he'll be TWO in another couple of weeks. That's when Official Big Boy Status is attained.

Meanwhile, I've been the worst blogger ever by not posting for weeks on end. Life has been a bit too complicated recently. But I promise to mend my ways now that Spring is finally here. Lots to post about... stay tuned, fellow bloggers!