Spike and his buddy Bobby going at it in the driveway. Little dogs, it seems, play much rougher than their larger counterparts.

I always have a love/hate relationship with living in the city and today was no exception. I saw this eerie glow coming from the back yard, ran out to make sure nothing was on fire, and saw this stunning colour in the sky. The only vantage point was out front of the house so I took a few shots....this would have been amazing as photographed in the country!!

Yea....it's spring again!! Is this weather crazy or what? Last week I had to blow enough snow so that Spike could take a poop...now it's a mud bog!!

Christmas morning in muddville and as always Spike does not seem to like his rain dog outfit. Soon I must start preparing the feast...this year we are having roast beast!! With apologies to Dr. seuss. Happy hollowdays to everyone!!

Here in Kitchener we got another foot of very heavy snow last night. Already we are running out of places to put the damn snow. Here you can see my neighbor Ben with his brand new 12 horse beauty blower...alpha blower indeed!!!

Yet another photo from my excellent and very well received series on " what the heck am I feeding ". Anyone Know?

Another photograph from my extremely popular series " what the heck is it ". I would think that either of the Greenfield boys should get this one!!

I have only just realized that the shortest day of the year, today, produces the longest shadows.
Here's a toast to the short shadows!!

Well...it's that time of year again. This morning I had to blow out the backyard so Spike could do his business. He's such a good dog, he stood by the window watching with his little doggy legs crossed while I did my work. Upon completion of the task he ran outside and demonstrated to the world what big business really means!!!

The view from the dining room with this weird garland that Kathy gave me. It has all these different settings that make the lights do Vegas like glitz. It is very Christmas...eee.

The next generation of musician Rick Lauber playing what must be a familiar guitar to some of you. Here's a hint....I sold it last year for $380.00 cdn and there is a repair on the top!!

As promised... my friend Kathy and some fabulous tail fins!!!

Family

1963 Dodge with a factory 4 speed.....or is it?

I think that this is the interior of a 1958 DeSoto. Look at all that chrome...I love it!!

I know I've posted this pic before but it is one of my favorites of Spike. The big bonus is that there is no snow in the picture.

I'm shooting these bird feeder shots through my office window and I just realized that the spots of white that appear throughout this photograph seem to be snow....but are in fact the result of a sneeze that I let rip just as I was taking this shot. Is that nutty....or what?

Todays post is a public service announcement. If you do not have one of these....go and get one because hell is going to freeze over this winter. I can feel it in my bones!! We had a power failure last week....it lasted all day, and this little puppy kept me safe and warm...on less than a gallon of gas!!

I could not resist the charm of this little exercise in reflectology.....please accept my apologies.

There's lots of action at the bird feeders this time of year and these little pigs can empty this feeder in about two days. Any ornithologists out there who can tell me exactly what the heck I'm feeding? I thought they were kinglets, but after a bit of web search, I'm not so sure.

Oh the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful....it's as if we've no place to go....let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Standing in the middle of my living room, looking out the front window, and what do my bleary eyes see....my neighbor Ron burning through about twenty bucks a night in electricity. It's old school, it's kitchy, but I love it!!

I took this photo last night during a winter storm. I should have used a tripod because of the long exposure time but the sepia effect is nice all the same. FYI....did you know that sepia is what they call the ink from the Cuttlefish!! Speaking of Cuttlefish, I think that would be a fabulous new epithet for the Ice Marshall. Now, repeat after me.....Cap'n Cuttlefish Walpole .....I like it!!

The worlds smallest outhouse. This is part of the new rural Barbie play set and It's very cute. You even have to dig a little hole under it!!

Winter has arrived early in Mudville this year. Just like last friggin year and the year before that. Can't get travel insurance because of the myocardial infarction I had a few months ago. The top most boughs of the old maple tree are starting to look mighty inviting. Salud!!

So, there I am minding my own business, sitting in my office, doing the NYT crossword when this squirrel jumps up on the window and starts licking the screen. This went on for quite some time....maybe five minutes.....before I went and grabbed the camera to get a shot. The little bugger was not shy in the least and kept right on going. Why would a squirrel lick a window screen with such industry and for so long.....anybody?

Produce....just before the frost killed everything!! These Guatemalan ornamental wax head peppers were absolutely yummy!!

It's winter again and time for the slot cars to come out. This year my brother and I set it up in my basement....more room! We have since added one more set to the mix and I will post a pic as soon as can make myself go down to the cellar with a camera!!

Sometimes there just isn't enough time to break up the pallet before it goes into the fire!!

I was too busy to post yesterday as I went to church to do some prep work for the afterlife. This took a lot longer than I expected. Apparently I have been slated to go to hell and I'm trying to weasel out on a technicality. The real problem is that you have to represent yourself because I'm sure you can guess where all the lawyers are....that's right.....already in hell!! With apologies to Boss Bob of Walpole Inc.

I call this nifty little art photo " grommet on canvas ", eat your heart out Greenie!!

If you contribute enough money to the war heritage museum they paint one of the panes of glass in the hanger door in your honor!! Kathy's family made a contribution in their late fathers name.....and here it is.

There are over a million seeds in the head of a Bull Rush. As a member of the male species, who is rather fond of spilling seed, this makes me jealous! It was very cold on this wintry day!

I've been on sabatical but thanks to Rob Greenfield I realize that I must post every day, so....

Ice huts on Callander Bay last winter. Cheers

Natty fly boys!!

flower

I always supply Spike the very best in toys. Here he is with one of his high end towels that I stole from a five star hotel. Try and prise it away from him!!!

This is a Harvard trainer sans engine....it's being rebuilt. This was the secondary training aircraft of choice for the military in WW2. It is said that if you can fly one of these....you can fly almost anything.

Lancaster bomb bay....yeah baby!!

The Avro Arrow....the finest plane we never built!!
One of Igor Sikorsky's better ideas.
This is a very famous plane. Any idea why?
Rolls-Royce turbo jet....sectioned for your pleasure.

On a recent cold, blustery, crappy day we went to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and I don't know where to begin. What an amazing collection they have, and they still fly a bunch of them. This Saturday morning for example will see the Lancaster bomber, one of two world wide that is flyable, in the air around Hamilton. Look up.....look way up!!

Eating healthy sure is a lot of fun. Baked white fish with a garlic/cashew glaze, spinach and potatoes. I might not live forever but at least it will seem that way!!

Three chins for sale or rent....room to let 50 cents....king of the road!!!

A rare shot of " Boss Bob " when he is not doing anything....just drinking it all in...literally!!

Beaver Valley, so called because of the shape it takes in spring runoff. I saw marmots, ferrets, weasels, ground hogs and meerkats but no beavers....so it must be true!!

I am the god of hell fire and I bring you......fire!! Remember Arthur Brown....one hit wonder!!