AHHHHH! The “Gillier Pond” has an unwanted visitor! Tonight while I was outside checking the pond, a muskrat popped out of the water right at hands length as I leaned over to move a water hyacinth. It scared the bejezzes out of me. Jackie came running to see what the ruckus was about. I do not know who was scared the most? It scurring across the deck into the dark.
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Happy Birthday is extended to Brian and Peter. We hope you had a great day! I guess the best present is …Canada winning the World Cup of hockey.

TGIF and the first week of the school year over and done
with. Only another 38 weeks until summer vacation:>) Something new this year is early start times for both Laura and I. The alarm goes off at 6:15am, the bus comes at 7:10 and I have to be at school by 8:05. The best thing is we both get home earlier.
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This morning at 7am, Tom headed off to Port Dover on his ST1100 for Canada’s Largest Motorcycle Event, PD13. This is the first time he has done something like this with his bike although I have always been intrigued to do Sturgis or Daytona Bike Week. Have fun Tom and enjoy the ride! Check it out http://www.pd13.com [MORE added by Tom… Please continue]
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It was an emotional morning as we bid adu to Catherine as she headed back up north after a wonderful weeks stay. While she was here we sat and talked, played board games, visited with Irene, had a pondside picnic with Pud and Milt, celebrated Laura’s birthday, went on a shopping spree to Clem’s Book Store, had an evening with friends and neighbours at the North Harwich Volunteer Firefighters BBQ, visited a long time friend Barbara Jean, enjoyed great suppers and sipped wonderful wines. It went by all to soon. Thanks for your visit Catherine….until next year……!
This morning Catherine and Jackie caught the train together to Toronto. Catherine is meeting up with Bill and Jackie is going to Barrie with friends for a concert.

Happy 16th Birthday Laura!
Birthdays are more than cakes and candles,
they’re more than presents too.
They give us a chance to celebrate
someone as special as you!

Today Laura celebrated one of the biggest milestones in a young girl’s life, her Sweet 16 birthday, marking an important passage from childhood into the approaching life of an adult. She chose to celebrate this special occasion with her family including her Aunt Catherine. We had a lovely picnic lunch at Erieau Beach and a brisk walk along the pier breakwall. Tom made a delicious wine chicken for supper, with corn on the cob and red skin potatoes. After soccer practice Jackie and Josh brought Laura’s friend Jenny back for marble cake and opening of presents. It was a great day!
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What a lovely weekend for a….”Road Trip”!!!
Laura was babysitting Alex yesterday so Tom and I headed out for an all day motorcycle outing. We first headed south to the Chatham Airport to see the Chatham Aeronauts R/C Model Flying Club’s 6th Annual All-Ontario Scale Fly-in. The show featured turbine jets, combat teams, helicopters, and free-style aerobatics. There was also a display of classic cars and full-size aircraft. We spied an Ultralight and chatted with the owner and instructor about his craft. A neighbour, Larry Anderson was there and I admired his all original 57 T-Bird convertible and his 65 Corvette ragtop.
We had a blast last year and this was definitely on our summer agenda. It was much bigger this year with the new location and visiting pilots and planes.
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This morning we were pleasantly greeted at our pond by the opening of our first lotus blossom. We all squealed with delight as we had expected the arrival later in the week! What a beauty it is!
[EDIT] Here is some more pictures Laura and Tom took out near Rondeau today.

RBC Dominion Securities gave us complimentary tickets to the RM Classic Car Concours d’Elegance in Tecumseh Park to view a selection of over 100 of the world’s most beautiful cars.

The show was spectacular! So much chrome and polish! The rare cars including many one-of a kinds, million dollar sports and classic cars and so many never before shown or seen in Canada. There are only 34 Tuckers in the world and 3 of them were in this show. The highlight was a 1930 Mercedes SS Roadster valued between $10 to $20 million.
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On Saturday Tom, Tom Townsend, Laura, and myself joined in the RM Classic Cars 25th Anniversary celebrations by going to Canada’s greatest custom and classic car show. It was held at RM Corporate Headquarters on #40 Highway.
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