Dec 15 - to Oakville

We left Beckley at 6:30 a.m., getting to Oakville & Stef's around 4:00. It was another easy drive.

We would have been to Stef's a little earlier but we made an unscheduled stop -- spur-of-the-moment we veered off I290 in the Buffalo area and visited Flory for a 1/2 hour. Of course now I feel guilty because we didn't plan in advance and let Sue know that we might stop -- sorry Sue !! We had no idea whether Flory would be home ... but this way she didn't go to any trouble. Sandra, her daughter, called while we were there so I'm sure that "word is getting around" that we visited. Sandra is much older than I am ... much older ... close to a month I think.

There were 6 booths open at the Canadian border with only 1 or 2 cars at each so we did not spend any time in queue. The Customs/Immigration guy asked us where are you going ? -- our cottage north of Parry Sound -- where north of Parry Sound ? -- Loring -- ok -- you know Loring ? -- yes he did -- wow ! He asked us what we were bringing across. I listed the major items -- food processor, toaster, furnace ducting -- and some Christmas gifts. He asked us the value of the most expensive gift -- I said $100 -- and he waived us on. I was ready to spout total values etc. and to pay duty/gst if necessary ...

The last bit of the trip was very windy, from the West. The warning signs were all up and we were blown around on the Burlington Bay skyway. We stopped along Dundas so that I could pick up some wrapping paper for Aaron's belated birthday gift and I got my first taste of the cold weather. It was still over freezing in Buffalo when we left but was down to 27F in Toronto, with that high wind. After we got the car unpacked I went over to Ikea in Burlington to pick up some shelf uprights for the basement up north. I already have the shelves.

By the time I got back from Ikea Aaron was home and we had dinner - chicken and mashed potatoes, rolls -- and by the time 9pm rolled around, you know where I headed.

Mya went crazy with Abby here. It took a long time for the two of them to settle down. After dinner Abby kept wanting to go out because there was a rawhide bone outside. She'd stand in the wind/cold for a couple of minutes and then want back in. If she thinks this is cold ... wait until we get up north ! She's going to regret shedding all that fur in Florida !!

Today we had downtown around 8:30, or at least that's the plan. After some shopping I'm taking Sandy to the car rental place and then I'm heading north. Somewhere along the way -- probably in Parry Sound -- I'll stop for some groceries to keep me going until Thursday.

That's all folks ....