Please, Martin's, Don't Close for Good!

My favourite local farmer, who's also my neighbour, has closed up shop early this season. The sad thing is, Martin's might not reopen due to a lack of business. If someone could please explain how an onslaught of new residents in a town could bring about the end of a local business that's been around for decades, that'd be great.

Martin's on Hwy #56 in Binbrook has the best damn produce that Ontario has to offer. How could anyone pass up fruit that's so sweet, it's brought people to tears, and has been chowed down faster than the fanciest desserts?

Please, support your local farmers, especially the ones who are neighbours running their businesses from home. If they close up, we all lose. Farmers can't make any money (and farming is their livelihood, after all), and we don't get to appreciate the fruits of their labour as much as we should and they deserve.

Don't let Martin's close, or any other run-from-home produce store. They not only feed country folk, but farmers also feed cities. Now it's time for the city people to do their part, and help support the farmers who feed them.

Mourning Meu

If you remember, back in June, I wrote a post about our latest addition being a 1 1/2 year old kitty that we named Meu. She was a stray that had been dumped in need of a home and a family to love her. Sadly, we lost her a couple of nights ago as she wandered out onto Binbrook Rd, where she was hit and killed. We only had her for a couple of months, but man, how we miss her.

She looked like a cat, but she didn't have strictly cat qualities. She behaved like a dog, rarely using her litter box, and doing the bulk of her business outside. When she wanted to go outside, or come in the house, she'd go to the door, stand on her hind legs, and use her front paws to bat at the door, all while meowing to get our attention. Her tail was that of a spider monkey with a mind of its own. No joke. She wrapped her tail around everything No wrist or ankle was safe.

When we took her in, mum wanted her to be strictly indoor. She didn't want us to be those owners who let the cat out only to have it get hit and killed. The dad, on the other hand, said, "if she gets hit, she gets hit," in the condescending tone that says, "she'll be fine," and proceeded to let her out. Two months later, mum's hating being right, and I'm missing our pretty girl. She was a talkative little snuggle bum.

We miss you, Meu.

Final Classic at Ivor Wynne

Anyone who follows the CFL knows that today's the Labour Day Classic, starting with the Battle of Ontario, and ending with the Battle of Alberta. However, if you don't follow the Canadian Football League, you likely have no idea what I'm talking about, especially if you're not Canadian.

For as long as I can remember, every Labour Day Monday, the CFL has a football double header where the four teams playing are always the Hamilton Tiger-Cats versus the Toronto Argonauts (Ontario), and the Edmonton Eskimos play against the Calgary Stampeders (Alberta). I'm not sure if Alberta has a traditional playing field, but in Ontario, the Ti-Cats ALWAYS host the Argos at Ivor Wynne Stadium. However, next year, the Classic turf will change as this is Ivor Wynne's final year. It's not the most glamourous or glorious stadium, but it's the only stadium many Cats fans have ever known.

So to those who will be participating in this Labour Day tradition, either in person, or on TSN at one o'clock this afternoon, cherish Ivor Wynne's final Classic. I know I will, and I'll be cheering on the Cats in the process.

And now I leave you all with the Ti-Cat cheer:

Oskee wee wee!

Cheers to Another Long Weekend!

It's the Labour Day weekend here in Canada, which, like every other Canadian holiday, means barbeques, booze, the possibility of bonfires, and more than likely a party of some description. It's also the last long weekend of the summer before students go back to school on Tuesday (never the Monday as it's a holiday).

My long weekend was definitely started off on the right foot as last night's supper was barbequed steak, green beans (also on the barbie), salad, and a Strongbow to wash it all down. And now for lunch today it's wings. Since I won't be going out until later tonight, I can have myself another special beverage. I love long weekends in Canada. We know how to do them right.

As always, if anyone's going to be driving, please be responsible as there will be many travelers over the next few days (in other words, please don't drive drunk). Of course, enjoy this last long weekend of the summer to the fullest. Have a beverage, have a party, fire up that barbeque, and have that one last bonfire. Cheers to long weekends in Canada. Have a good one!