Yes yes yes, I need to start writing :-/

I really must sit down and fill everyone in on happenings around the homestead.   Been very busy with the new (to us) house, Jackson (had to remove his eye), trip to Algonquin, boating with a friend on the St Lawrence and enjoying summer.  Unfortunately no trip to Bermuda this spring but planning on 3 weeks in the fall.   Couple of pictures from the other day - just a few critters in the backyard.

Torturing the Pets

Home sick so tortured the pets with the X100s for a bit;

New Addition to the Fur Family

Just realized that I had only posted pictures of our newest addition to FaceBook and nothing to the blog or G+.

Wookiee (formerly Pippy) came to us a few weeks back from Ottawa Dog Rescue and she has been a wonderful addition.  Very tiny, weighing only 5.4lbs, we're looking to fatten her up.  Two of the cats are responding well but the two, who normally take time with new additions and then become there best buds, are still taking some time to figure her out.   She is smaller then each of the cats!   Full of energy and loves play time.   She desperately needs a hair cut and is wearing the cone because she won't stop licking where her spay incision and has created a bit of a scab.

 

Still a little shy of the camera

 The family minus the 4 cats

Big brother Jackson still isn't too sure about this :-)

Playing on a Snowy Day

Couple of shots of Kitten and Gizmo today being all lovey dovey.  Normally they are at each others throats after sitting together for a while;

Last summer we were in Bermuda for a couple of weeks and all I did was B&W photography during the trip and edited on an Ipad mini. I always meant to go back and do some processing after I got home on the bigger screen and promptly forgot all about it. Played with a few today.

New Ham Shack

I never planned to purchase another house with a pile of land so my ham radio activities were very down-scaled.   Just enough that I could chat with my friends in Bermuda and play a bit on 6 meters.  The new house has 3 acres of land.  Although I decided to put some bigger antennas up, I've kept things reasonable small compared to my old shack from 1997-2010.

I love my little KX3, it combined with the computer control, a 2m/7cm radio, a rotator and a switch box and I'm good to go.   Not pictures is behind me which is my old TenTec Jupiter and the Icom 2-KL that I drive with the KX3.  A nice clean setup that gives me all the frequencies I need.

Managed to resurrect my old Hy-Gain TH-3Jr and put it up about 27', below that is the 4 element 6 meter quad and on top is the 2m/70cm whip.  There is also a G5RV in the trees for the lower bands.

Not pretty but it seems to work well :-)

I have also scored an old 2 element HF Gem Quad from a friend who is getting out of the hobby.  That will be my spring project.

Bird Stalking

Yes, I haven't blogged in forever and to be honest I really haven't taken many photos the past few months.   Just way to busy with the move, work and some personal stuff at home.   But trying to get motivated again.

Wasn't feeling great this morning so took a sick day and found myself bored out of my mind.   I noticed the birds around the bird feeder so took a few shots through the window.

On the Move (again)

Wow, just realized it's been months since my last post.   Also realized that I haven't even gone back and looked at all my black and whites from my last Bermuda trip.  In fact I have barely touched the cameras since that trip.   I guess two quick back to back Bermuda trips kinda burned me out on the cameras a bit.   But we have been busy.

We learned late in the summer that our landlord had decided to sell the house.  He gave us first dibs on the place but we decided this is not the house we want to settle into.   After some discussion we decided not to rent a new place but to buy a place instead.   We pulled all our pennies together and got a hold of my old mortgage broker and decided it would work.

The search was on.   Actually didn't take too long, turns out it's becoming a buyers market and the time of year was good.  People are motivated to sell.   Helps that interest rates are at a nice low.  Now we're on the move.   Just 1 more week until we close on the new house.   The past month has been sorting out the legal, booking all the installations for the house and packing our stuff.

The new house is a nice 35 year old bungalow that has been well taken care of and upgraded.   Also has almost 3 acres of land and a nice big shed.   Inspections all went well and we're really looking forward to the move.   A couple of pics;

Was unable to get the guy I wanted to move me so decided to do this myself (again) after not learning the last time how much it hurts - lol.   Fortunately I have 13 days to fill these and some friends to help with the big stuff on the last day.

Now, some plugs for some great people who made the process so easy for us.   Our agent, broker, lawyer and inspectors are all great and come highly recommended by Jen and I.   Be happy to give any of them a recommendation.  Here is there info but if you want to ask questions about any of them give me a shout.  Each of these people will take great care of you if your looking to purchase a new home.

ALANA DENNETT   (Real Estate Agent)

http://www.royallepage.ca/en/agent/ontario/ottawa/alana-dennett/45606/
ROYAL LEPAGE PERFORMANCE
165 Pretoria Avenue
OTTAWA, ON K1S 1X1
E-mail: adennett@sympatico.ca

Elaine Simpson, AMP    (Mortgage Broker)
Broker #M08004806
Mortgage Broker
Dominion Lending Centres – Smart Debt
150 Isabella St., Suite 110, Ottawa, On K1S 1V7
www.MortgagesByDesign.ca
Phone: 613-791-1798
Fax: 613-736-1765

Ken Hoyt    (Lawyer)
157 Gilmour Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0N8
Tel: 613-231-2995, ext. 28
Fax: 613-231-1121
www.kenhoytlaw.ca

Stephen Clayton   (House Inspector)

http://capitalhomeinspection.ca/

Phone: 613-233-4515
Email: aclayton2000@rogers.com