We really did luck out on the weather for our vacation week, and on Friday, we finally made it over the cottage for the day, and had a lovely dinner with friends. Going for a putter on the water, on such a beautiful day was a must(after a wee bit of raking the beach and what not) The pictures show a little of the lake. Doug the pug, as you can see, quite enjoyed himself on the beach, and was content to snooze on the boat ride. Other than snapping pictures, I kept my phone down to just enjoy the scenery, the blue sky, the clouds. I did take a turn at piloting the boat, and I managed to dock it. (Yes I have my operators card) However, I could use a refresher, how to tell if you are going upstream or downstream? Really? Bigger lake to smaller lake? The water doesn’t look like it is moving?
Garden is coming along nicely! My hostas are growing, my day lilies are coming, holly is very green. I was fortunate enough to be given a gift certificate to our local Canadian Tire Store, and my friend Ali helped me pick out some annuals to fill in the gaps in my (our) garden. Impatients and..darn, I need my flower dictionary again! Water is not an issue, the big man upstairs is sending that in bountiful supply, which I believe my long stem roses (thanks to the original gardener here Beth) are quite enjoying. My partner is also an active participant in my gardening therapy by watering for me, when I forget, or reminding me to. Another friend with a green thumb reminded me I needed to deadhead the flowers, so that the plant does not waste energy trying to save the dying bloom. Who knew?? This garden is a slow work in progress, I hope to add more perennials over time. My sister, I know, has lots of those, but then she lives down in the southern part of Ontario where the season is at least 3 weeks longer at the start, and another 3 at the end. Bugs- they get on the flower and want to eat them. Now I don’t want to start using chemicals to keep them away, so my next venture will be to see if there are natural remedies I can use. All suggestions, gratefully accepted.
Nothing says you are on vacation like going for a boat ride. The weather was perfect, sunny, breezy enough to keep the bugs down, and not so hot you couldn’t sit in the sun.
The boat motor required some repairs, don’t ask me what, something to do with the lower unit, and going in reverse. In any case, it worked great today.
We are vacationing at home. Bit of a challenge, but we get the chance to do everything at a leisurely pace that we want to do, and we don’t have to go to work everyday. Chris’ family cottage is 3km or so away. I know.
I took the picture with my Blackberry Playbook. What do you think?
Tomorrow night is bike night, Thursday night a meeting, Friday dinner at the neighbour’s cottage. Saturday memorial service and a graduation and Sunday a ride. Good thing we didn’t have to work or we would be worn out!! I do like the lack of work stress. Don’t miss that one bit. Probably an age related thing. Also need to go for a car ride. Tomorrow is Wednesday, so do you think I will sleep in?? I do that very well, when I need to go to work!
A Little of Everything
MUSKOKA
“God made it just for beauty’s sake.
This lovely world of pond and lake
Rock-ribbed and lonely as a tomb:
And yet He made tall lilies bloom
In little crevices and fills.
Along the summit of the hills.
He set a row of fragrant pine
To turn the summer air to wine.
Where tired city folk could find
A blessed peace of heart and mind.
And breathe into their bodies core,
A balsam scented wind off shore.
He made a lake of turquoise blue,
Set rocky islands down into
The crystal waters cool and deep.
And gave to me a world to keep
Of tamarack and stately birch.
Like tall white pillars in a church.
Above this land the skies are clear,
And in the evening you can hear
The whirr of mallards in their flight,
Winging across the summer night,
Where purple shadows blend and blur
Into the green of ash and fur
Where Nature wears a royal cloak,
To charm the hearts of common folk”
EDNA JACQUES
228 DONLEA DRIVE, TORONTO
I found this poem, when searching for a picture, it says so well what Muskoka is.
My dad had never been ice fishing, so my late husband Gord and he decided they would go. Dad was over the moon. This was after my dad retired, so I think he was 70ish? There was no hut, or fancy snow mobiles to take them out, but dad was good to go. Gord had some “special rigs” that they set up around a few holes -on Lake Muskoka – somewhere, cant ever tell, manual ice auger of course. I have a great picture of dad holding up a huge fish, with a big grin on his face, that I will always cherish. I have been rooting around, trying to find it, but no luck. I did find this one, it has taken me 3 hours to find the albums, cut out the pictures, find my media card, insert it into adapter, scan the photo on the copier, couldn’t find it on the phone – where the media card went back to, so emailed it to myself. Then fought with the program that I wanted to use to edit it. Dad would be proud!! lol.. I am ready for a beverage, the sun but I do have two more pictures to share…
Fun times in the backyard!!
I know my son and daughter still feel the loss of their dad tremendously. 10 years. A blink, and yet not. They were 14 and 16 when he passed. I know he would be proud of them. Allan is a free spirit – a lot like his dad in many ways, and if I look at a picture of his dad, they are so much alike. Amanda also has his creative talents, one of which was taking pictures, and I have many wonderful pictures of the kids growing up. My parents moved to our town after they retired. So my kids also have some fun “Grandpa” memories …the time when they babysat for a week, while Gord and I went on a trip??
Kids with Colby, a special family member
My wonderful partner Chris, is spending the day with his two grown daughters. I know they also have some fun memories. Shopping? A movie? Dinner?? Spending some quality time together is all that matters.
I always felt my dad loved me, I still carry that with me. He encouraged me, supported my decisions whatever they might be. He shared his love of reading, ( I am a book-a-holic), he came to my track and field events whenever he could, did not teach me how to drive (probably a good thing). My dad was 42 when I was born. He fought in WWII, and was a very proud Canadian. I am the youngest of 5 – by eight years, so most of my memories of my dad are different than those of my brothers and sisters. He was a very proud grandfather, and showed love and patience to my children. He came from an era that lived amazing lives, so full, so rich. He loved my mom, and they always came first for each other, their marriage was a journey, but they made it work, show that it was meant to last no matter what. He had a lot of patience with my hearing loss, but never considered that it was a disability that would hold me back from achieving my goals. I just had to figure out what those goals were? I remember when I was a Junior Ranger – a great government program, gone by the wayside – when I came back at the end of the summer, he didn’t recognize me -his little girl grew up, and he made me feel so wonderful that I had been so independent, and gone so far away – White River. I had cut off my long hair – never did get it that long again. No wonder he couldn’t figure out who I was!!
I cannot believe how green it is out. The “foliage” as my mother would say, is abundant. I haven’t made it to the flower store, to purchase some perennials for the garden since we have had frost warnings in the last week. But now we have had so much rain, and it is hitting 30C, so we are living in a rich fertile growing world. More sunshine is required. While my partner is off riding in a Highway of Heroes Ride today with fellow bike club members, I will be taking the time to putter about the house. Hard to believe that I would cherish the idea!! I know! He had to get up super early to get on the road, and now hear I am, posting, instead of going back to bed. Figures. I had an appointment with a foot specialist last week, to see if an orthotic would help even out my gait. So he looked at my feet, had me walk back and forth etc, and although I have a high arch, which would benefit from having an orthotic for my shoes, he also suggested some physio to strengthen the right leg and muscles in my hip which have atrophied due to MS. I can’t believe how my right calf muscle has just evaporated. So back to the doc I go, to get a prescription for some physio, which thankfully is covered I believe by my health plan. Breathe deep. More of a mental blow than a physical one.
Living life with a chronic illness is definitely not easy. But I do my best to push through all the barriers this illness puts in front of me! In my heart and mind, I believe maintaining a positive outlook on all situations in life will carry us through to much better times! I hope you find the information that I provide both helpful and inspirational!
