Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Maple Run Studio Tour

Saturday dawned sunny and warm, a perfect day for a ride in the country, so AC and I set off for the Maple Run Studio Tour in Pakenham. One of my favorite artists, Jane Christie - Twisted Sister Jewelery - was on the tour and I wanted to see her latest work so we stopped at her studio first. Here we are on the porch looking at one of her necklaces, it was a beauty, but I managed to resist it and only purchased a pair of earrings. Each piece is a work of art and a joy to wear. You can see a pin she made for me here.
After my visit with Jane we walked over to another studio and enjoyed watching Chris Van Zanten work his magic with coloured glass. Here he is beginning to make a bowl much like the one seen in the picture below.
Each piece is different...
...and absolutely beautiful.
At the end of the tour it was time for a rest and visit with a furry friend. Apparently we were both knackered!
The maple sap was running and so were we!

Monday, March 30, 2009

First Bike Ride of the Season

We got out for our first bike ride of the season last Friday and it was a grand and glorious ride. The wind was a bit cold and brisk, but we dressed for it and were warm and toasty there and back again!
What a treat to be out and about on our wheels again.
Looking forward to many more rides as the weather gets warmer and warmer.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

'Amma's BD Breakfast at the Sugar Bush

We went to Temple's Sugar Bush for a pancake breakfast this morning, and I think everyone else who lived in the area was there too. The place was packed! We had to wait a half hour for a table, but Daddy and Grandpa took Smudge to the Sugar Shack to play while Mommy, Grandma and CB waited for a table. CB slept soundly in his car seat the whole time, so we passed a pleasant half hour and the food was more than worth the wait.
We finally got our table and CB continued to sleep soundly.
We took lots of pictures and CB slept on.
It was pouring rain outside but we made our own sunshine inside. This was the first family outing to a restaurant with two babies and it was a huge success. Mommy and Daddy were both all smiles because both kids were being good as gold.
Smudge played with crayons and plastic cups...
....and when CB woke up, he was quite content to have a snuggle or two from Daddy then go back in his car seat and look around while we chowed down on delicious pancakes smothered in fresh maple syrup. Yum!
What sweet memories we made on this rainy spring day.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Movin' to the Music

We had Smudge for a sleep-over a few days ago and AC decided to play the violin for her. Here she is movin' and groovin' to Grandpa's music. Don't know if you can tell from this picture, but she really gets her hips swinging and her toes tapping when any music is played. Too, too, cute!
I tried to get a video of her dancin' but as soon as she saw the camera she ran over to me to see the picture instead of staying in the frame. Oh well, as least I got this still. Enjoy.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Happy Birthday to Me

I had a great BD yesterday. It was full of sunshine and all the colours of the rainbow. What a perfect cake to reflect the beauty of the day.
I started the day with a nice sleep in, and when I finally did roll out of bed I found a gift and card was awaiting me beside the bed. What a nice way to start the day. Coffee was made and I toddled back up to my computer nook to check mail, read a few blogs and take a peek at FB. While I sat there enjoying my morning coffee AC brought another gift in to me - a new Mary Oliver poetry book. Oh joy, the rest of the morning was spent curled up with it.

Then it was off to the park for a picnic lunch and maybe a bike ride after lunch.
The sun was shining, but the bitter north wind made it a little too cold for a bike ride, so we settled for a walk along the water instead of a bike ride. Soon though, soon!
Not a speck of green at the park yet, but buds are on the trees and are about ready to burst open.
After our nice afternoon at the park it was time to head over to the kids place for a BD dinner. My food was served on the special BD plate. Festive huh?
After dinner we all gathered around the computer to Skype with Althegal out in Vancouver. Yes I got a camera for my laptop so I can now Skype with family in Toronto, Korea and Vancouver. How neat to be able to see Althegal, talk to her and make her part of the BD party too. Too bad Puff was at school. Hope I get to talk to her later today.
Cake and ice cream followed our Skype session and then it was time to open presents. Smudge helped me open every one but she was more interested in the tissue paper than posing for a picture with Grandma!
CB didn't mind a BD snuggle with Grandma though. Mmmmm, how nice that was.
After dinner we set off for home and I ended the day with some more MO poetry. Yes, it was a great day.

Old Camping Nook

On our fourth day at Riverwood we set off for a trek along the Old Logging Road, and stayed on it until we reached the north boundary of the property. We picked up the North Boundary Line Trail and followed it until we reached the old cemetery.
Along the Old Logging Road we found Treebeard's summer camping nook.

The chair and the scenery wait patiently for summer's return.
So do we!
The beauty of this time of year is that there isn't a mosquito in sight!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

New Poetry Book

I got a new Mary Oliver poetry book - Red Bird - for my birthday. Oh my, such a wonderful treat. I have been enjoying a delightfully lazy morning sipping coffee and reading my new book. Mmmm, such a perfect way to spend a birthday morning.

This poem put some thoughts and feelings into words today.

A River Far Away and Long Ago
The river
of my childhood,
that tumbled
down a passage of rocks

and cut-work ferns,
came here and there
to the swirl
and slowdown

of a pool
and I saw myself-
oh, clearly-
as I knelt at one -

then I saw myself
as if carried away,
as the river moved on.
Where have I gone?

Since then
I have looked and looked
for myself,
not sure

who I am, or where,
or, more importantly, why.
It's okay-
I have had a wonderful life.

Still, I ponder
where that other is-
where I landed,
what I thought, what I did,

what small or even maybe meaningful deeds
I might have accomplished
somewhere
among strangers,

coming to them
as only a river can-
touching every life it meets-
that endlessly kind, that enduring.

Sixty-two and counting

Who is this girl? What is she thinking about? Where did she go?
What an adventure life is! What amazing places it takes you! Enjoy every minute of the ride, for the minutes become hours; the hours become days; the days become weeks; the weeks become years, and...sixty-two and counting!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Sleepover fun

A sleepy Smudge doing her morning meditation at Grandma and Grandpa's house. From here she made a B-line to Grandma's computer nook...
...to see what fun she could have there. Let's try to write with every pen and pencil in the holder, name all the people on the Happy Wall, then go back to the pens and pencils.
Then it was down to the living room to check out the toys there and make some morning tea.
Some people like to do a morning crossword puzzle. Smudge likes to work on the coloured cups and lids puzzle. She worked at it for quite a while too.
Then it was time for a story with Grandpa. I just love the way she is holding her little hands in this picture.
Yes, we had lots of fun on our sleepover.

Monday, March 23, 2009

First coffee in the park this season

Sunshine and blue skies visited us today, so we took a picnic lunch to the park. A bitter north wind was blowing so we had to sit in the car to keep warm, but it was still a picnic in the park. Yahoo!
After lunch we went to visit Smudge and took her out shopping with us. We had to stop at Home Depot to get some new baseboard for our front porch repairs. The store had a display of riding lawn mowers in the front entrance hall, and Smudge had to climb up on each and every one of them!!! We were in no hurry, so we let her.
By the time she reached the middle of the row I decided to join her for a ride. It was fun.
When we arrived back home we discovered that the front porch was nice and warm because it was sheltered from the wind, so Smudge played out there for a while. How nice to be out without boots, mitts and heavy coats.

Wedding Willow

I can't walk by this spot at Riverwood without all the wonderful memories of the A-Team's wedding flooding over me. When all the leaves were on the "Wedding Willow" it was impossible to see the view behind it, but this is a perfect time of year to see it. The chuppah was to the left of the willow tree, and people were seated just off to the side of where I stood to take this pic. The farmhouse is up the hill to the left, the river is off to the right.
Beautiful spot huh?
In this pic I am standing near the red barn looking back at the willow from the other side. From this vantage point you can see how close we are to the river. That's it in frozen form, to the left of the tree in the middle of this pic.
Another view of the frozen river.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Soaking up the Morning Sunshine

My brother just sent me these pics he took while we were visiting last week. He caught me sitting in my favorite spot to soak up the morning sunshine whilst sipping that first cup of coffee. He captured the mood of the morning perfectly.
Little did I know that I was sitting in Star's chair, but she didn't seem to mind too much. She waited patiently on the other chair and looked very pretty while doing so I must say. As soon as I moved to refill my coffee cup, she high-tailed it over to my/her chair and took up residence there. I didn't mind though, she had a sunny spot too, and the view was just as nice from her chair.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Visit with Lacoma

On the way home from Riverwood we took a small side trip to visit Lacoma and Star! It was nice enough to sit out on the deck whilst sipping our wine and catching up on news and views, so we grabbed our jackets and headed outside. What a treat to soak in some sunshine after the long dark winter months.
Star is the newest addition to the family and as you can see, she is making herself right at home. As soon as I got up to take a picture she claimed my chair. The little rascal.
As soon as the munchies were brought out, I shooed her off my chair and she quickly hopped up on "Mommy's" lap to get a snuggle and maybe a goodie or two. You can see Oliver waiting and hoping for AC to drop a crump of chip for him.
I handed the camera to AC and he took a picture of me with my big brother. Isn't he handsome?
The pic below is the view from the deck just behind us. What a beautiful spot in the country they have.
Once the sun went in we retreated inside and both dogs snuggle up with good ole Uncle AC. Oliver is looking at the camera, and Star is getting her back scratched.
AC does love dogs and they seem to take to him too. Star doesn't warm up to just anybody, so AC felt quite priviledged when she jumped up beside him to make friends.
Thanks for the nice visit guys. We always have such a relaxing time with you.