I'm so glad you could stop by. This is my personal blog of daily life and my journey through life. You will find a strong emphasis on family and friends as well as finding my ancestors through genealogy. Unlike my other blogs this blog is more of a catch-all so any topic is fair game.
We made a day trip to Vero Beach, Florida during our recent vacation. On the way back to our vacation home we stopped at Pelican Island. Pelican Island is a National Wildlife Refuge. This really is a gorgeous place to visit. There are a few walking trails to enjoy, definitely a photo opportunity area. It was rather on the cool side when we visited but we managed to get a few nice pictures of the setting sun. Pelican Island is on our must visit spots on future visits to our vacation home.
A couple of days ago the weather turned cool so we woke to very heavy fog conditions. It is always pretty here when fog envelopes everything leaving just a few feet around the house just barely visible. The boat horns sound through the heavy fog - one blast every minute to make sure other boats know they are there. This is the perfect time to grab the camera looking for photo opportunities. I spotted several spider webs heavy with the moisture from the heavy fog.
Spider webs are greatly under-appreciated works of art! Their intricate fine webbing is enough to make anyone who crochets jealous. Quite often spider webs indoors are hastily brushed aside when cleaning not realizing that they are a tell tale sign of air leakage. Outdoors spider webs are swept from window wells and door ways because they look unsightly without considering how many insects spiders trap each night. Outdoors during times of heavy dew or frost spider webs become magical, mystical works of art to be enjoyed for a short period of time. What a great photo opportunity!
This past week we have had a bit of rather turbulent weather ranging from severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, high winds and a tornado touching down causing heavy damage in Midland, Ontario. On Wednesday at 1:41 PM Ontario and Quebec experienced a 5.0 magnitude earthquake with the most damage in the epicentre of Echo Lake, Quebec. Tremors were felt throughout most of Ontario and into US states as far as Pennsylvania. It was rather scary to feel the house shake and sway as it did. I was on the lower level that is mainly below grade when the tremor hit and things did move! Despite the damage caused by these Acts of God there were no deaths and only minor injuries. What an amazing blessing!
We visited the grandbabies over the Easter weekend. Oldest grandbaby and I took our cameras out to take a few pictures. Between their house and the neighbours house there was a huge patch of Siberian Squill so we stopped to enjoy their beauty. A small butterfly flitted around the flowers then landed just long enough for me to get this picture.
This cute video of a roe deer barking at a cat was shot in Scotland in 2007. To catch this on video is amazing in that the photographer had to be at the right place, at the right time and have the camera ready. From experience I know that takes a bit of luck! Anyway this really is cute and you just can't help but giggle a bit. Enjoy!
Spring has definitely sprung in our little corner of the world. I was amazed that March came in like a lamb and left like a lamb! The spring is predicted to be warm and dry here which is not good news after a mild winter with below average snowfall. A few days ago I grabbed the camera to look for signs of spring in the gardens. The sun was peeking through the willow giving an interesting effect.
I woke around 2 am with the horrid starts of a sinus attack so was up for much of the rest of the night. Finally about 6:30 am I drifted off to be woke about 20 minutes later by the shrill ringing of the telephone letting us know the plumber and backhoe guys would be here around 8 am. We have been battling plumbing problems since moving here so this time the solution was to run new lines. Our backyard is now dug up, the lawn looks like heck from the bobcat and backhoe and we likely lost a few shrubs. Along with fixing our backyard we will also have to fix our neighbour's back yard as that was the only access into our backyard. Thank goodness for great neighbours! The sinus attack has continued throughout all the noise but at least our plumbing problem is solved.
It seems like we have been waiting all summer just to get a bit of seasonable weather. Well last week it finally hit! Despite a few storms it quickly became very hot and humid to the point we had to turn on the air conditioning. It's days like this that we load up the cooler and sunblock, don on our swim suits and head to our favourite swim hole to spend the day. Quite often we head out just after lunch and return after dinner so we aren't traveling in the heat of the day. Instead we are frolicking in the water, relaxing on the boat and exploring the beach.
I love exploring the beach at the swim hole. This small, uninhabited island has many wonderful photo opportunities! The point opens onto the lake so there is a lot to explore. Quite often I will head from the boat to the edge of the water with my camera, drink and hat in hand then just sit partially covered with water enjoying the cool lapping of the water on my legs. Finally curiousity will get the best of me so I will be off exploring always returning with a lot of great pictures. As evening approached we gather things up and pull up the anchor then most times head for the marina although sometimes we stop for dinner along the way. We take our time putzing home just enjoying the beauty of the day. It is just a beautiful, wonderful and relaxing way to spend a hot summer's afternoon!
The hunting members of the group had been unsuccessful until Tuesday when one of the non-hunting members looked out to see a doe within a few yards of the cabin. Without over clothes or even putting on safety gear the doe was felled a short time later. Considering there were other hunters in the area this likely wasn't the smartest move on their part even though hunters likely would not be that close to the cabins. They put on the safety orange vests and hats before going into the woods to retrieve the deer. The traditions of the hunt camp are that everyone shares in the meat from the kill and part of that year's kill goes to the next hunt camp to bring good luck for another successful hunt.
We are now well into autumn! While the air is turning chilly and the days are getting shorter there are still enough nice days to get a good amount of outdoor winterizing done as well as simply enjoying being outdoors. The fair aroma of wood smoke coming from nearby chimneys mingle with the distinct smell of autumn. Leaves flitter and dance their way to the ground on calmer days or whip about in a frenzy when the winds are stronger. The water takes on a cooler look yet still sparkles when the sun graces us with it's presence. Waterfowl make their presence known both in the water and overhead. We really are very blessed to live in such a beautiful area in our little corner of planet earth!
Road trips are always fun for us and even more so when the destination is one of our kids. I had been canning all last week so was frantically trying to finish up in order to leave for the kids last Friday afternoon. By the time we were settled in the car I was exhausted so started drifting off to sleep. Struggling to stay away I grabbed the camera and started taking pictures. The country was beautiful, somewhat between summer and autumn with gorgeous blue skies.
Just off of where we were standing to take pictures of Holy Hill at Glacier Hill County Park, there was a beautiful trail. I love wooded tails! We have as a family hiked many trails over the years, some more rugged than others. It started out years and years ago when we camped with the kids every chance we got and it continued for many years. We now boat and still we will set anchor and walk the trail to the lake where we swim. Never far from our mind is buying a motorhome so we can do some serious camping again. Still we drive to trails where we enjoy a good walk in nature, enjoying her beauty and serenity.
Trails are wonderful! It is a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours any time of the day. Their shady canopy ward off the heat of the day. The sights and smells, and I do have to stress smells because there is just a certain woodsy smell with trails, are a true delight. Woodland critters dart about but you have to be quiet so you don't startle them. Life doesn't get much better that walking under the cool canopy of a woodland!
After the marriage ceremony we went to a small park for pictures. This small stream provided an ideal backdrop for the happy bride and groom. We took several pictures and short video clips. Then they climbed up the side of a hill to stand on a railway bridge for more pictures. Upon completion of the photo shoot, we all headed back to their house to change into dress casual for the restaurants and to take more pictures. The wedding cheesecake was staying at the house to be enjoyed after the restaurant meal. Pictures of this wonderful cheesecake and some of the dishes enjoyed at the restaurant can be seen here. I'm so glade everything went well for the kids. After such a long and frustrating wait to be married, it was nice to see them so happy. It was really a lovely, peaceful day filled a lot of love, laughter and many photo opportunities.
I am a wife, mother and grandma who enjoys the many aspects of homemaking. A variety of interests and hobbies combined with travel keep me active. They reflect the importance of family, friends, home and good food.
"I have called this principle, by which
each slight variation, if useful, is preserved,
by the term Natural Selection." —Charles Darwin from "The Origin of Species"
