Conversation With Six-Year-Old

I had promised to buy him a gift for passing into grade 2, and he chose a nerf gun...

I was conflicted: I don't like to see kids with guns - even toy ones with sponge bullets. And then there's the potential danger of projectiles hitting the eyes... 

I probably should have refused, but I didn't.

Okay, I finally said . But if  you shoot at anyone's face, or hit anyone in the eye, the gun will be confiscated. I'll take it away until you're 21.

Why 21? He asked.

Because you'll be an adult, I replied.

I won't be living here, he said. I'm leaving when I'm 19.

Where will you be living? I asked.

He paused, then replied: In Spain.

(Hmmm. Spain? Is that because Spain just won the world cup?! Everything affects everything... I wonder how many little boys are now talking about a place called Spain?!)

Then and Now

I recently came across this photo of our backyard garden - next to the hedge - in the summer of 1999...

I took a photograph of that same garden today.

The hedge is much taller - and the two-storey building next door hides behind it now.

Time changes everything - even gardens!

In the Woods!

Currently, my daily steps are (virtually) transporting me along a coastal trail in western Australia along the New South Wales Coast.

I enjoy the satellite image from above... from this perspective, the view is very scenic...

But recently, on the street level view of the trail, I was surprised to find myself literally walking in the woods!

Where's the path? Is there a road? 

There are no vehicles around! How does the google camera - positioned on top of a vehicle - get here?!! Do they now use a camera on a drone?

Old Family Movies - Vacation

My father took home movies when my brother and I were young. We watched them regularly in the early years - but for a long time now the reels have sat in a box, untouched.

My brother (the child on the left)  had them transferred to digital format and recently sent me a version I could watch on a smartphone or computer. 

We've come a long way!

A few days ago, I watched one of the old reels.

I sat transfixed, remembering our first visit to Kelowna in 1957. 

My grandmother (above) - probably stepping out of the kitchen. Is that a clothesline full of white sheets top left?!

It looks so peaceful!

My uncle Bob - age 16 or 17 - putting the smallest cousin on a horse.

I understand now why my parents fell in love with the area - and why, two years later, our family moved there.

Watching it all really took me back!

Looking Back

Today is my mother's birthday. 

A while back, I came scross these photos from 2010, taken on her 91st birthday. 

My three kids were there - together with my daughter-in-law, Natalie.

A group of us had lunch with her at her retirement residence. 

My brother and his wife had brought along, from Texas, my sister-in-law's niece and her new husband. 

My brother always liked to bring friends with him. He enjoyed showing off Canada!

Fun times! Great memories!

Family Birthday!

Today is our younger son's birthday!!

Where have the years gone?!!

I look forward to celebrating with him and his family later today... We always have a fun time!

Beautiful Flowers and Sky!

In the midst of the chaos of our summer - chaos that started with the July 1 flooding of our basement and the subsequent weeks of cleanup"...

I find solace in nature: 

...the flowers I see around me...

... and especially the amazing sky!

My home may look and feel different indoors.

But outdoors, nothing has changed!

Not "Croque Madam"

I've long been curious to try a "croque monsieur" or a "croque madam" sandwich - traditional French sandwiches made by dipping ham and cheese sandwiches in a mixture of egg and milk, then frying them, as one would fry French toast. 

I was under the impression that the "croque monsieur" had ham and cheese between the slices of bread but "croque madam" only had cheese...

So I made what I thought was a "croque madam" - because I had no ham.

But I was wrong! Turns out that both croque monsieur" and "croque madam" have ham and cheese in them. But "croque madam" has a fried egg - sunny side up - on top!

I need to try that!

But I did use the leftover egg and milk mixture for a small serving of scrambled eggs - which I drizzled with homemade strawberry jam...

A delicious dessert!

Volleyball Camp

Last week Ivy went to "beach" volleyball camp in the mornings... 

No beach! But they played barefoot in sand!

(I remember playing volleyball in the school gym in high school. I wonder if the rules are the same...)

It was fun to watch her skills develop.

After camp, there were various options - including shopping!!)

One day I drove her to a friend's house. Another day we went to a mall.

Yet another day, we met up with her father. His car was in the garage - so we ended up going to pick up her brother at his soccer camp as well.

We all had a good time! 

Fun to hang out with my granddaughter... And for me, a well-needed break from the post-flood chaos at home!

Drying Walls - After the Flood

Once the wet carpeting was removed from our basement, we had to work on drying the floor and walls.

Several carpenters cut out the bottom 2 feet of all the drywall...

Before doing that, all shelving has to be pushed into the centre of the room.

Then fans and industrial-sized dehumidifiers are brought in to dry everything - floor, wooden framing under the drywall - everything! 

As it dries, the wood is sprayed several times with an anti-fungal solution.

After everything is dry, the next step is to rebuild. In the meantime, boxes of books and things retrieved from the basement fill every vacant corner of the upper two floors of the house!!

Smoky Sky

The past day or two, we've had slightly smoky skies from forest fires in Quebec.

Smoky skies make the sky look pink...

The sun actually looked red - like the photo below - though in some of the photos it looks faded, almost white.

My son and I ran here and there in the yard, hoping to capture the perfect picture...

Some are lovely - but it's impossible to match the beauty of the "real deal" - the beauty of nature!!

Removing Waterlogged Carpet

One of the early tasks we needed done after the July 1 flood was having the waterlogged carpet removed before mould appeared and it began to smell...

It was hard to find someone to do it...

Restoration workers were in high demand.

So we were thrilled to find one recommended by a neighbour...

And we breathed easier once the carpet - and the smell - were gone!

What is This?!!

I often buy gifts ahead of time - then forget about them, and move on... only to find them months - or even years - later!

This happened recently as we were clearing shelves untouched by water in our flooded basement. They were in a Bombay Company bag...

What is this...? Who did I buy it for?

I simply can't remember...

A teapot and warming stand?! Cute!

I guess if nobody in the family wants it, I could use it - or maybe donate it to charity.

It reminds me of Tibet or Nepal - two places I've never been.

So True!!

Came across this on Instagram...

Good to be reminded! 

Found this on Instagram's "easy fitness over fifty" (from Newfoundland, I think). She has a lot of easy exercises as well!

Wish I Had Asked My Grandmother!

When I see pictures of my mother in her youth - and the clothes she wore - I wonder who made her dresses - and how they were made...

Sewing machines were invented in the 1700's - ones with a crank handle on the right side. But they were meant to sew leather and canvas.

Later machines were invented in the 1800's, the century my grandparents were born. 

I don't recall my mother's mother ever sewing clothing - though she did knit socks. She also had to learn how to spin and weave, to make sheets and towels for her family. I remember her telling me that.

But did they buy clothing ready-made? Or did a seamstress or tailor take their measurements and sew them by hand!

I wish I had asked.

My June Graphic Calendar

Life has been busy! So it has taken me a week to bring out my graphic calendar of weather, daylight hours - and human activity for the month of June 2026.

The most enjoyable part of this creative activity for me is drawing the daily sky at some point of the day.

The big news was the summer solstice - the several weeks when there is very little change in our (longer) hours of daylight.

To me it sometimes felt as if I were holding my breath, waiting for change to return. For most of the year we gain or lose 2 to 3 minutes of daylight from day to day. But in the month of June very little changes. We started the month with 15 hours and 25 minutes of daylight and ended it with 15 hours and 37 minutes.

Although we had 11 days with about 15 hours and 40 minutes of daylight, the actual longest day here in Ottawa was June 23 (not 21!) with one minute more - 15 hours and 41 minutes. 

The whole month was warm - and busy!

Knitting ... in the Sun!

Seeing this ad for summer knitting reminded me of the first (and last!) time I mixed sunbathing and knitting...

I was knitting a lacy white sleeveless acrylic top. I didn't realize that the sun was turning the yarn on my needles yellow! I only noticed that when I resumed knitting indoors! 

I never knit in the sun again! My mother, who was a high school teacher at the time, wore the two-tone top with delight. If anyone noticed, there was a story - and a lesson - to share!

Watching It Go

We have been busy clearing water from the basement... 

And carrying out waterlogged and damaged possessions...

Sad as it is to say "goodbye,"...

It will be good to see it go.