I’ve noticed that when I go to Guelph, 500 kilometres southwest of Ottawa, my body clock seems to change.
I go to bed later… and wake up later…
Part of the reason may be that we have a busier schedule when we’re travelling than when we’re at home. But I think that the timing of the daylight hours also affects me.
In early August, in Ottawa the sun rises around 5:50 AM. In Guelph, around 6:10. My “body clock” tends to wake me up around dawn. That 20 minutes must make a difference!
A week ago, Terry and I were visiting our daughter in Guelph. A walking path runs near her home - so we followed it.
At one point, it cuts through a treed area - where I saw this lean-to that someone had built.
I went over to look inside…
Near the entry, I noticed a box attached to a pole…
A cupboard… for food… perhaps?
No… there were boots inside!
(Does someone… live here?! Apart from the boots, there were no signs that this might be someone’s home…)
A mystery!
A few weeks ago, we visited our daughter in southern Ontario.
It was fun to be back!
As we visited some of my favourite shopping destinations…
… like the Mary Maxim yarn shop in Paris, Ontario…
… the thrift shop, “Rescued and Restored”…
… and the Dixie Outlet Mall…
I wondered - sadly - if this was my “farewell tour”! If my daughter decides to move elsewhere - as she is thinking of doing - it may well be!
Our last day in Guelph - on Easter weekend - included a walk in the park…
We admired spring flowers…
A few minutes later, it started to snow!
Spring time in Canada - where it can snow almost any time of the year!
Terry and I recently headed to Guelph, Ontario, to visit our daughter - for the first time since November.
Here is the cathedral that overlooks downtown Guelph - a site, I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never visited! Near the Guelph Museum… which I’ve also never been in.
There is an element of predictably in our visits. We have developed a comfortable routine of favourite things to do:
We hang out with cats - who seem puzzled about why we are here!
For Terry, no trip to Guelph is complete without a visit to Eric the Baker, to buy almond croissants and milles feuilles.
There is always a lineup - and a chance to talk to other croissant-lovers!
We often drive to the town of Freelton (near Hamilton) - to the charity antique shop, “Rescued and Restored”.
It’s always an adventure!
We never know what we’ll find - or what treasures I’ll be taking home!
Always a lot of fun!
My daughter lives near Exhibition Park in Guelph, Ontario. It’s often a hub of activity, with its baseball diamond, tennis courts and play structures.
Whenever possible, I enjoy strolling on paths through the park.
On my last visit I did something a little different. I walked around the perimeter of the park...
I was able to enjoy the gardens on the streets facing the park.
I love seeing flowers in front yards.
I wonder what these luscious red ones are called. Enjoying other people’s gardens is always fun for a gardener.
Sometimes we go for walks. At other times we simply “cat-sit” on our daughter’s balcony.
Guelph has lots of walking trails.
Some are built where railway lines once stood.
Others, like this one at Blossom Junction, run next to tracks that are still in use.
Walking along one path, built on a former “spur” line, I tried to imagine what it would have been like with a railway track so close to the backyard.
Was this fence here then, an opening revealing a cute “crooked” studio/playhouse?
I also enjoy looking at the gardens. They provide inspiring ideas for my own flower beds!
A week ago, we'd had a significant snowfall in Ottawa - so Terry decided we should head to Guelph to visit our daughter. The roads were clear - and in Guelph there was no snow.
Driving along, we watched with interest as the snow around us diminished and disappeared.
(I took a picture of this house in Guelph because I was intrigued by the third floor windows: Are they simply a sky-light for the second floor? Or is there a single tiny room on the third floor?)
