Favorite Baby Toys

In a basement toy box, I've come across some soft toys my granddaughter Ivy can play with next time she visits. Both are washable plastic.

There's a hockey stick that squeaks when you squeeze it. And an equally soft book about a penguin who likes fishing.

Both were favorite toys of my son, Ivy's father, when he was young! I wonder if he remembers them!

Sunday Visit to Merrickville

Football season is here, so Sunday afternoons are dedicated to football viewing - for Terry and any of our sons who happen to be around.

Not being a football fan, I usually head to bed for a nap or to read. But this year my cousin Rhonda from Edmonton is studying in the city.

She doesn't live far away - so last Sunday, while the games were on, she and I headed to picuresque Merrickville to enjoy a sunny day in that historic town.

She did some shopping - while I relaxed on the shady side of the sidewalk, enjoying the last of summer.

Bunny Eating... Flowers?!!

I recently noticed a rabbit munching happily in my backyard flower bed.

I hope he's eating weeds, I told Terry. There's a lot of gout weed back there that I'd like to see eaten!

But no, he was eating Coreopsis (tickseed) stems!

Oh, well. Their blooming season is over. Maybe this is nature's way of pruning!

Black Tomatoes

A week ago I bought large green and red tomatoes at the Algonquin College vegetable stand, assuming that they were not-quite-ripe "beefsteak" tomatoes.

They haven't ripened yet, I told the vendor when I went back to buy more veggies a few days later.

Those are black tomatoes, she informed me. They don't turn totally red. Turn them upside down. If the bottoms are red, they're ripe. That's how you know they're ready to eat.

Oops! I guess these are ready - maybe even over-ready. Glad I asked!

Meeting Baby Emerson

A few weeks ago, I attended a baby shower for the daughter of a friend, a girl I've known since she was a child. A few days later, her baby boy arrived... a few days early.

It was lovely to meet little Emerson recently, now four weeks old...

(In comparison, our four month old granddaughter looks so much bigger!)

They do grow big fast!

Delicious Ribs

On a recent trip to Perth, Ontario, Terry and I came across a barbecue stand that served delicious ribs.

Terry ordered a full rack.

I had a sausage cooked in corn husks.

Both were delicious...

The stand may be moved to Stittsville, next summer - which is a lot closer to our home. We'll be watching out for it!

College Vegetable Sale

We live near Algonquin College, where students often sell the fruits of their labor. Terry has bought baked goods made in cooking classes...

This year, for the first time, horticultural students were selling produce from their large garden beds, every Tuesday and Friday in September.

On Friday I headed over on foot through their lovely gardens, hoping to find tomatoes.

Business was brisk, but I bought a few.

I'll have to head back again today (Tuesday) to see what they're selling.

Unfortunately, we don't need as much food these days - cooking for only two!