Birthday Nostalgia

Birthdays have a way of churning up nostalgia from by-gone days - especially for parents!

(Were they ever really that young?! You know they were - but that was so long ago!!)

Today is a family birthday...

And I've been looking through old photos...

I came across this one - our first-born on her first visit to the farm at Upper Canada Village - a one-year-old fascinated by the horses and cows... I WANT TO TOUCH THEM!

And here she is, 8 or 9 summers later, on a  visit to Kelowna (where my parents seem over-dressed for summer weather in the Okanogan!)

And here - a cousins' get together... Was that on the same visit to Kelowna?!

Lots of great memories!

And happy birthday to the birthday girl!! 🎂🎉

Green World

Thanks to rain and hot weather, our yard is all green...

"Get a picture of that rabbit," Terry tells me. (He loves the gentle rabbits the way I enjoy the antics of squirrels!)

Another green development... the olive tree that I brought outdoors for the summer is growing NEW PALE green leaves... while the OLD DARK leaves now have brown tips and are beginning to drop.

Will the leaves become darker as summer passes?

While driving to Toronto a few weeks ago, I noticed that new leaves on trees along the highway were also pale green... 

I wonder what makes them darken over the course of the summer.

Fan Zone?!

My daughter's Toronto neighborhood is near a large soccer field.

An area has been blocked off for a "fan zone" - with grandstand seating, music, food - and large video screens for fans to watch the world cup.

At the mall where I do my 10,000 daily steps, they have also set up a "fan zone", with a sprawling sofa...

But I'm not sure the tiny TV screen will draw many serious fans! (Or is this small screen just a video game?!)

Labyrinth Exercise

For me, a labyrinth walk is peacefully meditative, as my body and mind churn up thoughts from my subconscious.

But a labyrinth can provide exercise, too! 

Within the bounds of its narrow path, a surprising number of steps - a long circuitous walk in a small area.

Perhaps even a joyful run!

Festival Fun

Last Saturday, my family attended another local festival - "Dickinson Days" in Manotick - named after the builder of the village flour mill.

There was music and food - and lots of crafts for sale.

As my son and I perused the bake table outside a local church next to the mill, it was hard to choose! 

We ended up buying rhubarb cake, chocolate chip cookies and beautifully iced cupcakes.

When we got home, we realized that the only mistake we made was NOT BUYING MORE!!

It was all so delicious!

Glad You're OK!

I enjoy watching my grandkids live active lives - doing handstands - and other things I never dared to do.

But - occasionally - there's an injury!

(And, fortunately, there are hospitals!)

So glad the wrist wasn't broken - only sprained.

So glad there was a hospital nearby.

Hope it all heals VERY, VERY QUICKLY!

(Thanks to your Mom for sharing these memories!)

Somewhere... I think I have a broken collarbone X-ray of your Dad's... He had three of those... Or was it a broken arm?!) 

Some memories you want to forget!

Future Sports Mascot?!

My granddaughter had a new acrobatic routine she wanted me to see...

Handstands - wearing part of her brother's Halloween costume...

There's a knack to keeping the head on straight!

Is this how team mascots begin their careers?!