Happy Memories!

Family pets are part of our story...

Saying goodbye is hard.

They leave us with lots of memories!

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to a cat member of our extended family.

Panda had been our daughter's pet for about 8 years before he fell ill.

This is how Terry remembers him:

Panda was a  " rescue " cat...

What a character he was...

He loved heights. I will never forget him jumping over my shoulder on Exhibition Street in Guelph.

He was always his own  guy...

He loved catching food tossed at him and became a great catcher ;  or exploring with joy and earnestness to find " hidden " food. 

He was very independent... 

His black and white coloring made him stand out...

He will be missed - but not forgotten!

Just looking at these pictures makes me smile!

Delicious Outing

Terry and I were recently in Carleton Place - where we met up with our younger son, joining him for coffee.

Later, we wandered into a German bakery for a few more treats to take home.

It's always fun to discover new cafes... and, of course, new bakeries!

Rainy Days Ahead

It's April...

Our weather experts are predicting rainy days ahead.

Not what I want to see!

I have to remind myself that "April showers bring May flowers"... 

Though they do make raking difficult. And I was hoping to rake my flower beds before the bugs arrive!

Little Chipmunk

Our backyard fence is a favourite place for squirrels to sit in the sun...

But this is the first time I saw a chipmunk lounging there.

I enjoy looking out the window and seeing animals that share our neighbourhood... 

I've seen foxes, skunks, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, wild turkeys, ducks, geese, crows and other birds - but, most commonly, squirrels of various sizes and colours.

On average, I see more wild animals than I see dogs and cats! (And I live in a city of more than a million people!) I consider that quite amazing!

The Way It Used To Be!

I recently came across this picture of our youngest son arriving home from school one day.

He's standing near our front ditch.

In the background is - not the winter sports dome or the summer soccer field ... but the elementary school that used to stand there..

Before being sold to the college, it served as an elementary school, then an adult high school and finally a tech support building.

Our family - and some of our neighbours - have lots of memories of that building... which was eventually demolished by the college because the roof was in bad shape.

(Maybe sometime I should dedicate a few blog posts to our memories of that building!!)

By Example!

Whether we realize it or not...

Whether we like it or not...

We all learn - and teach - by example...

Fascinated by ... Clouds

I remember - as a child - lying on the grass, watching the clouds...

The game then was - what does that cloud look like? A whale? A horse? Look again - it's changing!

I still love to watch the clouds - often through the window... (No bugs crawling on my back!)

But now, after years of taking art classes, I pay more attention to the colours.

Could I paint that?! Sometimes I try...

The passing show of clouds and light reminds me that God is an amazing artist! The colours are always PERFECT!

After my sky-gazing light show ends, I feel refreshed, renewed. (And my blood pressure has gently gone down!)

Cloud gazing - nature's medicine!