Five Years Apart

Time flies!

These two family pictures were taken five years apart..,

And of course, the family’s grown a bit over time, as well!

Love these guys! So glad they’re part of my life!

Last Day in Guelph

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!

Galt - in Early Spring

On Easter weekend, Terry and I drove to Galt with our daughter.

This picturesque old town is now part of the city of Cambridge, in southern Ontario.

Walking beside the walls and walkways next to the Grand River reminds me of Europe.

What was it like here 200 years ago, when the town was first built? Did people travel by canoe and boat down the river?

Did they fish for food from these walkway’s along the river?

At one point, our walk was interrupted by a loud crash!

Two cars had collided.

It was a little more serious than a fender-bender, since liquid was dripping out of one car - and the driver’s door on the other car didn’t open…

After calling 9-1-1, we continued on our way… but we kept looking back…

More than 10 minutes passed before we saw a lone police car show up.

(I had expected a fire truck, equipped with a “jaws of life” metal cutter.)

Is the slow, quiet pace of the town reflected in its emergency services as well? If so, that would be one of the disadvantages of quiet small-town life!

Morning Stroll

I was sitting outdoors, enjoying my morning coffee, when two familiar shapes appeared - very much like last summer, when I almost stepped on one that was  resting under our tree.

These transient visitors - wild ducks - return every spring and build nests somewhere in the neighborhood. I suspect the nests are tucked away somewhere in the college grounds.

They come around before they lay their eggs, but they’ve never brought their hatchlings back for s visit!

For now, they are picking up food - and perhaps material for building their nests. 

My neighbour Mary saw two pairs ducks at the same time in her back yard… so who knows how many there are?! Mary commented that the females were content to share the food and water but their protective mates got a little testy!

Something’s Coming!

A few days ago, piles of patio stones - and machinery - began to arrive across the street.

What’s happening?!

I’d guess that a driveway - or maybe a patio - is coming soon… 

(I’ll just have to wait and see!)

More Signs of Spring

The weather isn’t as warm as I’d like it to be - but I see more signs of spring in our neighborhood.

The college sports dome - put up annually to be a winter sports facility - was recently collapsed and taken down for the summer. It’s a labor-intensive task.

More wildlife is running - or hopping - around.

(The rabbits we see around here definitely don’t resemble “Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail” - the rabbits in the Peter Rabbit family.)

More flowers are out - and blooming!

I was surprised to see not one, but two, white hellebores plants appear in our front flower bed, each with a single white flower. I don’t remember two…

The three hellebores that produce yellow flowers in our west-facing flower bed show no logins of new life. One, in particular, has brittle dry leaves and no blooms. I wonder if I should trim the leaves back.

A few days later, I notice that both hellebores in the front yard have pinkish splotches on them. I’ve never seen that happen before. Are they changing colour?!

I also noticed a bug inside one flower… Our first bug of the season! Spring is here - and every day brings new surprises!

One More Hour of Daylight!

In the past 19 days, our part of Canada has gained one hour of daylight every day.

That definitely makes a difference!

Many of us now spend more time outdoors - earlier and later in the day - thanks to our longer days.

Little things like waking up (at 6:15 am) IN DAYLIGHT can also be a shock. (Not that long ago it was still dark at 7am.)

Do these daily not-so-subtle changes teach us to be flexible? I don’t know… though they do remind us that that no two days are exactly the same.

Such Fun!

Our son’s family is moving to a new house, so a lot of their furnishings are packed up. 

It has been a challenge for them to continue living their “normal” life without “essentials “ - like table and chairs.

(So meals are eaten picnic-style on the floor…)

The kids don’t mind!

A mount of outdoor patio cushions - brought indoors to avoid getting wet in the rain - is quickly knocked down to become a play structure…

For kids, everything can be fun!

(Adults have a lot to learn from them!)

An interesting Plant Nursery

A trip to our favourite southern Ontario plant nursery - located between Guelph and Kitchener - is always an adventure!

What indoor plants will they be featuring this time? It’s always different.

I noticed a lot of snake plants - so many different kinds!

Their cactus collection is amazing - though this large one is a permanent display.

Not for sale.

The air plants remind me of my mother… she enjoyed one I gave her. She kept it in her bathroom, where her daily shower provided all the humidity it needed.

I was tempted to get one… but I really don’t have much luck with them. Terry likes to keep the indoor humidity low.

They are amazing - plants that survive on humid air! I wonder how the nursery can keep both the cacti - with their need for dry air - and the humidity-loving air plants in the same greenhouse!

“Catch Me If You Can!”

Never a dull moment, living with animals!

My daughter’s most adventurous cat gets himself into tight corners!

I suggested she let him be…

But she decided to encourage him to come down - before everything came tumbling down…

I wouldn’t have thought of removing the baskets!