Lilacs... and More

Last Saturday was the Lilac Festival in Franktown, a small community 40 minutes away - known for its many beautiful lilac bushes.

On Sunday, the day after the festival, we decided to drive over to check them out...

Unfortunately, most were past their prime, so it wasn't as beautiful as I remember...

But we did see a group of stone fence builders at work - repairing a historic church fence that had partly crumbled when the roots of a large tree grew into it. The tree has since been removed... Now "dry stone" fence builders (in training) were restoring parts of the old church fence.

But first they had to take apart the section they wanted to repair, laying the stones in rows in a particular order - with space to walk between the rows.

We were able to go inside the historic old church.

As we looked around , Terry noticed a framed painting of the church...

It had been painted by an old friend of Terry's from Montreal, Peter Bresnen. They had shared an apartment one year when Terry was a student at McGill.

Terry was thrilled to see it! 

All in all, an interesting day!

When I was 19...

A long time ago (or so it seems!) - when I was 19 - I travelled to Israel to study for a year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

I left Canada in May, and spent the summer studying basic Hebrew at a kibbutz. We had language classes for half the day - and the other half, we worked. 

There were lots of different jobs to do on these communal farms. One of the girls in our group - a recent university graduate from the UK - cleaned public bathrooms all summer!

In the picture above, I'm picking apples. Coming from the Okanogan Valley in BC, with its many apple orchards,  I had picked fruit before. I didn't really enjoy working outdoors in the heat - and bugs! I much preferred working in the laundry, with a fan overhead. Or even in the kitchen of the large communal dining room.

We also went on tours - here we are in the desert.

Another tour took us to an ancient Roman ruin -  in the port city of Caesarea.

This narrow arched passageway was called the "eye of a needle" - my Hebrew instructor informed me.

It was an interesting summer... the first of ten fascinating years.

In September, I moved to Jerusalem and started my studies. I didn't return to Canada at the end of that "year abroad" - opting instead to finish my degree in Jerusalem.

Truly a life-changing experience!

Memories!

Another Virtual Trek

I've set off on another virtual walk. This time the location is in Mexico (a place I've never visited - but where I have distant relatives).

I was looking for a hike that was longer than my first one. This one is more than twice the distance. The region is famous for its Mayan ruins, which I look forward to learning more about. 

Interestingly, a few days after beginning my virtual trek, I came across an article on recent Mayan discoveries (in the Washington Post - which I read online.)

https://apple.news/Ap6zW0VyaRbK-fiJAWVOoLA

I had been undecided about what to do... I wanted to do another virtual walk. It was fun (and educational) - and my daily steps (counted on my pedometer) increased by 30% during the two weeks I was I "walking the Jesus Trail" from Nazareth to Capernaum in Israel. 

When this walk to Chichen Itza came "on sale" (20% off) I was ready - and signed up.

I still have a lot to learn about virtual walking. I didn't take advantage of all that Google maps street views had to offer on my first trek,  so I missed some scenery. This time I plan to slow down and take time for the view, pausing to "look around" as much as I can.

Here I am starting off... in town.

The next day, 15 km into my walk to Chichen Itza, the scenery doesn't look all that different from the road between Ottawa and highway 401!

Double Whammy!

"Guess what animal I encountered in the yard tonight?" Terry asked when he came indoors .

My first guess was Fox - followed by Skunk. We don't see skunks often, but once one lived under our garden shed. 

Then I saw him too: He was digging for grubs. 

(Wish he ate dandelions, too!)

The next night - which was last night - the electricity went out in our neighbourhood.

Sitting outside - where there was more light - we saw the skunk again. Terry kept chatting outdoors with the neighbors , but I decided to head indoors, away from more potential problems! 

Unusual Art Show

Last weekend Terry and I attended an unusual art show - unusual in that it was held in stalls that normally house horses!

The art show filled about half the stalls - the other half was reserved for horses participating in one of the qualifying competitions for the Pan-Am games.

One of the artists - who was in last year's show as well   - commented that if the wind blows from the horsey stalls to the art show's - the smell in the air was very noticeable! This year, there were no barnyard scents.

We enjoyed walking around visiting various art displays. (Two of my former art instructors were displaying their work.)

There was lots of flower art - and bird art - but I didn't notice any paintings of horses!

I watched this horse practice. His handler was sporting a few blue ribbons. Not sure which competition they were from.

For me, it was interesting to do something so different from what I normally do. Can't say I've ever attended an art show in a stable before! But why not?!!

What I DON'T Want!!

I have a lot of indoor plants. Some have been with me for a long time. Inevitably, every few years, they outgrow their pots and I have to repot them in larger ones. This is bittersweet... They're doing well but now they take up more space!

And then, inevitably, I need to buy more potting soil as well. But this is definitely a kind I DON'T WANT!

I'd like to see my indoor plants grow and develop a little... But I definitely don't want them to grow TWICE AS BIG!

"What bird is that?!"

With all the trees around us, we see a lot of birds, especially in summer: cardinals, wrens, bluejays, robins, ducks - and an occasional wild turkey.

We don't know the names of many of the birds we see - which is why we have a collection of books about local birds. 

But it's hard to find the name of a bird by looking through a book... there are SO many pictures to leaf through! The internet really does make it easier.

The other day, Terry saw a bird he didn't recognize: "There's a bird with a red spot on the back of its head. What kind of bird is that?" Terry asked.

I quickly snap a photo. After giving up on trying to locate it in our books, I turned to Google:

"GREY BIRD WITH RED SPOT ON HEAD" I typed in.

Up come several possibilities: a woodpecker (above)...

Or maybe a Northern Flicker...

I think that's it! Didn't know we had Northern Flickers in our neighbourhood! Now I can read more about them in our books!

My First Medal Arrives!

When I started to virtually walk the Jesus Trail in Israel last month - walking mostly indoors while an app calculated my daily steps, transferring the data onto a map of  the REAL trail in a REAL place - I didn't know how I'd feel. I didn't expect a sense of euphoria - just contentment that I'd managed to walk 64 kilometres in less than two weeks. It was a personal challenge.

But when the metal arrived a few days ago, it was a special moment - a validation that I had done it!

If virtually, then why not physically?! A sense of possibility...

Step by step, it's really not that hard - on the smooth floor of an air-conditioned shopping centre. But, if you factor in the heat (or rain), the bugs, the rocks, the hilly terrain of the REAL path... it wouldn't be quite that easy!

But the distance - walking 60 km ... or even 1000... is possible - bit by bit, day by day!

I wonder how far I could walk in a year...

More Neighborhood Wildlife!

It's always interesting to see the animals that live among us - especially those we rarely come across.

A while back, we had some rainy, cool weather.

In the chilly damp drizzle, Mary's husband Earl came across this little fox under their backyard tree.

He was snacking on the seeds Earl leaves out for the birds and squirrels...

As Earl commented, he didn't look too happy to have his picture taken, so he left.

I feel for you, buddy! Not a lot of fun outdoors today!

I wonder if this is the same fox I saw on our driveway last summer - a lot bigger now.

Indoor / Outdoor Gardening

A few days ago, I worked on some of my indoor plants outdoors, where I have more space to work... and where spilled soil is no problem.

The first plant I worked on was this Peace Lily. It used to bloom annually, but hasn't for a few years. I wonder why...

Oh, no! I've never seen a plant this root bound! I took a knife and scissors to it and divided the plant into three. 

Hope they all do well.

Next, I cut the wax coating off the three waxed amaryllis plants I bought last Christmas. Then I  potted them. 

Now I'll have to start watering them! I'm not sure whether to leave them indoors or take them out - where squirrels could nibble on them.

As I was tidying up, I noticed some pale yellow tulips in the side garden bed. I remember planting them. They're doing well - probably because the squirrels leave them alone!

This Spring in Manotick

Last spring, Terry and I saw a Canada goose sitting on her nest (from about two feet away) as we stood at this lookout, watching the river below near the old mill in Manotick.

This year we returned. Would we see the same nesting mother again?

But no! The nest was empty - though it looked recently vacated. The soft down that the mother had sat on was still there. It hadn't yet blown away.

We noticed another difference as well... the river was running high. Its rushing water had - this year - covered the island where the father goose had kept watch - together with a large heron. He had even honked a warning at us when we got too close to the nesting mother last spring.

So interesting! No two years are exactly the same! Higher water levels this spring are affecting a lot of things. I wonder where the father goose kept watch this year...

Gardening Update: Mid-May

It's a joy to see the lilacs in bloom...

Q

Terry trimmed back the pine branches that were blocking our view of the lilac bush from the house. I really appreciate his effort - and tried to help a bit by holding the ladder steady.

Also in bloom is the euphorbia. I divided this plant last year, so there are now two bunches in the front bed as well. They always look so tidy!

The anemones are starting to bloom...

The lily of the valley, as well...

I also noticed a solitary hellebores flower - in the side garden bed. The hellebores are among the earliest flowers to bloom in spring - so I'm surprised to see it's still blooming.

Indoors one lone African violet plant is blooming next to my only orchid...  I used to have a lot of African violets, but now only have this one.

I can never have too many flowers!