15 Summers Ago!

One of my photo apps recently sent me a nostalgic memory from the summer of 2010.

It doesn't seem that long ago - but there have been LOTS of changes!

My mother lived in an assisted living building... which she LOVED. That building is no longer used for seniors.

My brother used to come to Ottawa once a year for my mother's birthday. He hasn't returned since her funeral, in November 2016.

There are two young couples in the pictures - no children. My sister-in-law's niece and her husband now have two kids who must be teenagers! Fifteen years ago they were newlywed school teachers in Texas. They still live in Texas but now Jonathan works in construction and Mary has a home-based business selling ladies' fashion.

My son and his wife had no children yet...

My mother was still with us.

And, of course, Terry and I now look a bit older - though I still wear that blue striped Tshirt I wore in the pictures... It's one of my summer favorites - but I had no idea it's at least 15 years old! (Terry still wears that sports Tshirt, too!)

Enjoying "Christmas" in July

Last week, the Miller's Oven Tea House in Manotick celebrated "Christmas in July."

Terry and I rarely roast turkey these days, so it was a real treat to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner - with dessert - with our neighbors, Earl and Mary.

Terry and Earl enjoyed their "traditional" favorite - "mile high lemon pie".

Mary and I started a new tradition - carrot cake for dessert. Their carrot cake is delicious, too!

Hogan Doll

When my sons were young, they were very much into WWF wrestling. One of their favorite characters on TV was Hulk Hogan.

Recently going through old toys - with the aim of getting rid of some -  I came across this Hulk Hogan "talking" toy that my youngest son loved.

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I can still remember him gleefully punching it, just to hear Hogan (the doll) reply - "Hey! Get off my gut! ..."

Playing with it - by that I mean, punching it - my son "became" a wrestler, too!

(Both he and his brother still refer to their biceps as "pythons"!)

Does his current love of boxing and wrestling owe its origins to this showman/wrestler/entertainer?!

Then, a few days ago, I  heard that Hulk Hogan had died of a heart attack.

How can I get rid of this toy?! (Even if no one plays with it now - because it frightens my grandchildren?!)

Maybe I'll just replace the battery and see it I can get him to "talk" again!

Birthday Celebration!

Last week was hot and busy...

It was also the week of a family birthday.

To celebrate birthdays, we often meet up at the person's favorite restaurant....

This day, the weather was perfect for eating outdoors, overlooking the river.

Jericho kept busy building a castle while he waited for the food to arrive.

After eating, we walked down the street to the labyrinth - where we started a quiet walk...

... which ended up being a race!

Not the purpose of a labyrinth, I'm sure! But the perfect way to end a lovely day!

Puzzling Plant Development

A few years ago, I purchased several amaryllis bulbs - which bloomed beautifully in late winter. 

When they finished blooming, I cut off the flower stalks and continued watering them.

Then, in spring, I transplanted them into slightly bigger pots and left them outdoors on our front deck, out of direct sunlight. I kept watering them until September or October, when I cut off their leaves,, removed them from soil and kept them in s paper bag in the basement for 8-12 weeks before replanting them in pots of fresh soil. I put them near a window and started watering them again...

I did the same a few months ago to these two bulbs. They're currently sitting outdoors.

But I've noticed something very puzzling!!

One off the pots has a second plant growing in it!!

Is this a seed that blew in and self planted?

Is it a "side shoot" off the amaryllis bulb in the pot?

Or is it a plant that was hidden in soil from another plant, soil that I used to fill this pot??

I'm curious to see what will develop!

For Old Time's Sake

On a recent trip to Toronto, Terry and I went back to the neighborhood where one of our sons used to live...

To a favorite restaurant...

And the house we used to visit so fondly...

Just to remember... For old time's sake!

I'm so glad they live closer to us now!

Strawberry Jam!

Yes! We did finally make a batch of strawberry jam this summer.,, four jars of it.

I'm not sure it will be enough for Terry's toast needs this coming winter.

It tastes so much better than store-bought, he comments.

Yes, I agree. But when I see the sugar to fruit ratio of the recipe (7 cups of sugar to 3.75 cups of crushed berries), I feel guilty making it!

(At least there's no artificial colour or flavouring.)

Breakfast "Out"

Terry and I occasionally go out for breakfast.

 

Last week we headed to the Miller's Oven Tea House in Manotick to eat - and to purchase some of their frozen food. (It's been too hot to cook!)

It was a good decision! The food was good ... 

... and we were reminded of their popular July 25th turkey dinner: Christmas in July!

Wasps!

Our family has had numerous run-ins with wasps ... usually in outdoor eating spaces.

But the most traumatic was when our daughter was our granddaughter's age. Running barefoot in the grass, she accidentally stepped on a wasps' nest... And they all came after her!

Wanting to avoid more such wasp encounters, Terry offered to help our son get rid of a large hive hanging next to his front door.

It was a stealth operation - in the dark.

We drove over as the sun was setting - a red ball in the smoky sky.

I brought along my "bug jacket" - with face mask - for Terry to wear. Extra protection, should he need it.

(I actually wear this while gardening if mosquitoes hover around!) 

Throughout the operation, I sat indoors, by the window, while Terry and our son did what they set out to do, spray bottles and flashlights in hand. 

I must confess that I didn't rest easy until the now-quiet wasps nest was knocked into a garbage container (with a shovel) - a few days later.

Mid-Summer Flowers

I'm enjoying my mid-summer flower beds...

Before these joyful orange lilies all shrivel up, ... all too soon...

While I still have white daisies in bloom...

And echinacea (together with hosta flowers)...

Yellow heliopsis...

Bright purple phlox...

And the yellow coreopsis, which last longer than many summer flowers,,,

All mix and mingle in my flower beds. All too soon they disappear (till next year).

Did I forget to photograph the purple clematis in my back yard? These are the last ones blooming... It doesn't take long for tbem to disappear, too!

Happy Birthday, Again!

Today - the day after my youngest son's birthday - is my mother's birthday.

Here she is, with her mother and older sister, in a picture taken a few months after they arrived in Canada (in December 1928). In this picture, she was 9 years old (the same age as my granddaughter!)

The family lived near Edmonton for many years. Ten years after arriving in Canada with no knowledge of English - she completed one year's training at "Normal School" in Edmonton - then left home... to head up north, to Alberta's "Peace River Country," to teach in a one-room country school!

I think she showed a lot of courage and "gumption" to do that! But she was very happy - living her dream of beng a teacher. 

Eventually, in her 60's, she was sad to retire and give up that connection she had with all the young people she taught.

Happy Birthday!

A while back, one of my photo apps sent me this collage of pictures of my younger son...

How does the app recognize him at so many ages...?

This collage is perfect for remembering him - and his birthday - which is TODAY!

Terry and I are probably the only ones who can remember all these ages and stages... 

So many good memories! Hope this coming year brings more great memories, too!

A Young Bunny!

Terry pointed out this little bunny - hardly noticeable - near our front flower bed.

Does he live there, hidden under the leaves?

I rarely see rabbits in pairs or groups... But I don't think he lives alone! Maybe they just take turns venturing out, one by one.

Rabbits live among us - but I know so little about their daily habits...

Welcome Back!

I really like these pink echinacea flowers.

But the ones in our front yard don't always bloom.

I planted one a few years ago. After blooming once or twice, I  didn't see it for a while.

Were the pine tree branches overhead creating an acidic soil?!

I moved the plant closer to the driveway - and I see it's back! Maybe that was the solution. Glad to see it in bloom!

How Many Steps?!

My walking goal - winter and summer - is 10,000 steps a day.

I often achieve it - through sheer determination. 

But it's interesting how - when I hang out with my grandkids - I walk a lot more... without even realizing it!

Here's a graph my phone walking app created last week ...

Guess which days I spent time with these energetic young ones?! (Hint: the days I exceeded 10,000!)

(I was just straggling along... trying to keep up with them!)