Often after church we go out for coffee with our son's family.
Last weekend, we tried a new coffer shop - Equator. I ordered a bacon and egg wrap.
It was very good. Lots of egg - and cheese - as well as bits of bacon. Very satisfying.
(I wonder if I could replicate it at home!)
A few days ago, Terry and I drove over to the Quebec side of the Ottawa River and took a walk along the shore at Point Gatineau...
It was interesting to see the Ottawa skyline in the distance ... the "big city"! Point Gatineau always seems like a sea resort to me!
It's always relaxing to breathe in the fresh river air.
The lily pads have flourished on this calm side of the river...
They grow so easily and beautifully in nature. Much harder in the small backyard pond I built one year.
There are small marinas on both sides of the river... At one point a tour boat sailed past... (the "loaf of bread" shape on the right side of the photo above)
The weather was surprisingly warm in the heat of the day... (or were we simply overdressed?!) so we didn't walk for long.
I love coming here... to take in the river air and the view. Hopefully we'll be back before the snow falls, when temperatures aren't quite so hot.
Even as flowers in our yard are disappearing - in the untended countryside, wild flowers are still in bloom!
I noticed these purple flowers at the edge of some mown grass.
From s distance, I thought they might be wild asters. But I didn't go too close. Often when I walk in the grass, I end up with itchy ankle bites from unseen insects... And I hear there are ticks about.
The neighbour's cat, Levi was looking for something in our back yard...
What was he chasing?!
It never came out of the flower bed - and he never went in! But I suspect it was a rabbit.
Half an hour later, on my evening walk, I noticed the full moon overhead.
Let me grab a picture...
Or two...
Never got that perfect shot I was hoping for. But chasing the moon - having a goal - made the walk more interesting!
I wonder if it's like that for Levi, too... Does hunting and chasing make the outdoors more interesting for him as well?
The brightest blooms are still the pink Japanese anemones in our front yard. They have a long blooming season.
Only a few phlox remain.
Can't say I need another plant, but...
I noticed this one on a shelf of end-of-season discounts...
I don't have one like it... A Taro? That's what my photo app tells me.
I can never resist an orphan plant ... Welcome home!
On July 1, 2026, torrential rain caused hundreds of basements in Ottawa to flood.
Ours was one of them.
We've come a long way since then. Everything is dry again.
This is what our basement looks like now.
Shelving has been moved into one room, to give builders space to work as they restore the walls and paint them. Then things will be moved back in place.
Our good news: construction will be starting in a few days...
I can hardly wait to get back to "normal" - though I've almost forgotten what "normal" looks like!
I don't do a lot of cooking - or baking - in summer, when the weather is hot.
But now that it's cooler, I've started cooking and baking again.
Yay, cooler weather!
We were driving down a country road, commenting on the beautiful fields, when he blurted out: I LOVE NATURE!
I was surprised at his passion, given that he's only 6 years old.
Where had he heard the word "nature"? Had his teacher been talking about nature in school?
He went on to mention the parts of nature that he loved: the clouds, the trees, the birds...
Even the cherry tomatoes that were growing in a pot on the porch.
I was so thankful to hear his comment! So thankful that he shared my joy at being out and about in our beautiful world.
Last Monday started out well - a beautiful sky!
Then we headed to one of our favourite breakfast restaurants... Mildred's.
We were there when the doors opened!
We shared a blueberry pancake. As usual, the food was elegant and delicious.
Then on to the "main course"!
I had quiche with salad. I really can't remember what my daughter ordered!
A delicious way to start the day!
Last weekend I was in Toronto...
One of my favourite memories of my visit was the sunrise last Tuesday - the day I returned home.
The magic started at 6:45 AM....
And just got better and better.
But it didn't last long!
By 7:05, the "fire" was gone!
A few days ago, Terry and I took our grandkids to an interesting "market garden" farm - where they also have "free range" chickens - and cats!
I'm not sure if these hens lay the eggs that are sold in the shop...
But we enjoyed just hanging out with chickens of all sizes and colour combinations.
My favourite was this black and white striped one with a cute tuft of black feathers on top of its head. I think its beak is white!
This one reminded me of a cartoon rooster I remember from my childhood days.
Jericho looked around for eggs. Last time he found one tucked behind a box. No eggs found this time...
But he did find a cat! (See top photo)
It was fun just to hang out with these "free range" animals...
... and walk a pumpkin maze in progress.
I'm not used to living with a cat - not used to the door quietly moving - and there he is...
But I spent a few days in Toronto last weekend, staying with my daughter and her cat. He showed me the best view of the city...
"Nice, isn't it?!"
He was right!
Later, he joined me in the bathroom...
"Don't mind me - I like watching people brush their teeth..."
I'm glad I didn't notice the "no photography" sign until I left the pool area...
I haven't attended a swimming lesson for years, so I had no idea how my grandkids were doing now.
(Even they were interested in seeing pictures of themselves in the pool.)
Jericho - whose class was over - entertained me by hiding!
("Grandma, can you see me??")
Never a dull moment with kids around!
