A Children's Prayer

In one of my mother's books I came across this bookmark with this lovely children's prayer:

Thank you, God, for feet to run,
Thank  you for my play and fun;
For eyes to see, for hand to lift,
For food to eat, and every gift
That makes me strong and wish to sing, "Thank You, God, for everything."

As I read it, it reminded me that nobody is too old to be thankful for mobility, strength, food and joy!

Even my 97-year-old mother, blind and wheel-chair-bound, is thankful for (in her words) "continued good health."

Antique Cars in Merrickville

Walking around Merrickville, during the Canal Fest, we came across some antique cars..

It occurred to me - as I looked at them - that my father would have known how to repair them!

In fact, he probably learned his skills as a mechanic fixing cars like these!

They are all Fords - my father's favorite make of car...

It also occurred to me - as I looked at the leather "trunk" attached to the back bumper, that this is why we call the back storage area a trunk!

(In England, on the other hand, a car "trunk" is called a "boot" - and the "hood," up front, is called a "bonnet"!)

I remember reading that early cars frightened horses on the road, so a law was suggested - that flagmen be required to walk in front of motorized vehicles! 

When were stickers invented?! I know they were around in the 1960's? But in the 1920's? I'm not sure that they had stickers back then. Though many no doubt wanted to "repeal prohibition"!

Canal Fest in Merrickville

Last weekend we headed to Merrickville for their annual Canal Fest. The last time I was here was in spring - on my canal cruise!

There were free canoe rides up the river to observe this natural bird habitat. We didn't go this time. We've been several times over the years. My cruise satisfied my thirst for water travel this year! Instead we watched boats going up and down through the canal locks!

Again there was music in the park - provided by Big Band Ottawa...

Also a display of lamas - and lama yarn - from a nearby farm...

We wandered around the market area, checking out honey products...but we didn't end up buying anything...

(I did wonder if that dome was a real bee hive!)

A lovely day in a beautiful old town!

Wild Flowers (Or "Weeds"?)

Fields and ditches are full of color - and flowers - all summer long.

These wild flowers (or "weeds") add beauty to country drives.

Here in the city, we spend a lot of time trying to get rid of them. If we stopped our gardening efforts, they'd take over...

These yellow flowers on the hillside near our home are also firmly established in our lawn...

They are pretty - from a distance! I'm glad they're there!

When I think of how much effort I put into trying (unsuccessfully) to get rid of them - they remind me of the strength of "nature" - in comparison to my puny gardening efforts!

Meeting a "Highland Lynx" Cat

One of my sons loves cats... So it's only natural that the household he lives in includes two cats, "Biggie" and "Freed-Him."

"Freed-Him" was found in a shelter a number of years ago. He's my son's special buddy.

"Biggie" is a younger Highland Lynx cat, bred in Quebec.

Unusual are the breed's curly ears...

And naturally stubby tail.

When we first arrived to meet Biggie, he was asleep... But after a few minutes, he began showing us his stuff - leaping across the room from sofa to sofa. I don't know if all Highland Lynx jump as high or far as Biggie... but his skill was impressive!

More About Yellow Flowers

A few days ago I posted some pictures of yellow flowers currently in bloom in our yard.

My neighbor Mary, who has some of the same flowers, informed me that the flower I didn't know the name of was a "Toadflax" or "Butter and Eggs," related to the snapdragon. (Its Latin botanical name is "Lunaria Vulgaris.") Thanks, Mary!

She also mentioned that the Coreopsis is a "Coreopsis verticillate 'Zagreb'". 

While on the topic of yellow flowers currently in bloom, I forgot to mention the one solitary Heliopsis that has survived my attempts to weed out the gout weed in the front garden bed. (The gout weed is that variegated leaf to the left of the flower in the picture. It's very invasive and almost impossible to get rid of!)

(I've also lost the pink Echinacea plant I used to have, probably for the same reason...)

I also forgot to mention the tall "Golden Glow Rudbeckia," also known as "Outhouse Plant" currently in bloom.

It's a beautiful flower - but it does spread relatively quickly. I'm not sure why, whether through root growth or reseeding itself year by year.

Enjoying By-Ward Market

By-Ward Market, in downtown Ottawa, is a bustling place this time of year.

Warm summer weather brings out visitors and locals to enjoy outdoor events, like the buskers, and the market's many sidewalk cafes...

Some of the buildings in this historic part of time were built a hundred or more years ago.

Walking down Sussex Street, I noticed a fountain I'd never paid attention to before. Pausing to look at it, I felt as if a small corner of Europe had been transplanted in our own downtown!