Darn life causes strive and angst and just sometimes is more than you can handle even if through no cause of your own.  When things arise it is nice to try to aid...somehow.   So we decided to aid the only way that came to mind and packed up the cooler with a supper to cook and trotted off.   Now the up side to this was going to my sons place to see Sean!! Weee!  So excited,so arcoss the 401 was packed,getting close to rush hour even though it was just past noon.  The difference from being on the 401 during normal times and rush hour is that normal time you look out over a sea of colours,in the bright sun you see the heat and exhaust waves rising above the cars and look to see the 12 lanes moving east and the 12 lanes moving west,a blur of colours with the cars shifting and changing places at alarming rates. During rush hour they crawl,often stand still and it is congestion and pressure.  One car breaking down stalls the whole mess.  The trip aross lead us to Sean quickly and we had a whale of a time playing with him and decided to take him out for a walk!!!  We walked for and hour and marvelled at him watching everything and how happy and interested in everything he is. We stopped for a bottle break as it was so hot,he needed fluid.  So home to the waiting Mommy and supper was ready!   Dear daughter in law was so grateful for food.  Solid food that was not brought home cooked or ordered in.  Food that was basic and cooked properly and gives life sustaining nutrients!!  So little man had a tiny nap as he is not a sleeper by any means and we desided to take an evening stroll.  Off in the stoller with the Mommy and Daddy  pushing, and the old Mommy and Daddy following!  The delight is seeing my son interact with this baby boy.  My baby boy is so in love with his baby boy.  The strain from a very hard day at work softens and dissappears from his face when he looks at his son. He is so wrapped up by being a father....so very good at it!!  So they walk us miles in the heat of the evening to a quaint mall that had a wonderful bakery!  We decided on our goodies out of a huge store of remarkable goodies and head back home. We passed the fruit market with the sweetest smells of cherries and pineapples hanging in the heated moist air,the flowers they were selling scented the air even more.  The heaviest smell that overpowered it all was the redest strawberries. But we had  bags of sweet goodies and walked on.  The sun was a huge red fiery ball near the horizon now and Sean needed to be home.  The walk was in that direction but there was a steal drum calypso band that we could hear.  Finally I spotted where they were and so wanted to go see,join that beat and enjoy the music.  It drew me,I so wanted to head that way but little guy need his bath.  So nighty night after the bath,goodies for dessert and off we go to be greeted by one of the worst storms ever to drive the hour and a half home in!!  Raging lightning,crazy traffic and torrents of rain that the whippers couldn't keep up with.  We got off the 401 because you couldn't see a thing and came the half hour more by smaller roads.  Home looks good and dog was glad to see us. Adventure over...saddly... but memories of a wonderful day with Sean!

I am a Grandma...yes,may come as a shock to hear this....wonder if I have mentioned it????  LOL!!!  O.K. ...I have gone on about the little love of my life!!  But yesterday Sean was baptized.  We had to make our way into Toronto to an old,old church that by the pictures once stood in beautiful fields with apple trees about.  Now it sits in a very car infested conctrete jungle.  The little church has one beautiful stain glass window so it has been a modest church.  It has been lovingly cared for over it's life so has called the dedicated to her.  We were welcomed and as strangers made to feel included.  My daughter in law is a beautiful girl.  I love her dearly.  She calls me Mom so of course I love her even more!  My son met her in grade 6 and that was it.  He had many beautiful ladies chase him but this little red headed girl captured his heart way back then and I knew it way back then!   She was to baptize Sean!  She is now a full minister and it was the very first time I saw her in her robe!  There she was tall,slim in this echru gown.  She had told me of the thrill of buying this, her first, and it was as she described but what I noticed is how the neutral tone set off her lovely red curls and how delicate she looked in this symbol of her calling.  The wide sleeve edges and the base of the gown are embroidered in like colour and it all speaks to what she would choose. There are more powerful colours to choose but she picked the soft,the gentle, the welcoming...something so like her.  I was emotional to begin with as I had wanted to she her in her church  ..but to see her baptize our Grandson???  She gathered the children with her to have her time with them and it was adorable,bright little faces so keen to hear!  Her sermon was lovely,gentle and sweet getting the point across totally!!  The first baby to be baptized was a cherub looking little fellow with tons of family!  His black curly hair and dark skin was set off by the white satin suit he was in! A robust little fellow that slept through it all!  Sean was decked out in a 150 year old christening gown handed from his Grandfathers side on my son's wifes side!!!  I spotted the antique lace and had placed it about that old. Well between it all I was in tears! Church music and it all!!  Hopeless!  My daughter-in-laws Mother had come and she assured me it was alright!!  I was so pleased she had come to share this event.  This church pays tribute through dance and music so the soloist was amazing,a little petite woman with a powerful sprano operatic voice and the native movement dancer was inspiring.  Sean took it all in with giggles and big blue eye wide! He was baptized by my Daughter in law,she held him and I saw the emotion through her.  My son named her and my other son godparents! The sister of my sons wife and her husband will be the other set!  Wonderful!!!  Our day of wonders was not quite over my son treated all to a lunch.

The place was crazy eloquent,we were to have the back room to our large group.  Never ever been in a place like this.  We all sat placed around a granite black gold flecked table,huge...and the grill master cooked for us..all oriental and no untensils.  Once,long time ago I could eat with chopsticks...oh lost talent where are you now??  So clever me orders shrimp...you can spear those!   I had so much fun! Talking of course!!!  Great food!!  The show of the cooking,very interesting and the children in the group had a huge kick out of the show,specially the flambe parts!!!  Oh heck...me too!!!!  The place was all black and white,very stylish and minimal,glass walls,granite everywhere  high tech look.  Our group took our time and used the time to laugh and be together and it was great!

So little Sean.  Your day was very special.  You have a group around you that is so very eager to love you.  You greet the world with interest and an eagerness to see it all through those happy blue eyes.  You got my heart little man and I will forever love you.

Oh Boy!!!  I just got the veiw up close and personal of lightning!  The storms have been so violent and dropped tons of rain in such short times.  We in this area are experiencing flooding,torrents of rain are falling now as it has been all day.  I was answering Arna in my past blog, thinking of sweet roses and I looked up to see this bolt hit the ground just opposite of our drive way.  So about 30 feet away!  The sound was instant like a shock wave and you can smell burnt something. The noise was incredable!!!  I can still feel it!  I felt it through my hands and feet and I am in the house!  The tv was on but isn't and the electronics are blinking but the lights are still on. Crazy feeling!  Like huge vibrating waves up your arms!  Wild!  Heee,heee and I was just out front in the rain!  Boy am I glad I was back in!  If I could feel that much imagine being closer!  The bolt is etched in my vision right now only reversed,a dark wiggle arosss,I am sure that will pass!  Crazy! Is this interesting or what!!!  There is this dark spot in the grass opposite the drive,can't wait to get out and see closer what it did!!!

Hummm, I was trotting around minti this morning,it's early here,got up around 5 and I'm watching the beautiful sun light the scene out my window.  I think everyone will be glad for the sun.  We have had in the last two weeks about a years worth of rain so we needed the sun before we all felt mouldy!!  Flooding and hail,snow and rain,torrents of rain, have come in the last weeks.  Angry grey and black skies hovering over to spew out their latest offering that have damaged homes and worst of all crops.  Mother Nature has such the right to be angry but we humans just go on...on not noticing the warnings. She is trying to play fair but giving everything all the time to the ungrateful is tiring and I understand her.  So I am sitting here grateful for the gentle fresh breeze and the birds singing and the calm of it all. The bird calls echo around and the sweet air off the wet grasses fill the room.  The bunnies are hopping and the scene is that of a lovely summers day. Everything is so very green and so full and lush.  Greens of the dark full bushes and the many greens of the different trees catch the sun.   The locus trees are bright green, the maples around here are yellow,through green to deep bronze to red depending on the type. The evergreens are blue on our lot and the others around the area are deep to light greens!   We have flowers of every type out now.  The trumpet vine is covered in bright orange flowers and the roses are out full. We have pinks,whites,off whites,blues and whites. My favourite are the yellows,and sooo fragrant!!  We started years back to try to find the old fragrant varities.  Hard to do seeing humans have bred the smell out opting for desease-free and no care.  But you nuture that which you want to thrive. You hold dear the time you spend trying to achieve that. You watch with pride as you efforts prove to bring forth flowers and growth and connection.  Connection to the earth,her beauty and her power.  I love getting up early and watching the day unfold,makes you treasure the day to come.

Well what a morning I had yesterday!  I got to "talk" to Janice and just as she was trying to get me to let go of her so she could tuck in on her half of the world my daughter drove up!! Weeee!!!  I love surprise visits!!!  They are so exciting!!  They just make everything shine and give you that thrill that keeps you smiling away!  I got hugs!!!  Surprise there!  In fact I ran out to get my hugs!!!  Great hugs from my daughter,she's not the huggy type but she "allows" hugs!! Haaa,haaa I got her number...she just wants to protest a little cause that makes them all the more special!!!  She gives me the ...oooooh Mom and opens her arms!!!  I do love hugs.  We had coffee out front and she was telling us how tough this professional interview she had just finished was.  I was watching everything on the street and had walked to the curb with my coffee.  I caught a slight blurr running this way. I turned to alert Hubby and daughter and they dropped their jaws to see a fox in full run.  He came across our front yard with feet barely touching!  Body stretched full making the most of each reach!  The paws and up the legs were black and the stretched out belly had long white fur!!  His head turned and he took us in ,ears turned straight towards us,he was the size of a small dog.  The face was so pretty,pointed wide based ears,slim pointed black nose and red fur!!  Deep,rich red!  He sprinted up the open park and a squirrel caught his eye! He turned in mid stride and chased the squirrel to the base of the huge cedar hedge!  Smart sqirrel headed up the cedar and fox looked up to where the squirrel russled the hedges branches. Off he went again and leaped into the curves of the rising grass and was gone up the parkland.

Daughter stayed a bit and had to go back to her classes and Son showed up to keep Hubby busy in the driveway trying to put on new shocks for his car! Noise in the driveway for hours,they even stayed at it through a heavy down pour.  We have had the most rain and storms of late,odd really!  So my two drown looking grease monkeys came in and showered as I had a big meal ready,mashed potatoes,cauliflower,roasted chicken and gravy!  They need to eat as they had been at it all day and where off after supper to go get Sons newly purchased car!  They were gone almost three hours and Son brought it home before it went down to the shop.  Cute little red thing with black convertable roof,supppose to be good on gas.  Hope it will be kind to him and not take much to certify.  Guess we will see. We had a storm that raged all night and it was so wild!  Lots of lightening and bangs!  We have had two weeks of the oddest violent storms. Today looks iffy,maybe descent weather maybe not,whatever I'll make the most of this day!!! Hope you do too!  You never know when you will get the privilege of seeing a fox!

Uhhhhgg!!   One of those mornings!   Stupid worn out body is so sure that it was run over several times during night that every inch is in pain.   Great,good start to a morning where I have so much to do.   I remember the springy days and I so want one of those back.   I  will get some back...however when doing cottage clean up this past weekend I fell with the vacumm down the rather steep steps going downstairs.   I was carrying the new vacumm and thought ..SAVE THE VACUMM!!!   Yah,right!   Should have been save the elbow and back as you really need those.   And to make matters worse I picked up my poor self all battered and cut and bruised and went to find Hubby.   Found him busy and said look I fell.   I stuck out my poor elbow that had lost a chunk of skin and waited...no response...I got hurt!!!!   I repeated this louder annoyed that he didn't jump up from his task.   But I just got a look and he didn't even fend concern!   Hummmhpp,oh.  well!!!    I went and found Son who was outside working away and said I fell downstairs.   He looks at me and I put up my sorry looking elbow and again no response.   So... I have gathered that they are use to me doing things and not saying anything...the standard seems to be if you can still walk you are ready to work and darn it I wanted a bandaid!!!   I really wanted one with cartoon characters bandaids, all bright and pretty to put on my injury.   I guess that shows that Mothers know how to do this stuff so well.   They react to missing chunks of skin,they care that you hurt,they make things better.  These two ignored me and totally made me mad so I did get lots of work done.   However after all I did yesterday and the brusies coming out and I did clean the pool last night.....I hurt!   Guys would make terrible Mothers,no cuddles and no...ahhh that's too bad...just nothing!    I think I should have whined louder...put up a fuss...well at least not gone back to work until I got my bandaid!!!   Nemo would have been nice,a lovely Nemo bandaid on my poor little elbow!

Well here it is 4am.  I was sleeping,hummm nice deep sleep and I heard rain.  Well I thought I heard rain.  Funny how the brain works.  Brain says,raining.  Raining???  Didn't know it was to rain??  Struggle,you are asleep but what about this rain?   Why is it not raining out back??   Tell ears to make sure it's raining only in one place cause body says don't wake up...too tired.   Ears report,rain not out back,only it really is raining hard...raining in one direction.  Brain says thanks ears for getting back with that report I know you're tired too.  Ears say no problem ...now what?   Brain says something is wrong here with the rain.  Brain pokes eyes...eyes??  EYES!!!   Open up eyes!  Noooo....too tired!   Eyes know they are on a fiffy contract and think best not mess with brain.... Open!!!   Command center make sense of this information....  no, too tired, why are eyes opened???  Sh-eye-t !!!  Rain,one direction,clear out back...move!!!  Clothing needed..where is it??? Tank top on backwards...who cares?  Shorts on ...well something is wrong,check later....RUN!!   Brain, shut up, legs are not working!!  Brain ..no matter run ...flood occuring run like the wind!!!  Legs say...get reasonable that was only in my youth and look buddy we are soooo not there at all!!!  Brain is screaming  RUN!!!!  So legs try and down the flights and out we go into the dark warm night air.  Yup brain says I was right!!   I am always right and look what you put me through stupid body you should listen and react more quickly!!  Ya,ya says body...you got us up and we are out here now what??? Eyes report in...gusher against side of house...gee that's pretty all that water shooting up and out in the moon light!  Stupid eyes,quiet!!  What to do thinks brain???  Hands take over and open fence,open shed door, look for switch...eyes are to be helping but it's too dark...and find switch to turn off the pump.   Well the emptying of the pool against the house has been stopped!  The broken pipe leans against the bricks as the last water spurts out.  I am awake.   It's a beautiful night  and I need sleep but seeing what all you lovely Ladies are doing is far more interesting!!!

Well we made the trek up to clean again but up and back in one day.   Sad to only stay a short time but neat just to be there.   The bug situation wasn't as bad,no bugs around the water to the cottage but behind it where it's more sheltered the flies that I am sure where sent from hell stlll reign.   The three of us worked like crazy and just before it was time to leave my Hubby disappeared and then my Son!    When an hour had passed and I couldn't locate them I bellered.   Yup!!!   Hollered my lungs out.   Now I rarely resort to this but I was so tired from walking every where looking for them and the clock was ticking down to when we were to leave.   Plus I figured seeing they never do this there was a good chance a bear needed to be scared off.   No Hubby or Son answered and I could hear that god aweful call echoing around the lake!!!   Poor wildlife, they probably thought some horrid new type of whooping crane had just moved in.!!!   So when Son and Hubby didn't answer, they are just ignoring me,what do you do???   Call old some times faithful dog,after all he had trotted off with them!!    Well he shows minutes after being called and therefore Son and Hubby are not too far off!    Dog stood there amused I think at me being frustrated and was desended on by the hoard of flies!!!   Crazy to be rid of them, specially off his ears ,he ran to the lake and in he went!   Now that's great!   One wet stinky dog to transport back in the car!    The two missing ones appeared and they had about two quarts of blueberries!   Hummm wild blueberries....maybe I could forgive them seeing they were smart enough to not get eatten by a bear!!   They were all excited because they had a neat adventure.   They were picking the berry bushes by the water and walking a long when a very large dear snorted at them and moved slowly off.   Son had never been that close or heard a deer do that!!   It was a large older male that didn't want to move or be bothered so he was voicing his displeasure at being rousted during his day hours nap time!   Hubby said he had a full antler set or rack and that he was very large.   That's exciting and I wish I had been with them!  When I had been looking for them I had come across several large snakes that made the walk worth it and Son and I had seen several large ones up the hill when we came up.  But seeing a deer is somehow neater!

Off we left for home and the air would not work in the car, it was very hot so the windows were  put down.   As we went along we were being covered by a swirling vortex of dog fur.   As stupid dried out his shedding fur took flight.   A lot was flowing out the window,a white swirling mass rising up and then out!   Funny to think of all that fur floating out free as we passed!    Every time he shifted a new assult was launched!    When we hit our driveway I was relieved to be home,out of the fur and I was tired and sweaty from the heat and work and so itchy from the fur but I was greeted by the neatest surprise!!!   Here were all these cars and a bike!   Oh!!!    All the kiddies were in!   I was told to get ready and I was so excited because the thought of what the heck are we going to feed everyone had already crossed my mind.    I got showered and ready in record time!     We were taken out to dinner by my eldest Son!    All of us and we were a huge table!   Sean had his first dinner out  with us!   It was great!  I had lobster,crab and shrimp!    I tried all sorts of new food that was beyond wonderful!  I felt totally spoilt!!     In fact I was,came home to cake and gifts and had such a great time.   Comes to mind that the sacrifices we wonder if our children ever notice.... well they do!   And when they acknowledge and give you extra loving just because...geeee it's great!!   Just the effort of everyone getting together,it gets harder as everyone's life gets going in different directions,would have been more than enough but I am so grateful for it all because it was an event to remember!!!  But I am soooo tired,I think I did get older,darn!

This time of year in Canada's great north is for the hardy if you think along the lines of bugs.   From May until the start of September you have different pests.  This year with more than ample rain has been a boon to the bugs.   Songs have been written about the black flies,bouncy little ditties that really do not describe the horror of the black fly swarms.   Janice and Steve got a small introduction to them but we left out the deer fly and other large bitting flies because they are Aussie and can only stand so much....plus they were lovely visitors to Canada and didn't deserve to wage war on bugs!!!   And well... they had to go back home and deal with the nasty things called bugs at home and I thought ours should be nice to them...at least they are not deadly like some in Australia. No ..ours can only annoy you,suck blood and take chunks out of any unprotected area but they don't burrow into you.  Thank heavens for small mercies!!!  We were camping out and clearing the van of bugs was painful.  Plus every time I go out at night ,I come back in with more.    The dog even begged for help when he was covered in the large ones that like to get under his fur and go for easy stops like the ears.  Poor dog!   Some times it's great to camp out but the air was heavy some nights and the few nights it rained was uncomfortable.   When the mosquitoes are around they drone on near or around and you hear the buzz knowing you are going to get bit,much worse than just biting and getting it over...at least then you know where to swat!  The hot nights the bugs didn't let up so the night it dropped to freezing was a welcomed relief,easy to sleep out and so much more comfortable!   The freezing air is so clear.  I wandered out unable to sleep and just scanned the sky.  So many stars and so very crisp and clear.  Just wonderful to sit and listen to the night noises.  I love the sound of the whipperwill,a bird that is active at night.  They have a long drawn out call that repeats their name.  You can hear them way off in the distance.  The corus of bull frogs is closer and they go in rounds,one answering the other's call or singing together.  They get the rhythm and you can almost feel the deep throaty hummm,hummm as it breaks the quiet night.  I heard some thing and looked to the right to see a martin cross the road,caught it's shape in the night light.   I was sitting where, last year in the winter, I had seen the 5 wolves during the night as they stood together.  But I could hear their calls just so faintly way off so they wouldn't be near tonight as there was so little of the night left.  The noises of the birds were just starting up so you knew dawn was on it's way.  The change in the sky wasn't enough for us to know but the birds did.  I was thinking about getting warm under the covers in the van and I thought,just a few more minutes here.   Just enjoy the scene for a few moments more.   I more felt the movement than saw it and I wondered if I should make it quickly over to the van!!   But  my eyes scanned to see in the very dim light a deer step out of the bush into the clearing near the bunkie.  She was raising her head and lowering it again to eat the grasses that are heavy in this open area.  You see their tracks up and down the road into the cottage and this clearing is at the base of the long drive.   The dark large liquids eye caught the light and I could she her neck twitch as the mosquitoes woke and landed on her.  She stepped slowly and cropped the grasses and flowers while moving step by step forward eatting.  She lifted her hind leg up to her belly to chase flies and her lines were softened when she stepped into the longer grasses.  Her beauty was breath taking,wild and catious and right there!   It was such a thrill to sit and watch her.  She was full grown and at least 3 years old.  But in an instant she flashed her tail up and her flanks showed white and she was gone.  One or two leaps and she cleared the small meadow and was down the ravine.  Out of harms way!!!   But harm wasn't a thought here, more gratitude for the moments I could spend watching this most beautiful wild thing.  The memory is one of so many I treasure from this spot in the north.    A spot where you can leave your heart to pick it up when you return.

Face it...I am yappy!!   Not in real life although I have been known to state my mind...even though no one cares!  LOL!!!   But here I go again....

With us working and cleaning things up in a somewhat reasonable and orderly fashion we were moving down the lot towards  getting the docks settled.   Of course being old and the one to be sacrificed I was to get the chains and stuff  out of the boat shed that hadn't been opened for a year.   Fine!   I figure they figure the scare will get me off their hands for a while or that I usually don't mind the critters!   I hope it's the latter although I suspect the first!!!   I, tossing fear to the winds, flung open the doors to find...nothing there except the stuff!!    So I got down to go in to help with the dock but noooo, I wasn't going to be allowed the fun stuff ,I was to pass barrels.   I have been swimming in colder water already.   The barrels have been stored half a year at the side of the shed and are covered in huge spiders and creepy crawlies of all sorts!  The 20 by 20 dock gets chained to the stationary dock, and the waters are high this year.  The huge barrels go under and I figured out how to slide the dock to them using the extra dock poles...the guys were going to lift it...geeesss how did this world get along without woman at the helm???  I also figured out how to stop the stationary dock from tipping as it usually isn't in high water.   We launched the fleet and tied them up,the canoe,paddle boat,row boat and dingy!!!    With that done we rake and clean and I noticed that the roof of the boat shed was topped by half a foot of  heavy  compressed leaves and branches.   So I started to clean it off.   I was circled by some paper wasps.   Hummm... so darn little brain swings into action!!   Where is the hive,how big a colony and ...yes...off I go to see.   There it was and the activity was amazing!  It was at the roof line at the back of the shed and I guess the vibrations of me cleaning the roof had upset  them.      The first main cone was being built and they were flying in in waves!!   Amazing,you could actually see the paper thin layers being deposited by wasp after wasp,all had chewed and deposited this almost liquid that dries into this greyish matter.     All so planned and such clockwork accuracy, all a dance that amazes and to see it getting larger as I watched,I was just so thrilled to see this.  The first cone was in place and they were starting on the next,the paper was many layers thick,curving to wrap around the cones, and they were adding inches to each layer in droning work.    Then something happened.  After sitting and watching,maybe I was too hot and sweaty from the work or my temperature or maybe I exhaled too fast but the swarm took exception to me.   Sensing the change in their activity I slowly rose and started to step away.    I backed ever so slowly around the corner and down the hill.   I got three steps done.    Then the most amazing thing happened.  I was incased in wasps.   Wasps rotating around me,a layer only one or two wasps thick but from my head to toes and like a tornado all going the same direction.    This was so interesting,I stood still and tried to not breath out.   Only a few seconds but what a show!!!   Then one wasp broke formation and headed straight for my face.   It stung my chin right under my lip and then they were gone!!!    The sting was a warning but the wasp did not drop it's stinger.  I am still amazed that this actually happened.    No force beyond what was needed, no violence at all, just protecting what I went and interfer in.    I am still amazed and we humans could learn from these wasps.  I actually felt humbled by that experience.  We lash out at these creatures and they certainly could have done me harm....but they didn't.   They put me off with just what was needed,nothing more.  So the rest of the day was spent thinking the whole event over and cleaning...  I have an othe rinstallment if you can stand it!!!   But gee this is long again!

Well were do I start here without yapping on and on?   We packed the van as the plan was to camp out in it and we needed the space with the huge air compressor and all the tools we had to take.  The dog knew something was happening so when his food pail went in last we had a crazed animal,all excited because he knew he was going!   He slipped out the door and straight into his seat where he parked , statue like, and waited.   Remember Janice how he liked us taking his seat?  LOL! 

Trying to get everything done and ready was never ending,one thing after an other and it took into the afternoon to get it all under control.   We left for the trip that takes about and hour and half with me already tired from all the stuff and from packing!   Yes...for those of you who know I do have pnuemonia and I thank you so much for all the well wishes!!   That helps so very much!   My plan to rage against the grems is slowly working but the big P sucks,drains the life out of you and has attacked me so many times I have lost count.   I really didn't want to go but some time you have to aid when the body is not willing....stupid body!

The drive was worth it!   Everything is so very lush,lots of rain and heat and everything is just shinning and glowing in the bright sunny day.   The fields are growing and the hay was being taking off some,others had bails waiting to be picked up and eveywhere there were beautiful veiws.   The drive lane into the cottage has grown in and the branches washed against the van as we wound our way up to the cottage.  That evening was preparing supper and unpacking,getting ready for all the chores!!!  But the best thing was spending time with Sean!!!  I have spent  hours but now I had almost a week to get to know this little being!!!    I have had my thrill as a Grandmother!!!!!!!!!!!   He gave me his very first belly laugh!   And his little eyes light up and he kicks with glee when he sees or hears me!!!!  How perfect is that???   What better gift on earth is there????  I am sooo a Grandmother!!!!

What hit me was not having Janice and Steve with us.   And the very first thing my eyes settled on when I went in the cottage was the Gut Rock...but maybe that is an other story?!?   Day one was stripping out and preparing the room for flooring. Buy the late afternoon I had cut and installed two layers of underlayering for the hardwood and the guys had put the first toughest rows in.    The second day the room was almost done.   As they worked away I  washed all the endless windows and did the walls down and cleaned everything.  The third day I moved downstairs and cleaned everything there!  I was really proud of that job as I cleared out everything extra and got the place sparkling!   I wheelbarrowed everything to it's proper place ..over to the metal pile for the scrap metal,to the drive shed with the extra plumbing pieces and the junk such as extra vacuums and lamps and general stuff to the van to go to the charity shops.  The drive shed has a new resident,a rather large ground hog took exception to my arrival.   I explained that squatters rights were indeed his but that I needed to store this stuff.   He understood and allowed entry but I kept an eye on him incase he was sneaky.  The next day the guys cut the lawns and I was forcefully removed from the lawn mower I had filled and started.  SO unfair,but then life some times is!   So I wheel barrowed wood to the fire pit.  Would have rather thrown it but I gave in to their buttoned down world....geeessss!   I weeded and cleaned up the fire pit which is a 60 by 20 raised area down by the water edge finished in terra cotta patio stones.  Interesting balls that poofed orangy yellow spores had grown in the middle of the stones.  Neat to see as the colour  drifted across in the air.  Geee this is long!! and I wasn't going to go on!  Guess I'll tell the rest tomorrow!!! 

Happy Birthday Canada,what a quiet peaceful morning around here.  The sun is bright,the birds singing and we are on our way to work camp.  Would be interesting and fun except we both are sick...and old..too old feeling cause we are sick to be bothered doing anything.  That about sums it up!!   So we are going to load the van with tools of the trade and go do stuff.  Whoopy.   Would rather crawl into bed or sit...sitting would be nice,don't even have the energy to pack up all the bedding, food, tools, dog....oh well.   Some times you have to go above and beyond when people depend on you.  Specially when it's your son who is there first when needed and even if he isn't!!   He is always there to help and there are things that have to be done up at the cottage that he depended on us to help with.   We usually do and it is so great to work with him and chat and tease and laugh but the two sickies are not up to that!!!   We are dragging.   We are going to install a hardwood floor.  The dock that is stationary has dropped so that has to be put back right and the huge floating dock launched!   The lawns and place have to be raked and cut.  The cottage needs to be cleaned and it's a rather large place.  Good thing is the cement work has been put on hold until the fall...weeee!!!   Something to look forward to!   The fire wood needs to be cut and hauled down a  45 degree incline...so there is fun!  I am all for throwing it down and then stacking but these guys don't see the fun in that!   Makes sense to me.  Also there is the opening of the shed so we can lauch the boats,need oars and tie downs that sort of thing so it is always me that confronts whatever has moved into the shed.   That's always good for getting the old heart beating!!   As long as whatever doesn't jump on me.  So off to the great wild north,hacking and coughing and trying to breath...waaaa??????  Suck it in woman!   There is work to be done...when am I tooooo old for this???  Haaa,haaa when I can't move a muscle...rage against the age, rage..cough,cough!!!   prey for me...help!