Off to Camp

One of the favorite things about summer is cousins camp; three days organized by my parents for all the grand kids (the ones who are old enough and feel comfortable being away from mamma and dadda for three days!). This year their adventure was a surprise, so the excitement was particularly high!

The theme was 'the city', with them all heading downtown Toronto with a full itinerary. They stayed at a hotel, which meant lots of pool time, restaurants, and breakfasts of tiny boxed cereals. They went to see the Sound of Music performance, a movie my kids haven't see yet. The first hour they got to tour around the theatre, meet some of the cast and learn some of the tunes. It was a big hit, the tunes are still being belted out.

There was also a trip to the Royal Ontario Museum with the Dead Sea Scrolls being one of the main stops. Of course they also had a chance to visit their favorite displays.

Grammy is all about having an authentic experience. Although definitely not planned, it was semi appropriate that the van was broken into (while in valet parking!), window smashed, GPS gone...but everyone perfectly OK.

Before the camp was over, everyone was wanting to know details about next year. A true sign of how much everyone enjoys it.

taken when they were picked up

On our Own

It was a bit confusing for Shai to have the house so quiet and empty for a few days. The confusion quickly turned to glee, when he realized there was now time for those things he loved. Baths, lots of baths. A visit to feed carrots to the donkeys (and the horses, but the donkeys are by far his favorite). Extra long book time, popsicles together on the deck, swinging without waiting in line.

A few days was long enough, then we were over the moon to have everyone back.

Special Places

Before we moved there were natural places the kids had visited for literally years. Some of them grew up always knowing them. They were places we discovered in the first year of moving there. These places, special places, held adventures and memories. There were certain games played, or names given to trees, like a home it had familiarity and comfort.

Since we have moved to our new home the adventures we have are in places that are completely new too us. This has its own magic, a great sense of wonder and awe as we discover what each place has to offer. There are a few places we visit regularly and have explored in different seasons. I have watched as the kids grow attached to different spaces, already naming and embracing certain parts. Recalling on our return visit that we have memories here. I have noticed as I also grow attached, looking for that wall of moss or the antler shaped roots.

Ragged Falls is one of those places. We were excited to share it with our friends on their visit. We hiked the short walk, explored the falls, both at the top and the bottom. The highlight was crossing the river, realizing they could swim with the current and gliding along. It was a wonderful addition to this place, a great memory too.

Under the Rainbow

It rained, it really rained. A lot. There were times it was so hard we couldn't go outside, and others when it was just a constant drizzle. During those times there was Uno, imaginations, movies, mud baths, chatting, wet fishing. When the sun was out, we were out. For a crazy hot fire, chasing the chickens, beach time, dock jumping, fishing, canoeing, hiking, chatting. Time together; wet and dry was wonderful.

It ended, under a rainbow, which seemed so fitting.

Can you hear that?

It's our rooster. He has just discovered he is able to crow. Although, I don't know if it can be called a crow. It's more like a high pitched gurgle. Do roosters grow into their crow?

News Flash

A bear was in the yard today!!!!

Home alone, sitting on the front porch, mid day, I look up to see a black bear by our shed. 50 feet away. It took me a moment for it to sink in, as it stared at me. I went inside, said "wow" out loud a few times and grab the camera. At first I took the photos through the window, not sure where the bear would head. It checked out the bird feeder; which we haven't been filling in the summer (phew). Then it headed over to the hammock. The bear stayed there for about ten minutes; rolling around on it's back, swinging and swatting it, leaning on it. It was very humorous to watch. When it was finished playing it went down the driveway to cross the road.

Very cool.

Although the rest of the afternoon I kept peeking around, wondering if that branch breaking was a return visit. I was re-counting the chickens, and feeling thankful the kids were with Dad visiting for the day.

It has been a tough summer to date for the bears. There are lots of sightings and encounters in and around town, more than normally. With the heavy rainfall, less sun, it has meant the berries are less abundant and late. The bears are having to search for food harder.

As cool as they are to see, I hope the other sightings aren't in our yard.

Magical

Creating, building, imagining, becoming. A magical world, is so exciting. The excitement of creating one and transporting yourself there fully can't be compared to, except perhaps stumbling on a magical world built by someone else. A wall built out of woven vines. An arch way to enter through. Small collections of pebbles, leaves, sticks. A fire pit, log benches, a ring of rocks, beside the river and tucked amongst the trees. Are there fairies, or invisible folk, perhaps this is a meeting place, or a camp out. Are the people cloaked and watching, perhaps it is visited at night. Imagining, it alone is magical.

Red Fish, Blue Fish,

One fish, two fish...

well it was just one fish. But a big one.

We split up last night; Aria, Shai and I in the canoe, while Ben, Chris and Elias fished and then we switched. There were lots of people in the provincial park hoping for a big catch, making it challenging for the boys to carve out their 'own' spot. But they did. Elias was thrilled to have caught this bass- a good size one I am told. The on lookers were also taking photos of it! When he got home he printed off a picture to take to his grandparents house when he visits, he was over the moon!

The Way a Sunday Morning Should be

Sew, Sew, Sew

I have been spending a lot of time in my sewing room. Lots of the creating is for entrepreneurial projects (very exciting!), others are for those close by, both equally enjoyed!

On my creating list were the pillow case dresses we chatted about. I have been whipping these up incredibly quickly. Aria has been wearing some as dresses, cover ups for the beach and others as nightgowns. Shai quickly caught onto how much they were being enjoyed and was wanting one of his own. There is a shelf full of pillow cases, so I was more than happy to comply. The only adjustment being a hem and shorter strings.

After watching Aria and Shai play in their new 'gowns' I decided to try making her one as a top, using the hem for a headband. This headband actually. Coordinating and all, I feel very fancy!

After doing some on line organizing I re-found this list which has lots of great projects on it. You know, for all that extra time.

In Honour of the Rain

Over the last two weeks we have had a few thunderstorms. Last night was no exception, this one didn't have very much rain, but there was lots of thunder. Grammy sent us the link below, the kids loved the first half especially while listening with their eyes closed. Me, I loved it all. Although the 80's girl in me belted it out!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw

Ben + turtle

a bertle...or a turtlen?

either way it's pretty cute!

Our Art

The Group of Seven Festival was held over due to rain. The artists are painting outdoors, the weather therefore playing an important role. The public is invited to participate in the art work, by actually painting part of the canvas. The artist working on this particular painting was great at guiding us through the layering process to get the right colours. He also took the time to share with us why the group of seven is such an incredible group of artists. He picked one particular painting, showing us how the light took the viewer from one corner of the art piece following the lines around all four corners covering the whole painting, then bringing your eye back to the beginning. He shared the importance of the short yet prominent brush strokes to the effect of the painting. Insights we totally appreciated.

We are thrilled to have contributed to a painting we helped reproduce, will be displayed for all to see.

The painting is a reproduction of J.E.H. MacDonald's Wild River, 1919.

Our Newest Addition

I get giddy over a stack of newly borrowed library books. The books themselves excite me, but its more than that. A whole pile of possibilities. Books on all different topics; travelling in the Himalayas to doll clothes, cooking for more than 20 people to creating a permanent lean too. Endless. Each one having the chance to lead me to something wonderful. The crafts I learn, could become a new hobby I love, turning into gifts I love giving. Reading a recipe that takes me out of my box of cooking skills, that my family enjoys, soon to become part of a family tradition. A story that takes us to a far away land, to become a land we create here in our living room, spending many days wrapped up making costumes, props and happy memories.
Granted, many books are a flop. They don't catch my interest, they aren't written well, there isn't time to fit them in. Not all of them lead me to something amazing. But it's the possibility, the path that may be created.
My in-laws gave us their canoe. It wasn't being used and they knew we would love it. Which we do. Totally. I have a huge smile just thinking about it. I have always wanted one, now that we live a hop away from a lake and a drive from hundreds of others, it feels like a perfect fit.
The canoe is like the newly borrowed library books. I am excited by the actual canoe, learning to become a more skilled paddler. But it is more than that. It's the possibilities. What it might mean for us, or lead too. That's the most exciting part. Will we discover nature in a different way, will we create traditions around when or where we journey, perhaps there will be special adventures alone or with friends. Will we dare to venture on a day long trip, overnight or even become passionate portagers? Maybe cooking on a riverbank will be our thing, become expert map readers of water ways. Perhaps there will be something amusing or startling that happens on a journey we will name the canoe after that. Maybe. It's possible.
We went out in it yesterday for the first time. We divided into two groups, taking it slow, giving everyone a chance. The provincial park close by seemed like the perfect place to start. Along our journey we saw a beaver or a muskrat, we weren't quite close enough to tell. We worked through some tough turns, while some learned to paddle and others were refreshed. We talked about the gorgeous surroundings. We made plans lots of them. A door opened.
It's exciting all right.

Afternoon Hike

One of the places we visited for Doors Open Ontario a few weeks ago really caught our interest. It is literally down the street, a nature reserve home to over 10.000 acres of forest and more than 16 lakes. There are trails with incredibly well labelled trail maps (pointing out interesting vegetation, animal habitats, etc) running through the park. We choose to hike along Solitaire Lake, a lake which is completed surrounded by woods and does not allow motorized vehicles, the silence was beautiful. It was a gorgeous walk.

Along the trail there were beautiful look out points, some of which were on cliff top and others at lake level. We watched three loons splash and play in the water, quite noisily, surprising us as we associate them with silence; gliding through the lake. We explored a huge quartz deposit, climbing it and collecting a sample for our rock collection. The kids also had a dip in the lake before heading out.

I think we will be spending a lot of time here.

Pond tales

A friend of mine recently posted a link to cards depicting the life cycle of frogs. I printed off the cards, put them on the table the other night. I had not thought of what we might do with them, if anything, I just put them out. When I got up in the morning, the cards and the kids were gone. They had headed to the pond and were finding from it, each of the frog stages. Those guys, I tell you, they amaze me. They come up with such great ideas.

And really so does our pond. Aria pulled out this insect, which I was told was a water scorpion. I went to get thee bug book and the camera, to find out for myself what a water scorpion was.

Structurally, a Water Scorpion is built almost exactly like a

Giant Water Bug, but on a much slimmer plan. To look at them,

however, you'd think you were gazing at an underwater praying

mantid. Water Scorpions do indeed catch their buggy prey with

their forelegs....they have piercing, sucking mouth parts...Amazingly,

they can get up out of the water and fly to a new pond when the need

arises.

from our bug book

With every bug or extra large tadpole we pull out, my amazement grows....and Chris' fear of the pond does too!

A Visit

A new route has been found from our house to my in-laws trailer, which is half the time that it normally takes. This meant a day trip up was much more feasible. The kids enjoyed finding turtles (especially a very tiny baby turtle), fishing off the dock and out of the boat, fast rides around the lake, water balloons with the local kids, fire time, a baby bear spotted and sunshine. It was a nice visit.

Update

Just a tiny bit of down left on the backs of their legs, other than that, they look unmistakably like chickens.
This is our rooster Frodo (or is it Bilbo? one or the other). I am truly amazed at how much enjoyment they bring us- me, really they are quite the characters.

Green stuff?

Any ideas?

Hiking at a local river, which leads to a water fall, we found rocks covered in snake shaped green slimy....algae perhaps. We would love you ideas!

A Friend in Milkweed

The area of our property which is meadow like, has recently come alive. The different grasses have grown quite tall, butterflies, dragonflies, insects of all sorts, wildflowers, raspberries, deer mice, jumping mice (which bullfrogs apparently enjoy to eat), wild roses, and lots yet to be identified. The shades of green are beautiful, the sounds of crickets and tree frogs bringing it alive. One of our favorite meadow residents by far, is milkweed. What a fabulous plant!

The possibilities it holds, excite and amaze us. The different insects who gather on this thick, milky plant are incredibly diverse; monarch butterflies and milkweed bugs probably being the most well known. The different stages of it's growth; plant, flowering, seed pods, dying. Each one bringing different reasons to explore. We have been dissecting the plant, looking at it's parts under our microscope, watching the insects crawl over it, reminiscing the fun we have had with helping the pods spread their seeds.

Our exploring has uncovered some pretty cool information; the toxic effect on the monarch in particular;

Most species of milkweed are toxic to vertebrate herbivores due to the cardenolide alkaloids contained in the leaves and stems. When the monarch larva eats milkweed, they also eat the plants toxins, which build up in their wings and exoskeletons, making the larva and adults toxic to many potential predators. Vertebrate predators quickly learn to avoid monarchs. Consuming these poisons will leave a bad taste in the predator's mouth or in some cases make them vomit.
read more here

Some more resources we have been using

milkweed bugs and identifying them
different milkweed species
milkweed as a healer and a poison
a great article from Ranger Rick (a magazine I loved as a kid!)
the life milkweed provides for (great pics)
scientific activities


if you are feeling adventurous about canning, you might want to try some of these!
we thought our friend Ryan might want to try cooking the pods like this or this (as a side for wood sorrel)

Tour de Southern Ontario

Two days:

visiting two new houses

a splash pad trip

three park dates

breakfast with family

lunch with cousins

dinner at nana's

walking the pond trail

baby cuddling

beach date

snacking lunch

forts on picnic tables

other world games

catching up

lots of hugs

yet hugs still missed

yummy dinner

plans laid for next time

a patio laid

sleeping in the car