sister sister

For two decades now, my sister and I have been on opposite sides of the continent and we have missed nearly every one of each other's birthdays. But somehow, we manage to reach out and connect.
Had to share my birthday card this year. She is the best!

Celebrations begin!



Thank you, B&B, for the loveliness you added to my day!

At the end of October each year, the birthday clock ticks on.

I have always enjoyed the quiet celebrations with family, usually with mom making my favourite dishes. However, this milestone year (even though it's only a number!) cranked up the celebration meter significantly and I had been looking forward to a break from work stress with three days of family and friends and yummy, savoury, chef-worthy delicious food! 

Friday was the excursion to La Castile - a gorgeous castle of a restaurant that has always epitomized "luxury" and special occasions for me since I was a little girl. Auntie June joined the girls and mom and dad in "popping the cork" on the start of my weekend of gastronomic celebrations and it was a beautiful night.



My generous and amazing folks!



Catching Aunite June when she is not snapping pics herself is a challenge!



No, that is not wine. :)

Miz C loved her steak!

It was such a nice change to get fancied up for a night on the town - loved the food and the time with family as we chatted and relaxed in the warmth and glow of our alcove beside the stained glass windows. Roses from my cousins added an extra sparkle to the night, not to mention Auntie J's generosity. I am a fortunate girl.

The icing on the cake was an added gift - mom and dad handed over the keys to their condo while they headed to my place for a weekend with my girls. I had their quiet, peaceful place all to myself and enjoyed doing absolutely nothing - resting up for the next day's adventures.

Happy and ever-so-grateful birthday girl.

 Happy birthday indeed!

end of summer blogstravaganza

We wrung every possible moment of sunshine and fun and relaxation that we could out of these last four days of our Summer vacation.  Here is our photo salute to the Labour Day weekend!

FRIDAY - north to Couchiching

On the way to pick up Bryanna from her week at camp, we stopped for two lovely hours at a beach/playground in Orillia. Cassidy wore herself out.

Then we picked up Miz B from her first week away at camp. She really enjoyed her time at Camp Couchiching (the food was FANTASTIC, loved the archery, the rope courses, and the singing at campfires). It appears that a return to camp next year is in the cards.

Oh, and yes, this mom was very happy to welcome her home.

In front of the entry to one of the high ropes courses.
See the metal hoops on the pole?  That's what they climb to the top.



One of the counsellors.



Giving Nanny and Papa the tour.

On the way home from Couch, we took a sidetrip to a much loved place. So much so that it deserves a post of its very own.

This one is for you Auntie Kim.

SATURDAY - odds and ends and Wicked!

Nanny and Papa stayed at our place for three nights to join in our end of summer celebration.

The next day was packed. While Brya slept in (recovering from - oh yes did I mention - a case of hives all over her body from an allergic reaction to we're not quite sure what), Papa ran to Home Depot to buy all the things needed to repair a few things around my house. (Thanks, Dad!) Nanny and I took Cass to the mall to buy an animal hoodie she DESPERATELY needed for the start of school.

Then in the late afternoon we headed to Kitchener to see the Broadway tour show of Wicked - the girls loved it - Cassidy giggled at the humour all evening. Bryanna said she was holding her breath as Elphaba hit the high note during the Defying Gravity song. It was fun to watch them enjoy it!

SUNDAY - odds and ends

So many things ticked off my list on Sunday!

Lawns cut, gardens cleaned up, 5 loads of laundry done. Thanks, mom, for cleaning out the fridge and freezer! Thanks, dad, for replacing all the parts on the toilet - too bad it took 3 trips to Home Depot to do it!

As Nanny and Papa headed home (probably to recover!) the girls enjoyed more of the endless sunshine while I sat on the porch with a book.  aaaahhhh.



Painting.

 

Not too old to enjoy swinging through the sprinkler spray!



 MONDAY - back to the water

We started the summer with our annual trip to Southampton with the China Beach gang. Hours at that beach define and start summer for me, and later we spent time by pool and ocean in San Francisco with Kim and family. So, I felt a strong pull to return to the water before we bid farewell to our vacation.

 A friend had recently recommended a lovely beach only 15 minutes south of us on the lake so we rose early, packed a picnic lunch and headed out. We claimed a quiet corner of the soft, sandy beach and the girls were delighted they brought their boogie boards.

Cold water, hot sun, happy day.



And a trip to Dairy Queen on the way home!

Farewell, Summer, what a great nine weeks!

our cottage on Couch

We said goodbye to our beloved cottage on Lake Couchiching five years ago.

The upkeep and costs were becoming too much for us all to manage and mom and dad sold it to a young family who spend each summer there.

The cottage had been in the family for 60 years and we still miss it. One of the reasons we chose Camp Couchiching for Bryanna was because it was only a few minutes from our cottage and we knew the area so well. The girls asked if we could stop there after we picked up Bryanna and so off we went.

We stopped in and found the place was already closed up for the summer but many of our old neighbours were at their places for the long weekend and warmly shouted hello. We caught up with them as the girls reacquainted themselves with the cottage and lakefront. It was a bittersweet hour and we felt better (the new folks are taking good care of the place and even made some improvements) and sad...wish we could still call it ours.

Took a few pics of the visit for Kim - it's still there and still lovely.



The road to the cottage.

 

The sleeping cabin.

 

The bridge that "great grandpa" built.

 

 

The steps that MY papa built.

Our dear cottage - looking just the same.



Always, and still, a magical place.



away to camp...

On this gorgeous, hot day, we set off up north to deliver Brya and her friend to camp - the first time for both at a sleepaway camp.

Much excitement led up to this day and after a slow drive along surprisingly congested highways, we were delighted to be welcomed into the camp by a number of friendly, outgoing counsellors (I have never been so well directed into a facility in my whole life!).

The property looked beautiful, sign-in was orderly and went without a hitch. However, after one young and friendly staffer led us to the girls' cabin, reality set in quickly. The cabin was temporarily empty of campers, parents or counsellors - which we wish had not been the case - these two moms would have liked the reassurance of meeting the young people who would be caring for our girls. The cabin was the typical summer camp set up - plain wood, plain bunks, some dressers.  Everything was tidy and seemed clean, and my critical eye noticed new vinyl windows and apparently new mattresses. The girls hesitated as they looked around - which bunk?  Which would be the most homey, most comfortable, most reassuring? 

After a few minutes, bunks were chosen and beds made and we headed out to find the "tour guide" staffers we had been directed to.

After that I think we all started to feel a little better because - wow - this camp is packed full of amazing things to do and time and money had obviously been spent to make this a fun place to be! Canoe and Kayak areas, tidy sites for campfires and outdoor shows, an outdoor chapel, rock climbing walls, no less than THREE rope courses (my friend shuddered, I looked on with interest), an art cabin and tuck shop (all kids get to choose one item at the tuck shop every day!) swimming beach, basketball and tennis courts and a huge chess board and ping pong tables and on and on and on...(even the bathrooms were new and shiny - with sparkling showers - believe me, I checked.)

Towne Hall - the indoor rec centre

One of the campfire circles.

 

Cass at the rock wall.

The dining hall from the outside...

And the inside.



Looking up at one of the rope courses...

 

And another - can you see the rope bridge up high in the trees? Wow!

 

The swimming beach and docks - I want the job of sitting in the Muskoka chairs!



Checking out the chess board!

As the bell rang to call all the new campers together, many parents also trailed down to the gathering place to see our children meet their counsellors and bunkmates. A happy, silly camp song, a brief welcome from the camp director and then our children were sorted and led away to meet new friends. Bryanna looked back only once.

My friend and I were reluctant to go but we had given the girls hugs and reassurance and told them to have a great time. At that point they didn't need anything else from us and so we packed up their younger sisters and headed home.

I hope that Brya has an amazing time and comes home with so many hundreds of stories that they are spilling out of her. I hope she will feel more confident and strong and know that she was able to have this grand adventure without needing me there with her each and every moment. I hope she has FUN.

That's what I wish for her this week and for each new phase in her life - I think that's what we all hope for our children, isn't it?

But it is SO quiet in this house tonight.  :-)

forest to farewell

Love the nearby playground surrounded by redwoods...children can play in the creek (imagine! a creek clean enough to play in with bare feet right in town.) We spent a lovely hour there on our last afternoon in Marin - gorgeous.

We had promised Bryanna all week that we would go our for crab dinner and last night we delivered at a place on the water in Sausalito. Yum dinner and time together with our family...sweet.

Bryanna and Cassidy each ate one of these! Their mother did not.

Ta-dah!

Sausalito marina.



My sweetpea!



Sixteen days seemed to stretch out forever two weeks ago but as always the time flew by in an instant. Kim and I spent nearly every minute together - on our computers, sheperding children, reading, dozing, movie watching, chatting, chatting, chatting. For us, that was the "mom vacation."

Till next time!!!