Revisiting an Important Part of my Past

Growing up almost every weekend was spent making the journey "up north" to our family cottage in Bracebridge. Our cottage was on a double lot shared with my maternal grandparents home. Sadly, as my grandfather's health declined, my grandparents decided it was best to move back to the city. Because the lot was unable to be severed, both properties had to be sold. It broke my heart. The biggest reason that we vacationed at Arrowhead park, was so that I would be able to share a part of my history with my children. The only request that The Boy made for vacation this year, was to go see Toy Story 3. I googled to see where it would be playing before we left the city and was delighted to find that it was playing at the same movie theatre that I went to as a child. The Norwood has undergone renovations, but it still feels the same. It is here that I saw E.T, Ernest Goes to Camp, and other movies. I smiled when I saw the billboard - "Welcome Back To Muskoka" it felt like they put it up just for me.

Just outside the movie theatre is a park. Once a year, in the summer heat, the park would host a giant craft fair. I loved that day. Looking at all the booths, and creative talent. I remember one year being allowed to buy a pencil with fun fur and googly eyes glued on it . I wonder how much that sent my mother back? I am sure it cost a small fortune. My sister and I were in love with the gazebo at the park. For me, I thought it was so romantic, the idea of bands playing and people dancing...

I also made Hubby do a drive by of the seniors centre. My Grandparents were very active with this organization. When I would stay with Grandma and Grandpa in the summer or on winter vacation, they would take me to the seniors centre with them. The seniors would make such a fuss over me, and I felt like they all were my extended grandparents.

I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to drive by the cottage. I thought it might be too hard for me. But in the end, I couldn't get this close and not go have a look. I was surprised to recognize so many of the family names on the signs on the cottage road being ones that I remembered. As we got closer to our old property, I was nervous and excited. And there it was.

Our cottage

My grandparents home


Even now a week later, its hard for me to articulate my emotions. Am I glad I went back - yes. All I know for sure is that it was just as hard to leave it in 2010 as it was almost 20 years ago. As my husband drove away, my stomach sank, and the kids, even The Little Man was silent. My sweet middle son said, "I like your cottage mom."

"Thanks guys, me too" -fade to black

Arrowhead Provincial Park

Our week long camping trip to Arrowhead Provincial Park was everything you could ask for in a family vacation: great weather, campfires, sitting on a beautiful beach and connecting with family.
It was our first time at Arrowhead, we had only heard good things about the park and we were not disappointed.
Arrowhead is a large park with 3 beaches to choose from. We spent most of our time at the small beach because it was less crowded and it was within a 5 minute walk from our campsite. The sand was soft and powdery - the kids and I loved how it felt on our feet. The water was cool and clear. The kids geared up with their goggles, and spent most of their time under water looking for minnows and muscle shells.
One afternoon as I was watching my family swim, the sun warming my shoulders, and my tunes playing ( thanks hun, for the new ipod ), I welled up with emotion. It was one of those moments in life where what matters most is crystal clear and you are filled with gratitude for all you've been blessed with.

The site itself was large and private. Usually The Kid will take her younger brothers out on adventures, but, with an active bear in the park, she did not venture far on her own.

We try to choose sites that have morning sun so that the site does not overheat during the hottest part of the day. Pictures above is a little morning sun flare.

With an active bear in the park, whenever we were outside of our campsite, we were on the lookout for the bear. As we drove away from our site one evening, The Kid spotted this dear on the NEXT site. So cool!

Because of the heat and distance, we decided not to do any of the bike trails, but Hubby, The Little Man and I went for a short 45 minute bike ride to the Big Bend Lookout. The Boy and his dad had gone the previous day and reported that it was worth the trip - and it was! It took my breath away. The Big Bend lookout is an oxbow formation from the Big East river. It is an 80 foot drop from the lookout point, with steep, sandy banks. Each year 1 foot is lost from the lookout as it erodes away. I don't think that the pictures do it justice.

We went out for dinner on our last night. It rained pretty hard while we were in the restaurant, but it had cleared up by the time we finished. After the rain there was a beautiful mist, so we headed down to the beach so I could get a few shots. Stunning.

Before heading back to the site, we stopped by Stubbs Falls. I wish we had more time to explore this place. Stubbs Falls reminded me of "the falls" that was at the end of our cottage road. It was sweet to see this new found treasure with my family.

Back with a new challenge - Betty Blogger!

Well, I am back from a week long camping vacation in Arrowhead Provincial Park ( pictures coming soon!), refreshed and ready for a new challenge for myself. I've signed up for a "Betty Blogger" course at my local library.
The purpose of this course is to "develop a better community wide understanding and appreciation for web 2.0 technologies" uhhh...yeah. Considering that I had to google what web 2.0 was, I would say that my current knowledge of it would be low. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being web 2.huh and 10 being web 2.guru, I would grade myself as a 4 - web 2.muddling through.
It's my hope that through this 8 week summer course it will help me with some of my confusion. Things like how to follow a friend's blog, how to have a link to a favorite book o web site, and how to make those fancy pant photo collages are just some of what I hope to learn.
Already I think I may be cheating....the first assignment was to create a blog - I am using pictures from the patch, mostly because I feel that it is here, at the patch where I want to improve my skills, grow and learn.

Princess Grad

Grade eight. I remember it so well. It was such a transformational year for myself, and it was a year of transformation for my daughter as well. She has grown up so much this past year - and her grade eight graduation was an awesome way to showcase her growth. She had been preparing for this night for a long time. I think it was back in March that we bought her a dress. She had been to the mall with a friend and found the perfect one. The day of started with a manicure, and hanging out with a friend. In the afternoon, I took her to get her hair done. After dinner, she did her makeup, and got into her dress.
Even though I had seen her in her dress, and had seen her with her makeup and hair done, when I saw her all put together, she took my breath away a little. She was stunning. I was so proud. We had time for a few quick snapshots on the front lawn before we left.

on her way...she and I walked over to her friends house, while Hubby took the van to the school.

After a few more pictures with her friend, the graduates walked to the high school where the ceremony was. As I watched the girls walk, I was remembering how they became friends - walking back and forth to kindergarten. It seemed fitting that they walked into their newest adventure together.

Receiving her certificate from her teacher and principal. We broke the rules of applause only and cheered her on!

Dancing with her Dad. Looking at this makes my heart melt. So proud of you kiddo!

Camp Charlie

Even though we had a kid party for the Little Man, we still had our traditional family "Camp Charlie" This is a chance for both sides of the family to get together, slow down, and enjoy each other's company. Once again, the weather man did not co-operate with us, but once again we out smarted him and have tonnes of fun anyway.
We surprised our five year old with a new bike. This one is bigger and heavier than the old one - he was wobbly at first but did okay on it.

Opening some presents with some of his cousins.

MORE birthday cupcakes!!!!

Round the campfire with his family. Love it.

Giving the pinata a few good whacks. ( I recycled the treasure hunt box from the pirate party to use as a pinata. )

Pirate Party

Our Little Man turned FIVE this past week and to celebrate this milestone, I planned his first "kid" party -with a pirate theme. The invitations were empty water bottles with a pirate map tucked inside. I also added some sand, seashells and some fun beach foam shapes. I had planned to turn our back deck into a pirate ship, complete with a mast and crow's nest, but the weather man was calling for thundershowers. Fortunately, I was smart enough to have a "rain plan" and moved the party indoors. This was okay, because it allowed me to set up some of the decorations a day in advance.

I made a banner out of red and black Bristol board. I stenciled a jolly roger on the black triangles to add to our pirate theme. I was really wanting a wooden barrel to have as a prop - I found this rain barrel in the garbage and grabbed it - lucky find!! ( hubby wasn't as excited as me)

Charlie and I made a treasure map out a garden leaf bag. This was used for " X marks the spot" game - a variation of pin the tail on the donkey.
I looted though our Halloween box, and found some skulls and creepy gauze fabric to decorate the stairs. I added some blow up fish from the dollar store, that I later gave out to my two helpers ( my older son and his friend.)

The mantel was decorated with pirate gear; a hook, balloons, a jolly rogers flag, driftwood and seashells. The pinata ship was a great decoration before it got smashed by my five little pirates.

Another craft that the Little Man and I made before the party was this Pirate chest. We used two boxes from the grocery store, painted them brown, and used yellow electrical tape to decorate it. This box is where the pint sized pirated stored their loot from their treasure hunt. I have learned over the years, that these hunts are happier if everyone works as a team to find
treasure and I divide it up evenly later.

Hubby was the brave soul who held the pinata for our excited pirates. Pinatas are always a "hit!" Another hit were the loot bags. Each boy took home a pirate sword, book, eye patch, blow up shark, bubbles and a backpack key chain of Captain Jack Sparrow. I also let them take home their craft. It was a black paper cup with an aluminum foil hook attached. We used the hooks to play "pick up pretzels" at snack time.

Charlie - and all the other boys had a great time. He is such a joy to watch grow up and I was honoured to give him this special day. But by the time the last boy was picked up we all were beat. Just after the last boy was picked up, one more arrived. His mother read the invite wrong, and thought the party started at 5:00, rather than pick up time at 5:00. Well there was no way that I could send this little guy away, so we invited him in.

Charlie and his late arrival had fun playing with the presents, eating more cupcakes, and blowing bubbles on the front lawn. What a super fun day.

June 21

Sweet and Sour-
Sour lemons and a sweet childhood memory. The plate that these lemons sit on was much coveted as a child. Saturday nights growing up were spaghetti night. At the cottage, with all the extended family, my parents would cook up a big pot of spaghetti. I can't remember how, but this plate became a favorite, so as to save fightsbetween the cousins, a schedule was made up and marked on the calender. I still love this plate. I'm not even sure if anyone else even remembers it, but I am a little leery to ask, just in case we have to work out a schedule for it.

Father's Day

June 20 - Drive by Visit-
I am so lucky and honoured to have both of these great men in my life. My husband is a great father. He is patient, kind, and understanding. My kids know that their Dad always has and always will have their back - but at the same time he pushes them to spread their wings and try. He is the one who has taught them to tie their shoes and ride a bike ( there is no way I would have had the courage to let go of the bike.) He is just as proud of his children as they are of him. I have heard all of them brag about their Dad when they think I can't hear. They brag about his strength, little do they know just how strong their Dad is - inside and out.
My father is wise, and kind. I have always known that he was there for me no matter how far away he is. In my adult life, Dad has moved around a lot for work, and right now is doing a job in the United States, so I felt very blessed that he just happened to be around for Father's Day. I understand my father - in a way that can be described as heart felt, he doesn't talk a lot. I know that he has suffered great loss, but continues to try his best, and learn from his mistakes.
These men make me so proud. One choose me to share in his life, and one fate choose me to share in his life. I have learned so much from both. Dad and John

My father and I

Dad and Lynda

Sunshine and Showers

June 19 - Refuel
We have had a busy few weeks, and so by late in the afternoon on Saturday, I was feeling overwhelmed. I said to heck with it, lets go to the beach. The work can wait. I needed to refuel, and a day or should I say a few hours at the beach with my favorite people was just the way to do so. at the beach with my kids, munching on junk food, wearing my silly beach booties so I don't touch the seaweed on the bottom of the lake - pure joy.

the little man doing one last rinse off

We decided to order pizza on the way home, so dinner was just a matter of sitting down to the table. After dinner, the boys went downstairs to zone out and play video games, I went to my room to finish my book, and The Kid went for a walk around the neighbourhood. When she left the sky was blue with big fluffy clouds. As I was reading I thought that I heard water on the back deck, but did not pay too much attention to it, then it became louder, and harder - I grabbed my car keys and went to save my daughter. By the time I was at the car, I was soaked. By the time I found her, she looked like a drowned rat. The light was an eerie mix of dark and light, and after I saved her, I went back outside to grab these pictures. When I was editing them last night, she asked if I took the pictures before or after I came to get her. After I assured her - but I do wish I had brought my camera to get a picture of her standing on the corner looking more happy to see her mom in a minivan than I ever thought possible.

counting this one as my 365

At the Farm

June 18 - Field Trip!
I volunteered on Friday to go to a local farm with Charlie's junior kindergarten class. It has been awhile since I rode a school bus, and was surprised just how bumpy, and rocky it was. The kids had fun, and screamed every time we hit a bump or went around a corner. Not surprisingly, The Little Man did not want to sit beside me on the bus, but that's okay - I am glad I was able to see him enjoy his friends. I had four little boys in my group, they all were well behaved; I only had one who was slippery - a quiet boy who kept wandering off. I managed alright, and returned to the school with four boys, and the same ones - bonus! What a day, I can't imagine working with kids all day, I was exhausted at the end of it. Hats off to all the people who do this for a living!
the little man on the fence

watching the big fat, gross sow- she was something!

Lazy Days of Summer

June 15 - "someday" self portrait -
Last year I was wondering around Chapters and came across this beautiful book, about mothers and daughters, and fell in love. It is called Someday by Alison Meghee I originally bought it as a gift for the kid, but I have kept it for myself. So with my daughter away on her first big adventure by herself, I cracked it out, had a few tears, and got on with my day. This is a great book for new moms. Highly recommended.

June 16 - Roses in the Rain
Today I had not a lot time to take my 365 but did manage to shoot this quickie - but I LOVE the way it turned out. Funny how some days I will spend time getting the perfect image, which turns out to be so-so and other days one quick snap shot makes my heart so happy. I think its the faded colours and soft glow that has done it for me. See? One more reason not to clean my windows.


June 17 - Cheese-tastic!
mmm, plastic cheese on toast, another guilty pleasure - add it to the list.