A Sunny Afternoon at the Street Festival

Our home town held it's annual street festival in the glorious sunshine and our family took full advantage of all the outdoor food and fun!

 

 

The boys had  a marvellous time trying out these hand-propelled boats set up in a huge blow-up pool in the park.  At first they shared a boat, but soon found they were too heavy and weighed the vessel down.  Cam climbed into his own ship and they were off to the races!

No boats for Afton.  She REALLY wanted  a balloon animal so Daddy and  she stood in line for nearly a half and hour so she could be the proud owner of a pink balloon bunny!

Is Bryn too old for the blow-up bouncy castles?  No way.  As long as he fits through the entrance door, he's going in!

 

Camden LOVES getting his face painted - and always in a superhero theme.  This time it was Batman handily painted by the lady who runs the paint store on Main Street. Do you see her dress?  It's made of paint chips!!!

It was nice to spend some time walking through the centre of town.  I drive by these old buildings so often but hardly ever get  a good look at them. This day out was the perfect opportunity to look closely and appreciate the architecture of our home town.

And how about some food?  Bryn chose a kebab of pork topped with a chunk of pineapple from a Hawaiian-themed BBQ hut. Kevin chose a smoothie served in a real, hollowed out pineapple.  Very refreshing and VERY summery!

 

To finish out the afternoon we watched a dog show put on a by a local training centre that trains dogs for TV and movies.  We watched them move in unison, jump, do slaloms, retrieve, and do a variety of tricks.  Camden even got involved in a "backwards race|" with a bull terrier.  Apparently it is hard to train a dog to walk backwards so Camden had to prove he could move faster than the dog.  In the end, it was a tie and Camden was very glad the doggie didn't beat the pants off of him!

 

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! It was cold and rainy here today, but with only 2 weeks left of school, the weather is NOT going to bother me. 

 

Hugs to all,

 

Bronwyn

Five on Friday: Photos From My Phone

Feeling a bit rushed today, but I really wanted to fit in a post for Amy's Love Made My Home linky party.

As usual, my "five" are pictures from my phone, captured during my daily routine at home and out and about.

Number One: My first pink poppy of 2015!  They seemed to be in bud forever, but finally one day this week they burst open and the tissue-y beauty broke forth!

Number Two: Gluten-free Shortbread made with almond flour and cornstarch.  They were delightful!  I'm never sure how a GF recipe will work out, but these were very well-received by my GF husband.  We've also decided to try our youngest son on on a GF diet to see if we can clear up a few health issues so I'll be baking GF a lot more  in the near future.  

Number Three:  Evenings on the deck, enjoying the sunshine and my furry companion.  

Number Four:  My newest stitching project - an image of several London landmarks.  I recently showed you my finished Paris stitching and now I have moved onto London.  I am hoping to stitch New York and rome, too, and create a stitched memory wall of places we have been.  

Number Five : Elderberry Cordial made by my mother.  She bottled several jars last summer and we enjoyed a few then, and have opened another for June 2015.  The kids like it mixed with plain water and ice and my hubby and I drink it with sodawater, lime and some fresh berries.  Very refreshing!

Thanks for popping by on this fine Friday.  I hope the weekend brings sun and warmth in your neck of the woods!

Much love to all,

XOXO

Bronwyn

An Amusing Day at the Amusement Park!

We spent a beautiful Sunday at Canada's Wonderland, just a short drive from our home on the outskirts of Toronto. 

When we arrived, Snoopy (remember him from the Peanuts cartoons?) was conducting an invisible symphony and the water of the fountain was jumping around in coordination.

 My husband grew up not too far from here and spent many summers working as an usher in the many theatres throughout the park.  Today was just as much about nostalgia for him as it was fun for the kids.

The grounds at Canada's Wonderland are ALWAYS impeccably kept.  It really is beautiful place to spend time on a gloriously sunny day!

Our first ride was on the Krachenwagen, otherwise known as the bumper cars.  The kids had never tried this before and were happily surprised by it's "fun-factor!" 

Next, the whole family climbed into a pumpkin-shaped car and rose high into the air much like the "Great Pumpkin" does in the classic Peanuts TV special. 

At this point, the family separated up and half the gang went to the Helicopter ride and Camden and headed to my favourite childhood ride, the Ghoster Coaster!
We waited in line for nearly 45 minutes and then climbed on.  Cam had never been on a roller coaster so he really didn't know what to expect.  I didn't tell him either.  I told him to hold on and get ready to scream with glee. After the first climb up, I warned him that it was time to go down and we were off! He looked scared for the first 15 seconds but after that he rode with a look of glee on his face! At the end he jumped up, pumped his fist and asked to do it again!
He asked me to take a picture of him with the sign so that he could show EVERYONE how he had successful ridden the Ghoster Coaster- and that he is only 6!! What a brave boy.

  

Before we left for the day, we promised the kids a delicious treat.  We passed by this Funnel Cake shop and Camden was hooked.  We watched them squirt the runny dough into the oil and our cake jumped around in the heat.
Onto a plate it went, strawberry sauce was poured over and a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream went on top.  

Could this look any yummier?  (Camden has his arms folded so that he could keep his hands off while I took the photo!)

The other two kids chose Oreo and icing-covered Beaver Tails. These are much like deep-fried pancakes and Bryn and Afton seemed to be very pleased with their choices, too! 

This is our second year in a row bringing the kids to Wonderland. We found that they enjoy it, but our oldest is too old for the "kids" things and our youngest is much too young for anything in the main park.  And our poor daughter gets lost in the middle.  I think next time we go, we'll separate our big kids from the little guy and try to meet all their needs in different parts of the park.  That way no one feels they are waiting in long lines for rides they just won't enjoy! a Overall, it was a lovely day out spent as family in the nearly summer sunshine.  

Thanks for popping by!

Hugs to all,

Bronwyn

71 Years After D-day : Juno Beach - France 2014

 

Yesterday I remembered that June 6th is the anniversary of D-day and 2015 marks its 71st anniversary.  Last year, the 70th anniversary, was a large event celebrated all over France, Great Britain, the US and Canada.

We had the pleasure of visiting Canada's D-day beach, Juno,  last year during these commemorations while we were visiting Normandy.  I'd love to share these thought-provoking pictures with you today. 

 

 

Canada's JUNO BEACH CENTRE opened in June 2003 after nearly 20 years of fund-raising.  It receives no funding from the Canadian or French government so it runs completely on donations and legacies left by those who love it and want to see its work continued. 

 

"Remembrance and Renewal" by Colin Gibson
"The sculpture features five military figures that wrap in a circular formation look outward, into the distance. The massive figures blend into one another, accentuating the unity and comradeship of those who served Canada at home and abroad. The figures are posed to reflect different emotions, in keeping with their individual gestures. One figure depicts leadership, one strength, another vigour and alertness, while still another looks sombre and reflective. A final figure is stepping forward to assist a comrade."  (junobeach.org)

While on the peaceful, seaweed-covered beach, it was hard to imagine the death and strife that once played out here.  The stone sculpture above is an "inukshuk," built often by Canada's native people of the north who use it is a symbol that marks "man has been here."
 

These words were read to the Canadian soldiers as their landing boats traveled towards the French shore.  Oh, the fear these men must have felt.....

 

Right on the beach we were able to climb onto a sinking German bunker that is slowly slipping into the sand.  These nearly bomb-proof buildings gave safety to the Nazis as they protected the "Atlantic wall," their hold on the shores of Europe. 

Another German bunker, recently found when a dog dug a hole into the sand, has been cleaned out by volunteers and is now available to visit.  It was far from cosy in here and little to no natural light ever entered.  The hole in the outside wall was "fake ventilation"  into which Allied forces dropped grenades in hopes of killing the men inside.  Instead, the grenade would roll right out another hole at the feet of the Allied soldier and likely kill him within seconds.

 

 

After touring the bunkers, beach and centre, we decided the next, very important place to visit was the Canadian D-day Cemetery in nearby BENY-SUR-MER. The land was gifted to Canada by the French people in thanks for Canada's role in France's liberation.

 

Here lies the resting place of 2049 soldiers,  surrounded by Canadian pines and maples.

 

 

 

 

The main goal of visiting Juno Beach and its nearby cemetery was to give our three children a better understanding of our veterans, Remembrance Day, and the real reasons why we should always "remember." My husband and I were moved by how seriously all three children behaved and how even they seemed changed by the experience.

 

 

 The rows of grave markers went on and on. The children looked for family names they recognized - we found a Pearson (my maiden name) and even a McConvey (our family name.)

 

 

The plots are kept impeccably by a Canadian gardener and a team of thankful locals.  It really was a beautifully moving spot.

 

 

Lest we forget....

 

I hoped I would find poppies growing amongst the stones like in the famous images I've often seen of war-time France.  None grew in the maintained gardens around the grave stones, but nearby, just past the outer rows of pine trees, I found several wild patches of blood-coloured poppies blowing in the wind. 

 

This poem was scripted in a dark room at the end of the Juno Beach Centre museum.  Hanging beside it is one of the original crosses used to mark the earliest resting places of the departed D-day soldiers on the beach. 

Now it hangs inside as a poignant reminder that we should never forget......

 

 

 

We will remember them....

 

 

XOXOX,

 

Bronwyn

 

Five On Friday - This Week's Pictures from My Phone

Wow! What a week we've had! I has truly been a whirlwind with swimming, softball, soccer, school events, professional learning and pet adventures.  

I am so glad to see the weekend on the horizon -BBQs, books and a day at the amusement park. 

But before it arrives, I wanted to take part in Amy's photo linky party, Five on Friday.

Once again, here are 5 photos from my phone that show you how my crazy week shaped up!

Number One: A winery tour in the Niagara Region

One of the ladies on my school staff put together a wine tour, complete with bus to drive us around, a boxed picnic lunch and stops at 4 wineries and one distillery.  Kevin joined me and 20 fellow teachers on a day-long adventure involving much wine and laughter.  Throughout the day, we tasted wine of all kinds, mead, gin and Canadian whiskey.  After every stop we were VERY glad there was  a sober bus driver to get us from place to place.  I can handle a drink or two, no problem, but 10 or 12, even part glasses was way too much for me!

Number Two: Cake of the Week: Spiced Applesauce Cake

This is my eighth week baking a "cake-a-week" and this time I chose THIS RECIPE which was almost a perfect match to the one my Oma used to make.  The frosting was amazing and I will definitely make this cake again!!

Number Three: A pile of baby blankets

Whenever I crochet I tend to end up making a baby-sized blanket.  I think this is because I have some kind of "crafting ADHD" and I can't stick to any one project for too long.  On the other hand, I have a touch of OCD as well, which means I can't leave a project unfinished.  So the way I deal with this is to make just enough afghan squares to create a small blanket so that the project can be finished quickly and I can move onto something else.

 Doing this, however, leaves me with many, many small afghans and lately, not many of my friends are having babies anymore.  The pile is growing much quicker  than I can give them away.  

So this past weekend, I went through my stack and sent more than half with my mother so that she could put them up for sale in a local shop.  I won't make much $$$ for them, but at least they'll be going to new homes quicker than they would here, sitting in my closet. 

 

Number Four: My softball girl

I was a softball player growing up.  So were both of my sisters and my father always coached us.  Even though he never had any sons, my father involved us in as many sports as he could always telling us that we could play just as well as the boys.  My sisters and I excelled at softball and reveled in our time on the diamond. 

When it was time for our three kids to pick their sports for the summer, both the boys jumped at playing soccer again , but Afton, our daughter, wasn't so sure.  Instead I suggested softball, told her the ins and outs of the game and let her know how much I loved it as a young girl. Afton was very excited to join in!

She played her first game this week and covered first base, was catcher for an inning and even tried pitching.  She seemed confident and excited to try EVERYTHING and came home from the game quite excited for the next one! 

Number Five: Casey's Diagnosis -LYME DISEASE

This past week I took Casey, our beagle/shepherd cross for his first visit to the vet.  Dr. Manjit checked him over and ordered some regular blood tests to ensure Casey doesn't have heartworm or any other doggie illnesses. Unfortunately, when the results came back, it turned out that Casey has Lyme Disease.  Luckily we have caught it in its earliest stages and we can treat him with anti-biotics and then a preventative afterwards.  The family is also being tested for Lyme because anyplace Casey could have met a lyme-infested tick, we could have, too.

Apparently Lyme Disease in pets is on the rise and is showing up more and more often in humans, too. 

What should you do?

Read up on ticks, know what they look like and how they effect the body.  Check yourself,  your children and your pets after walks in long grass, shrubbery and nature reserves. Knowledge is the greatest  power. 

 

Sorry to be a bummer with such serious-ness at the end of my post, but honestly, people know so little about Lyme, it's important to get  the word out!

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I hope the sun shine bright in your neck of the woods.

 

Much love to all,

 

XOXO

Bronwyn

 

 

My May Garden in Close-up

They say of you plant your garden correctly, there should be beautiful things to look at no matter which month of the year you are enjoying it.  I wouldn't say I have paid close attention to this unwritten rule, but I have been lucky so far to have a garden plot that seems to unfurl itself gradually over the months.

This weekend I took my camera out to my yard, clicked it into the macro setting and captured "May" in my garden in a "close-up" kind of way.

(I'm going to be honest here.  I don't know the names of most of my flowers and plants.  If I mis-name anything I sincerely apologize.  And if you could aid me in recognizing any of these, I'd be eternally grateful!)

I love how spidery these purple flowers are. My daughter says they look like bunches of purple hands reaching out to the sun.

My husband game me this Bridal Spirea as a Mother's Day gift 3 years ago.  You can see that it is flourishing!

I'll be honest.  My luck with clematis is hit and miss. Some years I get a huge green plant covered with purple blossoms. And then other years, I have a vine with 3 blooms.  That is this year's results.  3 stinking flowers.  Oh well. Maybe next year....

I planted these last year. I've always loved the little delicate nature of these forget-me-nots.  I remember my mother had a huge patch of them right up against the house at my first home as a child.  I know they can get out of hand quickly, but I'll deal with that when the time comes. Until then, I'm loving every single little flower!

Oh how I wish there was smelly-internet! I would love to breathe a whiff of these beauties right now! 

My peony bushes were also a gift from my hubby.  They've been in the ground for three years and this year they are COVERED in buds.  If the weather gets a bit warmer I am sure I'll have more than 50 tissue-y blooms by the end of the week! I can't wait!!

Phlox I think. I like how the centres look like sparkly, yellow amber stones.   

These beauties are in one of my pots.  The yellow flowers smell exactly like honey.  I told the kids this and now they stop and smell every time they walk by!

Aquilegia’s, also known as the columbine flower.  Love the rosy shade of pink and they grow really well in a semi-shady part of my garden.  

I have a 4x4 foot raised bed that I grow strawberries in.  Lots of pretty white flowers already  - and do you see the baby strawberry?? Three weeks from now we'll be munching of amazing home-grown berries!

Don't know the name of this guy either, but I ADORE his purply- blue centre.  

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  It rained copiously around here  so I had the excuse to do indoor things like crocheting, scrapbooking and movie-watching.  It was awesome!

Have a marvellous week!

XOXOX

Bronwyn