Ontario Trip Summary

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My recent trip to Ontararario was really lovely.  The flight out was sunshine all the way, from soon after take off, until we started our descent into Hamilton where it was, unfortunately, a little cold and snowy.

... to on the ground in Hamilton.

As my host for the weekend, I was met at Hamilton International Airport by my sister Sandra, and from there we went to pick up my niece at university - only 20 minutes away.  Both she and her brother were coming 'home' for dinner as it was Sandra's birthday, and there was a family dinner booked as an enticement.  Luckily, I was invited to join them at dinner - a local Thai restaurant!

While celebrating my sister's birthday in person was a bonus, the primary motivation for my trip was to visit with my mother, Jane, who is living in a retirement home in Dundas. I had not yet seen The Georgian Retirement Home, nor had I been able to visit her there. It is a small facility with only about 100 residents, all of whom seem very pleasant and friendly. The building itself is lovely and even though the grounds were covered with a layer of snow, I could see it has a nice garden to stroll through in the warmer weather.

Well, Mom looked great and was always a gracious hostess, showing me around the facility, taking me for walks up and down the hall, and sitting quietly for many a visit in her suite.  We spent some quality time together and I really enjoyed spending the time alone with her.

Mom: all dressed up and nowhere to go.

I cannot say I envy anyone living in a retirement home, mostly because it is not really 'home.'  Even if some of your stuff is there, family visits you there, you sleep and eat there, and it has all the comforts of home - it will never, not really, be your home. It's not where your heart is - and there's nothing you can do about it. And that must be a huge disappointment. And disappointment is not what anyone is hoping for in the waning years. Which is why visiting my Mom was so important to me.  I believe our visits together were full of hope, and love, and even a few laughs. She and I have had a lot of fun and many, many laughs together over the years and it was wonderful to share a few more on a cold January day, even if it was only half a dozen visits over  a period of 4 days.

As an added bonus to the visits with my Mom, my brother and his family invited me to Sunday dinner at their house in Oakville.  The food was wonderful, the table was gorgeous and the kids were hilarious!  We played a new board game after dinner and I (predictably) came in dead last. What was that game called again?? Can't remember. Something to do with trying to guess what the person with the card would answer to the question they pick from a selection of 4. And then all the players get to 'bet' on which answer would be most likely true.  I have to say that trying to figure out what is going on in a teenager's mind is way beyond my current skill set.  Luckily, brother Graham and Cheryl seemed to have a good handle on it, though.

Additionally, on my last day in 'the east', my aunt Ann braved the weather wilds of southern Ontario and made the 1.5 hour drive from Toronto to Dundas to share a birthday lunch with Sandra, as well as sneak in a short visit with me.  She would finish the trip with a visit to see Jane at The Georgian in the afternoon before heading back to TO.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to visit with my mother, my sister and her family, my brother and his family, and my mother's sister, Ann, on this trip. I am a lucky, lucky person to have such a wonderful family.  Life is good.

Ann, Sandra and I after a birthday lunch
celebration in Dundas.

Lindsay doing what she does so
well - challenging the crowd.

Keith checking in with his peeps.

Sandra and Bill all dressed up to go to a fairly
formal 90th birthday party.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos at Graham and Cheryl's house.  Graham and Janine took at the photos. I imagine some of them were pretty goofy, if memory serves me correctly, so we may never see them!

December Family Birthdays

Between the two extended families, Peter and Judith have several December birthdays to celebrate.

Peter's sister-in-law, Patty, celebrated on Saturday. We usually get an invitation to join them via Skype for the cake cutting, but apparently this year we were preempted by Pete's eldest nephew in Edmonton hogging the Skype waves. However, we managed to privately serenade Patty later in the evening. I am sure she was appreciative!

In addition, Judith's aunt Ann and sister-in-law Cheryl each have an early December birthday.  They have for years, so the family quite often celebrates the two birthdays on the same day.  This year, as each birthday fell either side of the weekend, it was decided to have a lunch celebration on Saturday in a small private dining room at the retirement home where Judith's mother Jane lives.  Brother Graham took this lovely photo to remember the day, and share with those of use not able to attend the meal.

Cheryl, Graham, Jane, Ann, Janine, Jocelyn

But wait, there's more!  Next up are the late December birthdays - nephew Alex and Pete.  We will keep you posted!

August in a nutshell - Part 2

On the ride over whales were spotted.  Here everyone is waiting for the whales to surface again - except for Alex.

Aug 11 - Our first view of Port Angeles is the Coast Guard Station.

Aug 11 - The ferry arrived arrived about noon, so we promptly went shopping for some lunch items and found a picnic table in need of some love.

Aug 11 - Our campsite at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Bedrooms (tents) on the lower level and the dining room (picnic table and fit pit) on the upper level near the front door (the road).

Aug 11 - after dinner the whole gang went for a hike along the river.  PeJu turned around early and decided to go for swim. Here Judith proudly stands after her first skinny dip of the year (on her birthday no less). The Snikles didn't return until after dark.

Sunday July 10 2011

We made it to the top of Mount Work!

Judith's brother Graham has the best birthdays!  We decided to do something really special today for him starting with preparing our "signature birthday breakfast" for the whole family including Lavazza cappuccinos, fresh fruit and smoked tomato salsa, homemade warm goat feta cheese and farm fresh eggs wrapped up in a fresh homemade tortilla, followed by a great hike and swim in the lake on the way home, just in time for strawberries and tea.  Now, if only Graham was here to enjoy his PeJu birthday ;)

Peter waiting for Judith.

Judith resting on a cool
(to the touch) Arbutus Tree.

View from lookout - Pease Lake on left and Bamberton to the right.

View from summit of Mt Work, looking toward Victoria.
Note that the development you see in the middle is Bear Mountain.

The mountain is covered with lots of rock and Arbutus trees.  Judith especially loves the Arbutus trees and thinks she has found 4 distinct species:  Arbutus olde mans beardicus, Arbutus normalis, Arbutus miniaturum, and Arbutus blondus.

Arbutus olde mans beardicus

Arbutus normalis

Arbutus miniaturum

Arbutus blondus

Work & Party (workparty) minus the work and we're good to go!

Friday night was Jules birthday, so we mustered up some post twelve hour work week energy (twelve hours mostly taken up with golfing and walking in the park) for a get together which turned out to be fabulous mostly thanks to Amanda, our new "queen of the cake"!
Above is the "friends of Tuck society" and guest getting things set up around Dog Patch.

Above is our illustrious leader showing the next generation how to roast petroleum food products.

As of tonight the very secret and exclusive "Dog Patch" fire pit will be going full swing.
Bring your own: chairs, firewood, matches, drinks (enough to share with Doug), snacks (chips are best, but don't let you know who catch you sharing them with you know who or you will get the stink eye from you know who), warm blankets, paper, kindling, and parents. I will provide the relentless banter.

Of course, you must be in possession of the secret password to get by the green house guards at the top of "Dog Patch".

Our social convener, Renaud will be in charge of selecting worthy "friends of Tuck society" members this summer and granting the coveted password. Hint: Renaud likes lego, candy and potato chips and we're not above bribery down here.

Island Birthday Party (Note: This is Febuary)

What do you have when you get the goretex set together, add some adventure and a really nice boat ride from captain Rob and his deckhand the lovely Amanda? Answer: A picnic Birthday party on a little island in a provincial park on a sunny February afternoon complete with a huge assortment of home cooked goodies including champagne and single malt scotch. Check out the spread!

Yup, that is a beach fire, in February, and yes even more food.

Good thing Ann has lots of friends to share with, Ann is the one beside Judith in the red Goretex. The Birthday girl!

Here is Judith guarding the Black Forest Cake that included a real rose on top, yup it is still February. I wondered where that single malt got to, but I see it there.

Well, and then there was this pup, waiting to become bird food, when we moved on. When you live at the "end of the earth" as my dad says you're often up close and personal with nature on a daily basis and this day was no exception as sad as it is to see "smell" a dead creature while you are picnicking. I am not sure how she died, but I am sure Quincy or CSI will investigate on episode what ever!