August Hamilton Visit

Time for another visit with my not-so-little nieces and my sister, Allie. This time the girls weren't in school so we could go see and do lots of things! The weather was perfect for the week, not too too hot but at the same time still feeling like Summer. When I got off the train, I was greeted by two running girls, racing towards me! Talk about a warm welcome. Allie had packed a lunch so we had a pick-nick in a lovely park in The Beach which also had an "awesome" park as the girls were describing it. This park was pretty awesome though- it had a wooden maze, a pirate ship, slides galore; everything to make a kid (or a big kid) feel like playing.

Our next outing was to Valens Beach with Allie's friend Laura who brought her two kids Lily and Peter. Heading out early was definitely a good thing. We arrived and there was barely anybody there! We got a great spot under a tree to hang out, keep on eye on the small humans and also have our lunch. The girls had a great time, swimming and running in the grass. The fresh air gave us all a calm buzz.

I also had the pleasure of seeing both Morgan and Ella at Karate class. Morgan had her first green belt class as well while I was there, she was so focused on her new techniques. Both she and Ella and made Allie and me so proud!

Paige also had another soccer game while I was there. This was her last, so it was extra special. Paige really showed off what she could do and proved that she is going to be awesome when she starts Winter soccer this year! I couldn't help cheering her on every time she came near the ball and showed the rest of the players that she was not backing down! After the game, Laura and her family came over to Allie's and we had a great night chatting away about randomness, and enjoying eachother's company into the wee hours of the morning.

Allie took advantage of the great weather and planned a few outdoor events. We went for a hike in Dundas Valley, taking along Paige's friend Lily. The girls were such troupers hiking the whole time even running up and down hills. Everyone took turns walking the dogs also. Another day we headed out to the woods of the RBC to hand feed chickadees. This was so awesome, because all you have to do is hold out your hand with some feed on it and they come to you. Ella found this a little hard because no matter how much she wanted them to land on her hand, when they did it was a bit of a shock. Still, all the girls get to feed the chipmunk!

But for sure the piece de resistance was our day outing to the CNE for the opening day of Toronto's Ex! The whole week I was there the girls were so looking forward to going on the GO train to get to the Ex, and all the things that they were going to see while there, and of course the cotton candy they were going to eat! I couldn't believe all the rides, games and exhibitors they had there. No matter what you thought was fun they catered to you. They had crafts, animals, clothes, cleaning products, and other events like watching teddy bears going down a zip-line and a dog show. All the girls had a great time and love their rice-in-a-bottle necklaces Allie bought for them, and Allie loves the map that Mum bought her...

Allie and I also found some time for ourselves and went to go see Eat Pray Love. Both of us have read the book so felt we should see the movie (naturally). I loved the book and I loved the movie, it spoke to me and Allie and I are ready to book our tickets to Bali any day now!

Such an awesome visit!! I left feeling big love for my family, and looking forward to the next visit!!

The whole group

Ella have fun in the water.

The girls running away in Dundas...

The whole gang.

An old ruin along the trail at Dundas.

Ella heading along the tracks to the train.

Ella with her new belt!

Morgan, showing off her green belt!

Focus...

Paige working on her paper dolls.

Paige at her soccer game.

Paige at the ready.

Everyone waiting for a Chickadee!

"feed me"

Allie got one!!

Not a chickadee, but really cute nonetheless.

Ella all tuckered out.

On the GO train!!

At the window seat.

Ready for the zip line

My 3 beautiful nieces :)

Dog show!!

So this is how a Great Dane dances!

Looking at the baby turkeys.

Sheep!

Adorable little piglets.

Mummy and Baby Llamas

Eying up the emus

Bye bye Ex!

Morgan

Paige

and Ella!

plus sugar....

Happy Father's Day!

I still feel the importance of acknowledging this special day, because I still know lots of great Dads worth celebrating. In honour of my own wonderful, late Father Mum and I dined on a juicy T-bone steak with fried onions and red peppers. As Mum sat down to her portion the first thing the said was "he would approve". Esteemed praise considering his great love and appreciation for a well cooked steak (or any other form of meat).

It's still a bitter sweet day as I watched family taking out their Dads or showering them with lawnmowers and power tools, and feeling like I'm missing out on something wonderful. My best course of action to brighten the day is to make sure that every Dad I see gets a smile and a "Happy Father's Day!"... you'd be amused to see how surprised most of them are.

Daddy with his three girls c. 1989/90

Canoe Restoration

The old family canoe is among the many things I have inherited from my dear old Dad. A piece of equipment that was enveloped in a certain amount of intrigue and respect on my part. We had two canoes growing up, the "ancestral" canoe (as I've come to call it), and the Sponson. The Sponson seemed a little more durable and was able to withstand the trials small humans learning how to paddle in it. Meanwhile, the elusive ancestral canoe remained at home. It was almost epic; hanging in the garage, never coming down from it's ropey hammock, gathering dust and staying just out of reach. I can remember when Dad said he was taking it down from its resting place on a Summer's afternoon when I was 14, as he and I were planning a trip to Algonquin Park and he wanted to take the ancestral canoe his feeling being that the Sponson was too heavy. He ran several tests, putting the canoe in water to test its sea-worthiness. First test revealed it needed a bit of patch work... and by "a bit" I mean almost re-canvasing. It must be said that the ancestral canoe deserved to need a bit of repair, after all it was rough 90 years old at the time.

As I can remember being told as a kid, the canoe was made around the same time my Grand Dad was born, 1914. I now know that it arrived in the Conway family when it was presented to Grand Dad as a thank you from the Montreal tanning company in the 1950's. After being carted up to Algonquin several times with the Conway boys, and eventually making its way back to Montreal to be with our family, it continued its journey heading over the Atlantic to live in the Vicarage's garage in another ropey hammock and again to Bloxham, and finally coming back home where it's being kindly looked after by my Uncle Paul.

After Dad made it adequately sea worthy when he and I took it up to Algonquin, we put it through its paces; tracking and chuting rapids, going on a 25km portage in Dad's old stomping ground, bringing the epoxy with us as needed. The evidence of this trip is still visible on the body where the grey epoxy scars rest on the scraped forest green paint. Seeing these scars, and watching the gunwale wood slowly rot made me sad knowing how much care Dad took to make it sea worthy 10 years ago. Now that it's safely ensconced on this side of the ocean, I've decided it's time to restore it to its original state. Therefore I have taken on the epic task of repairing the rotten wood, stripping the old canvas and replacing it with new and giving it a new coat of green paint. With the loving help of my Uncle I've set out on a symbolic journey; Every moment I'm spending with the ancestral canoe, is a wonderful reminder of the trip with my dear old Dad and
how much he loved Algonquin park and everything it stood for.

These are a few photos of how this journey started and I will post more as more progress is made.

Uncle Paul strapping down the canoe for its journey into Ontario.

All ready to go!

On the "operating table"

The Algonquin scars...

The rotting wood I'm facing.

Removal of the gunwales, thwarts and rusty screws...

...therefore exposing the rotting ribs.

Once the gunwales have been removed, the canoe want to become a "wooden door mat". So in order to prevent this, we keep it held together with webbed strapping.

Stripping back the canvas revealing the cedar planking underneath, which luckily is in pretty good shape!

Tools of the trade.

June Hamilton Visit

As a little treat for me, and to give Allie some company on her drive back to Hamilton, I came back to visit for a few days. ("Wasn't Morgan in the car??" I hear all you observant readers ask. She was, indeed in the car but not in a keep-Mum-company type of mood. That's where I came in.) I helped pass the time by singing along to Destiny's Child, John Denver, and Hannah Montana (nothing random about that selection).
Throughout the week Allie kept apologizing that the schedule was so busy, but I enjoyed just following everyone around and fitting into the normal family schedule. Plus Allie and I had the change for some "Sistor" time, going to a movie, and also meeting up at Catherine and Mark's house for dinner. It's true, it was a busy week but Allie had everyone so organized that it all moved smoothly. And I loved seeing the girls at school, and doing all their normal activities. So often when there's a guest staying in the house the routine changes, but I was happy to just slot into the rhythm of the house and be a fly on the wall... or in the car.

Ella and Jack chilling out in the car. They were holding hands just before this, but they got shy!
Morgan, Paige, and Nolan playing hockey at Nolan & Dillon's house.
Ella and I sneak a quiet moment together.

Ella showing she's a big girl on the scooter.

Ella and Jack playing nicely in Nolan & Dillon's back garden.
Morgan practicing her violin.
"Honey"...
...and her best friend "Jaxie".
Jack, one of Allie's extra kids.
Paige taking a water break at her soccer practice.
Soccer star!Paige as a "Strawberry Shortcake" ballerina.
Paige is second from the left.
Again, Paige is second from the left.
Paige is the one almost in the center within the gap, with her arms out to the side.