Dark Garden Photos

I was playing around on picmonkey the other night with some flower shots and special effects.  Would you like to see?  I had planned to link up with a special party on the weekend, but other things got in the way and I had no time to join, so I'll just show you the photos. 

 

The "other" things being my dad's imminent move to a new residence ... yes, we were able to snag that available room, and he moves on Thursday!

 

 

I have a couple of concerns.  He's not quite as advanced into his dementia as the other residents, and I hope this doesn't upset him that he's being placed in this secure (locked) floor.  It's tricky timing for this disease.  He's too far gone to receive proper care in his current retirement home.  But he's not so far gone to be locked in just yet.  But the new place has determined he needs the care provided on this secure floor, so that is where he'll be living.

 

 

Well, we shall see how he feels about that on Thursday I guess.  Obviously, we won't be dwelling on it.  He can't walk far, and the third floor has everything he needs (dining room, lounge and even an outdoor porch with comfy cushions on wicker chairs).

 

 

My other fear is that his furniture will not all fit in this new, smaller room!  I know it won't all fit, but can't be sure what can stay until the day of the move.  Could be a bit of shuffling around and a trip (or two) to the goodwill store before the day is out.

 

 

We had to pack up his small items (everything but furniture) on Saturday and bring it all home.  If we left the packed boxes in his room, you can be sure he would have gone through every box and most likely put a lot of it back in his dressers and bookcases.  I took this opportunity to go through everything and toss a lot of garbage.  It's heartbreaking the number of little notes he scribbles down and tucks into books and photo albums.  Lists of "Those Who Loved Me and Whom I Have Loved" (I was relieved to see my name and my siblings and grandkids all on that list!).  Also dates of importance to him.  "Arrived in Canada 1952", but then the kicker of "Kids moved me in here and took the keys to my home Feb 2011".  ouch

 

 

I couldn't keep the notes as they just hurt too much to want to read more than once.  But it does show where his mind is at.  I think I'll do up a list somehow with photos and dates of importance for him to hang on his wall.  We already have a framed family tree with photos for him to refer to, and it helps a lot when we come to visit and he questions who we are and who are our children.

 

So another move for him.  I hope this is where he can remain till the end of his days.  The place has a really good feel to it, and every staff member I met was so helpful and upbeat, with a good sense of humor about the whole situation.  My dad still has his sense of humor and showed it well during a recent assessment by a crusty social worker (who thankfully was not affiliated with the new place or I would have had my doubts about moving him!).  But most encouraging is that he's looking forward to a change, and even remembered he's moving on Thursday ... fingers crossed! 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Wendy

 

7 Random Things

It's a rain day today.  Our plans were washed out ... a vintage car show being held at a warplane heritage museum out of town.  My husband assured my son and I that no one will want to bring their vintage cars out in the rain, so we'll not bother going to see the warplane museum either. 

 

But all is not lost.  I have things to do here at home.  My home looks like a whirlwind has gone through lately, so I need to get things straightened up.  My grandmother used to say that the housework went by the wayside when she started sewing.  It's the same for me, but with gardening and summer.  I feel like I'm wasting the day if I'm indoors, and the rainy days are the only days I'm finally forced to deal with mundane chores.  But the rain has given me a headache, and the air-conditioning is on and making me feel ill.  I need some fresh air!

 

Blogging awards are winding their way around blogland, and I've been very kindly asked by Sarah of Chantille-Fleur if I would accept her nomination of the Versatile Blogger Award.  Sarah has a lovely blog of her life on her farm in Australia, and I've been following along with her for a while now.  Her beautiful photographs of her adorable border collies, and lowline cattle and chickens and runner ducks and ... well, you get the picture.  She lives in a paradise with mountains visible across the fields, and I'm forever in awe of the beauty she captures through her lens.   I don't normally accept these awards, they make me feel a bit awkward and shy, but when she asked so nicely, I couldn't say no. Thank you Sarah :)

 

Well, now, seven random things about me?  hmmm  Sometimes I feel like I've already said everything about me here on this blog, but if you haven't been following from the beginning, perhaps you haven't read everything.

 

1.  I love to read, but having said this, I probably haven't read a book right through for quite a few months.  I don't know why that is, but have a sneaky suspicion it's because my reading has taken a different path through blogs instead.  Time becomes a factor then ... do I catch up on blogs, or do I read a book. 

2.  I once thought of going through college for an art program.  I changed my mind before I filled out the applications because I felt I would be following in my sister's footsteps and I didn't want to do that.  I went through for a law clerking course instead and worked in litigation law firms for many years. 

 

3.  I'd like to get a dash cam for my vehicle.  I keep viewing driving situations on others' dash cams, and I think it would be a good investment should anyone cause an accident in front of me.  Whenever I have to drive on the 401 through Toronto, I leave home thinking in the back of my mind that I may never return.  I have to travel on the highway every weekend to visit my father, and I see so much stupid stuff happening all the time. 

 

4.  I always wanted to decorate my house in a certain style.  However, I like so many varied things, that I'm not sure I could classify it.  Perhaps "Canadian Country" (my term) is what I have.  Much of my furniture comes from my great-grandparents farm house, and we've sort of added things based around those pieces.  Lots of antique wooden furniture, big arm chairs and interesting pieces like a grain scale as our coffee table. 

 

5.  When I was young and we'd be travelling by car through all sorts of little towns with curious old homes, I used to fantasize that everyone in the world except me disappeared, and I could wander through all the homes I wanted.  I was that curious about what people had in their homes ... especially the grand old homes that fill our typical small Ontario towns.  I didn't care what could have happened to everyone, I just wanted to see their homes.  My great aunt's house was one such old home, and it was a treasure trove of antiques and books (so many books) and huge piles of magazines, and paintings propped up on the piano ... and all so dark and intriguing!

 

6.  I've never been for a manicure or pedicure and probably never will.  Well, maybe if my daughter or son get married, I'll get my nails done for their weddings.  I don't like the feel of nail polish on my nails, and prefer the natural look of short nails. 

 

7.  I love the smell inside a fresh, clean barn when then hay has just been brought in and there are horses in the barn ... summertime smells!

 

And surprisingly, I'm at the end of my seven random things.  I think I'm a little long winded at times, so I hope that didn't put you off reading them. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Wendy

 

 

Breaking in the Canoe

I make no apologies for the length of this post as it is a favourite topic of mine :)

Hello Everyone!  I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend what with July 1st celebrations and July 4th celebrations.  I'd like to say thank you again for all the kind comments everyone left on my last post, they have touched me very deeply.  I'm always amazed that anyone reads this blog of mine when I don't do a whole lot of exciting things or write so beautifully as others do.  But when I receive such heartfelt comments from you when I open up a little, it shows me that not all friends need to be here in my neighbourhood.  A lot of you are going through, or have already been through, the sad territory of ageing parents and loved ones with dementia, and it's comforting to know I'm not alone in this.  This virtual blog friendship has really changed my way of thinking about the internet, and I'm so very grateful that I can count you all as friends.  Thank you ... you have no idea how much this means to me.



Charleston Lake

So now that I've confessed that I don't do a whole lot of exciting stuff, I will admit that camping (to me) is exciting, and this past week/weekend my family and I did just that.  We went away for five days of camping in Eastern Ontario and had a marvelous time on the lakes and in the woods.  Our destination was Charleston Lake, just north of Gananoque "The Gateway to The Thousand Islands".

   

This is a beautiful part of Ontario, and well worth the visit if you like admiring tiny islands, rocky shores and sparkling waters.  The Thousand Islands dot the St. Lawrence River, and our American friends share this beautiful seaway that winds its way along through Ontario and Quebec, eventually opening up into the Atlantic Ocean.  The Thousand Islands is home to many gorgeous homes both Canadian and American, which look like old money and lazy summers.  There's one tiny island that is split between the two countries with the Maple Leaf waving on one side and the Stars & Stripes waving on the other.  And when I say "tiny", I mean some of them have only enough room for a house and maybe a lawn chair on the side!  We took a boat tour of the islands years ago and just loved seeing the beautiful waterways and homes.  We didn't go this year as weather and time didn't permit.  I noticed lots of bed & breakfast homes in this area too, many were gorgeous older homes along the St. Lawrence River.  Charleston Lake has a similar landscape with the tiny islands and the backdrop of rocks and pines.
 



We were thrilled this year with our campsite.  Although it seemed a little on the small side at first glance, once we got everything set up it seemed just right.

 

And this year we were able to get a site on the water!!  It took some doing, but we've never had a waterside site in all the many years we've camped at Charleston Lake (or any campground for that matter).  Off to the left of the above photo was a little trail that led to the water where we set up our chairs ...

 

 ... and parked our boats.

 

 

 The hammock got strung between a couple of trees too, and it was just so wonderful to lay in the hammock with a good book.  I'm rereading "The Hobbit" again and found the woodland setting perfect for this book.  Do you ever choose a book to suit the setting if you're travelling?  I do :)  I love reading when I'm camping and find it makes the book all that more enjoyable if it "fits".

 

 

Seriously, couldn't this bright little stand of birches have come straight from the pages of "The Hobbit" where the elves live?

 

 

But there was more to just sitting by the water and reading.  We wanted to take our new canoe out and break it in.  It was such a pleasure to paddle this new lighter canoe.  Every time I went to pick it up I unconsciously braced myself for a heavy weight (which is what I did with our old 65 lb canoe), but was surprised each time as it lifted up off the ground light as a feather!

 

We did lots of paddling, and really got a good feel for how different this canoe is to our old one.  The wind was high during the days, but the sun was hot, so we decided to go for a day-long outing, so packed our lunch, fishing rods and swimsuits.  We paddled to a small inlet and pulled the boats up on the other side of this floating bridge. 

This bridge has seen better days, and I think the heaving ice through this winter has warped it beyond its usual safe limits.  The park has closed it off, but of course that only makes everyone want to climb onto it.  My husband and son set out to fish from it ignoring the heavy creaking and groaning and swaying(!) the bridge made when pushed by wind and water.  It's maybe a bit difficult to see, but the sides are all twisted and the bridge is sitting under water in parts.

 

The turkey vultures were enjoying the hot breezy thermals all day ... you can see one just above the trees.

I don't care for fishing, and spent my time walking along the shore in my flip flops with the camera.  I highly recommend walking along boggy, piney ground in flip flops because it really makes you slow right down and take care with every step!  I didn't want to accidentally step on a black rat snake (we saw a nice 4 ft one in our campsite), and I didn't want to step on a soft bit of ground and go right through to the water.  Going slowly and cautiously makes you see things you may not have spotted otherwise.

This little area along the shore was so enticing.

I mean how cool is this ferny little paradise?  I had to balance along this sturdy log (below) to get to the next section ... it got quite narrow at the far end, and I didn't like the look of the black ooze under the grasses and ferns on either side, so I went carefully feeling a bit dizzy.

 

I always want to go around the next corner to see what's there, or in this case, across the log to see what's on the other side.  Curiosity killed the cat ...

 

 

... but satisfaction brought him back!

 

 

Such a mysterious little spot, I took quite a few photos, but will only try your patience with a small sampling.

 

 

Ferns, moss, pine needles and black water ... a recipe for heaven on earth.

  

 

I would love to be able to visit this beautiful area every day.

 

 A nicely chewed tree by a beaver (below).  I guess they topple these bigger trees to get the smaller branches at the top for their lodges.  I wonder how long it takes a beaver to fell a tree.

 

 

After the fishing venture was over, we continued to another inlet within this inlet and found a spot for lunch on this island (below) made up of three large rocks ... Duck Island Restaurant!

 

 

I rate this restaurant as five-star.  There was lots of free parking ...

 

 

Our table reservation was ready and waiting for us ... and the dog was allowed to join us.

 

 

There was a spectacular 360' view ...

 

 

It was very private and quiet ... we really felt like we were the only ones dining there ...

 

 

Our waiter was a bit on the quiet side, but what a smile!

 

 

And after lunch a tour of the gardens was recommended.  There are an assortment of exotic native plants ...

 

 

 

 ...  and natural looking sculptures ...

 

 

 

The place is quite old (millions of years old!), and the rock foundations are starting to show their age.  But we enjoyed our lunch (the food was delicious!) and then we headed to our next island destination for an après-dinner swim.

 

 

My husband doesn't care that much for swimming and only stood in the water.  My son and I jumped right in!  Actually, ok, I have to be honest with you here.  I have a fear of jumping off any ledge into deep water.  I did this once when I was a foolish teenager and ended up so deep in the water I totally panicked and couldn't get back up to the surface fast enough.  I've never been able to bring myself to do it again.  So although I could've easily jumped off the edge of the rock ledge surrounding this island and been in refreshing water instantly, it probably took me about 20 minutes to build up my courage to sort of fall face first into the water ... so graceful.  My son was just as bad.  It's that fear of the unknown ... and the fact that we had that grinning fish skull in the kayak taunting us ... that made us a couple of chickens and then we started telling each other what we thought might be in that there water.  I know.  pathetic.  Once in I didn't want to come out of course.

 

We sat on this island and swam around for a couple of hours because we were waiting (and hoping) that the wind would die down enough for us to paddle back.  The route back was directly into the wind.  I should've taken a picture of the waves, but didn't.  There were white caps all across the lake, and we knew we either had to wait till late evening for the wind to calm, or we'd have to battle it out and try to paddle back.  We did the latter. Well!  I tell ya ... wild. ride.  I think we bonded with our canoe during that paddle.  The canoe was rising up high on one wave and then sent crashing down in the gullies between with water pouring over the front and in on both sides.  Up and up and CRASH! down.  Over and over again.  I've never had to paddle so hard in my life!  My son was actually enjoying himself in the kayak which seemed to be cutting through the high waves with ease.  He was soaking wet too when we got back however.  I have a new respect for my brave little "Mattawa" canoe :)

 

The wildlife at Charleston Lake is not particularly large in size.  The literature claims that we are "in black bear country", but we've never seen a bear in all the years we've camped there.  We do see lots of critters on a smaller scale though.  There are lots of ducks ...

 

 

 

and loons

Last year's loon, but I just love this photo :)

 

marsh birds

 

 

I didn't even see the heron hiding in the reeds until I downloaded this photo.

and turtles, and the park's favourite black rat snake (we saw one, but no photo) ...

 

turkey vultures everywhere ...

 

 

But by far, the best thing to see in this park are the ospreys.  There is a man-made platform that the ospreys return to each year (below).  The adult birds add more sticks to the huge nest every year.

 

 

This year there are two babies in the nest, and the adults were kept busy fishing for the hungry chicks.  We saw the adults with fish in their talons a couple of times, but didn't get a photo.

 

 

 

The adults get quite agitated when anyone passes by in their canoe, so we just paddled by and took pictures as we went.  It makes it tricky to keep the camera steady while in the canoe.

 

 

Such a magnificent bird ... one of my favourites ... and I love the chance to see them up close like this whenever we visit this park. 

 

Well that pretty much concludes my camping trip.  We had such a relaxing and enjoyable time, and look forward to returning to this spectacular park again next summer.

 

 

Always a pleasure to visit here :)

 

 

 

Thanks again for stopping by!

 

Wendy

  

 

Linking up with Fishtail Cottage's Garden Party