Greetings from Ontario Canada

I'm glad things are improving even just a bit. People really have no idea the stress others go through taking care of loved ones at home. In fact individuals don't always have a fair assessment of their own needs either. The weather is unusually cold here as well. I thought about the people who sleep out on the streets while I was camping. For me it was a fun recreation time but for them it is life and death. Funny how life is.

Anyway....saw these in a store this afternoon. Hope they brighten your winter day.


Put them on the kitchen table; near the window you look out on to the snow fill backyard.

 

I will be doing that too....

 

We have had an extraordinary winter this year. Last year we spoke of the deer population being decimated by the harsh winter and this year is looks a whole lot worse. Do you remember last summer being cold and wet? I'm waiting with bated breathe to see what happens this season.

I'm sorry to hear about the plumbing problem - it can be really miserable. Years ago I lived in a house that had one of those sump pump systems. The power went off and we all took turns bailing for two days. I had visions of the water engulfing us all while were asleep. Glad that I'm out of that mess.

Spring will come - it comes every year - sooner the better. BUT - gradually enough for the run off to be sufficiently gentle.

But in the meantime we do what we can to keep cheery

 

WOW! Talk about having a plate full. Unfortunately there is nothing there that seems to be appetizing or enjoyable. I was grumbling because I had to replace my washer and dyer last week. A real bummer because I hadn't budgeted for that. They both went on the same day - probably because I purchased them at the same time last time around.

 

Are you kidding? My mouth is watering as I look at the pictures. I've made peach and cherry cobbler in the Dutch oven. I never have any trouble having the group eat it up - right down to the last peach or cheery.

 

Pretty much the same. I was reading an article about the number of broken water mains in the Region. A colleague was mentioning to me that he has frozen pipes. "The house is only two years old," he said. "I never would have believed it."

The moon is so bright this evening as it shines across the frozen snow. Spring is two weeks away and everyone is waiting patiently. Now our fear is that if everything melts to quickly there will be flooding. I live close to the Grand River. Yes...I have canoed the Grand.

Thank you - not everyone listens to me.


This is a view of the river going through the centre of town.


This is the view a few minutes from my home.

 

It's good to see you [no pun intended] on line. It's been a miserable winter for a lot of folks this year. I'm surely panting to get out on the lakes and trails. I suppose that is why I'm posting canoe camp readiness - it just keeps the fire burning. I'm a little more busy than I want to be at this time but it just motivates me to drive on. I'm glad you are doing better - "may the sun tiptoe into the house and banish the gloom from all the rooms and make you smile."

 

Good for you - as I say to students,

don't give in
don't give up
don't surrender
don't retreat
win!​

 

@2sweed - Lots of things on my plate this summer but the first trip is scheduled for June 22nd [16 days] in Algonquin Park. It will be a combination of canoeing and camping. I had planned to be in Thunder Bay but there have been some changes in my work schedule that keeps me closer to home.

Always glad to see you on line and I hope that there is opportunity for you to embrace summer too.