May Long Weekend

On Friday, I went into Napanee for a massage and then Judy, Mom and I went out for lunch.  We enjoyed a delicious meal at the Napanee Riverfront Restaurant.  We decided that the meal was so good that we should try the dessert too.  We walked out of there very satisfied.

I picked up Sarah and we headed to Kingston.  While I was out enjoying a meal and dropping our girl off in Kingston, Ron was having lunch with an old friend from Sharbot Lake and then he went to golf with the black flies.

We both arrived home in time to watch the Leafs play and were surprised that they lived to play a game 7.

Saturday morning we went to the Tamworth Big Breakfast.  

Each month the volunteers do a breakfast for a different cause.  All the food is donated, including REAL maple syrup and all the donations go to the designated charity, project or person in need.  This month was for the Canada Day celebrations.  Tamworth knows how to give and how to celebrate.

We received an invitation for supper from new friends at the church.  Judy and Barry (Judy is another cousin) also came for the evening.  The view from their home was beautiful.

After a nice dinner, we played a new game.  I’m unhappy to report that the men beat the ladies by a tiny little bit.

Sunday morning arrived and we were off to church.  I visited in the foyer while Ron was in a board meeting.  Yes, Ron is the newest member of the church board and I’m the one that forgot to ask for the car keys before he went into the meeting.

There was a little bit of excitement, much trepidation and a lot of uncertainty for the evening’s activity.  Game seven for the Leafs against the Panthers was scheduled for 7:30.  Ron had to go to a sing at 6:30.  Due to the conflict of scheduling, Ron went to the sing and I stayed with the tv.  It seemed to be what would work best.  Apparently the sing went well and game seven did not.

Picture taken from the video on YouTube 

Monday morning came and I was busy in the kitchen.   I made buns and cookies to take to the 50 Plus service and lunch scheduled for Tuesday.  I also made sour dough granola bars and sticky rhubarb pudding from our own rhubarb.

We met Jett and his dad in Godfrey and got Sarah back.  She had a good weekend with friends and Jett’s family.  As we drove  she leaned up and gave me a gift for Mother’s Day (Nanny’s).  I opened the little box and cried.  It will be nice to carry around my beautiful grandchildren on a new keychain.

Ron is out cutting grass again as I type and Sarah went straight to her room.  Long weekends are great but sometimes more tiring than the regular routine.  

Enjoy The Moment

This morning started out with watching Sarah head to the bus.  She had a big day ahead of her.  Her health class were taking a field trip to the Nursing Lab at Queen’s University.

After a day of not feeling well, I was ready to be on the move.  I could have stayed home and cleaned and caught up on other things ….but, why?  We headed to Kingston.  We did a little shopping and then drove down Princess Street and found a parking spot.  We walked for a bit.  It has been a long time since we have walked downtown Kingston.  We strolled along the harbour.  

We decided to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant paid for by our son and daughter-in-law…Happy Mother’s Day to me.  The lunch was delicious and we enjoyed watching a man prepare his sailboat for the season.  A bride and groom walked by with a photographer.  It was a great place to people watch.

When in Kingston, you should always do a Costco run and so we did.  Food for all of us, a fan for Sarah and Ron picked up some roses for me.  Win, win!!

We got home just in time for Sarah to walk through the door.  She had lots of stories about the different labs that she had seen and experienced.  It had been a good day for her too.  

We thought we were done for the day and then a friend asked Sarah to go to youth.  Why stay home, when you can go?  Of course, all the cool kids get a ride to youth on a motorcycle, even if it is your grandpa driving.  

When Ron got back, it was my turn.  I decided to keep my phone in my pocket.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so let me use the thousand words.  We drove north and soon game to Beaver Lake.  I smiled as I thought about living so close to a usable lake.  What does that mean?  Alberta has the most beautiful lakes but only the brave or those that like polar plunges swim in them.  Ontario lakes warm gradually over the spring and summer months, making swimming very enjoyable.  A few minutes more we were in the start of the Canadian Shield.  The landscape consists of spruce trees, lakes, swamps and rocks.  We reached number 7 highway and stopped for gas. We went east until the Arden road.   Big Clear Lake came into view as we travelled south.  Arden was where a lot of the Steele clan use to live and I still have a couple of relatives there now.  We passed familiar spots, a swimming place on the left, grandma’s house on the right.  Growing up, when we would visit Grandma,  it was interesting going into her front room where the town library was housed.  That might be where I learned to love books.  As we continued down the Arden road, we passed the community hall which hosted many Steele family reunions.  The next landmark is the cemetery where we have said goodbye to so many family members.  The road becomes curvy as we continue.  Pitt Road is to the left.  We spent a lot of time down that road through the years at my dad’s hunting camp that he owned with some uncles.  Looking down in the ditches along the ride where thousands of trilliums.  I was always told when I was young not to pick these special wild flowers as they won’t come back.  I’m glad to know that all of us kids listened because they are still doing well.  We continued our journey and soon came into the municipality of Stone Mills.  We passed cousin George’s house on the right.  We made it back to Tamworth.  It was a beautiful evening for a ride and a trip down memory lane.

42!

42 years of marriage.  It’s kind of crazy that we got here but I’m so glad that we did and we still like each other. 🥰. Life has been full of ups and downs but through it all Ron has been my constant.  He has sometimes been my hero, most of the time, my rock and always, my friend.  

Today we celebrated with a plumber coming to the house in the morning.  He kept Ron busy for a few hours while I crawled back into bed due to a cold.  I came around about lunch time and Ron made me a delicious meal of toast and tea.  

We needed to go into Napanee in the afternoon and so I medicated up and went for the drive.  We decided that for supper we should pick up Domino’s pizza because they too were celebrating their 42nd anniversary.  

It only makes sense.  

I tried to watch the hockey game but was falling asleep so I dragged myself up the stairs and made a neocitran.  While I am sipping on my warm lemon drink I decided to share our very exciting anniversary celebrations.

After 42 years of marriage, we have learned that it’s not about the celebrations but the memories through the years and we are continuing to try and make them.

Black Flies

Do you check the weather every day?  Does the forecast help you with your decision on what to wear?  In Pincher Creek, we always checked the wind speed.  A windbreaker was always close to the door.  I didn’t realize until recently that you can actually check the bug forecast.

I think the forecast was wrong because it said that black flies were low.  If this is low, yikes!!  

We had gone for a walk earlier and I’m not a runner but I ran.  The grass needed to be cut and so we dressed for the forecast!

We decided that the best way to beat them is to go faster than them.  

Denise told me that this was the black fly capital.  Thankfully the season is short but if the forecast is ever high for the nasty bugs, I’ll be locked inside.

Life is Confusing

Today felt like summer.  The sun was warm and it felt good to be out and about.  Ron had a morning appointment in Napanee and we had a little extra time to stroll through Springside Park and it was definitely looking very springy.

We stopped on the way home at the nursery to check out some vegetables and ran into two cousins and their spouses and had a nice visit over the tomato plants.

Ron was off to a practice with his music group in the evening.  

Sarah and I were sitting downstairs when I received a text from a friend in Pincher Creek.  The news she shared made me gasp.  Sarah jumped.  One of our friends had passed away after being diagnosed with cancer only three weeks prior.  He was an amazing man.  When we knew that we were moving to Pincher Creek, we checked the church out.  Paul greeted us warmly.  He was a gentle giant.  He towered over Ron.  Paul disappeared during church to teach the children downstairs.  When we started looking for our house, our realtor started talking about the Erickson homes built by a good family business and were well sought after.  We made the connection that Paul Erickson was who she was talking about.  We eventually bought our Erickson home and it was and always will be one of our favourite homes.  Through the years, we got to know Paul and Debbie a little better and realized that you couldn’t find a nicer couple.  Paul was busy with his business, his family, his church and coached basketball.  When we sold our house and were getting ready to move Paul and Debbie took us out for dinner.  He was healthy and strong and full of life.  Our hearts go out to Debbie and the kids.  

We were blessed to have known such a wonderful person.

Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day was quite a bit different.  Instead of going to church and listening to a sermon, I was the one speaking.  I’m not sure how I said yes to it but God was with me through it.

I spoke from I Samuel 1, the story of Hannah.  Hannah had tears through her struggle, her seeking and her surrendering. I talked about going through depression.  I knew that God was there in the cloud that hung over me.

Christine shared about her seeking God while her daughter was going through cancer treatment and how she found ways to minister to the hurting parents going through similar experiences.

Pam told about three miscarriages all right around mother’s days.  She prayed that she would have a child and eventually her son was born and then another and finally her daughter.  She had made a vow like Hannah to give them to the Lord and through that a Christian school was birthed.

The service closed with Pam’s daughter singing a song I had heard while preparing this sermon.  The song was called “Tears” by Matt Hammitt.

I came home exhausted and crawled in for a long afternoon nap after a venison steak lunch.

**pictures borrowed from the church YouTube channel.  Evangel Temple Mother’s Day Service

Our Thankful Thursday

Denise, the owner of the Soap Shack always calls today Thankful Thursday.  Denise is married to my cousin; so, she is a cousin by marriage and has become a special friend. We stopped by the shack today for a little visit.  We didn’t get past the little pond before I had to stop and take a picture of their falls and spring flowers.  

They have been adding to the pond and we noticed the little turtle hanging out on his own little island.

The fish were very interested in us standing close to the edge and were hoping for a handful of food to be flung their way.  

We moved in from the picturesque pond to the wonderful aroma of the soap shack.  Denise was busy making up packages for Mother’s Day.  What a perfect blend of handmade products made with care and packaged nicely to make for a perfect gift.  

I enjoyed a herbal tea before we asked to continue the tour to see the sheep.  Three new lambs were waiting for us.  

Cousin, Gary made his way into the enclosure and gently picked up one of the babies and handed him to me.  The little black face was so cute and he cuddled in for a while until mama started bleating for him.  The little lamb in my arms squirmed and cried back.  I wanted to hold him longer but my heart went out to the mama sheep who was worried about her little lamb.  I handed him back over the fence and immediately he was calm and mama was happy.

We left Gary and Denise’s with some chives, rhubarb and a couple of other plants for the garden.

When Sarah got home from school and found out that we had a little visit with the baby lambs, she wanted to go.  We left the house early for her to get to youth and stopped for a cuddle with one of the babies.  It was the same response as before but so worth those few minutes to enjoy the new little additions to the Frizzell farm.

So we were thankful on this Thursday for family close by that share their experiences and their perennials with us.