Bird Watching 101

Ron and I decided to go bird LISTENING.  Yes, most people go bird WATCHING and we did that too but we took along our devices and tuned in on the Merlin App

We headed into Prince Edward County and went on roads that we have never been on before and found a National Wildlife Area.  They do lots of research on our feather friends by capturing, examining, tagging and releasing them.  They had two little birds there to show us and explain the process and then off they went back to their little flock.

We walked along the paths with our apps turned on, picking up a few new sounds to save to our life lists.  It was a beautiful area to walk.

We walked down one lane and were treated to beautiful butterflies gracefully swooping around us and landing on the flowers.  

Pictures don’t do them justice.  How did God think to create these amazing creatures and to know that they came from ugly caterpillars.  I was so hoping that one would land on me but I was not as enticing as the fragrant aromas along the way.

At the end of one of our little jaunts, a lighthouse stood bravely where it has been since 1881.  Although not in use anymore, it was surrounded by spectacular views.

Another path led us through a majestic looking forest.  Grass covered the path and the trees provided a canopy.  It was so peaceful as we strolled listening and looking.

We were careful to stay on the paths in order to avoid contact with poison ivy…we have had enough of that in our house over the past month.  

Anyone see a problem with this picture?

We left the sanctuary and drove through the Sandbanks Provincial Park.  It looked like summer was over with all of the empty parking lots.

After a couple of hours of exploring we decided it was lunch time.  One of our favourite places to go in the County is the  Waring House Restaurant. There are a few businesses on the property and one of them includes a Cookery School. You know that they want a good reputation for their school and the food has never disappointed us.

After a few more stops, we grabbed a coffee and headed for home.  Bird watching was something that I never really thought I would be doing.  My thoughts of this activity went back to the old show The Beverley Hillbillies. (You can watch the video by pressing the link.)  This morning I did not have the bird sight seeing uniform.  I only had my cell phone with the Merlin App.   Just like Miss Jane was always looking for Jethro…

I had my Ron.

So what do we do in retirement….just about everything!

I added a few new birds to my list so the day was productive.

Knitting Up a Storm

Way, way back in BC time....which is Before Children in this case, I worked at a place where everyone was either knitting or learning to knit.  It was a good time for me to pick up a new hobby.  Since there was just the two of us at home I had lots of time to knit and I knit sweaters for lots of people.  Then kids happened and my knitting got set aside in order to find time to take them to the park or the beach.  I preferred putting my needles down to play with Jennie and Stephen.


Now that I am at a new stage of my life knitting took over again.  When we moved to Deschambault Lake I became a faithful customer to the online shopping of Mary Maxim.  So many colours and types of yarn to choose from that I even bought a shelving unit just for my yarn.

I knit dozens of baby afghans while in DL and I sent them across Canada to lots of precious little babies.  My afghans have landed in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.  I even left one in the Yukon.  Sometimes I get pictures of my blankets with the little precious baby that I made it for.

Isaiah Rising (Charlene & Nick Rising in British Columbia)

Morgan Drinnan (Parents Rachel and Dean Drinnan in Saskatchewan)



New Baby Boy (The Dad works with our son)

The Dad went through classes with our son.

Mae McKenzie (daughter of Spencer who was Stephen's best buddy in school)

Lots of different afghans and so many precious babies but this one has to the best:

Our Beautiful Granddaughter, Abby (who is now 2!)

I've even made lap blankets and full size afghans.  It's what I do when I sit down to watch tv.

Full size blankets sent to Vancouver Island

My sister enjoying her warm afghan on a cool day.

Made for me!

Specially made for my mom.

My regular afghan that I use while watching tv and knitting more blankets.

 I always have one on the go...sometimes by order but most of the time just in case I hear that someone might be having a baby.

I have one ready to go in the mail.  It's a special one!  It's for the newest addition to our family and I'm wondering if the blanket will arrive before he does.

So here it goes....will it or will it not arrive before Baby Boy arrives.

I'm guessing that the baby will come first because Jenn always goes early and Canada Post always arrives late.  Either way this blanket was knit together with love for a new little new addition to our family.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

^{-Psalm 139:13}