Lots do do in Port Dover - Firefighters and Daschunds.

 Its amazing what a difference a good nights sleep makes. For the first time in months I awoke (actually, was woken by Rasta insisting on breakfast at 7am) feeling refreshed. By 9 I had put on 2 loads of laundry and hung one out, had 2 cups of coffee and was headed to the market for honey. Of course I bought more than just honey.

The market is in the Lions Club building at Silver Lake.

The Firefighters competition was being set up there.

Bouncy castles being blown up

and various obstacles and challenges being constructed.

I then remembered that it was also the day of the Arbor Dog Races

so headed down to the museum to find out the schedule.

Preparations were is full swing with tents going up

and the race course already constructed.

There is also an agility course and a costume parade.

I am planning on going to see both events but don't know quite how the timing will work.

Catch up post

 I realized it had been at least 3 weeks since I last posted anything on the blog. Been busy.  So here's a quick catch up. Not sure that these photos are in chronological order but this is whats been going on.

Chris, Jason and Cigi came for a visit and I got hugs!!!

Chris and I went to the memorial for Aimee,

Dedication of a bench overlooking the Nith River in Paris, a lovely spot.

Racing season is underway. This is a picture of the storm following us in one night. Spellbound has been doing well both in Spinnaker on Mondays (middle of the pack) and in Jib and Main on Wednesdays (1st or 2nd)

Heather, Margret and I hooked for one day at the Paris Garden Tour

in a lovely

country garden.

Inspired me to keep going on mine. This is a new bed beside the fence. Hosta from Pam's garden.

The little vase that I made at the glass blowing workshop last year, has been in constant use.

 

Family updates:

Cigi has a new brother and sister - meet Donny and Marie. Already wreaking havoc at Chris and Jason's.

Chris has been "rocking" the  hairstyles.

Mark, Emma, family and friends have been building a bunky

on their new property. I can't wait to stay in it.

Nicky took a Mandela course and is practicing using the stitches that her machine can produce.

2nd week in Edmonton

The first week was beautiful; sunny and warm. The second week it turned cold, grey and rainy, which matched my health. I developed a persistent cough that kept me up at night and tired and frustrated through the day. I usually get sick when I come for these visits but can lay the blame firmly on the grand children as one, or all, of them are usually experiencing a "bug" of some kind. They are all fabulously healthy this time so no idea where I caught it.

Life goes on ....lemon muffins and lemon curd.

Mike and I went and got free compost

and free mulch, even though Amazon hasn't delivered his raised bed yet.

The "walk" to a park actually had Avery on a scooter and Maya on roller blades.

This park

was on a bit of a hill overlooking the river valley that contains the commercial area of the town.

River had daily facials.. yogurt,

brownie.....

Most of the seeds we planted last week have germinated. Lots of salad greens in their future.

A break in the rain and we went for another walk. This is a huge off-leash park where Iggy enjoyed some fun running with the big dogs.

Its about a 15 min walk to the stocked lake

Mike plans to bring the kids fishing.

When I was on the Recreation Committee in Paris I found it very frustrating that the council had allowed developers to buy their way out of providing green space in each development. Here there is a park in each little neighbourhood with a large green space, trees and play equipment. Our walk to the fishing lake involved stopping at 3!

Guest photographers:

Nic and Dave's new system to drip irrigate the raised beds. (photo by Nicola)

Rick and his daughter, Jen, took Spellbound out and successfully flew the Spinnaker, in preparation for racing season that starts next week. (photo by Rick)

Annual spring Edmonton visit

 Aimee, Mike, Avery, Maya and River moved last year from Edmonton to St. Albert (very close) and had just moved in when I visited last December (there was much painting!). This is my first spring visit to this new house and new community and Mike is anxious to show me around.

The community is entirely linked with bike paths. They join the various neighbourhoods and parkland. I used Aimee's bike for the ride to the library downtown.

Past a reminder of the areas economic heritage

and over the river to downtown.

Mushy bananas necessitate banana/cocoa/chocolate chip muffins. A Nana tradition.

Lovely spring weather means a start to vegetable gardening. Salad greens up on the deck. Mike has ordered a raised bed for the rest. He has already planted 4 fruit trees and 4 raspberry plants.

River hanging out on the deck

and providing a badminton obstacle.

After dinner trips to the park involve River on the swing (she loves to "fly"), sand angels, burying feet in the sand, mad games of chase and

three on the slide.

After a fascinating night of Northern Lights, the air quality dropped, due to smoke from forest fires and we had to stay inside for a couple of days.

The wind changed direction, the air cleared and Mike and I biked to a nearby lake.

Ducks, swallows

and the first Muskrat of the season.

Guest photographers:

Cigi sporting her cat jacket (a gift from Rasta in thanks for her gentle pets this winter) Photo by Chris or Jason.

Andromeda Galaxy. Photo by Rick.