Springtime and Boy Time

Spring vaulted into summer in the past week with temperatures reaching past the mid-20s°C and into the 80s°. The trees went from bud to full leaf very quickly that I missed getting some photos that I wanted. However, these two old oaks in the park were among the very few that hadn't yet leafed out completely.

Blossoms also suddenly appeared. This tree was in Sha's yard, and I snapped the photo while waiting for the parents to come home after I dropped the kids off for the day. Unintentionally, I caught a bee approaching the blossoms.

Other than the rapid weather change, some things have been proceeding as normal. For example: JJ and I still have a story time after lunch and before quiet time.

And he continues to shadow me. I decided to bbq some hot dogs for lunch one day, and he was around the whole time. In this photo, he was examining the workings of the gate.

One day, we helped a neighbour with her move. We trudged back and forth together: the boys and the Bups.

I Once Was Lost

I kind of got lost or at least I lost track of my blog for awhile. These are some more photos from what is now the weekend before last.

Sue snapped this picture of me wandering around with my camera at</ br>Festival of the Maples.

Just some of the chainsaws at Wheelers..

And some more.

A storage area at Wheelers.

A green door in Balderson advertising cheap pop from a bygone era.

A barn at Balderson that Brian and I visited while the women were doing a wee bit of shopping.

Before the Crowds

Before being gobsmacked by the crowds at the Festival of the Maples, we met Brian and Heather at Wheelers. After a leisurely and chatty breakfast over pancakes, sausages and plenty of maple syrup, we ambled about the property seeing what we could see. The women did their thing, and Brian and I, the amateur photogs, did ours.

So, what I have to offer today are your basic wandering around pictures. Occasionally, I would catch a glimpse of the ladies and take a shot — mostly of their behinds as it eventuated.

Heather was enthralled with the alpaca who made cute sounds to her.

I wished he was a llama, for then I would have called him god and said, "Behold the llama god."
And I would have thought myself clever.

They are looking at an old Model T, which I have posted several times previously. This time I ignored Tin Lizzie.
I hope she forgives me.

In the far distance, the ladies check out the blacksmith shop and saunter by various farm relics.

And here are the Brian pics as he wandered about snapping this, that and the other thing.

I think Brian was checking the picture that he just took of the alpaca (and not the llama god).

Walking behind a setup of the ancient method of boiling maple syrup.

Brian checks out a shed containing an old-style syrup boiler.

This is the inside. The sign over the furnace informs us that it could produce 3 litres per hour.

Festival of the Maples

We had company on the weekend, and one of our activities was to take in the Festival of the Maples in Perth. We were in total shock at the crowds on Gore Street as Canadians swarmed to this early spring outing after being cooped up all winter. There are many coats in evidence as the day started cool and rainy, but the weather was warming up nicely by this time.

I am not a street photographer, but I became one for an hour or so on Saturday. Here are some of my shots from our stroll.

The above may be my fave of the day, but I also like the next one. Do you think the guy is put out with me? Are you taking a picture of ME?  lol

This vendor ↑ looks glum, but maybe he was just tired. I think the next fellow has a great look

Although he doesn't look like the type to me, this guy ↑ needed a cuppa, but this vendor ↓ was happy counting his money.

Not to forget the pretty ladies, she ↑ seemed to be searching for anybody who wanted to take a studio tour. And what a pretty dish ↓ I spied in the crowd. I wonder who she is.

Pity the Bus Driver

Curiously, as I was just a few moments ago, trimming my toenails, (shall we pause while you relish that picture?) the first few notes of a tune went thru my head. While that in and of itself is not too monumental, the tuned turned out to be Battle Hymn of the Republic. And perhaps that is not too difficult to imagine either, but my words to the tune were "Our bus driver has a belly full of beer."

We sang that once or twice when we went on school trips when I was a kid: not that we went on many in that era, but we did go on a few excursions. Strangely enough I never heard that sung on any school buses that I have been on since then. I  rode a school bus to school (where else?) for 4 years after moving from Montreal to the outskirts of Toronto, but I never heard the song. Mind you, when you take a school bus everyday, you are not giddy with excitement. And the song would get old really really quickly, doncha think?

As a teacher, I have also taken kids of fields trips of various durations, but I can't recall them bursting out into song — any sort of song. Mind you, they were mostly high school trips, and high schoolers have other possible mayhem to keep them occupied.

Why I began to hum and think of this after more than fifty years whilst trimming my toenails, I know not. My mind is a strange and frightful place. I don't drink much beer, and I haven't been on a school bus for almost 15 years — and then just for a one-day field trip.

Crocuses

The crocuses bloomed last week, and they are pretty well history already. I am not much of a flower photo sorta guy, but since crocuses mean the end of winter and beginning of spring to me, I always try to get a few shots if the weather permits. What with rain, snow, clouds and wind, I don't manage get photos every year. I sure didn't last year, but managed a few this year.

And then there are the children, who felt that watering was necessary despite the wet spring. With a dixie cup no less.

There were also pebbles to be attended to, but not watered.

Birthday Breakfast

That's ↑↑ coming in the door on her birthday on Friday, bringing our weekly stack of flyers in from the mailbox. We knew we'd all be going out to dinner that evening, but we also wanted to do something special in the morning, so we headed out to Tim's for breakfast. Well, we had breakfast, while all she wanted was a donut and smoothie ↓↓ after having already eaten at home.

Attack!

 

While grandma and grampa finished breakfast and sipped their coffee, Dani opened one, little present.

Anything fairy is good and happy-making.

Grampa was pretty happy too and joined Danica in making a goofy face.

Rest assured that Sue will post many more photos, but I wanted to nab the breakfast pics.

Before I leave, here is another recent picture that has noting to do with her birthday, but, since I have it ready ...