Along the River Walk

Phew! I don't know what it is, but this final summer week with the kids has sure been tiring. I don't even know anymore whether I have been more or less keeping up with your posts or not. We are coming home whacked, but it's almost over. Not that we haven't had some good times with the little ones.

But these photos are my last bunch (I think) left from from last week.

I haven't done too well on morning walks this summer, but I did get out a bit one day. I didn't keep many photos from that excursion, but here are a few.

I saw a young deer across the river. When we first moved here ten years ago, I would sometimes see them on this side, but those days are pretty well gone, so this was a treat. When I say those days are pretty well gone, strangely enough, we did see one in town in the evening a few weeks ago.

When I walk around mid morning, I frequently encounter this fellow and his pack. He is kind of a dog trainer and minder, and his pack changes from time to time as some graduate and others join for his calming influence. The pooches are always well behaved in his care.

I believe this is a heliopsis (false sunflower) or perhaps a rudbeckia although I lean toward the former. I should have had my aperture open more to get a smoother background, but I tend to be forgetful and likely though it was set up correctly. In any case, I think this works well enough.

Before and After Breakfast

Sue and I seem to find ourselves at Dionysos for breakfast about once a month. Since we only breakfast out about once per month, Dionysos is quite obviously our GoTo place.

We park in the municipal lot behind the restaurant and other establishments and walk around the Moore House to Bridge Street. The Moore House is one of the oldest and original local buildings and was moved here a number of years ago. Over time, it has become a combination tourist centre, information centre, and museum.

Perhaps we have been unobservant, but for the first time we noticed flowers and deck chairs out back. So, it was picture time.

We grabbed this photo from the front when we went by.

After breakfast, we poked our noses inside the door looking for a tourist pamphlet or two. I took this photo of Roy Brown, the pilot credited with shooting down the infamous Red Baron, Manfred von Richter, whose photo is in the case to the left.

Outside again, this open window amused us. It just seemed to be an interesting juxtaposition that a place advertising heating and cooling comfort would use windows for climate control. Mind oyu, I approve.

I took one more photo of The Man Cave barber shot before we turned our way home.

Sunrise

I got up very early one morning last week and headed to the park around the corner to see if I might get a few sunrise shots. It wasn't the best outing, but I'll share a few photos.

I was heading to the river, but the first shots that I took were of the pond. The river is just beyond the trees on the other side of the pond.

As it turned out, my photos of the river were quite disappointing. I attempted this long exposure, 4 shot pano, but it was very so-so.

I should have waited longer by the river because when I got back near my car, I saw a much prettier sunrise — over the pond once again. This was 18 minutes after the first shot above: quite a difference.

One more shot before I called it a morning. Gotta love the sun's reflections. If you can make out the little bridge in the background, it is just beyond that that I was attempting my river shots. Unsuccessfully. But I like this one.

Life is Sometimes a Walk in the Park

Sue and I visit Riverside Park along the banks of the Ontario Mississippi River quite frequently. But it is usually in the afternoon. One evening last week, we went for a little stroll. We don't get a direct sunset there, but the clouds did pick up some light from the low sun beyond the trees. ↓

We spent a few minutes on the little dock. This one is temporary and for boats to make a quick landing. The main launch is at the other end of the park.

Sue snapped a few photos including the one of me below.

I am doing a little chimping after taking a photo. Chimping is an in word for admiring your photos on the LCD screen.

To more peeks from under the trees from different spots at different times,

I imagine that our next visit will find us munching a picnic lunch at our usual spot. But not this week because we're on kid duty once more. School starts up again next week, and we'll have ten months of that routine before we do it all over again.

Dragon Weekend Videos

Hi Blogger Folks

This is a collection of videos taken at our reunion two weekends past. It is intended to get my videos sorted into one place for both me and family. However, anyone is free to click if they wish for whatever reason.

AC

This first video ↓ is a compilation of many clips made by my nephew while I was away on an errand. The kids had a dragon egg hunt.



Next ↓ I made an opposite approach for the talent show, which was recorded in one long segment. I thought it best to split into components. The first clip is of my great nephew and niece performing a magic act after being introduced by emcees Danica and Frances.




Then came JJ leading in Puff the Magic Dragon with assistance from Amma and Buppa. ↓



Danica did ab unrehearsed freestyle dance. ↓



The emcees thanked various organizers and introduced the dragon parade. ↓

Dragon Ball

In the evening after the talent show and supper, we headed to the planer mill for the Dragon Ball. The mill had been well decorated by Sue and various helpers, such as Danica and Frances, during the day, and it was all set for the ball.

It was pretty dark in there, and I didn't have my flash, which would have kind of spoiled the mood anyway, but here are a few photos of the celebration. We did do a little dancing, but since I was on the floor as it were, I have no pictures of that activity.

Andrea and Frances got quite dressed up. Heather and Sue were in survival mode by then.

Rosie dressed up nicely too.

A moody photo of Gemma as the darkness settled.

Danica dancing about with the dragon head.

Sue did use her flash for this shot. Glad she had it.

Petra and Shauna chilled out.

Andrea, Sare, and Frances enjoyed watched Danica parading about with the dragon head.

It was quite a day with the dragon egg hunt, the talent show, and the dragon ball. It was time for beddie-byes.

The Stage and Talent Show

We had a little talent show at our reunion last weekend.

A suitable area was chosen for the stage. Shade was an important consideration on this hot weekend, and, of course, it had to be nicely decorated.

Sue took on most of this task and is getting approval from her sister, Heather, in the first photo.

Then came the show with Danica and her cousin, Frances, as the MCs.

Rosie and Lukas did a magic act, helped by various audience members. JJ was the helper in this photo; he's wearing one of the two masks that he created in the previous craft session.

When it was JJ's turn, Amma and Buppa helped him lead the rest of the family in arousing rendition of  Puff the Magic Dragon.

Danica did a freestyle dance routine and kept going like a pro despite losing a sandal.

Then came the Tucker clan in their grand and glorious show stopping dragon.

We did a few cousins group shots at the end.

The empty stage: the first two in the evening, followed by a night shot.