JJ Goes to School: The Family Pics

My little grandson started school today, so it was quite a ToDo around here. Naturally, we took a lot of pictures: so many, that I'll just show some of our family snaps today.

Sha brought the kids over in plenty of time, so we spent some time in the front porch where Mom and the boy had a cuddle. Although he might look forlorn in this picture, he was actually pretty upbeat the whole time.

Suddenly it was time to go to the bus stop, and I hadn't thought of where to take pictures. We found a little spot by the garden and under the shade of the tree. It wasn't the best, but we tried our best to make it work.

We began with grandma, first with both kids and then just with Jonathan. As you can see, grandma has shrunk in her old age. It happens.

And of course, JJ with Dani. Danica makes more faces that her aunt in front of the camera.

The it was Mom's turn ... and grandma once again.

I wasn't going to be left out.

And then we needed one of just the grands with the boy.

Finally, JJ and I had a stare down before we headed over to the bus stop.

I think we took more pics than at the average wedding. It was fun though.

Early Morning Cottage Photos

After getting Danica back to school, I think I shall post some more cottage photos.I managed to rise early on a few mornings, so let's concentrate on sunrise/early morning shots for this post.

On the very first morning, I headed to the river (on the property) to face the dawn's early light.

On the last day, I got in the car and drove to Chandos Lake, about 10-15 minutes from the cottage. The view was much much better there.

On the way back to the cottage from Chandos, I had to stop on the road to snap a few pictures, of which this was one -- with two crows adding a point of interest in addition to the light.

Back on cottage property, it was still before 7AM and the light was rather special, especially with a bit of mist in places.

The first and last mornings were my earliest, but I did get some early pictures on other days too.

This was the sight almost out the back door one morning.

Taken on yet another morning, this is the gateway from the homestead area into the more or less cleared area (as opposed to the many, many acres of forest) around the cottage.

These photos represent the upside of being a poor sleeper.

Danica's First Day of School v3.0

Well, she's off on year 3 in her formal education, which is grade 1 (or the first grade for Americans). Once again, I got her to the bus stop and snapped pictures with abandon.

Here she is on her way to the bust stop, little brother, who begins on Friday, trailing behind with shovel and warrior's hatchet. You can see the congregation of kids and parents beginning to collect across the street.

Ready to cross. Be careful, there's a car coming.

Little brother seems to require some consoling as everyone mills about. He'll need more on Friday.

The lineup is beginning to form. Not all are exactly ecstatic, but of course Danica is.

The lineup is complete, and we all wait for the bus which is a wee bit late on the first morning. In an earlier picture, some lady was concerned that I got her in the picture. I told her that it wouldn't be in the paper. I possibly didn't say it all that endearingly.

Danica in the line: Miss Pleasant Personality.

Seated and ready to go.

Before we know it, I'll be taking pictures of the last day.

An Ending

Phew waddaweek! We spent our last week minding the kids, or at least minding the both of them. We've spent about 4.5 years out of the past 6 doing this, and our stint is almost over although we have JJ for 3 days next week before he heads to big boy school. Danica will start on Tuesday and JJ on Friday. After taking a break for holidays, we will still get them on and off the bus for 3 days a week, but the main task is over.

It's been both great and difficult at times, but I am glad that we did this and got to know them so well. Now, we more or less go back to our lives as they once were -- just older and stiffer.

This past week was a killer for me. To begin, I was going on fumes after 6 very poor nights. The latest I slept in that time was 5:30, and the earliest that I got up was 2:30. However, I did get a few more hours later after the 2:30 rising. I tell you, though, it was driving me crazy, and I was pretty doggone beat. It's not that I go to bed all that early either.

The week was also difficult weather-wise. There was always the threat of rain, so it was difficult to plan picnics or other events. When it wasn't raining, it was really humid, and we felt quite shut up in the house. Sue and I were miserably hot on the one picnic that we managed to take them to. We did get them into the pool twice, which was very good because JJ took another leap forward, managing to dog paddle across the whole pool all on his own. He did this a number of times and was enormously pleased with himself, as well he should have been.

There were other events, which I am sure Sue will cover this week, but here are a few pics from the week.

JJ leapt farther and with greater abandon than ever before.

Buppa did a fair amount of dwarf tossing.

He dogpaddled all by himself, but Buppa stayed close by in case he needed help.

We have enjoyed good times in the pool this summer.

On the final day of the week, we went back to the chip truck for the second time this summer. The kids waited patiently for the order to be ready.

I will probably post some more cottage pictures in coming days, but this seemed like the appropriate post for now.

There and Back

We made it back in one piece after really enjoying our week away. We had very nice weather for the most part, and we did a lot of reading and relaxing.

I guess it goes without saying that I have tons of photos, but here are just a few -- for now, at least.

Let's begin with the screened-in, converted planer mill that looks toward the old barn in this photo.

We spent a lot of time reading in here. I converted part of the next one to b&w to emphasize the colour of the blooming goldenrod outside.

We pitched a tent and slept in it for 4 nights of the 7 that we were there. On the first night we were awakened by a pack of yipping and howling coyotes. I think they were close by but on the other side of the road.

We enjoyed bright moonlight with several nights of a full moon or close to it.

This is the view of the farmhouse from close to where we pitched the tent.

Lots of these wildflower, which I am told are called The Devil's Paintbrush, were blooming around the place.

That's the broad overview -- for now, at least.

Gone Away but not Fishing

We're heading to the cottage today. For a day or a week. Who knows?

I thought I would post some past photos that I may very well have posted before.

This structure was once a little planer mill. Brian did some work on it, and turned it into a nice, mostly bug-free place to sit and visit, read or do nothing, The second photo, below, is of part of the inside at night.
 

Then there is the old barn.

The next two photos are of the inside of the old barn, the first upstairs (loft) and the second downstairs.

There is a new barn, which isn't at all new. Painted.

Finally: a shot of a bit of the property.

I could go on and on, for I haven't yet shown the river that borders the property. One could fish in there, but that doesn't exactly grab this guy.

The Curious Case of the Droopy Eyelid

Our oldest, Shauna, has never been thrilled with her droopy left eye -- or eyelid to be more precise.

Neither I, Sue, nor our parents have a droopy eye.

But in perusing the family album, I noticed something.

This is my grandfather.

And his father -- my great grandfather.

But that particular gene, skipped my father.

And me.

So, if I understand the math, there was only a 1 in 8 probability that Shauna would inherit this gene, and while there was a 50% chance that her kids would inherit, neither did.

This kind of thing just interests me. That's all this is about. Besides, she doesn't really suffer in looks.