Early On and Tent Village

I guess I should do some posts of our very long weekend away for the family reunion.

The cottage is not large or grand enough to accommodate everyone -- at least not for sleeping -- so most of us brought tents. Fortunately or otherwise, we did not use ours. Whether it was fortunate or not depends on your point of view. With a nice air mattress, we find that sleeping under the stars can be pleasurable, but with so much going on that weekend, it seemed easier to stay put in the cottage.

Mary and Ben helped us set up our tent.

Then, we set up Shauna's

Once everyone arrived and the village was completed, this is what it looked like.

Once that was done, Brian cleaned up around the place, Ben demonstrated his archery prowess, and the kids rocked the hammock. ↓

Mary and Brian took care of supper.

I went for a stroll in the evening and took this three-stitch pano of the [former] planer mill where we often gather behind the screens on a warm summer afternoon or in the cool of the buggy evening.

Of course, it is important to have a campfire or two. Brian stokes the flames while Heather uses them to toast marshmallow.

That night, Ben, Mary and I stayed up after the others had gone beddy-bye. We had a good chat and Ben also showed me the online computer game that he was playing.

And that was Wednesday.

Then and Now

This is the last of my pre-posted entries. And the congregation said, "Amen."

It a simple collage comparing the kids on the same apparatus in August 2012 and August 2015.

Since Danica was younger then than Jonathan is now, they wouldn't fit doing the same pose, so we improvised. But here they are 3 years later, and still happily being kids.

More from Day 5 at Kintail

Owing to the miracles of technology, I am not present but away beyond the boundary of much internet access.

Summer Camp sort of ended after Day 5 and the previous post.

Day 6 was spent quietly at our place with all of us getting ready to head to the cottage on Day 7 (today being day 9). We are at the cottage with extended family, so I don't rightly know if it's really still camp.

Whatever the case, although it is really day 9, I do have more photos from day 5 that I have pre posted for your absolute enjoyment.

Sorry that I am not in position to reciprocate comments.

Hats

Sue was given this hat by Allyson, our West Coast daughter, about 5 years ago. It fits Danica perfectly now.

I have a winter Tilley hat and a summer one. That's it, except for a few caps. He has multiple hats.

Scenes

I waded into the rocky and pebble Indian River for this. I have a bad foot and with an expensive camera in tote, I was treading very carefully. But I wanted to take this. It's not a great picture, but it was fun trying.

The dominant wildflower right now is Goldenrod.

Post Processing Play: Double Exposure

I did a better one of JJ last year in the same spot. I could have taken more care
this year, but it's something.

Double Danica

James Naismith: The Inventor of Basketball

Naismith was a Canadian and lived locally. In Doors Open a few years ago, we visited his house,
which is still in modern use. This Naismith Stone, which he and his schoolmates liked to play on,
was moved from his schoolyard to this museum. In this photo, which I thought
would work well in sepia, he peers at JJ hugging the rock.

The town of Almonte is also well-known for its Puppets Up festival,
so I was pleased to see this puppet added to the display.

Siblings at Camp

Day 5 of summer camp gave us some fine weather: not too hot, but fine summer weather. So, we took the opportunity to take the kids to the Mill of Kintail. We generally get them there at least once a summer.

On this day I was struck by their togetherness. Yes, they are siblings and have their squabbles, but they do pretty well on the whole. I saw them in proximity many times of that day, and I have the pictures to prove it.

Gasp! Do you really have photos AC?

Yes, for a change I do.

We're heading to the cottage and may already be on the road as you read this. Although I have one or two more scheduled posts, I won't be able to reciprocate visits until next week.

Danica's First Post

There was a funny incident at the kids' house over the weekend. I told Danica, if she wrote about it, I would publish it on my blog. She wrote what is below all on her own. She will be going into grade three in September.

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THE STORY OF THE CAT AND THE ALIVE CHIPMUNK

Written by John's Granddaughter Danica

So, it all started off on a bright, sunny day in August. We had three people over, Callum, Brenna, and their mom, Erin. Erin came out of the bathroom and said: "Uh there's a situation with your cat." Our cat Abby was carrying not a toy, BUT AN ALIVE CHIPMUNK! In the room was my dad: Trying to knock out the chipmunk. The Chipmunk: Speeding around my dad's room. And lastly, Abby: Chasing the chipmunk. The chipmunk and Abby bumped into each other. And Abby then acted like, Eh you go get it dad. I don't care. So, Erin, Callum and Brenna left. Abby is now out of the room. Me, JJ, and my dad teamed up. After a few minutes of directing directions, and trying to catch and knock the chipmunk out, JJ caught it with a green bucket. Then, when we got on the floor wondering what to do with it. We heard a weird noise. It was the chipmunk trying to make a hole to get out! Then, my dad said, "Can you put some pressure on this?'' (That wasn't all he said. But what ever.) Then, I said ''What kind of pressure?'' My dad said ''Put your hands on it". After one to two mins., my brother had to go to the washroom. So it was only me. A little bit later, my dad and brother came in with a piece of card board. We put it under the bucket. My dad opened his window and put the screen out and put it on his bed. He dumped the chipmunk out of the window on to our grass in our backyard. Then we celebrated our team work.

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Summer Camp Days 3 and 4

We made it to the library. JJ sat and read this book to me, with just a little help on the new, big words. I was surprised and pleased by how well he did. I thinks he's ready for grade one.

Still on the library grounds. JJ always likes to play on the big guns. He's always interested in the little details.

Looking down the barrel.

Meanwhile ... Danica did a little performing on the ledge by the library.

The dismount.

Danica confiscated my camera, and took a few pictures, including this and the next two.

A Danica pic of the cenotaph and the church across the street.

The back of my bald head and Sue's dyed head.

Then Sue commandeered the camera and took this photo. I do love this kid.

Next day at the chip truck, she is using my ancient Digital Rebel (from 2004, I think). I got it out for her and also Sue who is preferring it to iPads and compact cameras at the moment. I need to keep it light for both of them, so the original kit lens is attached even though there are better ones that I could give them.

Danica shot this. I think she might have a good eye, framing the house like that.

After the chip truck, we went to Dairy Queen for dessert. I suppose it is plain to all now that we are not exactly health food fanatics. Sorry to say.

Next week, we have two more days in town with them. Then we'll take them to the cottage where we will meet up with extended family.

Meanwhile, Sue has resumed blogging, and it is pretty well all about the kids. Hopefully, our posts won't overlap too much for those who read both. I am trying to post in a such a way as to avoid too much overlap. But I really shouldn't worry about it, I suppose.

Amma's and Buppa's Summer Camp: Day 1 and 2

Amma and Buppa's summer camp — the 2015 version — has begun. Except Buppa is not feeling too great this week, so it has not been as exciting as some previous summer camps. Nevertheless, we have managed to have a bit of fun with the kiddies.

Danica is being very girly girl and loving shopping. She is old enough to have a bit of her own money, which pretty well burns a hole in her little purse.

We have managed to get to the park a few times, where we tried a little bit of kite flying.

However, the wind never lasted very long, and I look a little peeved rewinding the string one more time.

Maybe I'll blow some bubbles instead.

JJ loves to climb, which greatly impressed some of the younger kids. He was the big boy hero, and I think it shocked him greatly when he drew a crowd of admiring youngsters.

Since we have an election looming, I had a little tutorial with Danica, explaining political parties, ridings, candidates and how prime ministers are determined. I was really pleased with how this 8-year-old listened, asked pertinent questions, absorbed and understood the information, and then explained it very well in her own way.

By the end of day 2, I was fading fast, but managed to play a little street hockey with the boy before an almost total collapse. How Canadian. Eh? The game, I mean: not the collapse. :)