Opening the Cottage and a Side Trip to Marks Point Park

May 31, 2026

Last week, our daughter, Andrea offered to drive with me to the cottage to open it up for the season. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

We left Sunday morning and arrived at the ferry dock about an hour early. It was a beautiful day. The new ferry wasn’t up and running yet but it was the last day for the Sandy Graham. Starting today a barge is taking its place until the new boat passes inspection.

When we arrived at the cottage we went to see our neighbours and shared some tea before the work began. We heard stories about how bad the mouse infestation was for some of our other neighbours. Fingers crossed, we opened the cottage to find only one dead mouse and minimal evidence that mice had even been there. We wiped down all the counters, swept the floors, put the deck furniture back outside, unpacked all the cushions, set up the BBQ and racked the leaves off the pathways and the deck.

Not wanting to return on the barge the next day we decided to take the old ferry back to the mainland that evening and have dinner at Andrea’s cottage which was only 10 minutes away. Seeing we weren’t rushed for time we decided to explore a road that we don’t normally take. We took it as far as it went and ended up at a very small park called Marks Point. We parked the car and walked towards the water.

There wasn’t much to see so after 10 minutes we got back into the car and drove to Andrea’s cottage. The lot next to her place had recently sold and the new owners had cleared out quite a few trees. Hopefully that is all that they’re planning to take out. It certainly changes Andrea’s and Josie’s view but there is more sun on their deck.

Thursday Throwback – Three Weddings

This year two of my three children have and will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversaries and one celebrates 15 years of marriage. All three were very happy days and full of wonderful memories.

9/10/11

Our youngest daughter was married first and her anniversary date is always easy to remember. She and her now husband were married on September (9th month) on the 10th day in 2011. It was a beautiful late summer day and the outdoor wedding took place in a vineyard.

In 2016, our remaining two children decided to tie the knot. Andrea and Josie were married on their 10th anniversary of their first date, February 10th. It was a small wedding with family and close friends. They were married at City Hall and had the reception in a lovely Italian restaurant.

Five months later our son, Brendan and his beautiful wife, Azadeh were married in Assisi, Italy. The destination was chosen because it was the one place that all the families could attend without any visa restrictions. Also Brendan and Azadeh had a connection with the owner of the resort and they were able to book the entire place just for their guests. It was a magical place and a wedding that we won’t soon forget.

One Word Sunday – Surprise

thanks to Debbie for hosting One Word Sunday https://travelwithintent.com/challenge-and-theme-updates/

So surprised to see us again
Hard at work to make her Papa a special cake
The finished cake
Always popular with the kids

Fandangos One Word Challenge – Feed

...thanks to Fandango for hosting the One Word Challenge https://mymindmappings.com/2026/01/03/fowc-with-fandango-feed/

What is it about feeding people that gives us so much joy? Food in our family is a way of caring for the well being of our loved ones and expressing love. My husband loves to cook. It gives him a great deal of satisfaction and enjoyment. We are so lucky to be able to feed ourselves and family every day and not worry about where are next meal comes from. Yes we complain about the price of food these days but for most of us we are still able to put food on the table. Sometimes we have to get creative to stretch the dollar but I still fondly remember some of the comfort food we prepared at university. Chicken livers and peppers over rice was a staple along side macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meat sauce (from a jar), grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, homemade chilli and eggs and toast.

A Month of Celebration

…August 2025

August started with my sister’s birthday and a family celebrating 50 years in Canada. The Heideckers became very close friends with my Mom and Dad soon after they arrived. Sadly they are no longer with us so my sister and I were there to represent the Winklers.

In the middle of the month Kevin and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Where did the years go? We invited our friends and family to share a meal at a wonderful Italian restaurant, Pulcinella.

Twelve days later we had a quiet dinner on my birthday and two days later at our lawn bowling end of summer event the club sang Happy Birthday to me and another Carol. That was quite unexpected.

Today I attended the 50th wedding anniversary of a couple I knew in high school and when our children went to school together we became good friends. This party was held at the Rogers Centre during a baseball game with the Blue Jays and the Brewers. It was a great game and the Jays won 8 to 4. Congratulations to Diane and Don. Thanks for a fantastic day!

The Numbers Game – #17

today’s number is 138

Thanks to Judy for hosting the numbers game. When going to your photos you just have to type 138 into the search box and wait and see what pops up. Here are some of the photos that popped up today. https://judydykstrabrown.com/2024/04/15/the-numbers-game-18-apr-15-2024/

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A Look Back on 2023 – April to July

a busy part of the year as I get ready for my solo art show, open the cottage and prepare to fly to Calgary

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Adding Stitching to my art and experimenting with rock weaving
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Trip to the Guelph Arboretum
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Daughter running at the High Park Spring Runoff and my friend’s daughter’s wedding
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Poster for my solo show and curating the collection at home before installation
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Show is installed and ready for opening day
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After three long years we’re back to bread baking at Montgomery’s Inn
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Opening of the Lawn Bowling Season
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Trip to the Aberfoyle Market and the Elora Gorge
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Beginning of our cat sitting experience with Tober
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Another art installation at WAAC
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Opening Reception for “Artists Choice” at WAAC
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The Lakeshore Cheese festival and my friend Peter’s retirement party
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Opening the Cottage with my friend Liz
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Trip to the Cheltenham Badlands
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Long Branch Garden Tour….congratulations Mary
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Dog sitting Olive while her Mommies are on the East Coast visiting Winnie and her family
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A trip to the cottage with Andrea…put down the new floor in the kitchen
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Flying to Calgary to visit family and friends….took a side trip to Banff
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Fun times with my sister and her husband until……
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…Kevin ended up in the hospital for the next five days with pneumonia …kept himself busy with drawing
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In the meantime my sister and brother-in-law took me on many excursions in between hospital visits and I did get to spend time with our friends Lance and Lois
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To be continued…..

Happy Easter From Our Family to Your’s

this Easter weekend has involved painting, drawing, getting together with family and eating…lots of eating

Every family celebrates this time of year differently but it almost always includes food. In our house it also includes drawing and painting and getting outside to walk and take photos.

Food with Family

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Walking and Taking Photos

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Making Art….to be continued

Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Belonging

thanks to Sue W and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/01/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-belonging/

Before COVID I belonged to a group of bakers. Every week, twice a week, we got together to make dough and bake bread in the wood burning oven at Montgomery’s Inn, one of Toronto’s Historical Museums. When COVID hit in March 2020 all volunteer jobs were eliminated and bread baking ceased to exist for almost three years. I loved belonging to this group of men and women who came together every week and I look forward to the day that we can once again get together to make bread.

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I also belong to an organization of mostly women artists but also some men and that too has reduced it’s in person activities considerably since COVID hit. I love belonging to such a creative group that shares knowledge and ideas so freely and openly. It’s given me the confidence to pursue my art journey and I even hosted my first solo art show in 2022.

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I also belong to a lawn bowling club and this past year we’ve been able to get together in person to play ‘normal’ games where we can have three people per side and use all the lanes at the same time. We were also able to celebrate Canada Day and we had a year end dinner. A great group of people that I’m happy to call friends.

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The most precious of groups that I belong to is that of my family and friends. COVID has been difficult but thanks to ZOOM and WhatsApp, I’ve been able to stay connected. In the past year we’ve been able to travel again to visit family overseas and on the east coast and we’ve even gotten together for celebrations to acknowledge milestone birthdays.

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Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Home

….thanks to Sue W and GC for hosting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/01/25/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-home/

Home is where the heart is and my home and heart have lived at the same address for over 44 years. My favourite part of my home is my backyard where we’ve entertained over the years with family gatherings, memorials and milestone birthdays.

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