…thanks to Lens Artists Photo Challenge for this week’s theme, ‘waiting’
Waiting for permission to get on the couch.
Waiting to see what Olive will do

Waiting to be seated in the restaurant

Just waiting for his turn to touch the car

…thanks to Lens Artists Photo Challenge for this week’s theme, ‘waiting’
Waiting for permission to get on the couch.
Waiting to see what Olive will do

Waiting to be seated in the restaurant

Just waiting for his turn to touch the car

….and Happy Birthday Onkel Günter, Winnie and Brendan
It’s been a busy weekend. Not only did we celebrate Thanksgiving here in Canada but we had four birthdays in the family on the same weekend. In fact in October we celebrate birthdays for my husband, my father, my granddaughter, my son-in-law and his brother, my father’s brother and my cousin. I’m sure I’ve missed someone.
This weekend our granddaughter turned four. Andrea, our oldest daughter volunteered to host Thanksgiving and the birthday party at her house. I was most grateful for that, especially after spending five hours in emergency with my husband on Friday. Before you become too concerned let me just say that he’s much better and gets better each day. Thankfully I had made my contribution to the dinner the day before.
The other thing that I did before going to Andrea’s for dinner was volunteer at the Inn to help with the outdoor oven for a workshop that was being put on by George Brown College. At the workshop the students were instructed in baking pizza in the wood fired oven. Everyone got to make two pizzas, one to eat and one to take home. I couldn’t stay for the whole event because I had to be at the dinner. After I left they also baked pita bread and a cranberry loaf. Dale manned the oven and took the pizzas out when they were ready.







Dinner at Andrea’s and Josie’s was spectacular but the highlight, especially for Winnie, was celebrating Winnie’s 4th birthday. Seeing all the presents was too much for her so we decided to let her open her gifts before dinner.





All in all it was a wonderful weekend, with way too much food and drink. I gained about six pounds but I’m determined to take it off as quickly as possible.
…thanks to Ann-Christine for hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge
Candid shots are the ones where your subject is unaware that they’re being photographed. There are photographers who specialize in street photography where they almost exclusively take candid shots.




….celebrating my Dad’s birthday
On Monday my father turned 93. He’s quite amazing. He lives with us but in his own apartment where he does all his own cleaning, laundry and cooks all his meals. He recently acquired a motorized scooter that he uses to get around and do his shopping.
Twice a week he goes to the senior’s centre where he plays cards and he enjoys walking to the lake where he feeds the birds and sits and takes in his surroundings. He speaks to everyone and loves to engage in conversation.
This year our daughter-in-law picked the restaurant because that’s what she wanted for her birthday which was in July. It happened to be a seafood restaurant and my father loves his shrimp so we decided to celebrate both birthdays on the same day. It turned out to be a perfect evening. The food was amazing, the scenery over the marina was serene and the service was delightful. Both the birthday boy and girl were treated to a special dessert on the house.




I love this last photo of my father and me. Just as my daughter was about to take the shot I noticed that my Dad had spilled some food on his sweater and I grabbed his serviette and held it over the spill. In that split second we both burst out laughing over the irony of the situation.
…thanks to Amanda for hosting this week’s Friendly Friday
From Venice, Italy to Buckingham Palace in London and everything in between.
….thanks to Cee for hosting the Black and White Photo Challenge
….thanks to Travels and Trifles for hosting this week’s Lens Artist Challenge
Last week my daughters and I took a break from city life and spent four days at the cottage with our dogs. Frances (my dog) and Olive get along very well despite the large age difference (10 years). I’m very much a water person and love living by large bodies of water, both at home and the cottage. The cottage is on Christian Island in Georgian Bay which is part of Lake Huron. We had a wonderful time swimming, playing with the dogs and trying to put together an impossible 1000 piece puzzle of the moon.
During our stay these two lovely ladies put together the new barbecue while I read the instructions. After it was completed Josie made us a fabulous dinner on the barbecue. I do all my cooking outdoors when I’m at the cottage. Great food, lots of wine and spirits (but not too much) and time spent with friends and family; I can’t imagine a better way to ‘take a break’.




When it was all over Frances needed ‘a break’ from all that running and playing on the beach. She is after all 12 1/2.
…thanks to Xingfu Mama for hosting this challenge
Inside dinosaur eggs, chairs, benches, steps, stools, giant Muskoka chairs and electric scooters all make wonderful seats to rest our bodies.
….thanks to Manja for co-hosting this week’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge
A few weeks ago my son and I took a day trip to Sparrow Lake Camp in Gravenhurst. Our daughter and her family are living up there for the summer and it was our only opportunity for Brendan to see his twin sister before returning to London, England.
The staff was busy getting the camp ready for the first group of boys and girls who arrived earlier this week. We enjoyed a day of hiking and playing and some of the braver souls went for a swim.
…thanks to Nancy Merrill for hosting A Photo a Week Challenge