Where did summer go?

It's hard to believe my last 'ramblings' here were in April!  As forecast in my last post, it was indeed a busy summer, but not quite the one I had planned.  Having to deal with some 'family stuff' left little time to do all the things I had planned for Aidan and I this year, but we did manage to get most of what was on our 'to do' list done.

We had a fun trip to Toronto, meeting up with my sister, Aidan's 'Nana Carol' and her grandson, Emmet, to take in the amazing stage production of 'The Lion King', followed by dinner at 'The Old Spaghetti Factory'.

Aidan & Nana at 'The Lion King'

Aidan & Emmet at 'The Lion King'

Nana Carol with Aidan & Emmet at 'The Lion King'


Once again this year, Aidan donned his work gloves to help Nana and Papa in the vegetable garden...

Aidan planting tomatoes
 

 At Easter time we had a fun family gathering which, of course, included painting eggs and the annual Easter 'egg roll' for Aidan and Emmet to participate in.

Painting eggs for the 'egg roll'

Lots of money & treats to win
 

Summer days spent at the beach this year were wonderful.  Not too hot, but plenty of sunny days allowed us a fun time in the sand and happy hours throwing rocks into the lake, along with a little 'beach yoga'...

Bending this way...

Bending that way...

Phew, I'm exhausted!
 

Early summer found Aidan and Nana making our first fairy garden...

Aidan's fairy garden



 ...complete with a bench for our resident fairy to relax, enjoy the birds in their nest, and sip on some 'fairy tea'.

The fairy garden
 

Aidan celebrated his seventh birthday with several of his classmates joining him for games and hot dogs, and of course...

Yummy Birthday cake with sprinkles!



We did manage to get away for a few days to Nana Carol's cottage, where Aidan caught his first fish, with a little (actually, a lot!) of help from Papa. .. 


Fisherman Aidan and his 'helper'


...it was a Bass, which Aidan insisted we cook up to "feed his family".  It made a delicious side dish along with the hot dogs we had for dinner that night.

Mmmm...hot dogs and fish!



 A canoe ride with Nana Carol and Opa Harry topped off a fun-filled weekend.

Ready to go!

Off into the Wild!

August brought us to Blueberry Season once again!  An annual tradition now, we made several treks to the blueberry farm again this year.  Aidan's friend Rhiannon was delighted to join him on one expedition for berries.

Ready to go!

Look at all those berries!



One last day trip before going back to school...

...a visit to the new Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto.  Followed by dinner at 'The Old Spaghetti Factory' of course!

So that's where summer went!



 

What a difference a day makes!

For this time of year, yesterday was special!  Sunshine and blue sky.  Warm enough to venture to the beach after school, for some rock throwing and playing in the sand...

We relished the warmth of the sun and soothing sound of the waves, and reminisced of summers past, and how lucky we were to have this beautiful day to enjoy.

A walk along the beach for Nana, while Momma and Aidan played in the sand and climbed on the rocks..



What a treat to be out on a day like this so late in November!  The bliss of warm sun on our faces, made winter seem so far away.  And yet, waking up this morning, with the blessings of yesterday still on my mind, I look out my window, and behold...



...fluffy white stuff!  Ah, Canada, what a difference a day makes!

The Housework Can Wait!

Today is housework day!  My Monday routine consists of scrubbing and cleaning; laundry and ironing.  But not today!

After a summer of hot, humid days that seeped my energy and made any chore take twice as long to complete, today is a glorious, sunny, cool, late summer day.  So...it's off to the beach we go!

Momma and Nana lounging in the chairs, soaking up a much more civilized sun through the brisk, cool breezes crossing the lake.  The little love of my life, throwing rocks into the lake, as usual.  It's what he loves to do more than anything. 

So, the world can wait. And the housework can wait.  This is where I need to be today!  'Rock On' my little Aidan!

Welcome, Spring!

It was a beautiful spring day today!  The snow has all but melted away (at least in this part of Canada!)  Our first of many (oh, so many!) trips to the beach.  The lake beckons like a magnet.  The little love of my life and I pick up where we left off last fall, when the biting cold and early snows of winter finally sent us on to warmer activities.

We pass by the park without a thought or desire to play on the swings and slide.  The boy has a mission on his mind.  Throwing rocks into the lake!  Lots of rocks!  Lots of rocks that Nana has to collect and deposit at his feet!  A never ending supply of rocks to throw into the lake.  It is his passion.  It is where he wants to be and asks to go to when he wakes up in the morning.

More rocks please, Nana!

I kind of get it!  Not the endless rock throwing thing...but I do get the wanting to be there.  That primal draw that pulls us to water, thing.  And so we go.  It will be every day, weather permitting.  Aidan for the rock throwing.  Nana for the blissful sound of crashing waves, warm sunshine and cool breezes.

Noisy waves, Nana!

Sitting in the sand, cheering him on, I can't help but wonder if one day (many years from now, hopefully!) it will be the other way around.   Aidan bringing his Nana to the beach.  Collecting rocks and placing them at my feet, so I can throw them into the lake.  Maybe he'll find that quiet place in his heart where the crashing waves, warm sunshine and cool breezes make us all 'one with the universe.'  Maybe he and I will find it together.  I hope so.

I See the Moon...the Moon Sees Me!

I was happy to discover this evening, that I live in a town with many other 'crazy' people, just like me!

Braving the cold night air, husband in tow, coffee in hand, we strolled along the boardwalk awaiting this evenings 'moonrise'.  Tonight had been hailed in the local media as the night of the 'mega-moon' - that being when Mother Moon is closer to earth than usual...the last time this happened being eighteen years ago!  Higher tides and coastal flooding will occur, so say the media!

But for now, that is all forgotten as I sit on one of the huge boulders that border the lake edge.  Huddled together for warmth, the sounds of Canada Geese, and gently crashing waves in the background, while on the horizon the 'star' attraction slowly rises up out of the lake.  A huge, beautiful, luminous, golden ball of light!  A full moon.

I See the Moon...the Moon Sees Me!

I give thanks for the gift of time standing (almost) still, in awe of the beauty unfolding before me.  For just a little while, I forget about the bitter cold wind blowing around me.  Forget about all the upheaval and troubles going on in the world...and sing "I See the Moon...the Moon Sees Me!"

It was the first lullaby I sang to Aidan the day (well...that night!) he was born, cradled snug in my arms, just him and me, as his Momma slept.  He loves it still.  And on nights when he leaves to go home to bed, and the moon is up in the sky, as I carry him to the car, Nana has to sing...

I See the Moon...the Moon Sees Me

Under the shade of the old oak tree

Please bless the light that shines on me

Shine on the one I love

Goodnight Moon!  Goodnight Aidan!  Goodnight Nana!

Alas, the little love of my life was unable to attend the beach gathering this evening.  There were other social obligations...and anyway, it was just too cold!  So I sang for him, wherever he was.

Returning to the car, feeling quite like a popsicle, low and behold I discovered dozens of other 'crazy' people walking the beach, cameras and tripods in tow, enjoying this evenings celestial gift!

Many months ago I discovered the original recording of this lullaby.  Sounding distinctly 'un-lullaby-ish', and indeed sung by some other 'crazy' people, it is, nevertheless, very funny!  Enjoy!