Aug 4-5 all accounted for

Jeffrey arrived around 8:45 last night so we are complete now ... all except Kim's daughter Megan who stayed in Edmonton with her grandparents. He had a good trip up, leaving the Philadelphia area sometime after 9am. Of course at that point it was almost my bed time, but Sarah had beat me to it, trying to sleep downstairs with the kids playing on the soccer table just a few feet away.

Yesterday was an outdoors day. The kids played in the cove most of the day -- that is when they weren't out for boat rides or eating. I took them for a couple of rides -- one just in the area and after lunch to Lost Channel for ice cream.

Norma Sherar, her husband and parents Ken and Doris came over around 1pm -- they were invited -- a) the see the place (Norma & spouse had not), b) to see Arlene (Norma had not seen her in 20+ years), and c) to meet Sandy (Norma had not met Sandy). Norma is Arlene's age -- she, her brother Wayne (now deceased), Karen Beech, Jason, Arlene and I hung around as a crowd way back when. Their cottage is about 1/2 mile down the lake. It was a bit crazy with everyone here but they visited for a bit and then I had to go to the Channel with the kids (I had promised). Ken remembered how I had said that I like rock-hard pears so he brought a basket of pears from their tree in Toronto -- small but tasty & crunchy ... mmm.

This for Sue -- you remember the pear tree in Brantford ? One of my earliest memories is eating rock-hard pears from that tree and my grandmother (mother's mother) having me sell baskets of pears in the neighbourhood. Why anyone bought those hard pears I don't know ... but they did. I used to stay with my cousin Michael (ny father's brother Uncle Phil's son) for a 2-3 weeks at the end of each summer in Scarborough and take the train to Brantford and stay with my grandmother for a week. My grandmother's house on Buffalo Street in Brantford was right across from the train station.

My cousin Michael and I would travel Toronto on the Subway and in particular go to the Ex (the Canadian National Exhibition) at least a couple of times during the last two weeks of August and then my Mom & Dad would come down to Toronto and we'd go together as a gang. Back then the Toronto Subway ran from Woodbine to Keele; Yonge to Union to Eglinton -- it's a lot longer now with additional lines. Michael and I would ride the subway for hours, getting to the front of the train and enjoying the ride. We would also play over at the Golden Mile plaza on the elevator (three stories ?) -- amazing what amuses kids.

Speaking of amusement -- the kids yesterday had a ball and the dogs were going full time too. Philip brought his dog Bruno who is a cockapoo (sp?) -- basically a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. Bruno is 13+ -- a good looking and well behaved dog. Today Bobbie and Ann are bringing their dogs -- well, I'm pretty sure about Bobbie but I'm not sure about Ann since her Paul is not coming I don't know for sure whether she has the dogs with her.

Arlene, Ira and I went into Mass yesterday and saw my uncle, aunt and Ann -- that's when we found out that Paul had to work the weekend -- must have come up at the last moment because he was looking forward to seeing our place. He used to work for Normerica cutting some of the posts and beams but has never actually seen an assembled structure. I'm a bit disapointed in the turnout from their family -- 3 out of 10 and no kids. Perhaps I need to start earlier than January to organize a reunion for the summer ? or perhaps I should throw in the towel ? oh well.

After Mass we stopped at the bakery for a pre-ordered cake, the liquor store for beer, and the General Store for ice cream and the Saturday Toronto Star. For dinner we had peameal from the St. Lawrence Market (Canadian Bacon for the Americans reading this) served as a roast, Costco green beans and zuccini from our garden for dinner. Sandy made up a plate for Jeffrey because he was arriving later.

The lake had calmed down during dinner and David wanted to go water skiing so I re-launched the Bayliner and took him for a good long spin. Of course all the kids wanted to go but that's too many things for the driver to look after so only Kylie and Kim came along as observers. I really need to think about this observer business -- one time I had to dive into the lake to save Kylie who was strapped to a knee-board and flipped over. Jason's Kim was with me as observer and she was able to drive the boat. It's great having an "observer" with you when pulling a water skier or ski-tuber, but if neither one can drive the boat ? hmmm.

The only other boat-related watersports that we did yesterday was when I pulled Philip in the kayak ... Stef and David had inagurated this new watersport last year -- you don't go very fast and the kayak rider holds onto the ski tow rope just as if they were water skiing. The kayak planes -- it's pretty tame but a novelty.

Oh -- I almost forgot -- I had pulled the Bayliner into the boathouse prior to going to Mass but Olivia and Megan wanted to go wake boarding so Philip used the Whaler -- that worked well and they both went for a ride while I was getting ready for church.

It's flat calm out there now -- the sun is still below the horizon lighting the sky with the trees and slightly orange sky reflected on the water. A new day is dawning -- another warm and sunny day. We should have a good time -- hopefully it will be calm enough for tubing & skiing. Our additional guests arrive around noon with dinner planned around 4:30 -- it will be a busy day.

I have a couple of things on the agenda today though -- mid morning we (Arlene, Philip and I) intend to spread my dad's ashes in front of the cottage in the lake. We have the urn here from his wake last year and this is our first time all together here at the cottage. More than anyplace else this was home for my dad. His stamp is all over the place, even with the rebuild -- the boathouse, shed, garage, concrete breakwaters and steps -- you name it. Also on the agenda ... organized family pictures -- with just our family as well as when others join us this afternoon. We are at that age now where, without any effort on our part, funerals tend to be the only family get-togethers (and it's not appropriate to take pictures !).

That's enough for now ... as usual it's time to feed me and Abby !