20 / 52 weeks

52 weeks of daily life in pictures: trials and celebrations,
the extraordinary and mundane -- 
whatever is unique to the week. 
Join me if you like.

Shame on me; I teased everyone about our newest wildlife sightings, both near and on our own property. We sighted two groundhogs in one day which prompted a funny - spotted groundhogs, so that must mean spring is about six weeks away... smiling.

And then, last week when we drove up our driveway and both dogs were riveted by something close to their pen - a small groundhog about the size of a light brown colored guinea pig was slowly waltzing on the grass towards the forest floor.

Well, that's a first! 

Groundhogs aside, I'm happy to report we've been greatly admiring blossoms and leafy trees all through our forest. It's amazing what hot and humid monsoon rainfalls will quickly stimulate into season. 

It's soccer season! Out of the indoor bubble from winter, spring/summer represents the only time soccer can be played out of doors here, not that ours play in winter mind you.

For the first time, this young gal and her brother are not playing in a recreational coed fun league, oh no, they are older and too big for the other league now, so we're into all girls and all boys teams. It was never intended this way, but as our luck would have it, surely it just had to end up they both happen to play on the same night - at different fields around the area!

This was the parental and team player introductory evening, a long walk down many soccer pitches to finally end up where the two team's coaches were. Both call and regard themselves as "British Gentleman" , super great coaches they are to date after a subsequent practice and game night!

Couldn't help but snap the photo above, she was quite literally glowing after being handed her soccer uniform; shorts, socks, and shirt.

It was an exciting moment to be a team sponsored by "Domino's Pizza", who offers all team players a hefty discount when ordering pizza in uniform after a game. And she was able to get the number she wanted - "12" , same as her age.

Here she is midfield near the center line going for the chase, loving every single second of the coach's encouragement and high fives. This should prove to be a wonderful season for her and our son. Photos of him coming up as soon as hubby and I swap fields so I can snap some. 

Our forest floor once again is covered with white and light pink trillium florals, so lovely amongst the greens quickly closing the forest walls in again. I shall never tire of these.

And then - the sun brought these yellow florals out in sheer abundance, decorating our grass about the property. I loved the local ad on Kijiji lately; FREE - Dandelion leaves! I wonder is someone picked them, and began a personal rigorous detox program.

Another birthday and the years have flown by as - he's no longer a teenager! 

Happy 20th birthday to our son in whom we are blown away by his intensive and incredible diligence to his schooling/studying efforts. On this birthday, he not only celebrated by having a dinner date out with mom and date, he also graduated his recent ultra (!) intensive course. 

I'm happy to report not only has this son advanced in his career mode into that of an official "Railway Conductor" after a nail biting mandatory hard sweat studying to be able to achieve the required 100% on the final three exams, he was summoned back to school after the weekend of his birthday to get back to the books/field to also become an official "Belt Pack Railway Engineer" and able to pass the final test with the same criteria. He did. :)

With both to his credit, he's out in the field for his mandatory 90 tours of duty, and in no time at all will he be back to school to become a full fledged "Locomotive Engineer", climbing up the ladder just as his father and brother have through the years before him.

Congratulations - so proud of you son!

Many hawks flying by, hunting for their lunchtime meal these past few days. There is an abundance of animal life in the forest, including tales from a neighbor over how our barking dog alerted them to another black bear wondering about the empty lot next door to us and the one near them several times last November. Add to that tales from another neighbor about the female coyote who was scouting out for her pack several weeks ago near our property, and we have everyone on guard here. 

The local rifle club members have been out the past three months very discreetly "thinning the three main coyote packs", teaming with the entire geographical area nearby to save the deer. Finally, the coyotes seem to have filled their bellies enough and haven't been spotted for a while, but only after alarming two families up and around the corner after stealing their small family dogs as dinner prey. 

It's good to hear the stories of the forest, and it's also good to keep on our toes with safety in mind with children roaming about the neighborhood. All of the other families with children have the same rules as ours; stick together, have your walkie talkie on at all times, inform of your location immediately if there is a change.  Really, we have all invaded their space, but we do feel those "Thornton Burgess" books have come alive for us.

These young working girls panicked only a bit after being informed they had to dress up fifties-style for three of their shifts last week. Instead of doing the simple thing of blue jeans with large cuffs to the knee, they went shopping and bought matching attire. They looked so cute before leaving for their mutual same shifts, I had to snap this photo of them.(and the dresses were pulled up under those sweaters when they realized how uncomfortable and easily they were slipping down at the shoulders...smile)

Look at the photo and know what my job was this past weekend....

Our younger two boys share birthdays exactly one week apart, so it was with pleasure we were able to keep up the family tradition and take our younger son for his birthday breakfast with mom and dad. He chose the famous "Cora's" again, and downed an entire (huge!) waffle loaded with fresh strawberries and whipping cream. I'm certain though by now it only filled one of his hollow legs, as he's growing in leaps and bounds above my head. It's official! I look up to him now.... 

 Happy 14th Birthday to YOU! 

Well now, tiny miracles really do happen when it comes to these blog posts finally being published. All kidding aside, you may be pleased to know there are still over a dozen posts in cue and postdated to come along shortly.

"Dear Sixteen Year Old Me" Video ....

Since summer is around the corner, I want to leave you with this inspiring video. It's very moving, and I implore you to be proactive with those you love and care about.  Be sure to pass this round and round...

Head on over to Barbara's to check out the invitation to join the

52 week photography link-up party.