29/52 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.

** Happy Birthday dinner for my hubby "Mandarin style", especially when not only the food was the reason for his requested (very casual) evening dinner (lobster and crab fest added in to the summer buffet), this was how he was treated by the staff when finding out it was his birthday. We even obtained a free photo inserted into a magnetized frame to bring home.

** Sisterly loving on the back porch, after a tough hot summer horse camp day at the barn and plenty of photos to review together on mom's camera. It was one of those moments when my husband's pointed at me while inside toward the window, and told me to grab the camera to preserve the moment forever. 

** The temperatures have been utterly ridiculous the past while, usually hovering around 30-35C during the day and falling to 16-23C by night. 

Upon us presently of great concern is after several days of the media claiming them to be the "hottest days on record EVER", plus humidity temperature factoring and UV ratings of 10 -11. Too hot even for the beach by day.

Our forest fire alerts are now at the "EXTREME" levels on the scales. Just viewing our back property, one can see how dry the vegetation has become, and all things lawn mowing, spark producing, and (pouting), even mosquito sapping have been unused, disassembled or turned off. 

We depend on our water from a well, as we are not hooked up to city water. Another concern is not only encountering this highest reading for forest fire alerts for the first time and wondering if our water levels will hold up during the weeks to come. Weather temperatures are not predicted to drop anytime soon, so we are saying a prayer that a few summer showers will drench the land soon.

(as this is a late post, there have been two evenings of rain this week, and we need double that yet...)

** Our bear whoas have subsided, and with all the chat amongst the folks in our little community, it appears they've left for their watering ground several miles to the west from here.

No doubt they'll be back, but in the meanwhile, the children in the area are still bike riding with whistles around their necks and walkie talkies clipped on their hips.

** Just to keep up the excitement though, we were able to take in a day at a specialized animal shelter, where resident animals came to them either injured or abandoned and will never be able to cope in the wild as they've imprinted on humans and could never tend to their own survival needs. 

The only black bear, a female, kept us busy by visiting with and entertaining us with her presence. She didn't seem too large at all for a black bear, much smaller than those in the west for certain. Still, I'm happy to report we prefer to visit with her there than come face to face with her on our property.

As we spoke with a caretaker of the animals at this sanctuary, we found out she was actually fifteen years old and it was then our children felt sorry for her, knowing she would remain there for her care for the rest of her life. 

** There is nothing quite as great as finding a perfect tree to climb when these two aren't as small as they used to be! Yes, tree climbing was a must before returning home after day was done here at the government sanctuary park. And this mother was very pleased indeed that her children, ages 14 and 12 years weren't feeling entirely too big for this activity. 

** Something ohhhh so fabulous to find! Truly it made my day to read this!

Here's what is says;

Clearance! All bad moods must go.

So come out and top up someone's parking meter, give up your seat on the bus, or just hold a door open.

All it takes is a small gesture to brighten someone's mood.

Help make the world a better place, one good deed at a time.

Go to peopleforgood.ca to join the movement.

** One very lucky overcast day afforded us an afternoon at the beach, something we usually only seek out after dinner when less crowded and the hope of a sunset beckons us to our usual front road seating. 

It always amazes me how easy it is to kick back and relax with the soothing ambiance of the water's edge, where children find easy ways to create and delight in all sorts of activities in the sand. While our daughter very gently sculpts her sand creation, her brother and a neighbor friend are in the background digging all the way to China.

 

This is a photo snapped with my iphone, one that nevertheless shows the winner of the most detailed and fantastic sand creation we've seen this year. Creators were a family of seven adults who claimed to have spent seven hours forming, carving, and gathering embellishments for this super endeavor.

Later in the evening they set several tea light candles inside and serenaded the evening by enjoying their hard work before them, very protective of all who came to catch a glimpse of it.

Success is the sum of small efforts, 

repeated day in and day out. 

~ Robert Collier

Enjoying the water vessels, and the boardwalk activity while sitting for a wee rest on the black wrought iron park bench, and boat/people watching. There is nothing finer than the feel of a gentle breeze whipping off the water during an extra warm evening stroll. 

** A threatening rain came via dark clouds, and the gift of a beautiful rainbow blessed our evening.

** It's been a long while since we've attended a live play. After the invitation arrived this spring to attend with friends, the day finally arrived and what a great time we had with our out of town guests who we were also able to have over while visiting the area for a few days. The play was near the water, a lovely day for an air conditioned matinee with golf cart valet service (perfect for our lady friend with her walker), followed by a lovely reunion dinner meeting up with another couple who were able to join the fun. 

One person from each couple has attended the same hospital as my husband for respiratory care, and all had some real fun stories about their time while in residence together. Great memories and plenty of laughs were so touching with this bunch all together outside of their usual meeting location. 

Quiet memories with a friend, 

are the fondest memories of the soul.

~ Katie Walters

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

52 week photography link-up party.