Back from the Sault….You can take the girl out of the North, but you can’t take the North out of the girl

August 31, 2008 at 8:34 PM (notes and thoughts)

Pictures from our trip to Sault Ste Marie.

It was a wonderful visit, so much to do, so many people to see, and so little time, but here’s just a quick peak from our visit up ‘North’.  The Sault is about the same weather wise as Ottawa, but for me, it will always be in the North.  And as Morley Torgov said, ‘A good place to come from.’

The captain and first mate of the Norgoma

Cruise liner turned museumQuote from Meghan: “I knew it!!!!There really are giants!!!!!”    Sculpture by the Sault libraryAuntie Mayla, Emma, and Meg, with fab homegrown beansBean You!!!!!Fishing and Jedi nights at Stokeley Creek, a hidden gem in the SaultMovie stars pick blueberries up North too, you knowSisters of movie star like blueberries tooMoose crossings — a dangerous reality up North

Leave a Comment

Serendipity mine…

August 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM (notes and thoughts, stuff)

Or to sing a new song:

She works hard for the money.

So hard for it honey.

She works hard for the money

So you better treat her right!

That’s right. Yours truly is joining the ranks of the working girl. I got a fantabulous, kick-ass-I’m-so-lucky job doing something that I love!! And the hours are perfect, when the kids are in school. And it’s here in Aylmer.

I took the girls for a treat to McDonald’s last week, and had bought a paper to read while they played. I always look through the classifieds, just cause, and I saw an add that piqued my curiosity. And I got that tingly feeling. It was a part time job at a stable. So I called the number when I got home, went to meet the owner and see the place on Friday. I tried really hard not to be excited, in case I didn’t get it, but I gotta say, the place was really nice, the horses were gorgeous, and everyone I met seemed friendly. I got the call this morning that if I wanted the job, it was mine. YES!!!

I love horses but I’ve been out of the horse world for a while. I’ve been playing with the idea of taking lessons again, but hadn’t done anything about it. I used to ride and owned a couple of my own, along with teaching, way back when. Moving to Ottawa meant giving up on riding and horses, for a variety of reasons. I had a few jobs in between at stables, but one was only for a summer, and one ended when I ventured into the world of horticulture and landscaping and more student loans instead.

Now I’m finally back!  And this time I’m staying!

3 Comments

Thank You For Not Stealing My Bike…

August 17, 2008 at 6:11 PM (notes and thoughts)

I wasn’t going to post again today, not wanting to freak anyone out, seeing as I’ve been managing only one or two posts a month lately, and woefully neglecting my tomato blog. (Didn’t know I had one? NakedTomatoes Although it has been rather neglected lately as well – soon, I promise!!)

But something very strange and wonderful happened to me today. I biked up to the pool (biking is supposed to be good for swimmer’s knee – more on that some other time), and I figured the extra exercise would not hurt either. Locked up my bike, and went for my swim. Coming out of the building, I noticed a bunch of kids locking up their bikes where my bike should have been. Hmmn, wait a sec. I hurried over, and realized with relief that my beloved black and red Giant Boulder was still there, but sans lock and a few spaces over from where it should have been. It had also been shifted into gear 1. I know absolutely I had left it in 3.

So what happened to it? Did someone intend to steal it, and then have a change of heart? Did someone give it a test drive and decide it wasn’t quite what they wanted? Or was someone trying to point out perhaps that I should buy a decent lock? Whatever the case may be, I am very thankful that my bike was still there when I was done my swim. It would have been a long walk home. And I love my bike. It’s nothing particularly fancy, but my sweetie bought it for me on a whim, when he was out looking for a bike of his own, so it’s got some sentimental value added to the actual value.  And I’ve had bikes stolen before so I know how shitty it feels.  It’s not even the money (although when you are dirt poor, living on student loans, it was important) but it’s the feeling of violation that kind of act inflicts.

So thank you. Whoever you are, and for whatever reason.

Leave a Comment

Bowl Full of Summer

August 17, 2008 at 11:42 AM (random stuff)

This has not been the best year for tomatoes, but I’ve been getting enough lately to make a big bowl of yummy bruschetta topping/tomato slurpey salad. Pictured in this bowl are some of the valiant tomatoes that have ripened despite our record rainfalls and lack of heat and sun. These soldiers would be (in order of best production) : Cannabec Rose, Vova Yellow, Black Pear, Bloody Butcher, Box Car Willie, a mystery Orange (a mix up somewhere along the line but a very nice tomato), Cherokee Purple, Silvery Fir Tree, Galina X, Zigan, Jaune Flamme. Overall, it’s been a pretty disappointing year. Production is not at all what I had hoped for, and it looks like I’ll be buying tomatoes this year if Todd wants any Salsa made! But at least we’re getting some! Better than some other gardeners have been complaining about! And the silver lining is tons of zucchini.

I will be leaving soon again for our final summer trip before the start of school. I’ve decided to take the girls back to the Sault for a week, to see Mom and Dad, and some of Todd’s family. He has a lot of Aunts and Uncles and Cousins, along with his Dad and his Grandma still living there. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out fishing with my Dad, and get out to swim somewhere along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Ottawa river is a kiddie pool in comparison!

When we get back, we’ll have a day or two, and then school starts for the girls! Then summer is truly over.

Leave a Comment

Glad to be home…

August 11, 2008 at 1:56 PM (random stuff)

We returned last night from our annual camping trip to Silent Lake, dirty, smelly, damp and bringing home a ton of dirty laundry. It was a good trip, despite the extraordinary amount of rain we endured. Our tent held out fairly well, and we learned first hand the true value of a good tarp, slung high between the trees, sheltering our picnic table from some of the downpour. We had three good sunny days, including the first day that we arrived. After that, it rained and rained and rained. But we hiked, and fished, and swam anyway. But it’s good to be back.

2 Comments