Trip to Ottawa: the birthday celebration!

 Aster turns 16 today. We brought some surprises on Sunday when we visited after the concert.  

These require some explanation! Grampa didn't know what the emoji meant. I explained when it arrived, and we all thought it just a hoot. "Holy 💩 I'm 16! " 

Next present was a kit to grow greens. She has a green thumb and grows several plants.  I've sent the same package to our kids in Vancouver for their birthdays. What do you find that is new for people who have everything?! 

Also, I gifted her a pair of earrings we'd bought at a local artisan's show. They kept sliding off the cardboard. I wrapped it in a piece of lace I found. This came from her dress I'd made back in the day, 2014. I am surprised how fast the years went. Faster than when I noticed in my own children. You turn around and they are writing their G1 driver's licence, or going to university!

We said our good byes, and toddled on home.

We joked about height, and she stood on tip toes. 

I wrote Aster a poem!

It is such an epic stage of life for us. We've been so involved with the kids with Gramma Camps, and having them over for week-long visits. Having Jordan off in his own apartment in Kingston really helps it hit home. I am verklempt! 

Trip to Ottawa: a concert

 It was an adventure. We arrived at the church for the concert. It's a pretty church. 

It is the All Voices Community Choir. They saved money on printing programmes by sending out an electronic one. Also, people were checked in electronically at the door. Tickets with a QR code. So modern!

It was a lovely program. We all sang 'Oh Canada' with gusto. Joe recognized lots of songs. He promised not to sing. 😏 I had to refrain, myself. Rise Up, My Love, by Healey Willan (YouTube), is one of my favourites. I have sung this one in my high school and senior choirs many times. It is a beautiful piece. 

There is Caitlin, waiting for the rest of the choir to enter. I sang in the Ottawa Choral Society, with 125 members! I understand the process.

Linda, the director, is so fun to watch! She cheers everyone on. This is the massed choir, adults, teens and young 'uns. 

This was a a very moving song, Ispiciwin, by Andrew Balfour, you can listen on YouTube. It is in Cree. Just beautiful. 

Caitlin came upstairs at the intermission. 

 

I was so happy to see Caitlin sing again this year. There is something about being part of a choir. I can't do it any more. There are many rewards. 

Sadly they are losing their assistant director and accompanist this year. Anyone keen and able?! Gifts for all.

We all went back to their house. Jordan had attended on the Friday, but Aster had just come back from a camping trip at a Scout Camp. She is in Trex. She was tired! 

We ordered Subway sandwiches online, and Joe and JL picked them up. Hooray for city food! 

From the Spring concert last month, a couple snippets.

 

Birds and deer

 I am ready! The hummingbird feeders are up.

#75 is cleaning up under the feeder. As I wrote yesterday, I will put away the sunflower seed feeder once I see the grosbeaks have returned! 

Evening grosbeak:

As a bonus, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak!

Maybe a little bit more time. I await the bears...

We haven't seen deer in weeks! A trio turned up Sunday morning. Can you see the Evening Grosbeak in the upper right corner on the feeder stand?!

She seems to have a round belly!

One was out in the backyard:

We had an adventure into Ottawa for Caitlin's concert. We had so much fun. More to come!

Trailcam, flowers and birds

 I am so excited! I bought me a new trailcam. It uses Wifi and connects to the smart phone. No fiddling around with SD Cards. I can upload images directly to my iPhone and my photo stream, from the back deck. It's a game changer! 

 

You can see the camera on the purple pencil. 

The skies have been dark and ominous. 

Hellbores:

Forsythia:

I am down to one bird feeder. I am waiting for the grosbeaks to arrive before I put them away. 

In other news, Caitlin took Jordan back to Kingston. They stocked up on groceries, put together the new bed frame, Caitlin went back to Ottawa.  

Jordan made himself some shakshuka for dinner! Our country is so rich from foreign cuisine. I think Jordan got the cooking inspiration from the parental unit!

Aster was on a camping weekend with Trex, Caitlin & JL had a date night at Zoe's in the Chateau Laurier. 

These flowers are made of Lego!

Sunday we attended Caitlin's Spring concert. More on that later once I curate the photos.