Bugs, blooms, smoke and fires

Soon we'll say goodbye to the bugs, some of our critters, and blooms. Hopefully, that means we'll get some rain.

We had a burning bush!


There was an emergency in the area. I still haven't found out what it was. Sun. Aug, 19, 5:47 p.m. There were 4 cars at once, and another a bit later.

 

Our Local Food Bank

We donate monthly to our food bank, as well as some other groups (our Women's Shelter, The Stephen Lewis Foundation, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary!).

I was interested in what the food bank is doing for local citizens: "The Table Community Food Centre now offering peer advocacy programming in Perth".
This is what will help people in our community.

Around the World 

They are home and safe. JL and Isabelle were in business class, Caitlin and Josephine were in the back and took longer to disembark having come from LAX => YVR => YOW!
Isn't this a joyful photo?!



Also, it's Gramma Camp this week! Stay tuned for more tales!

The kids took some photos of the smoke from the California fires as they flew back. It is shocking. The fire in Central Ontario ("Parry Sound 33") is FINALLY under control. It started July 21st. There are fires all up and down the continent.


There is a Montana wildfire threatening a Canadian park.

You can visit NOAA and see the smoke from the fires.

Frogs, pumpkins and cats!

The goldfish pond frequent flyer is back. The frogs had a meeting to talk about it!



Garter snake from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.


My dwarf pumpkins are growing nicely!


This is our last monarch caterpillar, methinks. They have been so numerous they have stripped the milkweed!


My hibiscus are abloomin'!

Around the World

I'm happy to report that our children have flown from LAX (LA) to YVR (Toronto).

They went to Venice Beach yesterday. They landed in YVR this morning, about 6:30, and are in the air, traveling to YOW, Ottawa. Nearly home! There was a lot of time spent in airports, waiting!

Our Anniversary!

Aug. 22

It started as a dreary day. The critters have been having fun at the feeders. The sparrows were first, followed by the nuthatches, and now the goldfinches. The sparrows were trying out the hummingbird feeder. Then, red squirrel got in the small bird feeder.


I began the day with a pedicure. Very relaxing. I complained about the woman yelling on the phone during my last visit. They promised signage. I asked about protocols for staff. 'Tis done!


Then, off to Westport.


Westport, a cool lunch! It was about 19 C., with a wind. Hubby puts up with me, and had brought a jacket! It's still summer when you can eat outdoors.


They were doing this at a local restaurant, and had to stop due to health and safety bylaws. Four dogs, and a woman with her foot up on the chair!
It's a good thing no one is afraid of dogs.


Did you hear about this? Not everyone likes dogs!

When will we find out #Putin is an AustinPowers creation? He lets loose his dog with #Merkel who has a dog phobia. pic.twitter.com/mjrLA6BBi7

— Gerry Hassan (@GerryHassan) January 11, 2016

On the way home...


It was difficult to turn right! Eventually, he spotted us, and moved up.


I was afraid to ask the price, but it is beautiful. It's a doctor's buggy, having spent 55 years in a barn. OK, I asked the price: $1800. That's a bit much for a lawn ornament. sigh.

Around the world

July 21 => Aug. 25

As my faithful readers know, our kids have been traveling around the world on points. 

Five weeks, and they are back on North American soil. They have a day in L.A. I watched the tracker as it moved across the ocean. They missed the typhoons in Korea and Japan, happily. 

Next flight (tonight) is LAX => YVR (Toronto, Ontario), then Ottawa (YOW) and home! 

The girls konked out in business class! 

I wondered where they were headed....

 Once landed, they had to wait for four planes to take off before their plane could cross the tarmac to the gate.

Paint Party Friday

I managed to finish two drawings! I began the raindrops while it was pouring rain at my client's house, after no significant rain for weeks!I totally forgot about it. 

Around the World

Our family made it from Nakita, Japan, to Seoul, Korea! I was up at 3 a.m., and checked flight tracker.
My daughter wrote: "We threaded the needle between those storms! Cimaron hit Osaka just after we took the train to Tokyo, and Soulik avoided Seoul for us."

These photos are from Narita airport. 

The next leg of their trip is going from Incheon airport (Seoul, Korea), to LAX! It leaves this morning, and takes 11.5 hours.