A long weekend!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate! We find it as a reason to have the kids over.  More on that later!

They have school off Friday and Monday. The adults were off work Friday. Here is Jo, back in the day. 

 We've been watching a French 5-show TV series, L'Éclipse ( 2024 IMDB). We use subtitles anyway, as Joe needs them. It is reminding me of my high school French. I like it. The leads are female gendarmerie, and the juggle between home and work is obvious. 

The show has drone images inserted of this amazing canyon, Canyon de Bozouls. 

This unique geological site, known as "Trou de Bozouls", is a natural cirque, a horseshoe-shaped canyon dug into the limestone of the Causse Comtal. This steep-sided meander is the result of the erosive action of water and the stages of entrenchment of the watercourses. 

Grandies Easter Visit – Part 2

We got so much done a week ago Saturday, April 9th. (See this post!) Caitlin moved the snow blower to the shed. We moved the tree back there, and I finally remembered to bring in the lawn tractor battery. I should have done this in the fall. It'll need a good recharge.

We had an Easter dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli/carrots. Dessert was an apple pie/crumble. Caitlin's MIL is visiting next week, so we planned ahead. COVID numbers have been up, at least in the high-risk population, and with OCDSB electing to keep masking, we thought we were okay last week. 

Jos wrote Easter Dinner for us!

 Sunday, April 10th, was fun, as well!

The girls did some art work in the Muskoka Room. It was cold! I loaned them both warm hoodies. While they waited for the base coat to dry, I brought them a blanket! 

Isabelle did a painting, Jos painted her light switch cover. Isabelle outlined the painting with painter's tape. Clean, crisp edges!

Last week I did a really good wash of our fridges. I asked the girls if they wanted to put the magnets back on! 

They dressed for dinner on Saturday, wearing their new jumpsuits! (They are Winners!) They are about 5'4" now. My height! They like to lord it over me! 🤣

I wanted to rehang my music staff above the piano. I noticed that the loon print, hanging there for ages, was a gift we gave to my mom. It's pretty faded. Time for a change! 

It was a challenge, and Caitlin brought their stud finder. That helped. It took two people to hold it, and we had to drag the piano out from the wall.

Isabelle took the camera this time. She was photographing Nutmeg, who was supervising Grampa during his workout.

The kids went to Universal Studios during March Break. They brought back a snazzy cap for JB. For me, as requested, they brought me back a visor I will use when gardening and/or working outdoors.

For lunch, Isabelle and I made Eggs in a cloud  <= there is the recipe link. It was quite nice. A piece of bread, with beaten eggs on top, drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. 

One reserves the yolks until after the first bake.

Then, add the yolks and bake another 7 minutes. They were a fun Easter lunch. In hindsight, the well should have been larger, and I should have taken it down to the bread. The whites rose some. All but one, the yolk dripped off the edge.

While we waited for the egg clouds during the first bake, Isabelle took photos. She said, 

"The camera loves you, darling!" They are such a joy to be around.

Percy is watching!

I think this is still Nutmeg!

🐻SNUGGLE Bears

Grampa arranged the stuffies for Easter.

On our Chromecast , we watched Jos' band play on the TV: “It’s NOT a Concert” Concert II Intro - YouTube. Then, we watched some of the Twitter Buitengebieden videos. They are heartwarming animal videos. Just delightful.

It's a symbolic time of year, Passover, Ramadan, as well. 

Cats and mice friends

Actually, they have brought home three meadow voles on Saturday. I rescued one in my cap. I took another away. Finally, Nutmeg looked in the window, smacking her lips. I knew she'd caught one. We have quite a few about the front lawn.



She ate one later, and left the gallbladder behind, as they do. A raccoon must have eaten it in the night.


 I put it in the forest.

Maggie and her twins, plus one more. My yummy tulip bulbs!  Nutmeg was just looking for mice. Usually, she nip at my hostas in the summer. What the heck.

 


It was a cold night. The frog pond is frozen over, again.


I had to drain the water fountain, just in case.




We're anticipating rain. "April showers..." The crocus were pretty well closed up yesterday.

Anyway, Happy Easter to all who celebrate. Happy Passover, to y'all, too!
Here is an old favourite... one Easter in Muskoka. Josephine watched this one over and over, back 10 years ago.

Easter visit

Saturday/Sunday last

We've had another rainfall. Indoor play was the best idea. Crazy 8's were played. Jos was picked up from a sleepover, and brought her blanket and pillow. The heat was on, honest!


We decided to watch the CBC The Nature of Things - The Great Butterfly Hunt, which I had taped for us. It is a documentary about how our Canadian, Dr. Fred Urquhart (1911 - 2002), and his wife, Norah Roden Urquhart, figured out where Monarch butterflies went in the winter. He'd researched it for 40 years. It's a great documentary, which shows the difficulties of filming the show as well. I'm writing up a bit of a precis for posting a bit later. It's a fascinating story. The fun part is that Josee and Izzy helped me tag butterflies during one of our Gramma Camps.

There was reading, snuggled under the poncho. Hooper was let in and out several times, and well-fed.


Last visit I asked where Izzy's favourite comfort toy was, BeBe. Two visits ago, she forgot her here T our house, and I mailed her to Isabelle! Apparently, last visit, she didn't bring her. She told me that she gave BeBe up for Lent! It was her own idea. But BeBe is back!

After the meatloaf, everyone relaxed in the TV room. Hooper snuggled upside down. Caitlin took my photo.


My orchid cactus is blooming, Isabelle liked it! She showed me several buds about to bloom.


I showed them my updated terrarium. I added some colourful fish tank gravel.

The Easter wreath. It still has its price tag, which is colourful.

They are voracious readers! Hooper snuggled.


Prior to dinner, the carrot cake was decorated. Each girl did one half.

Meatloaf and baby potatoes, cooked around the meat. The meatloaf had chicken, turkey, beef and pork.  JL served.


Sunday morning, the first crocus!

Josee rang the bell prior to departure.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover

In preparation for the kids' arrival, I finished last-minute decorations. Frosty looked cold, I added the jacket.

We have a pair of rabbits who appear regularly on the trailcam. This one was out near dinner.

I hauled some wood from the shed to the house. The girls like to play in the basement and I have to keep it warm. A bit of an issue... once I'd loaded the wagon, it wouldn't move. The wheels were FLAT. Sigh.

 I have to move the wood before the phoebes try to nest in here [Update on the phoebe nest–2016]. Or the robins, which they did last year [Robin red-breast nesting progress]. The cats can jump up if the wood is there. Fortunately, the tire pump worked, even loaded up like this. It's been chilly, -6 C. this morning. 

The kids came for lunch. I set the table. This is the 'after' photo! Izzy came upstairs, at one point, 'The fire needs attention!" I complied.

The smoked ham was a large one, we'll have leftovers. I basted it every 20 minutes.  Chef John's Honey Glazed ham. Cloves, honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
It took longer than I thought, not quite thawed. We sent the kids off on a treasure hunt.
Grampa wrote a poem, a clue for the hidden stuffed dinosaurs. The girls found them downstairs.

Presents for the cats: this is stuffed with catnip.


After lunch, we did Facetime with the kids in Vancouver! It's fun watching the grandies interact with one another. We have three granddaughters, altogether. We sang the ABC song, and Cluny's Bing Bong song. Cluny showed us how old she is (2).  Much fun had by all!


Peppy Pig Bing Bong song! I just can't get it out of my head! Hooper had a grand time. Here he's lying on Josee's hair!


The girls made the dessert! Carrot cake, of course. Then off they went home. Hooper didn't know what to do with himself!