The school year winds down. Jo (gr. 11) is studying for exams and finishing off major assignments. She has exams at the end of the week. Tough ones, English, physics, and chemistry. Then, an easier one on Monday and she is done for the year! Aster has another two weeks, being in gr. 8.
It was Father's Day on Sunday. Neither of us here have fathers living. What is really special is having grandkids do Facetime with Grampa. He was out shopping when they phoned the first time. I was out back tying up the Hops Vine some more. I scratched a blackfly bite and began to bleed. I didn't notice until I saw these red spots on the railing, with an ant eating the blood. How weird is that?!
Grampa arrived home, and the kids had gone berry picking. We caught up with them later. Our Ottawa kids traditionally pick strawberries on Father's Day.
Strawberry Photo Shoot
Caitlin said they were going to try and reprise some old Father's Day photos. This was such fun!
Aster was in the snugly one year. Now she is taller than most of us!
This was a very hot year! Not so much this year, as it was cool.
Back in the day!
And a good time was had by all! Isn't that fun?!
We're in a heat dome, with a terrible heat wave. My lawn tractor is back from being repaired and back good to go. I have work to do today.
Those who play the role of a parent have a high calling, whether they are a birth parent or step-parent. JB has done this role very well. He's been an amazing grandpa, too. This post is for him.
Grampa Joe, the things you do, You make us laugh, we're never blue
You make magic, joy, surprises
The fun it comes in many sizes
Trips for shopping, fun, and prizes
With kindness you treat all you know
In your light we all do glow
Close Eyes is your bestest magic
Hunting treasures in sites pelagic
You seldom find us feeling tragic
Wild critters do adore you
Feed us, please, they much implore you
Deer and turkeys beg for more
Feed us well, they will implore
I fed you once, he says, I swore
Roles he has, personal assistant,
Groceries done, he is insistent
If its on the list he'll find it
Ding-ding noodles, he'll get behind it
Searching lots yet he won't mind it
My dad, he'd feed him, poor old gent
Brian, he knew, was heaven sent
While dad's illness was horrific
JB to him was most terrific
Caring acts were most prolific
Cancer didn't make him low
Out of him the love did flow
Positive has been his reaction
Negative won't get any traction
Enjoy each day has been his maxim
65 visits for healthcare!
Muskoka tradition is that grandparents entertain the kids. We babysat, while the kids were on a Wenonah boat cruise, and explained that Mummy & PaPa were at a PARTY! We practiced the concept. She was so happy to celebrate the event. Aug. 2009
Every day is Father and Mother's Day I think about both of them every day. "Should phone and tell..." I often think, before I remember that my late parents watch over me every day.
Kudos to those who consider step-fathers on this day.
Mom and Dad sit on the shelf. We've bought the plot. We just have to inter them. I figure that people looking through our house, if we have any showings, might not want to see the urns sitting there. Ya think? Some might not notice!
Mom's urn has a painting on slate, as does Dad's. It was a lovely ceremony at the church.
We brought Mom's urn to Dad's memorial service. We thought she'd be there anyway! Her urn sits on the pedestal, Dad above on the table.
I was so disappointed that only 9 people turned up for Dad's service. Not sure why. I was very emotionally distraught, suffering depression.
I put up the time and date of the service in the local post office. Those who had called while he was suffering from his brain tumour ceased to call after a time. It was only bad news, getting worse, and his age peers found it hard dealing with his increasing dementia.
I failed to phone all of his friends. I could not face that task. Neighbours told me they could not face his funeral, these the women who enabled my parents to live here long past their ability to do so.
Here is Mom, Dad, my paternal Grandmother and step-grandfather. All of whom are no longer living in this world. I have fond memories of family visits here at the cottage. Grandma lived in England, and went back to her home after emigrating to Canada back in the 30s or 40s. They lived in England in one of those delightful something-upon-avon towns.
With my late father's passing in 2007, these days are a bit peculiar. For those who never knew their birth parents it must be a poignant day. I met my birth mother, she never spoke of my birth father. I have no clues. It makes me understand how the detached feel on Valentine's Day! That said, for me it is a day to look back at the life my adoptive parents created for me.
My father was a totally supportive man, despite losing his father at age 15. It seemed a common problem in those days, as my mother's father died when SHE was 15, the same year, for the same reason.
(On the left is mom's father, who died in 1940.)
Hiding behind his paper at the end of the day, my Dad cooked and cleaned on Saturdays (before it was kewl) when Mom had to work. I have many memories of fishing with Dad (right). I remember one day, we could see the clouds forming, and could see the wall of rain moving towards us from across the lake. It was incredible. We scurried to clean up our fishing gear and high tailed it into the cottage, laughing so hard.
He was a wonderful grandpa, taking Caitlin, and subsequent grandsons, shopping, giving them spare change for the Balacade. Here he is with Caitlin by the lake he loved so much. Caitlin turns the big 30 this year! How time flies.
I attended a Palliative Care Conference last month. One of the workshops featured ways to celebrate loved ones. To that end, I created an iMovie from our family's slides to celebrate my Dad's life. He so loved 'the cottage', as many do. These slides from the 50s, 60s, 70s showing the old days in Toronto, family picnics, the cottage, Muskoka, pets and parties.
Here is Dad raking his beloved Muskoka property, happy as a clam - Mom ever the photographer.
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Celebration of Dad - music by Bev Foster, Warm Breezes, Room217.ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Celebration of Life- for Dad's funeral in Feb., 2007. It is one idea for a memorial!
