Happy Birthday Josephine!

We talked to the birthday girl via Facetime on Saturday.  It was her 16th birthday on the 9th, but she was working her high school's show, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Her birthday party is next weekend, when she is free. 

They were doing a matinee, and family was attending, to support her. We knew we had a big trip to the city on Monday, for the bone density scan, and thought we'd avoid any germs sitting in a large audience.

Jos has worked on her coat, and painted a snappy image on the back.

Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Caitlin had performed this in 1995 at the high school, 28 years ago.  I remember being in the audience, and the actors were instructed to mingle and interact with the audience. 

Caitlin roamed around, before the show was to start, asking audience members where her husband was. Her character was pregnant in the show. When she came over, we chatted, and I responded in kind. The woman beside me was a bit uncomfortable. I wonder if she thought she WAS pregnant?!. I think maybe she didn't understand that this was a way of bringing the audience in, and having the actors get into character. It was so funny. 

Josephine was working on the technical crew, doing lights. Anyway, the show went well. I don't have permission to post the other young lady's image. I blurred it. Josephine took in some photos of the performance from 1995. It was a moment when Jos told him she was Caitlin's daughter!

The drama teacher, Perry, is a great friend of the extended family all these years. He has been a fabulous mentor to my boys. When Jesse visits Ontario, he always makes time for Perry. 

Saturday, there was a cake!

Sunday, the two of them went to see Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which is a prequel to The Hunger Games! They said it was good, and true to the book.

And, a haircut, new earrings!

We made it to Friday!

 It has been quite the week. Trump has been indicted. 😼 Things are awful in Ukraine. 

We've had a reprieve from the smoke from Quebec, and Ontario fires are getting under control, although there are 34 fires in northeast Ontario. We are very lucky, here.

More smoke later today, though. It's coming from the north, now. Some weird counterclockwise front from the maritimes. I cannot complain, as many have lost homes, or are displaced across Canada. 

This is worth a listen.

200+ South African firefighters landed in Edmonton, Canada to assist in the fight against the raging wildfire. 🇿🇦🇨🇦pic.twitter.com/flXKqlvYxG

— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) June 8, 2023

Still no rain for a few days. It has been cloudy and cool, which has helped in this situation. I am watering outdoor planters once every two days, whereas in the heat it was daily.

I strolled around the garden Wednesday, wearing my N95. I am playing with my iPhone. I think it: peony 'Yellow Crown'. The smoke lessened Thursday, but I was fatigued, and feeling a bit of vertigo. I took it easy. Happily there was 🎾tennis to watch, in between indoor chores. But, I should be gardening!

Thursday, I thought better about my photographic choices, and did better. I pulled up the netting and held the flower. That is much better! There is another bloom, well-hidden, and a bud to come. 

My lilies are growing, protected by my Lee Valley netting. I have high hopes! I haven't seen any deer about, but I am ready. They are likely have their fawns now. There is lots to eat, besides my plants. 

The cherry tomato plant is doing well! I'm thinking I will need to support the plants! Tying them up last year didn't work well. They sagged and sat on the soil. My indoor orchid is tipsy. It, too, needs a bolster. I am working on that.

Our nesting birds have been busy. The robins are gone. The phoebes under the upper deck continue to feed their nestlings. The cowbird, laid in their nest, seems to have flown away to another lilac tree. I've been wrestling with Siri to get a one-handed photo. It isn't working too well! 

According to my notes, they hatched May 25th, and should fledge in 15+ days. That would be June 8th. Any day now, and I'll be able to stack my wood. 

I post an archival photo to help get a picture. 

Isabelle (gr. 8) and Josephine (gr. 10) are finishing up school events. They are housed in Bell High School, where their mother and uncles attended. The school is now a joint space for the high school and middle school. There was an art show. Both girls are excellent artists. 

Isabelle's piece is the lower right.

Josephine's artwork is the skull, on black.

I'll leave you with critters. We've had many bugs, setting off the alarm. 

bugs from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

What a pain, the camera is so slow!

coyote June 1st from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've been watching for Fred Groundhog, they seem to have vanished. I did get a skunk crossing the lower deck! I haven't seen one in the daytime in ages.

Skunk from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

UPDATE: I began writing this previously. Fred turned up Thursday. Dunno what they are up to. I did barricade them out from under the propane tanks. 😜 

Happy Sweet 16!

 I cannot believe where the time goes! However, Josephine is 15 years old today. I texted Caitlin and told her to expect a delivery for Jos' 16th, but she patiently explained she is only 15. This is going to be the funniest thing I've done all year! 😉 Don't tell the kids! 

In my defense, I think, as her birthday approached I flipped her age to 15. Then just flipped it, again!

This is a screen capture of what I chose to send. We'll see if it matches what she gets. We'll do her birthday later. 

We have sniffles going about, so we won't see them this weekend. We really got to know our Ottawa grandies during the pandemic. They spent 35 weeks with us, on and off. It was such a blessing. Jess and his Vancouver family visited in July, and that was terrific.

In December 2007, I recall Caitlin phoning saying she was going into labour. We packed up, and began the drive from Muskoka to Ottawa. It is about a 4 1/2 hour drive. By the time we arrived, the trio were home from the hospital, and all was well. She was and is a wonderful mother. I am so happy she had midwives for the delivery. (Isabelle was born at home!) 

In 2009, we visited and I was proud of Josee baby, and my other new baby, the book I wrote about caring for my ailing parents.

This is one of my favourite videos! "What does your belly button say?"  "BEEP!"

   

 This is more timely, we visited at Christmas, but were living in Muskoka at the time.

 

She has grown into a smart, lovely young lady. Her Gr. 10 report card was great. We are so proud of them all, our 4 granddaughters! 

Josephine has been busy!

Our grandies had a decent week, virtual learning since Wednesday and all. They got back into their regular routines. With everyone at their respective desks. 

As I mentioned, our Josephine (now 14) has been doing photography using her late Grampa's camera. When we were married, he never really used it much. I used his camera it to learn how to take photos. My parents only had a small camera, and used to have their photos made into slides. 

The kids take photos with their iPads, as well as iPhones, which are really quite spectacular. 

 Josephine has a keen eye! An artist, she delights in sketching by hand, or on her iPad. We used to write little story books, and do many arts and crafts during Gramma Camps. My favourite time were the Art in the Barn (2014) &  Art in the Barn 2015 trips. We ended up making two! 

They grow up, don't they?! She created a family photostream, at my request. We haven't seen the kids since November for JB's birthday, and I wanted to see what she was doing. I have permission from her to post a couple of photos. What do you think?! 

Happy birthday Josephine!

Frosty has been a long-time friend of ours. [Here are his various outfits over the years: Frosty-the-snowman AKA Mr. Dress-up] Here is Josephine with him in Bala, 2010.  Josephine is 14 today. Happy birthday to our eldest grandie! No party here this year. Maybe we'll celebrate her birthday, and mine (Dec. 26) in January! 

JB came in from his walkies and let me know that poor Frosty had been blown right off the tree stump. It was secured with 3" screws, but the wood has rotted. Frosty lost his hat, as well. At least it wasn't a face plant!

I moved him to the bench, his hat beside him. It cracked, split and has fallen off. I think his day is done. I've repainted him several times. 

We had 8 cm snow, which mostly melted. You can see the rodent trails from under the snow.

The frog pond sleeps.

Josee is off to band practice this morning. Cannot believe where the years go! Our beautiful girls.