Gramma Camp Friday

That's it. Summer is over. We had the last beach day of the year. It's been pretty cool at night. The beach towels are washed and put away. 

beach time 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

 It's a short day, as the hostage exchange occurred at 1 p.m. Isabelle arose, had breakfast, then decided to pack up. Jos came upstairs, had breakfast, we had a few quick games of SKIP-BO, and she went back downstairs. 

We packed up, and Isabelle and I put away her Diamond Dotz. It wasn't as exciting as she'd thought.

Finally, at 11:30 I texted her in the basement and asked if she'd pack. She did. Off we went. All loaded up, I could hear a voice, "I'm just a piece of luggage!"

Isabelle had loaded her stuff first and climbed in. We had a good laugh. You can see her under the white towel, in purple.

Down at the end of the driveway, Josephine had forgotten her headphones. We sat and waited while she ran back to the house. The clouds were amazing.

Traffic was busy, as it's the long weekend.

More ominous clouds.

Town was busy.

Lots on the highway, as well.

At the hostage exchange, Caitlin rolled up just as the clouds rolled in.

It was sad. The rain started as they pulled off. Farewell! I don't know when we'll see them again. Our girls begin online school Sept. 18th, but it promises to be more intense than in the spring. They won't necessarily have teachers they know. They won't have the bonding with school mates.

The girls are hopeful that they'll have their friends in their online cohort. 

Our cases of COVID–19 are still here. These are the average number of cases per day. 

The hot spots in Ontario are Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa. We are doing well here in the country. I hope we can keep it that way. 

We are hearing of COVID–19 cases in a few schools. Stittsville, Peel, Westview SS in North York. Some schools started back a few weeks ago, including Quebec. 

Teachers aren't sure of their assignments in the secondary panel. It's quite a strange mix of prepared and rudderless. Elementary schools are assigning surplus teachers to online teaching. It will be quite a fall season for everyone.

JB lost his dear friend last week. He hadn't been able to see him, what with COVID–19. I don't have a client anymore, she is in hospital. It will require an adjustment.

I hope September brings you some peace and quiet. 

Gramma Camp Wednesday

 It didn't start with a bang. At 10 a.m. I texted the girls downstairs. Their devices were off. By 10:30 I figured I'd best go kick butt, although they have another free week next week before school starts. Josephine apologized for sleeping in. Isabelle wanted more sleep! 

There was some mooshing of cats, then we sat out back on the deck while we discussed evergreen trees. Isabelle explained the difference between the two types of trees (evergreens and trees that lose their leaves). Josephine added to the information, by explaining that you can call them deciduous or coniferous trees. I nodded! I explained that our conifers shed some of their needles in the fall. (It was a surprise the first year.)

Next, we discussed whether they should have breakfast or brunch or lunch. By now it was 11 a.m. They went with lunch. Isabelle had chicken noodle soup. Josephine had butter chicken. Soup cans. I guess you heard what tRump said about this, that protesters are using them as weapons. Sigh. America is in trouble.

Isabelle's friend phoned. They talk on the phone while playing an online video game. It's quite a hoot. 

Josephine and I played cards, Crazy 8's, as well as Sorry.

I had a buddy come out with me to the trailcams, again. The hibiscus are still blooming.

She found a leopard frog, and lost it!

There are lots of mushrooms with all our recent rains. I love the little pops of colour here and there.

Josephine knows the drill.

Do you remember the puffball mushroom? Some said you can slice it and fry it up, but I thought not, there wouldn't be room in the fridge.

I reminded Josee about it, and she wanted to see it. It's all brown, now. There were two more little ones, on the far right. 

I just noticed this tree, with two galls. Josee was below in the gully.

A moist, humid day, with lots of cloud cover. We did a selfie to show Momma where we were at.

They went in, while I put the camera away. "Come on in, Gramma! It's warm!"

Beachtime!

beach time from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo. 

My camera needs a good cleaning. 

There were still boats cruising around.

The wind and waves wree wonderful.

The osprey is still here. Soon they'll migrate south.

The geese flew over, then landed nearby. It was too rough, the wind too strong, and they flew off to the sheltered bay up the shore.

Josephine is so good to her sister. She turns 13 in December, and still Jos plays along with Isabelle's play.

By then, we'd had a storm warning for 4 o'clock. Things got dark, clouded over, and it began to rain. We took off home. By then the storm only dropped a little rain. I barbecued hot dogs, and we had more green beans.

Gramma Camp Monday

 Monday was fun. Momma and Papa asked if we'd take them this week. We were happy to. The OCDSB, their Ottawa School Board, has changed its mind. School was to start Sept. 3, then they changed it to the 8th, after Labour Day. Then Monday the public was informed that they are having a few online activities from Sept 14 - 18, and online learning begins the 18th. Our girls are quite tech savvy, their Papa is an encryption engineer, and we often ask them for tips. I'm sure they will do well.

We had a good day, Monday. We accomplished a few tasks.

Josephine assisted me in laying down some flashing on the Muskoka Room. The hole, where the railing used to be, was dripping down and rotting the support beam. Not good. 

After that chore, Joseee painted the milk can. I'd spray painted it white on the weekend, and it was dry now.

I'd sent Grampa into town to fetch some new drainage pipes. This one broke as I was trying to attach it. I'd used it elsewhere.

I printed the two pieces off, wrote down the product number, and sent him off. My mistake was not to indicate it was Crappy Tire! He went to Home Hardware first. I felt so badly.

Anyway, he figured it out. Isabelle helped me install them. I had to screw it, to the downspout, and she took over the drill. "I'm good with those," she assured me. Indeed, she screwed it in, and we were good to go.

Nutmeg presented herself at the back door, dropping off a small vole. Poor thing. They take far more rodents than birds. I keep track, and it is 6 rodents for every 1 bird.

Josephine was coming upstairs from their room, and noticed a bat or bird flying about. It was a bat, flying round and round the basement. Having grabbed the long-handled butterfly net, I explained that the bats come in in summer either to cool down or get warm, and come in via the chimney. I think.

I asked Jos to open the basement door, which she did, keeping herself low to the ground. On round # 5 or 6, I snagged the bat in the net, put it outside and on the ground. It leapt up and flew off.

I went outside to put the net away on the front deck, and spotted a garter snake. Jos loves them and came running, but it was gone.

Our work done, all of us watched Black Panther, which aired on TV ad-free on Sunday. I texted the girls, and both wanted to see it. We taped it and watched it Monday afternoon. We were riveted at Chadwick Boseman's brilliance.

The raccoons are bulking up nicely for winter. 

Butch x 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I was happy to spot Momma Butch on the trailcam. She is still at 3 kits, from 5 in the spring. Not too bad.
Momma butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The fawn was having fun in the meadow.
fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The bucks, as well! If you bother playing the video, you can hear the loons flying over head, stretching their migration wings.
bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We're not beside water, it is about 1 km away, and they fly around some. It's so lovely.