Welcome to September!

Well, things will really quiet down now. Slowly, the migratory birds (including hummingbirds, insect-eating birds, and bugs) leave. The goldfinches will change colour. Kidlets back in school. Tourists go home and line-ups in town cease. We're back to business. I put my feeders out. We haven't seen bear since July. 20 I think I'm good. (Famous last words!) They've a regular habitat and eating patterns by now.

August weather was dry. 

We're still in a mild drought. My weather data over the years reflects an ebb and flow of heavy rains or drought. The meadow is still lush, as the evening dew wets the weeds. We've had deer, raccoons, and momma turkey, with only a few babies. I'm thinking the coyotes have been eating well!

PERTH SENIOR'S COMPLEX

There is a massive build in town. I've been taking photos since April, 2018.


In town gardens are thriving. I like this house. They work hard on the gardens. I keep meaning to pop in and tell them. It's eye candy as we drive by.

Sen. John McCain

Yesterday we watched Sen. John McCain's funeral. It was very moving. The music was amazing, many hymns and anthems I've sung when I was in a church choir. We both wept. However, when I saw this priest taking a selfie with Pres. Bush, I snorted. Pres. Obama just walked on by.

Almonte Hydro Dam

The Almonte Hydro Dam is being completed. I've been taking photos since September, 2014.

Almonte Hydro Dam 

Bala Falls Hydro Dam

Doug Ford is the Ontario Premier (brother of the late, infamous mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford).
The big news was the Druggie Ford, as they call him, has set us back many years in terms of cancelling our modern Health & Phys. Ed. and Indigenous Peoples curriculum, money for school building maintenance, and yet he didn't make any of these planks in his platform public before being elected. What is truly, truly funny, is that he whipped up from Toronto to Bala (200 km) during the election, and promised them he'd cancel the hydro project. Some of the locals don't want the project completed. Especially the family in the cottage directly opposite the dam!

Now, as you can see, the rebuild of the Bala Falls hydro dam is well on its way to being done.  I began covering it in 2008. Ford has gone from a campaign visit promising he'll cancel it, to saying he can't –as it will cost $100 million. Not to mention that there would be a big hole there! I think I'd like to visit it!

SwiftRiverEnergyLtd@BalaFallsHydro

It's coming together, piece by piece. Each component is carefully designed and custom fabricated in a marvel of engineering and construction artistry. #balafalls #hydropower #madeincanada

11:01 AM - Aug 29, 2018

Progress at Bala's power plant. pic.twitter.com/QeoFkBpkm0

— SwiftRiverEnergyLtd (@BalaFallsHydro) July 31, 2018

Gramma Camp 2.3

Friday, August 31

These are the mornings I like for going back to school! The kids don't mind being in school, if it is cool.

I was up late, 7:00. Izzy was up first. Grampa and Isabelle were having coffee together. (It was chocolate milk!)

Grampa ordered blueberry pancakes for her for breakfast! Jos woke up at 7:23. She had toast.

We watched some cartoons, then Wild Kratts. We did a massive tidy and pack. Their bedroom, playroom area, the guest room (which is our craft room), and the living room.
Jos was amazing. And speedy. She had already packed, and it took Izzy and me a little longer to do their living room bedroom. Jos went into the play area in the basement and finished that. Then, she went upstairs and worked alone on the living room. She was amazing.

Once chores were done, they went outside to play. They caught some frogs, and played around the goldfish pond. It had warmed up to 23 C., by this point.



Once we had lunch, we were off to Perth Fair! It runs Friday afternoon to Monday, as this is a Labour Day long weekend for Canada.

Perth Fair

We had a blast. First, we parked. All of us got our bracelets. Then, we went to the ticket cashiers. We bought them unlimited ride bracelets. (I know!)
On the way we spotted them watering the pathway. We've been pretty dry.


The fun thing is that our girls just returned from their epic Around The World trip. They went to Universal Studios in Osaka. Izzy and Papa did the big rides. Jos is a little more reluctant. This was tame for Isabelle, but she got into the swing of things.


The bumper car was a failure for Izzy. She got frustrated, and couldn't make it work. They went back, and Jos offered to drive while Izzy navigated. That was better. I felt so sad when she was in tears.


They didn't go on these three!


The Cliff Hanger was a hit. As we stood there, we noticed a family of four beside us. It turns out our GP and his family were there. You can see him in the photo above, white shirt, near the ferris wheel. As the girls lined up, he jokingly said, 'No worries, your doctor is right here!'
Dr. D's wife and two older children were in the seats in front of our girls. The mom looked only slightly worried. Dr. D said no way he'd do it!


Crazy mirrors!


We rested in front of the games. This was motivation...


Jos photos, again. She good with the camera!


Poor Izzy had trouble with the darts. The nice red-headed man must have taken pity on the little red-headed girl. He gave her two extra darts. (They were 3 for $5.) She was upset with the wee prize. I took it for her. She was happier to have it later.

Jo won a little stuffed donut  for $5 at the balls-in-a-basket game. Grampa said that was enough money. He was right!


Grampa said one more ride. Jos was done, though. Jos didn't want to do this one, but relented. I was worried about Isabelle sitting in it alone. Iz lost her headband, but recovered it. Josephine slid all the way into Isabelle, which they found painful but hilarious!


There was nothing of interest in this building, but we looked. Tupperware, et al!


Of course... who can resist?


Izzy and Grampa waited in line for face painting. We'd figured out our timing, we had to return to the house, pack the car, have a snack, and drive to meet Momma. We had time! Jos and I went into the building next door.


By the time we returned, Isabelle was getting done. Jos took these photos. This is our local youth club, YAK. Most people were putting in coinage. Josee put in the $10 Grampa gave her. They are a great group.


Finally, home, we rested. Then, we were ready to leave for the hostage exchange in Carleton Place. We shall miss the pitter patter!

Here are the videos, for Momma and Papa. We're sure they want to see them! All of the staff for the games were wonderful with our kids.



 This was the best!

They weren't interested i this at first, but once they'd done Cliff Hanger 3 or 4 times, they were up for it.
Fun slide from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.