Bridal Showers!

On Thursday, May 31st Cheryl Dempster hosted Truedell staff in her beautiful new home to honour two teachers who will be getting married this summer to their long time partners.  You can see how happy Monica and Michelle look below.  It was a pot luck event and there were lots of good things to eat, funny stories to share and happy times all around.  Good luck ladies.  May your futures be long and bright!

Smile Monica, EQAO is over!

Happy Michelle!

Dueling brides!

Experienced Brides!

Michelle's mom came too!

Trip to the Cottage

On Wednesday, May 30th I took mom and dad up to my sister's cottage on Canonto lake.  The weather was nice on the drive up and we saw many painted turtles along the roadways.  Mom and dad enjoyed their stay.  We took a few short hikes, played cards and shared a good meal together.  A mid-week trip... another joy of the x/y!

Mom is looking for the hummingbird nest.

Janice at the top of the lookout.  Canonto Lake is in the background.

A female merganser.

Dad and Janice play cribbage.

Mom looks on from the comfy chair.

Yes, that is lemon meringue pie!

A beautiful cluster of yellow lady slippers.

Solo Flight!

Adrian has been learning how to drive a standard and today he drove the beetle to school for the first time.  Raising children is a series of firsts, first smile, first word, first step, first love, first car.  Each first seems more amazing than the last.  My only advice to other parents, as I sit here reflecting on how my boy has become a man, is don't blink.  You might miss something.  

The first link below is a movie clip.  Click on the youtube link and it will appear!

http://youtu.be/QI7ygZiySaA

Leaving the nest!

Gardening Time!

Today we spent the day in the garden.  It was a "bonus day" due to the elimination of the Kingston Impact Basketball team early in the final Provincial tournament.  The boys played three games in the Division 2 tournament in Kitchener.  We lost all three games which meant we did not advance to the Sunday schedule.  So instead we canceled our hotel room, packed up the car and headed for home.  Despite the frustrations on the court Adrian had a good time with his friends.  Basketball is over for this year.  On to the next thing.. which in my case is gardening.  Pat and Adrian built a new composter out of salvaged lumber and logs while I hoed and watered my garden.  Almost everything has sprouted and things are looking good.  While weed-eating an overgrown area I was treated to a sighting of the beautiful butterfly below.   I looked it up in the guide book and it called a Giant Swallowtail.  According to the book this butterfly is farther north than it should be.  Another sign of our unseasonably warm spring.

A friend visits!

Butterfly garden!

Garden is Planted!

This past Victoria Day weekend Pat and I spent our time tilling and planting the remains of our large organic garden.  The spring plants have sprouted and now the whole garden awaits a nice rain.  It was a beautiful, hot, sunny weekend.  Just the way I like it!!! 

All planted!

Revitalization of the Grape Vines!

A nice day to fly a kite!

Calvin Campaign Continues!

Tonight I attended the Calvin Park open house event at McArthur which features the work of Leap students from across the district.  Mr. Weaver's grade 7 class got permission to continue their campaign to stop malaria by selling jewelry to the attendees of this special event.  To date, they have raised over $1000 and the campaign continues throughout the balance of the week.  Well done students!

Cam, Anneka and Annie set up the Buy-A-Net table

Mr. Weaver chats with students as they prepare to sell jewelry in an effort to save lives.

Magnificent Mary

On Friday, May 11th, I volunteered to help my friend, Mary Lambert, as she performed two concerts to celebrate the debut of her new CD, "Worms and Dirt".  It was great to see a good friend and fun to watch the excitement of the many children who attended these events.  Children were literally dancing in the aisles as they joined Mary in her interactive presentation.

Mary and the "Litterbug"

Rockin' Robins

Dad's 82nd Birthday!

On Wednesday, May 9th, my Dad turned 82 years old.  He spent the morning working on his puzzle, the afternoon playing cards with friends and the evening chatting with family and watching the ball game!  It was a good day and he enjoyed his home-made Lemon Meringue Pie, his favourite!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Calvin Campaign Continues

Anneka Petersen, Brooke Dine and Annie Seeley await the lunch crowd.

A bracelet makes a great Mother's Day gift!

Students saving lives, one village at a time!

Today I stopped by to visit some eager Calvin Park students from Mr. Weaver's grade 7 class.  They have begun their fundraiser for Buy-A-Net and are determined to save lives from malaria, one village at a time. They have already raised over $600 and they plan to continue selling beaded bracelets this week and all of next week.  If you are in the Calvin Park area in the next day or two you might consider heading upstairs to buy a bracelet for your mom.  What better Mother's Day gift could one buy?  A beautiful bracelet that your mom can wear purchased with money that will be used to save the life of a mom and her children in Uganda.  Well done students.  Good luck with the rest of your campaign!

Sun and Soil For the Soul

On Monday, May 7th, Pat and I picked up the tiller and started working on the garden.  It started like a charm and after a short lesson I was soon churning up the soil in a big way!  How delightful to watch the soil turn!  After raking and marking rows I planted my early plants, such as radishes, spinach, carrots, beets, parsnips, and peas.  Today it is raining so it won't be long before things start to sprout!  It was a day well spent!

Tilling the Soil

Seeds are Planted

Tulips Blooming at Trailer!

4th at Blessed Sacrament

Friday, I loaded up the car with Impact players and drove to Hamilton for the Annual Blessed Sacrament basketball tournament.  The boys played in division one resulting in great, tough games all the way through.  We advanced to the play-off round, but lost to Blessed Sacrament, resulting in a fourth place finish overall.  It was a good basketball weekend.

At one of the schools I spotted this sign hanging in a phys. ed. display case.  The title was, "Everything I Learned About Life, I Learned in Physical Education Class."  As I read it I realized how applicable the message was and certainly our Kingston Impact players were paying attention in their gym classes.  Well done boys!  You make your parents proud!

Great Message!

Calvin Park Fundraiser Planned

Today I visited Mr. Weaver's grade 7 class at Calvin Park Public School.  They are starting a Buy-A-Net fundraiser next week and they were curious about my experiences in Uganda with the organization.  In my slide presentation I was able to share with them stories about the important work of BAN and show them people who have benefitted from the work and efforts of this local charity.  The students listened well and asked thoughtful questions.  They are keen to become "Changemakers" and start making a difference.  For the next two weeks students will be set up in the main foyer taking donations and selling beautiful beaded bracelets made by Ugandan women.  Proceeds from this important fundraiser will be directed to purchase malaria nets for villages in Uganda.  Well done grade 7's!!!

Impact Juniors Place Third

This past weekend the Impact Junior Boys' team travelled to Brampton for the Caledon Cougars Basketball Tournament.  We came second in our pool play resulting in a 9:00 am semi-final match-up against the Toronto Five-0.  This was a controversial game with one debacle after another.  The scorekeepers made multiple errors, resulting in a loss for us in overtime, when we should have won in regulation.  After some grumbling, we regrouped to play for third place.  The boys played well and we won.  This coming weekend we are off to another tournament in Hamilton.  Go boys!