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