At Camp

Hey, everyone!
I've just spent a glorious 6 days at the cottage and it was WONDERFUL. It started out sunny and cool, but then the temps went up to the mid 20s [C] again! We had one day of rain, so we did some inside work. Had a few campfires. It was surprisingly not windy, as it usually is this time of year, so it gave us a chance to burn some brush I had cut last time we were there.
We had a few saunas, and the lake water is still quite warm, about 70º F.
I've been reading a lot. I'm reading a Steven King novel, 'The Dark Half'. I used to be a fan of his years ago, but after discovering Dean Koontz, I kind of put King on the back burner of favourite authors. I'm almost done the book. It's okay, but it not wowing me like I hoped.
I usually like to sit on my lounge on the dock, but as Fall approaches, so does the change in sun pattern. In the summer, we have full sun on the dock until evening. Now by mid afternoon, the dock is in complete shade. Bummer. As much as I love the sun, I DO wear sunscreen. So now I put the lounge in the back yard. It's not as scenic, but comfortable just the same.
We finished putting the steel roof up on the addition. Doug installed the door and insulated around the new windows. Next comes the fascia and soffits and then we can open up the wall between the old camp and the new addition. Whoo-hoo, can't wait. D starts his second set of holidays in 3 days, so we'll be going back to camp for three weeks, give or take!! I'm hoping the heat-wave will return just for us!
Still having some abdominal pains. Meds aren't working as good as I thought they would, but I am MUCH better than I was earlier this summer. I'm so hungry though. I guess that's a good thing since I had lost so much weight, but I hope I don't eat so much and end up gaining more than I lost. It's fun eating though! Bring on the junk food!!
Dial-up at camp is SO SLOW. I try not to be online more than 1/2 hour per night. I've only got 10 free hours a month here. It sucks because I can't upload or download any photos. Takes way too long. So, I catch up over on TwoPeas once I get home.
We were invited to a corn roast at a cottage around the bay. I've heard that this group of people have the party every year, taking turns on who's cottage, so I kind of feel honoured that we've made the list this year! Doug had to work until 5pm, so we missed the afternoon celebrations, but arrived just in time for the Corn Roast and Pulled Pork. Met about 40 other fellow cottagers. I've already forgotten most of their names, but I've got pictures!!

Meg and Jay were at camp for the long weekend. Gracie was SO happy to see her favourite human friend!! Meg's friends joined us from Maple, On for two days, and Lauren brought two of her friends who are on their way to a new life in Toronto from Vancouver! It was a fabulous day!
Hope everyone had a great long weekend!
CHEERS

Here's my charming hubby. I swear this man will fit into any crowd and make friends in an instant!


This man was just one of many taking part in the Horseshoe Tourny! Wish I could remember his name!!


Friends, a setting sun and a bottle of wine! Need I say more?



This is Meg's boyfriend, Jayson. DH couldn't be happier that he's a musician too! They had a great time jamming together by the campfire.



Here's Meg doing her lesson preps on her laptop by the campfire. She just got hired a few days ago to teach grade 10 math, grade 12 math and grade 10 civics. She starts tomorrow, so she needed to 'work' while at camp!


And friends and family would not be complete without our best friend, Gracie! Just look at that face!!!!

Lauren and Meghan

LAUREN

This one was taken when Lauren was at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. I had a point and shoot then and now when I look back on the photos from that day I wish I could go back and reshoot with my Pentax!! These girls had a small dance group they formed and called themselves "Stir Crazy". This has always been one of my favourite dance shots. We had gone for a hike on our favourite winter trail, and I [with a new Point and Shoot camera] wanted to try some freeze shots with it! First shot and this was the result!!

MEGHAN

In 2000, the Performing Arts Department presented CATS, the Musical. Meghan was so thrilled to get the role of Victoria, [the white cat on the left]! What a wonderful show, such talented kids.

This shot was taken on almost the same trail as the one above, but taken last fall. I still didn't have my Pentax at this time, so oh... the possibilities NOW!! Thanks again for peeking at my old stuff. I'll be at camp for a few days, so likely not able to post for a bit. I need to get out in the bush and find something interest to photograph while I'm there! Have a great week!!

Dance

You know, at first, I thought that the POTD theme this week would be perfect for me! Afterall, DANCE has been a part of my life since 1985 when my oldest daughter Lauren took her first lesson. After looking through the hundreds and hundreds of photos I have of her and of Meghan, who started dancing in 1989 I realized that this theme isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Sure, I've got hundreds of photos to choose from, but which one do I pick? The one of Lauren's first tap class with her shiny black shoes with the big black bows? Meghan dressed as a lamb for the Little Bo Peep Character ballet piece? Lauren's first Modern solo? Meghan's solo in CATS as the white cat, Victoria? Lauren as Eliza in THE KING AND I?

Classes and rehearsals. Costumes and makeup. Ballet slippers, Pointe shoes and calloused feet. Sore joints and bruises. And fundraising!!

From the first cute little Ballet lessons of 'tap tap tap' and 'point point point' to Arabesque, Développé, Fouetté and Pas de Deux. From early Modern classes of 'stretch and reach' to Contraction, Spiral, High Release and Bre-e-e-athe! And how many times have I heard "and...five, six, seven, eight!"

Lauren began Ballet and Tap at a very popular studio in town. I thought it was THE place to take her. After a year or two, I realized that it was too 'hoity-toity'. There was too much emphasis on show and not enough on the technique and the fun. I will never regret pulling her out of that studio and bringing her to a tiny studio in our former small town. The Lesley Kallio School of Ballet is where both my girls truly began to love DANCE. Lauren began there at 9 years of age and Meghan at 7. Soon they were bumped up with the more advanced girls and began honing their craft. They were GOOD. That's just not Mamma talking, but they had a talent that certainly did not come from me! I am so uncoordinated when it comes to dance. Yikes.

They danced with Lesley for about 5-6 years until her studio closed. Lesley recommended another studio in town for them to go to and the rest is history! Sudbury School of Dance, under the direction of Denise Vitali is where my girls are still involved. Mostly a Modern Dance studio, Lauren and Meghan excelled in the Graham method of Modern Dance. As well, they both attented Sudbury Secondary School, a Performin Arts High School where they majored in Dance. There, they took Ballet, Jazz and Modern as well as Choreography. They both earned Honours and many awards there. As well, they were in almost every school musical. Recitals, Concerts, Festivals, Performances and Shows were part of their lives.

After High School, Lauren went on to study Professional Modern Dance training at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Meghan continued to teach dance occasionally at both the high school and the studio.

So, here we are - 22 years later and DANCE is still a huge part of their lives, and ours. We are so proud.

Since last year, Lauren has been teaching Modern Dance and some Ballet at two studios. She teaches 6-8 classes a week. She just returned from an intensive two week Modern Dance workshop with Dance Theatre David Earle.

Meghan is now a qualified High School Teacher and one of her teachables is DANCE!!

If any of you have children that are just starting out in dance, this story just might be yours some day! Encourage them. Support them. Inspire them.

______________________

If you've read this far, thanks for hanging in there! Back to the POTD. To be fair, I suppose that I should be out taking new photos, but classes don't start here until the first and second week of September and I'm not usually in the studio any more with my girls. I hope you don't mind that I post some of my favourites! Hope you enjoy these from the early years!

Lauren's first year of Ballet, 1985.

Meghan as an "Aristocat" in 1991.

A Trip to Killarney

Killarney is a tiny little community where the North Channel (above Manitoulin Island) meets Georgian Bay, about an hour southwest of my home town of Sudbury. The hills around the town are topped with white quartzite crystals.

The town was originally a fur-trading post, and a popular resting spot for voyageurs, midway between the French River and the North Channel, on their way to the St. Mary's River to Lake Superior. The town was once only accessible by water to Manitoulin Island until 1962, when a highway connected the community to Sudbury. One of the nicest Provincial Parks is located nearby. Killarney is now a quiet vacation town except during FISH AND CHIPS season!

For the past several years, actually more like 15 or maybe more, we've made at least one trip a year to Killarney for fish and chips. Herbert Fisheries, a little chip stand that has been around for decades serve the BEST [and I mean the BEST] fish and chips.... ever! They serve out of a small red school bus from May through October, 7 days a week. I can't imagine how much fish and potatoes they must serve each summer! They truly are to die for!!

Anyway, it is such a small town [only about 600 population], but such a huge tourist place. There's not much to see, as they have only one main road, but what is there is beautiful. Wonderful views of where the channel opens up into Georgian Bay. Sometimes humongous, honking yachts go sailing through and then you might see a canoe or kayaker go by! Some of the towns people have quaint little homes and others look like old cottages, barely standing. There's one church, a few gifts shops and a General Store. Two resorts are situated on either end of Main Street and both are wonderful places to stay.

Back to the fish and chips, because it's really all about the fish and chips. We started taking our girls there when they were small. At first they could barely get through their shared order of fish and chips, but now find that it's not enough! For $11 [it went up this year] you get 3-4 pieces of lightly dusted fried fish and a whole bunch of fries. You can have lemon sauce, tartar sauce, vinegar, malt vinegar, salt or pepper on the side! It amazes me how organized and efficient they are in serving the hoards of people that order. My dad especially loved going on our annual trek and I always think of him now when I'm there. He SO loved the fish. Today, we took Meghan's boyfriend with us. It was his first time ever there and he was not disappointed!

I took quite a few pics today. Used my 50-200mm which I don't normally do. It was very sunny, so I had some exposure issues, but all in all I thought they turned out pretty good. I just posted some of my favs. Even one of little 'ol me!!

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of Killarney!!
Thanks for stopping by.

I'm anxious for the POTD Dance theme! I'm gonna rock with this one!!!

My Diagnosis

Thank you friends, family and web buddies who have asked how I've been. It's been a long haul, but I'm finally starting to see some sunshine regarding my health issues. If you don't want to read any more about bowels and gastrointestinal stuff - you can be excused! Thanks for dropping by! :)

Yesterday, I had a colonoscopy. Some you might be saying to yourself, "ew" - but really, you need to do yourself a favour and have one. For some, it can be a life saver. For me, it confirmed that I have Crohn's disease.

If you wish to read my first two health posts, they're here and here.

A few months ago I had an upper GI and Small Bowel Follow Through exam. The prep for the test was HORRENDOUS! First I had to eat soft foods for a day, then the next day drink fluids only. I had to take a solution called Citro-Mag. Ewww, ewww, ewww. It tasted like pure lemon juice with the consistency of a thick syrupy drink. That stuff was wicked!!
I had such incredible cramping and pain during the night and the trips to the bathroom were many and violent. I was so exhausted and weak the next day. The test itself was a breeze, although time consuming. After I got home I ate and then went to sleep!

For the colonoscopy test all I had to do was drink fluids the day before. I drank clear juices, tea, broth and Gatorade [recommended]. I swear, I will probably never, ever drink Gatorade again if I can help it!! At 6pm I had to take a solution called Pico-Salax. You mix the package into a half cup of juice or water or Gatorade. The next dose was taken the following morning at 5am. This time I had very little cramping but I was nauseous and threw up once. I slept all through the night without having to go to the bathroom once. I guess the second dose made things kick in because by 7am things were moving!! I expected much worse, so I can honestly say that this prep was a breeze!!

I had to be at the hospital one hour before the test. Not sure why because I just sat there in my hospital gown and housecoat doing nothing. It was kind of funny, really. I felt like a cow being led to slaughter!! There were about 5 or 6 patients at a time in the waiting room. All of us in our hospital garb, waiting for the inevitable test! I struck up a conversation with one woman who was there on the advice of her doctor. She was there for a routine scope. She had to be there TWO hours before. Can't figure that out!

Finally a nurse asked me to sit in a little cubicle where she asked me a few questions about meds and health history and she took my blood pressure and weighed me. BTW, at this point - I have lost a total of 13 pounds since my symptoms started. I'm actually quite happy at this weight and I'd be happy if I stayed here.

In the mean time there are patients coming and going every 5 minutes or so. To and from a scope of their own. I'm amazed at how many people are having this procedure done. From what I understood, there were three doctors at the hospital on that day. Perhaps they are only done on Wednesdays, but still, that's a LOT of scopes!!

Now I'm led to a curtained area to a stretcher. My belongings and my housecoat and shoes are put on the shelf below and I'm covered with a blanket, given a pillow for my head and wheeled down the hall wait for my turn. About 15 minutes later I'm taken to the "procedure" room. My doctor and another nurse are there. I'm fitted with a pulse monitor and given an IV of a mild sedative. I felt it kick in, but I was still awake, kinda. The scope itself seemed to last only moments. But I think it generally lasts about 15-20 minutes. There were some moments where I felt a lot of pain, but the doc just eased off on the air and I was relieved somewhat. He removed a small ulcer near the inflammation site and will send it for biopsy. I am not concerned about cancer at this point because all my other tests have been positive and are not leading to that at all.

Then I am taken to the "fart room". I laugh, because a friend of my DH has scopes done every 2 years. He calls the recovery room the "fart room". This is where you are encouraged to pass gas before you go home! Too funny! There we are, 3-4 people on stretchers being asked to pass gas!! Of course, all of being ladies in the room, we were quite discreet! We were given juice and cookies and about 20minutes later, we could leave! Because of the sedative given, we are asked to have someone drive us home. I felt quite fine and because I live only a 5 minute walk away, I decided to walk home.

The first thing I had when I got home was my usual morning latte! MMMmmmm. Then I had a bowl of cereal and a nap!

So, everyone, I encourage you - no I urge you to never, ever be embarrassed to have a colonoscopy. It's truly not a bad experience at all. It could literally save your life. Mine diagnosed Crohn's, which is completely manageable - but for some it reveals colon cancer. Early detection is key.

I was given a prescription for a very mild dose of Prednisone for 5 weeks duration. Each week the dose is decreased by 5mg. I am also taking Pentasa, which is an anti-inflammatory. Hopefully in a few days I will be feeling more like myself again. I am looking forward to becoming active again and enjoying life a bit more than I've been able to lately. My camera has certainly taken a back seat in the last few months.

Thanks again to those of you who have asked about me. I appreciate your concern for me.

If you suffer from Crohn's or know someone that does - I would love to hear from you.

Keyboard Shortcuts for PS

I use PS7, but I think these shortcuts work for all versions. Just upload the file and print it out for future reference!

Hope the link works for you!

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/-1099773304/PS_Keyboard_shortcuts.pdf

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Amy and I must list 8 facts/habits about myself and then list who I'm tagging in return.



1. I spend WAY too much time on my laptop. I tell myself in the morning, "okay, just check your email, your forums and then walk away...". Never happens! I don't spend all day on it, just longer than I should.

2. I can't stand the sound of windshield wipers. When I'm driving, I set it to the slowest speed I can possibly tolerate. If Doug is driving, he usually puts them at the highest speed and I grit my teeth and seethe inside. I especially go nuts when it's stopped raining or slowed down and the wipers are still on high. Once, he got upset with me for telling him to turn them off, so now I have to grin and bear it and anxiously wait for the rain to stop. If he happens to run into a store or something, I quickly reach over and turn them down. If the wipers squeak -- it's even worse!! I can't explain it but they drive me NUTS!!!

3. I once met Colin James. Doug was his chauffeur in 1991 for a gig here in town. He drove him and his crew to and from their hotel. We got to watch the concert and afterwards DH introduced me to him. We got to talking about how much he loves fishing. We invited him to go fishing the next day and he accepted! He came over to our house, came inside, had a coffee. He autographed Doug's guitar for him and signed one of his CDs. We spent the day at the lake and he caught a few bass. While he was gone fishing with his manager and Doug, my niece and I prepared a BBQ. I went inside the cottage and noticed his clothes on the chair. I tried on his cowboy boots! haha, I wish I had taken a photo of them. But I did get a few pics of us and him!! Doug had to work that night, so I became chauffeur and drove him to the airport! What a great memory!

4. I do not like to travel by car. I'm fine within the city limits, but on long trips I am not completely relaxed. I find road trips are long and boring and unsafe. I would much prefer to travel by bus or train!

5. I write in a journal every day. I started in 1990 and I have not missed a day since. I also keep one at the cottage.

6. I love eating cereal at night instead of dessert. A bowl of Fruit Loops, Golden Grahams, Corn Pops or Reese's cereal is just the right amount of sweets for me! Yummmm.

7. My eldest daughter's middle name is Quinn -- named after Quinn Cummings from "The Goodbye Girl"

8. I am not religious, but I am very spiritual.


I will tag:
twinsmom
handpuppet
michelle davies
hahcc
leahca
armance
dar

I heard on CBC radio recently a story about how some developers and communities are trying to ban the use of clotheslines! Apparently, in some communities this bylaw is already in effect! WHAT???? I don't get it! The energy use of the dryer alone has GOT to have an impact on not only the individual home-owner's hydro bill, but on the country's overall energy consumption. THAT can't be good for global warming and the environment. And what about the toxic chemicals that are infused into each and every dryer sheet that is being 'fluffed' into our clothing and out into the atmosphere from our dryer vents? Then those dryer sheets are thrown into the trash where they take a really long time to decompose! Not to mention the allergies that a lot of people have to scented things and perfumes - and we're pumping out those scents through our dryer vent into the air!
Clothes that are dried outside even SMELL better!
And how much of an eyesore can a line of clothes really be? They're only on the line for a short time. A neighbourhood doesn't look great on trash day either. All those garbage bins and blue boxes out on the curb for everyone to look at! I'm surprised that they haven't been banned too! Maybe we'll soon have to put our garbage out into neat, tidy, cedar lined fancy boxes - all the same. I'd much rather look at some t-shirts and towels on a line that icky, dented, stinky trash cans!
I mean, C'MON - it's a clothesline!! We've been drying clothes on a line for centuries - I just don't get it.

The MICE

**Warning - a mouse was killed in this story.

I HATE MICE. Okay, I don't know how many of you have to deal with mice in your humble abode. I don't know how many of you are animal rights activists and would frown on our mice catching methods, so if you're one of those 'live trap' kinda people, perhaps you shouldn't read anymore!!

When we first bought our camp four years ago, the place was run down and had not been occupied for over 10 years. Needless to say, there was a LOT of evidence of critters in there. We gutted the inside and burned all the paneling, [it was really just painted Ten-Test], swept and washed it down. We insulated and put up vapour barrier. Doug patched every hole and crease and crevice he could find with spray foam and steel wool. Whew - no more mice.... for a while. Every once in a while they would gnaw their way in and we'd have to search for the hole again.

So, over the four years we've had the place we only really had mice in the camp a few times. For the past year we had been mice free -- until a few weeks ago.

We were relaxing after supper one evening and right in front of us this mouse had the audacity to run right in front of us to make it's way under our fridge [where we always keep a can of mouse poison]. WELL, was I mad! Grrrr. I hate mice. Well, let me rephrase that. I hate mice INSIDE. They always look so cute in photos or as cartoons, but in MY camp they become ugly, dirty rodent devils! I'm not one to freak out and scream or jump on a chair. I'm not afraid of them, but they just don't belong in MY camp!! The thought of them crawling around on my furniture, my clothes, MY BED makes me so angry. So Doug and the dog were on a mission. They both sat vigil by the fridge until the mouse finally came out and ... WHACK!!! It was a goner!! I'm not into mouse massacres, so I covered my ears and sang "la la la la" while Doug did the deed. Gracie was happy to help and wagged her tail at the whole ordeal.



So, you think the story is over? Nope. Fast forward to last week. We have trapped a few more mice since then.

It is so discouraging to come back after a week or so and find mouse poop in the cutlery drawer. The little rodents even chewed apart my silicone basting brush. There was poop in my kitchen cupboards and in my dresser drawers. Not to mention the stench in the camp from the rotting carcass of the mouse we managed to trap. Now, this isn't uncommon when you've got a mouse problem but it amazes me how quickly they can take over. Take over your house, your camp, your sanity!!!

On Saturday, I spent the day at the camp alone. Doug had to work overtime. I was on mouse patrol. It took me a few hours, but I cleaned and disinfected my cutlery and dishes. I moved furniture and lifted the vapour barrier and insulation in a few places and found some nesting materials and TONS of mouse poop. Put on my face mask and cleaned it all up. I patched a hole with steel wool and went to bed feeling secure, thinking I had solved the problem.

Well darned if there isn't a mouse sitting in the middle of my floor the next day! Geez!! AND in the middle of the night that night I heard the snap of another trap! Where were the #%&*! things coming in?? So once again we started moving furniture. I was pretty sure they were coming in in the bedroom, so we started in the corner of the bedroom I had not yet checked. Sure enough, there it was. A hole about the size of a quarter. It was right where the bedroom wall meets the main camp. I went outside and stuck a stick in the hole to show Doug where it was starting from. He stuffed it with a bunch of steel wool and put up some lumber on the outside.

It all makes sense now. Doug is doing some renovating and come to think of it, that's when we noticed the first signs of mice --- just after he had taken a few boards off of the outside siding. We set 5 traps before we left today. Put more poison in the cans. Here's hoping that those traps will be empty.

I HATE MICE.

My Sign

We had a fantastic four days at the cottage. Got back this afternoon and already we're wishing we were back there. The weather couldn't have been better and the water is divine. So refreshing.
Doug and I finished putting up the roof trusses on the right side of the addition. It took us twice as long as someone who knows what they're doing. It's hard trying to figure out the angles of the cuts! But hey, we're saving money by not hiring a contractor!! :)

I finally finished my camp sign. I am so happy with the results and it looks so darn cute on the path. I goofed up a bit though. I don't know how many times I checked and double checked that I had the arrows pointing the right way. But, lo and behold, I had goofed up on the Main Camp sign. I had the arrow pointing the wrong way. So I had to cut the ends to make it point right. Now I have to paint the ends again and put the waterproofing on, but it doesn't look too bad. Doug thinks I should add one more sign, like Alaska or North Pole or something! The 'Fish Shack' is really the outhouse. I have it decorated in a fish decor. The Warehouse is Doug's shed/workshop. But I call it the warehouse because it's HUGE. The bird house on the top was originally on a very tall pole. I think it must have been made by the original owner of the camp. It recently fell off the pole and I kinda put it back together again and thought it would look great on top of my sign post!

My next project is to fix my Sun Dial. The painted numbers have worn off from the
sun and weather.

Silly Bling

Hey, I figured I'd close out the week with another photo from the vault. I'm just not into shooting jewelry, so how's this for some bling!
I was 19 in this photo. I remember dressing up, just for the fun of it. Excessive makeup and anything shiny I could find! I don't even remember who took the picture.

I'm off to the cottage for a few days. Looking forward to getting my new-to-me Macro lens. I really hemmed and hawed about buying a non-brand name lens, but this is how I see it. Instead of waiting for months to save up enough money for a Pentax 100mm or a Tamron 90mm, [they're about $550 CDN], for less than $150 including insurance and delivery, I will have a Phoenix 100mm to play with!! If I end up loving it - then great! If it doesn't meet my expectations, then no biggy!! It should be delivered on monday or tuesday. Can't wait to play!!

Ciao all, have a great weekend.

Another Past Blast

How's that for a necklace??
I just can't get motivated for this jewelry theme. But I am having a hoot looking at my Oldies CD. There are so many photos that make me laugh.
This is DH and I in 1985. I made the cat's costume. My guy sure is a good sport -- those green pants!! I remember them being a favourite pair of mine. I made them in Grade 8 Home Economics!! I wish I still had them because I would totally wear them!!
Now what possessed us to dress up as Cat and Acid Rocker I'll never know! You'd think we could have found costumes that complimented each other??
Anyhoo - hope you had a giggle too!

My First SLR

I was looking through my old photos, thinking I might find another retro look at some jewelry. Couldn't find any, but I came across this photo!
This is Christmas time, 1974. My boyfriend [and now DH] bought me my very first SLR - a Canon TLB. Ah, those were the days!!
I had been shooting with an Agfa 35mm rangefinder for years. I can't remember if I asked for an SLR or if he just surprised me with one, [it was a very long time ago!]
I've still got my old Canon, but I haven't used it in EONS!

What's that on your ears???

Being the ever individual, hippy-wanna-be teenager that I was, I used to march to the beat of a different drummer sometimes. One look at this photo now and all I can say is, "what was I thinking???"

This photo cracks me up every time I look at it. This is the photo that was taken for my parent's Church directory. My two older sisters were gone and married, so that would make me about 13 years old, [likely 1971]. So this is Mom in her wig and Dad looking like he's on something! I was into making my own clothes and the vest and the neck choker [ha - there's my plug for Jewelry week!] are my designs! Was I cool or what??? Funny thing is, I thought I WAS!

Ellen DeGeneres thought this photo was funny because she showed it on her TV show in May 2006. I never in a million years thought she would show it, so I didn't watch the show the next few days after submitting it! My cousin called me and said, "Umm, I think I just saw an old picture of you and Uncle Lionel on Ellen!" Doh! I missed it!!! I even watched the re-runs religiously to see if they would repeat it. Darn it all.

Anyhoo, you might think that I was a fan of Star Wars and Princess Leia!? Ummm - Star Wars wasn't released until 1977!!! Makes me repeat again, "What was I thinking??"

Heirloom Brooch

My Mother was raised in Holland. Being the only girl in a family of 6 brothers, she likely got spoiled by her mother with all the girly things. When my mother came to Canada, she was given many pieces of jewelry that belonged to her mother and her family. One piece is a gold brooch that holds a special significance in our family. My mother wore the brooch on her wedding day. My sisters wore it on their wedding day, as did I. I look forward to the day that my girls will wear it. I am not a fan of yellow gold and neither are my girls, but to know that the tradition will be upheld is a very treasured importance. I couldn't find a better photo, but here is one of me with the brooch on!

Doggy Socks

Turns out we didn't go to camp. Rain in the forecast and only 15 degrees C!!! WTH??? Where did the heat go? Sheesh.

I know these aren't shoes, but the story behind this is quite funny. A little history...
Our Gracie has been plagued with allergies for most of her 3 years of life. Until we found out that a vegetarian diet helps a lot she bit and chewed and scratched and itched constantly. She still scratches quite a bit, but not near as much as before. She also gets ear infections. To help ease her discomfort, I often put drops in her ears, calamine lotion on her belly, antibiotic lotions between her toes. After swimming I take a baby wipe and clean between her toes and wash her belly. The parasites in water are her worst enemy -- and she's a retriever! She LOVES the water.
All I have to say is, "it's time to fix your ears/belly/feet" and she stops what she's doing and succumbs to my nursing. She is such an agreeable dog. It's actually the cutest thing how she seems to know that what I'm doing helps her. Anyway, because she is so agreeable, you can do almost anything to her.
Gracie LOVES my daughter's boyfriend, Jay. She practically turns herself inside out when he's around and she vies for his affection always. I had just done laundry and Jay pulls out 4 of DD's tiny tennis type socks - the ones that don't even go up to the ankle. He put one on Gracie and at first she started to shake it off. Then all of a sudden she got this look on her face that said, "okay, do what you have to do". He proceeded to the put the other three on her feet. The crazy girl just sat there taking it all in. Maybe you had to be there, but it was the funniest thing ever. Jay was in hysterics laughing.
That's my Gracie!!!

Tall Sneakers

I was saving my favourite pair of shoes for my post today. But first, the story....
In 1971 when I was 13 years old, my mom, dad and I traveled to the Netherlands for an extended holiday. One month visiting my mom's 5 brothers and their families. Being 13 and totally into fashion and fads and everything fun, I was so enthralled with the trends in Holland. They were WAY ahead of us in terms of setting the styles. One of those trends was HOT PANTS!! Now, in Europe Hot Pants were very popular with the prostitutes. NOT that I was around any prostitutes, but Hot Pants had become quite the rage. I was hooked - I loved them! I remember a suit I bought. A little black bomber-style jacket [similar to a jean jacket] with tiny coloured flowers and Hot Pants to match. Now to go along with those Hot Pants that I bought, I needed some funky shoes. I wish I could remember where I bought them, but my calf-high runners were the COOLEST things I had ever seen. They are light blue denim sneakers, very similar to the punk sneakers of today.
When I returned to Canada, I was entering Grade 9. I wore those Hot Pants and sneakers to school! Wow! Shy little ol' me was getting looks left and right. I was so thrilled to be wearing a style that no one else was. It didn't take long before Hot Pants became popular, and it also didn't take long before they were BANNED at our school!!! To this day, the students can not wear any shorts shorter than the tips of their fingers when their hands are flat at their sides!
My daughters have worn those shoes to school, in plays, for Halloween, for 70's themed parties, etc. They are great shoes.
Anyhoo, I digress. Where is the photo you say?? Well, I went to the basement where I store the shoes. Not there. Then I remember that my daughter had loaned them to one of her dance students for a piece in Recital. Eeeks. Where are my shoes?? I am totally freaking out over the possibility that they're gone. I would surely die if they're lost. [I tend to get attached to old childhood keepsakes]. I'm sure that my DD knows where they are, but she's been so busy lately I can't seem to get her to LOOK!! As soon as I find them, I'll post a pic. They really are very cool for shoes that are 36 years old!!



***ETA -- THEY'RE FOUND!!! DD had them in the closet all along. I don't know how I missed them. I'll see if I can dig up a pic of me in the Hot Pants!!

Klompen

My mother was born and raised in Arnhem, Holland. She met my father overseas during World War II. He was an army cook and they met at a community hall at a dance. He was French Canadian and spoke little english. She was Dutch and spoke little english. To this day, we always wonder how they understood each other. However, they say that Love overcomes all!
I'm sure you've all heard of Wooden Shoes, aka Klompen. They really are used and worn in Holland, even today, particularly with Farmers. They were always left outside the door before going in to the house. At Christmas time, the children would expect treats from Sinter Klaas in their wooden shoes on St. Nicholas Day!
I have an old original pair of wooden shoes at the cottage. Right now I'm not really using them, but I'd like to make them into planters to hang on the wall.
Just last month my mother visited Holland, Michigan and she brought this Klompen back as a souvenir for me.

Boot Planter

These boots are at the foot of a HUGE Pine tree at our cottage. I'm not sure when I first saw this idea, but I've had some at my house and now these at the camp.
It tends to get pretty dry in between our visits, so the flowers are a little wilty.
Thanks for looking!!

Bowling Shoes

My dad loved bowling. I remember when I was very young, [under 10 yrs] my parents would often take me with them to the bowling alley for their weekly league games. It was such a loud place, but oh, so cool! I don't remember what I did while they bowled, but I still have vivid memories of that Alley. My parents didn't bowl for many years then got back into it after they retired and joined a senior's league
After Dad got cancer of the sinus, he had a tough time with surgeries. You might remember a previous post of mine where I mentioned that he wore a prosthetic nose. He still bowled after that for another year or two. Then both of them just stopped.
When Dad passed away, I got one of his bowling balls with his name engraved in it.
These are his shoes from w-a-y back!!!
I've got them on my wall in my office, which is decorated retro style. The big blue bowling ball isn't his - just a yard sale find!!