We spent the day driving to the farm... wandering around .... and watching the water flow out the drain... it was making a neat water fan that was fun to watch.



The fan would move.... but it looked amazing as it just kept splashing off the rocks.


Dad enjoyed the time with Eddie, although Eddie still is not keen about cameras!! Oh well!

Well , even though the weather remains cool.... the flowers are blooming and in fact the wild flower garden in the back of Dad's house has trillium's, tulips, blue bells.... and a multitude of other colourful flowers.

The good news... the house has been sold... the down side is of course that Dad's retreat centre will be gone.... not an easy thing to do... 'cuz it signals a new era!!


We spent a day down at the farm... with Dad being able to wander around and check out the pond.... I think he enjoyed the day.



Of course Eddie was around... but was not keen on having his picture taken!!
A good day was had be all.

So for the quick news.... we left the country for a couple weeks and enjoyed a cruise in the Caribbean aboard the Westerdam. Big boat.... not a big as some... and I have a ton of pictures.... that I won't post.... 'cuz I just don't have the space. I filled 3 cds with no room to spare...!!! 2,000 plus comes to mind! Glad they are digital!!


This flower was at Lois Hardie's condo in Florida. The latter part of the trip was more down to earth .... so to speak... it worked on Eienstein's theory of relativity.... and I might say it was much more cost effective ... and no less enjoyable!!


A final shot as we depart for the north.... little did we know that there would be yet another snow storm in April!!! We were already in summer time mode!




The sunsets are nice from the beach... but the sunrises .... are great from the deck of a ship.

And speaking of decks... well this is our deck here in the north on April 12th!! Yes, that is fresh white snow... and lots of it!

More to come .... as time allows!

You know I am STUCK here in this contraption.... I would rather be out with my brothers!!!

Well if you don't get me out... I might just cry!! Do you get my point!



Really ... I mean it ... I will cry ....

Funny... that didn't work with my Mom either!!!


I could just be serious...


or maybe just a little grin...


... but then again.... smiles just seem to work so much better !!!

Luke was just enjoying the new stroller ... it is a very nice thing to push through the mall, or over the grass.... and maybe... just maybe... we will have to find a way to hitch it to the four wheeler!! ... Just maybe!!
Luke and I did chat about that... we will most likely have a positive response from Ben, and Sam.... it is Mom we are somewhat concerned about!!

After my arrival... the snow arrived .... and did it arrive !! Lot's of it!!

First order... let's play in the snow... and Mom was home and Poppa kept an eye and ear on Luke... so Ben, Sam and Mom could play outside!! 3 Hours almost ... the all seemed to have fun!!

Ben was not opposed to get his face right into the snow!!

And with some help from the neighbour kids .... a snowman arose !! They all look rather pleased with the effort !!

Poppa's new winter boots offered some entertainment as they tried them out inside!!

Then our little scientist thought he should have a closer look at things...

One can never learn to be safety conscious too young!!

Brother Sam.... could you have a look also??

Well it just wouldn't be right to go much further without some pictures of the grandsons now would it??? After having sometime to go visit them a week or so ago... I thought it was time for some pics from the visit.




















This was Luke on Day 2 ... the first night there he was a little unsure about this ole' Poppa ... by the second day though .... we were once again friends and all was well .... at least most of the time!














Ben of course is the people guy... and we were back on track in no time at all. All one needs to do is mention food and Ben will saddle up his chair and be looking for the goods!





















Sam is our high energy guy .... and was being very creative and was having fun "swimming" in the foam packing that brought Christmas and birthday gifts.

Of course the aftermath.... took three of us to clean up!! and much more time than it took to create the "pond" . But Mommy .... the water is sticking to me.... yes Sam .... that is static.... oh... Can Ben come in too?? Uh, No!!















Ben is working on his own style ... with a cupcake from his birthday party.









Yes there is a grin behind that hand.... this little guy is full of them... grins that is... cupcakes too... but mostly grins!











Luke ... on the other hand... keeps his grins for just the right moment!!





Big brother Ben ... loves to sit with his brother and help him... not all the help is appreciated by little brother but most of it is... and Ben has proven himself a good and gentle helper!

So after pulling and pulling and pulling on a very cold snowblower, I did actually think about rolling it into the room with the woodstove to warm it up... it was very cold and I can only imagine the viscosity of the oil was somewhat "thicker" than usual! But it did go ... and the driveway was cleared and I headed out to Sault Ste Marie... to start all over again ...

Even in the rear view mirror ... it is a pretty place to be... summer, fall, winter and spring!!

Seems that the Sault got snow also!! So once again the blower was chilled from a ride in an open truck ...

But if you think that the blower had a cold ride, how about this guy... riding a few feet in the air... down Highway 17...

that's right... hwy 17.. the trans canada.... It made me shiver just watching him driving the team from on high!! Never mind the fact that he didn't have his seat belt on!!

But he made it to the sideroad.... and was riding tall in the pallets the last I saw him!

What do you get when you open a black bag ... full of legs?? An Instant Bench!!! What else would it be!?? Thanks to Grandpa George the pond skaters and the pontoon boat riders... will have a bench to sit on that is not cold... and will move easily to a new location...