A thought

    I received this in an email this week and, although I am not one for passing on words of wisdom and those cute little cartoons that accompany them, I thought I would share this one. Thank you James -

There are five things you cannot recover in life:

1. The Stone........................after it is thrown,
2. The Word.............................after it is said,
3. The Occasion....................after it is missed,
4. The Time............................after it is gone,
5. A Person..............................after they die.

The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them...  gws

   

In the Woods

Late October is the time of year I enjoy the most in the woods that surround our cabin, the fallen leaves crackling and swishing about my feet, the rustling of mice, squirrels and chipmunks much more evident now as they scurry about searching for fallen nuts or seeds to sustain them through the coming winter. The air smells wonderfully fresh and sweet, mixed with the distinct perfume of peaty earth and leaf mold and all things natural. I find a rock to sit on where the sun is warming the smooth surface or mossy covering, watching Muffy sniffing at scents only she can detect. I listen to the muted sounds about me, thinking of the summer past and the coming of another season, of another year gone by and how little really changes in the physical world around us. I touch the rough surface of this huge granite boulder and try to imagine the ages that have passed as it lay here, long before man stood upright and yet longer still. Here on this slope overlooking two great countries, this great stone was hidden from view until loggers from the last century finally arrived to fell the trees shading it. Here it was mute witness to the thousands of maples and spruce trees that had grown before, lived their short lives and returned to the earth to nurture the next generation. What stories could it tell of the climate and physical changes that have taken place on this very spot I sit over the past million years....  

             

 Peace, and love...gws

Vieux-Montréal

Another Friday night in the big city, another restaurant...this time we spent an enjoyable evening at the Cabaret du Roy in Old Montreal. This place is supposed to be like New France more than 300 years later but with a bit of piracy and whatever thrown in, specializing in native foods like wild meat and regional cuisines. They invite you to laugh, sing and feast along with their musicians and historical characters to get into the New France spirit. We were shown to our rough hewn wooden table and presented with a cold glass of apple cider and a loaf of round bread to get the tummy rumbling. I ordered the Huron's Sagamité , a native people's fish soup garnished with small game, corn and other vegetables while Marie had La Salade Wendake, a warm salad made from red beans, corn, vegetables and seeds. There was a choice of six main courses from braised ox cheeks to deer casserole but I went with the bison spareribs that had been marinated in a rum and molasses sauces. My God was it good! Marie chose the preserved duck legs, served with a tangy sauce made of maple syrup and red wine. We finished with a maple pudding "chômeur" and a cup of herbal tea (21st century style), full to bursting and ears ringing from the boisterous patrons. Corny but a tourist's delight no doubt. gws

Amy!!

Marie and I, along with Christina, had the pleasure to be with Phil and Fernanda, now in her 23rd week, as they broadcast Amy's 3D ultrasound from the UCBaby Clinic here in Montreal this past Saturday.

Because this session was broadcast over the Internet family members in Mexico, Canada and the US were able to see Amy´s live performance! She put on a great show for us and now we can´t wait to see her for real in the new year! gws

More Colours of Fall

October at the cabin!

No clouds are in the morning sky, the vapours hug the stream, who says that life and love can die in all this northern gleam? At every turn the maples burn, the quail is whistling free, the partridge whirs, and the frosted burs are dropping for you and me...in the clear October morning - Edmund C. Stedman, Autumn Song 

        gws

October = Colour! (Les Couleurs De L`Automne)

While Phil and Fer were getting a much needed break in Las Vegas with Fer's family (who had flown in from Mexico City), and while Lara was driving east to Windsor, Ontario to see her very ill grandmother, Marie and I were of to the cabin in our new Ram to spend the day enjoying the fall foliage of northeastern Quebec and western Maine. Our property is mostly maple, some birch and a scattering of spruce, so we are totally immersed in the beautiful reds, yellows, oranges and browns of the colours around us! I was thinking of my recent visit to the heat and bustle of Florida and what a difference a week makes, not only in the obvious (weather, topography, etc) but also in the peace, serenity and solitude that comes with living in this part of the north. As we crossed into Maine on Saturday (to pick up our camper we had left in Augusta a month ago for repairs) and drove the winding SR 27 south in a light misty rain, it was like being on a different planet altogether. I often think how lucky we are to be able to experience this, and because I have seen both worlds, able to fully appreciate it. gws

our Dodge Ram 4x4 beside the Chain Lakes, Maine, Oct 2011

Phil, Fernanda and family, Las Vegas, October 2011

Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes this special season
When nature is all aglow

fall foliage, SR 27, Chain Lakes, Maine, Oct 2011

Amy

After a visit to their doctor this morning I was so pleased to get the news that Fer´s new arrival has been finally assigned it´s future path in life it is a GIRL! Marie and I are very happy and excited for both Phil and Fernanda and hope to be able hold the little chickinina Amy in our arms at the end of January! And we are sure she will be a beautiful, intelligent and strong minded baby, just like her parents! For more pictures, info and an opportunity to comment and wish them well, visit Fer's blog at  www.pfandbaby.com   gws

The Week That Was...MOM (Montreal-Orlando-Montreal)

Why did the tortoise cross the road?

deer, The Groves, Land O Lakes

bee, The Groves, Land O´Lakes

Eye see you!

Tyler and Ebie

Mom, Carolyn, Shawn and Brenna

Ebie, Dee and Mom, the Groves

Lyn and Hamie, backyard, Brooksville

Me, Brenna and Lauren

Shawn and Brenna

Lyn, Le Jardin, Brooksville

BBQ; Brooksville

Ryan and Caroline

Yeah! I didn´t hit the Bug!

Dee and Lyn

gws

South for a week..part 2

Waterlily, Land O' Lakes, Florida

,,,continued...Driving back and forth from Brooksville to Land O' Lakes everyday can get rather monotonous but in my little red Camry rental I usually do it in under 40 minutes. I look forward to seeing mum everyday and I know she is pleased to see me when I show up at Dee's doorstep every morning. Yesterday though I stopped off on Lake Lindsey road to see how dad was doing and was pleased, yet surprised, he was doing as well as could be expected by himself. He was eating well, keeping the place clean, inside and out, and even managing to drive into town most nights for supper. After my visit with mum I returned to Brooksville as Shawn and Lauren were coming over with Brenna to enjoy a duck with rice and orange sauce dinner that Lyn and I had prepared.

Shawn,Brenna and Lauren

But today Lyn and I drove down to the Groves in Lof L together, first stopping off to visit the horse farm where she takes dressage lessons, somewhere out in the country and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I was introduced to all the inhabitants of the barn before leaving, arriving at Dee's around 11am to welcome Ryan who had just flown in from Salt Lake City. I hadn't seen him for few years, not since Marie and I had gone camping out west in the old

van, returning via Utah. He had just returned from three months in Barrow, Alaska and finding the heat of the south as uncomfortable as me.

Me & Marco, the Andalusian stallion

Me and Ryan

Lyn and Ryan

While mum was with her occupational therapist (yesterday her physical therapist had come over and spent an hour with her) we sat outside to hear Ryan's tales from the far north. As we were looking out at the water a few feet away a small alligator showed his head, looking rather hungry and inviting us to come out and feed him some dogfood! Somewhere the mother 'gator may have been lurking so we kept our feet safely on the bank!

Baby 'gator, Dee's backyard

Tyler and trumpet flower

Tomorrow the gang is going to get together for a bbq one last time before I return to Montreal. If I have time I will update with pictures.  Right now the thunder is crashing and booming outside my window, the dogs are howling and barking and supper is ready...to be continued...  gws