tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-150852052024-03-23T10:45:41.927-07:00Cat Tales and Then SomeCatharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-88833727091310429122012-03-28T18:25:00.011-07:002012-03-31T08:21:58.957-07:00October 2011: A DC Wedding<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">October was a wonderful month for my family. Instead of celebrating Thanksgiving in the usual way, we traveled south to DC for the wedding of Jonathan and Maggie. We also used the wedding as an excuse to spend some time in DC and then go on a cruise. Just as I love visiting my own nation's capital for all it represents, there is so much to see and do in DC that is informative yet enjoyable. On this visit Don and I spent the day with David and Evie at the capital and Library of Congress. I adore the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">architecture</span> and the history of the city and its buildings. </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I was hoping to go to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Holocaust</span> museum but ran out of time. I guess I will just have to go for another visit! <img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725126243096505586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHRIMq-VGat5M9Yl7T5k213lc1BNnVEdQTgxZdbGKfD8LW9uhZE-gDoYEpyO51eiJ96qEbiSi4JNJhSxMKCxzAwh8QLI7d8-C12cvke1eqaDx60SR4QIoqYJLDaKyEYsGiJ9H/s400/123.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="266" /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63u1gpHZFXUhyphenhyphenj47rP774BbIhKvZq9XfhW_uE6n0v75XuG2_EEdXztE3UXuvo-EuLguLmNQrdnrTdf1-ygE5aNfmw9rKy1q6Ny4E4H9T209uxbHOMXdHLulaVnmhOdgabn9_b/s1600/147.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="268" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725125593813518818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63u1gpHZFXUhyphenhyphenj47rP774BbIhKvZq9XfhW_uE6n0v75XuG2_EEdXztE3UXuvo-EuLguLmNQrdnrTdf1-ygE5aNfmw9rKy1q6Ny4E4H9T209uxbHOMXdHLulaVnmhOdgabn9_b/s400/147.JPG" style="display: block; height: 134px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" width="400" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725125052054670114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxKMDMurbrrfu02H0qCpSXm1gDwtJUPjZkh-GVw4GmeC2kHsFcC9fS_U-pdFZnLADHqOZeaHGu769JV2QmUJkG5PiR9y-2Oo7UBRZMCZ-w5lpWcN49iaw887Fdi6mDzMEKZqw/s400/129.JPG" style="display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 134px;" width="268" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="268" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725125041614607378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vgXHu4j-vc8IrsFh9ad77Kp1Z2FIyKCrqUEPHpympq3dMpQ0wA6uGx1v_vQGbSCmHbaGj1MWbPumx1x1Bzb06qw6WFOC0NXwmt2Lfc86ZkTDQ6JfFMOubK9N02NSmCVeNLqt/s400/118.JPG" style="display: block; height: 134px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" width="400" /> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The reason for the visit was the wedding. I had a wonderful time. It was a relatively smaller wedding, but it was elegant and a good time was had by all. It is during these times that I reflect on life and how it moves along at a fast pace. I start sounding like my grandparents and parents by saying I remember when... or it seems like just yesterday when.... It is also wonderful to see that my nieces and nephews have grown into caring, principled adults. I am so proud of them. Jonathan and Maggie look wonderful together and I enjoyed watching how they are with each other. It was a very relaxing wedding with dancing and a lot of talking. Just being around family is comforting, especially since it does not happen enough.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725131875414324050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_f6jRBG7aeXrhdECyniRIgYXF3FX8iGcYV62raIJ8vrTp93MgyUzvYuNfxBMpOWRfY6Q7pw6r5EPrfBszl17uAyZYSkvB9dnm6msy9HjCUD0WcmJWy8l2Da3zRdQbhnqovBjE/s200/029.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 134px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725132647216888498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCV3sSqSibTDcnliUsqjs6Sk3hs7VGqFo7DahqQWelDaoGDRHZ0xb5BkikjqaaZE27wDiJVRSRCxa9uGZHBS4FRD3P98x5wERQus9l0ACjkrfq4TgLNPJgrd6LuW9kGw2-N_1/s200/174.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 134px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725132656449877746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DCUJvpMPYipdIxK6YdHUawKJSQ55SDYcmZfDuMnP4z8v39pSvR2XuEOX6Y1rveOt5ljJtS1XRxhgTk2DFmQC8RGL2jLvqiQUi_rJvEZKLAOldAo6_USwDpSs0uxKTfEsY1l5/s200/234.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 134px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725131884139744530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWlLOCyNsvwU9O1K9VdXB6Bo7EZF7a11egJgg4P2mAgv2W6TaaVJBY2oBWOLntm7F2E8326z131R8I6w35jDIZoP10AcCwPJAPOFY3lys3B9Ehl2X-12MBKVpXeOmFlv0jpHS/s200/322.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 134px;" /></span>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-41345236077473878782012-03-25T13:12:00.019-07:002012-03-28T18:25:02.686-07:00Favourite Greece Moments: Athens<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Athens was interesting to tour. Its history is evident everywhere, yet there are modern elements. Our hotel was done in the art deco style. The elevator could only fit two people at a time (squished) and had the iron screen that went across it. When we got up in the morning we thought we would walk to a bus stop to go to the Acropolis. We saw soldiers with machine guns at the ready and, on second thought, we took a taxi instead. As it turns out, the area we were staying in use to be a very posh, upscale area until the illegal gun trade moved in. Despite this, we were still comfortable walking around the downtown core around the acropolis and other ruins. We watched the changing of the guards at the parliament building - the same spot where the riots have been over the past year. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723987429702402210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6HDeF1k7xu2z80gdgwlbpuDjLIUXleiMew9djbmfL5lfdsWSxVmtqI2knGYQojgSRmL8zyn5_aWb-J5tJ3uWDlTNbPF42MEiNP172CS2X-0RjrQDyZ8Z4E_ws74NjQv7QeaJ/s200/IMG_1990.JPG" /></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723987421323505458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkcic_GYupbO5Fa6rzBCT7OvdZVLnxcryyeSZ4oSGcIwhiit-2J4Ah5hNVIfWSSVdj1q1g-7TP3ckAEjY-Jiu8ic_BoxlC3npvULavfCwSb0UXUPVtwghcWVVgNIDdq0UxxP/s200/IMG_1983.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723986319262520930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz-si5vyIlK_r-ilvl0HB9iZQVYHa1HH74Z72LkpqL5DXytSZhbllBv3G1cYmUYTkMH7Brj4L9NvsvkjfqSOgczJdVu_QVylyNSFOxhyphyphenhyphenvYgMj3lAbuyORBdLBXRos2jHzC/s200/IMG_1964.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723986310263817602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmLYwmD76CS2Am_X1OBJDo43j3d7-2HgfeAYAVbYhsNANv1zYHCgilMtu3bi3Vjq7SKeZJwv1D1kgwv-OHfb4ogdeLLNQ1Y6m31X0DRGWhM_2LEuqpKRc5Nf_DadplLPnBRw3/s200/IMG_1962.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723985022652979554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA554nkJgr80ooC70VJSVO59aMJ7BgPn9ayS_GgICoMuzQsJIAY3nl5QtvQUrqqUUb01Uw0_z3ZpTZ-CrL36m1tUHt22I7uZY-7gGGRMiy0Tiv91xjyFi4H1gbaorvwOwjYsZR/s200/IMG_1907.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723984181179495634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkhMoim_R_lz9h1nQI6ue4HEvd29As0r4lE6Nmh_oLShmfHK-ktcK9TvE9qHnNUYMxEOS2Tpt2MkBGrr2gtaajHD_5bT_SGC1e2OpC_Y-zBO_3yX5tjqdd7QBYIQ6MBU5mhXd/s200/IMG_1905.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723989538056993778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUECcjEy3kVFk4852H5g61jkJJ7rjV2HrpllL67N19vYXP4JF329VVEruwZNOnreUfhqeRYJTBjFcjPk9Hw-Xy32SaTHxepjDbXwC2GUJi7MsSyhwjXlep4-zo77OVhTq1kdYI/s200/P1010249.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724003331709762178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoAYu-po0xCfyezhd-QgiA0TNwQWZwTLIQKRdt_tBTCqMXird-uGACg5_OysJwsR9Dl172LcYjwq9ZWmOu0f9pNDo09JQyNyqmFq_3P1fEE5Q8JnfJ6WaLyyHYpKZXrMY-TAf/s200/IMG_1813.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723984173040629730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dxAsNiJye0is6u67L78DRZbTR7yHdRviRvs-YsK7Hn4ztcI6O1t62Ks3JYZZ8cGkwHT02PjKjgKvFgb2e1jtuf5yEfgtEDXdSl2qj7VEJZuKgYOmkUhz3pqrZQyydni-jR7h/s200/IMG_1893.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I loved our walk around the acropolis. We were given a private tour and the guide reminded me of the father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" since she dissected <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">English</span> words and related everything back to Greek. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724003320564426258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl8aCBeVxou12PkE-3W0BJcP_sLFTG_5hAt_ohTrdLrkjnvA3KStEcNIS1PHavcE79whm9eBdBuGwPlyUsPFHyP7M8JhWwHUaWXVMatJm9sX9nbsmIVksY-2_wPWIhR6KzYVg/s200/IMG_1815.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723981547898842210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzH639qTACAtjAQorP6K5NIcUsoohGq22qZN0oZvmb5-yIidjUYMsLniU2jJJIERuWZGyiMB2AcffOXMwiDcF20gfOEBAg3YlQy3SQC9JxBTTrAkx06Y6YrRrdGNpQETREE_4/s200/IMG_1820.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723982830831513490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkaOgt6P57zcl1_zCsmz4fTihByqGaEZUdlAIPc7D-WLjXZwLm0YpRKgXE5-nWGTc797CB5RcWoAaUQWumdettLa72Zfw-_Bj29w0WXIfS-e5dQUbkR13fZ8EBRjK0C62T_I1/s200/IMG_1847.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723983440911024610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YtKpVK69l2HxeuwAp7_Xux9OX5NxcUk0d_S8bqbsrtwbaX2MbPE3G-eKDD_pMJEiQgwLAZIEPahzcC4vOnvUKY5c7IY9cb4orzEuX8ZIxUAwO2TjE4ODZG30PCBfyJfTwGcj/s200/IMG_1860.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723983450128844882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYio9Luv0k57uNpRwI7P0GZskdfUL27HUbveb7V6f2c6j3J6cnWeg7Ck0nEGPhsSsnQyDwoUV0UmZGyHjhsXa1h933EaTWI7N23edd-n390Y3d3M_xVqzKQsF91zeUmK1qOGT/s200/IMG_1872.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723982815237082050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEqF1xBpFkitzR1NyxorowffMkUJoN8d2lSpLbd1Q-3mPG26WHMzGD7v9Fo8Kr0s1ieTQpLhDzqB6PWcns8ciqdxX7KGRYXTwBA7KdjfrbhlGM8dRQVTO6YLizSkK0eQgcBGY/s200/IMG_1832.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723981560229096370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2i1WZYC3eCy9qkU18wj-RusLhdKjsLozFmHO2wrKzKu008Us7hkgkvxsQdlabPV6E6ALy_neZJmp7ZD9NhkaADNx1PiiI2mFPqEIuJH2hCePbPGpcxmEvDNUL4UWDL_jwDOR/s200/IMG_1834.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When we walked through the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Plaka</span> (the market area) we were told by a local which area to avoid due to pic-pocket gangs. Despite this, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Plaka</span> was charming. I wonder if the people who live and work there ever <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">contemplate</span> how they walk in a place where people have walked for thousands of years - some of whom are famous. This thought is awe inspiring to me. For instance, I walked on a rock on which St.Paul preached from. Too cool! </span><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723985033385654018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eSP1PCjZ5tys3E2XCoEeDRx3f6PDNYUO2stvVd7wzGUartH43IP_4Rgl-MIQz9zQVMWshN7VKcprLHIbyoY6pT2CGwTXrrEmTD6832iunTvp63jAklGjHENm7yH6SJMfIB6v/s200/IMG_1935.JPG" />St. Paul's rock</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723987948637820386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFyLWHNUUHr-tj70FzXv2afSzWKlMujOSg0feffaPh6DvsoyOOxAUlRaAkCysA8onEwvbjDf2Su27KhpZjw_clKdXlZMvRAXtEmDMUtRYK5pFjuhcMJiUzj_Z6tO8JKNU9MNL/s200/IMG_2008.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723987959519449058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30JvA9D3CVqmuLm6DnI4ua9nkqeokhcBP1pgavoVr85Ary5Dxk75nky_1zQOojDSy4Jyr4ploc6-S905ACgMCBBDSGHuCdi9zk0eN9RfxoGllB9nqWBLjHLpCTS1XBmfQeT8q/s200/IMG_2004.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723989548810509378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM31omk0PuKkWfnaO99bnY8pz5SaCoSpT_TpbgJP_LMX7sDjwvSE-Xjje1Qso0c3PywztUAQuvYFUhEL9yB1UAyJGIe7uZogYECzuZlOGUOHVBKNJHsiL1FAhQG0U5b-gBNhi/s200/IMG_2009.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also thought it was interesting seeing an archaeological dig in the middle of the city. They were digging to expand the metro when they came across some ruins, so they had to reroute the metro and the spot is now a dig site. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcddBjC_zOkPPT2dlyElt31UeE-glNllEziaLtJwRPXCXwcqdze19y090G-rYRDdDFxCUN_kKkigZFC3Wh_cwO47ynwbN8usXkKADDZIRdyHJRB9PFCXA6eGE5bhn5cRyF-oX/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723986933513533090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcddBjC_zOkPPT2dlyElt31UeE-glNllEziaLtJwRPXCXwcqdze19y090G-rYRDdDFxCUN_kKkigZFC3Wh_cwO47ynwbN8usXkKADDZIRdyHJRB9PFCXA6eGE5bhn5cRyF-oX/s200/IMG_1971.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiqnhBKjWNrgxPQo3i5jxoOZI-oIFG3gJbBKyBPtwsBSZwrhK0SYFvRHfGTZfIJqvNCgaJCUgR5n8QReYaMJir1hzpzAnPkzzufCYxBJuHXGK4uRhrm_d78sw8wkvJhIoZ3sD/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723986924521541154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiqnhBKjWNrgxPQo3i5jxoOZI-oIFG3gJbBKyBPtwsBSZwrhK0SYFvRHfGTZfIJqvNCgaJCUgR5n8QReYaMJir1hzpzAnPkzzufCYxBJuHXGK4uRhrm_d78sw8wkvJhIoZ3sD/s200/IMG_1972.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even at the Acropolis Museum there is a dig. They built on top of the dig and rather than cover it over with a concrete path, the area out front of the museum in covered in glass so you can look down and see the ruins. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwaISMH7X55GpFLHtFIemg0aZzh-epQ-2av41DlrpDbcgMPNt-8RLWrGcR-n4HhBhdl4dpYxEchk7i8hGjPa84lIATn6altoMg0UMV8GVLrtuBj3Tz-6XRv3YZpgh9kmehNW8/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723985711565767906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwaISMH7X55GpFLHtFIemg0aZzh-epQ-2av41DlrpDbcgMPNt-8RLWrGcR-n4HhBhdl4dpYxEchk7i8hGjPa84lIATn6altoMg0UMV8GVLrtuBj3Tz-6XRv3YZpgh9kmehNW8/s200/IMG_1954.JPG" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgI0aMP3MzxwoJAYG2yXYsIe6-1HglyyThnkEw6v9VwQVHImwjz5qqh4aQAwtKDCEpsMr9pArkYCXJstWoVuYZ1VuDhYiH20E2wPVKIhi15HZ2PL9wqwDoVbj47zNeJV2byKE/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723985701396480066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgI0aMP3MzxwoJAYG2yXYsIe6-1HglyyThnkEw6v9VwQVHImwjz5qqh4aQAwtKDCEpsMr9pArkYCXJstWoVuYZ1VuDhYiH20E2wPVKIhi15HZ2PL9wqwDoVbj47zNeJV2byKE/s200/IMG_1953.JPG" /></a> </p>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-76862124029415871402012-03-25T09:12:00.021-07:002012-03-25T13:12:19.857-07:00My Favourite Greece Moments<div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723872027173996114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRSr9voMug2ybM-ZU1Cbr2PK0_vv9RsigHhForaQw_GDhtVMfLVHaDKHUGUV4IvNePS3P7XAZEmaAb-FLhOXKGuiqyi7yRpVHZT0sHy2rWW5PVj5ER08t3MRIdCKY_JMC8gZs/s200/IMG_0926.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723872019090521298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJXdOd-FdoLsrCl7TDf8lIUQ4pEqXyp8ByGyQXCZAlwZubLMaNXteCnuSleahhWWupjQE8GUhzh-psDFgg9V_NzXodIwyApQ-rehWMdOwbIyX7F61g5imHQqlEsBJqGFRM1P6/s200/IMG_1399.JPG" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Mykonos we stayed in a very quaint and small hotel called Pelican Bay. It was named after the island mascot, Petros the pelican, who walks through the town every day under the watchful eye of its caretaker. Our neighbours were donkeys, goats and chickens and we awoke to a rooster. It is said that Mykonos is the place where Zeus battled with Gigantes and that it was named after Apollo's grandson, Mykons. The Ionians built the first cities in the 11th centruy BCE. </span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723901729649306946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFC2MB3uGsUNQOhOUfC0rSyTuM092X8jyafhIfr9JFFVzva2cjJUusPTJpii3QNnivW0XCzSsd5JS_pHgeIVQpcX9nTSk0uNvYz9uIWnbJoAFEvbdhMljypo246X8QHoYSnoc/s200/IMG_1329.JPG" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I love the Hora (the town of Mykonos), with its white washed stones and streets that were purposefully made in a maze to discourage invasions. There are many chapels on the island. During storms sailors and pirates would promise to build a chapel if God returned them safely home.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723901118378709266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgkWxl0uS2iiLm-Qa32APBdKZS5qwvNWSQNVXX8CJPjEgkw_f5Scm79GFTf-bagLXMJ7Q9QnbJmP9SirZ80sIPkAEF9I1I-XfXSGsrP0q3Qq-v-ujhPlfV7UuHiO4m8k3nWqT/s200/IMG_1322.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723901109473667154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNYVfpPeWo1QFdSAeiqqKOfmpM3EB0AT_z9a2kyjbjS7Cz7SDFz0R-Tqy8z-dvF4zvRpkW6dq6cCD4NGRMkhfBhko_rElyXGWJiP47cmPPxVNqkPCUm2tbcooPZFJaht0KKPL/s200/IMG_1324.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723891945508705554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJcyEPYIlPX8b264hrMTHGOh9vT0eZDY1VIgA5RtEMn4_P5YrStFepdcgch5FYSd8X8IOy9F64uUQp7WOgcyHrcaHCCg6AwOJe44omGNInBamDLYHOvkQvIakD77F63wDr3K7/s200/P1013258.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723891953079476226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxnxGJazypsQqCRS8NaQGd8kCp7w9-S4gGdVzMrsJKIHuq-fXPYptQve6m-JcLBU2y2zB9yOFqEvbyC490biE3rb9Yxp-r72FF8kdvdpOOEI_7BtfpUZQojhEZgkcqHIun02F/s200/P1013263.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723882428684018226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikuEAmA2rBQkbX3Aln0zJtowKQxWQWbnXlgq7lkmbc_842c_Lb3vf8Fxn5T87E_RtwDvwuRkygUmXxhWELNaWzeS0Et8RqK_oBn0Q8ginN2BBZfBq6_gc-pW3bjaURS1vxn23/s200/IMG_0988.JPG" /></span> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This part of the Hora is called Little Venice. In the past it flooded every year and, as a result, balconies were built from one house to another house to give a means of escape.</span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723882442107170562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TlwkY8lr1vhJJDsNUDGnnRhpp1UJMAkD2IpgyOk-JNjKixv-URcnY3hwf72PUL2BCjJDQ1tXD9ubSuKR8Z-mUlqVFOYSY7YE6Y0ay3-7SWCz9cC5zzvUt12tSYnvdy94YTrU/s200/IMG_1016.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723884684989707954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx4ShhjrGQUuLvK0djp6A-531vnz_6DBAsY69GwaXFkosJ5UEwmAyf0wdmyqssEnzu5pbDKF6CmON4R-yUJCTie62NJicVb1KRzsBx-CIJe61OfcGVK1qrvJjMN1gLHll8YYV/s200/IMG_0994.JPG" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This is the Paraportiani, a church. Part of the church dates back to 1425. It has a door in the roof to allow an escape route if invaded. </span><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723884693250158226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxLPgegr9YbgbW12j7pj9QOy1WCdG9V18wifOWDmS7WHTr94ehKSaqiE7KqPhyWz5QJ7GgQwIj7XaYImymTKZRFbyWCgwUvWcv1vUzlFKULYdtS346lK9smq-bFneEZgEmyh4/s200/IMG_1042.JPG" />On an island off Mykonos we visited Delos, an ancient city on an island. It was a centre of commerce and religion where people from around the Mediterannean traded goods and worshipped their gods in their own temples. We sure could learn from them today about religious tolerance! Today the island is one large archaeological dig.</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723891033642429698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_pVRAGM6kq1sNsSpHBrUbLWmyPKWBZytHj27pX7pHw_sbhbLre99NMqPW9vSx8c-LANeSABhbhk4vHq2J6DOIFXcWeIFr2w_okxKnSo3g3toQbK8ee8nTZ59i_-6G2tKo6bD/s200/IMG_1205.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723901737115690082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIVgu2vEuPg44VlPXaWDIc2XTw7ttSAex4RS37REsrXfsduyPlw0rbhXHQUj_FdF8fR8lWZlD4Ej63RCaeRSLosMYZ0FKAcdeGGsR8wopclI-H3PrB7T01TLCSt_TbuNEuXKD/s200/P1013298.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723891045283709794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqw2uRkxnZxHUEcquuySc8AVOjP1HbSNMP0VAlBexRwIcFWp587COODKaUfSL7QgHbWRuXsZu7ym6TMnHjpygn3LHwYGkHSXYQbjXiJu36pZFlxrUp7xhxfUAXXakAdMDzz3w/s200/IMG_1299.JPG" /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The second island we visited was Santorini. Thousands of years ago, around 1450 BCE, Santorini was one island, then there was a catastrophic volcanic eruption that altered the island forever. The dome was blown off and water flooded the caldera resulting in three islands. The people who lived on the island, the Minoans, escaped although it is thought that their civilization sudenly disappeared, possibly from the tsunami that resulted from the earthquakes. Today the towns are built on the side of the cliff and the volcano continues to be active. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723911829441350610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uOc6W6LbrXe7O-SgB8gDVlvdhcDU70Js79Uj7YLR-Ak_x0H3DEnqAE5OiBdiS72BcH6UgzU86xgCMabb2DLE_vqvm7TxdQ3cHjSRYas4fAo5E37HJ-oJSH2xA3FMq16b1hpv/s200/IMG_1619.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723912561474655586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68Ujx39R3EMSF8VyoAHzlRU-XXqg29LZ0oIGJ55WoF0ewWWX6N52BqZ2KmGUblrn3YREP6i6V_QgU8BUs_0F-Y00287LpnIprcD4PXwKfzKw2P4wfxRhcNFTcpz2c8LqUhcFM/s200/IMG_1630.JPG" />To get to the old port you can either take a cable car down or walk down on the road that goes back and forth along the cliff. Donkeys frequent this road. On Santorini we stayed in a resort-like hotel called the El Greco in Fira. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723915549985504050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfeRUI953guGyYXBMaVFHcgPhJSWP0OJVmRcL3alVKDInlfX3j7-JnqGao1DvmnaBMTQhdfXPSfLr9jpT7bjJXGC-29clcfWdNRPLQZw__UclLlKmZCBg__rUWvsBa7bSfdPx/s200/P1010156.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723872036615917538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Qajc4IvSzfdEKAY8-oKNuUeAmLXOCjF8DYYeb_lyJK4f_BVEY2AhmHlkq7W81vD8Iu8XT6pw-ztLLFfYHKVEd0hk6KvOMfL7grN6kvzRPPvdWw3LLcVewZwd4D30gCWTYct/s200/P1010232.JPG" /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Santorini has a black beach and a red beach - the result of volcanic eruptions. We spent time in the morning on the black beach in Kamari enjoying the waves and the sun. The sand is gritty and hurts the feet to walk on.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723905520179200978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAnpzmRp2U5GPz8LnspuHG5rR8xBR7iO9JFdJOgwPHmOHtpawY-JH2hLHeoGhsIsn7yEI3fdUHEDN8cThDja9SQkjmoV15CWmZ8V-nHNQQPt9ttyBQGeDcJwcfoXwYpzbPGhS/s200/IMG_1533.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723905506284179394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLffrIuqLHNUcJYN2B3EDCldLfAa_TsLr9pORVFldiRjf-k14a1JymFVvmDr5hh9o39HhS9QoyjMAOYz0rP-01BKPKUYjz7h9WgQyDktefAvLeANO1iDsLOGOdN64edSiPdqX/s200/IMG_1477.JPG" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We weaved back and forth as the taxi took us up the hill of Mesa Vuono to the ancient city of Thira. I would think that the people who lived here once upon a time would probably seldom come down since it is quite the climb up. When you look down one side of the hill you see the town of Perissa and looking down the other side of the hill you see Kamari. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723906783547895570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFmvnCyF4LBYR_xqGm6kOMeZzLPYo1k9j3zVw97sUbxz0sgcG1PTBl_8_DLUjnH5qfNqyMUXnAUmdi1-dMRLmYeReA7HQ8_Wisus9BJ9xyWmTPz5t5WZ4KjsZkih3Vl5Oz8FZ/s200/IMG_1562.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723907506357082034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzlk763Ghap4HJjAEGZn9Y0AZsUf1NP17EDyZ98W9SaeO10C1DwgUYNY0imaFMG45KU-Cv95Tc3z8cnVG2F3YdDNkZpyWoR_XUK2YF3YFZBMePwtFQHPCIXGQH75RDyfiw6Qf/s200/IMG_1603.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723906770520471186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwekPCibmrAUgRdlt0f3_Ki9eUxS4a31yVeTthMLdNgS9-A3cgti-u0VWXgXLiyoqKUguXF2_YaU6qhLk2_6M0Ut70nO_mru-NT5y9C8aYg20gBy7sxXoh5jllHJdhaMTkLl6f/s200/IMG_1593.JPG" /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lastly, we visited Oia to see the sunset. I could live here with its troglodite looking buildings. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723913296808199234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-r2ncR_HTqfjVZGL3crlZvNmatSjaAzfLWaBg-sPULiSMER3lq6urwus1TiZJ_m4qoEevZ3W0hCNK5DML2x0s5TfZkfEg422BhBmm7DS94PrIbp2hF0BF7U1AsME6d7siP8P/s200/IMG_1679.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723911822133521170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumcUOM5U7y2b9LFjXxECBq-Rs9p7yo1ldXZPolud_oxbfNeX6UIHglPJ_dwv5o_bZkjDQ7MXA1qwlIiYkT9lqDwrckKXtuXx2GHUJp25cp1tbhLLODO85ZOf2r0L9pN51CO2L/s200/IMG_1719.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723907512380004050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURjw0s9Mzyvq7fBF-smK2FiXJBAvWevmowvtUoUjJ5S8Q4yLRj6p7ECbyKez7l4h1Tx5ELhpAT72J0PsG0U40yqXAbm4qW3mgQdFUFopdfcC4mOB86CUl1xCzpshzoKPfM84F/s200/IMG_1713.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723915541246225890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSALzSdWw8Gi_W0KVJ60lG3td0bd-Dn5GQ_k9UNjunTVIDwfd0_qzvvQmvW8UK7HE1gNEuAsvmYNIqGOYzpyC67pWpLCYQik2jsq_sA_-lH-CwEJakStklRizlfSIQC_z2buw9/s200/IMG_1699.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723913307549780738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci-AynES3QnW-bvup9RtDsyCLvWWX08WGY45W8HNmTJOZj9v3O01spCZQUOQabivtPFDnNplXr4fOgBjLoF_NQ3QnMD9zxJT3pzgzM-JvXTtOExFveofP4sZRVdYZHBOS9MGb/s200/IMG_1645.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723912552567109746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawDiJ7-ExGRwvo9xZVDcPrMp5izQ1Jc4CCgA0ZKZoE_aSIrpywp6fHhU0YT3s5efli-q6OJZzxmUw19_YerPW7flADnze7F7TKQJKKTfvJL2No1tSRgCq38xE8nRUavPlj2Hx/s200/IMG_1704.JPG" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-55177261329803317322011-11-27T09:54:00.000-08:002011-11-27T10:45:09.270-08:00I'm Back!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> have found it a challenge to maintain my blog over the past year or so. My work load had increased and finding personal time was difficult. Now that I have a few moments I will try and recap quickly what has happened over the past year.</span><br /><br /><ol><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In October 2011 I had the opportunity to travel to Greece. I spent three days on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mykonos</span>, three days on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Santorini</span> and two days in Athens enjoying the local culture and seeing the sites. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mykonos</span> was enchanting, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Santorini</span> was inspiring, and Athens <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fascinating</span>. Perhaps I will write about this experience later when I have more time. All I can say right now is... when can I go back?</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the winter of 2011 I was an observer for an on-line teaching course to support a friend who was the instructor through the University of Toronto (OISE). Having had this experience I was, then, given the opportunity to teach a face-to-face course in the spring (Junior Basic) and, again, an on-line summer course (Primary Basic). These were huge learning experiences for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the professional dialogues. It made for a very busy time in which I worked many long hours and did not have a summer break, although it was very rewarding.</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In February I spent a week in a rented cottage again at the Salvation Army camp on Lake <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Simcoe</span>. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">scrapbooked</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">scrapbooked</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">scrapbooked</span>. I loved laughing with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">friends</span> and getting something accomplished.</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had a wonderful time this past October when spending time with family. My nephew, Jonathan, was married in Virginia. The wedding was beautiful and I loved seeing David, Evie and the boys. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Jonathan</span> has grown to be a very gentle, sensitive man and wish him all the best that life has to offer. Following the wedding my sisters, Joanne and Barbara, my mom and dad, and niece, Jennifer, and her boys, Don and I all went on a cruise out of Baltimore to the Bahamas. It was my first cruise. Spending this kind of time with family is something I always cherish. Someday I must write about this, too.</span></li></ol><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This year at school I am teaching grade one. It was quite the change from teaching grade five last year, although I love change! My children are eager to learn and want to be at school. I am teaching at a high energy school and between teaching six year olds all day and keeping up with the school demands I find myself falling asleep very easy this year!</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recently I completed a leadership course in which you look at your personal qualities to understand how you relate to others and how to understand and support others. I completed a personality test and was given quite the detailed report on who I am and how and why I respond the way I do in different situations. This will be another post to see if you agree or disagree...</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Right now I am looking forward to the upcoming Christmas break in three weeks. It will be another busy time visiting family but I would not want it any other way! In case I do not have a chance to do so before Christmas...</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my friends and family!</span> </strong></span></p>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-76117452315978889222010-10-01T16:32:00.000-07:002010-10-01T19:12:57.540-07:00Too Long...<div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I don't really have an excuse. For some reason I seem to think I have little to say and then when I read friend's and family's posts I think, "Why didn't I think of that to write about?" It's so silly, really. Let's see, what has been happening in my life since...February?!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. In March I spent a week in Myrtle Beach with Don, my sister, Barbara, and her three boys. I enjoyed getting away with family and spending time walking on the beach and relaxing. We went to a show, Dixieland, and spent a day in the Charleston area visiting a couple plantations.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523263892544458626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFuIsxEwH8Xa_Ui0cd5Sj_UA04DgW5CI_ASaw13d-PnCPUaXJ9e9g4o-NnUW0cOMuZTn0Dnf3Lkhu5sGypaXMHeurobKRV9b7BEul7D0KUGdq12VnhwLgRq6_SqN6OV_-a8cT/s200/IMG_7665.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523265016623774866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqqcgo2Tu9kRz3KZNwODVSlntPpTfYgVb0DIgIviGcyu00JHCkqLePIv1C9iywAHsp1tTV1iklo0_nomLoNNe1M9QxnReHFqt1E0B0F8ib_5Hif6uipdYrJJw4O421GDub35J/s200/IMG_7714.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523265014878822258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIq3JiBVSxgU6NKhwnwBIVFu62b4OeSmB6FmIfeCvUivAw7L7SIYGGeL5mEzXr9yM6ofuJ6Tauk8RJuu5d4aPNztNfC7M3GbeOgZwqm7vqjPKAygrQoS6deADUsG3KCyCQvCc/s200/IMG_8306.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523265006711354178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ljXhnnSKC_VvTD25PR6CHk0NruR-d6524zCycJFsMQ-uI6n95-s09kulRjTX9B13lyPLfYSSpBsBaumAGXqKep6u-wUeuZDs0y7DUm0OGlCRMlHYe3rmI657q9XrtmEbU3qF/s200/IMG_7719.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523263890131011618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8aoVKwdnnJP6dd6XiBhNByR1eIry20V-298aW4OpW-KH-vhpJfI7QIJfmHntZW-OziETh21IaUXKRVQ6LUVVrRvGy8pxaQ7LW2z3iZZRBO4RnHswBN19vWtaFbj1JpGJgEJ5/s200/IMG_0662.JPG" /></span></div><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. I hosted Easter at my place. Ethan ad Owen, the twins, wrestle like the older boys and the one thing that had them rolling with laughter was throwing their toys in the garden so they could walk through it. I always find it amazing just what little ones find so interesting! The best part of Easter, as usual when there are little ones around, is the easter egg hunt. It was great to watch Barbara's boys with the twins. They are going to make very caring fathers some day. Awwww.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">3. My nephew, Jason, was off for a tour in Afghanistan. While I fear for what life may bring him over there and pray for his safety daily, I admire his dedication and string sense of duty to his country and the world. I am such a proud auntie!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. May was our annual Sears' reunion. It was good to see some cousins that have not been able to attend for a few years. It is great to hang out with family - something we don't do often enough! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">5. The very beginning of July I took four nieces and nephews camping. Stephen's kids joined Cameron and I for a few days in Killbear Provincial Park. It was perfect weather for tent camping. We went on the boat cruise through the Georgian Bay islands and went down to Midland to Ste. Marie Among the Hurons. Every night we were visited by some brazen raccoons and I, of course, got very little sleep. You know, I wouldn't have it any other way! I got my tent camping fix and the kids had a wonderful time.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523256286373786402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7iBaM6ogGUey7lAgLEy36q1AzELgF4BDMTI40elN3bWD7de512C262Y3FBVSPgnLIiWc0oSjVoZg1wt9GeqbXi_7Fr1AzWXrs8kg3mqvNhw8R063WC2lp_-xJVcvYPTvQ3Kp/s200/IMG_9835.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523255506234037154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D5GbjVty53S7Ppb2QtbgczjLPAro-WiFtJt1o5mF6pGfOqdi83Pm2738aUUGCmarqvyAmgTjUAeBmEY8LT7IOBbme2-p1za2AU3Xjal7-HdzPE66FeNB9RpPkhAfCBaa_htm/s200/IMG_9976.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523255499780657234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCSIueW2fGheNIs7nOmvqrNVds5ucKCsHqfO3KaPV2Qx7gha1EpuZ5SeXVmTgZXO7JTj7xLJb5WBw280MdZxKQseHFmJjqYTmhGqAFHM_ho0hqr9HcyHUvqTsLSzfsSt_VSkc/s200/IMG_9643.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523256293513200338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzjjhug8d4kwHqnpcaQAtFH8-MdjL2eLGQ0SPX3ac5MyyKGWOMgii7v5cYFjl6BvXp07QK35J1g6vuJfhK4NamZYwlNYNSaLy4Rsu0pntbJuQ-RnLiGMXRd1AKzGXu6oOnJOa/s200/IMG_9473.JPG" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">6. My family also rented a cottage in Haliburton for a week. There was about fifteen of us at the cottage for the week (Don and I, mom, dad, Rick, Barbara and John and the three boys, and Stephen and Gayle and three of their children. Tom and Doreen, our cousins, stayed a couple of days and David and Evie dropped by for a day while on vacation. Jennifer and the twins, Ethan and Owen, also visited for a day. It is the first time we have done this as a family even though we have been thinking about it for a few years. It was a large cottage - large enough to let the teenagers have their space without intruding on the adult space. There were kyaks, paddle boats and a great dock and swimming area. While there was some rainy weather (one really great storm), it did not hamper our activities. The week was much needed time away and great bonding time.</span></p><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523258171918745874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvM3OynX-cS7y1ZxocgpcCNFdMqU4Ojjpy5nD-dg7U4gBGKZ3etRCFOrDOlZyNnAqEpI3DcH4GFc0gjdY6oE8q-_4GEpWwIr4RMxcAU9eXhyphenhyphenzNGexe9xys_3F63ameD5zHbz-/s200/IMG_9896.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTB9c13quWr6UUV_XrsmcEurFyMBAYpYL7JGPDoqJ6kYpS6iB2r5vvDAZKMtaO7heY4r6olVHuA-qvOhZAdeX3qd_VPYmRQp3_odtOA5X9foV0p5Rq4pVHocyvCuNQzX6p21H/s1600/IMG_9862.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523258163892468690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTB9c13quWr6UUV_XrsmcEurFyMBAYpYL7JGPDoqJ6kYpS6iB2r5vvDAZKMtaO7heY4r6olVHuA-qvOhZAdeX3qd_VPYmRQp3_odtOA5X9foV0p5Rq4pVHocyvCuNQzX6p21H/s200/IMG_9862.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4uQO4vfTfJjiu4cTin3VcB9veQRh1jdWU_yfThgwyOpepnBGN_v1m47tz2atOiZVyoFl10K30jQZAw3JBdguCxQanm7ycaEqAVO1cuBol1XH8Uc1iFW1jcahNMVLXNnO2MTs/s1600/IMG_9777.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523258154162218194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4uQO4vfTfJjiu4cTin3VcB9veQRh1jdWU_yfThgwyOpepnBGN_v1m47tz2atOiZVyoFl10K30jQZAw3JBdguCxQanm7ycaEqAVO1cuBol1XH8Uc1iFW1jcahNMVLXNnO2MTs/s200/IMG_9777.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XWoAcZKjsKgSYjWeK3T3ERNgPlLyHF_1Gq6q_wDSlH8pCwO3jfBtVLK9kmvBcZW9OGyd27leW5xvPH1JtbEHnvXMKBANF1ef3X9buHJbXwVYIdV0JvSMjVP6pdPQFxTNNGuj/s1600/IMG_0275.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523257132131168194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XWoAcZKjsKgSYjWeK3T3ERNgPlLyHF_1Gq6q_wDSlH8pCwO3jfBtVLK9kmvBcZW9OGyd27leW5xvPH1JtbEHnvXMKBANF1ef3X9buHJbXwVYIdV0JvSMjVP6pdPQFxTNNGuj/s200/IMG_0275.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOZQ28WpdMnu6fkAsywDhngMjWPASqOK-fEX5bF7qAgYDhKTWdZGxSkk5YPcbcDhXrM4ux5AJil3gW_cuGH4xSKW_Bd3snrC3lMwGSGDgc9lK08DtLLMHMt1YPXv4WwCnWirp/s1600/IMG_8997.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523257126553828530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOZQ28WpdMnu6fkAsywDhngMjWPASqOK-fEX5bF7qAgYDhKTWdZGxSkk5YPcbcDhXrM4ux5AJil3gW_cuGH4xSKW_Bd3snrC3lMwGSGDgc9lK08DtLLMHMt1YPXv4WwCnWirp/s200/IMG_8997.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">7. I spent a night camping with Stephen and Gayle in Barry's Bay so we could see Jason who was on leave from Afghanistan. Jason was suppose to be on leave in Europe until he took ill. While it was disappointing for Alyson not to have alone time with Jason the rest of us got to see him - yeh! Jason was proud to show us around the lake in his boat and to take Nathan and Kathryn fishing. </span><div><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">8. My niece Elizabeth dropped in for a quick visit. She is so grown up now. My how time seems to fly by!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">9. At school this year I am teaching grade five. I taught grade four last year, so I have all of the same students again, plus a few add-ons. I am enjoying my year so far and the comfort level my students have in asking interesting questions. I am also enjoying the depth we can go with our units of study.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Well, I guess this sums up the bigger events in my life over the past few months. Life just keeps rolling along, and I like it that way. The more I look back at events in my life it are these seemingly ordinary experiences that mean the most.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-10849894228899295072010-02-14T18:50:00.001-08:002010-02-14T19:32:31.445-08:00Scrapbooking TIme Away<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I have been away over the past few days. I rented a cabin at the Salvation Army Camp at Jackson's Point. My sister, Barbara and friends Milena, Janet and Paulette also came at different times throughout the week to keep me company and scrapbook. By the end of the week I had fifteen layouts done (15-double page layouts). It was great to have time to work on my trip west this past summer. Stephen I hope you <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">enjoy</span> the layouts. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Hopefully</span> there will be more to come once I finish <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">journaling</span> them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I am so excited because Barbara showed me how to stitch photo images to make larger ones and I now can scan and stitch my layouts to show my work. Thanks bunches Barbara! ENJOY.</span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438306185727054722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8bNgC21XXjTro7-9MzpCqfZ_tKCmJJe78b-O-GK7GucZz8AtmIHOBjqanK1s6OMzIShIgOg3FjPTOPNlYDliSAkxcEPt8VsLSIGdMJXuWERoWjChLlKmgbQWYu8CeMnk9N3ez/s200/kootenayII.jpg" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclEkObyr8iVKxKJYaCktiEibdamW7HwafVMXzwgHuyR0WHAeCYS_bHzi3D2PzOiGwvh3oplqkrJDjFcdsQuX2GhItfwNmQ0XW_RIb27qx_bkmNFyBhj4kZh8AanzBLcgsJGAj/s1600-h/Hanging+Out!II.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438306179159700354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclEkObyr8iVKxKJYaCktiEibdamW7HwafVMXzwgHuyR0WHAeCYS_bHzi3D2PzOiGwvh3oplqkrJDjFcdsQuX2GhItfwNmQ0XW_RIb27qx_bkmNFyBhj4kZh8AanzBLcgsJGAj/s200/Hanging+Out!II.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dT7rWs8QNq3zXY66TJOrk-_KSR53mHbzsCJiLg3-iZosMN3sZ0pDtY2dGz-nYwGHWAR7KOd0JCeDpO3U6qQB6FEcS2ERdEW1FqdmGIMRd83-3iz2cI3K9ls3CUFI5yj0X-QV/s1600-h/cool+poolII.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438305573383071698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dT7rWs8QNq3zXY66TJOrk-_KSR53mHbzsCJiLg3-iZosMN3sZ0pDtY2dGz-nYwGHWAR7KOd0JCeDpO3U6qQB6FEcS2ERdEW1FqdmGIMRd83-3iz2cI3K9ls3CUFI5yj0X-QV/s200/cool+poolII.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW2sc7Xm9iC5nQaAYEs7m4qbmpbRVchdSNY1bD7k1WKd8fMiEeJEfPMhOJUK-J0NGVTi2s_N25OuwBT9iBQO-ZrD1HsZEzHMBGPds2USwYocNiAWmec9sM04ptL1ywSXFqos0/s1600-h/campground+hostII.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438305571787155730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW2sc7Xm9iC5nQaAYEs7m4qbmpbRVchdSNY1bD7k1WKd8fMiEeJEfPMhOJUK-J0NGVTi2s_N25OuwBT9iBQO-ZrD1HsZEzHMBGPds2USwYocNiAWmec9sM04ptL1ywSXFqos0/s200/campground+hostII.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh1zmWL-U8s3GCQP2Rqno2l0V4uIgYQZ0WDMnUGGsZWRWGgSdKEyma_iMm-UqSXkvu6OSIUl9UtQZQIdGwOavZdc0hVJaOQFLzNrtP1-lPhvF8t18yREZLHQVWQK-RAz3gudr/s1600-h/awesomeII.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438305563086074578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh1zmWL-U8s3GCQP2Rqno2l0V4uIgYQZ0WDMnUGGsZWRWGgSdKEyma_iMm-UqSXkvu6OSIUl9UtQZQIdGwOavZdc0hVJaOQFLzNrtP1-lPhvF8t18yREZLHQVWQK-RAz3gudr/s200/awesomeII.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-30752123466282336142010-01-30T12:44:00.000-08:002010-01-30T14:42:23.999-08:001.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> How old will you be in five years? 55</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? Don. We are sneezing, coughing and blowing together. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Awww</span> - love!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. How tall are you? The last time I checked I was 5' 3"</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. What do you look forward to most in the next six months? I would agree with my sister - the family vacation in the summer. I miss my family!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. What's the last movie you saw? Julie and Julia. It's been a while since I have been to a movie. I'm due.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. Who was the last person you called? My sister, Barbara, to confirm details about a few days away.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. Who was the last person to call you? That would also be Barbara, to confirm arrangements for a night out.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">8. What was the last text message you received? No cell phone - I now, I'm behind the times.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">9. Who was the last person to leave you a voice mail? Don't have voice mail.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10. Do you prefer to call or text? Obvious according to the previous questions - call, although since I am not a phone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">talker</span> I suspect I would prefer <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">texting</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">11. What were you doing at 12 am last night? Just got home from seeing "Jersey Boys". Loved the show. Loved it so much I have been on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> searching and watching videos today. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced? married</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">13. When is the last time you saw your mom? Christmas time. They are now in Florida for three months.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">14. What color are your eyes? Blue/Green - is that hazel?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">15. What time did you wake up today? 8:30 a.m. I actually slept in. Yahoo!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">16. What are you wearing right now? PJ's - my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">favourite</span> weekend attire!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">17. What is your favorite Christmas song? So many favourites - Stable Door might be my first choice today.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">18. Where is your favorite place to be? Camping anywhere on a warm, sunny day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">19. Where is your least favorite place to be? Right now it is my basement - too dusty and messy. I can't wait until we get it finished and I can tidy up to make it more comfortable.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Britain</span> and parts of Europe (Belgium, Holland, France) to see the history, particularly of the World Wars and retrace the steps of Canadian Forces and my grandfathers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years? Hopefully living north - Georgian Bay area, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Haliburton</span>, so many choices. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">22. Do you tan or burn? Burn, burn, burn!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Fire</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? My husband, Don, is always doing something to make me laugh.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">25. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">26. How big is your bed? Queen</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? I love my laptop. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on? With</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">29. What color are your sheets? cream</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 1 pillow</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">31. What is your favorite season? No doubt about it - autumn. The colours and the lovely warm days can't be beat.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">32. What do you like about fall? the colours, the crunchy leaves, hiking, crunchy apples, the colours in the grocery store from Ontario grown produce, wearing sweaters, Thanksgiving... I could go on and on and on....</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">33. What do you like about winter? Enjoying a warm fire during a blizzard and then late at night <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">taking</span> a walk through the neighbourhood. Everything is so fresh and peaceful. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">34. What do you like about the summer? Wearing light clothes and going camping.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">35. What do you like about spring? I enjoy sitting on my deck in late spring and enjoying my garden. The best colours are in the spring, before it gets too hot or the bugs eat away at the leaves.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">36. How many states/provinces have you lived in? Two - Ontario and Kentucky</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">37. What cities/towns have you lived in? two</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet? In the summer, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">bare feet</span> 24-7 if I can. Winter - socks and slippers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">39. Are you a social person? I love being around people, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">although</span> may not be social.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">40. What was the last thing you ate? a bowl of tomato soup</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">41. What is your favorite restaurant? This a difficult one since I enjoy a few - Swiss Chalet, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Applebees</span>, Kelsy's, Mandarin.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">42. What is your favorite ice cream? Heavenly Hash</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">43. What is your favorite dessert? I'm not a desert eater, although I love apple crisp</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">44. What is your favorite kind of soup? tomato</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich? Raspberry</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">46. Do you like Chinese food? YES!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">47. Do you like coffee? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average? about three</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">49. What do you drink in the morning? milk and orange juice</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? I can sleep on either side of the bed although the left because it has the alarm clock.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">52. Do you know how to play poker? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">53. Do you like to cuddle? yes</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">54. Have you ever been to Australia? Not yet but I have thought about doing a teacher exchange. I just don't know what to do with the husband... </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">55. Do you have an addictive personality? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">56. Do you eat out or at home more often? At home</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">59. Do you want kids? Too old now for my own, although I could inherit some.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">60. Do you speak any other languages? French, although not well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">61. Have you ever gotten stitches? Four separate times - both eyebrows and both pointer fingers. I believe in keeping things equal.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Yes. Once - to be with one of my students.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool? Ocean or lakes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? Window seat. I like watching the wings and the views.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">65. Do you know how to drive stick? Yes</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Books - children's books</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">67. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7? Yes - my engagement and wedding rings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">68. What is your favorite TV show? I have a couple - anything Law and Order and Star Trek.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">69. Can you roll your tongue? I don't think so</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">70. Who is the funniest person you know? My husband, Don.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">72. What is the main ring tone on your phone? Just a normal ring</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little? No.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">74. What red object is closest to you right now? A candle. Go figure, eh Barbara?!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">75. Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth? Yes, or I leave it a trickle.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed, although it doesn't bother me one way or the other.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? What horrible choices - I guess if I had to, I would choose bees since I could run into water to get away from them?!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">78. Do you flirt a lot? I can, although not much</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">79. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Sweet and Sour sauce</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">80. What is your favorite food? Chicken and popcorn</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">81. Can you change the oil on a car? no</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? No</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">83. Have you ever run out of gas? never</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">84. What is your usual bedtime? 10 p.m. because my alarm goes off around 5:45 am</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">85. What was the last book you read? A children's Picture book called A Bear in War about a teddy bear that was mailed to a Canadian soldier during WWI. The bear is now on display at the Canadian War museum in Ottawa.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">86. Do you read the newspaper? Sometimes. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Canadian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Scrapbooker</span>, The Reading Teacher, Educational Leadership</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">89. Do you watch soap operas? I am a Coronation Street lover!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">90. Do you dance in the car? Not usually, although on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasion</span> I have drummed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">91. What radio station did you last listen to? 680 News for the weather - needed to make sure I was prepared for yard duty :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">92. Who is in the picture frame closest to you? a picture of Don and I</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">93. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper? a list of must-dos at work</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">94. What is your favorite candle scent? vanilla</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">95. What is your favorite board game? Backgammon</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">97. When was the last time you attended church? Unfortunately it has been awhile.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">98. Who was your favorite teacher in high school? Barbara, Mr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Featherstone</span> was my favourite too!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent? Three weeks</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">100. Who was the last person to do something extra special for you? Don - took me to dinner and to the Jersey Boys. Loved it!</span>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-85400676752803212382010-01-16T05:48:00.000-08:002010-01-23T06:41:27.666-08:00Algonquin in Winter<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was fortunate to be able to spend a few days at Adventure Lodge in Whitney, Ontario. Whitney is a small town just outside the east gate of Algonquin Park. I went with a teacher friend, Sheryl. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the day I hiked and the evenings were spent enjoying a gourmet meal and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">scrapbooking</span>. In southern Ontario we have very little snow (next to nothing), but up there it is a winter <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wonderland</span>. It looked like scenes from Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">with</span> the heavy snow hanging off the trees. It lightly snowed each day so there was always a freshness about it. We hiked in Algonquin Park and saw a yurt and, yes, people were camping in the yurt. Maybe someday I will stay in a yurt during the winter. Sounds cold, but if it would be anything like my autumn experience it would be an amazing experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also went horseback riding - something I haven't done for 30 years. With the heavy snow was wonderful. I considered going dog sledding but I was a<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">fraid</span> it would be too much work. I thought I would be sitting and just enjoying the ride or standing on the back of the sled and the dogs doing the work. When I found out we would be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">constantly</span> pushing with the legs I thought I would make it a pass. Maybe I will attempt it next time. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Anyway</span>, enjoy the photos!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">All I can say is...BLISS...</span><br /><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5451314d4445784f54593d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: Winter Getaway" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5451314d4445784f54593d0d0a.jpg" width="386" height="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="Create your own scrapbook - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" width="386" height="46" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/scrapbooks" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox scrapbook</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-90023903357749045802010-01-08T16:16:00.000-08:002010-01-08T17:37:27.026-08:002009 Memories<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was talking to a friend about how she has recently reflected on her top memories of 2009 and then I read my sister's post about her top 100 memories of the past year, so I guess I am destined to do something similar. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>I will start with the memories that I share with Barbara that were special to me in some way:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- New Year’s Eve and morning since Don and I spend it with Barbara and John and their boys. We have been doing it this way for a few years now. I can't think of any other way to start a new year.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Spending a week at Jackson's Point cropping with my sister, Barbara and a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">friend</span>, Sheryl. Don also joined me at the end of the week for a couple of days. It was fun to get away and just crop until I dropped and enjoy winter. It was my first time up at camp with lots of snow and cold. I loved it! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Mrs. Gage’s funeral. It was a true celebration of a wonderful lady. She is so missed!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Spending a weekend in Syracuse with a group of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">scrapbookers</span>. I loved staying in a hotel and cropping in a room across the hall and then, of course, scrapbook shopping!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Easter at Joanne’s new house. It is always wonderful to spend time with family. The twins, of course, made it interesting and everyone had a chance to hold one of them! Also, watching Don, Kevin, John, and Jason golf from the comfort of Joanne's deck was also great. Do I still hear a "CRASH"?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Gayle’s visit since we had a girl's night out for dinner and Jenn joined us with the twins.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- the Sears family reunion in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Belfountain</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">visiting</span> the Badlands in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cheltenham</span> on our way home. Many of the family were amazed by what they saw, so it was special.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- going out for lunch (breakfast?) with mom and Barbara for Mother's Day. It took a while to decide on and find a place to eat, but Cora's worked out well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- Aunt Ivy's 90<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday. As I have already written, anytime spent with family is always precious to me. This was a lovely afternoon celebrating the life of a great lady. It is even more special since a few days before <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christmas</span> she passed away. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- going to Barbara's for dinner and have a visit with Rick. We celebrated his birthday. I need to spend more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">time</span> with him!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- celebrating my 50<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday. Rather than hate my age, I like to think I embrace it. What <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">better</span> way, than to have a family bowling night. I just wish my score reflected the good time!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- I agree with Barbara - monthly Friday night crops at my place. It gives me a chance to enjoy down time with friends. These times are so hard to come by sometimes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Other memories:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- celebrating more than 20 years of teaching at a breakfast hosted by the Peel Board. It felt good to be honoured my years of service.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- spending March Break camping in Louisiana, touring around New Orleans and then going over to Florida to spend some time with mom and dad. I loved visiting the French Quarter in NO and doing a plantation tour. When can I go back?!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- Going west to spend two weeks camping in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kootenay</span> National Park - camping beside the river and waking up to seeing the mountains - the cold, shivering nights that were so cold the mountain tops became covered with snow - seeing bighorn sheep and mountain goats - Radium Hot Springs - the natural hot springs - Fort Steele - campfires - hiking to Dog Lake - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Invermere</span> - the Stolen Church</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- Don and I buying ourselves a Wii for our anniversary and playing bowling and curling over and over again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Yurting</span>" in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bon</span> Echo Provincial Park. It was stunningly beautiful, peaceful, and a great time doing something I have not done before (staying in a yurt).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- going up to Dorset in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Haliburton</span> to celebrate Thanksgiving with Don's family. The views from the tower of the autumn colours was to die for.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- Christmas Eve at Barbara's</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- Having mom and dad and Rick for Christmas Day. I got to watch mom and dad play shuffleboard with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wii</span>. Mom only plays games to "get" the other person. She's deadly!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- Boxing Day in London and spending time <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">with other</span> members of the family I do not see very often. I got a guitar (one of my "wishes" for years) and now I just need to figure out how to play it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- watching the World Junior game on New Year's. We won against the U.S. Too bad we couldn't do it in the final. Oh well, there is always next year... Here's hoping!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I know, I know - 100 memories? There are more memories, I am sure. I have not even thought about my teaching memories... Sorry, I am now out of breath!</span>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-91184326597863247702010-01-08T16:15:00.000-08:002010-01-16T10:17:52.076-08:00So, Cathy, What's Up?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It has been a while since I have posted so I thought I would give a brief overview of the last many weeks. I worked, I worked and I worked! Between report cards, parent interviews, concerts and planning this is basically what I have been doing.</span><br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In November I celebrated my 50th! Yes, I am 50. I have lived half a century and am proud of it. I celebrated by bowling with any family who could come. My score was terrible and I loved every minute of it, although my ears were ringing after from the extra loud music. I do not have many pictures to show for it since once the glow in the dark started picture taking was very limited. I would like to let my hair go whichever colour it wants to be and be proud of it, but until my 70+ mother decides to let her hair go this is difficult. I would probably look like her sister! Mom, let's embrace our ages and just let it be...</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427388682017231730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagGSkK5Y90jifoMuC0uAL7mgA63rVRSGHcQBWHLAPNbJvN0eruTn8kX7ULaSw-2bqMJD5LgbE112YwPYY5DkkjqOMA3bdKMO5WZjmv4rZ6d18ZLd7Z4LCeDjv-UWZHSI_YXlZ/s200/IMG_9992.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427388680065152690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcd3kmKrrTitI3HZXx-Zbi0fcVVI9rB0P2YZ4955FAHqKz6Dqsy8ZvemDbvUqOs0enlXv7zKEVyudwaRTfmYxxlJZUiiLfyV8uVowX5PDdKawCW61HlVPkCt9WQU8qQEM-LnT/s200/IMG_9978.JPG" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdHfTFY-l0-eNOgfi-BhfmVV11PN_thvPpAFMxJndKutrrRM9MkbBEev7upV17hnmCbojwtR6cGqtI0CmQ6EwViKW6eRLuZX984_ab0WrntP9SuWocSPdfa-ceC6zqFIe8bZv/s1600-h/IMG_9977.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427388670843678098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8FnyYUhBNQZlwl52ONUvpcDFEFVhBYUsDfa2-DjGFayTwqs8g28TO5Czk6OMzkQGp5QuoiHqShoBjKrjv0aozGh98nc5JeyVBo4MsrmIUdzFxPb4_n_Y7Uy_1yWGk8YI7YZw/s200/IMG_9974.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427388673203332850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdHfTFY-l0-eNOgfi-BhfmVV11PN_thvPpAFMxJndKutrrRM9MkbBEev7upV17hnmCbojwtR6cGqtI0CmQ6EwViKW6eRLuZX984_ab0WrntP9SuWocSPdfa-ceC6zqFIe8bZv/s200/IMG_9977.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...and James gets a strike!</span></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I was so ready for a relaxing Christmas break. I had a lovely time on Christmas Eve with Barbara's family and Christmas Day with mom, dad and Rick. I enjoyed just being with family. It does not take much for me to enjoy my time with family - just hanging out is enough to make me happy. At Barbara's place we were all able to play bowling and I was a spectator for car racing. I can't believe it, but mom and dad actually played Wii shuffleboard on Christmas Day. Mom sure is a brutal player - she is out to get the next player. She does not care about winning. Winning is secondary - getting the other guy is the reason for playing a game. She thoroughly enjoys being evil. She studies the situation and is only looking at how she can knock someone off. She even has an evil tone to her voice. Mom was in a position to win a game against dad. All she would have to do is make the marker go off the board and shes would still win by a few points, but what does she do instead? Mom aims to get dad's marker(s) off, misses, and then looses by a few points. You know the saying: pride comes before the fall. Well, mom's saying is evil comes before the fall.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427386791261401586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6Ig_AcK5CoW47v7ZWTVU1u-ttvXb0mXMgzFIw_PZZB7yovAVuZk-jMckGKrwsDsDKF3yHaM6IVrhE3Xeje7uTTFHBgOe4XkU3P7Ogi5GDn-G8VckQ9SmrVBQeCEHcIsq6LZd/s200/IMG_0163.JPG" /></span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">My bigger tree.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427386805187265058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHXRHulpTw_aKFo1I6PxgZKe29sQoHihWEi3rXVhsL4Oy47taz3TkYsEswSdA_1jbwlMnc1L0WLVb4d8gV6I_HY7hHZwHGA3Ql8vKraFB0ndIvXjlFEKrTf7w0dGsg30uYzuH/s200/IMG_0123.JPG" /></span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My white tree in the diningroom</span></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427387416853209634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtjqkpSj2LFgrYamUQ_Qy_kU93cR-p1CKhHga-kRrKGXZlXYT0cVSBhDG1WzFsdvDZMnV_wFHMpYhSzcT69wkpxBNZ_B55FVFza2lObu_FcagYF4hxOQfems36ru-jX99SQ38/s200/IMG_0134.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427385063531339474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx4EyRcn27oxhsXnezzEp6q4O3bRNqGhgsJQDB77tkBayM8CplmEr7mS17nDIS98x1fYoqZ5LMowEbEpdySNVcz3941VfWhacywVQ_tPZU33BJn9eP8Oj8OyXCYduw5DtnhYU/s200/IMG_0109.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402500327536306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8efBDTseN4p5AqpxXfT5NZj_052s_J9OvHOGPvLucgtk-cJ8ZYy3bGNpoGGcBu5Ev51b4aUNzkhgfGaM29wfw0nxX320SYN0yNBABLGf3YRW9AbgsLy5Ilkrb_oiwXk5Wg2Td/s200/IMG_0024.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427382268557872706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsgSPJy-hGpGuPP5olnfjW1CnBTP5mmyiSkVcFotjXAaVvybpVmc3nIkNNR-3KXixoJcnFpqxnrFhmHstWmdJVxNst1ZAm40DaX3Vnf4rAaESZ9Ki6HdLlC35cmdJ58fmRY3P/s200/IMG_0026.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427387425990493714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikafHhor-eB9Xlt-usOawsGV0lgsi_f-alfiKlpIoVBzaLoKXdEvb928TkuMhrt6F3lcDNnArRQLU5R7tksFa6Hns5Edeuc8BJZ6C0lnISTYBzV82Jsb2-SGpCaCVSE0loPd5k/s200/IMG_0146.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427386798992747858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEw3XACF2K2zC2Sq1ox_CVcgYqkOqv1-qWjpljpfaxDefvWpgnyjc8RY_7D8hbwLMUK_0NqP19J6SfZvWFoCd9pdXv1niCG_IpyBTskEyEhYQh5F5T2CJ-tHmIdA9XLLbTMFU2/s200/IMG_0122.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427381014425304658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizd6jOzlKI0X42Op7ueHuueLQkCFtyYAfaEd-LikDbmgloyaTHwfFGMgOaWXs6JLvVL0aGnlO0MlKnCfIL_dpIDKNhJ8nAsJypn_tCsfMVtZObMjrhWLT2ZXRIekZkvgljlkPC/s200/IMG_0002.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427381016576018082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0HqluGH4OgO0BYKl_AwN52AEQEvrztzP9ziKs0RTbqpVn-O0CMwAKDOJoXFC-ZbwguTgDMANbmS6lhgxwx_L-SdGTEWPWZvbbJtMmN-HEKp6wgST9ojaUYU4ZPb-JK2L1lt3/s200/IMG_0004.JPG" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Mom planning her strategy. Is that the evil grin?</span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427381024907136082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPZ2xLP1BOWQpbx0A6j0yI-CbQ3xglzTAIc8gw51nf81Mtgw0r6LhbEFTCNlIqvkSkY4AunYtJpBu4pGs9XNBs6Ky8MD9hpCDd3KJHDCuy0O5dfFo1TJhQBUzA27x8T-xZoyU/s200/IMG_0022.JPG" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Boxing Day Don and I parted with each of us visiting our own extended families. These opportunities come less frequently these days so rather than one of us missing out seeing nieces, nephews, brothers or sisters, we each traveled the distance to spend the day with our own families. It has been a long while since I had seen Mike and Mel and the boys, seeing Jason and Alyson, and seeing Joanne and Bruce and Jenn's boys. Life moves so fast that it is important to grab these moments when you can. Jason will be off the Afghanistan soon and the babies, well, they grown up so fast... </span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427385045384259490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYguFxRWqJiFdNUGrs0_L17Df9DyiSat4994knoeXGKrwxlZ8qEmjVlojdom_o_JbMDonKP44MkM3pkYr8EEvRYrt5ctVXAVqa0oaBc9IyK46AQtZcE711mPasVVmH6sP8RVfz/s200/IMG_0082.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427383528247925746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ul8luASDke3Gc5yqLZiqgfJ_yR-76vIJNkNNT6aGph1QbV-DYb1gEtUrUzVZLgKZSBGG_2QFSUMCLrdQrh448LEeZHZ-xn2RU5j0l1QfmU8sk18qN9vyN6-wVXnDsAxdfCCH/s200/IMG_0064.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427400381882128066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2evxxN44L7HcacWF-KyEvBYzT35YXQIwj8Ar0-Pm_qfiJCrU9RUyDSfi7mKgjn5A6OBnZDTAK74uneO1wZqk_rMOeJaE1uGmr9lM3VoSY_0nBdg47tCnm4fEGmG4_6aX8ccM/s200/IMG_0063.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427400375888871538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXh-Z_-JuCovF_fdFOlVuf_5HfpOmNNwukWD1fFbWkm5CDGNtCm_XT9-ZKn0w0TWx_6xZ8QqRQxDGgvyZEIdC4DmQn0j7TGsyF5-6Qsd9PbdVlrekMB3BIh2ir3oqja2xMgJ2/s200/IMG_0035.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427385048910480098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvFHzMQQ6lX4MX0pUpo8ijzIG4povikT2A26A1_4BFXe8BRp5b9f9mCL4_FsKkYCDGcgOdVAcNh6aCSn4DZEAilneRum4p_XxX1Mwt1LnHC8Z0z3M1lO5_rmfYkfHv2-wjPEQ/s200/IMG_0094.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427385054710892434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuloG0CuAqcQfepzx8X2DyBjdML3devf2IsgWaDQywjL7HmJPSk4ykXhXccPIgBjjYU5SzhaVMm3eMh4YCIoJMYRgSLK36XZnjkbdFM_k5u6OX0xAdD8hhZViXnR4KUWlkiBn/s200/IMG_0086.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427383522338507458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ol8CiXOi6RHj-22nZ_N8eMUB1tEJH_wMIl87C4a3Ikiqhq94TqAsrCalCHMvdyNCRysDRiZyJgSl4R5tx9W2FsiU9gIZDXdXmEWdcTlDp1Ts-YZ2LHLlN9jM7JkjY2chGPoA/s200/IMG_0060.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427385040365932610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvH7uFzR8aLpvocXvafjQbj2F1XjIcHmJzhfc10lcx5sRx-U14ApU5Wi-4gl9zOaf37EDmNgPAalaRSXYjHIkj__BrBLZwPqDH4EKhrJe2kGeW69PpIPlBn_-v1DGqCUDd0Nf2/s200/IMG_0079.JPG" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsX_tQ30ALqXMoJBwBAaoeXLdw86EENYCOxM7W2g441Iz0vm0bXX661NUJOAEr1nECoWZTev0380heXAyueUOBFiB12et22I1aINu94fiiDx_2xi_oda_Nr6VJCJa-190gFDm/s1600-h/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427383513435497442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsX_tQ30ALqXMoJBwBAaoeXLdw86EENYCOxM7W2g441Iz0vm0bXX661NUJOAEr1nECoWZTev0380heXAyueUOBFiB12et22I1aINu94fiiDx_2xi_oda_Nr6VJCJa-190gFDm/s200/IMG_0050.JPG" /></a> </div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-72978091911912395902009-10-12T00:24:00.000-07:002009-10-11T21:06:15.419-07:00Happy Thanksgiving<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is hard to adequately explain my thoughts right now so I will keep it simple with a list of things I am thankful for this year:</span><br /><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My husband, Don, who keeps my laughing and gives me great hugs. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My cat, Yoda. I love cuddling with him - takes all the stresses away. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My family - parents, brothers and sisters... each one has a special place in my heart for how they have influenced me. I am so fortunate to have a loving family who supports my endeavours.</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Friends who take time for me. Isn't that what friends are for? I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A home and a bed - a warm, safe place to lay my head. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Clean water. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Grocery stores with an abundance of food to choose from. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A country that allows me the opportunities to worship God in the way I want, to have an education, travel freely and to have choices and make my own decisions. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A rewarding job in which I can influence young lives through teaching. I am so fortunate!</span></li><br /><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">God who has allowed all of the above to happen - my creator, my hope, my saviour. Each day I begin my day by saying words of thanks to God for the coming events of my day, whether positive or negative. Life is never perfect, but no matter what comes my way, I know that God will be there to help guide me in my understanding to shape me into a better person.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This is such a beautiful time of year and I trust that all my family and friends will embrace the spirit of thankfulness and be content with who they are, their circumstances and their future endeavours.</span></p>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-30081895667325482452009-10-11T18:26:00.000-07:002009-10-11T21:03:15.554-07:00My Yurt Experience<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391529170431115810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNwaNuyBa_APuco-suC0ZNrPJ4d3a_e28aACBD5Zvo772tEQQ7_beN5MHHU6xvcoMFG4E5yucWVk3JIq0p39XInzjYbPUGjHKof9Dptx-0TZR3XztVmjZkiP6LXDoTHfZy74F/s200/IMG_9636.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391530469621419506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtJEDwiv1pqz0ZBdvA8MxQmJ9YnadMoyjvoIHJJZ3usRvhIUovLapZ34-ehy0mi9RjNKcGr3j0tfYj7DunS-VgTtOVly4zNzpa34k6AmicXcKuObNMZ0oeyFbtar5_GdsrGDI/s200/IMG_9372.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391529184502013586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6l3DHIvGiPZCZw4_SSmNzMWuYhkXU06bEFHs1-Cav1dkeFiAs5hXQIMh4B5gZ0K4_3jDROZdzgbKfn-tIyAuki42jQvtFBSS9S7BFZuAXi51INAW1x3tY_V0onp3Tb91vKUx/s200/IMG_9540.JPG" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I spent a few days this past week enjoying my first yurt experience in Bon Echo Provincial Park. Before I went I heard over and over again, "What is a yurt?" For those who do not now... a yurt: According to Wikapedia, a yurt is a portable, felt covered, lattice-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by nomads in central Asia. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Since it was a cold, damp week I was thrilled that the yurt came with a great heater and electricity. All cooking and eating was done outside either on the bbq (which also came with the yurt) or on the stove in the shelter, so it still felt like camping.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391527254099124082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3yTr91pq2WR8xhy7yh4Az8a0136S2Y7UC7WPaFxqYAJQBxuvXOsd-yhhQbQCMynBLLPwAATqYT_6BreK5tD6-QEWHpKVkenraoKdlnkvtsK77DGLSqNsi1Y2Pk3oM5-6QP4j/s200/IMG_9074.JPG" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Bon Echo is known for its rock cliff which juts straight out of the lake. The lake is the deepest lake in Ontario after the Great Lakes. The native peoples many years ago would come to the rock to contimplate and leave paintings. Sheryl and I rented canoe so we could get up and personal with the rock and go on the rock cliff trail. The views from the top are spectacular.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391533502075247826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iYlyVnCLzdHzw95hyVq9g5h5eh2BnOVv4Ops2ajIlY5XqW60BiSw09EgjBmsA8L_Ra7b9MPIPIp8DfB0Ul8g_4tZtvB2gWM8C-ht2qieKwf5QLl2mz2EENj712OnNc5Wz9Sy/s200/IMG_9243.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391534400150451090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTWevNa-usuJDsMiC-R5oZTThAYuUbi1hJfeNMm08ACkI93RAaN1VPw-Mfl2Az5erJX6uJ2dzpe_lT12GNRc8WSseEMBJVmUqjofZF6X7cz89dVf_TsYJTBCZ90njNDYE5wAu4A/s200/IMG_9220.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391533493760551954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTnrUffx9RU0PGokKKlIbdJ_vNUhNhY2030vbQhjcHKrkOEs2wUUuUYJag0MlsIcWiVBtXCAOg8UFzg-j_6A3VGL2YuPsQYphqdOgcFSHChEehGJR1Vip5LEg9Xk1LMJ7VS2o/s200/IMG_9261.JPG" /></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The pictographs.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391532041795162082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwluqBCxq8lHHvvcbJbSfauj11bHoMfSyZLSH0PdlJyEdQSmI56rdUOFS5pW586XnFzWfv6wKsrCR9GuUnYkjj5VvwQdnvIniI0sLzBNmb-uazUXs-_X0e4WNfUqxp4DC-4sUW/s200/IMG_9272.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391530460299343010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjpdERz3IQ3L52s_okWf7_4JmJy0LdaAOgWtLrG1TcKqSC84yGTM1WWXPLVfkIHJ8_EfC7_8hMjI9cO91P5tIEabTJPgLE7IR5IEv9vimGDOkZTQljtIPs7Fjf_-DlRAk8ZIh/s200/IMG_9395.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391533476765967282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEldt-VQFbKTtVNb3mtGlb5YEusABX2m_2jniOjyxg1aYDXWR2hvcL9_p96wCfpKCa_EhqNnlPilCNsxDOHdIzzBfp7aUJBo0McWNgTtETKU2wkn0KV56k56YXDCXRfOj6KVWA/s200/IMG_9398.JPG" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">The view from the cliff top.</span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391530453835881410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2BCCVa-eoBHfDrCuPK3_9vBjPqzE5k_VhhkJpCTNj5_awWpuBDo-FumLZXGhiIb-OO3gZnn4MA8cni-fwkS9VTOFlvzuRi0Y02DD2BH-Pl5AE57dG8NtP1W4t9iNJuNagJ4x/s200/IMG_9405.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391529192673420370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IIVc4LvHlh2NNrSWxAxKQz4mwBZq2e4QnXeNbzGwswt-ixo1QmN-8TseQeBfheUxLR-nv0S2aRNn_DicnuHOXe6Ge86g_somM-5drEfCkQTFxLGWH1iggvS3fDiRycDEALwJ/s200/IMG_9515.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391529203372821826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJUMiAMqZLs5AJHr4nWK2HZPQ0A9ZemLynp-_w1WCIQe99SRORGAkfxvX0RdK_N05r7fJAm2SixrGb_ZyUXT5mw1hcEhhVVM1GKcLEIgqwVeliIiiotFHcw0nZkpUmZIBsrvP/s200/IMG_9434.JPG" /></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Our sitting spot from across the lake on the top of the rock.</span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The autumn colours became more brillant as the week went on. The rock cliff changed throughout the day - from when the sun come up and the sun set on the lake.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391532030920614818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlLl7fM_LS0Mrtity-g5iXBv_7msFWqz_z6KGD22wqBGi-L79X5wwjPwR-dkZFYQNH-8gTeR_Mnl6efjVz3tUQinpyfVxVfbnCi4QWZ71ABUrdLLbTyV3EB5MWtx2B70xrWU0/s200/IMG_9279.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391532022193441074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L5SBB-QLEbCUSyrrkGoJ7ZKUkfgv3KtlBFNm26_zE7vVkpNjgUsZSo3SnuFtBh6C9U2C8UdrkkcngSe5_5hQXEetmQ6F6ksUjikGO7kIAe8LgnxglTuyiSo6L2YBG55M_Smq/s200/IMG_9346.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391527260089840946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rVcQN18lUQVoEDu9ct-7XvtWKXxr_CGT5IG45GfV__OUeQskjKvhghzRdfPkOCytkUd99Qqcers9gPSGM7zDLK4q0cAuKF-qaZpXG9_05_C_ImQDmkY-oetjNatZ7-QbEYKc/s200/IMG_9725.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391527270592196962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ewW6r27255PPWfLfnz5xewId2h0f6ky2waNYIWwiH_H-qXIu7T2yM5erFGsF9qCXTatAr-vP1ZEo98AmFKhr01zL6hJTYXOBBLplIOibY8rKkikA-sVqcZRKeNpyGymwQV5Z/s200/IMG_9656.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391534409990717330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqKJS74LFSggu7YfaTrQCjyNztPn1ZsteVDLryIRhzBqnEHG9If_brX-WtgHxcD6yLIYlT6mfxdZlZtbUj51nSbCW5nsTgKZfyDMjcNl5O8ZXbWJKscWJ7I5kX7nJtklQhHVY/s200/IMG_9096.JPG" /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The best part of camping at this time of year: the park was so quiet and we did not have to wait for the use of the showers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Wildlife seen: chipmunks, squirrels, robins (shouldn't they have flown south by now?), blue jays, raccoons, deer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">The weather: Cold, wet, damp, sunny - we had it all.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Activities: canoeing, hiking,</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">reading, thinking, relaxing, more hiking, more canoeing, more reading, more thinking, and checking out the visitor centre. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Best meal: steak done over the fire. There's no better way to eat steak!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Most embrassing moment: tripping over a rock (or was it my own feet) and ended up with some bruises.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Enjoy different views of the "sitting rock spot" - a great place just to contemplate, meditate, think and pray.</span></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzGrnqKJH0bRPkzh00Ovmg8VnFLgbI9QlDKcGYA8Urh-bs3ljUrkiTrzMhNqaVsu6JT_rsCMoDrD503ORoRRk0EMDkBt4oHdwtn2BNOdmn_21Nk-QLCFsj_ukoqCa7CyXEWPG/s1600-h/IMG_9356.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391532015681103426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzGrnqKJH0bRPkzh00Ovmg8VnFLgbI9QlDKcGYA8Urh-bs3ljUrkiTrzMhNqaVsu6JT_rsCMoDrD503ORoRRk0EMDkBt4oHdwtn2BNOdmn_21Nk-QLCFsj_ukoqCa7CyXEWPG/s200/IMG_9356.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygS-7EUvGhU4lzTt9hH69xxySlmK8ihN-x8V1XONYevHzaDxVBVJA28Xd56p1qX2fe3SRB_NiDsT_kQ3MNT3CV7k8wwT1Ki4nmlS9yhI0ceGldKp5qLr3y2JOrAUKBh87jPb9/s1600-h/IMG_9365.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391530475981778690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygS-7EUvGhU4lzTt9hH69xxySlmK8ihN-x8V1XONYevHzaDxVBVJA28Xd56p1qX2fe3SRB_NiDsT_kQ3MNT3CV7k8wwT1Ki4nmlS9yhI0ceGldKp5qLr3y2JOrAUKBh87jPb9/s200/IMG_9365.JPG" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7TRvPA0_97MxR6MQ6vz2FYLUNmYHLA8CbITQM6fLiFSiipeKMifSEQzF1Uw2PVY1JneMsBoOGDIiQuH19rDh_3TM00UteDvwXWAQHsutSKnORGnvMYfdIJOURzAc9TTyeh1-/s1600-h/IMG_9642.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391527279062278914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7TRvPA0_97MxR6MQ6vz2FYLUNmYHLA8CbITQM6fLiFSiipeKMifSEQzF1Uw2PVY1JneMsBoOGDIiQuH19rDh_3TM00UteDvwXWAQHsutSKnORGnvMYfdIJOURzAc9TTyeh1-/s200/IMG_9642.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-15058400025203725312009-08-03T08:46:00.000-07:002009-08-15T06:24:11.215-07:00Family Time<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370168539585727618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutiu7ABMtTQekvI_tpldsxYmEdsVvmPlo5K8XgsR01FYE27tG7rwfBSjvbLbH905JuR0jYAQOz6RlmzY7T52B6lMXGNqeReU8-_cVVkY-3aRBznCvsl6PFchsrpj0p_cFT15h/s200/IMG_6639.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370174058941478514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk0lDNysD3VDtaNNFHhlmliDSAhjsegi_bFGOAh5CW9D9q7hVA8yhmM1ZTz3CUULZhVVH835DTsxNtNKEDoi3D8pKvI8Vs2HWPSsZ0qwVOzEekWOys-QFdWt2g3rUd-alOKkB/s200/Vacation.camping0709+137.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">At Radium Hot Springs</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370171227561587010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRHSsOUuaJELrj4qCW3NHNFaYEigFLs6_AXUL1S8E54rJ3e5hAJTP3LNb_yu0qiL9OWzD01AFEjJrLtqBEhoVIjvqiG5rd3710o6a4AIKrL_oabmda-E_2p4Yu2Kdednh9f7i/s200/Vacation.camping0709+804.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Resting at Dog Lake after a hike in.</span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a previous post I mentioned how much I love the mountains and never got tired of watching them. While the views were spectacular, the best part was family. It was the first time in many, many years that Stephen and I have spent more one-on-one time together. Usually we are so busy between children and our professions that we have not really been relaxed to just enjoy each other's company. We often did not need a lot of words - it was just great to be around each other, something I hope can happen again.</span><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370176981471509858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5DeQ5aa6EoCLq2khyphenhyphenCkVcJqe_BPmoq8MV1-_aiocqHKHq-OghG03e2El1NRezjdI-F1Z2NLT628T8vK6VHETzR1XNDdyKbK8dyYUMw0iJok8po59vG2nAKOP5t5JX38SeNfy/s200/Vacation.camping0709+099.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have always admired Stephen's passion for helping others so it did not surprise me that I saw this side of him camping as he took on the camp host role. He never was quick in doing his rounds in which he was suppose to count how many registered visitors there were are remind those who have not registered to do so. Stephen took his time to talk to the campers and get to know something about them. He also helped them with their difficulties. One was a motorcylclist who had hit a deer. He and his bike were quit banged up and Stephen spent time mending both.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370169975842340898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtC9nzq66TTpehJTD68Yn7vieIupx26La77LYxvmlCDaD1OdBkF2kVIU8OPSLB0vHSkultDOs5BvuCVOP_FD6kk5zmAVGQVMIZI2gFnGbm4k8SBA1xLNtPptozv1A9nfoiPZq/s200/Vacation.camping0709+609.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">"The Criminal"</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Fort Steele</span> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I also enjoy watching Stephen with his children - laughing with them, singing with them, playing with them, and talking with them. We all remember Stephen in his childhood, getting into all kinds of interesting situations all due to his curiosity and wreckless abandon. As an adult, it is good to see that he has not really lost that side of him. He is a true child at heart and I hope thia isnever lost. Stephen is a sensitive and understanding caregiver and I'm sure that his children will be fine, caring adults due to his influence.</span></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370169954997546962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvj7DZWyhG81AtoWerQWTwB6NBYmlf1B_T-IqZD0nHN4h-P6LvQ4GoFlfJ0_LQ8BdLBkQPWma5xjbI8xefsyn42xnwkV683ZGnwhu6gCHyDggdkdAYYdELr1TDur968hLD7DP/s200/Vacation.camping0709+187.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370171249332052114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmMHUWfI78m0KLNh04ERwbd5b7dmTauW3Evh05JS7W_5mfQF42yIfPfzpNUEpiKP8-CbuxJy79k2Y8ARRydKamn8qQRlRZ73DfAcfUKsm_PNQcsYsrX1twMjJSukh_42jgG_W/s200/Vacation.camping0709+1273.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Playing in the Kootney River</span><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370180245363113186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF91dZl8T2pWHmcWZyRfKaOz6Hby9W4Cb0ykIH4yx7e94uIBcSp58Ba0FaqrujzyK_UWzCrZfIikEier6l8i-U__B5a1BGM4dTiEQDOP6p8jSbvJAc2_iU3W9LzUMNzAKRIVd/s200/Vacation.camping0709+1357.jpg" border="0" /> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I loved spending quality time, whether it be just sitting around the campsite or playing a game, with Nathan and Kathryn. It's wonderful to see how Nathan is growing up to be a a fun-loving, friendly person who is smart and has a strong sense of self and of right and wrong. Kathryn is a risk taker who has a zest for learning, loves asking questions, and wants to be as grown up and do the same things as the rest of her siblings. This time with them is time well cherished.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370174063623312946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4p-8EGfMZpGRIugPYsW9Ay3p5AjTTam4hVc6F4M5m-2xRdfZuxvGq13vXyl-VVKMj382DaM6z0POthzZEBdAYisgK6RCM3OnD1TFwfwwFYcoyMvEdShTVk9bhbhex8LYyLRu8/s200/Vacation.camping0709+091.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370168529363067890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPr6Ypud73MkQvHa0evr3Lr29Qbq4MBplIyDJ0-EPG8_hTqBiSI0Aa7EYQj0PWiQY4dOQLebNihw4xPxLJDz8_UpXJPit0PFtQCk7csMoyokw62V5WIiBHqViaAdOWoclI6BR/s200/IMG_6543.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370171241048359378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oBN_NkX1-fW8q5RJSNzng9xsQjQ7T_Kp2zkLLHX6xHgJSuoy6qBidul0uaQ-jAj8SpESelgs5tFA-PdM8O0DE5OD_DQLNYilo1NqV9sIKGDahqgEUHxlTXcqSbM5PpBLcQqI/s200/Vacation.camping0709+968.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370168556707554930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignbLS0DIUSgFVa0uy_uSUoHDSMiEz-WwaFTiam-pQ4rJo8XEL5TjMkHUdes6bMo12Q0_dofHU3G2w9_O7r8HosxhwsJwm-PcdaK5Om_3Qx-4-zVcN_bLhYThSUuEHQxejsC3a/s200/IMG_7737.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370171218576944882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNr9mhL360wEdn23RBTXFwo7jzmebh1gnEeay0Z3fb3ds7WljBgSa3zU38IpOaWfCiLScWHNpeLuHxkNQi-rUsqIQzBzs49TX5Hr3qkDnFX1qbeUp3CVvX6ICYKf2OmNMaiSw8/s200/Vacation.camping0709+755.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370169963250444178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfcCFtntgllJ6G2usdKKP9ddLjhOz9XakkYelLK312CvYo_O84iI6DavVP3pUFLFE7cRsMzy90bb5Zfx4s76v3zxftZdnmNISDj2LusEiz1UmlNWzWK8k7QD4Y1uXZcxTz_5t/s200/Vacation.camping0709+257.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370168547633721186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTUoPzvik6taYj-X-Epq1oulzWv3mZiKYfNXJfLoVqHbdrz6frnIhVm9Ntt0RrRUNPdEUofFEdIjY55_Tvnp0FzPNNiUOeTl-b5Eag5hHs7GEAKhJ_2aDaDR3GtLkUMa0HPHh/s200/IMG_7481.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-82105219485809510212009-08-03T07:31:00.000-07:002009-08-03T09:10:54.928-07:00The Mountains Shall Bring You Peace<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365768114033291490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowhLa2Aa5XCtudSWnjhUpy9I23e1rFV3i622hMhR8lij3EwtKTARPEbEhvL2V0USWlkAZ0LgUd42CC21YVkz4RaTvxPqE3pTiAWqGSuzv4d5VhZJSOXhOUYklnqlKjS1fU3-y/s200/Vacation.camping0709+852.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365768137507148770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVz0abwL2eVV5bIsXv_0LXU48L_X2qjkPEKsrL7l7O9ExmLdX26dtI5EurH4qssbCUZCgSFKdGzF-yS-IpPMhl9ubpWMH_nikssYj1fsesw68_Y_NXibWkolYQBri7cqlkAF8/s200/Vacation.camping0709+1391.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365755767734520770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFN3DPp_EY81tdW3npeCcPc1jDTNX2pTFWylPq8oB4ku3ATB0iShS_KGCZgn64DBAFAjOBUOdpV9eatB_XD2n8IaJM3no-7W2w2IsETne0vcEMmsUdbzwGR1S7J7blEHvPctS/s200/Vacation.camping0709+378.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365763025055200210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtqHkSy9fnp_WMlfolvYqWFEYmgFMFeJBR8G7bPOLl46swzB2SXAeEWgkM3Y8EBBuCILix_zFdyfh6eXBKteHmgg5tQtM80uuFey1HLc2e04CAzIdlJjNngomHq8mx-2F_Na1/s200/Vacation.camping0709+328.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365768124224489186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rPBKxteHDLaawwmkJ7TsZPCHtfYTnAiOboTUQ7pXE4UaNVl9EFEDrdzoszX4Sl747VN9Yr9y7VMVrjY6egpFO2v50zxkB53_JmU8-yhjacgNLXw1sAAoE-msSUkMbZ2XIagt/s200/Vacation.camping0709+859.jpg" border="0" /> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Okay, I have been home now for two weeks and it is about time I let everyone know how much I enjoyed camping in the mountains. I had the best campsite - right on the river with the mountains as the backdrop. It rained on and off for our first three days. It was also on the cool side, although at night it was cold. It was so cold that I had to go into town and buy fuzzy, warm socks to keep me warm. I know - something Cathy hardly ever has to do! </span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway, all the cold had its benefits. When we arrived the mountains were devoid of snow except the odd patch. When it rained on us it snowed on the mountains and after three days there was snow on the peaks. By the time we left, two weeks later, there was no snow again. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365755760671409074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNVHkvlgnAEYB74xn6agqGciCJCiLDnQGQ6-6a3pQAsCoHrHyVlPeGOPMuzTLm02jozTwIUgzg2BjCaR07IWzz-Y4rAcnbLnIXv0vbsvg9eXV97QvTrF9wgqjKGe9J18B93Qu/s200/Vacation.camping0709+221.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I loved seeing the changes over the two weeks I was there and watched the sky constantly. The darkness of an approaching storm was great to see.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365758455042084226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyQti1R4sC6l4UJ1vqKEyfas5vZ3CqXkItYSZkCBSRLpG3FpnA0HlHpRH0YDUWwcBVO2DgQ9qCaH23IjtTOgihlSXCIJpdNmBhC-xOdw7-VpyRlH_SKh8lIXBEbHJMKx4e8qs/s200/Vacation.camping0709+049.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365758464814968562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KeuD9scr8ahyphenhyphen5YNM-ne4vlwFFMeKfG5WZnKnW1YCHZJDXnRPaANEu6ru4BacI4zDq74fQOjf8r3nUQaSCWf0XNAeh2DhFNOKipSBLq8WsZKu8jE4GWfRrsicVtee2Brm296L/s200/Vacation.camping0709+216.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365763041885666274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7liaVshoN7QbcnXCJ2vrj7b4pjvryebmCSrBi7qqpSTRcDyH8JsgWUmODQVvxIAwfAZ0_y_ZuJTaZLHUphEAz7lhaIOtazXVZx-rj8KqZ1KcqpblChcRGqZdIeGi8h9yHqHV0/s200/Vacation.camping0709+722.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365758457520339794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rwLbUC4c__BofzvIneA8b4HVIg9dzZNC2zvt0bycrTLJNIKtKoiqZnrf-RIWL9_Mb09GozN1Ule0lQOaCNDnk_Gfp0apkYVnpiBSLDuYxM0-m5kzpDsEha2L6Wovdm2T9DJV/s200/Vacation.camping0709+131.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Just as the title said, peace. There is more to this than just the view. It's the wildness of God's handiwork - the animals, the isolation, the majesty. Stunning!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365763026724757554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOwLcYGRuBDRdEUTEG7CKtc_6IVDTxskitsgQy2QSdjqtvnaNgjCD_3vNUNyFF1PGn3BZ4LL1UArb3lw1O_Of7K51ZksWYB_36pmg4ZwHRDyol7vELt9n6FNPfhJGPJai0orF/s200/Vacation.camping0709+367.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365768135564432450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsISlEGf0lwwjF4hrQPrGqOAtOBDew3yExU-8dkQc-MEviV7y2XFMqYncKMoIFBiwAnzKtpq8QbUSOnDQkvl1pJyzOWGJRsrMa45kjzXw9bh7AWWDFD1Gcb4jEwXVYA-IOwmDW/s200/Vacation.camping0709+1224.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The Kooteny Heart</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">*Most of these photos are taken from the campsite, or close to the site. Others were taken around Radium and one was taken at Fort Steele (the one with the buildings).</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></p>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-20055117762590443632009-05-30T17:34:00.000-07:002009-05-30T19:15:41.328-07:00Family Picnic<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwgTIc3WrRzO0ozRW9mfgKCtcqIQ58ESmShdtZD-tPB7bK_9t7j9c14X_pGHb0DNyZYFPQqq9mQU-NHeG7kLJp5j5JF7aN461FFDN3YkoJbc8xiXtVFekFVrZPABbWnWUDL7p/s1600-h/IMG_6033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341803900498826962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwgTIc3WrRzO0ozRW9mfgKCtcqIQ58ESmShdtZD-tPB7bK_9t7j9c14X_pGHb0DNyZYFPQqq9mQU-NHeG7kLJp5j5JF7aN461FFDN3YkoJbc8xiXtVFekFVrZPABbWnWUDL7p/s200/IMG_6033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802280592824466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffLEm9P1ljdvdeT5jzYVRpDDVW2Tg5VATfq3PkmoHJmXpRt0tHstAxWmy4DbnOTIfnGWAfQxnGVUxA0ewRfGQQnJalGuj17ruHHMuNxt0LeZWDWu_ospx6uVTwC4NC7tdCqqN/s200/IMG_6062.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C4ryAcOlr8aeDPe90juvKa_Ko3OYgYrn-8E5kfR-2-_oD7qeMky2Bm7HuXqxI-yi1krw11afJrapkuEYFtE1akR4JMVbKS_WC4fWvWdtasC23IGURaRvY_OPg2YStCQtcJC2/s1600-h/IMG_6023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341803894548265298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C4ryAcOlr8aeDPe90juvKa_Ko3OYgYrn-8E5kfR-2-_oD7qeMky2Bm7HuXqxI-yi1krw11afJrapkuEYFtE1akR4JMVbKS_WC4fWvWdtasC23IGURaRvY_OPg2YStCQtcJC2/s200/IMG_6023.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My favourite thing to do is spend time with family. Life can't get better than hanging with family - immediate family and extended family. Today, thirty-two of us got together for a picnic at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Belfountain</span> Conservation Area. It is a small, but very pretty park with a suspension <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bridge</span>, man-made cave, hiking trail that is part of the Bruce Trail, water fall created from a dam, a fountain (although today the water was only a trickle), and a river. It also help that it is in the town of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Belfountain</span> in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Caledon</span> Hills so even the drive to get there is picturesque. </span><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It is so nice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">getting</span> together and catch up on family happenings and keeping in touch with cousins I don't see very often. The older you get the more precious these times have become. I also enjoy seeing the family and grow as people get married and have their own families. It is then that you realize how fast time really does fly. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I have included many pictures - enjoy the show! </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341784003750823042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bZkTf9UvW1h12cz4MT1yx4WdbWnqKrSjnMlL2lcuTSjpVdBMiny-OGSpjilD40jUtb_8LdU6tHoF9ifo_9N8njdvtSdZY-qcNCuumlhuY_xIZnaJs9plTGMtRy0AptCuspgQ/s200/IMG_6013.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341799279035976274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDefarm6eeLoVSML02TuGAs6Vj2YGqjGNbQDdx0oBJLquohuQcb25smvbbqBt_9b3-FdHonJo__yEDTvWa5asheXVDjDzi9gGl5dm9n6g-OMFu0AhFS5qp0VohDl2aimZO_E3/s200/IMG_5995.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341799287551694866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrDwNn_ag688MLJKo_-aOedXfXoY6b0EgPmUzah5ImalcmaIKL86AWftzNomnvnh-l0xT33OEdTUpWFwiEcifQAMyG6RppyiOz6yDVMXSVKDRvKYyLplWfFt-vQ04BNDsYrV0/s200/IMG_6029.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341784009691881906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3Hre4Ly8WlHzCIoNC03pK7avNMV4V2mAgjf5vsWn25rEibnMTT1uX1jJ656QEY3hTL5CeXNGqXBlMLpgQGtFiA1M4mI_e2TNtMsgyKd2R6FsP9VgsSaE_NKLaKor7BZ24XKQ/s200/IMG_6014.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802289471713586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxE_nuZ8Q4wE7R68tc1rChdYldxXnzYMil0PEMQ9C00d0lOLGh4cjDA-nnTl2A1jd0tNkN47PqP5tKz48aBuYXM0w_EhdSle4AZDM9Fzuk6vReI_G0NxgiaIhhKVBkxHRFe13/s200/IMG_6076.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341788150252701890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMkHC16hKYLVziB0hoi8TZPA19xEVc_BQJxam_-1P3IWyyXNEgVfK8Pki1VSmsOpR2zXaP7hIrTsSWihQl6IeRntgr36gVoZFFe4wkIfvSfuAfJDXMAHLi2HlPOvCyRk_Lm1G/s200/IMG_6078.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A caterpillar created quick the exciting moments when it fell on Jessica's sweater. </span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;">They were fine with it crawling on their hands, but when it fell on Carol's foot it created quite the fun!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341789401656147922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqlWKqMDIuSYFOF2Ssuk8QFltyHX0eWrQWW2pw0iPQsEmXbqUabpBS1iwf1bvUOOSxDjJqGL33F9yk97BR16TLZ-zk4bFBuI8-OCw_G88jM1r2pE82eBHyLwxHxIAJ-hkgv52/s200/IMG_6011.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Caleb stole the show with his wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">temperament</span>. </span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">He sure loves the camera - and the camera loves him! </span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">I love this picture of Caleb with his great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nana</span> (Aunt Eva)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341786759682215778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8HfQqyrcSNlAT9WOZCGPP_C7tT_H0KFKheabZWGbLYgCqBWXcgmOrT2OvasbjdF0fc-eXyEsCYeJT2tPK0RXlNSaf-iirnCcOSUqv-3vmTUXdgYmogmi5OhakgMLSUdjIQla/s200/IMG_6087.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Our matriarch, Aunt Ivy. </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">What an incredible lady!</span></span></div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341785402733381634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-8hUcu1MjA144Bx69V7emOnwGfZrY0Hj05jGyC9EBQtQjse1O3yklSv0qYFx9Z8lEdI-eGYzegV8nKZdFwD9RiMuKw9IgsO-wbSLL4FWZ8TFPVV0Dmofe6KK46MUNdtSu23u/s200/IMG_6067.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341783993731655522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTY8IPU60NROO12nid4GTTWYxSls7tbkYuniMB_S4ZCpQsV-ivhrYF42xKrxTUaEmPuTZ4CqvMlC3D5xjbmSeCflzn4qeBFNCqMraG60taVe6YNkirRbw7JPfhzrHDwwJLTCZh/s200/IMG_6000.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341785391033468626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjm7IkJnaSa4gi6EfGRMh-3C9g33aJgTxbpBywjLmOBnkYWCtBJm1v7-oUb9SxsA8PUs51v2bDRd-CKIs9P5iEBM_9R33KnKC5RUjWwP1D7OhW_B6aFqUsnwuqdbEQ27qH6HC/s200/IMG_6039.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341783995855909042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIaehTkHhJcxzoSthYZ9g-T7DoJYdlHbg_B3o7a3GoyqZBzlA3BRP1Rw4pR9R5AYSfXshLtw3Qi7Kd-2yt9CieYFSKQmkUity82xxm97eIgzlTvsMWrMTGGwhkkb2JRop9W5z/s200/IMG_6009.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341786749343223170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlBqINzYB7XRU0h61YZlTTrKeWVaRmnjjPT_0Pf2gJSBJhupNoiUIv_mFthyLtSMuYuA4HQyhaKKpXZhMnpmidNnV5UWsCL8Tq81BvyrxHtpJecf-FJ57JTmlGojpeEYGCpAm/s200/IMG_6073.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341785404725819042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXFkcEd2BYHehEGL3gESbrlhKBdpFIGDaKSzZOqCC7e33sUNhfBj_ngluNA2TEEyRZVpaiaKVNhxHh6cQsK_mNfH7iXKB2M2BCuri95bHFQxGscXv4QdtF0Z9Z9ry4NzMgmzt/s200/IMG_6066.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341785392118934322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNWmbIXQ_88YjaKBuPMVpr1Hlm3knjPMshJi60DT6LCcVChudW7lSeMnMwj4o6k5KaObxrYukBIQltkCVR87qKuVIt3k7HDVt4Em35A7METr3CN-_CbOau2fTw0Nop_nU4zMQ/s200/IMG_6048.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341789407136235634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsFyQI5xWcYvemUJLzR1pqzFL2tJ5V1MEbOPcwd5ldBdrYjUx4VI-I5fEZxXE0qthbWSThiPl4yjyvdLkzrBIbYWc9pgFEhJxvNLc3Ec8v4ngIXEhI7uw6EGMNWLyAOmK6ffu/s200/IMG_6020.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341786742690896242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7GxeGcdgRpfa10x2kQuAL3yPvzKVyj5KIVw-TMjm6KriuoJ744VO6A0utasWAvlYXuruDAqsow7y-6jc65qDSYodYjID53dJzDMGLM6X5j7SGEJQea4jXrTNtKQFswOMKLHm/s200/IMG_6075.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Barbara, in one of her famous poses - slouched in a chair, with her sunglasses on, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;">and a drink or a magazine in her hands. This time Carol joined her in creating the pose.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">On our way home some of us stopped by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Caledon</span> Badlands for more photo moments. </span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO8w9R85s-EuplaWtULWbsq0zfGjh27T3sn00VYJzpx2xVs6j95XYkLfKT62u2uH6PzRnSL2B2qvQHONcimURM1sU_HGg8KkUvO5njfepEs7G2YLVrWuRF5IOS9cbJiRnyTpv/s1600-h/IMG_6113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341789412580701618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO8w9R85s-EuplaWtULWbsq0zfGjh27T3sn00VYJzpx2xVs6j95XYkLfKT62u2uH6PzRnSL2B2qvQHONcimURM1sU_HGg8KkUvO5njfepEs7G2YLVrWuRF5IOS9cbJiRnyTpv/s200/IMG_6113.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Awwww</span>.... I finally get a good photo with my hubby!<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802270726136354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKUCj-5Gvww0uhVVWljpHLa7XpfOQ_JZh6VLsNbIb0VTwCWKVp_bfm46ORzaiEa2vNhGkFCHEaxfoV66MR1iQ9W-XoZK8uB_zthdZ1f2sh9sxGlDvMm_i1_OlryjOn0rrCuXv/s200/IMG_6112.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341799274268962482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2iwSGvPS8pqDfH4ymuJIEzqQp4l6Gl9Q1r7CQbfiicXJLt_h5tspjcYnBsxlW8zyq2mJBtFvyOBOyrNL94AYWGydd2s_mAWt78c550STr3lrBTcTqnhhTQwyiXuwIU02hbS9/s200/IMG_6109.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341788166834423858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8cTpBB9Q71DGwsksawxbU_1pGZgJrUevOpw9tehnB5_1yAD5j0Qsm_QmfTGFYOBxkK8387kIcaEym5mZdZwOwNIvepfXYVHbxNSwsOooRzivQO8uBxx79JHikV2cw8Ll9pzG/s200/IMG_6104.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The older they get the more you can tell they are brother and sister. I see so much of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nana</span> in them.<br /></span><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341788154865546482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2z9J5YwHSV2jdQPgZGy2ZJ5DF5aWnIrrZ9tlrAN2p-baMDocXPYHG_9L2YVKBg0GYYWbbz9mxaoY9FchyaVoXNzebOYeCqfVr2h1DqDbhcJtkb9OgGtIxRRXor7SQuwhgIOF/s200/IMG_6101.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyDlFEpxzP5xRdoKSduQzpEVXEc22I08J8Xn0ykvas88MPCa-5xt3Fq7gkPBhobkln2nGD_EIPj4Vg0b_vtEbTYV0Tmbn5zc3-7WWGuS9foB-W_658k2x1AKDdCBM6OK68qvE/s1600-h/IMG_6102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341788162860475026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyDlFEpxzP5xRdoKSduQzpEVXEc22I08J8Xn0ykvas88MPCa-5xt3Fq7gkPBhobkln2nGD_EIPj4Vg0b_vtEbTYV0Tmbn5zc3-7WWGuS9foB-W_658k2x1AKDdCBM6OK68qvE/s200/IMG_6102.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-79314423242125448832009-04-15T16:40:00.001-07:002009-04-15T16:40:11.469-07:00Boy Singing Beautiful Song ('Tell Me Why').<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/Cco_IlYuqN0' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/Cco_IlYuqN0'/></object></p><p>I came across this while I was watching a couple of other videos. It is amazing. The message is powerful and the singer is incredible. Enjoy!</p></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-37834726740449529642009-04-05T20:00:00.000-07:002009-04-05T20:00:00.183-07:00Time in Florida<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6BN6S5Mxdi2kpeez00ckTmLaWvFgaKS5NdKKZBPbNkzOMEe7N0qSnjaLaKZFxHJ2IBSqipNdl1_z52t31ICu9UXuDfkMaxnzAgeLW4aWJWI2M-tv3cY2p02X6Med4-6yseAr/s1600-h/IMG_5730.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321016939250621794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6BN6S5Mxdi2kpeez00ckTmLaWvFgaKS5NdKKZBPbNkzOMEe7N0qSnjaLaKZFxHJ2IBSqipNdl1_z52t31ICu9UXuDfkMaxnzAgeLW4aWJWI2M-tv3cY2p02X6Med4-6yseAr/s200/IMG_5730.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEfuP9mQL2bPYxMWSx7ndzBPYW0W6QSgvYcNB42IKHpjXmfIvINGlC7PJh-1jlyL5Bq3h_eZA_rBHwtOU0c3EE4RMKQFzlZncndYDRZkZJtyWyiP36nIx4QrHH1EZyCs4ouj2/s1600-h/IMG_5586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321006038896076130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEfuP9mQL2bPYxMWSx7ndzBPYW0W6QSgvYcNB42IKHpjXmfIvINGlC7PJh-1jlyL5Bq3h_eZA_rBHwtOU0c3EE4RMKQFzlZncndYDRZkZJtyWyiP36nIx4QrHH1EZyCs4ouj2/s200/IMG_5586.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"> Mom and Dad posing the masks I bought in New Orleans.<br /></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center"><div><div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">I finally have some time to finish my March Break adventure to the south. After Louisiana Don and I went to Florida to visit mom and dad. We arrived on the Sunday, later in the day, after a six hour drive. It rained our first full day there so we spent the day doing mom's favourite activity. One guess....you're right on your first guess - shopping! </span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321001316383779394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOp2JIm4Suw5mh9KB6sDYIJ6vcGqLkeSwyr2yw80OtTdCKNQCH2UV983b3KMzRw0eSs1m1tgdWdTV601C73rBSgwP7zszbMviXPYoImeLMNVJPB4XYNk6j1Yf9rxKCw2rFKSt/s200/IMG_5403.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tuesday was spent doing Don's favourite thing - nothing in particular. In the morning we played shuffleboard and I actually almost won a game against my game-winning husband! We relaxed, Don read, I swam, and watched the sunset. Later in the evening we played aggravation with mom and dad. The girls won! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321015459059382514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vEDdgw5wMwyCbg9_g_wnyI6mf9aBaCUqxRUMh3m27zIX5Z-oeHGNtCo-LQh6AKD14zabKqDMNZ3pII9xy4Q81yke0lIbnDZFs8ky6SeSFBqfmlech7Z9aG3bavgNlre90qiC/s200/IMG_5661.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321015466012228514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt8Mew0KLKOyQZ5BdwSW3Nzd0rAdRliFwEIeCcNsOjG-VNaaNCnxSHz_fufuDrwgmGxb98BsDE00nbgNwykUhvLg-mfvl1Nz8uCUEUUp92NzZy5wYzZ1CFuEhAOz1XLTfjhRF/s200/IMG_5677.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321001314891383138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6pJ8aJThyjcLfvos2dGSoFLKFMU048i-s8M1ZZMvbidA0l9eg-Dbb5MAy9KXz6RBTQyURyLvJFaL-_0aCtpR_QjUDO7fmKl3rqCGFHpfoqDT5pM9zfuvXQemRwN0raRUNmqe/s200/IMG_5412.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wednesday: Don wanted to do his favourite activity again so I went to St. Andrew's State Park for the day. I walked through the ruins of a turpentine mill sat on the beach. Isn't interesting that the beach looks like what I left behind in the north - snow! That evening Don and went out to dinner with his mom and her new husband, Ted. They just happened to be vacationing in Panama City Beach for two weeks the same time we were - coinsidences...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321001328032122658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTuDsvQV4Jfq2GmBWNzjx-mKSl13F1UoPY5i04IQ_2IPrjImDpf4glSPRSHq1D85KdlAou8QoSa65xSBYSn3krPrwOAhfJyoXRzGK4NpM_3mGTHbbiJSyi53RLiH2Lcs6XEoD/s200/IMG_5498.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321016950751566946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_4JoOWs-Hy-T1IMfQ-ZqUfScA_-U5pXSGgcTo2JdPRaf-7FDFoEXb8gnuGKmZ_98_CX08fh2e2id6RWOjhF5Z0MFhdYvfvcl9k7BdX_S8jL2Zrq8BOrILmVAL5ldUGXYt4_p/s200/IMG_5452.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Thursday: Mom, dad, Don, and I went to Sandestin, a golfing resort. We went to the Baytowne Warf to look in the shops. What an interesting place. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321007494602368994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmy9HeIQiAVFd0Z-PK-phiRn2aw8rwKwfMcETlr9NYU0Aniz0NBIU-PcVHZJTGWYemtj-37FXVjTbC88MUC8C4Xu4FOnSpnKpSo2zbO38zsjMg26wtZ4WgyyUp2IyrU2xCnZO/s200/IMG_5653.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321007482795978146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeAd0IU9itx0P3BgiyliyWh6_Db5fMttalORBqk66hmjJHMRyzeynhRYinUzdJvptBH4Su6QV7uoYpJilissmCzZbA8vaXhZnHd_7mY1j2FdppJGPa-jauLIxHmsexE5cLYBT/s200/IMG_5640.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321007472751811250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHYirZYDCnWHIELwnniAbQjG3FxCcTS1ZPPZGG_Nn_y9fCNnsWHKudEaR-B2edGmAkQOW3rTWhVgr9FiLH_gZ6IwUxSheLrgPzZfqnPisCYTspNMa8vkz_BXlY1lXsyV8Ke7L/s200/IMG_5621.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321006052224628978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sa3NrZ26o_SzNp3dfM2cHU0_LUMbAESRA-rXtvwO2mnh8Fza5gSGWp50e4s3zl5gKkil_XBf8UY2VHveppoYW_Kfucpj8f92-QtqrVBxhTbxCYvUWSUzbzBpzRKhyphenhyphenV1FV4YO/s200/IMG_5607.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321006048111240402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTuRzmqSBcYqHBlkx6XZgwQjaHSdlSaom23wUw1yKepAlEGWH4BRhyphenhyphenBfUIMxnnVjAMdkYCPdH5zMDrzt3npXs61BJjo1HbkyvUvOJqmGiwuG_602LFOhbT8dKQa0cPebzaMUr/s200/IMG_5588.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321006045631186882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV852gJ-fELC9Zi2IXp61dmMgx3qtXLSgztyGTB__YU-Cer57g4KSsf_MoLTN_dZ0hR5MGv0xXibYP6v6v6HJ4xS9gdh128wKLtHT1Bv-fgqCCvInC1y50731MRlqEbfiehCD3/s200/IMG_5587.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321007500151056226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUYRHUTadStaA9Vy0QwPujtXuFgk-TtPuFvmefnVnZzp2dRYMhkePd0uH_OFXKl8c5OBtpiuyNyvnJbzF24KRpMzudiCR0VLNaFV4oEihgardkx2vkf0hWUteRp3Ku8rsUnVL/s200/IMG_5654.JPG" border="0" /> <div>On our last morning there Don and I went down to the beach. It was early and despite it being psring break time the beach was deserted and quiet.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321015471666007602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5rAmWjsrZVNMLN7lcSKdPnZYEAhgfKLlURVxlNRkpt2fBdvlkDPA6YO-qE7eybvRZSTVpvBMuXfAjvSrAUdC7TPpOT_jvqE9VrBeBYuzHGhJ4Dw8kMSBEJN8XDBQNUQzcLvc/s200/IMG_5689.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321015474538863234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6QPiVNQz-0azBN2mlWF3nlttGvfTPvf5aJDiGWRK5keszCqPUQLK-xBDf6cx40kUsUcYilECg_SSE9E7_-Hu3UE26EjO5-nv-pOhilO8GY2P5WgRneX6VGn5aUeGHqX6ERpC/s200/IMG_5703.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321016940136462018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNX-VxGsZEwZpVTaZi6vpEkQXpKAsa7zuSQVMtLOVdscrRvXIPSC4q0MMdgMRvdhsD9y11K7HDmuZawDZtpdz0jScH3zGEiKhX77UPQ0TdsMBCr5yUWNSmuluPbieloCcMnEx7/s200/IMG_5710.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-27735086365773171472009-04-04T21:18:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:47:17.443-07:00Plantation Tour Day<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Our second day in Louisiana was a rain day so we spent the day touring sugar plantations along the Mississippi River on river road. Most of them were in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vacherie</span>. It was interesting to see the influence of the french, in particular the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Acadians</span> (the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cajuns</span>)who had been expelled from Canada by the English 200 years ago. Some day I would love to come back to Louisiana and explore this further. One day does not do it justice!</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We started at Oak Alley. It got its name from the line of 300 year old oak trees, obvious in the photos. What a stunning home. Sometime in the early 1700's, a settler claimed land for his dwelling and planted two rows of live oaks to mark its entrance that lead to the river. It's so sad to think that it was built on the backs of black slaves.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jacques Joseph Roman arrived from France and later, in 1741, married Marie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">D'Aigle</span>, whose family had moved from Canada, and spent much of the first years of their marriage buying and selling plantations. Of their five children only one son, Jacques Etienne, and his two sisters survived to inherit the estate. The grew sugar and flourished. Unfortunately, due to mismanagement within the Roman family, the plantation had to be sold in 1866 and had various owners ever since.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321029544326296658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqPX9mzsipNkmjQ825S8nva-uqmQwuxrbPpudsufuujlcNS-J7dzYf-xZMAB_H5E_mEc95xtJCs8wcVcfFxe0_RnP1iRf9dL5rthrC_YxwZOB37aNp72zgeNPeUzDRzMWTLnQ/s200/IMG_5334.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321030983822757874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVsLaUh-ythDfU9ca6vzs-lfv3b8tdQ94-dLmJW5H1jI3VrsSVGBwTarW4Yl6ObkoMzY1u7QceBz70fCyZmCb4TweOXTpZmFeiYi_7pxPPJNqq2WEjXYTTFJaYspK0CX4v4I1/s200/IMG_5330.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321030974468843010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkxKrr9WwzM_ZjU4NC2S5mQJLprLIF4G3le7zkXPSAVzM3WjuOEtKQpOjoVCPbb8i1C1tMhZhDBjyDfa_-aov4HbFa8ihVPPXR-XSsyJ0qPVOEB_DSerz49gNGB4I9ivcgXoX/s200/IMG_5317.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321029525098926626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwHJ8e1mOSG9soGdDI3_Nj5O8gh8l4Tl-UvoS0ozBJ6v7GnYbq4NdtND-anM8rT8mKVb61LJKHamDK5baW3RYbkttx32EPoNKGs8ue-wkE8riPv1p1HjWkA1uqvRf9H2pP5L_/s200/IMG_5316.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321029534003388226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdbgFop9J4fx0MTpVxoOlUiXA_2BBku2ZJUCSNGoaC0Xu2JbXWRwcrPEFwVnLriqetQBRaLPXMxmnja3cIzpqGQGdLOKFILAVApGCd2UB1xwuuo_pBXfefFrAzabyyA-_8vNh/s200/IMG_5322.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321029540291013442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8xwvgmjiGd53ryanL8ShhCUGCnEIQWwKsQkaeE4w9EEK9UGrkfJUARLznKxGhdE_2qswBhmNZuhoCRJVObaWfLu8FYIWshvG1CfMZq0lzziFvzvIy74Q_9yf_Ic-4c1eEpZb/s200/IMG_5332.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Down the road was St. Joseph's, a 1,000 acres plantation, where we had a private tour. Raised Creole style home predates nearby plantations constructed in Greek Revival style. The home stands on brick columns 8 feet tall to protect from flooding. It was originally owned by a doctor who cared for the families and slaves in the area. Eventually it was purchased for one of the Roman families as a wedding gift. It came fully furnished and with a full staff of slaves. In 1877, they lost their plantation because they couldn't pay the back taxes after slavery was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">abolished</span>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Today, it is still a working plantation and some family still live on the estate.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I enjoyed this tour since it had a video about the making of sugar, a mini museum, and different outbuildings, such as slave quarters, an out kitchen, and small schoolhouse. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321189807698678866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfEShjtJFrk2XxTsGtRAk2tq7NH_TbyBpPXScUpC0Df6-zwHldyULYTt85eWjCeLepmrmeb0_O0p0f0o5j8NM8HplDh1dv9JjRDNnOYwesOV70rZEDff16ylJc3qbtnuhbZ0K/s200/IMG_5371.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321032179484814418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE5SJPOX4QqUc-zJB3wBb992dP-32amznjYBSiQ8kbQ7Qp_UoElgWN6MkmX6X7sRgiQgUBHXbvsSNkWeGTpWZWnx9DVACXj9AcdItjcSKGQ7NoDFOamcZso5bG9nsYTzIe79u/s200/IMG_5355.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321030987264281266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLwIahuTZVYqfWMmwmRv_MH16Wo5mNOjjghYhgZRniNaW4LqFcPQN8XPtHU3d0aJWxBzI2oB0tcfX2SbfTginlWGFdBNa-q1GBzRvbf0WrwZbxKD5keKAV9BM132CP639W0db/s200/IMG_5354.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321032195287486578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOS6C5Th1tHIgBWcKQ5jb4_l7D0gaw-S5IrIHdh9y8_MtUXk1_4Ec8aqUEqeQGx5ty1SwRIxUHyHgbjS9MI5nlp1sJNdY-KQ-4SmEoeMpgh-fZqabxUXr_B3PtDINIo5Nre26/s200/IMG_5360.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321032198399504818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRbdYDVucubx1so-6h4-UggXWywHVaExmheXkB1k_fc3QLo82pNNKobYPHfyltQbeiz611Om0m9KJUEWvh3Vwyqbd7muUt1bOtncEeNHMsMTqYW_iMb37oxYROE432keMz9MM/s200/IMG_5361.JPG" border="0" /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321032185514612002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm1EZT3-Y1ak8yMqc4OUPg1Lcl3GtpkVMgyk6M6Qfic3m7Kl_cZG96EgX2UaSb4XWGVSMBu1yGpnMVlVhcKDXvMRiRt7e_2qAti1InjQGqOIhZM0-T_lTvJfqFubVs7WfEdDi/s200/IMG_5359.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321191952424814706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0arghn46PX0yivp1MGNiKu5N-7E6N-TAKyMSTB5EQjqG-E6tYz8bhC-3FQcqiF0I4F8augHm3OiFwYOTqXDrfBvdqNMNi7ICbBbAGWKr5b_ng2nO-UeHSjriZBrb2UQjKRxX/s200/IMG_5370.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Unfortunately, we just missed the final tour of the Laura Plantation on the same road as the other plantations. I was able to take a handful of pictures but do not have a full context for it, except for what I read. It is a creole plantation and was built in 1805 and restored to same period. At its greatest it was 12,000 acres in size and apparently the manor house is about 24,000 square feet with a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">detached</span> kitchen that was 2,500 square feet (the size of my house). I can't imagine farming a property that size or house cleaning a house of that size! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190587761728786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMe2kj5qh9BboLxkB9YjAzBDEzoDDUDJ824d4VvUVeH6SHp28CMyE9JpBsgbRE01zNM8u_Xqh3Yr-VxxKIVwuZsQjKamHS8PWiufA5AHI8P8IcUyA1eAsGq757oT4POMQkzKLm/s200/IMG_5376.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190592051911362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtq7Ii5-3TGHr0HAm_eDlViWENG8_8Vo1aIVhyjZPZCflNZdjc6aUoi7jA1xH7g1b5FUi9idfT-3pUmAciXNk-RyO_tuVBOrQsDqXA2fTsDCkOd9Bh9d2yFPPlFJwHTNGMQNcA/s200/IMG_5375.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Lastly, I took a picture of the Evergreen Plantation. I love the stairs that set this home apart from the other ones we saw. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Apparently</span> the main house was constructed in the 1830s and continued to be in operation growing sugar cane until the 1930s. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190896146748002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6ZEh0B_5FKGgxED1FnFvabeDkMvCbCEZNe48JsRqfz_cmhY6T7j3LQjeDpgA1HdkUwbIz6rRAgJZwq8uC9xOxS6aVl1ECmmySjPKgVrTg6o3WLLjrBPSb76K5WqBcFHBv9t2/s200/IMG_5382.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-9886921517437348642009-04-04T20:18:00.001-07:002009-04-04T20:24:20.295-07:00Red Shirt<span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I had something very interesting sent to me via e-mail this week. I have copied it for everyone who readds my blog:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Red Shirt </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man... </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last week, while traveling to Toronto on business, I noticed an army sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class ( across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. 'No', he responded. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'Heading out', I asked? </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'No. I'm escorting a soldier home.' </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'Going to pick him up?' </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Afganistan, I'm taking him home to his family.' </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, 'Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.' </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Upon landing in Toronto , the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom. 'Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the Canadian Armed Forces join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.' Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be a Canadian. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do. Red Fridays. Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Canadians who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Canadians supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Canada on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming Hockey game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the Canada is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>This coming Friday I will be wearing red. What colour shall you wear?</strong></span>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-15344164103541028442009-03-14T06:48:00.000-07:002009-03-14T08:18:20.431-07:00Trip to the New Orleans Area<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since it has been a while I thought I woul pop in and let you know how my vacation is going. I can't believe that right now I am sitting in a tent (with the rain bubbling on the roof - I love that sound!), on line, and writing about a vacation I am currently on. This blows my mind! Don and I are in Louisiana for three days before heading over to Florida to spend time with mom and dad.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313050881488354290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGIkqEv3SBUtDJnrz5nDxko25HlkvFhapIStvU6K8UmfEAZCyNe-pXNGiL61qzkdzG4MixBv-n_0d81cc0Ry9_DZm3CCyB_5ZehdIL1M7kLECKlPD9zrpZqLI-Sa1HzxwbgiW/s200/IMG_5288.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313050886208367042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTP6FzU2RbMTjuTvKKJ7HDtqR7a6eZ0UB3idh0poUAqE7WyoTblD_QZbK8riOZS51CMvGLd-msW8GD5zHhm9OWMXyJH6A4B6zwkg2WgLQc6AbKdByEDP6mQM1mSW1jRnKQm50/s200/IMG_5290.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313050869924496882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PmkKO1MDzdu6wTYLMhcGxWhBBVbb1Zpl7HqFArBEyIyq098xOwnz7ZYO2auWRYqLslvnYTncDxE7j6IxWwdD-MC7XvckxKXzMzd5htFM9_Qk7PUUfHc2rU_VfgdLwkMqPKtl/s200/IMG_5098.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Don and I left on Wednesday and traveled all night to arrive in Louisiana on Thursday around lunch time. We are currently staying at Fountainbleau State Park in Mandeville, across the causeway from New Orleans. It is not a great site since the ground is very unlevel but it works for us in the three days we are here. It was suppose to be a shaded sight but it is not. Apparently during the Ike and Katrina many of the trees were downed. It is still a pretty park but not what I am use to from my camping experiences in northern Ontario (no recycling, people use insecticides to kill the ants and you are welcome to pick up dead wood in the bush to use for firewood - all things that you can be fined for in Ontario (it's that conservation thing we have). I also have never seen so many big rigs in a state/provincially run camground before. There are only a few of us who are tenters. I explored the beach area and the ruins of a sugar mill.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313058817343882482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjX7mc8JKCRLTnmIBI1emwG6vCVZnZAK5s8kIkSN2G0LrBZiVsEK2KoCqZDN6XXdhXV1hga7q11blrjfbgxma7RrueaaTzsu4gjtQsLE-qL37CuG0590PtD9yzJhFTZ5V3TyL/s200/IMG_5030.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313058808779767394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdojepSmYq5Ck14cpWTH_4aEL5OeezybD1tXiRAytt73qexwEAE7Msu_cfoGXVJ4-HjEmg8gXyvniwlzfwHS7jLSwCL_hidKjIBkbLwDAZCVJMo_7UwCPJLPNXrMhDC7cPLfpE/s200/IMG_5031.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313050890000258546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRirwj1m7yvkd90zIyy8TqqsSg16o083gS5wXi0Hwk4gFtyrCq9qlnDIjJ3_IznIBXOg2-W88Eo6I6Ab3MINPygnHga5rYqJL6NPiOxEuW6gRpIymyOHXiieOxWgnJMlvVB1BD/s200/IMG_5074.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Aw, tenting... I love being in the outdoors. I love sleeping in a tent and hearing the wildlife sounds during the night (as long as it isn't a bear) and eating food cooked over an open fire. I ate the best hamburger ever the other night - slowly cooked and smoked. We have an electrical sight which means we can watch a movie on the laptop - too cool. This has come in handy with the threat of rain. I feel spoiled. I must damit, though, that my tenting days are probably numbered. While the tent is easy to set up and we have an air mattress and I sleep well, I am starting to lean toward having something that makes the night time more comfortable and possibly easier for when I want to camp alone.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313058829530079122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwNJKJOpuyzcEVTc_e4ZZ4Sz7KYa9Hm6MOTE9u90_KDQo_fRBSneE_YXKS7OA-hXRHKwwnlZ5Q0pGI7XwHN3YzaW2hDdoipaCxt-CvVfRFIVAVAO_VRfU0omoiSVBxXPf38oU/s200/IMG_5113.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Anyway, on to New Orleans. Don and I went into New Orleans yesterday and did a walk-about. I love the french quarter with its architecture and interesting lifestyle. I wanted to tour one of the old homes but it was closed, so we went to the aquarium and just walked the streets since Don is not into museums. At the aquarium we pet a stingray, saw loys of fish, sharks, penguins, and otters. We also watched an IMAX movie titled "Wild Ocean" in 3-D about the sardine run on the east coast of Africa. It was cool. We saw a few sidewalk musicians and performers. I liked the man who had marionettes that sang, danced, and played the guitar to music. I have posted a few pictures for you. Unfortunately, the poverty is still evident and you can tell which areas suffered the most during Katrina. </span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313061651362979154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGVKzu2-4O8Br75JRUaePtrO_y_zVQdiriyFtqOJNUNZW2hU3Kt4BCfx9-97RW1AwN4EFqJkJXEpYqdpHcbbHy1P6_yCwFvzHNkzl-MjY6Qxxet1lG9_M9aEXOJP0VFDUwUWg/s200/IMG_5152.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313061638775749682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzmVgu3O2Pi-vg9oKeMmhBIbl_73e49kNBl6MD9eeuX5ChgxJ08s_YIKdZ3-dIPA0vU9ewQNLLM9ax9Vt0YdaVk7iblutKerPcOU5iOBbJfb5eCldAl7vDOESCcCcUMTzeEw2/s200/IMG_5141.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313061629948657538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OFsO-kbfuDZuKN50UVfXrw3lVJgYN-5q67yqdDM9ZHH0KOH4ZGj3TMHknw3tfKQ_PgUOvwuY4YM_j6PUJ5llZDwXPsxte2hK1nJ1ds6yT8Kq2S_BPnGhtvgdPOk11X1jM9oL/s200/IMG_5131.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313061624629617682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQrj6u3kmRCaz8h7KyPBcYk2zNbDwcyl3gfsE5x9LfF5wpfWgoOaNs6b8Pc4u1iK3CHSquYR134A4g8j9pwP5sb54SCNUkCH8ZXxmE3RzSXofZp_RJBuijt2GWD9F66h1-cCf/s200/IMG_5130.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Today I am hoping to do a tour of some of the plantation homes. Hopefully the rain will either stay as showers or stop altogether. Stay tuned...</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-5466031976643351312009-02-07T19:51:00.000-08:002009-02-07T20:50:09.600-08:00Time Away<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN5p7JtXEBEYM47GKXlLEYWjLq8pa3JG2ANvssRg8OjARfljyynH5NXHThyphenhyphenSRA1FkyL0Vd3fco-xdWLPSdq6XrrE59MLJacMAhSPIQG2TLBqSHAaLJ2Q3Rvfxx5NN8VBcrP6l/s1600-h/IMG_5011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300284180715100658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeN5p7JtXEBEYM47GKXlLEYWjLq8pa3JG2ANvssRg8OjARfljyynH5NXHThyphenhyphenSRA1FkyL0Vd3fco-xdWLPSdq6XrrE59MLJacMAhSPIQG2TLBqSHAaLJ2Q3Rvfxx5NN8VBcrP6l/s200/IMG_5011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU8JGDu9i9ZLWyeBr4uMqm7kC55wyprdm5shV-qm5Owcw7d3SjJAT0eJU2dpXvr-wmTSsCg9mC8oKXDHXfHWdiTlu664BuAaQEenbblA8-E_eeTinltmjHnVanlfhaoyOK6J7/s1600-h/IMG_4997.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300283226744089090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU8JGDu9i9ZLWyeBr4uMqm7kC55wyprdm5shV-qm5Owcw7d3SjJAT0eJU2dpXvr-wmTSsCg9mC8oKXDHXfHWdiTlu664BuAaQEenbblA8-E_eeTinltmjHnVanlfhaoyOK6J7/s200/IMG_4997.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXzdHCNqJYjKPXGJBHlWGX3IgaiErGwqoyiczJ30GrzhXx_bNNqbfKXZ6ZI4O44PBFh8z_7Y18xLqBtTSh-eRHvzgCI-xZOo39WEmggbXNuTCw8_xAJrCYAcWZ86sHlIuOVy7/s1600-h/IMG_4952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300283219225619202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXzdHCNqJYjKPXGJBHlWGX3IgaiErGwqoyiczJ30GrzhXx_bNNqbfKXZ6ZI4O44PBFh8z_7Y18xLqBtTSh-eRHvzgCI-xZOo39WEmggbXNuTCw8_xAJrCYAcWZ86sHlIuOVy7/s200/IMG_4952.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCiKVLEvXj9YYCaCqrqRDIJ2WEWXQJR8gu9-NzCNBiFPcK7GEhdE4xLVKe_29tFVzEFMsxMEAhfRVOqWWqZoVqvcJFAcOOsMvhtWvJ7RDIWlTznhKU_287GXYXUEaJNLOTgju/s1600-h/IMG_4953.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300281945885054834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCiKVLEvXj9YYCaCqrqRDIJ2WEWXQJR8gu9-NzCNBiFPcK7GEhdE4xLVKe_29tFVzEFMsxMEAhfRVOqWWqZoVqvcJFAcOOsMvhtWvJ7RDIWlTznhKU_287GXYXUEaJNLOTgju/s200/IMG_4953.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300278203428664706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwl6i5fovQznA7DdMuF8HNkgx50BsJv67SiqJq_zYYdCufJn7uUEfbkNXfAabpQnDwZI1JVOVYwfgbxeC7ZFY3PzwRNWOpGxfchzJxrK0M_2ByEyQb8Bh3zwB88-1oafq77YQ/s200/IMG_4993.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFEsA6E_cU7H0qo5dxZlWiaJcq6GLgEsZQ1bTPgD6-4tD4lA8M0MGAGARAe2omPddMSmkDPsu6nHd1Aj_dQDvnGZR2BzkzSywPnV5q8hCncS2Pn7_4lPlvPMzwaahAoUu6usr/s1600-h/IMG_4955.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300276851454336114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFEsA6E_cU7H0qo5dxZlWiaJcq6GLgEsZQ1bTPgD6-4tD4lA8M0MGAGARAe2omPddMSmkDPsu6nHd1Aj_dQDvnGZR2BzkzSywPnV5q8hCncS2Pn7_4lPlvPMzwaahAoUu6usr/s200/IMG_4955.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This past week I rented a cabin at camp. It was the first time I have been at camp in January. I loved seeing how people embrace winter by snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. I can now say that I have walked on water, at least camp water! I love seeing the icicles on the buildings and walking in the deep snow.</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300278215397718114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJboDVmxKM5lP7Ccq2gB3Xv4OLJeB2doESBhdx3bcQ6-wKZPtzmwubdAN6OMJPlPCk8Qs1LBcvXksfc24_xLTxAb12CxtE4E94WLUE_5_y43-QqI6ldXUlXY-PNYEF3FpWWccS/s200/snowmobiling.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300276840504114194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItHVkHkgxhFCbNP87d5yI5hklR62ypwWEQrV5r7cIoBlmyMoxdkapsbStGryAEYD1OQg3hmSif7LqcUIgVJUbCI50cblSBCr37ZMAMs5YEvkhFk1b7vW_V4lZ5-Cj531yNbIR/s200/IMG_4966.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300278205709993106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawRPMm9tgZoDDqCPD0uBRURx-ER_eKnm2pJlerJBW7YJXoVlWmYat6NJ3YoF0Lo5Ugm7mSt57enwA06vX5aztozgPx7kMxG8BG16_97gsQvHxSGumiHtCQFge1dsoCSN_KmML/s200/IMG_4987.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300279000734439794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGPI0gRKZriVY-FcWIXPIZIK19XfpgKdD8G1FC9arz31OT-IOB2UVOqDeixlONNiEblmJ-PXpu6f9r1gpETGNPuqf_4kZIYLsuhA7kMdYJk-4s3hQG32NST9TFo3QeOeyaNNE/s200/IMG_5008.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300279005482121682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWS__dhfVJwwEvOaandoLYn4V5QyV71lGzmaQqePsYJdmcwY3DOvKhlnNw-uwo5faCQ1Z0CibVwRGaNCD-btmDXsBqI1sGi3MqNHv89U9K3v67Wuyy6DB7LW1O0IZMw6G33-5/s200/IMG_5009.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A teacher friend, Sheryl, came up for three days, Barbara came up for three days and Don came up for two days. I spent the week scrapbooking to my heart's content! I loved this time to relax, talk, and get something accomplished. On one of the days we took Aunt Eva out for lunch. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with family we do not see very often. The older we get the more cherished these moments have become.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300279012615814578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16RmYYqA7eGpeEXE90MtJo9ba23jLRuxWS4VWWBgRj80f3Pfw0w7xmf7Mt8RIHyTFL2d7_s9tOVQ_XzMuKc7j69Y6EohClyL9u9uqbsCwZk9WoTbb4-2L5URLf05L-eRH-T1Q/s200/IMG_5000.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-69175667421741763762008-12-31T06:56:00.000-08:002008-12-31T14:58:02.558-08:00My Christmas Photos<span style="font-family:verdana;">As usual, I am late with the challenge. I did my photos is two groups - Christmas Day at Barbara's house and then Boxing Day, also at Barbara's house. </span><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong><em>DAY ONE:</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">This is the second year in a row that Don and I were not home for Christmas. It just made sense this year considering how I was sick before Christmas and getting ready was a challenge. I enjoy spending time with my family so it was not a hard decision to make. </span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285970713756295442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3lSLhJfDZEQycqSTPzNzUf9jPXQgtRMV6ZphHo4yQu-Aw8SJyQP1fgMo8Sf1ja8wQyReBHWJNgHSeJdl4BBqK14fDMAdMleRtxI9vSX5n1eTC2guP8ASYjsT2Hi9b9T3ZBjr/s200/IMG_4705.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285970716666729090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TfIo1ofJCiw2N6f2g2zCrZ8Rf8ElEJoroll_CA13nXL-Y6D2_IIZGCpIFfmgGgD9JCqLNLfl6wMUERYfg3UlUT8f0_Fd28-WuSsgQzfNpSoOnNmtaI37weTpohIEsMcNgZHo/s200/IMG_4717.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285970726314592562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGuYD3CzfRT87PkNWuIj1-pdPEjJJytqMwi9ZsPEQVrEVgRVXes77PMphtIJenaGJZ7h-3kYF0UcgP2-fugc1U5ltPA7hUPf7Zd1NZN9zkuZd74G5HsEjIM9YxQ8TiN_mQ9zF/s200/IMG_4743.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285970732126941138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvaLy63F9I_P85ROo75_pRGY-hTzzg0rGy-gvpc6nMriCtELHYsqZgdNgm_kmIOeI4Pvn_e92baqI2eWfYLC2-hjDMutMJYO25peOnHo4Q_lUJsg6O4LGXvQg-fpxCU_ep4tr/s200/IMG_4750.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I love nutcrackers. This is one of Barbara's</span></span><br /><br /><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>DAY TWO:<br /></em></strong>There is nothing better than getting together with my brothers and sisters et al. This year on Boxing Day there was 22 of us, with 20 sitting around the table since the babies did not need there own chair. We enjoyed just passing the twins aound. We never get enough of babies in our family. After dinner we did the usual - the boys did the clean up while the women relaxed. I always like to get a picture of that special family event. It was great to see how the smaller cousins, Joseph and Scott, want to play with the older cousins and look up to them.<br /></p></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><p></span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285975168847162290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1xs7cA490he4K5zJm-pK3sC5RNpBsBRzw0cbaKpwVvWfPNmx3K2YihFmWY5oBw8u4bD-4OGYyzAfk4tQZkXMhz8G04r1PZvyRIOgJxjPgEia9Sr1DGpuOTHw6D_26RJVxDGc/s200/IMG_4753.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286088128385609634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4K5lQD1cbE_WOKShe54vy-0sOWbyVC7H5arhKGm9fTYV0rMndLlTu0jv4Cv-MKbEadiiVLCDArr3L38hJ7qheVxWsQaPrSjzOyuXOTxbUTOucFhU5M1GBMoypJ5lWrfciIfG/s200/IMG_4778.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286084933931806562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzlCuxHWRCQ0nLbn9_9VwkBUk4cSvG1eFEmxZwo42RomBUg3obPebwuoFEMfwQSPxzNbXrvYKHQqSjTcWYXnxviBt9uy24HxvjvXDLZfhRHCu-pMe7X0jF9w2_ZGEPjfe6FXP/s200/IMG_4820.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285975184360471122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPPyWh_F9VSqhFe_buWfpfBNa05d0ZUHOU7SpTOS-ZwGMx2z38GE6eNZu3ufEPuKr37b9BeJ8oIH6I7fvd5VSI7TDP8s3sHErIMm12kQpSmpVrp9KtJ4B538NRryLygwtWJXI/s200/IMG_4856.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286088135729796818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcL4VLYYqCs1Dxy2sBuOrXlyT8ryh5lQZZUhfFsTqD9nszJyW2RrG5k6CzW12vq7YKz-03GQY_pUycXX8ZF1Dxp8Rv_6YzJJi_ZXVTYJ7L9wQjSAP88ZhW7Q41P5ofYalvDyl/s200/IMG_4783.JPG" border="0" /></p>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-81811877545497742892008-12-23T16:57:00.001-08:002008-12-24T12:44:25.150-08:00The Outliers<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/12/121408_4.html">http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/12/121408_4.html</a><br /><br />I watched an interview on CBC News Sunday (see the above address). Malcolm Gladwell has written a book titled The Outliers. His book is a look at what makes people succeed at what they do - specifically, those people, or groups of people, who achieve beyond anyone's imagination. Outlier is the phenonema that lies outside of normal experience. His book is a look at some of the factors of success that have not been considered before. Some of the factors, he says, is your birth date, institutional factors and the culture you are born into. If you are born in the first three months of the year you stood a better chance than your peers in school. <br /><br />Taking hockey as an example, the cut-off date for first class hockey is January 1st and the process for finding the talent starts to happen for kids at 8-9 years of age who will end up being chosen for the rep squads. Now, at 8-9 years of age, who are the stroger kids? The ones born at the beginning of the year. So what we think of as a system set up to identify the stronger, more talented people often turns out to be a system that favours early birthdays. These kids start to get extra coach support, practice time and play more games then other kids their age. In the end, Gladwell says, is that this stronger group just keeps getting stronger becasue of the practice time etc. and those bornin the later half of the year will not catch up. INTERESTING... Gladwell looked at a vareity of hockey teams in the NHL and other leagues. On one team he found 60% of hockey players have their birthdays in the first four months of the year. One idea he suggests is possiby having two leagues for those in the first half of the year and those in the second hal of the year so that all children are given equal opportunity to develop their potential. Gladwell believes that if this occurred that it would double the amount of kids that are good in hockey. INTERESTING...<br /><br />Another factor - it takes 10,000 hours of pratice to excel at any complex task. Taking the Beatles, for instance, who did hours and hours of practice in clubs before they hit it big. Another example he gives is Bill Gates who happened to go to a school in 1968 which had a computer terminal - rare for that time. Gates gets his 10,000 hours of practice in before he even goes to college. <br /><br />Gladwell believes that there are ethnic differences in achievement. However, he takes a look at they why, beyond the genetics. First of all he believes that looking at genetics is silly. He looks to the culture to help explain the differences. Asians, for example, excel in math. He believes it is because of the cultural attitude and work ethic. North American children give up a lot sooner than Asian children when figuring out a difficult math problem. Gladwell believes that this is because of the cultural differences in sticking to something until you figure it out. It comes from the history of the rice crop. Growing rice is very labour intensive and through the passing of the years has instilled in the Asian population a patience and sticktuitiveness. INTERESTING...<br /><br />What else does this theory effect? How we look at education, particularly when it comes to the disadvantaged populations. Poor kids do worse because they do not have the amount of time with reading etc. that advantaged children have, especially during the summer. School is good for kids. It's just that poor children do not get enough of it. Japanese children go to school for 245 days in the year compared to 180 in North America. Gladwell believes that we should extend the school year in order that the gap between disadvantaged and advantaged can close.<br /><br />I think he has a lot of interesting ideas. What do you think?Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-25611437185137414182008-12-23T16:34:00.000-08:002008-12-23T16:57:08.464-08:00Another Borrowed Idea for a Post - Thanks Jenn!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jennifer wrote about a nurse's job description at the turn of the century. I thought I would share the teacher's job life. After a little searching I found a job description for teachers during Upper Canada Days (<a href="http://www.projects.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pioneer/school.htm">http://www.projects.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pioneer/school.htm</a>). As with Jenn, I don't think I would be a teacher back then, especially since teaching was for unmarried women or men. Once I was married my teaching days would have been over.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rules for Teachers:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day's session.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. After ten hours in school, the teacher may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaves in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention and honesty.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Any teacher who performs his labour faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay providing the Board of Education approves.<br /><br />What does this tell you about the importance of education? There is no mention of how to teach! Who cares about the quality of the curriculum, as long as the teacher ensures the schoohouse is taken care of. I guess you would just have to watch Anne of Green Gables or Road to Avonlea to fill in the teaching details. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Another thought - we tend to think hat the reason we have the summer off is that we were an agrarian society and children were needed on the farm; however, recently I read that this does not make sense since the time children were really needed was in the fall - when they were in school. Apparently the American educational reformers at the time thought that if children had too much schooling they would go insane. Children need to "rest" their brains for two months! I will post about this issue tomorrow.</span></p><br /><br /></span>Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-32613954561190493322008-12-11T16:36:00.000-08:002008-12-13T05:46:40.958-08:00Not much to Say, So I Borrowed an Idea...1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? A variety - depends on what is available at the moment. Often it is wrapping paper because the right fitting bag is hard to find.<br /><br />2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Some day I would like to try a real tree. There is something special about the smell...<br /><br />3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as I can. Last year it was decorated while watching the Brampton Santa Claus parade - second weekend in November.<br /><br />4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever the mood hits - usually the first week in January.<br /><br />5. Do you like eggnog? YUCK!<br /><br />6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my Chatty Cathy doll - I wonder why?! As an adult it was my camera and I-Pod.<br /><br />7. Hardest person to buy for? I agree with Barbara - dad. Don is a close second the past few years.<br /><br />8. Easiest person to buy for? It used to be Don - anything model railroad or tools. These days he is getting harder.<br /><br />9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course!<br /><br />10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I try to do cards, but not every year.<br /><br />11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not sure. Don tries very hard and puts a lot of thought into his gift giving, but sometimes may miss the mark - like the year I got a car stereo. That was more of a Don gift. I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I was excited at first.<br /><br />12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love The Polar Express and The Grinch, both based on children's picture books.<br /><br />13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Halloween.<br /><br />14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never. The thought of it!<br /><br />15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? The sweets. I don't eat a lot of cookies etc. but there is something wonderful that happens at Christmas time. I love my Special-K treat bars.<br /><br />16. Lights on the tree? Big, coloured ones - Don's favourite! The older I get the more I like the idea of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-lit tree.<br /><br />17. Favorite Christmas song? To sing it would be Silent Night, Star of the East and Stable Door. To play would be Jingle Bells. A more secular song - Grown-Up Christmas Wish and White Christmas.<br /><br />18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We have done both - depends on other family.<br /><br />19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course - I'm a teacher. I don't have a choice! I even know Olive, the other reindeer, and Rudolph's other names - like stupid. I even know the games he was not allowed to play, like Monopoly.<br /><br />20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Definitely an angel<br /><br />21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Never done it any other way.<br /><br />22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Shopping in a mall - too hot - too stuffing. I CAN'T BREATH. It reminds me of when I almost fainted on kettles twice.<br /><br />23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I don't really have a theme or special colour. I collect ornaments that tell me a story and my tree has become more of a memory for me. For instance, I have an ornament that I got in a teacher exchange 20 years ago. Three of my ornaments I got in Manhattan last May. Now that I am looking at my tree, I guess I have a lot of different things on it - country ornaments, instruments, a lot of gold...<br /><br />24. Favorite dessert for Christmas dinner? Pie.<br /><br />25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I'm like Barbara, I don't really have anything on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wish list</span>. I would love a good telephoto lens for my camera. I think it is one of those things that I need to save for myself.<br /><br />26. Any special Christmas traditions? Listening to music while unwrapping presents, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">watching</span> the Queen's address, fancy breakfast - do these count?Catharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.com7