Thursday in Toronto and Home to Lindsay

Note, I've now posted photos on yesterday's blog.

We got up around 8:00 a.m. and got stuff done around the apartment. We also managed to solve the Conde Nast Where Are You contest for September.

While I was at her condo I was taking photos of photos that she has around. All my old photos are at my stepson's house in Dayton, OH so I don't get to see them too often. Here are a few. Unfortunately taking a photo of a photo with my camera doesn't turn out very well.

Me with my doll, Sally Ann - note the hat!

This is Mom, Dad, Betty and I. Margie wasn't around yet. I'm the one with the gigantic bow in my hair.

This is a photo that Gordon had photographed, enlarged and framed for everyone in the family of our farmhouse where I lived for the first 17 years of my life.

This is one of the last photos taken professionally of Mom and Dad before Dad passed away in 1988.


She also has some really cute doll like figurines around that she's brought home from various places they've been that I thought were really cute. She has a lot of knicknacks, masks and things around her apartment that tell a story of all the travels she's been on.

Betty had a hair appointment at noon and she was dropping me at Bonnie's so we could go shopping so we arrived at her place at around 11:30 a.m. and Betty took off for the hairdresser. We took off for the Dixie Outlet Mall. First stop was for Bonnie to return something to Winners that she had bought. Second stop was for me to get some lunch. Since Bonnie had already eaten, she had an egg roll with me and I had Chinese food. I haven't had Chinese food since my Mom died in 2002. We always took her for Chinese. She loved it!

However, my main purpose was to buy some walking shoes. I got dressy shoes a couple of weeks ago in Peterborough but I can't walk in those for long period of time and soon I won't be able to wear my sandals and sneakers aren't always appropriate. The first store I went into was Naturalizer. I put on a pair and they fit like a glove and were really comfortable so we put the in a spot where someone wouldn't look for that pair of shoes and looked through the rest of the mall. I didn't see another pair that fit so well so back we went and I bought them.

Back to Betty's hairdresser and she was ready. It had started to rain when we came out of the Dixie Mall. So we said good-bye to Bonnie and started the trek home. It rained all through Toronto but once we got far enough north we had some clear periods and only light sprinkles in Lindsay. We arrived home around 4:30 p.m., again tired! I should sleep tonight!

To Toronto!

I had put the electric blanket back on the bed yesterday, thank goodness. After Gordon got up in the wee hours of the morning, I got chilly so turned on my blanket and I was toasty! I got up early as Betty was picking me up shortly after 10 a.m. We got away about 10:15 a.m.

We arrived in Toronto around noon and got some errands run, then to the condo and dropped our stuff off.

Then to Bonnie's place to see her house that she's spent the better part of a year renovating and it is beautiful, a real showplace.

Here's Betty and Bonnie in Bonnie's new living room.

Then we headed out for an early dinner at a restaurant that Bonnie likes called "Eden Trattoria". It's in a pretty locationWe got to Bonnie's house shortly after 5 p.m. and I got a tour of the house. She spent the better right across the road from the water which overlooks the downtown area. You can see the CN Tower in the background.


I'll have to post pictures tomorrow night as I forgot to bring my card reader so can't download photos from my camera. I didn't bring the camera cable either. Oh well!

After dinner Bonnie took us on a little drive around the area and we made it back to Betty's condo shortly after 8 p.m. Tired!

The photo below was taken after dinner across from the restaurant.

Mostly a Lazy Day

It was 7C (45F) when I got up this morning. I got my gloves out to go for my walk. The good news is that it was bright and sunny and remained so for the remainder of the day and it warmed up and was very pleasant.

I puttered around this morning getting little things done. I'm going to Toronto tomorrow with my sister for one night at her condo. I hate packing! I'm not sure if I'll have internet access tomorrow night so there might not be a blog.

After my puttering I lay down to read and fell into a deep sleep. I was groggy when I woke up but needed to go into town for some groceries so I got my act together and went in but hurried back, started to read and again fell asleep. Probably won't sleep tonight!

That was about the extent of my day. No photos were taken so I've borrowed this one from my husband's pbase gallery. It's colourful, simple and beautiful, in my opinion anyway.

Drive Around Rice Lake

Betty picked me up this morning just after 10 a.m. to start our drive around Rice Lake. Rice Lake's claim to fame is that the song 'What A Friend We Have in Jesus' was written near there. All in all we covered 18 little towns today which tops our day covering little towns to the west and north of us last year. I think the towns west and north are prettier than those we saw today for the most part but it was an interesting day and we went places that I hadn't been to before.

I didn't take that many photos today. Even though we went around the lake there weren't that many views of it.

This is Betty in front of the gardens at the Elmhirst Resort where we stopped to have a drink.

Pretty view in the village of Trent River



We were gone till nearly 5 p.m. Garth went to Toronto today so I invited Betty to stay for dinner after which we solved the Conde Nast Where Are You Contest for August (we hope) and then tried to find Betty and Garth a condo to rent in Fort Lauderdale for the months of February and March 2009.

We had fun though!

Road Trip

It was hot and humid again today. When I got up it was cloudy for my walk but I still did my exercises down by the river then came in to do back exercises.

The sun did come out during the day and as of this posting we haven't had the rain or thunderstorm that was forecast for the area. It did reach 28C (83F) but I think there's a cold front that's supposed to go through so that tomorrow will be cooler and the humidity will hopefully be gone!

I finished my book by Joy Fielding entitled "Lost" this morning. It was pretty good. Joy Fielding is a Canadian author and the book takes place in Toronto.

This afternoon we got ready and went into Lindsay as Gordon wanted some arch supports for his duck boots and some crocs. We got the arch supports but no crocs that fit him. I also picked up some groceries so he decided we should go to Peterborough which is about 1/2 hour or so east. We dropped the groceries off and set out. The plan had been to go to Walmart to look for crocs and then to go to the zoo. Peterborough has a free zoo. On the way we stopped at the Omemee Municipal Park.

We did manage to find crocs at Walmart then drove to the Peterborough Lift Locks as it was Sunday and Gordon decided the zoo would be a 'zoo' with kids.

Lift locks are pretty rare and they're interesting. Here's a series of photos to show how they work. We were lucky enough to get there just as the locks were about to start moving and there were boats in both bays.






After that it was back home to get a shower after the humidity of the day. Thank goodness we left the air conditioner on in the RV!

Birthday, Anniversary, Beading

Today is my younger sister, Margie's birthday. Happy Birthday Margie! Here she is opening one of our gifts (that I purchased in Tubac, Arizona this winter) last Saturday.


Today is also another milestone. It's our 4th year of fulltiming anniversary. Four years ago today Gordon drove our rig out of Vos Trailers in Stittsville, Ontario to Tranquil Acres RV Park at Carleton Place and that was the beginning of it. We're still enjoying it and are hoping that Gordon's Valley Fever setback will not prevent us from continuing our chosen lifestyle.

I've been planning this day for over a week. Today was the day I went to beading class. I arrived about 9:20 a.m. and the shop wasn't open yet. Murida has the shop in a part of her house so she opened when I arrived. I was the only person there so I got one on one attention which is the kind I really like! So from 9:30 a.m. or so until I left just around noon, this is what I created.

Since it's my first creation I'm quite proud of it although Murida did give me help in tucking the wire into the other beads after it goes through the crimper. That's really tough! I also found that I didn't cut my beading wire long enough. Next time I'll know better. She also answered all my questions and gave me her msn live info so that I can ask her anything I need to know on chat. A very nice, helpful lady with no charge for the beading class. I did, however, buy some beads, wire, crimping beads and clasps from her. For her website, click here. The name of her business is The Jewellery Box.

After that I stopped and picked up some fruit and a few other things and came home.

It was hot, hot, hot and humid today although to most of you who read this blog 29C (85F) isn't really hot, to me it is especially with little or no breeze.

When I got home I turned on the air, got my book, read and proceeded to have a long nap! It just seemed like the right day for it as I fell into one of those deep sleeps. It's been a while since I've had one of those. I don't sleep well when I have something going on the following day.

Some of you have asked when we will see our new granddaughter. Right now that's up in the air. If all goes well and we can go south this winter, we will probably see her and the other grandchildren on our way south. If not, we will try to drive down sometime this Fall or Winter. Plans in jello right now!

My Friday and Details on Iris

Today was hot and sunny with just a bit of a breeze. After my usual morning ministrations I got the laundry ready. While I was doing that Betty called and invited us to go out to the cottage to go for a boat ride but I had to decline as once I get the laundry ready, it has to get done as there's nowhere to put it! It took me till nearly noon to get it done but now it's out of the way for another week or so.

When I got back to the RV it was very hot inside so the air conditioner went on for the first time since we've been here in Lindsay. Around that time a big toy hauler arrived and parked beside us. They have a seadoo in the toyhauler so they've been out on the river this afternoon.


I took my lawnchair down there by the river. It's about 10 degrees cooler than it is up by the RV even though it's only about 100 feet away. I sat there and read my book for a while (photo by Gordon).

Boats passing by on the river


We finally got some vital statistics on our new granddaughter, Iris.
Weight - 7 lb 6 oz
Length - 20 1/4 in
Hair - light brown
Born - 5:02 p.m. August 16th

Caden, Iris and Lily


Iris

Ladies' Days Part II

Betty picked me up around 10 a.m. today and we met Bonnie at Tim Horton's in Lindsay and had a coffee with her. So far so good on the coffee as I had decaf.

Our original plan had been to drive around Rice Lake which would have taken most of the day however Betty & Garth found out yesterday that a young woman that had spent a lot of time with Garth's daughters had passed away and the wake was only this afternoon with the funeral this evening so we canned the Rice Lake idea and just went shopping on Lindsay's main street, Kent Street. Betty and I do this yearly and I don't think either one of us has ever bought anything in the shops except maybe at a pharmacy. Their clothes are just too expensive even when on sale at half price and they aren't made for the bodies that we have today! So we just look.

We had lunch at a little restaurant that was kind of cute but unfortunately I didn't write the name down so I don't remember what it was called but the walls were painted red, they had pretty tablecloths, some red patterned, some yellow patterned and some orange patterned and interesting art on the walls. They are also a bakery. It was very cute and definitely a lady's place to eat. In the time we were there only one man came in and one young boy. But there were ladies of all ages. It was pretty good even though I only had a sandwich but Betty had Gazpacho soup with her sandwich and said it was excellent.


Lindsay has a very pretty downtown area with lots of old buildings.






After lunch we went into a couple more stores on Kent Street then Betty went back to the cottage to go to the wake with Garth. Bonnie drove me back to the RV park and Gordon and I gave her a tour of the RV. Then she took off for Toronto and I sat outside and read until this mosquito started bothering me so I came inside where I managed to have a nap! It's been a busy couple of days.

It was another beautiful sunny day today with a high of 28C (82F) but down by the water it's about 10 degrees cooler. Another day with little humidity!

A Day for the Ladies

One of the blogs I read is Waiterrant (Steve Dublanica). He has recently become a published author - Thanks for the Tip — Confessions of a Cynical Waiter. If you enjoy cynicism and want a good laugh, check it out.

His latest blog refers to the writing of a blog and the definition. He quotes the definition from the Urban Dictionary - “A meandering, blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people are interested in their stupid, pathetic life. Consists of such riveting entries as ‘homework sucks’ and ‘I slept until noon today’.”

How true it is. As I've often mentioned on the rv-dreams chatroom - My blog is boring! So be it. On with the day.

I got up early to have time to walk and exercise and get ready to go out for lunch at the Durham Cafe where we had breakfast last week. My sister picked me up around 11 a.m. and we met her friend, Bonnie who is arrived in Lindsay from Toronto today. Bonnie is actually a friend of mine as well as I've known her almost as long as Betty has and we traveled to Margarita Island, Venezuela one winter quite a few years ago and had a great time (except for the sand fleas). However I don't see her often since she lives in Toronto. Betty and I were early for meeting Bonnie at the restaurant at 11:30 a.m. so we stopped at White's, a department store that's off the beaten track and Betty bought a cute little jean jacket that was on sale.

After lunch we went to a few stores in the Lindsay Square Mall, then on to the next little town, Fenelon Falls where we looked around. Betty bought some sandals. Then we stopped at a nice golf course restaurant called Eganridge for something to drink, on to Bobcaygeon but we didn't stop then back to the cottage where we sat out on the dock and watched Betty's husband's grandchildren water skiing on Sturgeon Lake.

At Fenelon Falls

Bonnie and I in front of the falls

Interesting dressing room door in a store in Fenelon.

At Eganridge - l to r- Sandra, Betty, Bonnie



On the dock with the sunset in the background- l to r - Bonnie, Sandra, Betty (photo by Gordon)



Garth made roast beef for dinner and Betty did the potatoes and corn (Garth and Gordon did the corn shucking). It was delicious!

It was just an absolutely perfect day, bright sun and warm but no humidity.

A Quiet, Sunny Tuesday

Last night after posting my blog we had the worst thunderstorm of the summer so far. Lots of loud thunder and lightning and very, very heavy rains. And boy did that break what little heat wave we've had!

Today 8:30 a.m.

Temperature - 11C (52F)
Bright, sunny skies
Windy

It was only 18C (63F) inside the RV when I got up. Gordon was all bundled up in sweaters and his blanket but I got the electric heater out. Yesterday I had on shorts and was sweating. What a difference a day makes!

I put on a long sleeved sweater and my wind jacket before going for my walk this morning and I wasn't too warm. There were people out in shorts though. Brrrr.. If it wasn't for the wind it would not have been too bad but instead of summer it sure felt like a late fall morning. The puddles weren't as bad as last night but there were a lot of them. Our puddle on our site had dried up but now it's back and it looks like a lake under the swings. With the wind a lot of it should dry up today.



The last couple of mornings I've been doing my 'stand-up' exercises down by the lake. The area that we see from our side living room window is fairly private so I feel like the people on TV that are doing exercises in front of the ocean.

After breakfast I cleaned the bathroom and washed the floor. Then I got out the vacuum cleaner however went back to the computer for a while. I wasn't in the mood for vacuuming but I did get it done. I sprinkled some vanilla stuff on the carpet and found out that the vacuum isn't really strong enough to deal with it so I wound up going over the carpet several times. It smells nice in here albeit rather cloying. I think I probably won't do that again so I sprayed some Febreeze around and that helped.

This afternoon I went for a walk around the park and took some photos then had a well-deserved nap and started reading a new book having finished "Sail" by James Patterson. I'm now reading "Chasing Harry Winston" by Lauren Weisberger (author of The Devil Wears Prada).

Bright blue sky where yesterday there were black clouds.


Rowboat in reeds

Lily and lily pads


We did manage to reach a sunny 22C (72F) today although with the wind it seemed much cooler.

Monday in Lindsay, ON

Today started out beautifully, bright sun, light breeze, warm temperatures but by afternoon we had dark skies, thunder and heavy rains off and on. We lost about 10 degrees during the rains.

This morning I piddled around and finally got out of here to go out and get groceries and various and sundry items. I left around 10:30 and got back after 2. The thing about Lindsay is that it's small enough that you don't waste fuel going to different stores to pick up sale items. Everything is within a couple of blocks. I also got some prints made of our yearly family photo for my sister for when I see her on Wednesday.

I made it back before the storm hit, managed to go to the campground showers to wash off the town and had been sitting in my chair reading for a while when I decided to go for a little walk. I stopped to chat with Phil and Sharon two doors down from us when the rain started so I had to run back to the RV. While I was sitting reading it was thundering and lots of boats were heading back to the marina however the guys playing horseshoes just kept playing. I don't know if they played all through the storm or not but that was the first thing we heard when the thunder let up. Let's hope they're smarter than that!

The storm's coming






While the storm was going on I got my monthly expense spreadsheet updated. We seem to be doing quite well this month.

This afternoon's rain



Around dinner time the rains really came down. It was almost like a hurricane except the wind wasn’t strong enough although it was windy.

Both the internet and TV satellites were down for a long time. Our satellites have been down more this summer than in all the time we’ve had them! The good news is that we’re supposed to be rain free until Saturday (fingers crossed)!

We had revolving thunderstorms all evening.

Last Day of 'Family Cottage Day'

Today was mostly a beautiful day. We had a few cloudy spots but lots of sun and a lovely breeze with a high of 27C (80F).

After my usual morning walk and breakfast we got ready and arrived at the cottage for our last day of 'Family Weekend'. When we arrived everyone but John was out in the boat but we didn't know John was at the other cottage until everyone got back. Garth owns two cottages side by side so all the visitors (except us) stay at the other cottage while the meals are done at Betty & Garth's cottage. We had lunch on their back deck and then did our annual cottage photos, this time in front of the cottage.

I wasn't fast enough to catch Garth's boat until it was by the dock.



The group with the front of the cottage in background.

Closeup
I also got a photo of Nick and Becky. I hadn't published one of them yet this weekend. I also got to see most of a DVD of Nick and Becky's honeymoon that they had this past January in St. Lucia.


Everyone was leaving around 3 p.m. so we left as well so Gordon could get some rest. He hasn't been getting his normal naps the last couple of days and was feeling it.

Before Gordon's nap he did get the photos processed so I could post them to my blog. While he was doing that I sat outside and enjoyed some of the beautiful day and the lovely breeze and watched boats go back and forth on the Scugog River. I also took a walk around. There aren't any tenters today so was mostly able to walk along the shoreline.