Spring Showers Do Bring May Flowers

Last night I drove home to a black sky. As we pulled onto our street, that sky opened up and brought with it rain that fell fast and hard.

So hard that when it had rained itself out and the sun decided to show itself after almost a week of wetness, the cedar leaves that litter our driveway were pushed down, leaving what looked like waves of debris all the way down to the road.

As I was driving my stepdaughter and her boyfriend to his cottage later that evening, I noticed another thing the rain brought – apple trees full of flowers.

Welcome spring.

Welcome G8-G20ers

Hello protesters, business leaders and politicians from around the world.

Welcome to Canada and specifically to Huntsville and Toronto.

Make yourselves comfortable, but not too comfortable. We want you to have a good time and check out everything that makes Canada great, but please remember we do not want you to destroy our buildings, damage our homes and turn this country into a war zone.

Here in Canada, we welcome you to share your stories and demand change but we think you can make your point without being violent and destructive.

I thought our boss should give us today off because I traffic would be dreadful. It actually wasn’t too bad this morning, likely because anyone who could avoid working today took the day off.

I am not sure if it will mean the drive north will be awful as people who couldn’t leave yesterday will make the trek to their cottages tonight.

Let’s hope not.

While I don’t like being stuck in traffic coming to work, I really hate it when I am stuck in it driving home.

I am fortunate to not have to cover the summit for work and am extremely lucky not to live in downtown Toronto. However, a small part of me thinks it would be fun to be in the thick of it. If I lived downtown, I think I would park my car and watch the action unfold.

A special thank you
And a special thank you to designer Jo from Coconut Palm Designs. I was surprised to see my new header on my blog this morning.

It looks great. Thank you so much.

Bring on the Long Weekend

While our neighbours to the south have a long weekend next Monday – thanks to Memorial Day – most Canadians are kicking off summer this weekend with our own long weekend – Victoria Day.

As Canada is still part of the British commonwealth, most provinces celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday on what is known as the May 2-4, the unofficial start of summer complete with treks to the cottage, barbecues and fireworks.

As I live in cottage country, at 2:30 p.m. I will make the hour commute to my home, pick up my son, go shopping and relax for three days.

Bring on the long weekend.

Well, That Was A Mistake
At my house, whenever you had a stomachache, my mom suggested you have mint to help.

Just so everyone knows, eating most of a Terry’s mint-flavoured chocolate ‘orange’ in one sitting does the exact opposite – it really hurts your stomach.

Ice Cream Time
Ice cream is not my favourite snack. I would rather have a brownie or a home-baked cookie of some sort.

Maybe because it’s the long weekend and the start of summer or maybe because it’s hot, sunny and beautiful out there, but I could really go for a scoop of chocolate ice cream – or raspberry sorbet – in a cone.

Thank You Weather Gods
Thank you weather gods, for giving us sunshine or only a bit of rain this Victoria Day long weekend.

I heard on the radio this morning we wind chill of -3 C last year.

Beautiful Monsters

I am likely going to alienate most of my neighbours for the upcoming comments, which is not my intention and I offer my apologies in advance.

I live in what is cottage country. My road is private, a dead end and on the lake.
Many of my neighbours are tearing down the cottages that line the road and building beautiful monstrosities.

I don’t mind, aesthetically, The houses, coupled with the spectacular views, make what would become a monotonous walk more enjoyable because the houses are all unique.
It just seems like a waste.

Most of these giant houses are empty the majority of the year - even in the summer.
While I appreciate the status of a cottage and why people would own one, it just seems really sad that these gorgeous homes sit empty.

Someone is paying to have the houses cleaned, the gardens created and maintained and the lawns cut. Not to mention, these houses are likely being heated in the winter, cooled in the summer and the appliances going at all times.

In the age of green, it just seems like waste of valuable resources.

Is it jealousy that makes me view these “cottages” as a waste? No, I don’t think so. Is it because I don’t like the idea of a cottage (I don’t like to maintain one house, never mind keeping up with a second one when I am on vacation)? No.

These houses are absolutely beautiful. The setting is gorgeous. I guess I wonder why anyone would built something so beautiful and then let it sit empty.