A New Toy

My guy is a big drinker. Since he started eating, he has also been drinking water from a sippy cup.

When he first went to daycare, I told his provider he was to only have water and milk. No juice. Other than juice at Nana and Poppa’s and in the morning, we drink only water.

Yesterday I received a press kit from Brita. In addition to a red Brita pitcher in celebration of Chinese New Year Jan. 23, I also received a Brita bottle with a built-in filtration system.

I was most excited about the Brita bottle.

At home we drink water from our well. It’s delicious water. However, when we visit my brother-in-law in the city or friends who are on town water, we hesitate drinking their water because of the strong chlorine taste.

According to the Brita, the filtration system reduces the taste and odour of chlorine. The other bonus is the bottle is dishwasher safe, BPA free and reduces the amount of water bottles produced.

And my guy loves the bottle. Last night he drank an entire bottle and this morning brought it to daycare to show it to his friends. A system that reduces the taste of chlorine is good for the environment and is a fun, new toy.

Perfect.

Road Trip

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, I suggest a road trip to Lake Mitchell.

My husband and I discovered Lake Mitchell on one of our many bike road trips.

Now is a perfect time to go because the road that leads to the lake is lined with dozens of lilac bushes and the smell is just fabulous.

The same road is really cool as it is surrounded on both sides by water.

According to a quick Internet search, Lake Mitchell is also great place to go fishing (https://www.fishinghotspots.com/e1/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=61&idproduct=190 and http://www.cruising.ca/trent/docs/L-35b.html).

And Then There Was Darkness

We had a power outage over the weekend.

What it proved is that we are completely unprepared for an emergency.

While we faired better than most as far as lots of extra water for things like flushing the toilet (we are on a well, which means if there is no power there is also no water), cooking and drinking, we also had a battery, which powered a radio and a light, as well as candles and flashlights.

However, the flashlights, we discovered, weren’t where we thought they were and when we eventually found them, the batteries were either dying or dead, and we did have to search around for the candles. And we don’t have any matches.

While we have a generator, which powered the freezer and the sump pump, we wouldn’t have had enough gas to last the entire outage if the outage wasn’t just on our street. That would have meant questionable food and a flooded basement.

In time for the next power outage, we require:
* Flashlights with working batteries
* The rain barrel attached and working properly
* A battery-operated backup sump pump
* Candles and matches in a secure location
* Gas for the generator

The Canadian Government also suggests people have the following in case of an emergency:

* Two litres of water per person per day, plus water for pets
* Three-day supply of food (including pet food) that will not spoil (remember to replace the food and water at least once a year)
* Manual can opener
* Battery-powered or windup radio, plus extra batteries
* First aid kit
* A "grab and go" bag with a two-week supply of medications
* Cash (or travellers cheques) in small bills, change for telephones
* Contact information and other important documents (license, birth certificate, passport, etc.) stored in a waterproof container
* Change of clothing and footwear for each family member

Visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/emerg-urg-eng.php to learn more about preparing for an emergency.

For the Love of Water

Water, particularly bodies of it, has always been an important part of my life.
Growing up, my house backed onto the Credit River, and I spent many hours playing in and around it.

When I went to Humber College, I had the Humber Aboretum to go to if I needed a place to relax and unwind. From there, I moved to Kingston where Lake Ontario beckoned me. In times of trouble, I would bike along the paths that ran beside the lake before finding a secluded spot to think and write.

When Stouffville was my home, I would walk Tramp, my aunt’s dog, through the reservoir, where again my worries could be put aside.

While both Milton and Pickering offered bodies of water, it was more of a drive to get to them and I tended to think while on my inline skates or bike.

And now I am here with Lake Simcoe literally outside my door, offering instant peace.

Enjoying the View

I never tire of the above view.

We have lived in this spot since 2001 and the water is as calming and beautiful to me as ever.

I love getting up in the morning, opening the curtains and seeing what the lake has in store - beautiful sunrises of reds, oranges and blues; water that changes colour from Caribbean blue to icy blue; and assorted birds floating by.