The Old and the Restless

After damaging the screen on my camera, I took it to the local camera store. They said that if I took it to Olympus it would be $150.00 minimum and it would be better to buy a new camera. However, I explained that I would need a housing for diving as well. New camera and housing would be $500.00. I took it to Olympus. They asked if it was under guarantee. I explained that I bought it last August in Fiji at the airport. They said there was no need to go home and get the bill. It came by courier today. Repaired. No charge. I took a photo of the flowers at the back of my garden. The dead branches above the clematis belong to the house behind us.

Brandon went camping at Bon Echo Park with Bryn's friend from school, Melissa, her husband Marcel, and their two boys Malcolm and Matthew. Brandon was worried about coyotes at night. All five of them slept in the one tent. He enjoyed feeding the chipmunks and swimming at the three beaches. On the way to our house, after an exercise run at Thomson Park, they went to a 3D movie at the Town Centre, and then for a swim at the hotel nearby (formerly the Canadiana, the Ramada, now the Delta? ) where Melissa and family were staying the night. Melissa was flying out the next morning to Calgary and then to Cold Lake. (They will be moving to Cold Lake, Alberta!). They all came for supper when they dropped Brandon off. The next day we took Brandon to the Zoo. Of course, he wanted a photo with the Komodo dragon. A lot is new at the zoo since Paul and I were last there. These caves were good for climbing in, over and around. I think these were the Barbery Sheep. In the kids section there were ...

We played Yahtzee at Megan's. Brandon kept score. The next day we went to see the IMAX film, Under the Sea, and after it visited the Ontario Science Centre. They was a special exhibition of snakes and lizards. The green Mamba is one of the deadliest snakes in Africa. At the Science Centre there was a room with sports activities. After the Science Centre we drove to Barrie to visit cousins Joshua and Ella. Brandon kept trying to get Ella's attention but she kept wanting her mother's attention. Joshua examining the "drill" in the present Brandon gave him. Examining the tools in the toy tool chest. The toy room. A good throw up to the deck. Playing with the toy drill while Mark barbequed. Ella was interested.

Brandon phoned his mom when he arrived. He had to look at a book at the same time. Then he decided to play with the toys we had left in the family room. I'm glad we saved all those old Fisher-Price toys. When we were at the cottage we visited Lang Pioneer Village one day. We had an interesting visit to the school house. There were rules for students and rules for teachers. At the end of her 10 hour day the teacher was expected to spend her spare time reading the Bible. Brandon thought this was a beautiful view of the mill on the property. In the evening at the cottage we played Yahtzee. The playground at Elmhirst Lodge provided a challenge.

Although the new patio is the same size as the deck, it seems really large. To replace my square wooden planter, I had a stone one built. The construction people suggested building it as a rectangle because it would take up too much space and would not allow a pathway down the side if it were square. Unfortunately, I think it looks like a crypt. This shows the drain and the step for the kitchen door. I need to find out if there is something to put in the drain so that mosquitoes don't breed there. Cutting the stone to fit the edging blew a cement like dust on the grass. I've since put more soil on top of the yellowing grass and planted more grass seed. Looking from north to south. A new trellis was built for the grape vine and the clematis. This trellis is much easier to lean against when sitting on the bench than what we had formerly. I found just the variety of Japanese Maple I was searching for at a local nursery... and it was only $40.00. Finally... Brandon arrived today an...

Under the deck was a lot of bricks. Formerly there was a kitchen window instead of the sliding doors but in 1991 we had the window enlarged to make an exit from the kitchen. This was preferable to going through the family room to use the barbeque. The people who took out the bricks for the door left them under the deck they built. Under the bricks and boards were the animal tunnels. Early in the morning digging out the soil for the foundation of the patio. They began work just after 7:00 AM. The grape vines had a lot of roots under the deck. I had them take out one grape vine. Paul was not sure if this was a good idea. This is the drainage that had been put in 35 years ago to drain the backyard. It drained towards the house and was connected to the eavestrough. This window well is right under the kitchen patio sliding door. It had been covered by the deck and had a trap door in case we needed to access the window well. A lot of soil had washed into it. This is where we found the deco...

The patio story is to be continued soon. Yesterday and today I was babysitting in Barrie. Both Joshua and Ella had pink eye, Ella was getting over a fever, and Joshua was developing one. Margot was doing a presentation at the business course that she is taking. Clowning around in the basement yesterday morning. By the afternoon Joshua had a fever. After the Advil took effect, we both had a sleep on the couches in the family room. Today, after a busy morning, Ella was so tired that she could not even eat her lunch... and she loves her food! As you can see, her left eye (right facing) is still infected. Joshua, on the other hand, enjoyed his lunch. Perhaps it was because I gave him his Advil earlier. They both slept well in the afternoon; but then, they were awake a lot last night. Margot's presentation went very well. She was the only one with a handout and "it's like performing."