Up North Theme: Pic #6

We ladies had a fellowship time together one morning. Some of us did handwork and visited at the same time and some of us just visited. One of the very talented/creative seamstresses showed us the play tent she had made for her daughter. It's designed to be draped over a card table, making a cozy little igloo for a child (or two) to fit into and spend hours of delightful play. The mom designed all the extras, such as the lantern and bell, freehand. It looked like so much fun - both the mom's role in the project and the daughter's.

Up North Theme: Pic #5

Most of the deciduous trees had shed their brilliant red and orange fall coats by the time we showed up in Dryden. This tall and slender individual was still showing off its golden garb, though. The tamaracks on the shores of Beaver Lake also offered sunshine color amid the trees that never lose their dark green uniforms.

Up North Theme: Pic #4

This go-getter kindergartner loved to help set tables before meals in the dining hall at NYP Headquarters. One day I saw her using the staff children's ripstick as a transportation device to carry herself and the salt & pepper sets from one table to the next. She's got a lot more agility and balance (or is it bravery?) than I do, when it comes to kitchen chores!

Up North Theme: Pic #3

Two of the NYP staff ladies planned and prepared something special for us Board ladies and the other staff women: Tea Time! And it definitely exceeded a mere "spauht of teyh".The artfully arranged décor, attractive and tasty fruit and scones, fragrant tea and encouraging conversation blended to make a very delightful morning.

Up North Theme: Pic #2

The sunrises over Beaver Lake were phenomenal! I loved sitting out at the dock area in the peaceful morning scene. I was so hoping to hear the loons while we were up north, because that is such a northern thing, and nostalgic for me. I did hear them, and their haunting tremolo thrilled me. (No loon pics, though.)

Week #35 Theme: Up North

Last week I went with Ken to Dryden, ON for a few days. While he sat in on NYP Board meetings, I visited with the board members' wives and some of the staff ladies, relaxed and read, and enjoyed the beauty of nature in the north. This week, I will post pics of our time up there. Today's photo shows the Camp name and logo that's imprinted on one of the concrete steps leading up to the main building (headquarters) from the Lake.

Pairs Theme: Pic #7

One glorious autumn day in recent weeks, Ken and I were with some other couples (who got married the same year we did) on a wagon ride. Abner Martin drove his 1952 Johnny Putt-putt (is that the right term? something about its engine noise makes me want to call it that) and took us along some back roads and bush country. I think this scene - a farmer and his tractor - seems so down-to-earth and solid, somehow. Maybe it's largely because I know the farmer's character is such; Abner is unhurried and faithful in things that matter. 

Pairs Theme: Pic #6

A speedy pair, as seen at the Butchart Gardens on a summer evening: Mr. & Mrs. Lizard came out to sun themselves on a warm rock in the Mediterranean Gardens.

Pairs Theme: Pic #5

This Fall we had a landscape crew at our place to do some work in front of our house. I got a kick out of this pair's choice of lounge chairs for their break time.

Pairs Theme: Pic #4

There's a reason that I chose pairs for a theme this week:

Happy 29th Anniversary to us!

                                                             (photo credit: Kerra Martin)

Pairs Theme: Pic #3

Ken and I were Up North this week for some board meetings and one evening we got to have supper in the home of a lovely young family with five children. When the mom offered a hot drink to the adults, her children begged for hot chocolate in their animal mugs. She graciously obliged; I was impressed with the way she made each of the children feel important. Here's a pic of two of the five littles, the pair with the monkey mug and the cat mug.

Pairs Theme: Pic #2

It seems like this pair gathered all the summer it could on a trek across the lawn one dewy morning!

Week #34 Theme: Pairs

This cute little s&p pair resided on the table where we breakfasted one morning this past summer. The open air restaurant had a view toward the harbor in Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #7

After hiking, we had a picnic supper at a park which had a little river flowing through it. What better way to end an unseasonably warm October day than to wade right in? These thankful children thought so. 

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #6

The interval between seeing the ladies put out the picnic potluck food and actually getting to eat supper can seem like forever to the little people. Was she so hungry that she took to nibbling on a food bag or was she merely contemplating her supper menu choices?

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #5

An inviting, leisurely path led down into the quarry as part of the trail system on Mt. Nemo. I loved the white, white birches and the nostalgia they delivered. White and yellow birch trees were very much a part of my childhood landscape as I grew up in the northwoods of Wisconsin. 

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #4

When this little chap got tired of trekking, he simply laid down where he was for a rest. His hiking backpack made a pretty good makeshift pillow.

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #3

One of the vistas from the backbone of Mt. Nemo: an amazing Fall collage of colors and textures. 

Thanksgiving Hike Theme: Pic #2

Some of the hikers in our group came equipped. My friend Marj has been "on the trail" (walking, not skiing) quite a bit in her day, and she appreciates the assistance/support of walking sticks. Marj's wealth of knowledge and unique humor in sharing it (equipment and quipment?) makes her a delightful addition to a hiking group.

Week #33 Theme: Thanksgiving Hike

Every year our church family goes on hike the Sunday before (Canadian) Thanksgiving, weather permitting. This year the weather permitted, as in being most phenomenal, and we greatly enjoyed the afternoon exploring Mt. Nemo, a ridge on the Niagara Escarpment. Afterward, we had a potluck picnic supper at a park in the valley and had a time of sharing in an outdoor thanksgiving service following the meal. This week I will post pics of that day. One could almost believe today's pic shows some sort of tropical palm tree; it is merely a sumac bush in autumn garb.

Incongruous Theme: Pic #7

I guess this was a fish out of water long enough to "grow" a hornet's nest in its gills (and to swallow my adventure-loving son) in Hayward, Wisconsin last summer. 

Incongruous Theme: Pic #6

I wonder what sort of ground hog owns this burrow. Is he "under the influence" often? Does he try to hide his habit and didn't quite get it fully under cover after his last imbibing? The location of the home entrance may explain something: in the ditch along a gravel side road.

Incongruous Theme: Pic #5

We almost thought we were seeing a flock of geese huddled by a tree when we spotted this flowering shrub while strolling along the streets of Seaside, Oregon this summer. (The name of the perennial is actually goose neck flower.)

Incongruous Theme: Pic #4

Imagine cutting open a green pepper and finding a white mushroom (made of seeds) inside. Would one call this rare plant a peproom or a mushper?

Incongruous Theme: Pic #3

A number of years ago, I made these cupcakes and donated them to the silent auction at Turkey in the Hole, our school's annual fundraiser. The "vegetables" were actually skittles and jelly beans and pieces of Starburst candies. The whole time I was making the cupcakes, the sweet veggies kept messing with my mind. 

Incongruous Theme: Pic #2

Wait a minute...seashell or snowshower? One or the other is out of place!

Week #32 Theme: Incongruous

And there sprang up in the bouquet a bloom of the same color, but of a different variety, and more wooden thereof.

Good Eatin' Theme: Pic #7

Fruit is a wonderful addition to any brunch, and friends are a wonderful addition to any meal time at our house. One morning back in the Spring, we gathered with long-time friends Darrel & Cathy Wagler and Steve & Sharon Kuepfer around our dining room table for some good eatin' and fellowshippin'.

Good Eatin' Theme: Pic #6

There's a sweet tradition that accompanies Christmas Dinner with the Martins. For dessert, we ladies compile our baking to create a Christmas cookie smorgasbord on several platters, and there's always a fruit salad to accompany. One can almost make an Event out of the moments the cookie plate halts at one's place at the table. There's the delight of seeing, smelling, discussing, and perhaps even fingering the colorful, sprinkly, chocolatey, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth options before selection, and then there's the fun of actually deciding along with anticipation of the eating pleasure...

Good Eatin' Theme: Pic #5

Once in awhile, when I want to have some fresh reminders of the amazing food we had in Thailand, I'll order cashew chicken at a local restaurant that offers Asian cuisine. Besides being impressed with my entire meal overall, I'm always intrigued with the taste of the pickled white radish garnish, and the sight of the perfect scoop of rice. 

Good Eatin' Theme: Pic #4

Sometimes it's fun to go to more fuss than normal or necessary for a potluck contribution. This chocolatey and nutty cake was just the ticket for a family gathering this past Spring. A few circles of drizzled chocolate with a skewer drawn through, a sprinkling of peanuts around the rim, and it looked a lot more "fussy" than it actually was.