Biking at the Beach

I spent a fun weekend at home with Ev. The highlight, followed closely by hanging out laundry on Saturday morning and cleaning out the freezer on Sunday morning, was a bike ride along the Burlington beach with Ev on Sunday afternoon.

We weren't back at Lake Erie - though the water was just as cold

There were cute beach houses along the shore

We toured the model home of beachfront townhomes. 

We fell in love with the place and can't wait to move in

Here's the view from the balcony

Traffic was heavy at the lift bridge

We stopped for a refreshing lemon gelato and people watched then biked back to our car.

With the wind behind us and tummies rumbling, the return trip was a quick one.

Next weekend, back to the shores of Beaver Lake.

Retail Therapy

Notice who isn't carrying any shopping bags?

Notice the flames shooting from my wallet?

We do have our fun. I'm hoping that we can experience just as many smiles and laughs and hugs and thanks at the cottage this weekend.

Tanya's Bridal Shower

Rob's cousin Tanya is one of my most favouritist people.  She was all of 15 years old when we met.  She was, and is, intelligent, articulate, adventurous, funny and fun. She speaks at least three languages - hmm probably 4 (English, French, German and some Lithuanian).  I lived vicariously through her as she traveled the world in her twenties and early thirties: working for a number of years in Club Med's throughout the Caribbean and Europe; as an airline attendant; and most recently, on a journey to India.
She's also overcome some personal challenges that - looking back - seemed like they would never end.  That expression, gone to hell and back, would aptly describe the journey Tanya has been on for almost a decade.  Personal challenges are rarely personal - many of us lived, vicariously, through Tanya's struggles.  We never doubted that Tanya would survive. What a thrill to see how she has thrived through adversity.  What a thrilling surprise to watch her find the love of her life in the midst of her struggles.

I've lost count of how many weddings Tanya has been in.  Today, it was Tanya's turn.  Well, it was the start of the wedding celebrations.  On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, in a hall in Newmarket, aunts and cousins, neighbours and friends, gathered to shower our Tanya with love and gifts and food.

Irma and Leo headed up this morning to help with the arrangements.  Mom drove up with us. But first, some pics of us in the garden:

We actually arrived early!  As soon as we entered the hall, we were warmly greeted by Gina.  She's married to Irma's youngest cousin.  Gina's enthusiasm and eternal optimism is infectious.  We can never get enough of her.  Amidst hugs while helping us unload the car, we all laughed at how Leah was now taller than Gina:

We all went to work. Leah served some food:  

Carson and Evann and Alex (daughter of a close family friend) tended bar, cleared dishes, helped Tanya open gifts, and posed for pictures.

I helped out in the kitchen:

Tanya has been living on her own for years.  When wedding plans started, she was encouraged to register for gifts.  It was a hard sell at first, thinking that she had everything she needed.  Dragan, her fiancé agreed.  But, as Tanya told us today, when they were preparing to host an Easter dinner for Dragan's family this year, they realized that just maybe it would be okay to replace their eclectic mishmash of plates and serving pieces with something newer and matching.  

Of course, you don't get something for nothing.  So along with some beautiful place settings, knives, pots and pans, towels and sheets, Tanya also had to don a silly apron.  Of course, Tanya looks good in anything, so the apron was worn with style.  

Somehow, after a lunch of chicken, 4 different salads, lasagna, quiche, samosas, raw veggies and garlic bread, we still found room for dessert.

I was very proud of my girls this afternoon.  It was especially noteworthy to see Carson participate as a bridesmaid.  Tanya was the same age when she was one of my bridesmaids.  I wonder what the next 22 years will bring for this lovely girl... 

Turkey Point, Lake Erie

It's rare to be able to spend time at another cottage, but somehow we were able to do that on Saturday.  We've been friends and neighbours with Laurie and Tom for over 10 years.  Ev and their daughter Caroline (and a few other girls) were classmates in junior kindergarten. And grades 1 - 3 if not longer.  Both the girls and the moms bonded during that time.  I count those women among my closest friends.
Tom and Laurie have been up to our place, but that must have been post-trailer as I remember we all stayed at Irma and Leo's cottage. Laurie reminded me that that was the last time she waterskiied.
It was nice to have fellow "trailer-trasher" friends.  For several years, Laurie and Tom had a trailer in a park on Lake Erie between Port Dover and Turkey Point.  Last fall, they bought a cottage in Turkey Point.  I tried to convince Laurie to host her famous American Thanksgiving party there last year, but no luck.  I really didn't know when we would be able to visit them.  When we realized we would be home this weekend because of Tanya's shower, plans were set to make the trip to cottage country west.
We were picked up at 9:30 a.m. and arrived at the cottage before 11:00 a.m.

It's big, beautiful and bright.

We had a quick tour, lunch, then Laurie and I took off to explore the countryside while the guys did some chores.

There are some great market stands and cute shops in the area.  I could have spent hours in a local bookshop. Paperbacks galore.  Well organized and not a whiff of must in any of the stacks. Laurie had to drag me out of there.  And what fun in a local clothing/gift shop.  Laurie and I both coveted these funky red hollow-wedge sandals, but alas, the store did not have our size.  Laurie had to drag me out of there too. But not before I bought a skirt and top - to be worn the next day for Tanya's shower.

Back to the cottage to prepare a scrumptious dinner, steak, fish, grilled veggies, baked potatoes, fresh asparagus, caesar salad.  Yummm.  I was given lots of grief for setting up the camera on a pillow to be able to take a timed shot of us at the table - but I think it captured the spirit of the day:

After dinner we strolled around the neighbourhood.  The cottage is 2 blocks from the lake and 3 blocks from what looks to be a rockin' pub.  A few pix from our walk:

It was a lovely evening for a walk.  It was a lovely day.
And the best part is, I'm heading back in a few weeks for a girls weekend.
I think that I will leave the camera at home then.
Thanks Tom and Laurie.

Crazy Weather at the Cottage

Two short weekends ago, we were working outside in our t-shirts.  This weekend, we were bundled up in winter coats, hats and mitts.
We arrived at the cottage Friday night and woke up Saturday morning to snowfall.

After breakfast, Leah returned to bed and practiced her recorder.

Ev kept busy prepping electrical boxes.















And while Rob and his dad continued wiring, I started to set up a makeshift kitchen in the basement.

Before












and after


With only 1 plug available for use at a time, we will still be prepping most of our meals in the kitchen shed.
Still, lots of progress.

Car parts

Today we traded in my Rendezvous for a used mini-van (yes, the older girls were disgusted with our final selection).  Over the weekend I removed a laundry basket full of interesting items from the car.  Lots of good memories.