Wednesday, May 20, 2015

THE WEEKEND AT THE LAKE


Reader, The Lake was beautiful...


and I was quickly won over to the Canadian concept of the cottage-by-the-lake weekender...



Our cottage was sweetly furnished - note the re-purposed blanket cushions on the couch..




Loved this rag rug: bits of crotchet, socks, tee shirts, all kinds of textures, dyed to woodland colours...



In the Nature Department of the blog, saw My First Hummingbird.
Here it is, no bigger than my thumb.
They visited the honey feeder all weekend, to our delight!


I thought this bird was a fake, hung up there with the birdhouses.
Then it started its rapid pecking at the tree.
My First Woodpecker...


My First Beaver:
On Day 2, I watched a beaver swim across the lake, just beyond the pontoon -
here's a visual...



Yes, that is a beaver, the little black dot above the pontoon.
(The dot to the right is a decoy duck).
I was so excited!!  You could actually see its body just under the water.
  Only had my phone camera, so that's the best I could do, but
later, had the satisfaction of the sighting being confirmed by the owner of the cottage..


 Spot the little honey feeder for the hummingbirds..


Chipmonks dashed about us all weekend - see him there on the top step..


Our little grandsons had the best time..


Methinks they'll go back..



We drove into Kingston, and took a paddle boat cruise of the Thousand Islands..


Kingston lies at the confluence of Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence Seaway..

Many of the Islands became the location of Holiday Homes for the rich and famous..


I liked the tiny islands with just one house..
but some of them, such as Wolfe Island, are very big, with towns, roads and farms.





and on the way home:
the rustic barns of Country Ontario...



Off on more adventures tomorrow...

 XXXX






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31 comments:

  1. caitlinsgrandmaMay 20, 2015 at 2:56 PM

    I am enjoying your Canada posts very much. Great credit to you for taking so many lovely photos when there is so much to see and hear. Being in close contact with the little boys must be absorbing.

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:25 PM

      Thank you, glad you like my pics. I have become addicted to recording what I see! The boys are so lovely, but difficult to photograph as they never stop moving..

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  2. Sarah LizMay 20, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    I love that woodpecker:) Looks like you are having a wonderful time, I hope so.

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:26 PM

      I was so astonished at the size of a woodpecker - which might be why I thought it was fake. They really are quite big birds. Yes, having a wonderful time, and too bad it will end soon. More e adventures in Upper Canada tomorrow :)

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    2. Sarah LizMay 21, 2015 at 6:39 PM

      Yes, I thought it was a fake at first too - it looks like a wooden model of a woodpecker.

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  3. Katharine AMay 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM

    Looks wonderful. You really sound like you are havingthe best time. You can hear it in your voice. x

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:28 PM

      Thank you Katharine, it is the best time. Lots of fun with children and lots of new things to see and admire. x

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  4. Amy at love made my homeMay 21, 2015 at 1:34 AM

    It is all so beautiful isn't it!!! So glad that you are having such a wonderful time and enjoying it all so much!! Keep having fun!!! xx

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:29 PM

      It is a beautiful country, Amy, and so different from Australia. The fun continues! xx

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  5. Michelle RidgwayMay 21, 2015 at 3:25 AM

    Fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing. I am enjoying tagging along soi much xx

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:32 PM

      Glad you are enjoying it Michelle. We are making the most of our time here - no doubt we will be tired when we get back home! xx

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  6. RosemaryMay 21, 2015 at 3:30 AM

    What a lovely lakeside retreat you all enjoyed for the weekend.
    I remember being very surprised when my brother, living in Canada, told me that they had humming birds in their garden and at their lakeside cottage.
    You are obviously having a great time and loving every moment with the grandsons.

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:33 PM

      It was a beautiful cottage Rosemary, just like in the movies! We were surprised to see the humming birds, and that they did not seem afraid to come near us. They were incredibly tiny! The grandsons are an absolute delight, of course :)

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  7. kristieinbcMay 21, 2015 at 8:18 AM

    What a wonderful cottage weekend! I'm glad you got to add some new creatures to your list of Canadian wildlife. It's not that easy to spot beavers, so you did especially well with that one!

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:35 PM

      I am glad we had this unique experience, on my fifth trip to Canada! Yes, a few new creatures on the list. I saw a film of a swimming beaver on TV last night, and it was exactly the same as what I saw. It was a great thing to see! xx

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  8. Jennifer HaysMay 21, 2015 at 9:25 AM

    It all looks wonderful. I'm so glad you're having a nice visit. How about that beaver? What a great sight for you. I can't wait to see more.

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:36 PM

      Hi Jennifer - yes, so lucky to have one sighting of a beaver. It did not reappear in the three days we were there. Hope I can come up with more interesting posts - we are having lots of interesting times!

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  9. Linda KayMay 21, 2015 at 11:54 AM

    Trish, so relaxing and enjoyable. Glad you had such a wonderful time. The lake looks so peaceful.

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    1. PatriciaMay 21, 2015 at 2:37 PM

      Hi LInda Kay, yes, the lake was so peaceful and so beautiful. Very different from Australian scenery. We are enjoying our trip very much.

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  10. Debra TurnerMay 21, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    This is such a beautiful spot, Patricia!

    I hope you see a red cardinal, and have a wonderful time ... spent with your children and grandchildren. The little ones have really grown since your last visit.

    It's cold today in NYC. Looks like it's warmer where you are.

    Enjoy,
    Debbie

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    1. PatriciaMay 23, 2015 at 12:03 PM

      It was a beautiful at the lake Debra. Only one sighting of a cardinal, and maybe that is my quota on this trip. Yes, it has been cold here too, quite a variety of weather as also had a very hot weekend. Soon we will be tackling the long trip home :)

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  11. Red Rose AlleyMay 21, 2015 at 6:29 PM

    Patricia,
    Hummingbirds and wood peckers, oh that must have been a sight for you! The wood pecker looks a bit different than the ones I've seen around here. Your lake is beautiful, and I always feel at peace when I visit my own lake. I love that picture of your grandsons, so very cute. And those old rustic barns are wonderful. It sounds like you had a great time at the lake. Our lake was pretty low the last time I visited, and I'm hoping it's full now.

    Have a good rest of the week.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. PatriciaMay 23, 2015 at 12:05 PM

      Yes Sheri, so exciting seeing these unusual birds, and so close too. The lake culture in America is very interesting; I love that you have your own special lake. The Ontario countryside is very pretty with all the barns, dozens of them, and lots of lilacs too. Yesterday we were really close to the States, just across the river, and my phone wanted to connect in to the US networks! xx

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  12. JaniceMay 23, 2015 at 5:43 AM

    Oh Patricia, what a wonderful trip. I hope you are having a wonderful time, it certainly looks like it. I have been away from blog land recently, and am looking forward to catching up on what everyone has been doing.....and am really looking forward to seeing what you have been up to. Jx

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    1. PatriciaMay 23, 2015 at 12:07 PM

      Hello Janice, welcome back to the Land of Blog. I hope you are continuing well - I have my checks when we get home. Fingers crossed. Our adventures continue, but all good things come to and end. The little grandsons are sooooo adorable! xx

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  13. AnonymousMay 24, 2015 at 4:28 PM

    Loving tagging along on your holiday Trish. We saw the Thousand Islands about 22 years ago so that bought back lovely memories. Glad you are having a great time with the boys and your family. Love Vicki xx

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    1. PatriciaMay 24, 2015 at 5:14 PM

      Hi Vicki, so glad you are enjoying the blog. It is exciting to think you have been to the Thousand Islands too; it is a special area. The boys are really cute, and love Gramps reading to them! They have finally started speaking a bit of French for us. Hope you and the other girls are all well. See you soon. xx

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    2. PatriciaMay 24, 2015 at 5:14 PM

      Hi Vicki, so glad you are enjoying the blog. It is exciting to think you have been to the Thousand Islands too; it is a special area. The boys are really cute, and love Gramps reading to them! They have finally started speaking a bit of French for us. Hope you and the other girls are all well. See you soon. xx

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  14. AnonymousMay 24, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    I meant brought!!

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  15. metteMay 28, 2015 at 9:50 AM

    Canada looks so fresh in your pictures. Like Canadians, Finns too have cabins ( summer homes ) close to lakes.
    Only the younger generation no longer is interested in owning a cabin. Since many summers have been cool, even cold, places with palm trees raise more interest.

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  16. KathyJune 9, 2015 at 3:28 PM

    What a perfect weekend getaway, Patricia, and the grandsons obviously enjoyed every minute, as did their grandparents. :-) Thank you for the glimpses of Canada you're giving us - another amazing country i would love to visit one day.

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