Joel and Kelly in Orangeville

Steph and Steve bought over their new pooch - Monty, a stunning Bernese Mountain Dog which Joel and Kelly were more than happy to dote on - they have been away from Cooper for over a month now!

Jessica had a new and improved cast on her wrist which we all go to sign.

We finally all got back to Orangeville after a week seeing the sights of Quebec and New York late on Sunday night. The kids got to chat a bit to Joel and Kelly and then we all hit the sack. Monday night we had a barbie and the rest of Peter's family came over to meet their Australian counterparts. Judging by the empty beer bottles the morning after (over 30 but who's counting!) everyone got along just fine.

introducing - Merlin and Venus

Merlin on Sebs lap and Venus on Claires

Merlin making a great escape

Merlin not to sure about his new surroundings

We picked up the two kittens we have been talking about getting for months today - needless to say we are all smitten. Claire has been asking and asking and asking and after a few delays we finally got them around 3pm today. They are farm cats from a lady in town, so we will hit the vet friday to get them checked out and drugged up to whatever degree they require.

a busy two weeks - etc etc etc

The past two weeks have been busy! Claire had her end of year choir performance on May 8 and 9 - which meant a week prior of rehearsals, later nights and extra laundry! It was totally domestic, but worth it - she was amazing.

We've also been dog sitting our pooch ‘niece’ Madison - for snaps of her see earlier posts titled 'dog's life', and then we baby sat Peter's niece's Jessica and Sara for two nights while Mum Michelle was out of town - they are lots of fun and absolutely gorgeous. In the midst of that fortnight, Peter had his school Spring Fling which we went along to, (I baked a cake for the bake sale), and of course it was Mother's Day too. Snaps below of Mother's Day brunch (we hosted!) and our weekend at the cottage.

Study has been full on for me and will only continue to be as we enter the last few weeks of term. I’m also into writing for the Wellbeing Astrology Guide 2010 – editing is up mid June so it’s go go go until the end of June now. Same with Peter as school finishes then (late June) and he tells me it’s always hectic the last few weeks of the year. But the first week of July we are away with Joel and Kel in NY and Quebec so that should be lovely, then it’s summer holidays and lots of travel, sun and fun.


the gals dressed for Jessica's big day

baking for Peter's school bake sale at the Spring Fling

comfy clothes only thanks! :)

Mother's Day Brunch

Peter's Mum was in town as Jessica had her first communion the week before so we hosted a get together on Sunday morning - breakfast for 10 sounded just like being at the place of many surtees!

the table set for brunch

Sara and Claire getting a head start. Yes there is homemade punch and fruit loaf on the table as well. Peter was probably manning the bbq - we had snags and bacon and an egg back, plus a fruit platter and hotcakes.

the kids and their Mamere

Cottage days

Last weekend was Victoria Day weekend in Canada so Monday was a public holiday. We grabbed the kids and hit the road for a long weekend at a friend of Peter's cottage

It was quite relaxing - wet/cold weather on Sat/ Sun meant lots of indoors activities - which translated to reading and board games. I'm proud to say out of the 6 or 7 games of Cluedo we played I only lost one - the last - to Sebastian! Yes I took loads of notes but hello - how many detectives have you seen in Law and Order that don't have a notepad?!?! We had fun! It's also kind of nice being in the bush somewhere and not having to worry about poisonous bugs, snakes and spiders. Though the threat of bears did mean we had to be cautious about rubbish. The only creatures we saw were a rabbit one day and possibly a fox or racoon the night we were outside with the fire (which spooked me completely!)

the inside of the main room of the cottage - two bedrooms + bathroom (with spa) upstairs, den and laundry room downstairs - it was quite roomy

the outside deck where Peter bbq'd each night (and some mornings too!)

the path down to the lake

another by the water shot - Claire and I attempted to read by the water while the men were out in the canoe one day but lasted about five minutes before the chill wind saw us retreat to the protected deck outside the cottage. There we read for ages and got a few rays too.

a busy two weeks cont ......

Peter's kids by the lake

the lake - it was quite cold Saturday and Sunday so we made good use of the indoor fire but Monday was warm and sunny (though still windy on the water)

the cottage's own dock for sunning and water sports

in the midst of making some brilliant point!!

our fire on Sunday night at the cottage - we roasted marshmallows but didn't go to the effort of making s'mores!

the clan enjoying the fire

Spring

one of Peter's aloe vera plants. I knocked it off the kitchen bench and so we repotted it into a bright pot for the spring.

an easter gift from Peter

an easter gift from Michelle, catching the afternoon sun

some tulips coming up in the front garden.

apparently the done thing in northern hemisphere climes is to sow these gorgeous blue ground cover flowers before the snow falls, so that in the spring, when the snow melts and the ground is still brown, there is something bright and full of life.

I now understand the magic of Spring. In the two weeks since I have been back I've watched the muddy brown of the ground change to lush green. We've had a few days of rain and many of sunshine, and while the mercury is hovering around the mid teens, the plants are coming back to life.