Sailing

Sometimes words get in the way...

Arrival

School started yesterday on Prince Edward island so we took our granddaughters for an outing before the eldest started back to school. Sylvie and Caitlin were excited. As we drove, both girls queried, “Are we there yet?” Their grandfather and I smiled at each other when they said it. In her youth, their mother always said the same before we made it out of town, at the beginning of a five hour drive. This drive was much shorter.

Our picnic lunch was under the birches at Green Park, Prince Edward Island.

Over peanut butter sandwiches, the girls chatted about recent happenings in their lives and what was in store for them today. The conversation was easy and pleasant.

The playground was great fun. My husband and I are always amazed at the physical progress they make from one playground visit to the next. These girls love physical activity 

and are always striving to do more or go faster.

The beach at Green Park is part of Malpeque Bay which extends inland so as to resemble a river. 

There are mussel beds off-shore in the channel. 

The beach was full of shells from mussels, oysters and clams. They were sharp under foot and we had to wear flip flops. The eel grass and seaweeds prevented the girls from swimming but they loved running through the water and talking, 

always talking, which my husband and I enjoyed most of all.

We finished the day with a visit to a dairy bar and another playground which has a zip line. Both girls were eager to play there as well. 

Their excitement and enthusiasm are infectious.

They asked, "Are we there yet?"

The answer to that age old question is, “Yes we are.” The simple things, giggles and a chat, a peanut butter sandwich at a picnic table, exploring a beach or a trail, bring us happiness especially when shared with our grandchildren. We have arrived!

The hug

Our grand-dog, Georgie went home to her family after a recent visit. While we love Georgie, we were happy to see her go. We had never had a dog in our family until our daughter and her husband brought Georgie home seven years ago. We care for her when her family goes on out of town.

At our house, Georgie is the top dog. She goes outside whenever she wants, gets treats and exercise during the day, sits on the couch and sleeps on the bed for part of the night. She rides in the car with us sometimes, and in season, gets ice cream when we do. At our house, Georgie forgets she's a dog.

When our daughter came to take her home, Georgie was excited to see her but not anxious to leave. When she realized she had to go, Georgie jumped up on my husband with her paws on his shoulders, as if to give him a hug. It was appropriate as we saw it, her way to say goodbye.

Chances are it was her sign of dominance and ownership of my husband, her way of showing she belonged with us. Either way, the meme below is appropriate. We mattered to Georgie too.

 

In the country

These fields are located inland on Prince Edward Island. No sea in sight for kilometers, it is a pastoral setting. Rolling hills with patchwork fields surround this property. Across the road, sheep graze on the side of a hill.

In the distance, canola fields give a yellow green tinge to the countryside.

On the field adjoining the property, potato plants are tall and past blossom now. “Another six weeks until harvest,” says Lucy. She knows the rhythm of this place, having observed the countryside for a generation now from her house on one of the hills.

Her property is set back from the road like many homes scattered throughout the countryside. Lucy has created an oasis of flowering plants in this place, huge beds of perennials and shrubs around the house and throughout the yard.

The sunshine yellows, 

varieties of hydrangeas 

and shades of green

under the trees are pleasing to the eye and the blood pressure. It is a place of beauty, patches of colour

and pure whites, brightened by the sun.  

Behind the flower beds, in an open area, some old farm equipment, rescued from a neighbour’s farm, fits into the setting. A home made sprayer 

and a plow

give a sense of history to the setting, as do the old wheels. 

Sculptures made from scrap metal

cause one to pause and observe from various angles.

One is a bird among the flowers beds.

Nearby a vegetable patch provides, swiss chard, green beans, tomatoes and other vegetables. 

This is island life at its best.

The canopy

The green in the canopy has a hint of yellow this week. More to follow!

Keep on truckin'

Our morning walks along the boardwalk in Summerside inspire us. Seniors of all ages are on the move in that great setting, using a variety of means. But not only seniors of all ages, seniors with a variety of mobility issues are moving to the best of their ability, some with assists. They are out and about, enjoying nature even though it may not be easy.

One day, a senior wearing a helmet, elbow and knee pads roller bladed past us. It is common for seniors to bike along the boardwalk too.

An elderly gentleman used walking sticks to help him along. My physiotherapist recommended I use them as well, so I asked the man about them. He responded, "I wouldn’t be able to walk across the room if didn’t use these. They could help you too.” He walked slowly, but he was moving.

Canes are a common assist used along the boardwalk. 

This time of year, one can see bandaged knees below the shorts sometimes.

The most determined seniors are those who walk the trail pushing their walkers.

One elderly gentleman, over a period of days, appeared to get stronger.

We have a walking track in town also, which is well used by people of all ages and levels of mobility. My preference will always be the great outdoors, with the birds singing and the squirrels chattering. Many other seniors appear to agree.

Rent-a-chicken

Meet Abigail and Anna.

They are Buff Orpington chickens which my friend, Lucy, has rented for the summer. 

They arrive with their own pen which has a coop upstairs. The pen is equipped with feeder and water shutes and can be moved around the yard.

You must allow the birds free in the yard every day to forage for themselves.

You can tell the birds apart because Anna has lighter feathers on her derriere. Besides looking slightly different, the birds have different personalities. Anna is less social than Abigail, who will peck your hand in greeting. Anna wants nothing to do with humans.

Both chickens love their time out of the pen because they like to scratch in the flower beds. They are great weeders, as they scratch the soil, exposing the rich dark earth underneath. The birds enjoy the worms they find.

The chickens are very attuned to predators in their environment and will run into their pen if they sense any danger. While I was there, Lucy fed them some apple, their favourite treat,

but they sensed something, stopped, ran around and eventually headed into their pen.

The hens each lay a brown egg per day. Their eggs are jumbo size compared to the white extra-large eggs I usually buy. 

In October, the chickens will return to their owner and an unknown fate. Lucy plans to rent chickens again next year. 

Maybe...