Summer Memories

As summer vacation comes to an end I find myself thinking about the things I enjoyed the most.  Summer memories.  Here they are although in no particular order... campfires, the sun shining on the lake, ice cream, friends, laughter, the flag blowing in the breeze, country music (we only get 2 stations up here), lego, the giant sand pile, bike rides, Alloro Pizza in Buckhorn, summer birthday parties, bingo night and the Chocolate Rabbit in Lakefield.

I know there are probably some things I've forgotten - oh yeah, Friday night.  Brad comes up Friday night and we have supper together and usually a campfire. Although I should tell you that usually by 9:32pm Brad is asleep by the fire.  In fact, our first summer up here he earned the name "Puppy Chow" from some of the other fellas...he still hasn't been able to live it down!  Oh Brad - you must stop bragging about your partying ability...sigh.

So, if you follow my blog you'll remember I quoted a line from a song - "when you lose yourself you find the key to paradise" just so happens that it is a Jimmy Buffet song - so I think of my cousin Ang everytime I hear it now as she and her husband are huge fans.

And on that note, one last great memory from this summer - beergarita.  Beer-gar-i-ta!  If you haven't tried it, email me for the recipe!!

Well, hope this finds you smiling - and keep on smiling!

Counting Down...

Only two more weeks of summer vacation left!  My son will start grade one and my daughter will start her junior year of elementary school (aka grade four).  The kids are having a blast up here at the trailer.

I picked up some art from our annual craft sale - it said "There's no place like home except the trailer".  How true!  I always find myself counting down the days until the first of May so that we can head on up.  I have a ritual of saying hello to the lake when we first arrive.  And then on our last day here in the fall, I say goodbye.  I feel connected to nature when I do this.  It is a moment just for me.  And I cherish it.

An interesting thought...Marion reminded me the other day that "You are entitled to a good life."  It was such a powerful statement that I wrote it down and I keep it in my kitchen so that I see it everytime I am in there.  Yes.  Me.  I am entitled to that.  We all are, aren't we?

Sometimes I have these profound thoughts and I think "I'd better write that one down and put it on my blog".  Then I get distracted.  Enough said.

I'm still working on adding more laughter to my life.  Too much seriousness is far too serious :o)

Keep on smiling!

Sisters

I spent the weekend with my cousins Angie and Carrie (and husbands and kids) up at Ang's cottage.  This is family.  This is sisterhood.  We three have been together forever.  Oh sure, we may drift occasionally - Angie moved around a bit during University and then her career took her to Montreal.  But she found her way back.  Carrie and family have moved to a small town a little north of Toronto.  We always have each other's back no matter where we are geographically.  The past few months have been tough for me - emotionally.  But these girls, these women, my sisters, have gently guided me up up up and to see the best in me and the best in all that surrounds me.  This past weekend we laughed, cried and shared ourselves.  I have many sisters in my family.  And each and everyone has something to share, some story to contribute,  a hug like no other.  A reminder that I'm not alone.
I know that I want more laughter in my life.  Laughing is fantastic and it can charge you up like nothing else!  I want to be more easy going.  I heard a song this morning and the words went like this: You may only go around this one time as far as I can tell - it's the time of your life so live it well.  Those Disney movie soundtracks really get it right, don't they?  These little morals that we learn from them aren't just for kids!
Something else that has stuck with me.  I read "The Help" and the main character is a live in nanny who, at bedtime every night, reminds her kids that "You are smart, you are kind, you matter".  Wow.  Powerful stuff.  Everyone needs to hear those words - even adults.  My daughter wrote those words out for me in her artistic style and I have it posted on the fridge where we can all see it everyday.  We matter.

Remembering Nana

My friend Sue thinks that my daughter looks just like my nana.  I like that.  I loved my nana and miss her a lot.  I loved talking to her and she always made the time to listen.  Her name was Alice and it suited her so perfectly.  Alice - say it out loud.  It is a calm breath on the wind.  And that was Nana.  I really wish that she was here now - she had the best hugs and the right words.  Oh Lea Anne she'd say - it's alright.
I came across this picture of her and I - I think I was about 5.  Her smile says it all.
During the funeral arrangements, I discovered that Nana loved butterflies.  I didn't remember that.  I knew that purple was her favourite colour.  My friend Anna gave me a sympathy card that had a purple butterfly on the front.  Anna had no idea how symbolic that was.
Nana leaves behind children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  And a beautiful legacy of kindness, compassion and generous spirit.
Love you and miss you Nana.