Monday, June 18, 2007

Graduation Day




















Today was a beautiful day. The weather was beautiful, Ken was beautiful, the ceremony was beautiful! It really was a lovely convocation ceremony. The graduates were all encouraged to think about how they could give to their communities, to not take for granted the level of education they had attained or the wonderful country that they live in. We finished off the day with a beautiful BBQ graciously hosted by my parents, featuring the beautiful chef Andrew.


Sunday, June 10, 2007

A Midland Adventure - Chasing a Sunset

Ken wanted to see the sun set in Lake Huron, so we thought perhaps we would drive to Kincardine after we had finished helping his parents move. After saying goodbye to his Mom around 5:30pm on the side of highway 12 near Coldwater, we decided that Kincardine was too far. Instead we settled upon Midland.

After finding somewhere to stay we wanted to find something to eat and then watch the sunset. We drove down to the water and it just wasn't right. The trees were in the wrong place - directly between the water and the sun. Ken wouldn't get to see the sun set into the water. Resigned to this fact we decided to eat at the only restaurant beside the water but the hour wait for food sent us in search of an alternate location.

This is a picture of the largest outdoor mural. The mural depicts a Wendat man speaking with a Jesuit priest. I took this picture while standing in front of the restaurant we didn't eat at.















We got back into the car with food being the goal. However, once we started driving we decided that we could wait to eat, and we began chasing the sun. We kept driving north and west. We found water in several places, but the sun wasn't in the right place. Finally when we were about to give up we found it. A rocky little bit of beach looking westward. We got there just in time to see the sun sink into the water.





































































Just before the sun sank from view another car drove up interrupting our solitude. Out came a man and a guitar. He sat down and played and to our happy surprise he was great. I snuck a picture of him as we were walking back to the car. Our own private sunset complete with a serenade!

Moving Day















Codrington has been Ken's parent's home for the last thirty years. You can imagine then, that this past weekend which saw the completion of their move to Manitoulin Island was bitter-sweet. This is the house that they lived in for the past nine years. Ken and I drove up on Friday to help as much as we could.















This is the back of the house. The smaller building to the right is the garage that was built within the last year.















It's difficult to tell but this is the garden. When Ken said that his parents had a garden in their backyard I had a city-girl picture in my head. Over the years they grew many different things, among them: raspberries, strawberries, asparagus, corn, potatoes, squash, peppers, onion.




















This is the tool shed. It is actually more like a large tool house. It's hard to have perspective when there is none but the "tool shed" is the size of a small bedroom. Konrad called it Grandpa's Cottage.





















Last but not least, the day before the move Jen drove out with Konrad and Anders. We all went to dinner and visited. This picture was taken back behind the restaurant in Brighton.

An Interesting Tradition


I'd heard the stories, but seeing the poor innocent toilet surrounded by gun-toting hooligans is perhaps more reality then I bargained for.

My understanding is this - on Boxing Day the McCartneys would shoot a toilet.

Upon further investigation (I asked Ken) this only happened twice.

Little Ken




















Finding old pictures is fun! It was fun for me to discover baby pictures of Ken. I suppose this picture was taken in late January or early February of 1979.





















Notice the hairline - see any similarities? I love the dirt and tomatoes!

















Isn't the fish so cute? I wish I knew the story behind this picture of Ken and Laura.





















This is by far my favourite photo of Kenny! I'm assuming this is a kindergarten picture. Isn't he just adorable!