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!

Toronto - INVADED BY EGANS!

The invasion began Friday evening. The Egans were undeterred by the ferocious traffic and they arrived armed with barf bags, did I mention those were full barf bags? They slipped into the city seemingly unnoticed and after hosing down the greenish looking Lily and Maggie the adult Egans settled down to an evening to think about tomorrow and chat about yesterday.






On Saturday the young Egan children embarked on their first subway ride. They made sure to sit in the very front car so as not to miss a thing.




Heidi Egan requested a trip to China town, so after another first - a ride on a street car, they enjoyed the sites, sounds, and smells all the while trying to stay together. The Egan children were rewarded for their good behaviour with new t-shirts and crocs for the girls. Chinatown has the best tourist t-shirts - four for $10.







Would an invasion of Toronto be complete without a picture in front of the CN Tower? I think not, that is of course if the tower hadn't been chopped off?!










After walking a few kilometers the children were again rewarded with sometime to sit and run in a "park". If you look at the picture closely you can see the beginning of a deep and abiding affection that Josie developed for Ken. You can also see evidence of her leash, or as she calls it a tail.









Heidi was excited to be able to point out fun things to her kids - like the theatre they're standing in front of where their Uncle Martin performed in Oliver.










On Sunday we all traveled to Richmond Hill ward to say hello. Heidi hadn't been back for 15 years. It was so fun to watch her say hello to people and for old friends to see her and her children.

After church we went to my Mom's for lunch. We had a wonderful weekend being invaded by the Egan's.

A visit to the Music Garden

On Thursday, April 19 the grade 7/8 students and teachers of Blue Willow P.S. enjoyed school day at the Roger's Centre. We went to see the Blue Jays play the Boston Red Sox. The baseball game was fun even though they lost the game! Ken joined us at the game and I was given permission to stay downtown with him instead of returning to school - the school day was already over and there was ample supervision.









It was an absolutely beautiful day and I wanted to walk down to the lake. Ken and I walked south to Queen's Quay and then walked to the Music Garden, which is located on Queen's Quay just west of Spadina.




Ken and I had not been back to the Music Garden since the night of October 9, 2002 when on bended knee he proposed. I love that he chose such a beautiful place - a garden of music, to ask me to be his wife.


He proposed to me at the base of the Maypole in the section of the Garden named for the Courante. Each section of the garden is named after a dance.



I was excited to go back to the Music Garden with my wonderful husband and take a few pictures.

Wendy's Birthday

When planning one's birthday festivities it is best to stretch the celebrations over as many days as possible to maximize feelings of "specialness". This year I decided that in order to maximize my feelings of "specialness", I would not hide the day of my birth from others but would instead prepare everyone for the big day. It was definitely the right choice as this was one of the best birthdays in a while.

Below is a picture of three amazing teachers that I work with. Next to me is Roslynn, Sumin and Jodi. Sumin is the other half of George-Bacon which perhaps deserves its own explanation in another post. We went out to dinner (minus Roslynn who had junior literacy night) and then to my place. Roslynn brought me a cake which was such a surprise - unfortunately we didn't get the camera out until after the surprise.














The cake was perfect for a teacher - complete with ice cream cones around the side and crayon candles.



















On Sunday April 15 my Mom and Dad hosted my third birthday. (Dinner number two was a private affair for Ken and Wendy only on the Danforth - yummy Greek food at Mezes.) Unfortunately Andrew had to work and couldn't be there, however he remembered me on my actual birthday and called to wish me a happy day. Mom made an excellent dinner - all the favourites, roast potatoes, roast beef, green beans & mushrooms, and last but not least carrots and turnip. Sonia and Ben were able to come help celebrate which is always fun.















As is the tradition in the Bacon household my Dad got an ice cream cake - peanut butter and chocolate flavour. I was delighted when presented with the cake and it read "Wendy Lea". It makes me happy when my Dad calls me Wendy Lea!















I can't wait until next year's birthday when Ken will finally catch up to me at the ripe old age of 29!

Birthdays!

This morning Ken and I had my parents over for a birthday brunch. It's my Mom's birthday today. Ken made stuffed French Toast - so yummy! We had a quiet but lovely meal. So different than last year when we had the surprise party for Mom. But even the party we had last year could not compare with the party we went to last night!

My Dad's Uncle Stanley Solomon turned 90 on April 3rd. His daughter, my Dad's cousin, Maribeth had a huge party for him at the Heliconian Club last night. He was so happy last night. Maribeth had contacted friends from far and wide and they put on a concert. Stanley was the principal viola in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1949-1983. His daughter Maribeth and his son Lenny are also highly accomplished musicians. Maribeth is a composer and writes music for television and movies. Lenny plays jazz violin and his current project is Bowfire. Maribeth's daughter Leah Erbe is also an accomplished musician and his releasing her first album sometime this year. You can perhaps begin to imagine what kind of a concert it was.

The first performance was given by Maribeth and three members of Wendy Solomon's (wife of Lenny) cello quartet (Lush). They sang a song for Stanley. It was the music from "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" with words changed to celebrate the life of Stanley. It was so cute! The second performance was the cello quartet lush. They played two beautiful pieces. Third was Daphne Spottiswoode. She is a pianst originally from England. She met Stanley when she was about 10 years old. During WWII Stanley was a member of the RCAF Blackouts. They performed for Canadian Troops in Canada and Europe. Daphne's father liked playing in string quartets and so does Stanley so while Stanley was stationed in England he frequented the Spottiswoode home to play quartet music. She gave a magical performance of a pieces by Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Albanez.

Next was Lenny on violin accompanied by Bill Bridges on guitar. Then Leah sang a song that she wrote especially for her grandfather. Next was a fellow member of the TSO, a violinist. His first name was Peter, but I can't remember his last name. He played two really fun songs that displayed his incredible virtuosity. Then Stanley's long time friend Johnny Cowell got up to say a few words.

The last act of the evening included Stanley. I'm not sure exactly when, but several years ago members of the TSO began traveling to elementary schools to perform for them. Stanley traveled with the "extraordinary" quartet made up of a bass, cello, viola and violin. The original bassist and violinist were there and Stanley of course, but the cellist couldn't come so Wendy filled in.

The concert was so amazing and heartfelt. The level of playing - the range of musical content. I was in a dream last night. Being related to such talent blows me away. I felt like I should have paid for a ticket. And then, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, in walks Sir Andrew Davis! He had just finished conducting the Mahler Resurrection at Roy Thompson Hall and stopped in to wish Stanley well. I was so star struck last night it was ridiculous.

Last year I sat down with my (great) Uncle Stanley to record some of his personal history and we bonded. I'm so glad that I've gotten to know my Uncle Stanley. He is such a sweet man!















Maribeth Solomon (daughter of Stanley), Alix, Leah Erbe (daughter of Maribeth).















First cousins, Lenny Solomon (son of Stanley), and April Solomon (daughter of Al).
















April Solomon, Peggy and Katie Gertner (April's daughters).
















Sir Andrew Davis and my Uncle Stanley Solomon!