Ken Left Me

We've been married for five and a half years, and I have left Ken, many times. I have visited my sister twice a year - every year, that we have been married. But never before has Ken left me! I finally got a small taste - and I ran home to my Mom and Dad's. (It only took me 20 minutes to drive to school!)

Ken had the opportunity to go to Ottawa to attend a GIS conference. He went to an "Open Source Bootcamp" on Monday, and the actual conference on Tuesday. He and five other guys from his program drove up to Ottawa on Sunday afternoon and camped next to the Rideau River.















Their campsite was located directly across from the Rideau River.















Ken and Joel portaging through downtown Ottawa.















Why might you ask did they portage through downtown Ottawa? Well, the canoe strapped to the top of the pickup truck wouldn't fit into the indoor parking garage, and what could be more Canadian than portaging through Ottawa, while speaking in outrageous Quebecois accents and singing "Alouette" in the rain?!















Please, can you tell me, which way to de Ottawa River??

George Pethick

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day. Ken and I met my Mom and Dad at a breakfast restaurant in Pickering where we had a mother's day brunch. We then drove down to a park in Ajax and walked by the lake. The lake was so calm and so blue. It's easy to see why the early explorers thought they found the ocean when they first saw the great lakes!

After we parted ways, Ken and I drove to the public library in Port Hope. I was hoping to find out more information about the Pethick line, and find stuff we did!

Quick family line: There's me, - then my dad Ted Bacon, then his dad Howard Edward Bacon, and his dad was William Henry Bacon and his mom was Mary Irene Pethick. Her name later became Rena Mae Bacon (after she was married of course). Mary Irene was born in Port Hope and I have found some census information about her family. Yesterday Ken looked up records on the computer and then I looked at the newspaper microfilms. I read and copied down several birth, death and marriage notices from the Port Hope Weekly Guide. The picture is of George Pethick's obituary. George is Mary Irene's grandfather and the first Pethick to come to Canada. We made the happy discovery that he came to Canada from 1851 and that he was born in Marhamchurch, Cornwall. The obituary is from 1885 and was published in the paper one week after his death.

If you double click on the picture it will open into a new screen and then it will be large enough to read.

Temple Work

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Ken and I went to the temple with some friends. After our session Ken and I went down to the baptistry. Ken was baptized for Papa, and for Grandma's brothers Al and Bill and for Grandma's father Nathan.

It is such a special privilege to be able to do the temple work for beloved family members.

ABC's of Ken

A-attached or single: Attached.
B-best friend: Wendy.
C-cake or pie: Pie. I love to make pie.
D-day of choice: Saturday, especially when Wendy wakes up before 10.
E-essential items: my computer, shoes, pants.
F-favorite color: orange
G-gummy bears or worms: worms.
H-hometown: Brighton (Codrington), Ontario.
I-indulgences: Sitting in front of the computer when I have a million other things to do.
J-January or July: July - less uncomfortable to be outside.
K- Ka: Is a wheel.
L-life would be incomplete without: Wendy and instantaneous access to information.
M-Marriage date: December 28, 2002.
N-number of siblings: 4 sisters.
O-oranges or apples: Apples, a much more flexible fruit.
P-phobia or fears: apartment bugs, loud noises.
Q-quotes: A revolution is not a dinner party ~Mao
R- reason to smile: spring and fall.
S-season: fall, no contest.
T-tag 6: I refuse to tag anyone.
U-unknown fact about me: I was in a punk/ska band in high school.
V-vegetarian or oppressor of animals: red and bloody.
W-white or wheat: wheat, but I like a variety.
X-x-ray vision, invisibility or flying as a super power: Definitely invisibility.
Y-Your favorite food: Greek, Chinese, Japanese.
Z-zodiac sign: Aquarius

Yard Work

Our favourite aspect of our apartment in Whitby has to be the "yard". We are on the main floor of the building and consequently have a door from our apartment to our "yard". Yesterday we made a trip to Canadian tire to purchase a rake and some bags for yard waste. (Ken subsequently had to return and purchase more yard bags and a much needed pair of gloves.)















I'm not sure if you can see the happiness beaming out of Ken - he was a little tired! However whether you can tell it from the picture or not, he had a lovely time outside cleaning up our "yard".















He filled ELEVEN bags with yard waste.















I think this picture captures his contented heart, as he admires his work.

ABC's of Wendy

A-attached or single: Attached.
B-best friend: Ken and my sister Suzanne.
C-cake or pie: Ken's peach pie with a crumble top - made with fresh peaches.
D-day of choice: Any day that I don't have to go to work and I can hang out with Ken.
E-essential items: my notebook, my camera.
F-favorite color: blue
G-gummy bears or worms: bears.
H-hometown: Thornhill, Ontario.
I-indulgences: Sitting in front of the computer when I have a million other things to do.
J-January or July: July - no school, no cold but really I like August better but that doesn't start with J.
K- Ken: Ken is the best!!
L-life would be incomplete without: The Gospel, family, friends.
M-Marriage date: December 28, 2002.
N-number of siblings: 1 sister, 2 brothers.
O-oranges or apples: Definitely apples, oranges - so much work and no guarantee it will be any good.
P-phobia or fears: anything happening to Ken, the dark, my imagination.
Q-quotes: "Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables. And my favourite quote de jour, "Do you view your challenges through the distorted prism of pessimism?" ~Thomas S. Monson.
R- reason to smile: the weekend - hanging out with Ken. Buds on trees. Students that inspire me. My bands. My nephews.
S-season: Such a conflict - love the fall, but I'm stuck in school!
T-tag 6: Suzanne, Jennifer, Laura, Lisa, Eric, Michelle, Jonathan.
U-unknown fact about me: Suzanne and Ken know this but here goes: I'm a little obsessive about routine, I would go into more detail but then I would just sound nuts - there's another potentially unknown fact - I'm a little nuts... okay maybe that isn't unknown.
V-vegetarian or oppressor of animals: meat is good!
W-white or wheat: Depends on my mood... I love marble rye for everyday sandwiches, and definitely white for grilled cheese, french for french toast, italian for dipping in oil and vinegar - I enjoy bread.
X-x-ray vision, invisibility or flying as a super power: I LOVE flying. I also love being snoopy so invisibility would be useful.
Y-Your favorite food: Thai, Indian, Italian.
Z-zodiac sign: Aries

Birthday Fun!

My favourite bit of birthday fun this year was that my birthday fell on a Saturday. I've always thought that everyone should be entitled to a day off work when it's their birthday. As much fun as all the birthday wishes from students are, I'd much rather sleep-in and hang out with Ken!




















This card is from one of the grade seven classes that I teach - my friend Jodi Gill's class. Her class is so cute! A few of the students in her class, that are also in the band, came in early and made me a card for my birthday. I love it when the kids are thoughtful, it warms my heart!

After school on Friday I went and got my hair chopped. When I came home I had a little fun with Ken. I knocked on the door - so that he would have to look at me when I came in. He did a huge double-take. With a sweet grin on his face he asked "Wow, when did you do that?". (Pause and think - I saw him that morning!) On Friday evening we went out to dinner with my parents and had a lovely time.



















On Saturday Ken and I had planned to go downtown for the day. I think I must have been a little excited because wouldn't you know it - I was able to sleep in, but I couldn't!














Our first stop downtown was the St. Lawrence Market. It is such a busy, lively place, with so many interesting sights and smells. We went specifically to go to Kozlik's Mustard Stand. It is a very popular place - they cook up peameal bacon and you can sample their mustards. Ken loves mustard. He discovered this place a while ago. The last time we were there I wasn't feeling well and I was all stuffed up and I didn't get to enjoy sampling their mustard. I made up for it this time and sampled several of their sweet mustards and a dill flavoured mustard - all very good.















After going to the St. Lawrence Market we met up with friends, Ben and Sonia and had lunch at the Hot House Cafe. We had a lovely lunch and enjoyed talking and catching up. After lunch we went to the Distillery District. Ben and Sone had never been there before. After showing them the glass works art gallery, we took them to Soma. Soma makes the best chocolate I've ever tasted.




























We left the Distillery area and parted ways with Ben and Sone. Ken and I set out on a quest to find me a new pair of sneakers. We marched up and down the Eaton Centre and then up and down Yonge Street. I thought I might get a pair of converse sneakers but they didn't have any bounce. Our quest ended in failure - for now... however I do have a better idea of what I don't want!














After the unsuccessful shopping extravaganza we went out to eat again. All in all it was a wonderful day. I love my Ken and I love spending time with him. I am thankful to him and to everyone that made me feel so loved!

Conference

I just feel so happy and smiley! I love going to general conference. We are so blessed to have a living prophet on the earth.