Tag: spring break

Mid March

The kids are on spring break. I have been lucky to spend my days off with them hiking a few trails. They move faster than me and go ahead, stop and let me catch up. Every once and awhile Scarlett stops and proclaims she can’t go on. Cooper encourages her, and then she is off running again. I wish I could get a second wind so fast.

Yesterday we hiked north of the lakes and spotted a large flock of swans floating in the wetlands. Today we went to the start of the lake to assure the ice was completely gone from the two lakes.

This is early for the ice to be off the lakes. It was as late as anyone can remember freezing over (after Christmas), making it the shortest time ice has covered the lakes. The ice was never that thick through the winter. I didn’t even try to get the truck out on the ice this year.

Today was warm, clouded over, windy with a spit of rain here and there. Amazingly, we saw several ant hills with the red ants on the top moving slowly getting their house in order. The ice may be off the lake but the frost is still in the ground. These insects are early. Amazing creatures. We also saw several caterpillars crawling about. It might just be my imagination but the lake seems a different colour at ice out then in years gone by.

It’s nice the kids let me tag along.

Activity

Who needs a toboggan when you can slide down hills on your bum?

The birds have been active as of late. Plenty of chirping and fluttering in the trees. Some even allow me to see them. A wonderful weekend treat. The melt continues.

Our house also has been active. Lisa and I are looking after our Grandkids, Cooper and Scarlett, while their parents are on a short vacation. It has been very nice for us. They certainly keep us on our toes. It makes me wonder how we raised three children while running a very busy business. We both agree we couldn’t do it now.

Willow trying to prove she is actually a big dog.

We had our daughter Kelsie when we were young, especially for today’s standards. In doing so we are young grandparents. Thank goodness!

Handsome Cooper, sweaty as usual.

I took Cooper to his hockey practice on Friday. It was good to be in the rink again. Cooper scored three goals in the scrimmage. One was a highlight reel goal scored while laying on his back, sweeping it in with his stick. It really was something! His coaches came over and congratulated him on such an effort. After, I told Cooper he did so well because I laced his skates. He just laughed and said, “No. Papa”.

Talking , laughing, crying, mad, happy. It is hard to tell.

Scarlett is difficult to take a photograph of. She is moving and TALKING all of the time. She can climb hills as fast as her brother and seems to have a competitive streak, something she has inherited from her Mother and Grandma.

Outside in the bush.

It is a wonderful gift to watch them grow, laugh and even struggle. To be a part of their lives, to have them feel comfortable with us is incredible. Lisa and I can’t imagine it any other way.

Filling their water bottles at he same spring their Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather did so. They agreed the water was sweet.

Late in the afternoon a bird sang. I couldn’t make out the birdsong, but all types of birds, Chickadees, Sparrows and even crows seemed to be stirred.

Sometimes you get lucky.