The August that Was

Summer Holidays have quietly come to an end.

We tried desperately to slow it down but were seemingly unsuccessful.

It was a good month, however ...

Sunsets from the Kitchener condo roof top

Lake Huron Sunsets

A bit of camping in our wee Escape 19 - our Happy Place

Did a bit of biking on the G to G,
near Goderich, Ontario
and
Milverton, Ontario

These railroad trails are perfect 
for biking/hiking,
They are well maintained,
level,
and so scenic!

So thankful for the foresighted
folks who have made this possible.

Eek - where are the filters when we need them?
Letting the hair go natural - second cut

Woodstock's 50th Anniversary reminded us that there was a
50th Wedding Anniversary to celebrate too.
The Farmer's sister and our dear brother-in-law to be exact.
We surprised them with a "Woodstock" style dinner out 
followed by some dessert here at the farm.

lots of tie-dye - everyone was such a great sport albeit camera shy!

It was such a fun evening!










This couple, Glennis and Mark, are amazing!
We love and respect them in so many ways.
They have contributed SO MUCH to our family and to the community they live in!
I couldn't ask for better in-laws!!

They will be continuing the celebration by taking their two sons and daughter-in-law
on a trip to Africa later this month!

picture taken by BIL Murray Leis - thanks so much!
Photo Bombed by the chauffeur/farmer

The Cake

This was so much fun creating!
Thank goodness for Youtube tutorials ...














Old fashioned farming still exists in our part of the country
and makes for some great photo opps...

Love to play with "Waterlogue" on these ...

Zucchini Relish made

The annual peach custard tart.
I always love an excuse to make this during
this bountiful harvest season!

When life hands you some much needed rain. (pic by mommy)

August flower child (pic by daddy)

End of Summer Bonfire - wish we had done more!

Instagram and text pictures from
the long weekender vacationers.




How did she get so grown up looking?

And this little cottager!!

Be still my heart ... ❤️ ♥️ 💜 


Thanks to Mommy and Daddy for sharing these great pictures.











The August that was turned out to be a good month in this summer of 2019.
So hard to believe that it is over .

Cheers to September - lots to look forward to during this new month
- a special little grand girlie starts school!!!???
- a get-away trip to Canada's East Coast and Bar Harbour USA
to mention a few.
September here we come!

Till next time ........ enjoying these last days of summer

July 2019 Memories Post

July 2019 is coming to an end at warp speed.

I'm really not sure anyone reads or even has the time to read my posts anymore

but I'm determined to do a "made in July memories" post for my own reference.

I admit, these summer days are so full and delightfully busy that I simply can't get

around to reading all the other blogs out there. 

Please accept my sincere apologies. Perhaps when the winds change and the air cools,

there will be time to look back.

Here is my picture (with a few words) post to remember this wonderful month ...

Fun days spent with this little man - oh, my heart!

First haircut without colour - what have I done?

Time to clean up and reseal the back patio! Done ...

Garlic scape pesto making time - so delicious!

First Vacation Bible School

for our 3 year old.

She LOVED it!

Sunday morning VBS interview/review

with her mommy teacher.

Nammie found some unpainted carvings up in the barn!

Ta-da - we painted a loon. She did a great job!

Another thing that came out of the barn for a spin out the lane and a wash. 1981 (I think) Land Cruiser/"Crusher".
No windshield, straw and critters in the back - needs a bit of work some day ...
Still purrs.

A precious gift from my sister. A piece of mom's begonia. Not sure what it's called

but I think she used to call it a turkey foot begonia. Does anyone know this vintage variety?

We were invited to a very special 60th birthday celebration

for our Hmong friend Bao.

She came to us with her husband and two very young children through the MCC "boat people" sponsorship program in 1979.

We have been so fortunate to have stayed in touch with her through her daughter Ka. Ka was 2 years old when they came to Canada from a Laotian refugee camp.

What a wonderful success story for this family!

Part of the celebration included a "Hmong hand tying" ceremony where

everyone was given a small piece of yarn to tie onto Bao's wrists.

It was a warm way for everyone to greet her and I just loved the symbolism

of not being able to tie this onto your own wrists but that it had to be done for you.

Just one of the many beautiful Hmong traditions we have learned from this family friendship.

Here she is with her children. Ka on the far left. Cher who was 1 at the time they arrived is hidden behind his sister in the green dress (sorry Cher). 4 children were born in Canada.

Bao's husband Chong, passed away 10 years ago at the age of 52, just days after 

Ka's wedding day.

What a privilege it's been all these years to still be referred to as their sponsors

and to be invited to their special family gatherings.

Leis Family Tradition - July Picnic at the Freeman's Pond

Every July we have a family picnic at the Freeman Family's Farm Pond!

It's something we all look forward to and can't even remember how many 

years we have been doing this (probably since about 1984 or 85).

This girl LOVES dessert. After the huge pot-luck meal feast and patiently waiting

for dessert to come out, she came to me and offered to help me put it out.

She is sweet through and through!!!

Nom-nom!

Just wait till next year for this little sweetie to dig in!

Best part was that we got to meet this precious newest leaf on the family tree!

The Leis Brothers playing the annual Bocci Ball Game.

Camp fire to end the day...

And then, just like that - she turned 4 years old!!!!!

Put your hair in the air and celebrate this adorable 4 year old - Princess Poppy Troll Cake

A quick birthday picnic in the park after spending the day with her mommy at the spa.

I can't even ... my heart is full ...

And he decided he was going to start walking on his sister's birthday!!!
Pure joy ...

The 35th annual visit from our Kentucky friends Debi and Larry!
What a great week we had with y'all. So glad you always include us in your plans!

Extreme hot weather brought some storms too.

Sultry July evenings on the back deck.

Sunsets on Lake Huron to end the month.

Thankful for each day that God has given me. I am truly blessed!

If you are still reading - thanks for bearing with me.

 Till next time - wishing you a fabulous August 2019. Let this Summer continue.

Mom's Strawberry Shortcake

The patch is old, the berries are small but plentiful,

the mosquitoes are hungry but a stiff breeze is keeping them at bay today!

The birds are getting their fair share but we are too.

It's strawberry season over here - yay!

It's time to make the annual batch of Mom's Strawberry Shortcakes.

Always a treat!

This is how she wrote the recipe and I copied it onto the back of an October, 1975 calendar page

while sitting at her kitchen table - oh the memories!

Tried and true, this recipe!

2 Cups flour – good and full

4 tsp. heaping baking powder

¼ Cup Lard (yes lard - the real deal)

½ Cup Butter

2 Tbsp. full sugar

Salt - 1/2 tsp.

1 Cup milk – I’ve used buttermilk as well with good results

Mix dry ingredients and cut in the lard and butter.

Gradually mix in the milk with a spoon.

Spoon into ungreased tart tins and bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.

Remove from oven and brush tops with melted butter - an important step for that special flavour!

Serve warm and topped with sweetened strawberries and vanilla ice-cream.

Makes approx. 1 dozen.

Bake till slightly browned 

and crispy.

Brush the melted butter on the hot

shortcakes to soften the tops

and make them taste extra good.

The official taste tester!

And then this happened today ... our little schnigglefritz graduated!

Milverton Nursery School 2018/2019

Well done ........... Noa!!!

Till next time ......... savouring the strawberries while they last and spending the day with our graduate.