Cottage-Hopping, Part I

I am a very lucky kid for many reasons. One reason is that this summer I will be having quite a bit of cottage-hopping, lake-swimming, fish-catching (or at least trying valiantly), sand-digging, sun-soaking fun.

Part I of the summer cottage-hopping itinerary started NE of Gananoque, right on the edge of Charleston Lake Provincial Park.

There was a perfect mix of great swimming, and also a little marshy bit which was great for collecting lily pads in the canoe.

I mostly played with Pappy & Jammie but mom and dad were there too

(I took this picture).

We had great weather and ate every meal except one out on the deck.

We went for some walks and ran away from the deer-flies. Someone tried to convince us to go for strenuous hikes in the Park (you know who you are, Pappy) but we chose to stay close to home and close to the lake (which is perfect for jumping in to escape deer-flies).

I also had my very first encounter with an angry wasp that got trapped under my shirt and stung me a few times (actually 3). This is a picture of me having some antihistamine mixed with honey (the irony of honey for a "bee" sting was not lost on us) and baking soda on my stings.

Thank goodness (or Ellen) for the little box of Arm & Hammer in the fridge.

I was very brave, say mom and dad.

After the stings and medicine I ate a HUGE dinner and then slept for 13.5 hours.

All in all, a fantastic getaway and a great time had by all.

Next up in August, hob-nobbing in Muskoka with baby Hudson and his crew.

Beaver Tales

Once upon a time, in the woods of Ontario there lived a little beaver.

She was always hungry,

and one day she was SO hungry that she ate and ate.

She ate so much bark and wood that she felt ill.

The End.

Hellie Was Her Name

Well, I have now completed my third and last week at Montessori summer camp. It was wonderful. I made another great new friend this week;

Hellie was her name.

Hellie is 5 and when mom asked me what I enjoyed about her, I replied:

"Hellie is 5 and she has curly hair and is very nice and

she is lovely to three-and-a-half-year-olds mom.

That's why I like her. I want to invite her to my birthday party.

Mom, when will it be my birthday? Is January tomorrow?"

Neither Lost nor Found...

I am Scout P.

Montessori Summer Camp - week 2

Another fabulous week at summer camp has come to a close - one more week to go!

Daniel and I had a great time playing 'mysteries' and just plain hanging out. Daniel's mom and mine exchanged phone numbers and emails addresses (way to go, mom) and in August when he is back from vacation away, we will play. He just lives a few blocks away on Glasgow - perfect!

Daniel and I checking out the dry ice demonstration in the courtyard.

yoga in the gym

Here I am playing the xylophone

Daniel and I playing on the floor

More Pics Snapped by Yours Truly

Mom says she enjoys seeing my perspective through the photos I take.

Here are some more from a Scout's-eye view.

front door

foyer filled with mess

Ben's house; view from my playroom window

snapping "Time" through the looking-glass

(mom says this one is quite profound)

Scout, self portrait

Haven/Heaven in the Backyard

I worked really hard on cultivating our garden last summer at Louisa Drive. But we moved.

So this season after waiting with exciting anticipation to see what would come up in our new garden (nothing much), we got busy creating our own backyard haven, making the most of our small urban space.

We planted and are enjoying a wide selection of fresh herbs (dill, parsley, cilantro, basil - 2 types, thyme, rosemary, chives, and lavender), we are watching the jalapeno peppers start to grow and we are sending turgid, positive vibes to the tomato plants who did not fare well in the huge rain and hail storm a few days ago.

We also planted lots of perennial flowering plants in the expanded bed that we created. The ferns, gladiolas, forget-me-nots, bee-haven, thrift and others are happy and doing well. About a month ago the lilacs and huge rambling rose bushes that drape our lower deck were all out in force together - mom said it felt like a little piece of heaven, with the rose petals drifting down gently with the breeze that carried the scent of rose and lilac blossom...

We also did a bunch of work in the garden along the side of the house. These are some pics of me doing some glam gardening, all dressed up with nowhere to grow.

Me, Myself and I

Foot Fotos

Subject: A Compilation of Foot Fotos

Footographer/Artist: Scout

Montessori Summer Camp - week 1

I started attending Montessori summer camp this past week. I was a bit nervous on the first day but when I got there I saw that the teachers were the same as regular Montessori school. There are lots of new kids to make friends with. Daniel and I are getting along famously.

On Friday we went to Exhibition Park for a little field trip. The teachers told mom they put me with the younger kids for the park trip, because I 'rule the roost' and help tell the younger kids how things are done at Montessori.

I know the rules and I help take care of the little ones by showing them how to do things properly.

I am a stickler for things being done properly.

me and my new friend Daniel

10 Highlights from this week's activities:

#10. packing my own lunch in the morning, just like dad

#9. learning about the life-cycle of plants

#8 planted a sunflower seed to bring home (which is already growing)

#7 made a bird-feeder out of a pine cone (not ready to bring home just yet)

#6 did yoga, music and storytelling, all in one week

#5 had a visit from a humane society staff member who brought in a dog and spoke to us about how to take good care of dogs

#4 made a great new friend (the aforementioned Daniel)

#3 dancing in the gym with loud music

#2 making a seed collage

#1 best thing about this week:

the trip to the park with authorization to be bossy

Good Times.