Remember

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and like many Canadians, our household will pause a quiet minute to remember the many Canadian Soldiers who didn't make it home.

Back in a different life, when we traveled around the world, we had the honour of visiting many war cemeteries in Europe. It is a sobering and educational experience to stand in front of hundreds of plain white tombstones, trying to comprehend that each one represents a death. Some young, saucy, handsome and homesick 18 or 19 year old man (boy!) who died in brutal bloody battle. When I think about the teenagers I know, it seems hard to imagine any of them being willing or capable to make such a sacrifice. When I think of my own children, I can't imagine watching them march off to war.

One of the most beautiful places we saw on our many journeys was the Canadian War Cemetery in Agira, Sicily. From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website:  

On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. 

The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. 

Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 490 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Agira is an ancient hilltop village and the views from the cemetery were spectacular. It was a magical, heartbreaking spot - so beautiful and peaceful.  It was impossible to imagine it was once a battlefield.  The graves were so well tended, with hundreds of flowers between the tombstones. 
 

Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily

Looking up the hill to the cemetery monument

Beautiful setting

The graves were lovingly tended by locals, who apparently love Canadian visitors

Other than Agira, we visited many Canadian (or Commonwealth) Cemeteries, including ones in England, and many in France.  It was amazing to be driving along and then suddenly see a Canadian flag and realize we were on 'Canadian soil'.  We saw many signs like this one:

This land is the free gift in perpetuity of the French Nation to the people of Canada. 

We went on a quick trip to Lille and Vimy in September 2006.  Nothing had prepared me for the visual shock of actually seeing this many graves in one place. 

The French Cemetery in Vimy

Vimy was heartbreaking, fascinating, and sobering.  The experience of visiting Vimy is really amazing because you can see where the Commonwealth and German front lines were and they've recreated the trenches for you to walk through.  You can see the massive craters in the ground from mines, and the visitors center includes information on what living conditions were like for soldiers. 

Canadian Cemetery, Vimy

Canadian Cemetery, Vimy

Craters from mines, Vimy

Trenches, Vimy

It doesn't matter if you support war or not.  It doesn't matter what side your ancestors fought on.  It doesn't matter if you're a pacifist, a communist, or young or old.  The only thing that matters is that people remember.  Remember what happened, remember why, and do everything they can to make sure that the men represented by these stones are not forgotten. 

Tombstones for unknown soldiers, Vimy

Thanksgiving and groaning

Not that I actually have anything to groan about (ok maybe the perpetually whiny and possibly still sick little boy who is on antibiotics and has been waking up in the 4am-ish zone the past few days). The real groaning is the pressure on the waistband of my jeans after a weekend full of overeating. Today? Lunch was lemon meringue pie with blueberry pie for dessert! YUM!! 

We had a lovely weekend with family and friends, including a marathon hike of the Millbrook Valley Trails on Saturday. I had Henry strapped to my back in a carrier and like to think that the exertion of walking 1.5 hours like that helped to burn off my solid and liquid excesses of Friday night. 

More frosty mornings, and a furnace that's coming on quite regularly, and the days getting very shorter all mean that Fall's in the air!  These chimps don't seem to mind it one bit:

This was the best smile she could muster, being saucy and all.

What a chimp

Grinning goofball

Millbrook is looking beautiful, as usual.  The Fall foliage is in full effect, and the geese have taken over the millpond.  I know they are a pain in the arse, but, I have to say I love this time of year where they land by the hundreds and the air is full of happy honking. 

All's looking good on Millbrook pond

Yesterday was the Higginson/Lee Thanksgiving dinner at Granny Barbara's cottage on Missisauga Lake.  It was as crazy and chaotic as usual with 19 (nineteen!) of us crammed into a tiny one room cabin.  Some of the guests didn't take up too much room, like beautiful baby Owen, celebrating is first Thanksgiving:

A living yam:  Sir Owen, the chubby cheeked

I have to say, I think that King Henry got his knickers in a knot as he was quite fine with being the only baby on the scene.  Too bad sucker, you're getting to be a big grown-up boy now!!

Henrew!

And back to reality this morning.  A quiet day here, filled with leftovers, snuggles on the couch, and about 400 books out of the bookcase (so far).  Also, lots of time for peeking out the window to admire the fall leaves:

Looking at leaves n' geese

An amazing range of colours on our Maple out front

So, Thanksgiving is over.... what could possibly be next?  Oh yes!  Only 11 days until these fabulous lovebirds tie the knot (or Tighe the knot, if you prefer!).  Can't wait!!!

Soon to be Mister and Missus Bo-Tighe

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. I hope the many things you were thankful for this weekend keep bringing you joy and happiness for the year ahead.  Like pie.  Or crazy kids.  Or a happy, noisy, chaotic household.  Bliss. 

Just another September Sunday

Just a lazy September Sunday here. We're saying adieu to September in an understated way, I guess. 

The leaves are looking purdy, the day is kinda grey and chilly. I broke down and finally put the furnace on - turns out an indoor temp of 16.5 is my breaking point. 

Here's the view from here on this lazy day.  
 

The maple is starting to turn

Sumac's gone hot pink - beautiful!

'Tumnal splendour

Time for toques, I guess

Mister saucy, out for a stroll

This is her 'I found a pretty leaf' face, or so she tells me

Chimps

We're thinking of Granny & Poppa today as they do the marathon drive home from New Brunswick.  Will be great to have them back in the province, but I'll try to give them a solid 24 hours before I recruit them for babysitting duties!!  (Oh, they'll be SO glad to be back!)

Happy last-day-of-September!  

September round-up

Where has September gone? Fall is  definitely here.  The ground was a crispy frosty white this morning and it's a refreshing 17.5 degrees in the house right now.  Maybe it's time I break down and put the furnace on?

I can't say for sure where this month has gone.  I guess it's the whole back-to-school/ snotty-nose-germfest/ change-of-seasons/ days-getting-shorter/ general-busyness-and-chaos thing.  

Well, no matter how quickly this month has gone by, it's been a good one.  Busy, snotty, occasionally feverish, but fun and rowdy.  Gymnastics and swimming lessons are in full swing, and Henry is loving having  a few days a week where it's just him and Momma.  (Momma, on the other hand, realizes it's a whole new task to occupy a toddler while big sis is in school!)

Here's a photo-round-up of our month so far:

A last blast of colour in the garden

As always, the Millbrook Zucchini Festival is one of our favourite days of the year.  The kids had a blast, the boat races were a hoot.  Evy and I represented the clan as we both brought home bronze medals (me for the baking contents and Ev for the zucchhini boat decorating contest).  

Some serious fun at the Zucchini Fest on Sept 9

Saucy creek-dwellers

Evelyn is loving school, and dare I say, is thriving there.  She loves her teacher, loves recess, loves playing with the other kids, and has embraced the new routine with much enthusiasm.  Now, if only I could get her to actually eat ANY of her lunch, we'd be in great shape.  Here she is after her first day, proclaiming her future career aspirations:

At home after her first day of school

Look at that professional demeanor!  A future MD for sure!

I actually managed to go away one weekend and rendezvous'd with the gals for a fabulous weekend on Georgian Bay.  We had a great time, filled with an inordinate amount of laughter, margaritas, death-defying boat rides, dance-moves, excellent canoeing and even perhaps a midnight swim in the frigid waters of the 'Bay. 

Girls Weekend '12 - Georgian Bay sunset

The Girls (can we still call ourselves 'girls'?!)

Other highlights were the Port Hope Fall Fair (thanks to Auntie PeePee for making Ev's first PoHo sleepover such a success!), lots of sibling playing and destroying the living room, lots of walks in the autumnal splendor.  

So, here's to a whirlwind month!  And, we're very much looking forward to October (Thanksgiving, the wedding of the youngest Higginson, and of course Halloween!).  Happy last few days of Sept to one and all!  

Saucy and bossy

It was a sunny day, 8 years ago...

Can someone come over and deal with this please?

Too much fun? NEIGH!

Ev did five days of Horsey Camp earlier this month.  It was fantastic.  She loved it desperately.  They swam, played, went on hikes, did crafts, and (of course) got lots of horsey time.  

Rob and I were greeted a few times by the woman who ran the camp.  Each time she'd inform us with a slight edge of hysteria to her voice that: "Your daughter is absolutely fearless.  No.  I mean she's FEAR-LESSSSS.  FEARLESS. She will ride any horse I put her on."

Rob and I would nod knowingly as we're quite aware of Miss Ev's 'small but mighty' and slightly crazy approach to the planet.  So, instead of riding tiny ponies as the other little kids did, Ev got to ride the bigger horses too.  (I have to laugh, imagining that the horse would look behind to see if there was actually anything in the saddle!).  Just 28 whole pounds of spitfire, that's all!

 

Ev (L) and two friends get busy grooming a pony

Her feet almost both reach the stirrups!

Ev on 'Bobby' a former unicorn (so she has informed me)

She had such a great time.  What a lucky kid, eh?  And I got to go to the end of week show, where the kids did a synchronized routine on horseback to the song 'Call Me Maybe' (mind you, we much prefer the Cookie Monster version in this household).  

She has already made me swear an oath that she can go again next year, so stay tuned for that.  What's next?  Show-jumping?  Dressage?  Actually, I think she has a bright future as a jockey, don't you?  

Just for Jim

Yes, yes, yes. I know the sporadic updates are irritating, but, c'mon. It's summer and my life just isn't that interesting. One reader in particular has been particularly verbose about their displeasure. So, for no particular reason (ahem) here is a post all about Jimmy! 

Now that it's almost September (GASP!)it seems like our N.B. adventure was about 7 years ago. That said, I have some very lovely memories of being there and hanging with the Higgys. 

Now, two of the things in this picture (below) rolled off the assembly line in 1946.  Can you guess which two?  And which one has aged better in your opinion??!

Ev, Poppa and an elderly yellow truck

Jimmy and Ev and I also had a jolly walk out to the lighthouse on one very windy day.  The waves were crazy and I thought we might just blow away.  Luckily, Poppa took action to ensure the lightest member of our party was safe.

Poppa and his G-D.  Is this an official fireman's hold?

Let's get a close-up of that glee!

And the lighthouse looking lovely, though it sorely needs a coat of paint.

So, there, finally is an update.  Poppa - we can't wait for you to get back to Ontario.  And we've heard through the grapevine how desperate and frantic you are to return too (insert heavy dose of sarcasm here)!  Let the countdown begin!

Splash!

Ahh, summer fun! 

We spent a lovely afternoon in PoHo with Lee and the boys.  Pizza, a visit with Great Granny B and watched some of the Olympic closing ceremonies (I REALLY want one of those lightbulb hats!).  Good times.  

It's always fun to visit, especially for Henry, because Auntie Peepee does super fun things like contorting herself into a pretzel to take her wee nephew down the playhouse slide. This is after noticing that he climbed up the ladder on his own while the grownups had their backs turned for 12 seconds! 

Correcting that scoliosis will only require 47 treatments, Auntie Peepee

But, today's visit was EXTRA fun because Lee & Chris's neighbours have an AMAZING pool and have, even more amazingly, given permission for the unruly folk next door to use it while they are away.

The kids took to the water like, um, fish taking to water, and a jolly splashy time was had by all. 

Synchronized splooshing

Little water babies!

Henry wanted to jump too, just like the big kids!

The little sea nymph

The kids are (fingers crossed) on the mend after a full week of sickness.  Evy still had a wee fever this morning but them seemed grand for the rest of the day.  Hopefully that's the end of this mystery virus that knocked us out for a week.  Surely a litre of chlorinated pool water up the nose is a cure for almost anything?

It's not even mid-August and I'm already mourning the end of summer.  We've just been SO busy and have crammed so much fun into the past 6 weeks, I have to say I don't really want it to end.  Or maybe I'm just dreading the ridiculous sobby mess that I'll be next month when we walk Madame E to school for the first time?  Sniff.  

In the meantime, we will continue to cram as much splashing, hilarity, and fun as we can into what remains of summer.