Myer's United Church Day Camp

 Myer`s United Church is over 100 years old and has a quaint & welcoming feel that is felt, by all that enter. It`s located on the corner on Hardwicke Road, in Hardwicke, NB, if your ever in the area...The breathtaking view exiting the front door.

 Side view from Harwicke Road.

 Myer`s United Church interior

 Paint table set up for the days activities

Jean`s creative handy work of stained glass windows! 

This years day camp theme was - God`s Creation...what fun everyone had with Jean`s program for the children. The day was from 9am - 3pm, with songs, stories, & activities. With Jean & her 5 helpers & 11 children, the day began with Jean reading from her Storybook  Bible.They were told how they were the child of God & part of his creation. Jean added that life was about choices, so many choice of right & wrong, good & bad.  The eldest of the eleven children was 9 & the youngest 3. 

Here are the hand prints made from salt, flour, & water.

The story continued on how God made the earth

Here are the sand stones painted with order, green for the grass, brown for the sand or soil, blue for the water, then brown for the other side of the shore, lastly was a light blue for the sky.

 Then Jean read more about the creation of earth and the children added sun, clouds, birds, flowers, bushes, & more...

 God also created them! so their little hand prints were made - here`s the recipe for those interested!
quarter cup of salt - half cup flour, quarter cup of water - mixing very well & shape into a ball adding more water or flour if needed, then smash down to the size of hand on a cookie sheet & bake at 200 degrees for 3 hours! Cool & paint...

 Painted hands - from God`s little creations, a memorable keepsake.

And that was the Arts & Crafts side to the day...but wait there`s more...

The fun continued with outdoor activities after their lunch of pizza & hot dogs.

Cam Digging!  the participate must grab the marbles with their toes & place it outside the tub in a set time frame...the winner, in total  - grabbed over 70!

 Activities were going on & I missed the 3 Legged Race, sorry no photos. :-(

Lawn Bowling

 Jean instructing the Lawn Bowlers.

 Morning snack time of cookies & oranges, whilst they listened & watched for God`s creation around them.

What a beautiful day in the maritime`s today.

Ice cream for all!!

The end of the day, look at those happy faces. The children left with smiles & energy...we left for a cup of afternoon tea! :-)

Cottage Livingroom

 The livingroom had a wall to wall piece, which now holds the TV & many other storage things in the drawers & cupboards. There was a hutch piece which fell apart during the journey here & I have to agree with Bill that it would be much too top heavy a unit if it was repaired & put up. New curtains to the cottage are from years ago - a sale at Fabricland & the crewel embroidery add texture & movement to the wall it covers. Bill has the tiebacks that he'll bring next month when he flies in. I left the shutters underneath & will have Bill spray paint them in the antique white so everything stays airy & bright.

The cottage living had a few new pieces added - which added form & function! not to mention the comfort I get in the wingback.
The pump problems are coming to an end. A new tank has been installed & soon new pipes will replace 'the octopus" downstairs...a place we will not go! I saw my son's video of the basement, it's the setting for horror shows. It's has a dirt floor...

Safe Journey

 This week has been a fun one for Boris too! Bill & Nick sure gave him a run fetching the ball. It was a bit of competition, between the two,  to see who could through the ball the farthest. Boris would run his hardest to fetch & retrieve the ball. It was Bill, who still had his baseball arm from his younger baseball playing years with Armo Tool, that & he told Nick you have to warm the arm up!

The 96' SVT Cobra Mustang is on her way back to London & my more practical Ford Escape has been delivered.

Getting the car loaded on the trailer was an event in itself! As Bill was riding it on...the front wheels went on then the back wheels spun & through both the ramps off! Oh my, I thought my side exhaust were crushed for sure. Nope!! the frame of the car held her safely. Again my angels are watching over my mental state!

 With a Nick on watch & some carefully thought out strategy by Bill --- I'm on the porch watching & commenting...with Nick saying "Mom just" & his hand waving in a downward motion.

 More strategy...

 Man power, in flip-flops! and pajama's!

 It's still not balanced...oh I forget to mention that the car battery was dead & it was jumped with the Escapes power. When Bill was relieved that all four tires were on the trailer -- oops, he shut it off!

So man power was used...not enough power. So off the porch I came & gave it some women power! YES onto the trailer she went. Never a dull moment here for the neighbours entertainment.

All loaded onto the trailer & a good thing too as it rained just afterwards & the ground would be slippery to push when wet.

I'm going to miss the beauty of that little gas guzzler & the sound of her powerful engine. I think it's the race driver in me or the missing of my driving days.

 My little porch has it's window box in place with my Mother's Day  flower's from Mitch. Bill commented how happy he was that after seeing the trailer distress & yelling out instructions from my porch chair...that I said "I'll get some shoes on & help push" It really was the woman power that they were lacking!  LOL

 OH THAT DAY!! it did not end with the trailer incident...The water pump was seized upon arrival & after Bill's working the pump to run, we thought all was well. WELL, all was not well,  with our well! The part that goes into the well was too short & after many trials & tribulations Bill & Nick sourced out the problem. I forgot to mention that the water I gave them to prime the pump was saved water for the toilets during last fall's hurricane season...it was 2x's HE Purex!  the suds that were created with the power of the new pump - overflowed suds...all over the basement making it impossible to work until the suds  were diluted. Our water was not working so off to the Coop Nick went to purchase jugs & jugs of water. He said the girl did give him a puzzling look.
 It would be the next day before this pump problem would be fully worked out. Bill was told by one of the knowledgeable elders, how lucky we have been the last three years with the pump! the water levels have been high so the attachment to the well  reached to connected. It has been a dry season everywhere in North America, our grass is the colour of hay. On a positive note, the bug level is very low!
With this being the last day the guys would be here -- did I mention my guardian angel? She works overtime with me! how lucky was all this timing.
 Those that know me, know that I have a deep fear for what has been fondly called "The Porthole To Hell" that's the trap door that leads to the basement. I've never been down there nor do I care to. I cannot tell you the hours that Bill, Mitch, & Nick have spent down there. I just know they love me very much to endure such a place, to make things right for me.

3AM this morning. Priorities set...Bill with the food & drink for the 16 hour journey home...Nick with his memory foam pillow for comfort.
Do these guys look happy to leaving this cottage oasis? it is 3AM! Safe journey.

New Brunswick Arrival

 With the 16 hour trip from Ontario behind us & all the unloading & organizing nearly completed, today was a fun day. A day that Bill & Nick learned to clam dig with instruction from my girlfriend Valma.  Valma in the summer of 2009, taught me to pick blueberry's. As a city girl I purchased them in the grocery store & never had picked one, nor seen how they grew. What delight I had & frustration Valma had with my slow picking, she was at least 6 berries to my one! She's a little person with a huge heart for everyone & was my first friend here on the Acadian Coastline.

 I'll do all the photos as I'm hydrophobic & have been all my life. I love the sound & smell of water...I just don't go in. I'm also 'highly allergic' to shellfish. I do love this part of Canada! & I eat fish & chips here!

 New stone was installed to private beaches (a lot went together bring the cost down) last fall to prevent the erosion of their shoreline. Tide is out & the clams can be found!

 Watching them out there - I know how short pants got there name 'clam diggers' lol

Valma shows 'the tap'

 The breeze felt great - however it made it more difficult to see ' the bubbles ' from the clams

 Valma's husband Pete joins in. Soon the bucket pails are being filled.

 Valma then steam cooked the clams in beer for the guys

 

 The feast begins!

 Bill feasting on his 'catch of the day'

 Sitting in the shade on this beautiful perfect afternoon day, yes this feels like a vacation.

 A well deserved vacation for Bill & Nick. For me it just feels like home, I love it here!

 The living room in the cottage is usually filled with rug hooking frames or quilting projects -- this year the guys are here & it's archery equipment from our son Nick.

 Nick retrieving his arrows - the love of having space for such activities

What an end to a perfect long weekend! Look at that sky, the water, the day. It's moments like these that you know - life is good!

Lunch Time

Today it was a lunch time with son Donald (aka, my Donny), Melissa, & daughters Madison & Alicia. We had the family's favorite soup, Campbell's Tomatoe soup with macaroni & grilled cheese sandwiches. Followed by ice cream sundaes with fruit & whip cream, yum.

Beautiful Richardson Family photo, Stoan the 16 yr old son is missing...in action with friends.

 These girls are growing fast, thank you for smiling Alicia. Am I really that short? There have been songs made about women like me -- 5 foot 2 eyes of blue! lol

 Today was Alicia's birthday & I surprised her with a throw of her heart throb.

 In two weeks Madison has her birthday. So she too was surprised with a Bieber throw. I asked their dad what he thought of his daughters sleeping with Justin Bieber, just the blanket he replied. lol

Boris wanted everyone's attention, here he is being a lap dog. He's so small compared to their chubby bull dog & huge 200 pound mastiff, they find Boris 'puppy size'.
A great lunch time with fun conversation. Tomorrow Donald flies to Calgary ( which had a hail storm last night)to see his brother Mitch. You two boys behave -- remember when I use to tell you to act like I'm in the room? Act like I'm in the room, behave you two! XO