Canada Time (featuring wedding pics)

 

Traditionally, our season begins with raising the flag on the cedar flagpole.  Although the kids had used the cottage all summer, the flag did not go up until August 11th when we arrived.  The cottage was ready.  Let the summer begin...late!

We had a truly wonderful holiday/visit - what do I call it? - time in Canada.  Despite the strangeness of covid restrictions and being unable to visit with many friends and some family, we thoroughly enjoyed our 10 week stay.  We plan to become commuter sailors, at least for the next few years, to enjoy summer in Canada.  Hopefully, Covid-19 and it's many limitations will be a thing of the past and visiting/visitors will once again be part of our home-coming. 

Visitors and visiting:

My dear bro and family came for a quick but superb visit on their way to TO.

Breakfast with a view

And then we got to be the visitors, at the new build home of more "family", Anne and Rob.  We even have our own room there.  Well, we share it with others but it does have our names on it.  Haven't left a toothbrush yet.

Poolside action.  Too chilly for water action.

In chronological order the 2020 visit was highlighted by: weekend visits to the cottage - even during our quarantine - by our children; lunch with our stalwart crew, Lee; two visits to our dear friend's new build in The Blue Mountains; a tour of a city new build followed by dinner with family; more dinners with family in Toronto; outdoor lunch and lovely visit with Raymond and Liz; mother-of-the-bride dress shopping with Anne who encouraged try-ons of dresses that would never have caught my eye, one of which I chose (Thanks, Anne!); a Stony visit from my dear bro, sister-in-law, and nephews; a few visits with Stony Lake friends including those who we started the covid crisis with in Martinique; shared captain's hours with young Stony Lake friends on our deck; multiple romps with Stevie, the dog, at The Beach.  (Hope I didn't miss anything).  

It was topped off with quality time spent with Tom at the cottage during his two week quarantine upon returning from regattas and training in Europe, Gid and Em's truly perfect wedding, a move into Gid and Em's new beautiful home and, finally, a 60th (early) birthday party for Peter.

A few cottage happenings:

Peter with crew Emily got out on the hobie only once but for a race with a sister boat.  They won!  The other boat were loaded with a crew of about six plus beer.  Peter and Em were much more serious!

Very happy captain with crew

No stick is too big for Stevie Girl.

The old part of the cottage gets elevated out of the soil and supported on a few well-placed pieces of granite by Tom and Peter.  Saved for another few years and set up for work in the spring.

My birthday dinner made by my two favourite men, Peter and Tom!

And now for the extra special wedding weekend:

 

Blogspot will not allow me to put these two pics in the right order - at least, I can't figure it out.  The hike was followed by a picnic wine-tasting covid style.

First up, a hike through sand dunes to one of the incredible beaches in Prince Edward County.  Reminiscent of ocean coastline but with freshwater.  

 

 

And then the legal "I do's" at a local brewery.  Fantastic dinner and celebration.  The only covid in evidence was the officiant's mask.  The wedding party, having all tested negative days before, were much more relaxed and the excellent brewery staff followed suit.

The new husband and wife with our new parents-in-law.  We look forward to many years of friendship.

After a morning of preparation, we gathered at the venue on a beautiful, blue sky day for the main event. We were so proud to make the walk down the grassy aisle.

Beautiful and happy bride and gorgeous chuppah made a wondrous setting.

Gid's three sisters officiated in such a personal fashion that it was the nicest and most meaningful ceremony I have ever been to.  Of course, I'm biased, but I really think it was.  Tears of happiness flowed!

 Lisa did a Shakespeare reading - no surprise - with a perfect personal note of humour and love.

After our tears of joy were dried we all celebrated.  Loved every minute of it.

The sibs!

The cousins got to enjoy each other's company again

The sweet and lively ringbearer doled out flowers to all the guests late into the evening.

No dancing allowed so the night was full of warm and heartfelt toasts and speeches.  In their speech, Em and Gid each warmly  addressed every person in attendance.  Very special.  Couldn't do that with 150!

Father of the bride couldn't have been prouder of his darling daughter.  And warmly and sincerely welcomed Gid into our family.

That's it for now.  The photographer and friend whose generous wedding present was her professional services will deliver more pics and videos soon.  It will be tough not to share some more so stay tuned.

The excitement did not stop there.  There's more:

After a good year of looking at future homes, G&E settled on The Beach, Emily's childhood neighbourhood and perhaps satisfying Gid's west coast roots.  We helped pack and unpack.  So fun to be part of another life event when we usually live so far away.  It is a wonderful home for a long future together.

The kids celebrated Peter's 60th a tad early with a gift of a drone - high on his wish list!  He was tickled.  Now you will be treated with aerials of Milly and her anchorages.

We were busy!

These major events were dotted with cottage TLC which included a few purchases and lots of labour by Peter and Tom, when he was there.  Grasses and weeds have been banished from my garden and the beds are ready for spring planting.

By October 20th - the longest we had ever stayed at Stony - we were waking up to heaters and Peter's rapidly set fire.  The pipes didn't freeze but us softies from the tropics did!  We renewed our appreciation of the Ontario fall colours but hightailed it to the heated homes and companionship of friends and family for the final ten days of our Canadian stay.

Tom playing lumberjack complete with shirt.  Should've been an axe though, not a pint-size chain saw.

A sensational Stony Lake morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New dock is lifted and ready for snow and ice.  We're already excited to get back in May and put it back down!

We count ourselves very lucky to have two places we can call home.  Although sad to leave each, we are excited to return to each.  What could be better!