A New Perspective

I believe Mummum has decided to give us a new slant on our little Munchkin. She seems to be getting right down to the bottom of things to give us a new perspective on our little guy. I received this shot recently and I think you will agree that this is a different angle on the whole Munchkin view. It does have a certain appeal though. I believe this shot is from under the walker. Mummum must have been tired and laying on the floor when she snapped this one for us.

Uncle Shaun has been busy keeping his senses alert and has managed to find one more photo for his Abandoned Series. I'm not nearly as good as Auntie Colleen at solving the mystery of the actual site of the photograph - maybe one of you other Orillians can identify it? Anyway, as usual there is the speciman sitting proudly awaiting its moment in the camera lens to be published here for posterity. I rather like this shot for aesthetic reasons as well. The shiny metal, the waxed cup - against the parked cars, the greenery of the trees and the distant red-brick building....all are pleasing to the eye in a way I cannot describe.


Mummum, Daddad and Munchkin are back at Gramma's house this week. Daddad is working on a task there to give Gramma a bigger garage door. So, I haven't gotten any new pictures this week. But - I do have a really cute one from our last visit to Munchkin's house. This is Poppa with Munchkin after our visit to the park for a swing. Needless to say, Munchie was getting tired and found a nice to place to snuggle into when Poppa picked him up after feeding him his lunch. Shortly after this picture was taken, Munchie went for his afternoon snooze and Poppa and Nanna headed for home. We had a nice visit - including some pizza for lunch - the traffic around the big city was horrendous, since it was the beginning of a long weekend for some folks - otherwise we enjoyed the drive and the visit.



Oh yes - as a follow up to that opening picture from a new perspective - here is another unique angle of our little Munchkin. Apparently Mummum took this one from underneath the high chair while she was on a cheerio-retrieving mission under there. Of course, Munchie was curious as to why she was down there under his chair and couldn't resist peeking under to see what was going on. He asked to have the cheerio back, and couldn't quite understand why Mummum wouldn't give it to him, since he had retrieved the odd cheerio from under there himself when he was exploring on all fours from time to time. However, he didn't get this one.

Some Assembly Required

When Munchie and his parents arrived home after their vacation at Gramma's house, it was decided that they would laze around and watch a couple of movies. Mummum suggested that Munchkin choose a suitable film and they would pop it into the DVD player and chill out. On the off chance that being a movie critic would be a good choice for a future career, our little guy got busy pulling movies off the shelves to check them out.

Meanwhile, Poppa and I were busily checking out store after store in search of the perfect accoutrements for Poppa's project at the front of the house. We had a certain look in mind, and we had some difficulty finding just the right thing. Finally we drove to Barrie, at the suggestion of a helpful fellow in one of the stores we visited. There we happened to find exactly what we were looking for. The price was higher than Poppa had imagined, but that is usually the case when a person is seaching for that certain thing. Squeegie supervised the placement and decreed this was about perfect.

While we were driving around, it occurred to me that out-of-town folks reading this blog (like Mummum or Granny Maureen) might like to see a couple of shots from their home town. I took this as we were headed in a westerly direction.... I wonder if any of those people can tell me where this was taken. And, yes, Auntie Colleen, you can vote too, even though you are in town - Hee! For those of you who are not familiar with our little city, this will give you a glimpse of life north of the big city.

Back at Munchkin's house. He began the long process of getting several movies off the shelves for closer perusal - and he had to stretch to reach the ones on the higher shelves. After sifting through what seemed like a gazillion movies, reading the leaders on the reverse and watching snippets from the short list, he finally made a decision and chose two for viewing. Mummum went off to prepare a movie-watching snack and Daddad hustled to get the seats in all the right places.

Poppa opened the box we had brought home with the little chairs and began the assembly of the pieces he found in there. It only took a few minutes and he had the piece we needed to finish off the ensemble. I had been in the house getting supper ready and when I stepped out into the garage I found him there feeling quite pleased with his efforts and our choice for that special little nook he had worked so painstakingly to create.

Here is Munchie chilling out in front of the TV watching one of the movies he had chosen. I find something particularly endearing about the back of his head.... it must be a grandmother thing. I checked out the screen to see if I could detect what movie he had picked, but I'm not sure I've seen that one..........?????

I finally got that circle sweater to a point where I could spread it out and get a picture for you. I added a bit of lacy edging. I wanted a scalloped edge, but I didn't really get that effect. The edge does look a little lacy and different from the main part of the collar though, so I think it will be all right. I have been debating what colour to use for the sleeves, considered doing it in stripes to match the main part, and haven't quite decided yet - but think I will use the burgundy because that yarn is nice and soft.

Finally, here is the whole bistro set on the brick patio that Poppa laboured so hard on. Squeegie and Taffy thought the whole thing was a great lark to provide them with a special spot all their own. They hopped into the chairs to test them out, and found them to be much more comfortable than they look. Both of them being fond of getting their pictures taken though, they decided to ham for the camera and posed cutely for this shot. (Is cutely actually a word? Oh well, it says what I want to say.) We need some flowers now to dress it up and we will call that project complete.

Old News

I found a couple of pictures from the beginning of the month in amongst the slew of photos that Mummum sent once she got her computer working again. A couple of them were just too good to keep to myself. For example, here is Auntie Muffy and Pal. Mummum captured them when they were visiting her during their recent sojourn to our neck of the woods. In view of the fact that their vacation was almost over, they both look pretty happy.

There are also a few shots of Munchie with a monkey on his back. Really - I'm serious! See for yourself. He doesn't seem bothered about it and went about his business as usual. As you can see, he is checking out the box attached to the TV. I have no idea what this box does, but Munchkin checks it out regularly to ensure that it is functioning properly, and fixes it if it is malfunctioning. I can only assume that one of his aspirations may include becoming an electronics repairman - which may not be such a bad idea in this day and age. It seems that the monkey has a long strap, so that Mummum and Daddad can keep track of the little guy as he travels around repairing electronic things (like - ummm - Mummum's computer????).


Following the "Auntie Colleen's Beautiful Garden" series - I absolutely adore the colours in this excellent example of above-mentioned garden. I always imagine Auntie Colleen wandering about in this oasis of beauty, snapping pictures as she goes. It must give her pleasure each and every time to discover one more photogenic target sprouting and blooming in her own space in this gigantic world, which is so often filled with unpleasantness.


The latest circle sweater is growing. I haven't taken a picture since it is so bunched up on the circulars at the moment that it would just look like a giant lump of knitting. As soon as it is possible to lay it out flat I will get a photo. Just like the first one, I am enjoying each round. I have changed colours more often and have managed to cram in a lot of the leftovers from my stash - though I must admit to purchasing two big skeins with colours in them that I loved and just couldn't resist.... oops!

So Little Time!

We went down to see Munchkin yesterday. He seemed very happy to see us and recognized me, even though my hair is now as short as Poppa's. Since I haven't downloaded the camera yet - I thought I would share some of the pictures from his vacation at Lake Erie last week. He met up with his little cousin Reese and they went to a wonderful place with rides and a playground and had a wonderful time. Of course, his older cousin Taylor was also there and helped out with the little fellows. My reporter says that Taylor is very good at this and the help was greatly appreciated.

Uncle Shaun was out on one of his discovery missions recently and I received another picture in the "Abandoned" series of shots.

It needs no further clarification. I am always intrigued by the care taken when these are abandoned...plus the crispness of the cup in contrast to the obvious age of the old light standard. Uncle Shaun definitely has a talent for photography and capturing interesting and captivating subjects to share with us.

It is clear that Munchie and little Reese both enjoyed their outing. Here is Reese on the slide. Reese is a few months older than our Munckin and his playground skills are better honed. He is quite adorable and demonstrated some of those skills for Munchie to watch and practise. As you can see - Munchkin listened carefully and learned quickly. Under the watchful eye of Reese here he is using his own technique to confirm his attention to his lesson. I sure am glad that Mummum got her computer up and working again so I can share their exploits with you.

Auntie Colleen has been out in her beautiful backyard with her camera again...and once again managed to find us an insect. She mentioned the colour palette demonstrated by the the green bee against the yellow flower - which seemed to please her. While I grudgingly admit she may have a valid point there, it still looks like a bee to me...and I just don't understand her fascination with bugs! Hee! Or maybe I just wouldn't have the patience to wait for a bee to land in order to capture it on camera???

A Quick One

Great-Gramma Robert seems to be back to normal again - all is well. The installers are scheduled to install Aunt Peggy's new furnace today. She will be glad - she's had people in and out for what seems like a long time now. First the gas company who came and dug up her front lawn to run the line into the house. Followed by the tradesman who (with a little assistance from Poppa) removed the old oil tank. Then a gentleman who arrived to clean her ducts - she joked about getting all her ducts in a row - hee! Yesterday another couple of guys who removed the old furnace. Today the new furnace is to be put in. Then the gas supplier will come to add the meter and at that time they can finally fire up the new furnace - whew! Last evening, while I got my hair cut, Poppa and Kev-Inn went to Aunt Peggy's and did a bunch of cleaning in the space where the old furnace sat, and the new one will now preside.

Further to his studies of the seaweed along Lake Erie, Munchkin decided to test the water a little further from shore, and in the interest of doing this well, decided to climb aboard a special watercraft to float out a small distance. He determined that the water was just as tasty as it was along the shoreline and returned to Mummum to report. Needless to say, she was relieved to find him safely ashore again and assured him he had done enough testing for that day. Yesterday he was back home after his working vacation and was re-aquainting himself with Ella and all his old friends at home.

Back to the Good..

Hurray! Great-Gramma had improved sufficiently to return home today. They sent her from the hospital around 10am this morning. We didn't get over there today - since we heard that she was having lots of company.... I'm guessing everyone was glad to hear she was home again so soon. In her honour, I am posting a picture of the red roses in my rose garden (albeit a very small one).

Poppa was busy over at Aunt Peggy's house today, getting things ready for that new furnace - which is supposed to be installed on Tuesday. I had to hold a light so that he could see up between the rafters to determine the perfect place for the gas line to come in so that it didn't touch any wires...........he disappeared up there for a short time but came back down intact and ready to get his drill drilling. After a short time the mission was declared accomplished and we headed home again. We just beat a storm which blew in and the thunder rumbled around for a long time. Aunt Peggy phoned and said the power had been off at her place immediately after a particularly loud thunder clap, but it was back on again by the time she called.


I have been knitting away here, without posting any news about the needles. That's because I hadn't taken any pictures. So I snapped a quick one today. Here is the second circle sweater in progress. That red is really burgundy, and the stripe that looks pink, is actually a rose colour. But since the day was overcast (aka "dark and stormy"), the lighting was not the best and the flash on the camera skewed the colours to some degree. At this point, while it is jammed onto my 40" circular needle, it looks more like a toque for a giant, but it will look like a sweater eventually. About the first circle sweater...... it was given to a particularly worthy recipient... I am trying to coerce a picture from that person, but to date, have had no success. Hmmmm.


After Munchkin got out of the pool, he went for a stroll along the beach. In the back of his mind, was the reports we hear about our Great Lakes being a valuable asset, in danger of being damaged by pollution hazards. He decided to try his hand at being an environmentalist and check out the seaweed and the water personally and up close. According to the reports I got, he found both to be quite good. I'm not sure that Mummum quite agreed with his methods of testing though, and I believe she scooped him up and took him back to dryer territories.


Poppa has been enjoying the Abandoned Series of photographs and spied this specimen while we were out for a walk one day and insisted that I snap a picture for you. I'm not sure it quite demonstrates abandonment as much as suitable disposal, but he really liked it.

Not Such Good News..

Unfortunately, the news today is not as good as yesterday. Last evening shortly after dinner time, Great-Gramma Robert was taken to the hospital. It seems she had a bad infection, which had become septic, and her temperature rose to a level, such that, it was determined she needed some hospital care. They attached two intravenous lines, and said she would have to stay there for a couple of days, at least, until her blood cleared up. I will keep you advised.

On a much cheerier note, I received some pictures today from Gramma. She caught Daddad, Mummum and Munchie cavorting together in the pool. Apparently Daddad was lounging around, and Mummum caught a great, huge, green sea turtle. Munchie stood up to check it out and Gramma caught that moment on camera. It appears they all had a good time. I wonder if they had green sea turtle soup for supper????

Poppa and Squeegie have gone in to Aunt Peggy's house to prepare the basement ceiling for the installation of a new gas furnace. Aunt Peggy had the same oil furnace for 51 years. Yes, I'm serious. It was still working too! However, in the interest of efficiency, value for cost, reliability and peace of mind, she decided to replace the poor, old thing. Squeegie waited patiently for Poppa to gather up the proper tools, put them in the car, and then, at the last minute, run upstairs to put on a different shirt.

The weather is still "dark and stormy" - which is the title of this photograph taken by Uncle Shaun further along the shore in the same park as yesterday's picture. It looks appropriate for a novel in the thriller category. I'm sure there is a deep, dark mystery hiding under the water somewhere!