AS THIS SUMMER COMES TO A CLOSE...

As this summer comes to a close I have to say that it's been a pretty good one for me. Many here would complain about all the rain we had , and we honestly got alot! I for one, am thankful. I hardly watered my flowers or garden all season ! My flowers are full and brimming and my garden graced us with luscious tomatoes and cucumbers in no time!

This summer I watched my daughter work hard next to her step dad Chris as they rebuilt our deck. They were both so proud of their accomplishment and had fun doing it.

I am also proud as Cleo returns to college this fall. After doing a whole semester last session of just credit courses in order to get into the program she was hoping for, it paid off. She started the arts program last week. It is fun to see how excited she is about it.

A friend of hers took some pretty cool photos of her this summer and tweeked some with colour...this one below is not tweeked however, her eyes really are that colour as is her hair lol. If u want to see the few others, I put them in the flickr..just double click on this to see the others.

I have enjoyed watching the squirrels from the deck, as I am sure they have enjoyed watching us.

Other things I enjoy watching...mmm....oops, sorry, got side tracked by my husbands backside.....just give me a moment.........................................................................

..........BACK to more photos ........ Shinoo, also enjoyed watching the squirrels or the 2 other dogs goofing around as usual....

My flowers never looked better then this year either... even alot fuller then last time I posted a pic....the moon faced statue could still be seen in the past pic, now u can hardly see the top of his head lol

Autumn begins, routines kick in...the leaves start to fall and the flowers will die. Although some may be sad I look forward to the next adventures to come. We must make room for the new growth , the new year, the new things in our lives to sprout.......Ok, in these parts, we usually have to dig ourselves out of banks of snow first but hey, it's all part of the fun lol!

I know many of you out there live in places that have little season changes unlike us. I personally love the change of season, there is something to be enjoyed with every season ...or not lol...and always something to look forward to for the next one.

Do you like the different seasons, or would u prefer to live in a climate that has very little change, no snow, no real fall...you get my drift? What are your thoughts?

FUN WEEK!!

We had a great time during Judy's visit. Chris had the week off and the weather was actually the best we had all summer! It only rained one evening, and it turned out to be the evening we were at the Montreal Casino, so it didn't matter! LOL....No, we didn't win big, nor did we lose big lol...The fun is in playing a few slots and checking out all 5 floors of the casino. It's pretty cool, having been the France Pavillion for Expo 67.

We also spend time at the old port of MOntreal, took a tour trolley to travel along the length of the port..

Me and Judy on the tour trolley....

We also did the 3 hour drive to Quebec City...always worth the trip, but this summer especially. All summer was full of festivities celebrating their 400th anniversary. It is the oldest settlement in all of North America! ...

We stopped at the base of the Chateau for a snack...I took this photo there, it's one of my favs of Chris, so I had to put it here lol

Boardwalk up at the Chateau Frontenac

We had a great day in Quebec, got alot of walking down most every day we went out. We also enjoyed sitting out on the deck and having lazy days at home or just being goofy.... We went shopping ofcourse...and I had a cpl friends over for supper, the only friends I have here who actualy also speak english, so that Judy had other ppl then just us to talk to for an evening lol!

To be honest, it really seemed like we had gotten together many times before, since we have been chatting atleast 7 yrs...it was actually odd to think it was the first time we were together face to face. So needless to say, we had a great time and I hope she enjoyed her visit.

This last photo was taken on her last day here. Sitting out on the deck wondering where the week went! It was a real treat for me to have a friend here and I think we spend more time laughing then anything else.

Many more photos from our escapades...just double click on any photo here and u will be able to see all of them. Enjoy.

Have you had the pleasure of meeting some great online friends? I know I have asked a similar question...I have known some people to be afraid to meet online aquaintances...I think everything should be done with common sense...and there are very different circumstances ofcourse....What is your overall opinion on the subject?

REAL FRIENDSHIPS

I am super excited today! One of my long time online chat friends is flying across the country from Vancouver to spend a week with us! I can't wait!

I met Judy online atleast 7 yrs ago. Wow how the time flys. I was chatting with her before I even met Chris in the same chatroom online. We hit it off right away and aways said that some day we would get together.

In the past 2 yrs we have chatted much more. She is even a business partner in SecondLife with me lol. We have our own jewelry line in the virtual world with a nice little store.

I think its been a rare day that we haven't talked in the last 2 yrs, except for being away on vacation etc. I really look forward to spending a week showing her around and just hanging out with her.

I have been very fortunate in the past yrs to meet some online friends and forge life long friendships. I have rarely been disappointed by the meeting of people in real life. Let's face it, sometimes they really don't resemble who they portray themselves to be online. Those are the risks. You smile and when it's over you move on lol, I have been lucky in that, it has only happened a couple times. I will never regret meeting them though. I have made very dear friends over the yrs, because I took the oportunity to meet them when the occasion arose.

Heck, I married one of those people! lol.

So , she arrives tonight. Chris was able to work during the day today, so the timing was perfect to pick her up at the airport when his day is done. Supper will be on the table waiting for them.

One other great thing about having company is that you clean abit deeper then your normal routine lol. My house is pretty clean but man, when company is coming, I make sure no corner is left unclean lol. You know, move all the furniture, do the windows, empty and reorganizing the cutlery drawers lol. So that's what I have been doing all week..but rest assured, its done, so I will be doing NOTHING for the next week while visiting with my friend!

Tomorrow we are taking her to downtown Montreal...this yr they have closed down the Main Street, St.Catherines ST. all summer long like a sidewalk sale. Very cool idea. its a street full of interesting stuff so to be able to walk down the middle of it with the store wears on the street, will be fun. We will probably take her to our fav Smoked Meat restaurant. We plan to do Old Montreal, the Casino, among other things, and this week we will be driving 3 hrs to Quebec City...since this summer is the 400th anniversary, lots has been going on all summer. It is the Oldest part of North America!

We are having friends over for bbq on Sunday. It's supposed to be nice, so we can enjoy the new deck lol. My friend and her bf are among the very few I know here that can speak english lol. Everyone else I know only speaks french. So it will be nice for Judy to have other ppl to talk to then just us lol.

I will be taking pics this week to share ...for now I am off to do some baking and cooking for tonight. ...

Question...Do you often take in your local sights or do u wait for company from abroad to visit, to see them yourselves ?