Matters of the Heart

Some of you already know that I am dealing with a scary health issue now and I thank you so much for your encouraging thoughts. I am having an angiogram on Sept. 4 and possibly a bypass of some sort some time after that. My recent stress test showed there was not enough blood flow to the heart and I was very winded just after the first two parts. I have already had a minor heart attack after which they put in a stent. I am so hoping for the best, but mostly the strength to deal with what lies ahead.

I am making my annual trek up to my favourite log cabins to fish, canoe and swim but I am taking it very easy as we are 1 1/2 hours away from a hospital. I hope I can forget about my ordeal to come for awhile and just enjoy nature and the company of my husband and two sisters, the three closest people to me in the world.

I'm putting up some various summer pics.

My dad and mom with me, daughter #3.

Me at my parents' place between our famous 150 year-old Twin Oaks!

My dad who turned 89! He had a quadruple bypass at age 69....twenty years ain't bad.

Dad, give me some of your "Life Force". I so need it now.

Our place looking down the yard.

Further back towards the river.

Hope to see you all soon after I get back!

Bush Lady Has Returned To Civilization!

We got back late last night. It was pouring all day and the last two days were quite unsettled but at least it wasn't cool, just a bit buggy. (Those "no seeums" are the worst! I've been scratching ALL day!)

Generally, we had a terrific week.
My sisters had a great time and are talking of booking even another day next year! (Yikes! My poor husband,Dave! He actually thinks we are a riot.) We took them to see the canoe our friends lodged on a rock as they tried to come down some rapids and they were quite amazed. (see picture) They were really lucky to escape with mere bruises.

We spent a lot of time canoeing and fishing and brought lots of bass home. Dave caught a 4lb and we each got a 3 1/2 lb by the rock face. (see picture)

This was the year for wildlife for sure!

Dave rode his bike up a mountain road and just as he came to the turn-off into a lake, he saw a big lynx and one cub..(kitten?). This is a rare sighting. The kitten had gone off one way and the mother kept looking back to see if the kitten was okay and eyeing Dave but he rode past okay. Yikes!

Then, he saw a big black bear on the way back down by a huge beaver pond. Further down he saw a fox. Only saw the resident hare once. While canoeing, we sighted turtles on logs everywhere and some with babies too.

There were numerous mice! We caught about 15 in traps. My sister had one run across right through her hair and when she got up to look, it was sitting on her sheets just below her pillow! She immediately switched to a non-bunk and pulled it far out from the log wall!

We witnessed a weird dragonfly ritual a few times .... many were flying and zooming up and down and then swarming way up high at dinner time. Might they be eating? Mating? Does anyone know why this is?

Several military aircraft from Base Pettawawa were on training missions, flying very low over our lake. One in particular scared the bejeepers out of us when we were out just off the camp. It came over the sand beach, just clearing the trees! It was only about 30-35 ft directly over our canoe! The loud noise was quite frightening and I felt like I was in a scene from a war movie!

After dinner coffee was enjoyed in both screened porches (our sleep cabin and the other one down by the river) as we watched the sun go down and the stars appear.

Well, that wraps up for another year, a wonderful holiday in a perfectly enchanting place.
Tomorrow, my regular life will slam into me as always. Sigh...