Corner Christmas Carols

In past years my family has attended the St. Mark's Church Living Manger.  I was somewhat disappointed to learn that this year, due to renovations being done to the church, they would not be hosting it.  Members of the church however were also a little disappointed and wanted to do something for the community.  Coming up on December 2oth and 6:30pm they'll be hosting an evening of Christmas Carols in the Corner.  Come by the Sussex Corner Amphitheater on the Dutch Valley Road and lend your voice to the festivities. I'm betting it will be like an old fashion Christmas where members of the community can catch up, be merry, and spread good wishes.  If you can't sing, no worries, simply come for a cup of hot chocolate.

The amphitheater is Sussex Corner is a glow with Christmas lights and snow is on the ground.

Therapy At Hopewell

Bloggers Note:  This blog first appeared in the Kings County Record, like many of my entries.  I have long wanted to visit Hopewell Rocks and recommit the beautiful scenery to my memories again.  Words can't bring this place to life so I encourage you to go and make your own memories.

The rocks at Hopewell  look good from any angle, but nothing beats being up close and personal.

You hear a lot about it.  It is one of the cornerstones of New Brunswick's tourism advertising.  Hopewell Rock's are an impressive creation of nature.  Sculpted by the hand of the creator they are incomparable and unattainable by anything man made.  I was too young to remember the last time I was there.  I have drove by the access road to the park but was always on my way somewhere else.  Thanks to my wife's effective planning, we changed this recently.

 

The lookout in Fundy National Park is always great for a photo op.

Following church on a recent Sunday we made the drive through Fundy National Park towards Hopewell Cape.  The drive was part of the adventure as we passed by other scenic areas that we now wish to go back and visit, Cape Enrage, Mary's Point, and Crooked Creek to name a few.  We rushed by them on this day so that we could beat the tide at "the Rocks." 

Tides are crucial for many along the Fundy Coast and planning a trip to the Rocks meant we had to arrive before the tides came in and restricted our access to the beach area.  More by good luck than good management we timed our arrival perfectly.  We arrived as the tide was coming in and were able to sit on the beach and watch as the "Flower Pot" rock became surrounded by seawater. 

The kids played in the puddles and waves and despite our efforts to keep them from getting their sneakers wet, we ultimately knew it was a losing battle.  In fact, I think we got our shoes wet as well.  We couldn't help it really.  Stacking rocks, giggles, laughter, rolling gravel, and crashing waves, the sounds were all blended together in the wind as I sat trying to take in the surroundings.  The place had a relaxed and joyous feel to it and I'm certain that if you were in a bad mood, you could go there and sit and have your mood changed.  All you would have to do is try to keep the smile off your face.

As I sat, I tried unsuccessfully to recall my trip there as a child.  Unable to bring it back to focus, I made a vow not to wait so long before visiting again.  Before long the tide chased us up the strategically placed stairway to the headland.  From there the trails took us back to the interpretation center but not before we had a mini-water fight at the foot/sneaker washing station.

We spent some time at the interpretation center before retreating to the parking area.  Here we got our barbeque out and prepared some hamburgers.  Oddly, we were interrupted by Park staff informing us the park would be closing in 20 minutes.  It was only 5:00 and there was lots of daylight left so this confused me.  No matter.  We hurried through our barbeque supper, loaded up the van and headed for home with more laughter and lots of memories. 

Once home I couldn't resist, I had to look up the hours to the Park and sure enough for that date, it was scheduled to close at 5:00 (17:00).  While this had put me out of sorts a little, next time, and there will be a next time, we'll plan a little better and maybe include time to take in some of those other destinations.  Come to think of it, I bet I could make a whole weekend out of it.

Proud Moments

This entry was a great one to write.  It was close to my heart on some many levels.  Just before I wrote it we had received some great news about a family member who is battling cancer.  Being proud of an older family member is a different pride.  It is a greater level of new found respect and a joy of having them in your life.  You realize how much of an impact they have had on your life and your family.  My memories of my Aunt are mostly all filled with smiles, laughs, and some mischief.  As I look back on how she impacted me...I am proud to call her my Aunt.  

This was published in the Kings County Record but I really wanted to share it here as well.  I hope you enjoy it. 
 

I think one of the best things in nature is growth and when you can watch it happening in front of you, that is amazing.  Being able to watch a garden grow is a cool thing; knowing that you planted that garden and tended to it, is even cooler.  When you sit down to eat the vegetables planted from that garden, you feel proud.  Nurturing your family and seeing it grow is similar.

I had a great evening recently.  The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect for being outside.  Usually that is enough to make me happy but on this night I was fishing with my son, so happy was only half of it.   As we walked along the river the sun shimmered off the water and as I watched him walk, I noticed an ease in his stride.  He talked with a maturity and confidence that I hadn't really noticed before.  When he saw a woodpecker he took time to watch it and I could now see a shimmer of excitement in his eyes.  When he got his line caught he didn't turn to me and ask me to get it, instead he unhooked it himself.  My happiness was overcome by pride.

On another outing I watched as my daughter entertained herself on a gravel bar.  She had already hiked a long ways along a river with me, and as the overly independent one in our household she never once wanted help climbing over limbs and rocks, even when offered.  She kept right up with the older boys and never once complained and when they all joined her she showed them all how to make rock paint and then proceeded to paint her face.  As I watched her growing right in front of me I was proud.

My kids and nephews were sitting on a truck bed removing wet sneakers and socks after an outing.  They were laughing at each other, making faces of disgust over whose socks were worse, and nudging one another the way kids do.  They were all bonding and creating memories and as I watched I felt blessed.  As I watched I was proud of the family we have all become.

Being outdoors and sharing moments like these with my kids is an amazing experience.  Lately I have really noticed them growing and maturing and I've also seen things in myself that I never thought I would.  I hover and worry a bit more about them than I thought I would.  When they are growing, I find myself wanting to slow them down, or even stop them.  I am finding myself wanting to hold them back and keep them from getting hurt.  Every now and then it is good to let them push their boundaries but I'm having a hard time letting them do that.  I tell myself, "Its ok.  They can look after themselves there.  They might get hurt a little but they'll learn their own boundaries and heal.  Through that healing, they will grow."  It hasn't been easy and there are weeds to pick from their lives every now and then, but unlike the vegetables, your kids reward you through every stage of growth.

Spreading the Cheer with Pride

Yesterday I was able to help spread some Christmas cheer.  I was over to the Sussex Corner Elementary School and helped kids decorate the trees outside the front of the school.  I was able to do this thanks in part to my municipal seat and the Village of Sussex Corner council all took part.  It was a great way to demonstrate to kids that municipal council seats can be fun and exciting while also helping get the community into the Christmas mood.

I was also confronted with some parenting reality.  Your kids grow up to fast...but my oldest isn't too old to hang out with his Dad :)  When I showed up at the school I was able to go to his class and bring them out to the tree we were putting lights on.  When I showed up in a Santa hat, which I have to admit, I thought might embarass him, he still ran up to me excitedly and gave me a big hug.  I was all to happy to hug him back and holler at his classmates to get their boots and coats on.  As I walked and chatted with him on the way outside, it hit me, "I don't have many of these moments left."

As his class mates slowly got bored of twisting bulbs, testing light sets, and passing lights up the ladder, they moved off to play in the playground.  Seth though kept with it until the end.  He worked with the adults and I was proud of him for wanting to hang with us silly hatted adults.

It was a good morning and I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.  I encourage you to take a drive by SCES and take a look.  It sure looks like Christmas at that school.  Mrs. Demerchant and Mrs. Cummings and their staff deserve a big pat on the back for making it all happen

Merry Christmas to everyone over at SCES, kids, staff, and parents of all the students too.

I'll be going over some evening soon to snap a photo or two and I'll post them here when I do.

How Did Music Move You

Music!  It fills you.  It soothes you.  It moves you.  Today was a tough day and tonight I sat and watched the Garth Brooks special and wow.  The day brightened and my mood has changed drastically in the couple of hours the show was on.  Why?  I spent my teen years listening to Garth and his songs have been in the background of many memorable moments.  Heck there are country songs that sing about just that thing and ironically I love songs that focus on that theme whether they were songs by Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, or whoever.

I saw Garth Brooks perform live once and there is something about the guy that draws you in.  He can perform and he can make you feel the music with him.  I think he might be a bit crazy too but his fans seem to even relate to that...I know I do.  He gets giddy performing and you start laughing with him, maybe even at him a little, but he doesn't seem to care as long as you're enjoying the song.

Lately I've been going through some of my older music and listening to that 80's and 90's country and remembering how I got to where I am today.  Garth talked about his musical journey and it got me thinking about what mine might look like.  What would yours look like.  Would it have Ray Charles, Alabama, Keith Whitley, the Statler Brothers (that's true harmony and I loved trying to sing bass), Kenny Rogers, Beatles, Alan Jackson, and my all time favorite George Strait (a man's man if there is one in my opinion)?  Maybe it would be Twisted Sister, Haywire (do you remember them?), Harem Scarem, Warrant, Motley Crue, or AC/DC.  The Canadian boy I am, I would have to include some Hank Snow (thanks Nan), Blue Rodeo, Paul Brandt, the Rankins, Great Big Sea, and Chris Cummings oh and don't forget Terri Clarke (I loved Terri's attitude).   I think my show, not that I'd ever have one, would have to be a marathon.  There is no way I could narrow it down to even just 20 songs.

All the good moments have songs and the bad moments simply became good ones because of the music.  Friends bond over music, whether through a mutual love of a song or through teasing someone about their taste.  It's no different than a Habs fan tormenting a Leafs fan but let's not go there.  Go pull out some old CDs or 45's even and let 'em blast. "Ooohh I got friends in low places...."

Garden Harvest, Prizes and Memories

The other morning before I left for work I made a quick stop in the garden.  I was able to thin the carrots and take some good sized legumes for my lunch.  While I was at it I also grabbed some beans, which we have an over abundance of.  Our peas are now pretty much done with only a few of the plants re-blooming after the first harvest.  I need to check on this to see how I can improve this.

I had forgotten how much work went into prepping veggies after you harvest them.  I cleaned the carrots, about a bowl full, and topped them.  It was enough for one meal but it took about 15minutes to prep them for consumption.  The thought that I grew a portion of my lunch however was very rewarding.  Since I also had warmed up salmon I could also convince myself that maybe I could actually provide an entire lunch from off the land.  I had to ignore the fact that I was eating a farm raised salmon and Uncle Ben's rice.  No he is not really my uncle :)

Beyond the eating of the fruits of your labor, the other rewarding part of our garden was the learning opportunities it provided the kids.  They ate most of the peas right off the stalk.  They would raid the garden and then go sit on a nearby hay bale to chow down on the big peas.  The whole time they wore big smiles as they felt comfortable in nature.  It made me smile as I slaved away at weeding and mowing the lawn.  Speaking of the lawn...I think I need to go mow it again.

Hope you have a garden you can learn from and build memories in.

Firefly Frenzy

Laying in the grass looking up at the clouds as the sun set.

There is something that I can never remember doing as a kid that I wanted to do.  I had lots of opportunity as a kid to pursue this adventure but just never made the time.  In fact I never much gave it much thought until I was too old to truly enjoy it and not being embarrassed if I was caught doing it.  Well here a few nights ago I had my dog Bambi out in the field behind the house doing her last deed of the evening and suddenly I noticed the tell tale sign of fireflies every where.  There were tiny flicks of light just above the tall grass that provided a small and silent light show.  I sat in thought about these tiny bugs and debated waking the kids right then and there for a firefly catching extavaganza but thought better of it.  I'd wait until the weekend.

SHHH! Daddy be very quiet we're hunting fireflies.

So last night the kids and my wife and I all lathered up in fly dope and headed to the field to see if we could catch some fireflies.  It was an adventure for the kids and the dog who bounded through every inch of the field and made it very difficult to catch our bug of choice.  As the sun set and darkness fell the kids watched as more and more fireflies started lighting up.  After a great deal of effort we managed to catch one firefly for each of the kids.  We also caught moths, mosquitoes, and slugs which our daughter really seemed taken by.  At the end of the evening, well past the kids bedtime, we let all the bugs go safely back into the field.

Hey!  Where did the dog go?  Has anyone seen...hey where is everyone?

It was a memory making moment and one I wish I had of made time for when I was a young kid.  I hope my kids look back on it and laugh.  I know I will.

Music Memories



My music, nowadays, is heavily influenced by my kids and I listened to songs that sing about a father's love and role for his children.

 I'm not sure what it is lately?  There has been something pushing at me from inside.  It is a positive force that has been making me feel like laughing or brings a smile to my face for no apparent reason.  It usually strikes when music is playing.  I'm confident that the music has something to do with it.

Growing up in a rural community known for its rolling fields and silos, it was hard to avoid the influence of country music.  Some of my peers tried.  Me...well...I embraced it throughout most of my life.  I listened to other music, mainly rock from the 80's and 90's hair bands, but I always came back to country.  My Mom always had it playing loud during the summer months.  When I hear Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's version of "Islands in the Stream" the faint smell of pledge wafting through a slightly dusty screen door, across the dirt driveway, as it mixes with the exhaust from the "Bluebird" school bus.  That is a comfortable and idylic memory of returning home from school during a warm early June day.

Country music takes me places in my mind and lately there have been some great songs put out that have taken my to great places.  Fishing with my late grandfather (miss you gramp and I'm still spitting on worms.) Sitting on a buddy's tailgate while we hang with friends along a back farm field.  Six kids, travelling two hours, one way, in the back of a camper van, to a hockey game while the country music was drowned out to laughter and wrestling.  Back in those days seat belts were optional, but honestly, I wouldn't promote that risk.

Music lately causes me to swell and want to sing out loud.  There is one problem with that, I'm not that gifted of singer.  When I'm in the kitchen however, doing dishes, I can't help it and I'm sure that if you walked by the house during one of those moments you would hear how poor of singer I truly am.  Driving long distances also gives me reason to sing outloud, at least when I'm alone.  Today was a sunny winter day and a few times as I sat in my office, I was singing to Luke Bryan's "We Rode In Trucks."  So much in the song I can relate too and that is what makes country so great.  With digital capabilities now you can go way back and pull songs forward and videos just give the music that much more.

I still listen to other music.  A lot of kids tunes lately thanks to my children.  I enjoy christian rock too but I always come back to country when I need to smile or need a reminder of who I really am.  It's not the music so much as the memories tied to the songs and I want to hold on to and cherish them for a long time to come.  Hopefully I'll pass down to my kids the memories and music that my parents were gracious enough to pass down to me.  My Mom's country music will always be comforting and will always sound like home.

Making memories

There are not enough moments in our life where we make memories.  Last night at Sully's Ice Cream in Sussex however, our family added a moment to the memory banks.

It started off rather below normal as my wife calls me just before I'm leaving work to ask if I want to go for ice cream later that night with the kids.  I'm a big ice cream lover, especially "Death by Chocloate", so it was a no brainer.  I made the drive home and we had supper and then cleaned the kids up a bit before taking off for town to meet my sister and her kids for the anticipated treat.  I was told on the drive down that my brother and his family would be there as well, so I thought "Man this is shaping up to be quite a party."

As the eleven of us sat there, my Mom and Dad drove by and stopped in as well.  It was a great moment where we shared light converation and the kids ran around with one another.  To top that moment, a train came by and the kids all watched it, enthralled with its size and loud clickety clacking.  I could see the family moment building there in that moment as I held my daughter and watched her reaction to the train and as I looked over at the wide eyed, big grinning expression on my son's face.

As we got ready to leave I braced myself for an anticipated fight with the kids but it never came.  We peacefully loaded them into the car for the drive home.  Usually this might be where the memory would end...but on this night it is where it would be cemented into not just a memorable moment but a great moment.  There was a funky song on the radio and my son started dancing foolishly in his booster seat and the rest of us joined in.  Laughing the whole way home, we even sat in the car for sometime in the driveway still dancing away foolishly.  For those who may have drove past us last night who were worried we might run into you, I apologize.

God thank you for family, and thanks so much for a great memory.

Camp Story

Fishing season is coming to an end very shortly so I thought maybe I should post one more blog about fishing.  It has been a long tradition in my family do visit what was once my grandfather's camp and spend a weekend fishing.  The camp now belongs to my uncle, and since my grandfather's time, things have changed quite a bit.  One thing that hasn't changed though is the fun we have when we go there.  The camp has expanded from a one room shack with tar papered exterior to a two bedroom, steel roofed, getaway.  The woodlot has matured and the road in is in much greater shape.  Likely the biggest change though is the people who are now coming in with us.  This was my son's first time in and he now makes the fourth generation to be visiting the camp.

The road into the camp after a late snow storm in May.  The weight of
the wet snow bent the hardwoods well over the road.

Every time we go into the camp I can't help but read the journal that everyone is encouraged to sign.  I have written in the journal a number of times and it was great to remember those times. 

One memory that sticks out was a weekend my brother and I were to take a Scout Troop.  It was a weekend in May and we were hoping to take the Scouts on an early season fishing trip.  As it turned out there was a severe snow storm that weekend and the roads were in bad shape.  As responsible leaders my brother and I had to cancel the camping trip.  He and I though headed in and spent a night anyways, just he and I and the heavy, melting snow.  It was a simple but memorable night.

For this more recent trip there was no snow but plenty more memories.  The plan was to arrive Saturday afternoon and do some fishing.  My son and I packed a cooler, some sleeping bags, and some fishing gear into the truck.  He was excited to go but was playing it cool and was behaving very grown up.  My wife was having a hard time as this was to be his first overnight camping trip with the "guys."  She had tears in her eyes as we pulled out the driveway, but I'm certain they were tears of pride.  We had lunch at the camp and then my Dad, brother, his two boys, my son, and I headed to find some water to wet a line in.

Seth spent more time exploring than he did fishing.

We settled on South Branch Miller Brook and at first it didn't look promising.  We had split up and four of us fished upstream and two fished downstream.  My son and I wandered upstream and from time to time dropped a line in the water with no luck for the first 20 or 30minutes, not even a nibble.  My father and one of the other boys were up ahead of us and I knew our luck was about to change when I heard them clamoring with excitement.  Shortly there after we were catching lots of fish.  My son was more interested in simply playing along the shore and exploring mud holes and climbing alders, but he was having fun and when  I would hook one, he'd come running screaming "I wanna reel it in! I wanna reel it in!" It was fun just watching him walk along in front of me.  He kept humming a song and talking to himself. 

That evening we sat up and taught the kids how to play a couple of card games.  We let them stay up late and eat cookies as a bedtime snack knowing that they had played hard enough that day that once their heads hit the pillow they would be asleep.  I know that I don't remember hitting the pillow.

The weekend was about the beginning of new memories and starting new traditions at the "Ol' Camp."  It was a great weekend and we left a journal entry so that we remember it whenever we go back.

Sitting on the step at the camp we posed for a timed portrait.

Island Memories and a Great Get-a-way

Right now I sit, exhausted, watching cartoons with my son in a cottage in Prince Edward Island.  My wife worked hard to organize a family vacation and she picked a great spot to stay.  We have spent the last two days exploring what the Cavendish area of the Island has to offer a young family of four.  Now everyone is a bit tired but can't wait until tomorrow to find another beach to explore or a play area to enjoy.  It is just about time for my son's bedtime snack and I'm putting in time by putting thoughts to paper before I cut up some apple slices for him.

Now the trip is over so lets scroll ahead and look back....

The cottages my wife booked are "Swept Away Cottages" and I would recommend them to anyone.  Family friendly, great service, and an excellent distance from many of the Cavendish areas great activities such as golfing, beaches, theme parks, and evening entertainment.  With two young kids my wife and I had no problems keeping them entertained.  The cottages contained many amenities that made our trip simpler, including a dishwasher, and Heather was always available to provide some insight as to what to do next.

Of course we spent a good portion of time on the beaches and built sandcastles and splashed around.  We also went to Santa's Woods, the Cavendish Boardwalk, and the Stanley Bridge Marine Aquarium where fish were kept in live tanks for kids to see and touch.  I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the fish and stuffed bird and insect collection.  It was a naturalist's haven.

No trip to PEI is complete without a stop at the Gateway Village and our son had lots of fun creating havoc at the shops here while my wife searched for deals.  Of course my son was also very impressed with the Confederation Bridge and anyone who has ever travelled it will tell you that it truly is an engineering marvel.  With lots of sun and little wind, the 12.9km drive over the bridge flew by.  We cranked our necks in every direction trying to take in as much of the scenery as possible before entering the Gateway Village.

It was ironic that as we sat in a small diner in the Village that an old country song "Islands in the Stream" started playing.  Ironic for two reasons; first we were on an island; second because that song would likely have been playing when I was a bit older than my son and visiting PEI with my parents.  It instantly took me back to the number of family vacations I took with my parents and quickly I went through a number of childhood memories and hoped that I could help Seth and Shaylee create similar lifetime memories.  A great family trip that will start a new treasure chest of memories for me for sure.

Speechless Memories

Not to often am I left speechless or at a loss for words to write. Really I could write words on how the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics went but no words could really do justice to what those games did to this great nation. I don't want to copy and paste someone else's image onto my blog, I don't want to try to describe to you how watching Canada win 14 medals made me feel. The truth is I just want to remember it, and keep it etched in my mind for as long as I can. The only thing I want to say is thanks to those athletes that gave their all, win or lose, finish or fall trying, not one of you dissappointed. I write that knowing that it is very unlikely an Olympic athlete will ever read it but I want to put it out there. It is truly wonderful to be Canadian.