April - Dec

Reverend Brown consoles a sinner

April was another MPT show, Inherit the wind. Our fearless leader-director-companyPoohBah played Henry Drummond. He rehearsed the folks of the town as a character. The result was a great energy that made for a mighty fine, fun show. He will be doing the same sort of thing with the spirits in our Feb 2008 production of The Tempest. I'm cast as Caliban, a monster of the Island. I can hardly wait!

Soccer Kaelen

Even before grass get green (usually mid-June) soccer begins.

GG Visits
This is GG (Greatgramma.) Frances, Sandra's mother, visited for three weeks in June. I tried to get her to hike up Grey Mountain with me but to no avail. Phooey! Maybe later.

Summer on the Deck
Sunshine in the North is special. It's daylight 20h/day in July but much of that is low in the sky. Here, Sarah puts Marin on display for company, Kathy and Doug from Campbellford.

Big Blue Eyes and Chicken PoxAll three of Sarah's kids got chicken pox in July but they were still beautiful.

Fun with Uncle Adrian
Want to be a favourite uncle? There are a few tests you need to pass. This one is called 'the spinner'.

Doug on Grey Mountain
I did talk Osamu, the Japanese ESL student who stayed with us in late August to hike up Grey mountain. The weather was lovely and the view spectacular. And my knees are much better now, thank you.

Defending His Turf
A little sod who likes to be atop sod.

Angel on the Deck
Look at that little sod on all that sod.

Uncle Smelicue DancesIn September I was cast as an old hillbilly song and dance hick called Uncle Smelicue. The play was "Dark of the Moon" produced by "The Guild" - a local company subsidized by the usual groups who fork over for amateur arts. I also played Conjurman, a shadowy guy who could, but didn't, change a witch to a man. (Conjurwoman did that.)

They decided to make the playing area a long thin thrust with a 2 by 4 crib filled with dirt that was donated by the cemetery - they dig up more than put back, obviously. The result was a little weird: the long thin thrust gave no other choice than to move down it, then back up. The dirt dried out and became dusty. It had to be watered often. And little stones worked their way to the top and into the bare feet of the actors. It was still a lot of fun and when it all ended I missed it.

The Bet
Conjuman bets the witches with Barbara Allen's life that Witchboy will be true to his word.

Cute as a Bug
The rest of the fall was much the sameold sameold. Except that the Pleasemum Sandra works at move across the street to a much larger location and the upheaval was more than a little stressful for all involved. Hallowe'en came and went. Derric was home to take the kids around this year, so there's no tale to tell you of the insurmountable cuteness of the candy fest as there was last year.

Our Son
Pete and Gil have yet to visit us this year, but here's Pete all dressed up as an ell for 'allowe'en. Always nice to see him back in shape. Nice lines Pete.

Autumn in Guelph
Looks like nice weather on a hazy Ontario November afternoon. Gil and Pete will be visiting us soon. We'll take lotsa pix of Pete taking the favourite uncle tests and post them next year. Gil still works full time at the U of G and as of this week so does Pete. Congratulations ARE in order.

The Dinky Rink
With all that sod kicking about and the too-large, useless tarp I bought the year before to shelter the shed while I was shingling and Kaelen too young to play organized hockey, I thought it might be fun to make a lawn dimple and fill it with tarp and frozen water. I was right! This shot is from Nov 6, when it was finally cold enough to skate outdoors. It's been consistently cold enough to skate outdoors ever since. We get out at least once a week for a little on-ice nonesense.

Dimple Parade
Here are Hazel, Marin and Kaelen doing their level-best to smile for the camera and create the annual Christmas portrait. The event was staged in our basement and was of questionable success (too many distractions) and will have to be staged again with another backdrop.

So there you have it. Or at least some of it. I left out lots and if you come to visit you could be the part of the part I leave out next year. How enticing is that?

Happy Christmas
and
Merry New Year

with love from
Sandra
&
Doug