The Twizzler

Cyclists are like leaves.
In the summer they fill the bike paths
but as the mornings darken
and the first wintery blasts are felt
only a few of the bravest or most foolhardy remain,
hunched over their handlebars against the wind.

We had a nice little assembly line going to prepare a huge box of ripe pears for freezing.  Be sure to invite yourself over for dessert this winter!

Peal

Halve and core (isn't that beautiful?!)

Boil for three minutes in lemon water

Transfer immediately to ice water

Make a fort

I did it! I blew them all out!

Shana had her birthday party this year at Colour Me Mine, where you can paint pottery. We had about ten kids, some from Shana’s school, some from various home-school connections, and some neighbours.

Artist at work

Parents and siblings were invited to the après-party at our home, and the weather cooperated beautifully though the uninvited wasps were a bit of a pest.

Adults being adults

Kids being kids (decorating a cardboard house)

Talking to Grandma

Our little girl, all grown up and off to school!

This morning I reached Sidney, Manitoba, a small town on the Trans-Canada just east of Winnipeg and north of  the dry and sandy Spruce Woods Provincial Park, sporting three roads and a four-way-stop.  Traffic (composed mainly of combines and a school bus) is gawking at this virtual cyclist invading their sleepy corner of the prairies.