Summer Finale

Last Saturday we held our Summer Finale Open House. In addition to the traditional wagon ride, Mass, and potluck, we also held a tree-dedication ceremony in honour of the late John Shannon, a great friend and benefactor to Waupoos. Many of John’s family members, friends, and former colleagues joined us to celebrate his memory. Since John was so involved in the ministry of Waupoos, the event also attracted many former farm resident families who had been touched in some way by his service. It was moving to see so many people gathered for the ceremony and to have such great attendance at our Mass and potluck. After dinner, we were treated to a concert given by two local musical groups, Grace Note and the Hallelujah Gospel Choir. We also managed to raise some money for the farm through the sale of commemorative leaves, to be pinned on a tree that Sabrina had painted and displayed in the lodge. All in all a great event!

  

The next day we had a bunch of friends over to celebrate the September birthday boys, Liam, James, and our nephew, David. It rained all afternoon, but we managed to have a good time anyway. Sabrina painted kids’ faces for a solid three hours and we had a great potluck lunch, followed by a Super Disco Dance Party (Brendan’s words!)!!!

After such a full and busy weekend, it’s been nice to have some quiet days at the farm. Liam and I have started our home kindergarten and are both enjoying it. James wants to participate too, of course, so he gets to colour while we do our workbook, and listen to the stories we read.

We’re trying to savour these warm days, spending as much time outside as we can. On Wednesday we took a walk along the Mer Bleue boardwalk with some friends. The fall colours were out in all their splendour and we were there early enough that the mist was still lifting off the bog. The boys loved seeing the little spider webs stretched between bits of moss and low trees. It was both peaceful and vivifying to be surrounded by so much beauty. The boys ensured that I didn’t lose myself in contemplation though: Liam insisted on pushing Callum’s stroller, which he did haphazardly, and I never felt I could quite trust James not to jump into the marsh.

Today Brendan is busy tearing siding off our house so that new stuff can be put on next week. I’ve been gifted with some free time to write while the boys have been either playing outside or napping. Simple joys.

Holiday by the Bay

We’re back at the farm now after a 10-day holiday in New Brunswick. Liam spent the first half hour of Sunday morning crying because he wanted to “go back to Fredericton.” I took this as an indication of how much he had enjoyed his holiday, and despite how annoying it was to listen to him whine, I couldn’t help but feel satisfied. We all had a fantastic time.

We left for New Brunswick on Thursday the 4^th, after Brendan got home from work. We drove as far as Rivière-du-Loup, where we stopped to have a terrible sleep at the Days Inn. The boys had been sleeping in the van, so when we stopped after midnight, they thought it was time to be awake. Liam and Callum were compliant with bedtime number 2, but James just wanted to jump on the bed. Which he did until 3am. We all got up again around 7:30, had breakfast at the hotel and got back on the road. The kids did pretty well in the van on both days. Callum let his discontent be heard a few times, but mostly he either slept or looked around happily.

We got to the Marshall family cottage on Friday afternoon and were greeted with hugs from Nana and Papa. The weather was gorgeous and the boys were eager to play outside. Thus began our week-long holiday at Bay du Vin, where we spent our days playing on the beach, eating, reading, and resting. Happily for us, the weather was beautiful the whole time we were there – much sunnier and warmer on this September vacation than when we were there last July.

After our week by the bay, we spent a few days at Nana and Papa’s house in Fredericton. We had a birthday party for the boys on Thursday night with all the Fredericton family. We had already celebrated Liam on his actual birthday (Sept 6^th), when he had turned 4. He thought that since he was having another party, he must now be turning 5, and that he’d be 6 at the party in Ottawa at the end of this week! Fortunately, he didn’t seem too disappointed when I explained that he got to enjoy being 4 for a little longer!

On Friday night Brendan and I went to see Blues Traveler at Fredericton’s Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. It was the first time in 10 years that Brendan had been home for the festival, so he was pumped. The morning came much too soon, as it does after such nights (especially with little ones who have no taste for sleeping in), but we managed to collect ourselves enough to make it to the market. Brendan grew up going to Boyce Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning, and we never miss it when we’re in Fredericton. We got the traditional donairs, samosas, and pastries, and chatted with the old friends Brendan ran into. I also purchased some soap nuts from one of the vendors, for which Brendan teased me relentlessly. “What kind of gimmick is that?! A nut made of soap?! A nut that washes clothes?!” etc., etc. I’m looking forward to using them, to prove the value of my investment. Apparently the bag I bought will clean our laundry for a whole year.

From the market we made our way to a free outdoor kids concert downtown. Liam, the consummate contrarian, refused to participate, but James danced and played the hand drums with some other kids. We left around noon to finish packing the van for the long trip home.

The drive back was much better than the drive out, simply because we spared ourselves the miserable hotel stop. We arrived home around midnight and the boys transferred to their beds without complaint. The crying in the car was also minimal, although Brendan will say he nearly lost his mind (his threshold for car-crying is about 3 seconds). Nothing that some snacks and one emergency pit-stop couldn’t remedy!

We don’t exactly feel rested (is that even possible at this stage of life?!), but we are refreshed. Our vacation this year was one of the best we’ve had as a family, and although it would be nice never to have to leave the ocean, I’m looking forward to what the fall will bring.