autumnomy

A quintessential fall begins at the Quintessential Fair. (Several times over.)




A glorious-weathered thanksgiving weekend started off with a day trip to Elora with friends

Thanksgiving weekend bike trip (tout les cinq! plus grandparents, not in evidence) along the Welland canal

A thanksgiving sunday wander through the arboretum in full fall foliage




Turkey dinner at Nanny's. (Mudzuks was a little disappointed, after eagerly waiting all week for "turkey with all the trimmings" to find out that it was a big dead bird with lots of bones and bowls full of mostly mushy stuff. At least she liked dessert!)


Dzudzene showing off Papuks' latest project in the kids' room
So Papuks has garnered him quite a reputation as pizza maker extraordinaire. But sometimes his customers frustrate him.
Here's Dzudzie sucking on her first crust!And hanging out with aunties, patiently awaiting pie...



Later last weekend... a trick or treat trial run for the annual Fright Night at school (yes, Mudzuks does look a little too convincing...)

More Manan!

As Papuks pointed out to me yesterday, there really was quite a lot edited out of that summery summary. So I will attempt to rectify the situation, at least in regard to our island adventures...

To market...

Pettes's Cove = rocks

Walking across to White Island for a picnic:

Papuks was most disappointed that I didn't document the follies down at Stanley Beach, where he and VJ brought Mudzuks and Vecais so that "the kids" could have some fun on the beach slide/rope swing....


VJ's graceful entrance:

Papuks prepares for take off (a serious pursuit, this is...)

And how dare your Faithful Blogger ignore House of Wax ( The Parental Version)?

Literally figuring out how one might cut the rug.

Dzudzuks to Waxers: "Meme? Meme?"

Last days, down at a windy Castalia Marsh

A Summery Summary

Yes, we know it's autumn and all that, but as usual, linear time has a habit of running away from us. Your Faithful Blogger has managed to catch her briefly here, and will give you (perhaps not so?) quick run-down of our glorious 90 day weekend.

First stop: south of the border, the Catskills and a brief side trip to Massachussetts (Mudzuks was at 'sleepover camp' for 2 weeks while Mamuks, Papuks, Dzudzuks and Vecais sniffed the mountain air, visited G&Z on the coast, and headed back for annual sucking of our Little Thumbs... hence scant evidence of Sister #1 [and so begins her life to which her parents will no longer be privy... a very weird feeling.]).

In the outskirts of Boston

And on the coast at Crane Beach (scorching sand, frigid water! a marvellous combination)

(Papuks clinging closely to his prohibited floaty toy)

Back at camp...

Vecais and his buddy Talis; Dzudzuks, Matiss and his fish fingers; pie Dzena ezera (on the mountain lake property of the guy who apparently made his fortune inventing those plastic bread tie squares)

Talis, Peteris and Vecais - Just Say No to the papparazzi!

Robin Hood and Dzudzuks

an engrossing conversation

More Dzudzuks pie Dzena, taking in the mountain air
happy camper
happy camfire-ers (although Dzudz finds it all a bit of a yawn)

Finally, evidence of the "Big Camp-er"!

Next stop: Waffles, Moules&Frites and Bureaucracy! Off to Belgique for a long overdue sojourn with the Outlaws!

A Brussels breakie:

About town

Cafe lifestyle

The Obligatory Windmill:

Technopolis!

The Knight's Challenge!

Cousins galore...

And chuck in some grandparents, too

Arrival in the Ardennes

The famous Bois d'Ardennes (to be joined by the Swedish meatballs)

Historic villages

(Vecais aka Robin Hood thinks he's died and gone to Hood Heaven)

Cabaret!

Mamuks and Tante S finally admit that there may indeed be some family resemblance...

But Papuks and U-ie aren't even related... (?! who called whom?)

...and add in Onkuls Gaga for good measure.

Bigs and Smalls, of various varieties:

Picnic in the orchard

Tante I and her trusty baker-helper

and even more trusty taster-decorators

Papuks and the ladies

Last stop: Bay of FUNdy (that's an old and tired joke. From an old and tired person, I guess.)

Lots of hiking!

and rewards for good behaviour!
Lots of beach! (record warm temps in the Ol' B of F - a "balmy" 17 degrees!)

VJ's amazing porpoise rescue!

And VJ and his two youngest lovelies:

Pimp my ride.

And seeing as Papuks had never been to Hali, Mamuks, Papuks and Dzudzuks did a quick side trip to pick up Tante S and stop in on Tante P. Here's Dzudzuks dipping in the tannic lake waters at Purcell Pond in the Haligonian burbs...

Papuks and Dzuk checking out the buildings


And hanging at 2ifbysea with Tante P!

One long, hot, brilliant summer! (Good thing fall ain't too shabby either. Stay tuned.)