Picked up Oona from school today and sat in on her fencing class. This is Oona, in perfect form, behind the mask! Oona then showed me,in a street savy way, how to wave down a cab. Kiefer enjoys his after school treat and we met up with Anna, her mom from Rome and grand-
Here's Oona diving at the end of our point. Watching is her best cottage friend Owen. Oona came down alone every day to do partial early morning laps with me. Sophie is every ready for mischief as Kiefer tells her, "No no no we're not allowed." Baby Erik slept a lot and was the biggest angel of all. Oona was very interested in bugs and caterpillars and watched with great wonder as 2 Monarch butterfly caterpillars unfolded and hatched from their chrysalis, dried their wings and flew into the pine trees to ready for their flight to Mexico.
We have had very few rainy days, but on this one we poured hot water from the sauna into the little pool for an out door bath. We visited cousins up the channel for fishing in their back bay and then a crazy ride on the 'Jumbo Dog.'
Oona and her best friend Owen are in the 6 person canoe (white one) race and their boat won! Then tubing with Owen, cool swim and finally a quiet game of chess with grandad.
This little sailboat is called a Mirror - English designed but assembled in Canada. Alex found it on the net and Chris hauled it to our cottage. Perfect for kids learning to sail . Rob is a musician freind of Sonja's that came for a visit and formed a little band and sang songs to the kids. Kiefer's favourite Bithday present is the ukele his daddy gave him. Kiefer sleeps with the ukele right next to him.
Oona picked these daisies for her princess crown. Finally connected to the net up here in the north, but very iffy. Fishin' swimmin' and hangin' out with Sophie.
Sophie and Kiefer are going for a ride here, but early this morning they both quietly disappeared and crawled into this bike carrier in the garage. I frantically ran up and down the street calling them and searching and then they popped their little heads out after a long silence and said, "Here we are." I still can't believe they did that! Having evening popcorn with grandad.
Here's Oona covered in a blue rain cover given to all that boarded the boat 'Maid Of The Mist.' Nice to be sprayed with mist from Niagara Falls in 40 degrees heat. Lineups were small to get on this boat that took us to the base of the roaring falls. Kiefer scared.
Erik had a good time meeting Oona and Kiefer. We had lots of sidewalk bike activity and then lots of cake and ice-cream and freezies for Sonja's Birthday party. At bedtime Kiefer said, "Sophie and me had fun." And they did- either hugging or bonking each other. Very very hot!
This is beautiful baby Erik at 6 weeks young sleeping on Marianne's hand. Erik came into this world at 9lb 8oz on May 19th. Erik has very big feet feet and hands and is always very hungry.
This is a wine tower 4 stories high containing 4 thousand bottles of wine from 14 countries, situated in the the hotel lobby surrounded by restaurants. When you order a bottle at your table, a wine angel goes up in a trapeze, performs acrobatics, smiles, does a somersault or two and then appears at your table in little feathery wings with your chosen bottle of wine. We had wide eyes and open mouths watching and must have looked like we were from boonyville. Well, now I know why people go to Las Vegas for grand spectacles. There is a wine tower in Vegas. This one is at the Radisson Bleu hotel in Zurich with access to our return flight home via hotel escalator. And more ski pics of Oona up high with grandad.
On our last bright sunny day we went for a lovely horse and buggy ride to the village of Zug. On our return Sonja and Kiefer stroked the muzzle of this horse with the ears back. All of a sudden the horse chomped down on Kiefer's hand. Sonja tugged, Kiefer wailed, I shreiked and Allan jammed his fist into the horse's mouth until it released. Kiefer's fingers were slightly abraded. The owner very nonchalantly said, "Oh, my horse was hungry for an apple." Yeah right!!!!
Kiefer looks out on this view of the Arlberg ski area from his wooden sled. There is a new sport -sledding from the top of the mountain on runs-for-sleds-only. You brake with your boot clad feet. Sonja and Alex are very good at going down with the kids. Kiefer says"again" at the bottom and up they go in the cable car. The sculpture on the hill is by British artist Anthony Gormley. The figures are all over the place and look eerily real from the chair.
Here's Oona on her way up to the top of the mountain, then a quick pose with her hands on her hips and then down we went with Sonja leading and me bringing up the rear in case of a fall. There was one fall and Oona did a front somersault over her skiis that did release. Then she was up and on her way again. Kiefer and Grandad were at the bar. Pictures to follow.
This ancient rock is a very short kayak from our back door. Ed Bartram's paintings are inspired by these many centuries ancient formations. To see his art, copy and paste the following into the URL bar,
A humpback whale in Georgian Bay?
Marianne and Sophie in her prettiest dress going to Kristian's wedding on Toronto Island. Sonja looking on.
Kiefer on the ferry also dressed in his finest to attend Kristian's wedding.
Sonja and Chris with Sophie and Oona.
Horsing around with Chris.
Oona came to join me for an early morning swim.
Oona playing in front of our house.
Sophie and Kiefer at the dock ladder.
