Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This isn’t the best photo I’ve ever taken, but there was just something about the rainy evening and the umbrella and her constant movement and the colors. I can’t put my finger on it, but her spirit was captured and it makes me smile.

Corey, Marsha and Catherine, up to their elbows in paper maché. The cast of Cinderella will doubtless appreciate all your hard work on their props!

With less than twenty four hours turn around time, the girls and I have once again found ourselves back on the ferry. We got a game of Quixx in while Catherine did some drawing. We shouted her name so that she would turn around and unwittingly be in our photo 🙂

“A farmer depends on himself, and the land and the weather. If you’re a farmer, you raise what you eat, you raise what you wear, and you keep warm with wood out of your own timber. You work hard, but you work as you please, and no man can tell you to go or come. You’ll be free and independent, son, on a farm.” ~Father Wilder, Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I have long wanted to visit Ottawa, and am thrilled for it to be the first foreign capital city that the girls will have visited. We spent only one day in the city, but we made good use of our time: Changing of the Guard at Parliament, a walking tour of the Parliament Hill, watching the Rideau Canal Locks in action, a narrated boat tour on the Ottawa River, walking along the Gatineau, Quebec side of the river, the Museum of Canadian History, and a fantastic light show at the Parliament building to top it off.

The city felt distinctly European and yet uniquely Canadian at the same time. It was a perfect day to walk the city and take in the views. I got the feeling that we had barely scratched the surface of what it has to offer. Luckily for us, it is a mere 7 hour drive from home. I’m sure we will be back before long.

The photo is of the girls sitting by the fountain at the Canadian Museum of History, with the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill behind them.

We picked up two smiling girls from camp tonight. Amongst their constant chatter as we packed their things and they said their good byes, we heard two constant comments, “I don’t want to go!” and “Please can I come back next year?” It seems they really liked it!

(when I told them I wanted a pic with the barn behind them, Catherine was appalled saying, “but this is where the recycling and trash bins are! We can’t take a picture here!” But it turns out, I could!)

Peter embraces this brave new Canadian world.