March 28 ~ Kids

Topher was the 'star' at holding still and being quiet.

He had dozens of 'hits' with chicadees at Mer Bleue. You can see how peased he was!

Even as an adult, I am thrilled when the little guys land on my hand to take sunflower seeds.

March 27 ~ Kids

Maple Syrup Lollipops at the Vanier Sugar Bush.

How great is that!

March 26 ~ Kids

 

Grandkids Koda, age 3 3/4, Aaron, age 3 1/2, and Topher, age 5.

Koda and Topher are here in Ottawa, from Guelph,  with my son, John, while he attends meetings.

The Rainbow hats are gifts that I brought back from Nepal.

It really makes me smile to see the 'cousins' wearing the hats!

March 25 ~ Yurt

I love the juxtaposition of the ice covered  lake and picnic tables.

 While I am snowshoeing, I try to imagine swimmers and picnicers in the summer.

Lac Philippe is a tranquil retreat in any season.

March 24 ~ Yurt

Surrounded by fresh snow, this looks like a chilly scene.

However, the wood stove inside keeps us toasty warm all through the night,

as long as we get up every hour or so to put more wood on the fire.

If anything, we complain about being too hot!

Marach 23 ~ Yurt

Still life at Lac Philippe!

My Camera Club friend, Charles, took an award winning photo which was similar to this.

His was a glass of wine, and the bottle, lit by a summer sunset at Lake Winnipeg.

 . My photo is a take-off on  his photo, and is entitled, 'Sunrise at Lac Philippe',

 or 'The Morning After the Night Before'!

Thanks to Margo for the lovely Italian wine!

March 22 ~ Yurt

From the yurt, we had a lovely view of  the sunrise over Lac Philippe.

The yurt is perched on the highest point in that sector, so we had a view in every direction.

After the snowy deluge of Tuesday, Wednesday dawned clear and sunny!

March 21 ~ Yurt

Anne and Judy load up on wood from the woodpile, to the stove burmning throughout the night.

I like that the snowflakes have 'stopped' in this photo.

March 20 ~ Lac Phillipe Yurt

 

Same location, same friends, same date, a year apart!

Wow,  March 19, 2012, we had totally abnormal 30 degree weather for our

 First Annual Lac Phillipe Yurt Adventure.

March 19, 2013 was normal for this time of the year ... Lovely fresh snow and just below zero.

Below ...Margo, Judy, Anne, Frances, Peggy.

 

March 19 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

Following the safari, Megan returned home and I flew to Cape Town.

There, I was met by my friend, Nell, who I had not seen for 35 years!

We had lived together in Zambia, where she had been my Maid of Honour.

She then married a South African, and lived in Gordon`s Bay, near Cape Town.

Getting together again instantly erased the 35 years! It was magical.

I`m grateful that I made the trip, because Nell passed away two years ago.

March 18 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

After the climb, Megan and I met up with Ottawa friends Chris and Jennifer.

 Together we went on safari to Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

I could post fabulous photos of animals, but instead here are the four of us in our safari truck.

Being so close to the animals, and having tremendous fun together, was a wonderful experience

 and a great memory!

March 17 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

After ten days on the trail, eight to climb and two to come down, it was time to part ways with the wonderful guides and porters who had made everything possible.

There was dancing for joy, and crying for saying 'Good Bye.'

Even now, six years later, I can feel the power of those emotional moments.

I'm forever grateful to Tusker Trails for making this experience happen in my life.

And I'm forever grateful to Megan for saying, "Sure, I"ll come and climb Kilimanjaro with you!'

 

March 16 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

 'A Picture says a Thousand Words.'

Climbing Kilimanjaro was my dream-come-true, 35 years in the waiting.

Sharing the summit with Megan made it worth the wait!

March 15 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

This was the last push to the summit!

Two hours in knee deep snow, in thin air.

Pole, pole. (slowly, slowly, in Swahili)

What exhilaration!

March 14 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

This is one of my all-time favourite photos of Megan.

We're in the Kilimanjaro Crator, about to set off for the summit, with glaciers behond her.

Can you just hear her, "Woo Hoo!"

March 13 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

I was the first one out of my tent in the morning, and woke to see the sun just breaking the horizon.

This is how I imagine a moonscape, bathed in white. 

The stark beauty took my breath away!

March 12 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

(I"m out of sequence here)

We reached our camp in the Crater by mid afternoon. It was eerily, stunningly beautiful.

We would overnight here, then push for the summit in the morning.

 Amy believed that we were the highest people on earth that day and night!

March 11 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

As we pushed for the summit, our guides Amy and Aurio checked our blood oxygen level every hour.

Megan has the measuring device on her finger.

Keeping the oxygen level over 90 was a Good Thing!

Trekking with Tusker made us feel very safe, protected and cared for!

March 10 ~ Kilimanjaro Summit

March 10 was our actual summit day, so I will post this photo somewhat out of sequence.

The exhilaration of reaching the summit was one of the highlight moments of my life.

Being able to share it was Megan, was amazing!

 

March 9 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

 

It looks like we were really 'climbers',

but in reality this was one of only two places where we were 'roped.'

Thanks for the help, Aurio!

The summit is ever closer!



March 8 ~ Kilimanjaro memories

During a rest stop, Megan chatted with Aurio, one of our guides.

I love this picture because of the summit of Kilimanjoro in the background!

 It seemed impossible that we were going to be there!

March 7 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

This is a picture of Camp being taken down in the morning.

The porters set up camp each evening, carry all the gear all day, then set it up again each night. Their load included a dining table, chairs, tents, mattresses, food, a cook tent, cooking gear, etc!

What an amazing organization!

We were extremely well looked after!!!

march 6 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

The wonderful Tusker Porters engaged us in singing and dancing every night when we arrived in camp. After changing into 'evening' clothes, the purpose was to get us warmed up.

We thought it was just to have fun!

Megan is on the right in the yellow jacket.

March 5 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

(Back to Africa ...)

Megan and I in front of the dining tent after a hard day's hiking.

Notice all the warm layers of clothing, even in the early days of the climb!

March 4 ~ Taylor Lake Loop

My friend Nancy is expressing her joy with winter and with skiing the Taylor Lake Loop!

This is  12km loop in the Lac Phillippe area of the Gatineau Park. Much to our suprise, a bench is half way around the loop!

Thanks!

March 3 ~ skiing at Nakkertok

Megan and Lee ski with the little ones! Marty was in the Pulk, which Megan pulled, and Aaron stayed to play/ski with Amma.(that's me, in Grandma speak!)

March 2 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

A three hour ride, in an open-sided truck, took us to the start of our hike.

March 1 ~ Kilimanjaro Memories

Six years ago, Megan and I were on an amazing adventure, climbing the highest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro.
For a few days, I'm going to post photos from that journey, selfishly, to enjoy the memories.
This picture shows our guide, Amy, (blue shirt) and Megan holding the banner with our fellow climbers.
The purpose of our climb was to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer reasearch.