Canada Day - Visiting Past Haunts

While I expect most people flocked to the beach or community parks to celebrate Canada's 144th birthday, we loaded up the truck and headed for the woods to bike through the woodlot that once belonged hubby's grandfather ...and later his father. It was the first time we had been back since the land was sold several years ago. We spent 2 1/2 bumpy hours biking over roads that never existed when the land was in the family, as well as older over grown roads that were there since his grandfather's days. The scape has changed enough over the years that we could not find old familiar landmarks.

Ready to go.

My old circa 1940's Schwinn  Corvette bike

survived yet again

another rough ride.

.

When the family worked the woodlot

there was still a market for 

natural Christmas trees. 
Now everyone wants a pruned tree like these.

Exploring an over grown road.

Stopping for lunch.

The house I was born in

... in what was then my parents bedroom

...upper left hand window.

The house has change hands many times since I left 

over 35 years ago 

and it's good to see that some work

is being done on it now.

What used to be my grandparents house

...a mansion compared to the one

I grew up in.

The old church hubby went to as a child

...and carved his initials into the pew.
Our eldest daughter was baptized in this church. 

It is now being demolished

...or being taken apart so it can be moved.

An old dilapidated one room school house

hubby's dad attended as a boy.

A visit with hubby's Mom.

...and with my Mom and Dad.

TRULY CANADIAN EH!

Tomorrow being Canada Day, I have to put out a plug in for a wonderful independent Canadian film"One Week", directed and written Michael McGowan.
We watched it on the weekend and I have to say it was one of the best movies I’ve seen for a long time . I loved it for its simplicity and its “Canadianism”, not to mention the oh so handsome lead actor Joshua Jackson who plays the part of Ben Tyler, a young man diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with the knowledge that he has at best two years to live, Ben buys a vintage motorcycle, and against the wishes of his fiancée Samantha who wants him to start treatment right away, sets off on a week long quest to find some meaning to his life. With help from a great Canadian icon, he heads west.
On his way he meets several characters that force him to reassess his life choices, and rediscover things he had missed growing up. The scenery and music in this film is wonderful. Also featured is a guest appearance by a well known maritime singer Joel Plasket, who plays the part of a street busker.
While Joshua Jackson is fantastic for this film, the man acts with his eyes, it is Campbell Scott as the narrator who brings warmth, humor and those heart melting moments to the movie, like having a best friend.
The movie is about death, love, and living. What would you do if you had only one week to live? Don’t leave this gem sitting on the shelf.

Happy Canada Day!