Ottawa and Wakefield

Mela picked me up at the VIA Rail station in Ottawa. Thus began my visits with good old friends and family. I stayed with her and Don for a few days. Mela and I spent time together in the  local market and coffee shop. We walked in Mud Lake and went to make final arrangements for the engraving on the stone that will be placed at the base of the tree they have chosen to be planted in Britannia Park in memory of Blake. She and Don and I had time to just sit around together at meals and renew our friendship. Caroline and Albert joined us one night for pot au feu and birthday clafoutis to celebrate Caroline's birthday. Mela, Caroline and I began the evening with our traditional tequila cheers. 

Mela at the market buying vegetables for the pot au feu she made for Caroline's birthday

The bear in his den

I then spent some 'quality' time with Caroline and Albert. Again we seemed to slip easily into conversations and activities as if we hadn't been apart for as long as we have. Caroline and I visited the Museum of Nature to see a special exhibit of butterflies. We walked through vertical, clear Venetian blinds into a warm, humid room full of plants and butterflies of all imaginable colours. It was exotic. As a complete contrast, we then visited the relatively new exhibit of Canada's north which includes artifacts and interactive explanations from ancient Inuit tomes to Martin Frobisher's first European explorations to the present day. Another day we went to the Museum of History, my favourite for its architecture and setting. We spent a lot of time in the Neanderthal exhibit and then watched the IMAX film, "Great Bear Rainforest, Land of the Spirit Bear". I had seen it in May with Terry and Barbara,  but it's so well done I happily watched it again. I also realized my two food ambitions of the trip while with them. We had dinner one night in a real shawarma restaurant and bagel breakfast at Vince's. There I met Jim's old gang who still have breakfast together almost every week. Caroline and I of course did not eat with them. 🤣We  women went to our own table. On Thursday I had fun with Caroline and Simon, her youngest grandson. He's Gabe's second boy. On Friday we drove to Wakefield for lunch at Le Hibou. Christine Stobbert who lived on our road and babysat Jay a few times came up and introduced herself to me. She is a part owner there now. It was a very pleasant surprise to see her again. 

Caroline under the moon at the Museum of Nature

A brand new butterfly at the Museum of Nature

A friend and I on the shore of the Ottawa River at the Museum of History

Gabe and his boys at home


Albert's signature poached egg on a bagel 

Then it was off to Micheline's for the gathering of the WWW. Unfortunately Rosanda and Mary Lou were not with us. In spite of that we had some good old times: walking, talking, laughing and eating. Although we don't need liquor to loosen our tongues, the fact that Lindy brought the makings for martinis probably added to the ribald atmosphere. The Wild Women of Wakefield don't have to change our name yet, but we had fun thinking of names we might use in the future such as, We Were Wild and maybe in the distant future, What Were We?

The WWW -2 at Micheline's 

I stayed for a few days with Miche. Paul was in the southern USA at a motorcycle exhibit. Miche and I did lots of things we both enjoy. The weather was cool and often sunny, and the leaves got more colourful by the day. They were at their peak by the end of me stay. We went to the Wakefield market where I saw quite a few old neighbours, walked on the paths around the village, biked along the Ottawa River, had two spa days and watched two good old movies. She drove me to the Baughan's where I spent my last two nights in Ottawa. I've had good visits with them on my last two trips. Carolyn managed to coral Megan, Geoff and Sarah again for the traditional delicious family dinner. Carolyn and Ken drove me to the station the next morning where I caught the train for Kitchener.  

The traditional Baughan dinner