Best of 2021 Part II

Looking back on the summer of 2021, one highlight was the arrival of the Monarchs, which have laid eggs on our Milkweeds each year since we moved here.  These two pictures are by Mrs. F.G. since she can get closer than I can, but we have lots of pictures like this from the past and it's always fascinating to watch them.

In later spring we were in Harrison Park in Owen Sound and found that the old 'One Mile Drive' has been paved as a walkway.  And the pavement makes it completely accessible to me.  I don't know of any other paved trail like this through mature forest.  It's an absolute delight to me!

This photo isn't exciting - unless you love going to the library and you're in a wheelchair!  The wide aisles and the short stacks make our new library totally accessible, and I love it!

September 30th is Orange Shirt Day in Canada, a day to remember the children from native communities taken away to residential schools, forcibly if necessary.  These are a pair of children's handcuffs they used when children didn't want to leave their parents.  The day is named after one such child, Phyllis Webstad and her memories of the orange shirt she wore for the first day of classes.  It was immediately taken and burned by the nuns who ran the school.

One of the joys of my life is simply riding around the nearby streets and heading downtown for a cup of coffee.  I see lots of things of interest, but these New England Asters were I think, one of my best photos of the year, simply because I could get close to them.

I must also speak of the welcome I've felt at McGinty's, our downtown cafe.  They go overboard in being friendly and welcoming, as well as in brewing great coffee and making delicious sandwiches.  It goes a long way to making me feel a part of this community.

The fall colours mark the mid-point of fall, and we saw some great colour in Harrison Park, beyond the ones here in the neighbourhood.  They're always one of my favourite things to photograph.

It was fairly late in the fall when I managed my last visit down to the harbour, but there always seems to be something new to see, and I managed several visits over the summer.

And in December we got our first snowfall, just a light few inches, but it still means winter is here.  Even though I speak of hibernating during the winter, I actually now look forward to it as a peaceful time of working on things I want to write.  And Mrs. F.G, is always gracious enough to take me out 3 or 4 times a week.

So in spite of covid, I think it has been a good year overall. We've gotten out, I've made new friends, and my coffee group is enjoying itself.  We continue to go searching for Snowy Owls and Sandhill Cranes, my PSWs continue to arrive and help me, and the seasons unfolded here as they should.

So Happy New Year everyone!  And may 2022 be a better year for all of us!