Friday, December 31, 2021

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!




21 comments:

  1. Such a nice memory post, however one picture is a sad reality. :(
    I am not in a wheelchair but I still always LOVE walking into a library. Old, new, tall shelves, short shelves, circular shelves, the creakier the floors the better. ♥
    Happy New Year to you and Mrs. F.G. (try and behave tonight, k?)
    All the best of everything in 2022.

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  2. Happy New Year to you both, the memories, the photos, your totally gorgeous fall colours, then the snow , I look forward to your posts with huge anticipation, and can imagine being there in real life. We don't get the snow here, one light fall in about 50 years, so your winter pics are a huge delight to me.I hope for us all 2022 is a good year, with safe travels, and true friendships close by and further away to continue, and above all, have love ,laughter and happiness in all our lives.

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  3. Happy New Year to you and yours! I certainly am hopeful that 2022 will be a better year for all of us.

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  4. Happy New Year to you both.

    All the best Jan

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  5. Wonderful pictures and memories of the past year. I also hope that 2022 will let us finally be out of the pandemic. Happy New Year to one and all! :-)

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  6. Happy New Year! Let's hope for a better 2022 (or at least the end of COVID!)

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  7. Happy New Year to you both! I look forward to more of your travels in your area as you search for creatures and birds!

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  8. I wish you a happy and healthy 2022.

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  9. Good and interesting highlights -- may 2022 yield as many. Happy New Year to the two of you, enjoy each and every day.

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  10. A nice look back. All the best in the new year to you and Mrs. FG:))

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  11. I never thought of the library being made more accessible with lower stacks. Ours has been remodeled. I wonder if they also made this provision.

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  12. Happy New year to you and the Mrs. I really enjoy your posts year round. Thanks for sharing your travels and gardens. A coffee club would be fun for me to join. Tell your that I am looking forward to spring and will be watching the photos of her things sprouting and shooting up.

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  13. i had favorites of course, even thought i enjoyed them all. the first 2, no surprise there!! happy new year!! 2022 has got to be better!!

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  14. A great photo collection except for the tragically sad one. The library photo is my favorite having been a librarian.

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  15. A great photo gallery! I especially love the third one.

    The handcuffs make me sad but it is time to confront the pass.

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  17. Happy New Year! You took some lovely photos! We love the Monarchs too!

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  18. What a lovely look back!
    I usually do a calendar and that's when I look back. We just sent one to the kids as we aren't seeing them anytime soon!
    Happy New Year!

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