Canada Day and Old Friends

Yesterday, I managed to get a few tasks done outside in between the raindrops. We were invited to have supper with old and dear friends at their cottage and dined on barbecued chicken skewers and smoked sausage, new potatoes, asparagus, and deviled eggs. I brought a strawberry rhubarb crisp (of course). The rain stopped, but the temperature dropped and the wind picked up. We put on some extra layers and went to a lakeside town close by to watch an incredible fireworks display.

Here, in Canada, we tend to have fireworks on two separate occasions: Victoria Day (the May two-four holiday nicknamed that because it falls on or around May the 24th and generally a case of 24 beer is involved) and Canada Day (July 1). Our fireworks are regulated and people generally purchase packs of fireworks from stores or pop up fireworks sales locations. There is also a "sketchy" guy in a nearby town who trucks into the states and sells fireworks from his front lawn that we normally can't buy here.

For Canada's 150th birthday, town councils purchase fireworks for big displays and donations are collected to help offset the cost. The display we went to was held on a beautiful beach along Lake Huron with hundreds of people in attendance. We put our lawn chairs on the beach and sat under blankets (yes, blankets on July 1st - gotta love Canada) with the water as our backdrop. It was magical. Kids were running around beforehand with glowsticks and light up toy laser swords. People were spread out on blankets and chairs, and babies slept in strollers. When the fireworks started, everyone watched them exploding over the water. The night ended up clear, but a little chilly.

The evening began with a lovely sunset over the water. Some people brought their boats out to watch.

This giant Canada flag flies here all the time. You can see a small light house at the end of the point.

The finale was spectacular!

I love this country of mine with its vast and varied geography, much of which I have yet to see. I'm proud to be Canadian and wouldn't want to call anywhere else home.

Canada Day... polite and apologetic

Yesterday was Canada Day. It was a rainy cool day made brighter by my sister coming for a visit and an invite for a get-together from friends.

My sister's boyfriend was away at a friend's cottage, so she decided to come for a visit and then would be driving to meet her boyfriend at the cottage later. We desperately needed rain and boy, did we get it! Today, things already look greener and perkier. We just had a nice day at home and we made another strawberry, rhubarb pie!

In the evening, we went to friends' where we enjoyed munchies (ribs made in the smoker for a "snack"), and wonderful fireworks. We have spent other Canada Day evenings on their covered back porch watching the guys set up the fireworks and the kids bouncing around on the trampoline having some laughs. While others go camping or go to a cottage for Canada Day, we tend to stay closer to home.

I love being a Canadian. I know nothing different. I am proud of Canada's reputation in the world. Apparently many people think that Canadians are polite and tend to say "sorry" for everything. I probably fall into that category.

 I have been amused over the years when I have met people from other countries who say they know someone in Canada, and do I know them? I live in a big country. My province alone is the size of some countries. But I have smiled and asked, "Oh, where do they live?" 'Cuz you never know, maybe I do actually know them!

However, I do not watch hockey, I do not say "eh", nor do I say "aboot" instead of "about". I do not particularly like Tim Horton's coffee, moose do not walk through our neighbourhood, and I spell these words correctly:  colour, programme, centre.