beyond my boundaries

there is something amazing about staying on the water.

it is serene, beautiful, fulfilling, magical...so many things

rolled into one.

it makes me feel complete.

my family and i just got back from discovering beauty

in my hubby's home country...canada.

we stayed in the muskoka area on the lake he went to cottage

as a boy with his family....lake stewart.

the lighting is always different on the water with the reflection.

it gives off the most beautiful amber glow.

we have enjoyed many wonderful vacations

and family visits to canada and this was no exception.

this was a restful time to be together and do nothing or plenty.

so we took plenty of photographs.

did a lot of fishing.

many beautiful flowers were in bloom while we were there.

there was also lots of down time to just sit...relax...talk...observe nature.

plenty of time was spent in the water...

canoeing

watching sunrises...

more fishing...

observing the natural beauty and wildlife around us...

playing in the sand...

and watching sunsets.

we did our share of exploring local places.

here we were checking out one of the charming local towns...bala.

there are so many lovely old churches

and quaint places to shop.

keeping an eye on nature was one of our favourite past times.

we took buster along and since he is a chesapeake bay retriever

he felt right at home in the water.

this is just a peek into our weeks on vacation.

many days were spent at the cottage playing games, swimming,

telling stories, reading....well you get the idea.

we picked plenty of wildflowers too.

spent time around the firepit talking, roasting marshmellows

playing cards.

we did lots of jumping...well at least the kids did.

canada is a beautiful place to spend some much needed

down time with the family.

abbey made friends with this little guy at a garden in toronto.

all in all we had a lovely time away from the real world

in our own little paradise on the lake in the cottage.

i love being at home but if you have to go somewhere

canada is a beautiful place to spend some restful days with

your family.

i am glad to be home but am off again on wednesday for a week to

see the gardens in buffalo with meems.

happy july everyone.

my sister, my friend

...in that shadow but i put that undue pressure on myself. we are quite different and those differences are to be exercised to the fullest and enjoyed.

i am not sure i could have ever come to appreciate this without having moved to another state(physically and emotionally). i have grown to understand that it is our different qualities that make us more compatible. we balance each other out. you can't have too much of the same thing without tipping the scale.

thank you , my sister , my friend for some of the most precious days i will always have tucked in my most special, sacred memories.

i was treated like a queen(i do have a bit of a diva in me). a beautiful guest quarters made me feel right at home.

the food was, as always, better than a five star hotel. made with fresh ingredients from the garden, and the perfect spices and herbs only a seasoned cook would use. then a simple beautiful presentation from the artistic chef, herself.

the company was an unexpected treat of very relaxed sharing, laughing, revisiting old memories and of course catching up.

thank you my sister, my friend for always being there for me and inspiring me to be a better person. i deeply love you and love what you bring to my life. i always learn something very insightful about myself and my world after being around you.

i am still trying to take it all in and hopefully fully process it.

thank you my sister, my friend!

to read the original post and first part of this comment go to :

walkwisely.blogspot.com

and look for the post "THERE WERE NEVER SUCH DEVOTED SISTERS"

you don't want to miss the beginning of this one...