Mum & Dad’s Back Yard
Most of us enjoy a time to relax amidst the greenery at a picnic or in the calming walk through a forest or climbing around our incredible mountains.
But sometimes just stopping for a bit to sit in our own backyards is beauty enough.
My time in Ontario was coming to a close, my Dad was painting, my sister, Paula, who was also visiting, was out with friends, and it finally wasn’t + 30 outside. So I ventured out to the back yard, pulled up a lawn chair, and sat down with my camera (phone) in the hope that a pretty bird or two might pop by.
I was graced with the sight of a lovely Blue Jay who thought it was still pretty hot outside because he decided to take a bath. My Mum and Dad also purchased a new, wee bird feeder in the shape of an umbrella, and I witnessed a sparrow having a snack from it. They hung the feeder right outside my Dad’s painting area so he could enjoy it.
It wasn’t long before my mother had a similar idea to me and she was out taking photographs and then came to sit with me…until it got too cold to stay.
I will miss seeing my parents every day. What a blessing to be near them for over 4 weeks. They are wonderful: kind, funny, talented, loving, generous, and so much more.
I remember when the trees were small and so were we. We had a creaky swing set that the neighbours didn’t mind too much as the 5 of us would often stay outback and sing together in harmony.
My mother is a great gardener and even at 89 she is out there most days weeding, clearing the deck of leaves and Maple seeds, or planting/hanging up new flowers. Their yard looks so beautiful.
The sign on their shed says “MaryDen”. These are my parents’ first names and that sign used to be attached to our little boat that we would sometimes take out on Lake St. Clair for a ride or a bit of fishing.
I miss you already, Marmie and Dad.