Blog | laura bachynski

1 Hallowe’en 2019

November 1, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

This person loves Hallowe’en

My little shrine

” Blackchewpantherbacca”

Ben gets into the costume act

Our 4 grandsons

” Rarrrr, give me that pizza ”

Playing Wizard

A great evening together

I LOVE HALLOWE’EN. I ALWAYS HAVE. I HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF BEING SO HAPPY WHILE WEARING MY COSTUME AS WE ( MY BROTHER AND SISTERS- OR ME AND MY FRIENDS ) SKIPPED THROUGH THE FALL LEAVES GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE AND YELLING, ” TRICK OR TREAT ” !!! WE HIT THE JACKPOT IF WE GOT A CANDY APPLE OR EVEN A CAN OF POP ONE TIME . WE DIDN’T EVER HAVE THE WORRY THAT IT MIGHT SNOW LIKE OUR POOR ALBERTA CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED. HA HA.

TERRY KNOWS THAT THIS IS MY FAVOURITE DAY BUT HE USUALLY JUST ROLLS HIS EYES AND WONDERS WHEN I WILL GROW UP….HA HA AGAIN. BUT WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE NOT DRESSED UP FOR HALLOWE’EN? ( IF IT WASN’T TO GO OUT FOR TREATS AS A CHILD- THEN IT WAS FOR A PARTY , TO GIVE OUT CANDY AS A PARENT, OR TO GO OUT FOR LUNCH AS AN ADULT )

I IMAGINED THAT PERHAPS MY SISTER , PAMELA, HERE IN WINDSOR MIGHT ‘HOOK ME UP’ WITH A SWEET COSTUME AND WE WOULD ALL GO OUT TO LUNCH. BUT SHE HAD TO WORK AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER THINGS ON HER MIND THIS YEAR …LIKE THE HEALTH OF HER YOUNG HUSBAND WHO JUST SURVIVED A HEART ATTACK ! ( DAVID IS DOING GREAT AND IT WAS SOOOO GOOD TO SEE HIM LOOKING HEALTHY AGAIN.)

SO PAM AND HER HUSBAND, DAVE INVITED US TO COME OVER IN THE AFTERNOON ( WHEN PAM WAS DONE WORK) , PLAY ‘WIZARD’ ( OUR FAVOURITE CARD GAME) , HAVE WINDSOR PIZZA ( THE BEST PIZZA IN THE WORLD ) AND PERHAPS WATCH A HALLOWE’EN MOVIE AFTER THE TRICK- OR- TREATERS STOPPED ARRIVING.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I RECEIVED A GIFT FROM TERRY TODAY : A CUTE , LIGHT UP BLACK CAT ON A SKULL STATUE. WHAAAA? ( AND A CARD)

THEN, THERE WE WERE , ABOUT TO PLAY CARDS , AND TERRY POPS INTO THE KITCHEN ….. IN A COSTUME ! AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT HE OBVIOUSLY DRAGGED THIS THING ACROSS CANADA SOMEHOW ! HE TOLD ME A FEW YEARS AGO THAT HE WOULD ONLY AGREE TO DRESS UP WITH ME FOR HALLOWE’EN IF HE COULD WEAR HIS CHEWBACCA ONESIE. ( HE HAS BEEN DRACUBACCA, SKELLABACCA AND SCARYCLOWNBACCA AND THIS YEAR : BLACKCHEWPANTHERBACCA…)

BEN, THE DOGGIE, WAS AMENABLE TO A COSTUME TOO.

WE JUST CRACKED UP THAT THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY DOESN’T GET INTO THE NIGHT WAS THE ONLY ONE IN COSTUME .

ANYWAY, WE DID HAVE A FUN EVENING TOGETHER WITH LOTS OF LAUGHS. PAMELA WON THE CARD GAME, THE PIZZA WAS YUMMY, AND WE WATCHED A DRACULA MOVIE.

I HAD TO INCLUDE A PHOTO OF OUR FOUR GRANDSONS . SO CUTE IF I SAY SO MYSELF :)

1 Zangari family House Concert

October 30, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Nicole and John’s Picture Window View

Some of the early guests

SpiritLine

Terry performs

Laura Performs

Our moms attend !

NICOLE AND JOHN ZANGARI WERE OUR GRACIOUS HOSTS FOR OUR CONCERT LAST NIGHT. WE HAD A FULL HOUSE AND AS USUAL THERE WERE YUMMY TREATS AND THE WINES/COFFEES/TEAS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE APPRECIATIVE FRIENDS.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOME ! THEY TOLD ME THEY OFTEN SIT ON THEIR FRONT PORCH AND ENJOY THE GORGEOUS, UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE BEACH GROVE GOLF COURSE. WE ARRIVED JUST AS THE RAIN WAS COMING IN BUT THEIR HOME WAS WARM AND WELCOMING.

I THINK THIS WAS THEIR SECOND HOUSE CONCERT THEY HOSTED AND THEY MIGHT BE HOOKED !

OUR MUMS DECIDED TO ATTEND THIS ONE AS WELL ( MY MUM IS GOING TO ATTEND THE BELLE RIVER CONCERT AND TERRY’S MUM WILL ALSO ATTEND THE CONCERT IN WINDSOR ON SATURDAY NIGHT.) IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM .

WE HAD ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT, GREAT RESPONSES , AND NICE CONVERSATIONS AT THE BREAK AND AFTERWARDS. IT’S SO COOL TO MEET PEOPLE THAT KNOW OUR WHOLE FAMILY AND THE AREAS TERRY IS SINGING ABOUT!

WE ARE TIRED TODAY AND HAPPY TO ‘LAY LOW’ AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR REHEARSAL TONIGHT WITH MY SISTER, PAMELA.

3 Windsor, Woodslee, Belle River, Ontario

October 30, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Laura at her old High School

Making sure all is well

Terry , my Woodslee boy

Terry wrote a song about this road

Terry’s old home in Woodslee

Hundreds of geese

Tire swing boy

A personal home decor

IT WAS TIME TO MAKE SURE OUR NEW ( used ) CAR WAS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE FOR OUR NEXT LEG OF THE TOUR SO OFF TO MR. LUBE FOR A CHECK UP. $200. LATER WE WERE ASSURED THAT ALL WAS WELL . ” SINGER / SONGERWRITERS : THEY CAN MAKE TENS OF DOLLARS ” ….HA HA HA. WE BETTER KEEP SELLIN’ THOSE C.D.’S … LOL

NEXT , WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE FUN TO VISIT SOME OF THE PLACES IN THE COUNTY WHICH INSPIRED TERRY TO WRITE SOME OF HIS SONGS. WE WENT TO ‘ OLD BELLE RIVER ROAD’ AND WOODSLEE, THE HAMLET WHERE TERRY WAS RAISED.

THE CO-OP IS NO LONGER THERE BUT WE TOOK A PHOTO OF A COUPLE OF THE HOMES IN WHICH TERRY WAS RAISED …AND ALSO MANY HOMES HE BUILT WITH THIS FATHER. AMAZING ! I STOOD BY THE SIGN IN FRONT OF MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL AND WE WERE SAD TO SEE THAT MANY OF THE OLD STREET NAMES AND BUILDINGS ARE LONG GONE.

WE PASSED A FIELD WHERE WE SAW HUNDREDS OF GEESE. I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY IN ONE PLACE.

AND WE STOPPED TO LOOK AT SOMEONE’S HOME IN LAKESHORE THAT HAD MORE REAL PUMPKINS ON THEIR FRONT YARD THAN I WOULD HAVE IMAGINED ANYONE COULD HAVE USED TO DECORATE. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 100 AND THEN AT LEAST THAT MANY DECORATIONS TO AUGMENT THOSE ! TALK ABOUT GETTING INTO HALLOWE’EN !

WE RETURNED HOME TO MY PARENTS’ HOUSE TO BE SPOILED ONCE AGAIN WITH A DELICIOUS, HOME COOKED MEAL . SIGH. IT IS SOOOO GOOD TO BE NEAR OUR PARENTS AND SO NICE TO NOT EAT IN A RESTAURANT FOR A FEW DAYS.

NEXT UP : OUR HOUSE CONCERT AT THE ZANGARI’S

2 Waterloo, Ontario, Concert

October 28, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Our Poster

Chatting before the show

Singing our tunes

Wonderful audience

Love this red red leaf

Our sunset in Waterloo

WE HAD THE HONOUR OF PERFORMING OUR MUSIC FOR THE CURSILLO GROUP AT ST. ANTHONY DANIEL CHURCH HALL LAST NIGHT.

OUR FRIEND AND ORGANIZER , ROSEMARY, WAS SLIGHTLY WORRIED THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT WANT TO COME OUT ON SUCH A RAINY DAY BUT TO OUR DELIGHT WE HAD A FULL ROOM OF VERY WELCOMING FOLKS.

ROSEMARY HELPED DECORATE THE HALL WITH PRETTY AUTUMN DECOR WHILE WE SET UP OUR SOUND EQUIPMENT AND HAD SOUND CHECK. TERRY THINKS THE WEATHER PRESSURE CHANGE WAS THE REASON HE WOKE UP WITH A TERRIBLE HEADACHE BUT HE WAS ABLE TO PERFORM AND BY THE EVENING THE HEADACHE HAD FINALLY DISSIPATED .

THIS WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CONCERTS OUT OF THE 20 OR SO WE HAVE PERFORMED SO FAR. THE PEOPLE SHARED SO MANY INTERESTING STORIES WITH US ABOUT THEIR LIVES OR HOW THEY RELATED TO CERTAIN SONGS AND THEY LIKED OUR MUSIC ENOUGH TO PURCHASE C.D.’S TOO !

A FEW PEOPLE WERE MOVED TO TEARS WITH CERTAIN LYRICS AND THIS GROUP REALLY GOT INTO THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION SONGS OF TERRY’S TOO. :)

LOTS OF HUGS FOR US AT THE END OF THE CONCERT AND PROBABLY ONE OF MY HIGHEST COMPLIMENTS WAS WHEN WE MET THE COUPLE WHO HAD DRIVEN TWO HOURS TO SEE THE CONCERT AND AFTERWARDS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, ” AND IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT! ”

AFTER THE CONCERT THE WHOLE ROOM THANKED US BY BLESSING US IN SONG ! THEN WE WERE INVITED TO JOIN THE GROUP FOR A WONDERFUL POTLUCK AND MORE GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

THIS WAS A TWO HOUR AFTERNOON CONCERT SO WE HAD OUR EVENING FREE TO VISIT WITH ROSE AND SHAUN IN THEIR LOVELY CONDO AND CHAT THE NIGHT AWAY. SNACKS WERE PROVIDED , WINE APPEARED ( AND COKE ZERO FOR TERRY) , AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP ON FAMILY NEWS, MOVIES, NEWS ABOUT FRIENDS, AND SO MUCH MORE. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER A GOOD BREAKFAST WITH THEM NEAR ST. JACOB’S WE HEADED OUT FOR OUR ‘HOME TOWN’ OF (NEAR) WINDSOR , ONTARIO .

IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO SAY ‘FAREWELL’ TO ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD BUT THIS TIME IT WAS MADE SLIGHTLY EASIER KNOWING I WAS ON THE WAY HOME TO FAMILY AND MORE OF MY VERY DEAREST FRIENDS. FEELING PRETTY BLESSED AND HAPPY TONIGHT.

0 Waterloo, Ontario

October 27, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

An unexpected name change for us…

Performing at the Royal Henley

Good-bye to Niagara

Le Grande Hermine

Dinner with Rose and Shaun

Best friends forever

Appropriate Sign…

AFTER ANOTHER WONDERFUL BREAKFAST AT KIA-ORA B & B IN NIAGARA ON THE LAKE WE PACKED UP AND HEADED OUT. TERRY SUGGESTED I TREAT MYSELF TO A HAIR STRAIGHTENING AND HE LUCKED OUT ON A MASSAGE FOR HIMSELF JUST DOWN THE ROAD AND AROUND THE SAME TIME. SOON ENOUGH , IT WAS TIME TO PERFORM FOR OUR LAST SENIOR’S HOME ON THIS TOUR.

THE FOLKS AT THE ROYAL HENLEY HAD A NICE SPOT SET OUT FOR US AND WE HAD ANOTHER APPRECIATIVE GROUP WHO INVITED US TO COME BACK AND PERFORM AGAIN SOMETIME AND MANY OF WHOM STAYED ON AFTERWARD TO SPEAK WITH US AND TELL US SOME OF THEIR STORIES. I FEEL SO BLESSED BY THIS. ( BUT I HAD TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE SIGN IN THE HALL ADVERTISING OUR CONCERT . IT CRACKED US UP TO READ ” SPIRIT LION ” INSTEAD OF ” SPIRITLINE” …HA HA)

THEN WE SAID ‘GOOD-BYE’ TO THE VINEYARDS AND HIT THE HIGHWAY ONCE AGAIN…THIS TIME TO WATERLOO, ONTARIO. WE SAW A COOL , STRANDED SHIP AT ONE POINT AND PULLED OVER TO TAKE A PHOTO OF IT.

WE MET UP WITH SOME OF OUR DEAREST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD, ROSEMARY AND SHAUN WHO FOUND US A ROOM FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS IN THEIR CONDO BUILDING AND ARE HOSTING A CONCERT FOR US AT THEIR CHURCH , ST. ANTHONY DANIEL, TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

ROSEMARY AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL AND GET TOGETHER EVERY MAY WITH 2 OTHER OF OUR DEAREST FRIENDS FROM THAT TIME, BARB AND MARY . IT IS INCREDIBLE TO HAVE REMAINED SO CLOSE TO THESE GALS FOR SO MANY YEARS AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT ROSEMARY WAS ONE OF MY GREATEST MENTORS ALONG MY FAITH JOURNEY.

SHAUN IS SO NATURALLY FUNNY AND I HAVE KNOWN HIM SINCE UNIVERSITY. WE ALL FOUR GET ALONG GREAT AND WE WERE TREATED TO A GOOD MEAL OUT AND A NICE VISIT WITH THEM THIS EVENING BACK AT THEIR HOME.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING THE DAY TOGETHER TOMORROW AND TO PERFORMING FOR THE CURSILLO GROUP.

2 Niagara Falls

October 26, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Proud Gull

Zip line near the Falls

American Falls

Canadian Falls

Maid of the Mist

Overlooking Niagara Falls

On the Hornblower Ship

View from Ship

Checking out Tacky Tourist Town

Bright buildings

Great day !

WE HAD A BLAST TODAY AT NIAGARA FALLS. IT HAS BEEN YEARS SINCE WE VISITED THE CITY AND IT WAS JUST AS THRILLING TO STAND ABOVE THE FALLS AND HEAR THE ROAR OF THE WATER OR TO BE AT EYE LEVEL WITH THE FALLS ON THE HORNBLOWER BOAT ( A SISTER OF THE MAID OF THE MIST ). OF COURSE WE TOURISTS WORE RAIN PONCHOS GIVEN TO US BEFORE WE ENTERED THE BOAT BUT THEY WERE ALMOST NO MATCH FOR THE WINDS AND WATERFALL RAIN THAT ASSAULTED US AS WE NEARED THE BASE OF THE FALLS. IT WAS FUNNY TO BE SO BLOWN ABOUT BUT A LITTLE TERRIFYING TO THINK ABOUT SLIPPING/FALLING OR EVEN DROPPING OUR PHONES OVERBOARD. YIKES !

IT WAS AN OVERCAST DAY SO I DIDN’T GET MY COVETED RAINBOW PHOTO I WAS HOPING FOR BACK ON LAND BUT IT WAS STILL NICE ENOUGH TO CHECK OUT THE TOWN . MANY HILLS SO MY WALKING WAS AIDED BY MY CANE AND A GENTLE PUSH ON THE BACK BY TERRY TO HELP MY MOBILITY.

WE TOOK A BREAK AT 1 PM TO HAVE A NICE INTERVIEW FOR THE LAKESHORE NEWS IN OUR HOMETOWN AREA. IT WAS FUN TO SPEAK WITH MATT WEINGARDEN AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE WRITEUP ABOUT OUR SPIRITLINE TOUR.

I’M GLAD WE TOOK THE TIME TO VISIT AGAIN.

1 Niagara on the Lake

October 25, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Outside our B & B

Pretty display

Helping the economy

New coat

The Ardells !

Chartwell Manor

Performing for the Seniors

THE SUN RETURNED FOR OUR WALK AROUND THE TOWN BEFORE OUR AFTERNOON SHOW AT THE CHARTWELL MANOR SENIOR’S CENTRE.

WE HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF VISITING NIAGARA ON THE LAKE A FEW TIMES AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO RETURN. WE HAD TIME TO ‘BREAK INTO SHOPPING’ AND THEN A QUICK LUNCH BEFORE OUR AFTERNOON CONCERT.

WE WERE ACTUALLY ALMOST READY TO RETURN TO OUR CAR WHEN TERRY EXCLAIMED , ” WHAT IS GOING ON…..?” I LOOKED UP AND THERE WAS OUR DEAR FRIEND , DAVE ARDELL FROM CALGARY , JUST WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK TOWARD TERRY. SO THAT IS OUR THIRD SMALL WORLD MEET UP THIS TOUR . WE ALL COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT ONLY HAPPEN TO BE IN THE SAME CITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT ON THAT VERY CORNER AT THAT EXACT MOMENT.

WELL WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT DAVE’S SISTER, ROSANNA , AND DAVE’S WIFE, CAROLYN WERE IN A GIFT SHOP NEAR US I BUSTLED OVER , ENTERED,WINKED AT THE MANAGER AND SAID TO HER IN A LOUD VOICE, ” EXCUSE ME, BUT I JUST WITNESSED THIS WOMAN SHOPLIFTING !” ( WHILE POINTING AT CAROLYN) CAROLYN TURNED AROUND SAYING, ” REALLY? WHO? ” , SPOTTED ME ,AND RAN OVER FOR A HUG AND A BIG LAUGH.

WE HAD A FEW MOMENTS TO MEET THE GUYS OUTSIDE AND TALK ABOUT OUR JOURNEYS AND WHAT BROUGHT US TO THE TOWN BEFORE WE HAD TO PART WAYS . WE LOVE THAT FAMILY! WHAT A FUN THING TO HAPPEN.

SO OFF TO THE RETIREMENT HOME TO SING FOR THE SENIORS WHO ONCE AGAIN SEEMED VERY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR CONCERT. WE MUST HAVE HAD CLOSE TO 40 IN THIS VERY LARGE ROOM AND AFTER THE SHOW THERE WERE GROUPS OF FOLKS LINING UP TO SPEAK WITH US, OR THANK US, OR JUST GIVE US A HUG. I FEEL VERY HONOURED TO DO THESE KIND OF CONCERTS.

OUR CONTACT , CASSIE , TOLD US A FUNNY ANECDOTE. SHE SAID SHE WONDERED IF THEY WOULD EVEN LIKE THE MUSIC AS THEY ALWAYS HEAR SONGS THEY KNOW AND THIS BEING ORIGINAL MUSIC AND WITH PEOPLE THEY HADN’T SEEN BEFORE SHE WASN’T SURE. BUT SHE GAVE US HIGH MARKS BECAUSE EVERY OTHER TIME THERE HAS BEEN A MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT ONE LADY SHOUTS , ” HORRIBLE ” OVER AND OVER UNTIL SHE STORMS OUT… APPARENTLY . BUT THIS TIME SHE ONLY SAID, ” HORRIBLE ” ONCE AND STAYED FOR THE WHOLE CONCERT. HA HA HA HA HA.

AFTER THE SHOW IT WAS DINNER TIME BY THE TIME WE PACKED UP OUR GEAR SO WE DECIDED SPUR OF THE MOMENT TO HEAD OUT FOR A BITE SOMEWHERE AND CATCH THE NEW ‘ JUDY GARLAND’ MOVIE STARRING RENÉ ZELLWEGER . I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS MOVIE WILL GARNER AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR HER . SHE WAS BRILLIANT IN THE ROLE.

1 Destination : Niagara on the Lake

October 24, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

OntarioPieFactory — Cobourg Apple Pie Factory

TODAY WAS ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY TO ARRIVE SAFELY AT OUR DESTINATION SO NOT A LOT OF PHOTOS TO SHARE.

WE LEFT OTTAWA AT ABOUT 10 AM AND ARRIVED IN NIAGARA ON THE LAKE AROUND 8 PM. WE ARE EXHAUSTED BUT SAFE.

AFTER A GOOD CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AT THE GRAND HOTEL WE JOURNEYED ONWARDS MAKING VERY FEW STOPS. I TOOK THE ABOVE PHOTO OF THAT RED BARN ALONG THE WAY BUT WE CHOSE TO STAY WITH HIGHWAYS MOSTLY BECAUSE OUR DESTINATION WAS SO FAR FROM US.

WE DID STOP IN THE HISTORIC TOWN OF NAPEAN FOR A FRESHLY MADE HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH AT THE BAKE SHOP THERE. THE BREAD WAS SOOOO GOOD AND FRESH. I WON’T SAY WHETHER OR NOT I INDULGED IN A FRESHLY BAKED BUTTER TART.

LATER , TERRY AND I DECIDED TO SCOUT OUT THE ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST APPLE‘ AS WE HAVE BEEN TAKING PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST’ THINGS ALONG OUR JOURNEY BUT I AM SAVING ALL OF THOSE PHOTOS FOR THE END OF OUR TRIP. ( IT WAS ‘THE BIG APPLE’ OF ANOTHER KIND) .

IN THAT SAME COMPLEX WAS A PIE FACTORY AND THE MOST TEMPTING CANDY/TREAT/GIFTIE SHOP EVER ! WE WERE ABLE TO RESIST THE PIE BUT I WON’T SAY WHETHER WE BOUGHT A BAG OF APPLES AND SOME DELECTABLE CHOCOLATE TREATS.

AT AROUND 5 PM WE WERE GETTING INTO THE HEAVIEST OF THE TORONTO TRAFFIC AND I WAS STARTING TO GET VERY STRESSED OUT. TERRY ASSURED ME THAT ALTHOUGH OUR GAS TANK WAS NEAR TO THE EMPTY MARK THAT WE PROBABLY HAD 75 KMS LEFT IN OUR TANK. BUT WE WERE ON A TOLL ROAD AND WE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ( AND PAY TWICE) AND ALSO THE TRAFFIC WAS STALLED EVERY WHICH WAY. I WAS TRYING TO TRUST THAT WE WOULDN’T FIND OURSELVES STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A 5 LANE HIGHWAY AS OUR CAR SPUTTERED TO A STOP BUT AS THE LINE DIPPED LOWER AND LOWER TOWARD THE EMPTY SYMBOL I WAS GETTING MORE AND MORE WORRIED THAT EVEN WHEN WE DID LEAVE THE HIGHWAY WE WOULD STILL BE STUCK IN THE OFF RAMP TRAFFIC THAT WAS STATIONARY EVERYWHERE YOU LOOKED. ARGHHHHH !

OF COURSE TERRY IS LIKE A DUCK ( TROUBLES JUST ROLL OFF HIS BACK) AND I AM LIKE A SPONGE ( I SOAK IT ALL IN) SO HE WAS NOT ONE BIT SURPRISED WHEN WE ROLLED INTO THE INEVITABLE GAS STATION ON EMPTY …IN TIME TO REFILL THE TANK.

AFTER DINNER IN BURLINGTON ( WE FOUND AN EARL’S THERE !) WE DROVE FOR ANOTHER HOUR TO THIS CUTE B & B IN NIAGARA ON THE LAKE AND I AM EXCITED FOR OUR 2 SHOWS IN THIS AREA AND 3 DAYS TO EXPLORE . I LOVE THIS TOWN BUT WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT WE PICKED THE ONE WEEK THAT THE PLAYS ARE DARK ! HA HA. AH WELL …LOTS TO SEE HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW….

1 Ottawa Concert

October 23, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Theo likes his new hat from us

Terry cuddles Felix

Love at first sight

” Help me” , he yelled

Ryan and Theo

Happy about lasagna

Delicious dinner at the church hall

Kara and Felix arrive

Laura ready

Terry ready to play

SPIRITLINE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN OTTAWA THESE LAST 2 DAYS. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET ONE MONTH OLD FELIX FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE NEW BABY OF OUR NEICE, KARA, AND HER HUSBAND, RYAN.

KARA AND RYAN INVITED US TO HAVE A CONCERT FOR THEIR CHURCH FUNDRAISER (FOR NEW FURNACES) . WE ARRIVED A DAY EARLY AND HAD THE BLESSING OF AN EVENING WITH THE FAMILY AND EATING FOOD PREPARED BY RYAN : PRIEST ,HUSBAND, DAD, AND CHEF EXTRAORDINAIRE ! AFTER HANGING OUT WITH WEE THEODORE, THEIR CUTE DOGGIE, NEVILLE, AND OF COURSE FELIX, KARA , AND RYAN IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WE WERE INVITED TO THE TABLE FOR A HOME COOKED ( YES !!!) MEAL OF COTTAGE PIE AND GREEN BEENS FOLLOWED BY AN APPLE/ALMOND UPSIDE DOWN CAKE. SOOO GOOD.

TONIGHT, AFTER OUR DAY EXPLORING CARLETON PLACE WE ARRIVED AT THE CHURCH HALL FOR ANOTHER DELICIOUS HOME COOKED MEAL . THIS TIME WE HAD LASAGNA , CAESAR SALAD , AND GARLIC BREAD ( MY FAVOURITE) .

THEN WHILE THE GUESTS ARRIVED FOR THEIR DINNER AND A SILENT AUCTION WE WENT OVER TO THE CHURCH TO SET UP FOR THE CONCERT.

NOTE TO SELF : DO NOT EAT A BIG LASAGNA DINNER RIGHT BEFORE PERFORMING .

THE CONCERT STARTED AT 7:30 AND WE HAD A PRETTY FULL CHURCH WHO SEEMED TO APPRECIATE OUR MUSIC AND STORIES. ONE WOMAN WHO RECENTLY LOST HER LEG ( AND IS RYAN’S CHURCH ORGANIST) DUE TO ILLNESS WAS PARTICULARLY MOVED BY MY SONG, ” EPIPHANY ” . AT THE BREAK WE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL GUESTS ABOUT SMALL TOWNS, THE MILITARY ( INSPIRED BY TERRY’S SONGS, ” THE COOP SONG ” AND ” THE MAPLE LEAF IS FALLING ” ) ,AND WE ENJOYED SPEAKING WITH ” SANDRA ” WHO HAS 18 SETS OF TWINS IN HER EXTENDED FAMILY !

ANOTHER GREAT EXPERIENCE AND TOMORROW IT’S OFF TO NIAGARA ON THE LAKE.

1 Carleton Place ( near Ottawa )

October 22, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Cuddling in the rain

Town Hall

Spillway view

Funerals and Furniture

Porch

Firebush

Terry near yellow tree

Carleton

TERRY AND I DECIDED TO EXPLORE THE TOWN OF CARLETON PLACE WHERE WE ARE STAYING IN PREPARATION FOR OUR SHOW NEAR OTTAWA TONIGHT.

THIS IS A PRETTY TOWN WITH TONS OF HISTORY. CAPTAIN ROY BROWN IS FROM HERE AND HE IS CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN ” BARON VON RICH THOFEN ” , THE RED BARON IN 1918. THERE ARE MANY MURALS ALONG THE WALLS AND A WATER SPILLWAY THAT REFLECTED THE AUTUMN COLOURS.

WE STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT THE ‘ GOOD FOOD’ CAFÉ AND IT WAS ! TERRY FOUND A ‘SKINNY’ TIE AT A SECOND HAND STORE AND WE WALKED QUITE A LONG WAY TO THE MUSEUM BUT ALAS, IT WAS CLOSED.

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONCERT TONIGHT IN AID OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, ANGLICAN CHURCH FOR OUR NIECE, KARA, AND HER HUSBAND WHO IS PRIEST THERE, RYAN.

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