Musings on a Small Life

My uncle, who has lived in Italy for the past 8 years, is in Montreal right now, visiting his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. He took the train up yesterday and arrived around 1PM. Now, Dad on his own is fairly quiet and serious, as I am. But put him with his brother? It's another story altogether. Uncle Peter on the left, Dad on the right. Lunch at a wonderful downtown restaurant, on the water.  Dad and I had the smoked salmon on puff pastry.  Dad and Peter had the creme brulee for dessert. I've had it, it's wonderful.  I opted for the warm chocolate bread pudding. Yum! In the Army Surplus store after lunch. I'll have to wait a year or so before ever showing my face in there again, till the memory of our visit has passed from the staff's minds. Please don't think I'm joking. Two old farts carrying on like fools, and one middle-aged...something...keeping right up with them. On my own I'm pretty serious too, but Pete...

Before I post the last pics of Fort Wellington, I'd like to ask for prayers, Light, etc. for Ann of Zoolatry , whose husband, Vic, died yesterday after battling cancer for several years. Many of you in the cat blogging world already "know" her, and like me, have had her do cat blog headers, other graphics, etc. I'm absolutely brokenhearted for her, can't even imagine what she and her family are going through. ****** As for Fort Wellington, after the blockhouse, we went back outside to the defensive tunnel. It takes you outside the fort, of course, though there wasn't much to see. Miscellaneous outdoor shots: Remains of the old pier along the river's edge  These spikes are replaced every 20-25 years and are due for replacement soon. Afterward we stopped for a late lunch in Brockville.  About 5000 calories on our plates, each. I didn't eat again till 8AM the next day. LOL. Several leftover pics from Broc...

We went back to Gananoque (pronounced Gan-an-awk-wee) yesterday, took lots of snapshots along the water and in one of their parks, will post another day. Today it's back to Fort Wellington. The blockhouse Storage for ammunition and supplies on the main floor They have artifacts on display too. And while I know these shoes aren't that old, looking at them still made me wonder about the woman and child who wore them. The second floor was the living quarters for about 25 families. No privacy or creature comforts, of course. Directly up the stairs is the dining area. The living area is to the left of the dining area. Each of these cordoned off areas was for one family. The parents slept on the boards with thin straw mattresses and one wool blanket between them. Infants slept on their parents, but children slept beneath the "bed" with no straw mattress or blankets. Nothing. The one little shelf above the sleeping area was for personal b...