Helen's Home World: Canada Day

Showing posts with label Canada Day. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Canada Day Eh!

We had a Canada Day Potluck dinner on our crescent yesterday. We have a number of events during the year on our crescent; it's a great little street. This is the longest I've lived anywhere in my life. There's a new crop of kids on the street now. The people who were children or young teens when I moved in are now grown adults, married and moving into their own homes. Even the little ones in this picture have grown up so fast, seems like they were all babies just last year.

We had a wonderful potluck. Some of my neighbours are great cooks, we had ribs, wings, pulled pork, burgers, hot dogs and all the fixings. Me, I'm not so much of a chef so I made a dill potato salad and brought potato chips. The socializing started around 5pm although my neighbour started smoking the ribs around 1pm; they sure smelled good. We ate at about 6pm.

It had been threatening to rain all day but it was supposed to clear in the afternoon so we all thought the weather had missed us; we were wrong! Luckily it happened after we had finished eating and had put most of the food away. I had just got Liam out so he could meet a neighbour's dog, then this happened...

The kids certainly enjoyed it. Most everyone got soaked and had to go home to change but the party wasn't over.

Most everyone on the crescent, at least on our half, chips into buy fireworks and around 9:30 pm we head to the end of the street. The guys set up for the fireworks display in the park across the road. One of my neighbours said when they started doing fireworks, they were the only group that did them in Barrington Park. Last night, there were three groups in the park setting fireworks off and another group probably at the next park as we could see their fireworks over the library roof. This was actually the first year, I've gone down to see the fireworks; in past years I've just watched from my bedroom window or tried to keep the dogs calm.

Video of the

Smithers Crescent Fireworks

The fireworks display went on for about an hour. The guys didn't rush it but tried alternating with the other groups setting them off in the park.

When I got home, Teddy and Liam both seemed to be quite relaxed. Maybe without me there to try and calm them they just settled down somewhere to wait out the noise.

Teddy and Liam want to wish everyone a very Happy Canada Day eh! But they're really happy those fireworks only happen a few times a year.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Canada Eh?

Tomorrow is Canada Day and although summer has already officially started, for me this day marks the real beginning of summer.

Here in Ottawa, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the RCMP, put on a Sunset Ceremony at the stables where they train the musical ride. It's always held the last week of June before they start their summer show schedule.

Video of the Sunset Ceremony

Every year the show is a little different but the main part of the show is always the musical ride by the RCMP and the lowering of the flag at sunset. I really liked the song they had for the first part of the ride so I had to find out what it was; it's by a French Canadian songwriter Patrice Michaud.

Patrice Michaud - Mechaniques generales

I have company arriving today and tomorrow we will go downtown with my sister and brother-in-law to enjoy some of the atmosphere of being in the Nation's capital on Canada Day. We won't try to go up on Parliament Hill as security is too tight and the crowds too big for me. Later we'll go to my other sister's place for a family and friends BBQ.

Beckett and Keltic wish everyone a Happy Canada Day!!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

A Little Canada Day Fun and Stuff

We took a very relaxing Canada Day. Except for cleaning out the garage, I did nothing but walk the dogs and play a little at agility and Frisbee in the backyard.

You'll see Beckett doing the teeter in the video. I'm about 5 feet behind the teeter and sending him straight forward. One of the mini gambles at the Ontario Regionals was similar to this; a teeter about 10 feet from the gamble line with the jump back towards the handler and just inside the line. We've been practicing with Beckett as I have seen a teeter going straight away from the handler before so it will be a good skill to have once he gets into Masters level Gambles. It was quite hot so we didn't do a lot and once he headed for the shade rather than play Frisbee, I knew it was time to give him a break. Tucker, during all of this, was laying in the shade under the cedar bushes near the deck.

Canada Day Fun

I've seen lovely pictures of other people's gardens. I'm not much of a gardener but my Clematis do very well. This year, I put up new trellis so they had more room to grow. It still looks like I could put up an even larger trellis!!

I had shrimp and vegetables done on the BBQ with rice for supper. Later in the evening, Beckett and I went down to Krazy Kanines agility field to practice weaves and then I watched the Canada Day fireworks from Parliament Hill on TV. There wasn't many fireworks going off in my neighbourhood, so Tucker wasn't too stressed out. All in all a very nice day.

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother