Peggy Simpson

Was born August 12, 1937, in Windsor, Ontario, and passed away peacefully on November 24th, 2007 at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, in Vernon, B.C., with her daughters at her side. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, John (Cathey), Peggy (Alan), Mark, and Mary (Martin). Her grandchildren, Spencer, Taylor, Derek, Janet, and Nichol will also miss Grandma Peg’s humour and generosity, as will her family and friends in Windsor, Ontario, Burns Lake and Vernon, B.C.

Peg was the youngest of seven children, and took delight in boasting that because of her small size as an infant, the maternity staff did not think Peg would survive. She proved them wrong, by living 70 full years, enduring life’s challenges and embracing life’s joys until the end. She was a library teacher, a mother, a Windsor city councilor, a grandmother and a friend. She loved games, jazz music, Christmas baking, CBC Comedy, reading and gravy.

I miss you Mom.

Canada has a Desert !!

No, not dessert. A real, honest desert with sagebrush, cacti, etc. It's very near Osoyoos, BC. You can learn more at the web site for the preservation society. I was really glad I made the long trip to see it and to learn a little more.

Keeping Busy

I dropped by Dave and Sharon's new place on Wednesday evening to help paint. A MOST enjoyable evening, being useful, singing along with well-chosen Cd's and enjoying a fine burger. The plumber-guys came to remove the old tub from the bathroom being renovated. It was a 1949 vintage unit that weighed 3,123,232E+ pounds. (I may be exaggerating, but it took three very sweaty guys to get it downstairs and outside). ... It was the least I could do, to observe and criticize. :)

The evening was capped with a glass of scotch, and a bicycle ride home along the lake. (i.e. Through the fish flies). Boy did I sleep well Wednesday night!

Art in the Park, and more!

What a great, full weekend. It started out Friday night with a Roast the Rector event. Fr. Kevin was dealt many blows by our fellow parishioners, but came away smiling and looking like he could have taken more. :)

On Saturday Janet, Cathey and I went to Art In The Park, to participate in presentations being done throughout Willistead Park by the Windsor Folk Society. The heat & sun really took it's toll afterwards, but I really had a great time, as always, singing with Dave Light.

After an afternoon nap, my cousin Peggy came for a visit Saturday evening. We talked for a couple of really enjoyable hours. She'll soon be moving soon, and I'm really going to miss our infrequent but invaluable get-togethers.

At coffee hour after church today I got the guitars out with Christian and Bob and we played most of our East Coast repertoire for the folks having cookies. That was followed by a great brunch with Jane Cornett and her Mom, and Fr. Kevin and his wife Catherinanne.

The rest of the afternoon/evening is a blurr...
- I talked with my sister Mary, planning our vacation to B.C. this summer,
- Janet's boyfriend Keith came for a visit (and wouldn't get out of the pool even though he was chattering from the cold),
- Ami brought Sage over for an overnight visit, because Ami has to work at 5:00 a.m!! - Cath's Uncle Andy called from Dallas, TX. He made me commit to updating my blog... Here it is!!! :)
- Derek came home around 9:00 p.m. for the first time in 3 days. He was exhausted after three sun-filled days with his girlfriend, going to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio one day, helping her through a midnight to 8:00 a.m. shift at Tim Horton's, and enjoying family visiting from Quebec.

So now I'm trying to type quietly, and reflect on a full, wonderful weekend and some of the good people in it. Especially Cathey. I don't deserve her, and she surely does not deserve me!

And now I think it's time for a good night's sleep.

An Update

Hi there. Long time no blog. Life's been in the way. Some recent highlights...

- volleyball on Tuesday nights

- choir on Thursday nights & Sunday mornings

- updated the laundry room with new flooring and painted the walls

- after 14 years in this house I finally insulated the crawl space (well it's mostly done)

- a day trip with Dave Light to Elderly music over in Lansing, MI. A very nice break from the norm.

- multi-church open mic night at Church of the Ascension. Cathey's parents showed up! Janet and I joined Jeff, Keith and Leah Wilkinson for a couple of songs, including Leonard Cohen's Halleluia. Janet blew us all away with a last-minute, solo, a cappella version of a spiritual piece. She is stunning.

- on Sunday we helped Peg and John move from their home in Riverside to a farm house near Amherstburg. It was a fun time, and it's great to see them have this new next step in their lives. Right on!

- yesterday we went for a day trip to Point Pelee National Park. Just by chance we stopped at Acambaro Mexican Restaurant in Leamington. GO THERE.

- we had lunch with my niece Nichol today. It doesn't sound like a big deal here, but I really enjoyed it.

That's it for now. I'll post about any more March Break activities later, and I'll get the camera downloaded soon too!

Epiphany

January 6 is the Christian feast known as Epiphany. As always, the good folks at St. Marks by-the-Lake used this excuse to have a meal and a party.

We even got Derek to come along! He's in black at the far left of the outdoor pic. Cathey's right in front of him, and I'm to his right, in the choir gown.

The only pic of Janet is of her elbow, in the pic where I'm playing the washboard.

Derek's at the far right in the pic with the tree... helping kids put up their decorated stars.