Thursday, 5 June 2025

Grandies Camp!

Tuesday, June 4th

It is a reversal. The teens are hosting me. In the old days it was Gramma Camp when they had sleepover weeks at our house. 

Here I am in the city. We drove in for the Open House at the grandies' high school. There is no end to the excitement! 

Strawberries fields forever!

Ontario only has three seasons, bugs, snow, construction. Not mutually exclusive, either! New hydro poles in Richmond. 

This machine holds my curiosity. The arm comes down, lights signal red or yellow. I wonder if it runs all day or if there is a generator.

Arriving in Ottawa, we chilled out at the house until it was time for the Open House! 



The students were doing their best with the BBQ.


Aster wasn't playing until 5:30 so we whipped out to East Side Marios for dinner. There was much noise at the school, I'm not used to that! We saved half for lunch the next day.


Our first time this season on a patio!

We found Aster, playing with her Junior Band, Jordan was videotaping it for the parental unit in Portugal.



The jazz band played. Aster's teacher holding his kid while directing! It was a fun, low key affair. Lots of art, music, and great kids.


Jordan was in charge of AV. Lots of fun! 


I parked in the teachers' parking lot as there was lots of space! The sun was a wicked orange with smoke from wildfires.

Joe and I headed back to the house. The kids had friends performances to watch, as well as clean up! Jordan drove some friends home and they were done.
The sun set. It was really orange with smoke.



I wish I had better photography skills. Mind you, you can read up on it, or take a course. I'd just forget what I was supposed to do! 


Jordan worked on physics homework, texting friends for some help. I don't know how these young people keep up their energy! He's doing a physics course, Calculus and Vectors is the current unit. 

Wednesday, June

I managed to figure out their fancy dancy coffee machine for Joe's first coffee. For mine, for the second, no luck. I'd done something wrong. It took Aster to figure it out despite copious written notes from Momma! Caitlin thought of everything.

I brought the school bus, just for fun. That was a ritual during the time they were with us for virtual school. 

Funny story: this guy ran by in a t-shirt, shorts and runners. He came by again, sans t-shirt. I was afraid to look for him a 3rd time in case he'd lost another piece of clothing in the interim! Ah, city life!

Jordan drove them to school. I watered veggies, some indoor plants, and figured out the dishwasher!


Can you see the Cardinal on the grass?! 

I spent some time here, catching up with my blog roll. No mosquitoes or black flies, like at home. The kids have lived here 20 years!

I did some birding sitting on the bench. I gave myself a huge blister Tuesday and can't walk far.


Jordan made us dinner, his specialty: Chicken pasta stir fry. He's collecting recipes for when he goes to university next year.


After dinner, Jordan studies for his physics test. Oh me. I remember Calculus, but it has all faded.
We had some great chats. They have grown up to be wonderful young people. I am so proud of them.

14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Sounds like fun times with the grandies!
Take care, have a great day!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
It's so good to see you out of your own environment, Jenn - I know it can be stressful and unfamiiar, but when you get back I know you will appreciate the change! YAM xx

RedPat said...

It's nice that you sped this time with the kids.

tz_garden said...

What a special week this is, spending time with your fantastic grandkids. Ugh, that smoke it does look thick still. I hope the coffee pot get easier!

Anvilcloud said...

East Side -- it has been a long time. Your reference was rather cruel. 😉

Red said...

That's a very busy time. I'd have more than a blister. It's nice to see the kids moving on.

Jeanie said...

Those three seasons are similar to ours! What a grand time to be hosted. I suspect all will be well, even delightful!

Nancy J said...

I think the " Three Seasons" can apply in B C too. I thought Joes was staying home, with all laundry instructions etc. Lovely to be there, grandies on both sides are so important now.

Linda said...

The circle of life, from Gramma Camp to Grandies Camp. Lots of fun.

Far Side of Fifty said...

What a fun day with your Grands! That is a really pretty place to sit in the backyard!

The Furry Gnome said...

What a change! I remember the good old days of gramma camp!

Elephant's Child said...

Except for the smoke and the fires it sounds WONDERFUL.

Mary Kirkland said...

Bugs, snow, construction. lol That's funny. Looks like you had a good time.

MARY G said...

I always enjoyed my times in Ottawa looking after the grandkids. But when we lived there, when my girls were small, they would come in from playing with blackfly bites.
Nice when the grandkid cooks. Love it. And I hear you about the fancy coffee machines. We have a grandson who also has to grind the beans a certain way. I just give up.
I should recognise that school -- I worked for the school board for years. ??

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