Summer!!!

Only a couple of weeks left until the end of school, and we have our plans all lined-up until the first week of september. Looking forward to going to our Riley Lake heaven, and being immersed in the sweet smell of pine needles. I will hang the new hammocks, and read. I will also work, I love to work there. We will go for a few days in July, and a couple of weeks in August. Sweet!

Also looking forward to spending some time in Quebec city, and at our Quebec family cottage near Trois-Pistoles, in the lower St-Laurence region. Being there is always deeply soothing. I guess it's because my ancestors settled in that area when it was still Nouvelle France, in 1665. The cottage is in the village of St-Mathieu de Rioux, and my mother's parents grew-up there and got married in the lovely old church in the village. I have fond memories of visiting relatives there, some were dairy farmers and I loved spending time in the stable... the smell of warm milk, and of the hay filled grange. But these small farms are all gone now. Although my kids will not be able to experience this close encounter with farm life, they do know the village and their ties to it. It's a beautiful place.

While at the St-Mathieu cottage I hope we can go for a few treks, like the Bic National park - and watch the seals swim around or roast under the sun. There's nothing like the salty breeze of the lower St-Lawrence, you can almost feel the cool Atlantic in the air. Or maybe we'll go horse back riding in St-Fabien, or walk up to the falls along on the Trois-Pistoles river... so many stunning places! Can't wait! The trip there and back is equally exciting, along the old road going through towns and villages, with some ritual stops like Fromagerie des Basques, and Les Trois Fumoirs for amazing smoked fish. Yum!

We will also spend some time at home of course, and I have a feeling that it will be busy. No worries, that's business as usual! Call it home management, or domestic engineering, or tender care and attention... it's all about juggling with food, laundry, and paying the bills. Days go by, weeks go by, and next thing you know summer is here!