Navilyn Plants a Tree

Over the weekend we acquired a couple of second-hand bushes from the Vnouceks. "Acquire" glosses over the hours of digging in George's front garden, but that part wasn't the exciting part. Sunday morning Navilyn and I had the job of replanting the two bushes.

Navilyn discovered a wonderful new tool...a rake:



When I got one of the holes dug Navilyn thought she should ensure that it was deep enough:


With the hard work of planting the bushes done it was time to fly around the yard

before trying to escape


Additional photos can be found in the related set on Flickr.

Navilyn and I are happy with the job we had done, but then Joy arrived home from mountain biking. She points out that I have the dead-spot facing out. Sigh. And that I should have planted it two feet to the right. Double sigh. A little more playing in the dirt for me...

Navilyn at Eleven Months

It has been a while since I have posted any photos of my little beauty, so without further adieu.

Friendsfest 2009

This past weekend was the second annual Friendfest. Last year George & Carolyn thought it would be a good idea for a group of extended friends to get together and camp for a weekend in one of the local conservation areas or provincial parks. Last year was a bit of a bust due to the late planning and people--such as myself--being unavailable. George & Carolyn had a good time--as far as I know.

This year the planning started earlier and it was decided to camp, this past weekend, at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area. The number of respondents was high: 3 couples camping two or three more confirmed for the Saturday evening potluck.

Unfortunately, due to a bad cold and cold weather forecast George and Carolyn decided it was unwise to camp Friday night (and ultimately Saturday as well). Joy, Navilyn, and I decide that we will still camp both nights and we head out late Friday. Despite the late start we manage to get camp set up and Navilyn to bed before she got too upset at the late hour (I am thankful that our destination was a short drive from home). With Navilyn in bed Joy and I made dinner over the fire: the always popular sandwiches in the camp cookers (some may know them as pie-irons). The evening was cold, but Navilyn was sleeping well, the fire warm and the stars amazing (the wine too). All seems to be going well...

Night one did not continue to unfold as well as the early evening. Navilyn decided that as soon as we wanted to go to bed, that she would want to not be in bed...or the tent. The short story is that none of us slept much that first night and that the stars are very clear all throughout the night.

Even with the little amount of sleep acquired during the night, Navilyn thought I should get up at 8 (consider that the two of us were up from four through six sitting not in the tent). It turned out to be fortunate that I was forced from the tent when I was. As the sun rose above the trees a fog also rose from the neighbouring river. I took this opportunity to regain my camera mojo.

Navilyn and I spent the next hour and a half walking around our part of the conservation area--camera in hand and baby on my back (some of the results are included below and on Flickr).

Early Morning Camp


Birds Over the River


Red Maple Leaf


The remainder of the morning followed a more normal camp morning: coffee was brewed, Joy emerges from the tent, bacon & eggs fried up, and books are read. And thankfully Navilyn falls asleep for a much needed nap.

Early in the afternoon Caroline & Justin arrive shortly followed by the other Wightmans (Mom, Dad, and Joel) and the Vnouceks. What had so far been "Wightman's Camping" officially transitioned into Friendfest 2009...


I am ending my post here since I am sure someone else (George? Carolyn? Caroline?) will do a much better job of blogging about it.


P.S.
Navilyn slept much better the second night. We discovered during the afternoon that she was much more content to sleep in her car seat: so when night came we lined her car seat with blankets added a baby and covered with many more blankets. No more problems with her kicking off her blankets and becoming cold and waking up. Net result much better sleep for all.

P.P.S.
We should plan these camping trips before we are getting frost on the ground at night.

P.P.P.S.
After the potluck the group expanded again when Janice & Chris and Alex & Jody joined us around the fire.

P.P.P.P.S.
No need to call child services, Navilyn and her car-seat were in the tent.

P.P.P.P.P.S
I think I am getting to many P's in my P.S. Anyway, despite the cold nights we had a good time at Friendfest and will be at the 3rd annual one next year.

Weekend in Switzerland

So the weekend is here and so is the beautiful weather--if it were November. It is 9 degrees and raining. So much for the mountain bike plan.

Tomorrow has a better outlook: 20 degrees with a bit of clouds. My plan is for some hiking on one of the many nearby trails before picking up Ann (and husband) from the train station.

P.S.

I uploaded a few photos of Navilyn, from the day I left for Switzerland, into Flickr (or would it be onto?).

Navilyn at 6 weeks

I am starting to get onto this parent photography thing---give me a chance, I am new at this. I have found that I don't always have a camera at my disposal when a photographic opportunity presents itself. However, things such as computers and cell phones also have cameras...I bet you wouldn't have guessed that 10 years ago.

I won't always post every photo to my blog; instead the majority of them will be posted directly to my Flickr account (and perhaps occasionally to Facebook).

[Navilyn Flickr Set] [Navilyn Facebook Album]

Navilyn Update

Joy, Navilyn, and I are doing well. I apologize for the lack of updates, but I seem to find myself doing other things...a lot of work lately. :(

Since many have requested I am posting a photo of Navilyn. The photo was taken on the 29th, Navilyn being about 5 and a half weeks old.



With her becoming more active/alert, I imagine I'll find myself taking more photos (there is only so many photos of her sleeping one can post).

Navilyn has arrived

I would like to present Navilyn Patricia Wightman:

Joy and Navilyn:


Navilyn and I:


She was born October 22nd at 5:02, weighing in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long (after 27 long hours of labouring).

Navilyn arrives at home:

It is time

It is the last we'll see Joy looking like this (for at least a few years):



Yes, we are off to the hospital to let the baby into the world.

Brave New World

So as of October 2008 Joy and I will be officially parents. We just had the first ultrasound to discover a single fetus of 13 weeks (see photos below).

Switzerland Status

I am still here. I haven't posted as much as people would like because of the fact I haven't done too much that is exciting. Yes, I am in Switzerland. You wish you were to set the sights, so do I. Yes I had a weekend to do so. The truth is I really don't enjoy sight-seeing by myself.

Over the last few work trips that I have been on by myself, I have realized that I am not a lone-traveller. When I am done work for the day I usually sit back and read a book. It allows you to escape the reality that I am all by myself ever so far from everyone I love. Alas, with my sob-story I did still go for a walk on the weekend, so yes I have some pictures. Although they aren't very exciting or good (and I appear to have dust in my camera and I don't have any of my cleaning equipment here).

So on Saturday I went out to see what there was to see.

I drove around a little in the beautiful weather--note the lack of MPH on the instrument panel.


And I walked along the Rhein river. It isn't to exciting at this point since it is fairly near the source.


I found some sort of bunker thing. If anyone knows what this is please let me know.


And from the backside.


And it looks like the Swiss were thinking of Joy when they made these steps.

Safely in Switzerland

I have safely found my way to the Swiss Heidi Hotel. I've included a couple pictures below:

[View across the room]


[View from the throne]


[View from the window]


The weather here feels like spring. During the drive the temperature ranged from -2 to 5 degrees, here at the hotel it is about 4 and sunny. The birds are chirping and the grass is green (partially). I think I'm going to have a nap...it is 6am back home and I only got a couple hours of sleep on the plane.

PEER Group Christmas Party 2007

Last Saturday night was my company's annual Christmas party at the Walper Terrace in Kitchener. The party was done as a cocktail party for the second year, and again I can say I like this format. No need to be isolated at individual tables--doing so is entirely at your own discretion.

Before the party a group of us met at Caroline's house for a little pre-party of our own. This gave the ladies a chance to consume a bunch of Tequila Rose and other various beverages of choice (thanks Caroline). With this rare occasion that we were all looking in fine form we captured some group photos--it is surprising with all the photographers in the group that we didn't really have any shots of us as a group.





After taking an extensive number of shots at Caroline's it is sad to report that I didn't pull the camera back out until near the end of the evening at the Walper. Perhaps Richard or Andy will post some photos to fill in the gap. I've posted a few of the decent shots into a set over on my Flickr account.

Nicolaas the Puppy

So, as most of you know, Joy has been asking for a puppy since the beginning of time. Well her dreams have finally come true. The last 3 days we have been at the Cambridge Humane Society look at the puppies. This morning we came home with Nicolaas, Nico as we call him, or by his old name "Roy".

As you imagine the cats are not terribly impressed. Nico didn't try to chase them or anything, they just thought it best to hide. And since we first got home they've been hiding out under our bed. Hopefully it won't be long before they got over the fact Nico is here to stay.

I have posted a few pictures on my Flickr account. I have included the following picture as a teaser...

Joy's Annual Pumpkin Carving

Personal News

I would like to announce that Joy and I are now engaged.

Details, I suppose people like details; I guess I'll fill in a few details since people don't like to know such a small portion of such news.

On September 8th, at Sandbanks Provincial Park, atop a sand dune overlooking West Lake I asked Joy if she'd marry me and put up with me for the rest of our lives; she said yes. And in her enthusiasm she decided she'd maul me causing minor scuffs as my leg was folded behind me and under a root of some dune plant life. After a moment or two I was able to convince her she could let me up to free my leg from its trap.

Since we have the technology, I am going to include some photos from the area in which it all went down.

Upon coming across this point I decided it was the spot


Our footsteps leading to the spot


A photo of my Joy just moments before I made the big proposition


The view from our hiding spot in the shade; I'm just about to dig out the ring from the bag masked as returning the camera to the bag


Walking back (along the dunes not through) on the edge which is slowly moving into the lake

Leeuwenburg in Canada

This past weekend the Leeuwenburg family celebrated 50 years since they first immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands. So to mark the occasion the family had a big party at Joy's parent's house. The day was full of food, fun, and a bit of water.

Many photos were taken, 362 by me alone, I have done a very quick pass of the pictures and uploaded a few (almost 30) into my Picasa Web Album. Below you'll find a couple of them linked directly.

Jackson son of Reuben and Rhonda Leeuwenburg

Annika and Ellora taking a break

Joy's Uncle Jake

Pay-back against Gerard

All the descendants and loved ones

On Sunday a bunch of us (Fred, Gerard, Reuben, Tanya, Joy, and I) got up bright and early for a round of golf at Whisky Run golf course in Port Colborne. Gerard ended up with the best score, but everyone had a great time. Thanks goes to Jenneke (Joy's mom) for looking after Gerard & Tanya's herd of children, which allowed us all to go golfing.

Sunburst Honey Locust

So last weekend Joy & I decided we wanted a tree for our backyard. So we went for a drive down to the the local tree farm, J C A Trees, to find ourselves a suitable tree. After a little searching we decided on the "Sunburst" Honey Locust tree. A lovely tree with new leaves coming in bright yellow, and turning yellow again in the fall. We claimed on that we liked, and it got tagged with our name; we just had to wait until the following Friday to receive it.

Friday morning eventually came, and as I was leaving for work the J.C.A Tree folks arrived to plant our tree. As I was leaving for work I did not get a chance to see it until that evening. 

The tree was Friday's excitement; on Saturday Adam, Alex, George, and Graeme aided me in moving a concrete step from Jeff's house into our backyard. The back door no longer had the long drop. :) Thank you everyone involved.