We had quite a lot of snow on Friday, but that didn’t deter Gerald & Mary, Mary (our new neighbour & friend) and myself from waking up at 5:00 a.m. Gerald picked us up at 5:45 and we were on our way.
A helpful resident gave us direction to the “Prediction Centre” and then said, “Come to the United Church for a pancake breakfast afterwards.” Which we did (it was delicious)!
I was really surprised by how many people were in attendance. My photos don’t do the numbers justice as most folks had left by the time I was taking crowd photos. The community creates a fun and festive atmosphere and the weather truly cooperated …about +2 and no wind. The humidity was high, so the dampness still penetrated our bones.
Mary took a number of photos which I’ll add to my collection. We took in the soap box derby, craft sale, and I got my photo taken with real Willie in his crate (but it didn’t turn out so well). I also picked up some special “Willie” memorabillia for Emily as b’day presents … so I can’t let those secrets out. I was really impressed! Hats off to Wiarton for this mid-winter madness!
Click here to see photos of Wiarton Willie and the events.
Gerald took us on a scenic drive on the way home. With the leaves being off the trees, the site lines were terrific. We drove east from Wiarton along the Colpoys Bay, to its point which then descends south back into the sound of Owen Sound bay.
To see photos of beautiful Colpoys Bay click here.
I’m glad you had a good time!
We were so glad to have seen you, with the millions…(ok thousands) that were there, we were not sure if we would bump into each other. Early spring or not, expect at least one or two more snow storms. Ethan’s first birthday party was a success and the cake photos are awesome!
Tracy Mittleholtz, on behalf of our family.
It was GREAT seeing all four of you too! Noah and Ethan are sooooo cute! (Of course they would have to be with such nice parents, right?!)
Vicar Kristin behaved fairly well during our stay in Wiarton …. her goofiness, for some reason, returned when she returned to our parish! Believe me, she made sure e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e noticed her new Willie hat!! And yes, even though some of us doubted it could be done, Vicar Kristin did manage to work Willie into a sermon on Transfiguration Sunday!
Mary: I thouht Kristin’s sermon was excellent even with the addition of Wiarton Willie. When she mentioned the story of her father I identified the similarity of my dad to Kristin’s. It brought back memories of what did and did not happen between me and my dad.
Thank you Kristin for a wonderful message.
Oh, I agree, John. It was indeed a good sermon! I had never heard – or even thought about – such a connection before!
So when are you posting the sermon, Kristin?
Hi Tracy – I was glad we could “official” meet! Little kids & fun times are the best!
Jennifer – Just so you know ….aged kids and fun times are pretty great too!
Who are you calling aged?
I was wondering the same thing! It wasn’t me, Jen … I’m not 50 or over (Kristin and your Dad are!!!)
Yes … it’s true … I was calling only Gerald & myself “aged kids” ……Mary is soooooo much younger ……and you know those ‘middle-aged’ kids are all age-denyers….so it keeps them from having the ‘full potential’ of fun!
Gerald must have robbed the cradle!
Mary – Does ‘robbing the cradle’ explain the earlier shotgun remarks you made?
My goodness Kristin you are sharp this morning! I refuse to comment further on the robbing the cradle/shotgun remark!!!
Just remember I am young enough to be John and Liz’s daughter! Call me old and you will insult them too….
Talk about sharp!!! You put me in an impossible position … you see I feel OK with picking on John … but Liz? – never!
The whole idea of John and Liz being my grandparents is a little distressing…. I think it’s because their grandkids are so much younger than Trevor and I or any of our cousins.
Why can’t we talk about more pressing matters here, like what brand of peanut butter Kristin likes (since we already know about her soup preferences)?
who cares? Picking on John – or Kristin – is more fun!!!
By the way, Kristin, why such favouritism (I don’t think that is spelled right!) for Liz?? You don’t seem to have any problem picking on me, or Jen, or Gerald …. we all know Liz is special, but does she really warrant that much extra special treatment?!?
In general, the more I pick on someone the more I like them. Perhaps Kristin *really* loves us, Mom.
I’m sure of it, Jen!!!
Kristin: In case you don’t know, Mary either is or will be 48 this year. So I think she qualifies for “old” if she is counting you as old.
Jennifer: Our grandchildren are Derek 14, Riley 12, and Kyla 9. And, by the way, if you would have been our grandchild, we would have loved you to pieces, just as your grandparents must have done. So don’t get distressed!!!
Sometimes people just know way too much about you – and are much to eager to share with others! Yes, John, I was born in 1960 – the same year you and Liz were married (thus the reason you could be my parents and therefore Jen’s grandparents) I will be 48 years old on May 9th …. and just so Kristin knows, the chair of her internship committee has his birthday on May 15.
Neither one of us are old … yet! However, Kristin is doing a good job of aging us!!!!
Let’s pick on Kristin some more – after all, this is her website!
Did all of you notice she had her eyes closed when she had her photo taken with the Wiarton Willie mascot – too much excitement so early in the morning, for you Kristen??
Wow! A mere 10 hours ago I left a comment … I work very hard for TEN SOLID STRAIGHT HOURS … and you guys have been having a party without me!!
I’m like fine wine … better with age!
Mary – you are so lucky to have me as your ‘vintner’ so that you may age a gracefully as I. What a role model I am for your daughter. You must be so pleased!
I wonder how I can work up a ‘vinter’ as ‘pastor’ analogy/metaphor? Doesn’t Vintner Kristin sound so much more ‘spirits-ual’ than Vicar Kristin? (Mary – did you catch the pun???)
Re: the eyes – don’t you think it would look great if I photo-shopped in my open eyes just like the mascot?!?
Oh John, I didn’t mean that it would be distressing to have you and Liz as grandparents in the sense that you’d be bad grandparents, because I’m sure you’re wonderful grandparents. It’s more that I didn’t even realize until today that you are actually old enough to be my grandparents. And, in my mind, compared to my grandparents, you seem so young. (Remember to that I am the child of the youngest of 5 on one side and grandchild 3 of 6 on the other, so my Matthews grandparents could have been grandparents when they were younger if my uncles had had kids, and my Golem grandparents became grandparents fairly young…. I just wasn’t born yet).
Kristin, perhaps you should stay away from the wine…. and spend some more time with the Vine (a la John 15).
Do I get bonus points for the most spiritual pun??
Jennifer – Yes, indeed! You get mega bonus points! I think I should try to aim for more of these ‘positive’ puns that point us the source of our hope. Well, done – good and faithful servant!