These 2 small ponds belong to a sand and gravel company who have dug down far enough to hit the water table. The front pond’s been around for many years and has naturalized into the landscape. As well, the owners have stocked it with fish. The rear pond is only a few years old and is oddly lighter in colour than the one in front. I suspect this is because it doesn’t have either plants or fish yet.

Many years ago people used to bring their dogs to swim in the front pond. The water was always clean, fresh and cold and it was one of Jack’s favourite places. Then the owners began excavating here again and the gates were locked. Poor Jack lost the one swimming hole that always had good water quality. The caution sign is new this year and whether it’s true or not, it seems pretty effective.

 

We’ve had quite a few sunny days lately, but today it’s overcast and humid with rain on the way. That’s a perfect recipe of weather for growing things.

Jack found this float at the beach about 6 years ago and it was love at first sight. He played with it all afternoon, in and out of the water and when it was time to leave he carried it to the car himself, stopping every few feet to try getting a better grip. Since then it’s become his most prized possession. His favourite game is soccer, but he’s also happy to play hockey, toss, chase, keep-away or any other game you can think up that involves his “ball.” I feel for the poor fisherman who lost it, but that’s Jack’s buoy.

When I was a young girl we lived in the country and there was a small wooded area out behind our house. I didn’t like being in the house very much, so whenever I could I escaped out to the woods. I had a tree there that looked very much like this one. It was tall and wide with big arms that were missing pieces and it had this cozy at the ground that I could clamber into. I loved being there, alone with a book and just the sounds of the forest. I kept small treasures there too. Fossils, pieces of bone, feathers. Sometimes a blanket.

Seeing this tree today has made me sentimental. It is a lovely and inviting tree and maybe there is a way to crawl in and find an adventure story waiting just for you.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

BY ROBERT FROST