We had great food and fireworks at the party over on Goose Island. Yes, it was a challenge taking these pictures for several reasons: they were right over my head, little pieces of ash was drifting down onto my head and there was a third reason, oh yea, all the alcohol went to my head. But this is basically what they looked like. I think!

Yeah, these guys were a little crazy, though I felt only slightly less crazy being only a few more yards away than they were.

I love this one-that bright light is an alien space ship – no wait – the alcohol has worn off and it was just the moon.

I don’t remember the boat ride back home but I am sure I didn’t swim since my cloths were dry. There was talk that a few people went swimming, but I have been assured that I was not one of them. There was also talk that the people that went swimming went a la natural, which explains why their cloths were dry, but doesn’t entirely assure me about my dry cloths. Just kidding, I didn’t go swimming. I did however entertain everyone with a rousing rendition of “Some Kind of Wonderful” on the drums accompanied by the band. I was really good. I think! The next day a little 12 year old boy, who had been at the party, came up to me and told me he needed a drummer for his band. “Hey, are you making fun of me?” I asked him. “No” he replied with total sincerity. “You were really good, I mean it”. A rock god in the eyes of small children. All of my dreams and hopes have finally come true.

It was a wonderful 4th of July.

Faux Farm Girl,

Annie

This is our house. We have no porch. I am sad about this.

It would appear by the following photos that everyone in Thousand Island Park has a porch. Everyone but me! I have this photo of my house as my screen saver and I look at it each day and I still can’t figure out how to attach a porch that would look great and be functional. So, in the meantime – let’s look at everyone’s porches and see if we can’t steal an idea or two.

Look at this lovely porch and all the wonderful gingerbread and lattice and flowers. How can I get that onto my sad little house?

Another lovely porch.

You know how I love blue.

This is a gingerbread showcase porch. Look at that trim, the paint, the detail.

Two porches, the top one is screened in and it is called a sleeping porch and everyone puts the kids out there to sleep. Love the steps!

Three porches! And still I have no porch. Now, I am not jealous, just a little envious.

This is the pavilion. They have dances and parties upstairs and downstairs they have parties and it is also where they have yoga every morning at 8am.  It is a great building and has one heck of a porch.

And then there is this house. This is my little sister’s house.  The whole house is a porch. Now I am jealous! Just kidding. My house is just fine porch-less.

Just look at the character it has compared to all the above houses. It’s the same right?  Don’t answer that.

Faux Farm Girl,

Annie

The Park is a wonderful place. My friends call it Pretend Town, we call it home during the summer.

It is a very laid back little place where kids ride bikes on the dirt roads.

Golf carts are all the rage as the mode of transportation. The fancy red GEM car belongs to my sister, of course. The sad little plain one next to hers is mine, of course!

Boats are also a popular mode of transport being that there are over 1800 islands. However, they usually stay in the water.

Folks doing alot of walking around and the best part is that families get together here. Cousins, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters all come together here in the Park.

And then there are they the Herons. If you are lucky they visit your dock. If you’re not, they visit your neighbors dock and poop over there. HMMM – in this case maybe it is better to be a little unlucky.

Stop back an visit our little Pretend Town. I will be putting up more photos soon.

Faux Faux Girl

Annie

Struggling, panting, the blisters on my hand about to pop. At the begining of the trip there was sun and no wind. And the water was smooth like glass. Now it was the complete opposite. There were constant huge waves and lots of wind like a tornado was coming. This was the first time in my new kayak and I thought I might not make in these conditions. I could not believe the instructor left me, an 8 year old, out here against all odds.

I heard my mom screaming, “Do you want help?”

“No I can do this” I replied.

I knew I could do it and I would. Then a giant wave was coming at me. I had to get away.

“Left, right, come on you can do it.” I whispered to myself.

“Are you sure you don’t need help” my dad interrupted me in my powerful moment.

“I’m fine.” I screamed back.

I knew the waves were getting closer and I had to get away. I kept paddling with all my might. My legs were cramping, wanting to be let out. I was way to small for this kayak. The big wave was right next to me I knew I was going to capsize. I shoved the paddle in the water so hard I went 5 feet forward. I still hit the wave but not as hard as I would have. That was the easy part, now I was near the pavilion. I was scared I would be sucked under the dock and no one would be able to get me out. My parents had left the dock and I was puzzled. But then that thought was out of my head. I had a new thought and that was who is in this boat coming right towards me. They were in a little boat and it was one of the other instructors. They asked if I wanted them to take me back. I didn’t want any help, I was fine. They kept asking if I was sure and believe me I was sure. Now I realize I would have liked help but I wouldn’t have had the accomplishment feeling. And I knew I could finish the trip, I just knew it.

All I had left was 1/3 of the way to go. l I was almost there. I went around the bend in the river and now the wind was against me. It was 10 times worse than before now. Why couldn’t I have done sailing? That would have been easier. I wished the wind would have let up. Then I saw the rest of the group on the yacht club dock. They had already put their things away. The dock was so close to me I knew that I could do it, it was just 12 more docks away.  I had the wind against me and the waves crashing into me. Yes,now only seven docks. I was a champion. The first thing that came into my mind was I am the first 8 year old to kayak for 1 ½ hours in the St Lawrence River all alone after her instructor left her.

I was almost at the dock. I was now paddling at full thrust. However, I wasn’t going any faster. I was only getting slower and splashing myself. My mouth had water in it and I was drenched. My kayak was filled with water and my feet were wet. Finally I reached the dock and my parents were there. The first thing I said to them was.

“I didn’t need any help, why did you send them out there I was fine” I commented in my bratty tone.

“Sorry, we were just trying to make sure you were all right” my dad replied being a comforting parent.

“Of course I was alright. I could do it”

We went home with my parents having a smile on their face. They were extremely proud of me making it back alone and only being 8 when a 12 year old was being towed the whole way there and back by the leader of our group. I had a smile on my face too. I was proud of me!