Fairy Houses

Visiting my grands always opens new experiences. 

Going anywhere with two boys involves negotiations since Mom’s plans and Grandma’s wishes (those anticipated adult-driven activities) are not always amenable to the intense plans and mindsets, the tight razor-sharp focus and tenacious schemes, the dreams of the day’s arrangement and the emotional tenor of what would make the 7-year-old and his brother happy. Of course, the older brother attempts to direct us all, since he walks forward with head erect and a wider, faster step than his brother and mother and grandma.

After two games of bowling (haven't for a few years, and my game showed it), we drove to the library by Columbus’ Park of Roses. My request was to tour the park and, maybe, walk by the river. We never got to the river. Other magic opened to us.

One of the roses spangled with
sun and water.

Roses and the first Fairy House

 The library and community center in Clintonville are backed by property that opens up to sports' fields and an  incredible rose garden. It had been several years since I had the chance to walk into the garden; so after our library visit, Shane led us up the stairs from the parking lot and down the path to the pergola that opened to the formal garden. A fountain was at its center, but other paths and rows of flowers extended in other directions.

The boys scrambled up and down

the decorative folly placed between

the fountain and the heritage garden

at the Whetstone Park of Roses.

It was a day of sun and glory. The roses held crystal remnants from being recently watered. Bees and dragon flies added sparkle to the air, and we passed through the rows of blooms toward the heritage rose garden. There was a folly to climb so one had a clear view of the formal garden's design. The boys raced up and down and up and down the steps until it was time to retrace our steps, but we were not leaving, yet.

"There is a fairy house to find," said Beth as she scrolled through an app on her phone. "The clue is 'north of the names.'"

While the boys were looking through acorns and sticks and other places they would be likely to hide fairies, Beth explained the Columbus project to me. Various artists had created miniature tree houses. She had heard about  it, but she wasn't quite certain what the experience of hunting would entail or if the boys would be interested.  We found the "Fairy Village" suspended above our heads. It was camouflaged by the patches of light that lit and shadowed it. 

There were actually three gourd houses and a twig construction connected by a bridge for very, very small feet. The charming "village" floated in the breeze. The boys were enchanted. The little one was quite disappointed that the fairies were not home. He wanted to see at least one. 

That began our plan for the next day. Beth had found the map and clues for the fairy-house hunt, "Find Me in the Park" sponsored by Columbus Parks and Recreation. The 4 1/2 year-old was excited to tour park playgrounds that circled the city, but the grumpy 7-year-old had to be coaxed and promised surprises along the way. He wasn't certain anything would be totally interesting if it did not include trading Pokemon cards.

The Fairy Village by artist Cynthia J. Bryden 

Path Finding on Cobblestones and in the Rain

Looking at the maps

To prepare for our trip to Montreal, I began looking at the weather, time for travel, and selection of roads.

Marian (teal) and Kate (light blue) after Mass
while the bells of Notre Dame filled the air.

Kindly watching over the three of us, Jon downloaded the updated maps of U.S. and Canada and went with me to AAA for a map. When technology fails, paper maps are our security. I have found them especially helpful for the sense of space, getting my bearings, positioning myself realistically in the world.

The modern manner of prepping for a trip or any travel into the unknown is, usually, to first Google or Mapquest the destination. I have gotten so used to double checking directions, that I rarely go to a new location without a print-out. This is also a change in personal communication; detailed notes a friend might write out regarding the landmarks to watch for and hazards to avoid are no longer part of a conversation. Sometimes, I miss those, but if you have Garmin or iPhone you will never be lost, right?

Driving through Toronto, we completely trusted Garmin's directions and Marian's instincts. The small insert on the map's paper presentation of the city only allowed us the general security that we were still traveling north-east. The small one-way streets were frustrating, but we persevered in getting where we wanted to go.  Lunch at Off the Hook was marvelous, a reward for the snarl of festival traffic on a summer Saturday.  Technology got us there.  Coming home from Canada, I unfolded the map to provide us alternate routes back to the states, even if the choices took us out of our way.  We were ready for relaxed scenery.

The difference between the digital and paper maps also projects my society's sense of independence, and it separates us from personal connections and communicating one-on-one with a more knowledgeable traveler.      
                      "Seeking after that sweet golden clime 

                       Where the travellers journey is done."  -Wm Blake

Rushing past beauty.

The Gossips - public Art enhanced
by Kate and Marian's engagement.

In the Great Lakes' region, beautiful summer weather is enjoyed by chance. A vacation might be a great success in glowing sunshine, or a soggy, chilly experience. Marian, Kate and I had the attitude that rain (so long as we were not driving through Toronto) was merely heavy atmosphere. It should not detour our plans too much. We all had raincoats AND umbrellas.  Both were needed during the heavy rain of our first full day in Montreal.  The rain, however, was warm and there was no real wind to speak of. The streets had deep curbs that allowed for the wash from the downpours to by jumped.  The cobblestone streets in Old Town allowed for run-off, and the gray skies did not dampen the carillon ringing from Notre Dame after Sunday Mass. My pictures had a few drops for effect, and the statues did not suffer from the washing.

Selfies are the new travelogue.

From Mount Royal, Kate takes a selfie with Montreal in the
background. Yes, Marian photobombs.

I was surprised that the girls relied on their phones for the photos. I was the unusual tourist with camera and notepad, anachronistic behavior in 2015! It truly does not matter how one records the trip itself, the ability to review the experience is enriched as I choose which pictures to print, which to place on this blog, which to add to a literature lesson.

I did use my phone for some pictures, and I have been known to rely on the phone for Facebook connections, but I have yet to find something better than a good camera and my notes.  There is more than one point of view, and more than one type of journey that was experienced.