Sarnia Christian School, 1953 – 1973
Though I attended Sarnia Christian School for only six years (grades 2-8), it plays an outsize role in my life. My father was a teacher there from before I was born to the year that I graduated in 1969.
Garden 1 – Carolinian Sun
Front yard garden, close to the street sidewalk, anchored by a now large Tulip tree and featuring sun-loving native plants that might be found in a Carolinian setting.
In the Pinery
A prose view: In the Pinery - coming up the rise the lake comes into view, full blue, and there sit the de Jongs, still, after fifty years.
Garden 2 – Northern Sun
Front yard garden, close to the street sidewalk, anchored by a birch tree and two conifer shrubs, featuring sun-loving native plants that might be found in a Northern woods.
Native Plants
Before getting into native plant gardening, I was just an observer of native plants, taking photographs as early as 1977 during my first canoe trip, to Algoma.
Chorus Niagara, 1999 – 2010
I was blessed to be able to sing with Chorus Niagara for eleven years, the last two-and a half with my daughter along side. I count that eleven year concert run as one of the richest experiences of my life.
Ontario Parks 1980 – 2008
During the family-formative years camping was key - strengthening bonds with each other and with our natural heritage.
Objects of Affection
An exhibition of photographs of treasured objects from the home of Stiny de Jong, given new life - transposed, re-imagined and renewed out-of-doors in the natural settings she relished. Consider, from this juxtaposition, what it is to be at home, surrounded by simply lovely mementos, gathered from artisans and nature,
Niagara Weather – 100 years
Niagara Weather - 100 years: Temperature charts for Niagara that I developed from local weather station stats.
Garden 3 – Carolinian Shade
Front yard garden, up against the house, featuring shade tolerant native plants that might be found in a Carolinian setting.
Web Publishing, 2000 – 2021
Sample pages from two decades worth of website development.
Ontario Parks 2008 – 2020
Our children's independence gave us opportunities again for couple camping, but also the pleasure of camping all together as adults.
Renovations, 1984 – 202?
Leaving a trail of construction behind me has been satisfying. When I look back, as in this gallery, I see much that is durable, valuable, functional and pleasing to see, even if a great deal of it is otherwise unremarkable.
Garden 4 – Northern Shade
Front yard garden, up against the house, anchored by a small waterfall, featuring shade tolerant or wet loving native plants that might be found in a Northern woods.
2014 – Wolf Lake
Our repeat visit to Wolf Lake afforded us a pleasurable measure of security and anticipation. We were not disappointed, and we might even do it again.
2015 – Killarney
Considering our long history with canoeing, it is perhaps surprising that we had not yet laid eyes on the fabled Killarney Provincial Park, except in Group of Seven paintings. We went the extra mile this time and were not disappointed.
2017 – Pakeshkag Lake
This was an all-around beautiful spot to camp, but the feature that remains the most memorable is the river. I have always loved the rivers and creeks, ever since my first canoe trip in Algoma in 1977 and our first paddle down Pog River during our 1980 honeymoon.
2019 – Crotch Lake
The Crotch Lake site appealed to us because it was on an island not too far from the access point. Long island is large, but it turns out that site 38 sits on just a small point, cut off from the main island by an overhung moat. Still big enough
2021 – Herb Lake
By staying close to access points for our canoe camping we're more likely to end up mixed in with cottages. Here again though, like Wolf Lake, they bothered us not at all, and we never saw any motor boats.