I spent many summers when I was a young child at Kilarney Cottage in Shawbridge (Prevost) Quebec in the Laurentians. My great grand-father O’Donnell immigrated to Montreal from Ballybunion, Ireland before the Irish famine; he built this cottage for his family of seven children.
My great-aunt took over hosting when her father passed. There was a creek where we spent hours hopping from rock to rock until we reached a pool of water and where I first learned how to swim. There was always something to explore in that creek. The cottage had 15 rooms and my great-aunt always hosted many friends and family that came from Montreal. Thank goodness the sound of the creek at night buffered the loud sounds of adults partying until the wee hours.
My aunt (father’s sister) did this painting of the creek years ago and I am so happy I still have this as the photos never gave it justice. This painting is only a glimpse of this long creek that led to mini cascades of water falls and one huge pool of still water. I still hear the sounds of that creek and the ice-cold water, brrrr.
hear the rapids
foaming swirls
creek
~
jumping rocks,
dodging frigid water
splash
~
lazy days
lying on our big rock
fingers paddling
~
fall asleep,
water flowing
white noise.
© Cheryl-Lynn 2014/06/19
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
Beautiful painting, wonderful memories
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Thank you, Pam, this was one of her first paintings over 50 years ago. Those turquoise hues seem to be colours she uses a lot…I love her work and thanks for reading.
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Cheryl, it sounds like a beautiful place filled with special memories. The sound of running water is so soothing and the perfect white noise. I’m smiling after reading.
janet
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It was a lovely place and so open to everyone. I will look for a painting my aunt did of this cottage and do a post on it. And yes that white noise was hypnotizing. Glad it made you smile.
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Enjoyed your haibun so full of wonderful memories … the series of haiku were fantastic … I enjoyed
jumping rocks,
dodging frigid water
splash
particulary … got me back into my own childhood! 🙂
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I am so glad you chose the haiku that I love the most…reminds me so much of those excursions and slipping in my running shoes to protect our feet from some pretty sharp stones…that yucky squeagy feeling with water in your shoes…
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HA! just reading your words makes the sensation return! Squish squish! 😀
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🙂
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so many memories of life next to the the creek. It’s fun to read everyone’s. Your aunt’s painting is priceless – beautiful
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I am so glad I still have that painting…the photos are all black and white that I have. Thank you so much for reading.
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Wonderful memories Cheryl Lynn … great response.
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Thank you, it was a nice trip to the past:)
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How did I miss this gorgeous haibun? It’s really lovely — loved sharing your memories with you — and the haiku are beautiful – so many senses involved! Brava!
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{I bow} thank you so much, Jen, for your kind words.
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🙂
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