Author: Peter Klopp

Winter is Losing its Grip

/ Peter Klopp / 12 Comments

Ice on Retreat

Last weekend, we had another look at Heart Creek which was still covered over with ice only two weeks ago. What a pleasant surprise that the Canada geese had returned to the golf course and the water had eaten away a lot of ice from our creek! The sight of brilliant sunshine, Canada geese, and Old Man Winter losing its grip is our hope that Spring is just around the corner. Here are three photos I took last weekend.

For about a year now, I have been creating a variety of mostly cheerful songs. I started off using the free Apple DAW, known as Garageband. When I began to like it, I advanced to Logic Pro. If you could spend an entire lifespan learning it, there would still be features left to be explored. So what shall I say as an octogenarian? I hope you will like the little tune below.

Walter Panknin (1898 – 1977) and His Family Ch7 Part 19

/ Peter Klopp / 11 Comments

A Klepper Folding Boat with Sails

Sailing Adventure Part 1

Biene writes:

My brother was a bit disappointed that he had not been able to go sailing yet. However, that was to change on the first weekend.   On a beautiful Sunday morning, Walter and I went to the beach very early. Our parents had gone on a short excursion by themselves.  I was absorbed by my novel when my brother suddenly called me.  Looking up from my book, I noticed lots of boats sailing gracefully close to shore on the white-capped lake. Sitting in a secluded and sheltered spot, I had been protected from the wind.  

Twin Brother Walter Relaxing in the “Sailboat”

“Biene, do you see all those sailboats?”  my brother shouted excitedly. “Let’s go and try ours.” Suddenly, a cool breeze blew through my hair.  It wasn’t very often that my brother invited me to participate in his fun activities.  I quickly grabbed my towel, wrapped it around my book, and followed him to the water where our boat was anchored.

Walter expertly got everything ready for our first sailing adventure. To try it out,  we first sailed fairly close to shore like the real sailboats in the distance.  It was exhilarating to speed effortlessly through the waves.  My brother felt like a captain in command.  He would tell me to shift my weight occasionally from side to side. I obediently followed his commands.  Normally, we would argue about everything.  But I had never sailed before.   Imperceptibly, the wind was getting stronger and the waves higher.  We were ecstatic!  This was fun!   Lots of other boats were sailing ahead of us along the coastline.  Suddenly, my brother suggested, “Why don’t we try to cross the lake?  We have never been to the other side.  At this speed, we’ll be there in no time.”   I had no objections. I loved adventures and was curious to explore the other shore.

To be continued …

Two Weeks Apart and so Much Change

/ Peter Klopp / 19 Comments

On January 22, a crisp and bitter-cold winter day, my wife and I, faithful to our daily walking routine and abiding by our iron-clad rule, rain or snow, went down to the Fauquier golf course. Shivering a bit in the extreme cold, we marvelled at the glorious winter scenes.

Within two weeks, the thermometer jumped from -20 C to + 5 C, and moisture-laden clouds also brought lots of rain, washing away the virgin snow and exposing a green spring-like landscape.

Now, let’s have some sunshine, and we will dream about tulips, daffodils, and an early spring.

Walter Panknin (1898 – 1977) and His Family Ch7 Part 18

/ Peter Klopp / 7 Comments

Family Reunion at Lake Ammer

Biene writes:

Our family, including my uncle and aunt, spent the summer of 1963 at Lake Ammer in Bavaria, Southern Germany.  Lake Ammer is the sixth-largest lake in Germany.  Since sailing is a popular sport there, our father equipped our fold boat with sails. Our vessel resembled a lightweight canoe which could be folded up.

From left to right: Uncle Rudi, Walter jr, Aunt Johanna, Mutti and Papa Panknin

My twin brother was excited by the prospect of easy sailing instead of strenuous paddling. Boats of any kind were his passion.  And he was already a very skilled model boat builder. He loved sailboats in particular.  The previous summer, he had learned to sail with a friend on the island of Corsica.

The weather was beautiful that summer at Lake Ammer.   The lake was still and calm, like a mirror under a cloudless sky, for the first few days of our stay.  I enjoyed the wonderful sandy beach. When I was not swimming or sunbathing, I would sit under a shade tree and read the gripping biographical novel  “Lust for Life” by Irving Stone.  A great read which is based on Vincent Van Gogh’s turbulent life. Vincent Van Gogh was and still is my favourite painter.

The Fascinating World of Winter

/ Peter Klopp / 12 Comments

Keen eyes in a seemingly dull and colourless winter landscape will discover the pearls of beauty nature has prepared for us. I am always searching for the things hidden in the microcosmos of a snowy and icy fairyland, too small to see for the casual observer but large enough for the camera to capture.

Here are a few examples from a recent walk with Biene:

It has been a long time …

/ Peter Klopp / 35 Comments

The near end-of-life crisis is finally over for me, and I look forward to blogging again, although on a very limited scale. Like Ann, one of my blogging friends, I have set some new priorities with a focus on family, more time spent with my dear wife Biene, and hobbies that I really like to pursue, such as genealogy, photography, songwriting, gardening, and enjoying the great outdoors. Once in a while, I will publish one of my better photographs or write a post with a light sliver out of the life of an octogenarian.

The image above shows the top part of my wife’s new blog site. She just finished writing her first post yesterday. You might want to peek and see if you find something that interests you. You will find her blog at http://www.bumblebiene.ca.

A BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! LET US HOPE 2024 WILL BRING PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO HUMANITY. WE PRAY FOR THE END OF ALL WARS. LET THE LIGHT PENETRATE THE DARKNESS.