we're all on the same boat...

Things will be quiet at 'my front porch' this week...

since I am out on the high seas with all the kids...

and the grands.

We'll be passing through these waters...

off the coast of British Columbia.

We are heading north.

Who knows what sites we will see?

With Mickey and friends at the helm...

I sure it will be interesting for kids...

of all ages!

Until next week...

near encounter with a olympic bronze medal...

Do you talk to those in the line-up with you at the check-out counter?  I must admit that I usually read magazine headlines...or think of things on my list that I forgot to buy...but rarely strike up a conversation with the strangers in front or behind.  I was at Costco this week...and the back-to-school line-ups are long.  A gal behind me politely asked if she could pay for her two items before I went through the check-out, since she was in a very big hurry.  Of course she could!

Before she rushed off, she gave me a poster that featured her daughter, who just happened to be a goalie for the famous Canadian Women's Soccer team.  That's right...the team that did us all proud by defeating France for a bronze medal.  Her daughter is Karina LeBlanc...who was at a meet-and-greet that afternoon with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Mom needed to get there!  And that was my close encounter with a Canadian Bronze medal at Costco.  Be sure to chat with those around you.  You never know who you might meet!

the after-wedding party...

With Saturday's wedding behind her...

the MOB sent out an impromptu invitation to 'the girls' for the following evening..

Come for an evening of appetizers and refreshments, if you are free.

And bring the guys.

We came...those of us who live close enough and had a free night. 

We had such a fun evening under the wedding tents.

The guys talked shop...and what not.

The girls heard all about the wedding...

admired the beautifully packaged gifts still waiting to be opened...

and never talked shop at all!

We enjoyed the wonderful appie buffet.

 And we all had a lot of fun!

Can you tell?

And then we left for home bearing bouquets of sunflowers.

It was the best after-wedding!

sunflowers, sunshine, and reasons to smile...

Could there be a nicer venue for a wedding? 

What a pleasure it was...

to be part of the marriage celebration of the daughter of our good friends over the weekend.

Their yard has never looked so good!

 Everyone was all smiles as they walked down the 'green carpet'.

And soon they were leaving...

the beaming Mr. and Mrs.!

I'm sure Marg will be back from her blogging hiatus one of these days...

and I'll let her share all the details with you!

 

Good friends...

good food...

in a beautiful setting.

No one was in a hurry to leave.

And...

as though on cue...

we were all treated to a fireworks display as the wedding came to an end. 

Yes.

There were many reasons to smile!

I wish them both a lifetime of happiness together.

a little sunshine...

At the front door...

...and gracing my kitchen table

...are sweet reminders of good times spent with good friends over the weekend.

 

A friendship is but a flower
That God lends to us for a while
To help us along our way
And give us a reason for a smile

~norman hale

 

I'm still smiling!

The Shuswap....

Last week as the temperatures sizzled in our area...

we parked ourselves at Scotch Creek...

on the north shore of Shuswap Lake for a few days.

Over the past two decades we have been to that particular location on many occasion...

in spring, summer or fall.

We have great memories of time spent at the 'family cabin'...

which now belongs to two of my sisters.

This time we took our RV and parked on the lot...

while Bev and her boys (out from Texas) joined Dot in the cabin.

Shuswap Lake...

located in south-central British Columbia...

is fed by many rivers and creeks.

It drains into Little Shuswap Lake...

then into the Thompson River and eventually into the Fraser River.

The area is named after the Shuswap First Nations people...

the most northern of the Interior Salish peoples.

There is a beautiful provincial park in Scotch Creek...

and though we have never stayed there...

it's where we spend our beach time.

We went for early morning bike rides through the park...

before the crowds arrived.

Before anyone arrived...

actually!

For the most part...

the boats bobbed about in the water just off the shore.

The tables and benches were empty.

We inhaled the scent of cedar and morning campfires as we rode through the park.

Later in the day we returned to claim our spot on the beach...

toting chairs, books and snacks.

We had some company on the beach...

though I could not understand how it could be so quiet in the middle of a scorching hot week in August.

From my vantage point...

I watched others enjoying the water.

Most rode on top...

or played on the beach...

though some didn't mind a refreshing cool dip!

While I watched people...

the birds watched me.

It seemed they were hoping for hand-outs!

Not far from Scotch Creek is Copper Island...

accessible only by boat.

We watched a houseboat making its way around the island...

...and recalled our own houseboat adventure on Shuswap Lake more than twenty years ago.

We went with friends...

and though the weather was less than ideal...

the kids had a great time!
Shuswap Lake is known as the 'houseboat capital' of Canada.

For the most part I read books.

Or stared out to sea.

All that from the comfort of my beach chair!

The Texans seemed not to be all that interested in sitting in the sun!

I smiled to see Bev, Len and Ricky at a table in the shade.

It seems Len likes to read standing up.

As for Ricky...

he only sits down to eat and sleep.

He stood on the beach for hours...

never saying a word.

All good things must come to an end.

Once again...

it was a good time at Scotch Creek.

Thanks Dot...

for the invite!

what became of the old JD?

I was off on a mission...

looking for pie cherries in countryside of Abbotsford....

when I spotted an old John Deere tractor that looked just like the one my dad had.

 For years he used it to cultivate corn.

And after that he had it parked on his driveway.

It was an antique with a purpose.

The purpose was to keep traffic from using his driveway as a 'U-turn-route'.

When he sold his place...

the John Deere found a new home in my uncle and aunt's backyard.

It sat there for more than a decade.

Recently their place sold.

The John Deere needed a new home.

Someone came and picked it up.

Now I know where it went!

If you happen to do the Circle Farm Tour in Abbotsford...

check out dad's old JD at Maan Farms.

It has a new lease on life!

family reunion 2012

We had a reunion on the weekend...

cousins, uncles, aunts and others...

who were somehow grafted into the Baerg family tree.

They came from California, Idaho and Texas...

Manitoba, Alberta and different parts of British Columbia.

The sun shone down on us.

We played hard...

and a good time was had by all.

As I mentioned earlier...

we were also celebrating the 90th birthday of the oldest of the clan.

That would be my dad!

He always likes a party...

and was quite tickled to start his 90th festivities a wee bit early.

The cake was amazing...moist and delicious!

It was baked and decorated by my niece Lauren for her grandpa.

Every evening found us gathered around the campfire down by the creek...

making music.

We all seemed to know the words to the first verse of every song!

After that it was a choir of hummers.

By the time someone thought of taking a group photo...

some were already on their way home. 

It was a good time...

a time of re-discovering what matters most in a family.

What matters most is that we all show up at the big reunion in glory one fine day!

I'm off at the lake this week (where there is no internet)...

in case it seems like I am MIA.

It's a sisterly getaway.

 I'll be back.

'twas the night before...

How well I recall this date 39 years ago.

It was a hot summer day...

and we spent the evening at my parent's farm.

We had refreshments on the sundeck...

...and this photo was taken before we left for home.

Little did I know how much my life would change in the span of a few short hours.

I became a mother the following day...

and life has never been the same!

I had a son...

to hold, to comfort, to feed...

and most of all...

to love! 

We were young...

and had no idea what parenting would involve.

"All you need is love"...right?

We often lacked wisdom...

and made many mistakes along the way.

But always...
we loved!

Those first months flew by so quickly.

Soon he was obsessed with tractors...

and begged to sit on them.

The love of motorcycles started way back then...

and that doesn't seem to have changed!

In those days I got to pick out his clothes.

I thought I did fine at the time.

He questions my choices!

On his first birthday...

we made a trip to the prairies and he took his first steps in a wheat field...
on a farm that belonged to his grandparents.

He always liked to be 'outstanding in his field'!

Mowing the lawn had great appeal to him in those days.

Not so much later on.

He liked work...

though I'm surprised to see him with dirt on his face.

He never liked dirt!

And things are dirty on a farm!

He needed to inspect the loader of the tractor before touching...

lest he pick up some germs.

Having mom cut his hair was OK back then!

Ah...the memories.

But the good thing about getting older is...

you don't lose all those other ages you have been.

That little boy is still there...

somewhere.

On this eve of your 39th birthday...

it's been fun to look back, Kris.

We won't be around to share your cake with you tomorrow...

but wish you a very happy birthday.

The Lord bless you and keep you;   

the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;  

 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace. 

Numbers 26: 24-26

Love,