Tuesday, July 28, 2015

July ~ moments to remember

I know.  The month is not yet done and already I'm doing my monthly review.  But since I'll be away the next few days...I'm posting this a wee bit early.  I might just add a footnote later...should anything noteworthy happen before August arrives. :)


July began with a bang...as it always does.  Fireworks and Canada Day go hand-in-hand...and this year we actually joined the masses to watch our local display.


At the beginning of the month...we went camping with the youngest grands.  First...Maggie, Lucy and Micah joined us at Camperland.  They remember exactly what we did last year and don't like to change things up at all! We eat the same foods, hike the same trail, play the same games...and always buy treats at the general store.


On the second day...Ryder and Ranen joined us for a day at the water slides.  What fun...even for the oldsters!

Then the younger ones went home...and Ranen and Ryder stayed for night.  Like I said...some things never change!  One minute they are sitting in their chairs having a good time...and the next minute Ranen is on the ground.  Funny...but I thought back to their first camping trip with us when they were just three...and had a similar experience.


And I have the photos to prove it.  They found it a little funnier now though!


It was a good time again! How quickly these years are flying by.


Can our youngest grand really be four already?  We celebrated Lucy's birthday with a picnic at BenAnna Lake earlier this month.


Also in July...we celebrated the arrival of another grand-niece (a granddaughter for my sister Dot).  Teeny as could be and cute as a button!


And then there was a mid-week hike up Mt. Slesse with Heidi, Maggie and Lucy and some friends.  I figured if four and six-year-olds could do such a long hike, I should be able to make it.  We hiked up to the monument that marks the place where a Trans-Canada Airlines plane crashed into the rugged peak on Dec. 9, 1956...killing all 62 people on board.  Due to the remoteness of the area...the plane was not found for five months.  It was a six-hour round trip for us...with plenty of stops for snacks and 'reading breaks'.  I was amazed at the wee ones and their determination to make it to the top. It was a great day!



One night...we drove into Vancouver to meet up with Debi and Bob who were vacationing from southern California.  I knew Debi from her blog...Echo of My Heart...but how nice to meet face to face for the first time!  We rode the gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain...had dinner together...and watched as the sun set over the city.  It was such a lovely evening...with much to talk about and lots of laughs!  We plan to meet again one day...and carry on where we left off. Next time they will stay longer!



Last week we had a family BBQ at a wonderful local venue...a new RV resort that my brother-in-law has been involved in developing these past few years. Lots are now on the market...but we were there as guests of my sister and BIL and had a wonderful evening with all who could make it.


And then there was the 'just for fun' party at the farm of friends on the weekend...which included a wonderful BBQ dinner, great entertainment (Abba Again), many friends to connect with and a field full of antique tractors and pick-ups to check out.  I'm thinking 'just for fun' is a really good reason to throw a party! Did I mention that there was also a new barn to gather in...which turned out to be a good thing, since we actually had a few showers on Sunday.

We have had three very hot and dry months here...with little or no rain since the beginning of May.  The crops are parched...the lawns are brown...and we were in 'stage three' water restrictions. 

 

So...needless to say...we welcomed the rain that fell on the weekend. It can only help the grass and corn fields which are really suffering in the valley...and put a bit of a damper on the forest fires that are raging throughout the province.  

The sun is shining again...the Okanagan is calling...and we are off to enjoy the last few days of July with family in another part of our province.  

Here's hoping you are all having a wonderful summer!





Wednesday, July 1, 2015

June in the rear-view mirror...

Happy Canada Day to all my friends, family and fellow Canadians! 

(photo @ Whistler, B.C.)
 
As we celebrate our country's birthday today
...may we be reminded once again
of what a great country it is!

And now...a re-cap of 'the month that was'!

While in other parts of North America the rain is falling...
and folks are dealing with floods...
we here on the west coast have seen one of the hottest, driest Junes on record. 
And that following a hot and dry May. 

Needless to say...
no events were cancelled due to rain and we spent a lot of time out of doors!



We checked out a new trail not far from our place early this month.
It was short and sweet...
with a nice view of the valley.
When the valley floor still looked green!
Things are pretty brown everywhere these days.


Our 'care group' wrapped up the year with a picnic  earlier in the month.
It's always a good time...
meeting with these friends!


On the farm...
there was hay to be made...


...with no danger of it getting rained on this time!


We attended the retirement party for our long-time veterinarian and friend...
Dr. Dick Clegg.
I thought the centerpieces were quite unique...
and appropriate.
And amusing.


For Father's Day...
we took my dad on an outing.
Our first stop was Canada Place...
where we had tickets for Flyover Canada.
Who knew you could 'fly over' our amazing country so quickly?
A wonderful experience.
Just too short!


It was a picture-perfect day on the waterfront in Vancouver...
and we spent some time just soaking it all in.


Our next stop was Steveston...
a fishing town not too far from the city.


It is the best place for sitting on the dock...
and enjoying fish 'n chips.
Dad is 92...
and quite enjoys 'going out on the town'!



And he enjoys sports.

Usually he observes from the comfort of his recliner...
but a few weeks ago he came to watch Ryder (great-grandson) play at the local arena.
 

And he quite liked seeing his grandson in action as the coach.
Time hurries on...
and the 'skates' are passed to the next generation.

Ryder is playing in a summer league...
three on three hockey.
Great fun!




Another fun event this month was a luncheon which I was privileged to be a part of.
Kathy's mother-in-law, Eileen, invited us to come join her around the table...
as she hosted a party to honour her daughter-in-law.
It was a most special time...
and we all came away blessed.


The school year came to an end...
with all the grands bringing home good report cards and happy to have the summer off.
How fun to have a grad ceremony to attend...

 


...that of Micah as he graduated from pre-school.
I'm hoping to be there when he graduates from  high-school with the Class of 2028.


Come fall..
Lucy will be our only pre-schooler.
She is having a wonderful and carefree summer...
chasing bubbles or butterflies...
or whatever catches her fancy.


We took Emme and Spencer on their annual camping trip last weekend...
to Whistler.
We had a wonderful time with those two...
riding bikes, making giant smores, riding a gondola,
checking out the suspension bridge, visiting Brandywine Falls, 
and playing Dutch Blitz (again and again).
 Oh...and listening to 'The Best of the Beach Boys' on the drive...
as we do every summer.


While we were in Whistler...
we pedaled our bikes to the Nicklaus North golf course.
Ten years ago Emme and Spencer were flower girls at a wedding...
right here at this spot.
They don't actually remember the wedding at all...
just the gondola ride that morning...
and that they were wearing shorts in the snow at the top of the mountain. 
Sweet girls...then and now!


Like I said...it's been a hot month.
We have been to Harrison Lake several times.
On Saturday we packed up a picnic and enjoyed the evening there...
cooling off in the shade with a book.


As the sun was setting...
we enjoyed our favorite ice-cream on a bench at the lagoon...
and watched the geese swim off.

I'm thinking they were practising for the Canada Day parade...
swimming in formation!

Wishing you all a wonderful Canada Day...
and a Happy 4th of July to my American friends!