tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64297863726497850472024-03-13T22:49:18.942-07:00My Front PorchJudy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.comBlogger1746125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-82814425851268308182024-03-11T22:19:00.000-07:002024-03-12T07:47:16.019-07:00Costa Rica ~ Pura VidaI said it would be quiet on my blog this year, but here I am some six weeks later. We are back from our first stay in Costa Rica and I can't think of a better way to document our time there than with a blog post. One week at a resort gave us a wee glimpse of the country...though it was mostly about relaxing in the sunshine and spending time with family. We flew into Liberia and then took a 90 minute shuttle through the countryside to Joba Bay.<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyEEC5KX4HlmyHUhQ4gEaIMGwLddbdPmMp022WiP8M8pwbh5R6g2QL6uN3dHhTZfF1rpxdc1yN8puKwM8Z1A3iu3h7S_6VIZKUrxpAaVSCRbi6SFHX5QVmh2C37Nc_-3_p600IIYRw6ZZcXbhjLJI6uukyztZJr1dvYO2-gY2yjV8oMlJ_FwpsOcU1dgd/s3934/IMG_7560.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2950" data-original-width="3934" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyEEC5KX4HlmyHUhQ4gEaIMGwLddbdPmMp022WiP8M8pwbh5R6g2QL6uN3dHhTZfF1rpxdc1yN8puKwM8Z1A3iu3h7S_6VIZKUrxpAaVSCRbi6SFHX5QVmh2C37Nc_-3_p600IIYRw6ZZcXbhjLJI6uukyztZJr1dvYO2-gY2yjV8oMlJ_FwpsOcU1dgd/w640-h480/IMG_7560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What's not to like? It was warm and sunny all week...with an ocean breeze. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbbnb4C8qcEi-TkmrXhFSxdPlPaFXjigNb9oCYHoU-z7P7ol39VaaaleiomV4Y8OGp-WwOa6TN7G_I9gVpP-egF3LcgqarpL9_qyfxsmQqUT_6JoJ2_JmY_MIjVu1ojvcYwDJFdO2IvnSYF5G7c4jW89sDG1RJa9QwH9OrhAR_WsALsEpnz29CnvToX9f/s4032/IMG_E7675.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbbnb4C8qcEi-TkmrXhFSxdPlPaFXjigNb9oCYHoU-z7P7ol39VaaaleiomV4Y8OGp-WwOa6TN7G_I9gVpP-egF3LcgqarpL9_qyfxsmQqUT_6JoJ2_JmY_MIjVu1ojvcYwDJFdO2IvnSYF5G7c4jW89sDG1RJa9QwH9OrhAR_WsALsEpnz29CnvToX9f/w640-h480/IMG_E7675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The beach was always quiet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Being on the Pacific coast, the water is cooler than on the Caribbean side...but quite refreshing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wMo7Pwuvv1sdbPDZNSK-HaqWpMULeaJx28epdJWDXQw-RmT9z9HsNzOE6RPXZuRo61VY_lvNmhyphenhyphenbWZSjfFI3BEd-YLkJTsx_NT3XRHCpeJa-RNthLALkBmnRxODxmCByuIc-P2R06fhIwg9v6_-Xk6S9jRarfqjz7RssGSaRFp3FkKocmnlC4OfEnYnY/s3208/sunset.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="3208" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wMo7Pwuvv1sdbPDZNSK-HaqWpMULeaJx28epdJWDXQw-RmT9z9HsNzOE6RPXZuRo61VY_lvNmhyphenhyphenbWZSjfFI3BEd-YLkJTsx_NT3XRHCpeJa-RNthLALkBmnRxODxmCByuIc-P2R06fhIwg9v6_-Xk6S9jRarfqjz7RssGSaRFp3FkKocmnlC4OfEnYnY/w640-h504/sunset.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sunsets on the beech were quite lovely!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26w0rRFeCVvNhhXcfGnrfUMa42cOx4LyNmTrTGXEjkaL3pQY05GNLcGa116I9Bp3JvQjMpFfsEF4o6nzsXo7jAHOOtKZ5qfr87vYeFf4VIcgbscCjSv3X71n9yFjapm2UpgRzUU-y2YYB6O58_CvwCBctrB6q2aGHp4wh69x9aZqMrTaRvI7qLvL5Y-W3/s2221/IMG_E7640.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2221" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26w0rRFeCVvNhhXcfGnrfUMa42cOx4LyNmTrTGXEjkaL3pQY05GNLcGa116I9Bp3JvQjMpFfsEF4o6nzsXo7jAHOOtKZ5qfr87vYeFf4VIcgbscCjSv3X71n9yFjapm2UpgRzUU-y2YYB6O58_CvwCBctrB6q2aGHp4wh69x9aZqMrTaRvI7qLvL5Y-W3/w640-h506/IMG_E7640.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our deck was 'garden view' with the ocean in the distance. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFECLzGxNHSK304HwDIMWeK4YXWl00dUbrJ1rkk_bZvdL5gn2yEg5ypdOFlKvtoV38dnZBNRufW0349X6iY1oJpSyM9w-VBhzgh7f50MdLbtWk8yk1TtyxLYqVOVenxrsQU3ce0txy4z53wpyrzOztVmDPfu3ZqBp5p2zqyEzdWKOPcj5-JeKEnKwWORHa/s2900/IMG_E7661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="2416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFECLzGxNHSK304HwDIMWeK4YXWl00dUbrJ1rkk_bZvdL5gn2yEg5ypdOFlKvtoV38dnZBNRufW0349X6iY1oJpSyM9w-VBhzgh7f50MdLbtWk8yk1TtyxLYqVOVenxrsQU3ce0txy4z53wpyrzOztVmDPfu3ZqBp5p2zqyEzdWKOPcj5-JeKEnKwWORHa/w534-h640/IMG_E7661.JPG" width="534" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was also the 'monkey view'!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The monkeys hung out in the trees nearby...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and came to peek into our patio doors on occasion</div><div style="text-align: center;">hoping that we may have left them ajar!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYajgoRPezmeS8Yhs8xQka9NMH3mmmVL4uwv1SoEDYp6eeED9baxOMtxRFlMsMb-9dzVQDBFYknbtvgWvXleNFSVnRmtVjI-WoPTY4XguygZ_V_LQ4utWZUvyzU45AIvKxjx1talS8YyNKhyphenhyphenK-zSdoMrNCEleFK3FuOPRoqHxyHqzPlbil2AtLidpZCvy/s2947/IMG_E7619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2293" data-original-width="2947" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYajgoRPezmeS8Yhs8xQka9NMH3mmmVL4uwv1SoEDYp6eeED9baxOMtxRFlMsMb-9dzVQDBFYknbtvgWvXleNFSVnRmtVjI-WoPTY4XguygZ_V_LQ4utWZUvyzU45AIvKxjx1talS8YyNKhyphenhyphenK-zSdoMrNCEleFK3FuOPRoqHxyHqzPlbil2AtLidpZCvy/w640-h498/IMG_E7619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Did I say that they 'hung out'? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Literally!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie7yZYtTPV88UkfuC85F5DlA9jJYivjSOj_OnQtGYq-sNdqZtOLWmfCI_hT4yCfeMisU6NpmMfBvWMbTOv6HvNMb33hQiIG9aUwCePVvHGsV_xgrZ37aVj2V5HTgfon8iTj6w3fz1rbYkn6NQtPrBZ8znaD9pLP67TlU3JD-UjXxEIG8nlowIMUErfRWy/s3362/IMG_E7632.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3362" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie7yZYtTPV88UkfuC85F5DlA9jJYivjSOj_OnQtGYq-sNdqZtOLWmfCI_hT4yCfeMisU6NpmMfBvWMbTOv6HvNMb33hQiIG9aUwCePVvHGsV_xgrZ37aVj2V5HTgfon8iTj6w3fz1rbYkn6NQtPrBZ8znaD9pLP67TlU3JD-UjXxEIG8nlowIMUErfRWy/w640-h482/IMG_E7632.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The iguanas lazed nearby throughout the resort...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHx5tjHYcgz-nULY08GhzNrgPCc7rm4mleRKJU-Ncv3mHZnurttk1dX5wAaYAywckNvJolbGuBRLyjQDtIEm5HBF1ihv1yaicNgAUJgzr7XYZjuxGkiqxMMCeDl8f_WGCEYUpUuRed8o-Ujt4bvZf3HD2GCQMxPcr6w9zkfqjLLyjN8Ko4sJjfLkxcDBC/s1615/IMG_7624.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1615" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHx5tjHYcgz-nULY08GhzNrgPCc7rm4mleRKJU-Ncv3mHZnurttk1dX5wAaYAywckNvJolbGuBRLyjQDtIEm5HBF1ihv1yaicNgAUJgzr7XYZjuxGkiqxMMCeDl8f_WGCEYUpUuRed8o-Ujt4bvZf3HD2GCQMxPcr6w9zkfqjLLyjN8Ko4sJjfLkxcDBC/w640-h508/IMG_7624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and occasionally hopped onto the table!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmegObyuzLCGnkoaUTjy1RvTzHBeTcZo_XwWYLBnUcaiYtouLKx10HKkDGg_U3h851NEM9lKwNkSd6obrWGXlgpjkDbDbBWVSIUy2KSGMdSsMM4uXGrDYZ5XBzvpUjlnF7OyBo9N-TiFRAlr3XdPVvS4Ufr8iE6NU1vqMNgbNxsZxDPJa-rO2D6-onplsd/s2277/IMG_7539.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="2277" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmegObyuzLCGnkoaUTjy1RvTzHBeTcZo_XwWYLBnUcaiYtouLKx10HKkDGg_U3h851NEM9lKwNkSd6obrWGXlgpjkDbDbBWVSIUy2KSGMdSsMM4uXGrDYZ5XBzvpUjlnF7OyBo9N-TiFRAlr3XdPVvS4Ufr8iE6NU1vqMNgbNxsZxDPJa-rO2D6-onplsd/w640-h494/IMG_7539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were in Costa Rica with my brother (Bill and Jeanne) from Iowa and my sister (Kathy and Jim) from Manitoba. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played in the waves, read books by the pool, played cards in a quiet corner somewhere and ate all our meals together at one table or another.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The food was great...</div><div style="text-align: center;">particularly a few of the specialty restaurants. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNbPn0QjvozQUXGPlKz_H5TR-AXx7QIL9l6d7AmNWnKY9NjSAEeWfRsd4DS7rtZ9J8bl04BDX3fVqWbfSQMP4qOjEAqzmN_6-pLCmj-j2MAIn_jx8vMedKfwPexc9_Bq7RI3YxjyTsJBHK4-X9iZIuxZGPpedvYg88csrKkGtZDNc5C0EniTz4xh2WMu/s3532/IMG_E7517.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3532" data-original-width="2917" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BNbPn0QjvozQUXGPlKz_H5TR-AXx7QIL9l6d7AmNWnKY9NjSAEeWfRsd4DS7rtZ9J8bl04BDX3fVqWbfSQMP4qOjEAqzmN_6-pLCmj-j2MAIn_jx8vMedKfwPexc9_Bq7RI3YxjyTsJBHK4-X9iZIuxZGPpedvYg88csrKkGtZDNc5C0EniTz4xh2WMu/w528-h640/IMG_E7517.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We passed on the chance to have a sunset dinner on the beach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW20WF3GgQs4N9e-t7ll0iJZIgQydOCbVJsV7fDo2oRoa3gfTi-XjLmEHKcWDsJ9AEKs5-5RdCi4NhS9Ia8j1X1MGAUpk6KTJ2ohlourbDpAaam8BwaKLzOZ9XG1EYtpvk0CM3UC3FEU8c4XTvwRwevhh_4mkimQu2TzvuBa5d6YwVKhOJiznHCH5EFbO/s4032/IMG_7645.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisW20WF3GgQs4N9e-t7ll0iJZIgQydOCbVJsV7fDo2oRoa3gfTi-XjLmEHKcWDsJ9AEKs5-5RdCi4NhS9Ia8j1X1MGAUpk6KTJ2ohlourbDpAaam8BwaKLzOZ9XG1EYtpvk0CM3UC3FEU8c4XTvwRwevhh_4mkimQu2TzvuBa5d6YwVKhOJiznHCH5EFbO/w640-h480/IMG_7645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...but thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese restaurant.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only was the food delicious...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but watching the chef was like being at a show. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUSeYihrJRXIkzl2UAHfTbnjHUUdMGL41xU_dj2yh3h_O3HcfD3vL32ujKHidAVS_iT5rk5pmEG4uYT0m94O4YqAEY3_uidxhyphenhyphenHJKbrOCgnM2MDulJv01EVt8VioGl0sWPADakJAZhegB1zX7f-X2Jho0S7KwxvSfEvn9q-1t-isKYUocBWuw4lso5T6Q/s1866/IMG_7619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="1419" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUSeYihrJRXIkzl2UAHfTbnjHUUdMGL41xU_dj2yh3h_O3HcfD3vL32ujKHidAVS_iT5rk5pmEG4uYT0m94O4YqAEY3_uidxhyphenhyphenHJKbrOCgnM2MDulJv01EVt8VioGl0sWPADakJAZhegB1zX7f-X2Jho0S7KwxvSfEvn9q-1t-isKYUocBWuw4lso5T6Q/w486-h640/IMG_7619.JPG" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Mexican meal ended with a waterfall of flaming coffee.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since we were so close, we decided to do a day trip to Nicaragua. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a long and full day, but we are glad we did it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY2Rwb5gXmXO7_qoVroxnah8_crt3bQl9caqS7raTw8S1P9_Hl4yHBlB7gNp60MYP1jRssLt4eggpDZnawk2cktFomDZaTzy5VQIrvX1HJZ_i7BV5-rtv-ncoSJ_mrSpVBrtEdwYdM3ofjeFMVx3JWF8arU8iAy5v5EilNTJAu3m5f3vMfjg16BT7l2PB/s4032/IMG_7527.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY2Rwb5gXmXO7_qoVroxnah8_crt3bQl9caqS7raTw8S1P9_Hl4yHBlB7gNp60MYP1jRssLt4eggpDZnawk2cktFomDZaTzy5VQIrvX1HJZ_i7BV5-rtv-ncoSJ_mrSpVBrtEdwYdM3ofjeFMVx3JWF8arU8iAy5v5EilNTJAu3m5f3vMfjg16BT7l2PB/w640-h480/IMG_7527.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting through customs (coming and going) was a bit of a process!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-MsyvexxJ_l84gJ2TUKbMMuR5RNybv1-S1tj-0AUdNcH9MvPJjA_d1ewVuZrq0W9PWOkzRRTCKcAhEygS4gcmibaopeK_Pp9Nnhzn_FGZ7r4bHio0cbOweNktD2MVpjMLrU_ggDsdxIukPyLQq0BfImRUfVweo0FIWDBLQUdBoT0dPxLYpxIGDqCWr7V/s1395/IMG_E7544.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1395" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-MsyvexxJ_l84gJ2TUKbMMuR5RNybv1-S1tj-0AUdNcH9MvPJjA_d1ewVuZrq0W9PWOkzRRTCKcAhEygS4gcmibaopeK_Pp9Nnhzn_FGZ7r4bHio0cbOweNktD2MVpjMLrU_ggDsdxIukPyLQq0BfImRUfVweo0FIWDBLQUdBoT0dPxLYpxIGDqCWr7V/w640-h468/IMG_E7544.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We visited the Masaya Volcano National Park...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYM8yCcLLW3WLs5bEO-tAXCVYLYFmV5wsQmnumdQ1p62kUyBcjHzTmnjVFEK4BVDXRHu05l6XLOtJOKLVg2Qb4oa0RWbohrfElA_EiCEyjFRezEzHQat_jCeaKRri7mn5cmX2uzVJWFjxusiYdf8DpnoDGJTU2VG9m_DiMUjlHIhPjWrH0hXlyqxbDsml/s4032/IMG_7550.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYM8yCcLLW3WLs5bEO-tAXCVYLYFmV5wsQmnumdQ1p62kUyBcjHzTmnjVFEK4BVDXRHu05l6XLOtJOKLVg2Qb4oa0RWbohrfElA_EiCEyjFRezEzHQat_jCeaKRri7mn5cmX2uzVJWFjxusiYdf8DpnoDGJTU2VG9m_DiMUjlHIhPjWrH0hXlyqxbDsml/w640-h480/IMG_7550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...a large park with two active volcanoes and five craters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjYLZFvnicbJkQZRlIYyty9gVFotxdyjaWkjP7DHKzvlfQ6KL2X8DdkvrBfwe9H2LdeZw2pAZQy5CeTWXt3OHMpT8XF_ZYTYqEa48xS97qDP8B6BtBbzCKSGEwSWJH54xZUCAnWE7zeA-e-TsQ2ysbzfJGtZUXD10Ye6ii6eYvyfaUANdtOAbKcss0Rrf/s4032/IMG_7556.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjYLZFvnicbJkQZRlIYyty9gVFotxdyjaWkjP7DHKzvlfQ6KL2X8DdkvrBfwe9H2LdeZw2pAZQy5CeTWXt3OHMpT8XF_ZYTYqEa48xS97qDP8B6BtBbzCKSGEwSWJH54xZUCAnWE7zeA-e-TsQ2ysbzfJGtZUXD10Ye6ii6eYvyfaUANdtOAbKcss0Rrf/w640-h480/IMG_7556.JPG" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the lookout we could see the surrounding valley...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the signs of volcanic activity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzo42159ysXdY4efyiLflMddwkuI0lGka53jUWJdCsX-WLwq9Q3ZZZMyn4SY6RQTlJ_g7tjDLBuJiaGrltMa2zHgPBW6TPBqqM2eMIiP4Y8roOedonbWeO0BL59QaKVG56i6VDfaSRPKUd7q66VavlrOQ8M6gYcyLT-3Kg7bm8-F7dpLuY1B82FCNTBq3/s4032/IMG_7552.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzo42159ysXdY4efyiLflMddwkuI0lGka53jUWJdCsX-WLwq9Q3ZZZMyn4SY6RQTlJ_g7tjDLBuJiaGrltMa2zHgPBW6TPBqqM2eMIiP4Y8roOedonbWeO0BL59QaKVG56i6VDfaSRPKUd7q66VavlrOQ8M6gYcyLT-3Kg7bm8-F7dpLuY1B82FCNTBq3/w640-h480/IMG_7552.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Bobadilla Cross was placed at the top of Santiago Crater in the 16th century...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by a monk who believed it was the gateway to hell and hoped to ward off the devil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2pQrGxnse6ubapyLRa70PfbTjXEmMRtQyWO_YvnNmNVUwEixYgd_8w_RtYvcxgofwu4E2lTX_F9pfli12br89kEwx_9uGrmcReDdYS3Cp3GGVteqHJngkOg0mSp2TtZ4iLOwAFL8bdYr0xoaD1jib4MVbbGDQ2h2bfFuy0nvX70NbguJ2xXZ-Ob7oNBR/s4032/IMG_7541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2pQrGxnse6ubapyLRa70PfbTjXEmMRtQyWO_YvnNmNVUwEixYgd_8w_RtYvcxgofwu4E2lTX_F9pfli12br89kEwx_9uGrmcReDdYS3Cp3GGVteqHJngkOg0mSp2TtZ4iLOwAFL8bdYr0xoaD1jib4MVbbGDQ2h2bfFuy0nvX70NbguJ2xXZ-Ob7oNBR/w640-h480/IMG_7541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bill & Jeanne, Kathy & Jim with us at Masaya Volcano Crater Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div>We spent some time in Granada...a city that played an important role in Nicaragua's history.</div><div>It is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the Americas. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvwtsHVZi0LQNIvXYVpWGJM_89LL47mCjT92aQJ9dIUUFmS9UOLZyGL_btyBl59vltxXi9DIhtfOW6lf__tFY6sXdBBjONbMd9eoFrE6SCpD5P4GMSyCFZ5CNn2Mourj9YfbCveDel-boRto8AhW92Jjcrt3bVDT4NYQISEnuZm_G8rAyRi6_5JcyPlwY/s4032/IMG_7580-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvwtsHVZi0LQNIvXYVpWGJM_89LL47mCjT92aQJ9dIUUFmS9UOLZyGL_btyBl59vltxXi9DIhtfOW6lf__tFY6sXdBBjONbMd9eoFrE6SCpD5P4GMSyCFZ5CNn2Mourj9YfbCveDel-boRto8AhW92Jjcrt3bVDT4NYQISEnuZm_G8rAyRi6_5JcyPlwY/w640-h480/IMG_7580-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had lunch in a courtyard restaurant and took a horse and buggy tour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIBObeihLsHAOqu1UhF_FZdDDJyaysgNCkOxMoykVP_moIsHyxGQ8Pf9sL-TAIW4FXsSN59Z1QB2d5i19lg53LVYSeS5UVXsCkER-QTKHDo-C0ckc5-5OQ-ey0_q56_IawAAOqD5f3ojN_bZwGJSftO9sT2g5Z-Gs0gLpPPUu-yh33DhI4Juc68xV2bAh/s3465/IMG_7570-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2335" data-original-width="3465" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIBObeihLsHAOqu1UhF_FZdDDJyaysgNCkOxMoykVP_moIsHyxGQ8Pf9sL-TAIW4FXsSN59Z1QB2d5i19lg53LVYSeS5UVXsCkER-QTKHDo-C0ckc5-5OQ-ey0_q56_IawAAOqD5f3ojN_bZwGJSftO9sT2g5Z-Gs0gLpPPUu-yh33DhI4Juc68xV2bAh/w640-h432/IMG_7570-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Granada has many cathedrals in and around the city square. </div><div>The Cathedral of Granada was originally built in 1583.</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mphv3i1a2gkS26rEVh7GtSh6DmylzOK45V6eWLsrFKadof3w8gFLIsNmI7o82R1BVfXLPpmO_JbkGU7xw267K1FXSSX1gZBWiODr4pkQxwk4HQhyhDrhl39mtyZ5H1fRMSGiWjhI1smwjUufC2SkIaqdipmxJ4KWkfBBWKrXrDAOXObviGMx68LzaxEp/s3672/IMG_E7595-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="3672" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mphv3i1a2gkS26rEVh7GtSh6DmylzOK45V6eWLsrFKadof3w8gFLIsNmI7o82R1BVfXLPpmO_JbkGU7xw267K1FXSSX1gZBWiODr4pkQxwk4HQhyhDrhl39mtyZ5H1fRMSGiWjhI1smwjUufC2SkIaqdipmxJ4KWkfBBWKrXrDAOXObviGMx68LzaxEp/w640-h482/IMG_E7595-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Later in the afternoon we took a boat tour on Lake Nicaraugua...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a large lake with an archipelago of some 300 islands. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Set against the backdrop of a large volcano, there was much to see...</div><div style="text-align: center;">birds, fish, monkeys swinging from trees, and beautiful island estates.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By evening we were back at our resort in Costa Rica...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but thankful for our Nicaraguan adventure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPugJ7e_OPG0NOGPOhbPbkTY6hVvrVelKYm04Y4iBMGrdp8OIHbWGYAekicwOzmL3c0yw1IQw0qVG5FpCbWLI5fSkR96tc6awzEehul6yLqiKZwS6tao32IWfIT0JRSEhM9knfXau9a5uVFhksfKtIAsBM0FBjIVRUbnHU3T8Z8Tw6D-dUSLJUatbnrLiM/s4032/IMG_7545.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPugJ7e_OPG0NOGPOhbPbkTY6hVvrVelKYm04Y4iBMGrdp8OIHbWGYAekicwOzmL3c0yw1IQw0qVG5FpCbWLI5fSkR96tc6awzEehul6yLqiKZwS6tao32IWfIT0JRSEhM9knfXau9a5uVFhksfKtIAsBM0FBjIVRUbnHU3T8Z8Tw6D-dUSLJUatbnrLiM/w640-h480/IMG_7545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our week in central America flew by and soon we were on our way home.! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>'Pura Vida' </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s the Costa Rican greeting meaning 'pure life'...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">used to say hello or goodbye in a happy way.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We are thankful that we went...</div><div>and will treasure the memories!</div><div><br /></div><div>And now...</div><div>we wait for the warm spring weather here at home.</div><div>Coming soon!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1m4An0RaFnosNGPnEWqZNszmdtWEzuBw90olVreWHOcSyo8FTkmC57DaXHjMaB_6ArohP8S3OwzI6-n9xJBbGNL8enijHb-pG5pFBOLXA6STxzTYFUcIp9vT7xClzdcf7meTMnyPUqEfMHVlHZApxwfAD7gZ7Se0DB0Nv_sn5yx4V71CSMnbfxcU3MVkx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1m4An0RaFnosNGPnEWqZNszmdtWEzuBw90olVreWHOcSyo8FTkmC57DaXHjMaB_6ArohP8S3OwzI6-n9xJBbGNL8enijHb-pG5pFBOLXA6STxzTYFUcIp9vT7xClzdcf7meTMnyPUqEfMHVlHZApxwfAD7gZ7Se0DB0Nv_sn5yx4V71CSMnbfxcU3MVkx=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-90567931254753402022024-01-31T11:32:00.000-08:002024-01-31T11:32:39.034-08:00January ~ a new chapter<div style="text-align: center;">It's a new year! </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">How did we get to 2024 so quickly? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me share a few pic's from January...</div><div style="text-align: center;">before I lay out my plans for the blog going forward.</div><div><br /><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwif0HZVS-jrRssX34RZOKRQJcr90EKkkXA4y54Kmk-z-L8f8Nqigxxwt0Hj74g0qJN1QTdE_0inmJx5pWreDHe-_Vw_U1wnn9I9gv0Vo3n1Zx8AIZYmIRzapU3ROMSRn0u2SO_O7JZo_X5OCKTHXHnsvxVrbdSTlcaJTURg63L16FfaaZUbKdiptjPDZ/s3394/IMG_6970.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2553" data-original-width="3394" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwif0HZVS-jrRssX34RZOKRQJcr90EKkkXA4y54Kmk-z-L8f8Nqigxxwt0Hj74g0qJN1QTdE_0inmJx5pWreDHe-_Vw_U1wnn9I9gv0Vo3n1Zx8AIZYmIRzapU3ROMSRn0u2SO_O7JZo_X5OCKTHXHnsvxVrbdSTlcaJTURg63L16FfaaZUbKdiptjPDZ/w640-h482/IMG_6970.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We headed to the hills mid-month for a little snow getaway...</div><div style="text-align: center;">since there was none at home.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr0XoVRIy-wuxvWDV8w3W-K8SWo33cWKtzPGwUMmcH0K8NKuG1YoqfNpkM1ndFrykGP0uDrdjqXB7FllehIIISqv8F2fVgXECRFX6JSuGhGpXg14rjQ_41up7Fz8SFqXtM-VqwRmZfKm5e5-5mQ4gDm51mh5x-N3nK9RMUD3Z7u9D-KK53n6V9JRnx4-v/s2696/IMG_6976.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="2696" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr0XoVRIy-wuxvWDV8w3W-K8SWo33cWKtzPGwUMmcH0K8NKuG1YoqfNpkM1ndFrykGP0uDrdjqXB7FllehIIISqv8F2fVgXECRFX6JSuGhGpXg14rjQ_41up7Fz8SFqXtM-VqwRmZfKm5e5-5mQ4gDm51mh5x-N3nK9RMUD3Z7u9D-KK53n6V9JRnx4-v/w640-h498/IMG_6976.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's never far to the mountains...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and what could be nicer than a day spent in the hot pools surrounded by fresh snow?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYs3T5ekMVZVkUU19qdi6njOkO8wppuyy7c2gZ0hFVT0_fe5uMBq3F4OO6_h9EhtJl7KHg3iyOoygsVNnBYSL-m2Vkn2Jn2zABLNH6TgKYJ0_oXi_sKYdu9OdC0jdLb79niS17joy66ViiJlFC26E3lyLQqMRZLEv-diwH6ubJMYPibsjmhU3RmvNcCGWx/s3371/IMG_7032.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2740" data-original-width="3371" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYs3T5ekMVZVkUU19qdi6njOkO8wppuyy7c2gZ0hFVT0_fe5uMBq3F4OO6_h9EhtJl7KHg3iyOoygsVNnBYSL-m2Vkn2Jn2zABLNH6TgKYJ0_oXi_sKYdu9OdC0jdLb79niS17joy66ViiJlFC26E3lyLQqMRZLEv-diwH6ubJMYPibsjmhU3RmvNcCGWx/w640-h520/IMG_7032.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We had our fix of snow...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">and we never had to shovel any of it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Then we came home to a record-breaking snowfall.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZG2gr3stNMWtQ5ySnnN0eqo3WJvermc0wbSdNvDJdNIT6lyUl6E2Rg_xTVcmBCr1Cf8TXJ5aIgknphz4s5R6ILxd0-KSfFZB9A4q5p7J7WoLrzn0MqNWYnDWPjFd2JV-f7mQgKd41T8IJFJszhX0LsOQUZCDkRoKSyK80yqZoJxpex_1TFYoKKP5rj9X/s4032/IMG_7101.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZG2gr3stNMWtQ5ySnnN0eqo3WJvermc0wbSdNvDJdNIT6lyUl6E2Rg_xTVcmBCr1Cf8TXJ5aIgknphz4s5R6ILxd0-KSfFZB9A4q5p7J7WoLrzn0MqNWYnDWPjFd2JV-f7mQgKd41T8IJFJszhX0LsOQUZCDkRoKSyK80yqZoJxpex_1TFYoKKP5rj9X/w480-h640/IMG_7101.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOXhpaEng757jZ6icgqgY9x8fJu1yl8xNqfzgcRrnnM5IFpfC3CaiyVGBjol07kUspWNtnWBjVAcVG6LTwiJ3nRAbGi0dayQnqInPQBanUdkILWgVoD4thEQh6xgd9nlddiGJplfeMlqtZtyn_W8SiIdvgF9nuqtE3hBfIqpOMmsJOKFtQfDoYgUkXa2-/s4032/IMG_7103.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOXhpaEng757jZ6icgqgY9x8fJu1yl8xNqfzgcRrnnM5IFpfC3CaiyVGBjol07kUspWNtnWBjVAcVG6LTwiJ3nRAbGi0dayQnqInPQBanUdkILWgVoD4thEQh6xgd9nlddiGJplfeMlqtZtyn_W8SiIdvgF9nuqtE3hBfIqpOMmsJOKFtQfDoYgUkXa2-/w640-h480/IMG_7103.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The kind we had to shovel!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9cX_3kNbrX33sdDxddepJiZMyuf6nUxTg6Vn93wmJWdAkUDbMba3So-xPyWYxfQ5mKGjG90-2W79DDVRz33_xdXrNtWlyGw_lB8zPy0IHZO8f04l9FicbFco6Z3ag4rlNEevWVgJVLAQbaCjGW2TGcgGWF1wCYPArMpF7kdcW45h4IvUxiyvb6kl5o6m/s4032/IMG_7104.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9cX_3kNbrX33sdDxddepJiZMyuf6nUxTg6Vn93wmJWdAkUDbMba3So-xPyWYxfQ5mKGjG90-2W79DDVRz33_xdXrNtWlyGw_lB8zPy0IHZO8f04l9FicbFco6Z3ag4rlNEevWVgJVLAQbaCjGW2TGcgGWF1wCYPArMpF7kdcW45h4IvUxiyvb6kl5o6m/w640-h480/IMG_7104.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The drifts piled up and we stayed home for a few days while the winds howled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By now it has mostly washed away!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">January also marked the completion of one more year around the sun for me. It seems like a good time to take stock and make a few changes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">****</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;">Is it time to quit blogging after all these years? It's something I have considered for awhile. I have decided not to do </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">monthly updates on My Front Porch anymore, though I may still post on occasion, documenting travels or major events. I'm planning to sift through hundreds of posts from the past seventeen years and make some sort of book...a collection of memorable posts. Last year I helped Elmer write and publish a book of his life stories. Now it's my turn, though I have a head-start since many of my stories have been shared on my blog over the years. </span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">I am thankful for all the memories and moments that I documented here over the years, because time hurries on and the past is soon forgotten. I will never regret the time I spent blogging and the friends that I met along the way. Some blogging friends became real life friends, and I treasure all those friendships. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs-Y-qPTRteBmJZoHlcvLFTcCBzhlH_jkL40ciS9qZwWmLpt-n2ghd5uLTQ4bHELRKXi-PXAGWOfB4tt2Y1ZG8vNRHDzOqTgkEBmjxyFmActyu3EW0lqnxw6xTnS6K_n0ZpXwjIaAW9gMv5IyTzDO7UFLkKgyrKRn78MMWEBFSP2DyFw8APNjWZYcViN1/s1600/IMG_7164.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs-Y-qPTRteBmJZoHlcvLFTcCBzhlH_jkL40ciS9qZwWmLpt-n2ghd5uLTQ4bHELRKXi-PXAGWOfB4tt2Y1ZG8vNRHDzOqTgkEBmjxyFmActyu3EW0lqnxw6xTnS6K_n0ZpXwjIaAW9gMv5IyTzDO7UFLkKgyrKRn78MMWEBFSP2DyFw8APNjWZYcViN1/w640-h480/IMG_7164.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">These ladies were among my first blogging friends, and who knew that we would still be good friends so many years later? We were the <a href="http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/">Mennonite Girls Can Cook</a> team, who started a recipe blog first and then published three cookbooks together. Though we no longer blog or publish new recipes, the website is still there as a great resource. Getting all ten of us together is no simple feat (with two in Manitoba and one in and Washington), but we meet up when we can </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and rarely a day goes by that we don't connect on our group chat.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">One of my first blogging friends was Vee, who lived in Maine. Some ten years ago, we met Vee while traveling on the east coast. She passed away last year, but she is not forgotten. Always a word of wisdom, some encouragement, a little sarcasm or something that made me smile. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Another blogging friend that I met in person on that east coast trip, was Judy in Pennsylvania. We had a delightful time around the table on her porch, and some years later Judy and John came to visit us in our home. We enjoyed touring them around the valley and visiting Whistler and beyond. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Honora lived near Victoria, and often came to the valley on business. We met up in person in 2008 and many times since. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Then there was Jill, who we met on a USA road trip in Salt Lake City. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We met Christine in Phillipsburg, Montana...Kathy in Charlottetown, PEI...and Pam at King's Landing in New Brunswick. I met Rosella from Ontario and Deb from San Diego when they visited BC. Most of these women have long since given up blogging, but we are still in touch through Instagram.</span></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Those are just some of the blogging friends that I have met, but there are so many more that I have corresponded with over the years. Sue in Texas. Lorrie on Vancouver Island. Pat in Denver. Most visitors to my blog over the years are anonymous, but some have encouraged me through their comments or e-mails. Thanks to all who has visited through the years. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">All that to say...it's not a final farewell, but things will be much quieter here on My Front Porch this year. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEtKaQeGQviKA9zJYIHSJV9Y3hQHAlCjRgToZ0zOAy-YrXlWw9RAvX_nsSQ0iHx12nSM_USs2NRNUjj36niYCdtcR_p8MIskWdpXKHJrMOHInPOYybzA1wnMdsACG8Rhl-Ce36JX_ucIbAzYOwtdFn4CCmCzULUAgnTo1gzizoRDVXKLw35L9iB3wrR1K/s4032/IMG_7074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEtKaQeGQviKA9zJYIHSJV9Y3hQHAlCjRgToZ0zOAy-YrXlWw9RAvX_nsSQ0iHx12nSM_USs2NRNUjj36niYCdtcR_p8MIskWdpXKHJrMOHInPOYybzA1wnMdsACG8Rhl-Ce36JX_ucIbAzYOwtdFn4CCmCzULUAgnTo1gzizoRDVXKLw35L9iB3wrR1K/w640-h480/IMG_7074.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;">Until next time,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-415rVm-jYms_c_88Nv1ffhL28IJKX8IJ6SJUX2OMteXwYEQNFg5hst-lizffQ-xWbiMpWpb1TuzA_8ImRnWGnlO7EQmAoih8VS4VdM3L2l5GfNSx-uGGuAQEApBjKdpDwsTTTUXxNJdixPlmPxl8mTmdJkWeF5Yib2kuAhEu2NZ3c4WCgKfr3oLLc5_p" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-415rVm-jYms_c_88Nv1ffhL28IJKX8IJ6SJUX2OMteXwYEQNFg5hst-lizffQ-xWbiMpWpb1TuzA_8ImRnWGnlO7EQmAoih8VS4VdM3L2l5GfNSx-uGGuAQEApBjKdpDwsTTTUXxNJdixPlmPxl8mTmdJkWeF5Yib2kuAhEu2NZ3c4WCgKfr3oLLc5_p=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-37842532052461086212024-01-01T10:30:00.000-08:002024-01-01T10:30:45.662-08:00December ~ the finale<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Farewell to 2023.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">December was one for the record books...</div><div style="text-align: center;">unseasonably warm.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL803TJiqt-fpb_B4bJtVANniEofwkskkNjStMgR01k2K0PyHtr1PM_vDhzFg6Ufuo0UHmapRuFklE0K4nFla7E-A1J60TpcxIBRaFPoJhfCJbSlEg1f5LgdSSmfiBc6u0KBLIbdpe6htuJYkYrHe1hmu3oEYsOFaiMN4dNbia6Yq3nwRBQwXduqJSVy8M/s4032/IMG_6771.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL803TJiqt-fpb_B4bJtVANniEofwkskkNjStMgR01k2K0PyHtr1PM_vDhzFg6Ufuo0UHmapRuFklE0K4nFla7E-A1J60TpcxIBRaFPoJhfCJbSlEg1f5LgdSSmfiBc6u0KBLIbdpe6htuJYkYrHe1hmu3oEYsOFaiMN4dNbia6Yq3nwRBQwXduqJSVy8M/w640-h480/IMG_6771.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had one wee skiff of snow early in the month...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have a photo to prove it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas was warm and green.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1qj88RpQeY2bZT-vUTxFBmb9auwJ9TszUW6hrFTzrqfvrm6fTNswBCSHB-HiWX-KKyb92ijpTMSHUx9JKQ6wUqslY6ULt0CGUTIMK8BaJp8xnVuEg7ZueuuTmfZkEDdriAmvd0LQxe6Sb9KUsHKrfhY18KKfzMrCa6E8pyrQnDC-4hhqT4rhoJKvcSem/s2048/VQFB8709.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1qj88RpQeY2bZT-vUTxFBmb9auwJ9TszUW6hrFTzrqfvrm6fTNswBCSHB-HiWX-KKyb92ijpTMSHUx9JKQ6wUqslY6ULt0CGUTIMK8BaJp8xnVuEg7ZueuuTmfZkEDdriAmvd0LQxe6Sb9KUsHKrfhY18KKfzMrCa6E8pyrQnDC-4hhqT4rhoJKvcSem/w640-h640/VQFB8709.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We used to take the grands on outings to see Christmas lights every year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we go on our own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Downtown Chilliwack is beautifully decked out...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and has become a bit of a tourist attraction.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDrT9GCwrxifx6sOfvGaUeAGCii496t1YfIGn1FdvYnIzc21YbBsjtChCOhT0UpQzVUDI5V814ICsxgINcrv2ik2cZW8ZP-kk_w01Lim4AQ7oMB3ly4tYaPJUCckHZMjUUv9ZYJtEh-5SsiX0Z-d6qa4zg7KUBn1YLNz8M-vsjv6BdmuQtU_3_5AvhkX3/s2048/DWNJ3027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDrT9GCwrxifx6sOfvGaUeAGCii496t1YfIGn1FdvYnIzc21YbBsjtChCOhT0UpQzVUDI5V814ICsxgINcrv2ik2cZW8ZP-kk_w01Lim4AQ7oMB3ly4tYaPJUCckHZMjUUv9ZYJtEh-5SsiX0Z-d6qa4zg7KUBn1YLNz8M-vsjv6BdmuQtU_3_5AvhkX3/w640-h640/DWNJ3027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Checking out the 'Lights by the Lake' at Harrison Hot Springs was a fun outing as well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8r_Rfo4hlf3c8S0269aFJbe1B8RqKPcrjsbRAxyvaIZVtbNYnW8WQereE4KxMo-3ivqwgHln2Oh3CvFJIvrYQhtseeqzGyRAoOhcQ9mfGUWlhbm5gVz11hYoDzU2YyO3dYydYAzBM9QAvLiKD09RpRKkySBMkVEjayLhN4UmDFfpTnQ50BoRFIGXG7Mib/s4032/IMG_6787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8r_Rfo4hlf3c8S0269aFJbe1B8RqKPcrjsbRAxyvaIZVtbNYnW8WQereE4KxMo-3ivqwgHln2Oh3CvFJIvrYQhtseeqzGyRAoOhcQ9mfGUWlhbm5gVz11hYoDzU2YyO3dYydYAzBM9QAvLiKD09RpRKkySBMkVEjayLhN4UmDFfpTnQ50BoRFIGXG7Mib/w640-h480/IMG_6787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had the opportunity to meet this lovely family who came to Canada from Ukraine recently...</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and is now living in Chilliwack.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We included them in our 'care group' Christmas party with the intention of sharing a little Canadian Christmas joy with them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8q2cjSAJ6wUeeprutaN9dIqWKrLN-SOxCLk77oW6tcsUhlJqHVk03dtR5zbWHBbZBdLa0Jmp8BKobIe7GHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">They were such a delight and blessed us with a Ukranian mini-concert.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2Eb6_HnuN566OnWHp9KCO2mZcdXl5IMPKnGw99CYgvVXig6VzgVZv31yEGG-qnYN8jfLemPuVBlaP0oms-CPbPPgQYUofVHq2HHG-Fm0VHCYyHrJa1MecJZ9nmy3xw453knZNjWK-MdGtze8nncJ5XyYiDwtRRmg6r7rij5uBr-zjEwA7-VMsKEMkw9q/s4032/IMG_6875.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2Eb6_HnuN566OnWHp9KCO2mZcdXl5IMPKnGw99CYgvVXig6VzgVZv31yEGG-qnYN8jfLemPuVBlaP0oms-CPbPPgQYUofVHq2HHG-Fm0VHCYyHrJa1MecJZ9nmy3xw453knZNjWK-MdGtze8nncJ5XyYiDwtRRmg6r7rij5uBr-zjEwA7-VMsKEMkw9q/w640-h480/IMG_6875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning...</div><div style="text-align: center;">when all was calm and bright.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had brunch together...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then gathered in the great room to open gifts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's tradition.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We broke with tradition on Christmas Eve this year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and met at Jeremy and Broni's for appetizers and games...</div><div style="text-align: center;">rather than at 'Grammy's house'. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think we started a new tradition.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRmBBsGkNr8KhdINCdGnWZnA4JQI6jnGSz3B1K7NFMOsn_JMMiqD5E7tI6PbBllKSpIFN1WZM8_Av8E64hGZwKRECEW6qNd94oq0EknGeAz8bVVu2uNgXzYlz2ZObSMrIYwlYNZ9u4CjRg49Z6hzpKFeekDzl7PNiVhkdw0rEBi6KUr6BVt95wy76THpZ/s4032/IMG_6878.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRmBBsGkNr8KhdINCdGnWZnA4JQI6jnGSz3B1K7NFMOsn_JMMiqD5E7tI6PbBllKSpIFN1WZM8_Av8E64hGZwKRECEW6qNd94oq0EknGeAz8bVVu2uNgXzYlz2ZObSMrIYwlYNZ9u4CjRg49Z6hzpKFeekDzl7PNiVhkdw0rEBi6KUr6BVt95wy76THpZ/w640-h480/IMG_6878.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There may not be any littles anymore...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but there's always something to laugh about!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRwkDSKU5vqcUXzQqSaaKthJUhgv3iKruhLzT-aYG0dAI2B9UnqXD3bZLI11xt89XfKEFFz_lPosTUJyv7BrvbDYvkmtbVokxcJ7tTRB2xCEGb7nXC6huBp5YY803-ber3lIZIjkXHL2Y-qFuysefbfBUUEVzGca4dCwNFBiU6NWvxWa_bgdV6njGg6q6/s2578/IMG_E6876.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="2197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRwkDSKU5vqcUXzQqSaaKthJUhgv3iKruhLzT-aYG0dAI2B9UnqXD3bZLI11xt89XfKEFFz_lPosTUJyv7BrvbDYvkmtbVokxcJ7tTRB2xCEGb7nXC6huBp5YY803-ber3lIZIjkXHL2Y-qFuysefbfBUUEVzGca4dCwNFBiU6NWvxWa_bgdV6njGg6q6/w546-h640/IMG_E6876.JPG" width="546" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This monkey lamp was the most coveted prize in the 'white elephant' gift exchange the previous night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie was not happy that her cousin stole it from her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It somehow showed up under the tree on Christmas morning...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and she went home with a monkey lamp.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B4KPhgcDRKrEXwFsIEuUKXadgABZu-y1qiCsxpWERvHfN8jHF9OYjjRgXRPCNG3C_f3_9Rl5bNLpzhaKV5LySNsGt0a0hw9LZqB3CUf_Jn1jHWkiEuUiLcM0pgtSbj_pcP2H3KxBnfBXNBhyphenhyphen5gKYLlS4cjurCz-usmT_dYHbTfs4Ya_8ME3m_xkyvAy6/s1064/IMG_E6733.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1043" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B4KPhgcDRKrEXwFsIEuUKXadgABZu-y1qiCsxpWERvHfN8jHF9OYjjRgXRPCNG3C_f3_9Rl5bNLpzhaKV5LySNsGt0a0hw9LZqB3CUf_Jn1jHWkiEuUiLcM0pgtSbj_pcP2H3KxBnfBXNBhyphenhyphen5gKYLlS4cjurCz-usmT_dYHbTfs4Ya_8ME3m_xkyvAy6/w628-h640/IMG_E6733.JPG" width="628" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jeremy has coached Ryder's team for many years...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and this year marks the end of that era.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They recently took first place in a tournament in Kamloops...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Ryder was one of the top scorers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ryder's hockey looks very different now that it did ten years ago!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We watched one his local games just before Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_rmeXbn1fSyMh9aO8WyHYJRFtye-T1g-c1tG8c-PeYEVssXy2ENYqsqTYOVrHJO0Vbp8VKu7qGg-yLQ4nEBfABRCzRcFUalrVop1XEN9q4JbDgxe1u3yTSo0sBkOaba5vajLI0qI61PTML1ZbTz_UxEynVepfZey22oKhJewtezXJu98m8ThsIwF5GTr/s3672/IMG_E6818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2845" data-original-width="3672" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_rmeXbn1fSyMh9aO8WyHYJRFtye-T1g-c1tG8c-PeYEVssXy2ENYqsqTYOVrHJO0Vbp8VKu7qGg-yLQ4nEBfABRCzRcFUalrVop1XEN9q4JbDgxe1u3yTSo0sBkOaba5vajLI0qI61PTML1ZbTz_UxEynVepfZey22oKhJewtezXJu98m8ThsIwF5GTr/w640-h496/IMG_E6818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Along with the warm temperatures...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fLE5uV-ACARTO_PVPDdPsGl-kWN1Z6JFkyR6sMeM-mjeBMVBzNfZg8fJW3otdGVCY2mId4b-YxZnO-MkdpFu82Vadro74Ic5wa2wPSQA2KknjA0Z6izN070dGY61CimrKa30XLwV45n_FSF2XxLNvmQDVxnJnXP3UnWU9-bhE-4nwiYFk50B2A5s2V6t/s2733/IMG_E6844.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="2733" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fLE5uV-ACARTO_PVPDdPsGl-kWN1Z6JFkyR6sMeM-mjeBMVBzNfZg8fJW3otdGVCY2mId4b-YxZnO-MkdpFu82Vadro74Ic5wa2wPSQA2KknjA0Z6izN070dGY61CimrKa30XLwV45n_FSF2XxLNvmQDVxnJnXP3UnWU9-bhE-4nwiYFk50B2A5s2V6t/w640-h498/IMG_E6844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...we've had many foggy mornings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6andAfZS0Syl2_YNq2ivry_dTv9MHy6LkkM5-rU-VveUoPQjM0i-FFqHDpLbBwp5JRXVtmN80ZElKw4aTBQx4dqHBJLsfjJCpvRhTjID2iegBVqxRZVYhGUyMEVeJ0kCpmxCAPUfEgxFuJweejJCG1ljO7YKKsDGcI0sKYlGePI-YMb6Zs8WM6jMkAhV/s3665/IMG_E6816.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2599" data-original-width="3665" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6andAfZS0Syl2_YNq2ivry_dTv9MHy6LkkM5-rU-VveUoPQjM0i-FFqHDpLbBwp5JRXVtmN80ZElKw4aTBQx4dqHBJLsfjJCpvRhTjID2iegBVqxRZVYhGUyMEVeJ0kCpmxCAPUfEgxFuJweejJCG1ljO7YKKsDGcI0sKYlGePI-YMb6Zs8WM6jMkAhV/w640-h454/IMG_E6816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sun has set on 2023...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I am left with many wonderful memories and a heart of gratitude.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a new year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a new chapter...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a new page.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What will that look like on 'My Front Porch'?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We'll see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I would like to wish each of you a very happy and blessed new year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3q1uOGjhArYaMJqBW03qlRrsIXzcYsoySrNpCU0PtxCfX5UkoWW_a88BRMBikJddR0m9Z47QC2gZA5mhAm2NDKBNYnZOZu-Ni2zWxjgGS5844bdov0yPzftFXR73ELPT5TS0YaqtorC7i-eIs2fIJgIUwYkYnztzZ349FbZuqztOuFVW_QL4J2sHGpNQr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3q1uOGjhArYaMJqBW03qlRrsIXzcYsoySrNpCU0PtxCfX5UkoWW_a88BRMBikJddR0m9Z47QC2gZA5mhAm2NDKBNYnZOZu-Ni2zWxjgGS5844bdov0yPzftFXR73ELPT5TS0YaqtorC7i-eIs2fIJgIUwYkYnztzZ349FbZuqztOuFVW_QL4J2sHGpNQr=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-7224029620137164812023-11-30T08:26:00.000-08:002023-11-30T08:26:13.307-08:00November At Its Best<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"></a><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November in the valley is not usually known for its beautiful weather...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">but this year was different.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_tWDO2hx2N7lFWDIYNWGSw-er-59g7kOQCiXZ09T7pv9WKfZ6w1P8Kyn6FF4RYLyXT4D4arTTvhhCuywbp9tC3MxJYPZMKtDUQfO-mzJc3GFVzjdHQNacBWwyKuNTpFxLOpqvLPPQBJdTRrzvuVeKHSNXuf8hrs9sWcTrmSNGdqXTX5e-uKWoOKCSOh/s3203/IMG_6706.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2441" data-original-width="3203" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY_tWDO2hx2N7lFWDIYNWGSw-er-59g7kOQCiXZ09T7pv9WKfZ6w1P8Kyn6FF4RYLyXT4D4arTTvhhCuywbp9tC3MxJYPZMKtDUQfO-mzJc3GFVzjdHQNacBWwyKuNTpFxLOpqvLPPQBJdTRrzvuVeKHSNXuf8hrs9sWcTrmSNGdqXTX5e-uKWoOKCSOh/w640-h488/IMG_6706.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clear skies...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">bright moonlight...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6qo0XDgZ7V1W_d_UEpaVKNu1LG2maneE3xC1sIBXSVP_qCdec8Q1haI4OVejlmar_3dK2vNCAD8soU5Ljrbwnpn8cl2VX28O7UDPamonfZ4YFpW2iq1-CZaCJqoVJVoAze0X4nLf1MVPgdTKdJWILniKWKt_QnTXDdnlE83SUHjAf3I-aB1p5XzBeoE9/s3502/IMG_6714.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="3502" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6qo0XDgZ7V1W_d_UEpaVKNu1LG2maneE3xC1sIBXSVP_qCdec8Q1haI4OVejlmar_3dK2vNCAD8soU5Ljrbwnpn8cl2VX28O7UDPamonfZ4YFpW2iq1-CZaCJqoVJVoAze0X4nLf1MVPgdTKdJWILniKWKt_QnTXDdnlE83SUHjAf3I-aB1p5XzBeoE9/w640-h446/IMG_6714.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...and God's signature at the end of the day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazing sunsets!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUE3sqAn2W7jsHydnx-yYM_4qsubD0l-xlox6scxPJ3hW6dzjTmKYye2vgcjwiLTWrt8bLvdEjnsRE7Hum2AmizpkcHwyoRgcvWDBkK7UFgiFCQwPzoqCAOMcvE0W1bBjEwQftaONc9DwVDHGtPa-BN9FqbAf44NDwhg61LK5w185aMStx7TKIs1Ic6xB/s3607/IMG_6680.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3607" data-original-width="2848" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUE3sqAn2W7jsHydnx-yYM_4qsubD0l-xlox6scxPJ3hW6dzjTmKYye2vgcjwiLTWrt8bLvdEjnsRE7Hum2AmizpkcHwyoRgcvWDBkK7UFgiFCQwPzoqCAOMcvE0W1bBjEwQftaONc9DwVDHGtPa-BN9FqbAf44NDwhg61LK5w185aMStx7TKIs1Ic6xB/w506-h640/IMG_6680.jpeg" width="506" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Early in spring the Trans-Mountain pipeline work began in our neighbourhood.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It would be all done by fall...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">they said.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm wondering which fall they meant. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The noise and the traffic disruptions have gone on for months.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then they closed our road completely for almost a month.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That meant a six-mile detour to go from our yard to the farmyard...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">which is ordinarily less than a half-mile drive. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6HgL-TEuLhhWMVwpNYAHK3un6Wgsx-mWS0tlm4su3k8vluVnqB1d4dkF4qOwchPBGReZBIL0wxBSUshymuPGGL5FGcovrZ0Fvh9uVFwblPTGcBFBICna3Ack2_AsNV_jGKUwlaYNcqKxET84WiCUiXYTNg0nfMUAw117vRT7bjb_Jv8vaDhhP-PZPBd9/s4032/IMG_6669.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6HgL-TEuLhhWMVwpNYAHK3un6Wgsx-mWS0tlm4su3k8vluVnqB1d4dkF4qOwchPBGReZBIL0wxBSUshymuPGGL5FGcovrZ0Fvh9uVFwblPTGcBFBICna3Ack2_AsNV_jGKUwlaYNcqKxET84WiCUiXYTNg0nfMUAw117vRT7bjb_Jv8vaDhhP-PZPBd9/w640-h480/IMG_6669.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They ran into some major issues in our corner...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFTmZ6Jat1soaBWanDt767_J_UO04Dfm_8Jb7pp9kAEG_c6vj-s2PLUCKfD1V8L03dcW2saLdsfXHT6m20S3AK75cT3SAsyuej7i1dJfq2SIor2rS6NWkc_QRw1omlHQCQ1VE0UZWUvkyzxe7-zBXe2WUmqVxxxP11m1pDObK1buH3dIBEngB87m7z1_1/s4032/IMG_6682.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFTmZ6Jat1soaBWanDt767_J_UO04Dfm_8Jb7pp9kAEG_c6vj-s2PLUCKfD1V8L03dcW2saLdsfXHT6m20S3AK75cT3SAsyuej7i1dJfq2SIor2rS6NWkc_QRw1omlHQCQ1VE0UZWUvkyzxe7-zBXe2WUmqVxxxP11m1pDObK1buH3dIBEngB87m7z1_1/w640-h480/IMG_6682.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...with no simple solutions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRM8bNmnQUOl0GhjbY6w36KkcDXx5jCCgcZChusPPZ8ZqhzH1pO-ll6cnPX3f6ljJff8NkPTJSulE6TsCpQUL0uu3q2A02B_Eqk_kftibOpS8cZ1_ait6PXNKY7CtXGc8y6vHTrtd32hWQ1lk8appiBe5y3nnpiByAn4y0JP85sqe_fRP46Te6ECP7okR/s4032/IMG_6708.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRM8bNmnQUOl0GhjbY6w36KkcDXx5jCCgcZChusPPZ8ZqhzH1pO-ll6cnPX3f6ljJff8NkPTJSulE6TsCpQUL0uu3q2A02B_Eqk_kftibOpS8cZ1_ait6PXNKY7CtXGc8y6vHTrtd32hWQ1lk8appiBe5y3nnpiByAn4y0JP85sqe_fRP46Te6ECP7okR/w640-h480/IMG_6708.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so the construction continues...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">often late into the night.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One day soon the last pipe will be in the ground!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent the first part of November in Palm Springs...</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkT-PrslSp_h5FyTPV_aqRH5iZNXyE4kw5WIdEPHt768ZCRKr-zrhjOMzo7lsuVWVGtTLoVAFemgswbpZtprY98OBTXyApXyk-3fcYm3CGd21_R6x7XwYjKMi2x4P_cGeMSpxnevKUlIwdeama98SvLgTr9wqmPtrJWZdVTde16NeBAPN24dmjZon1n6E/s3694/IMG_6558.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="3694" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkT-PrslSp_h5FyTPV_aqRH5iZNXyE4kw5WIdEPHt768ZCRKr-zrhjOMzo7lsuVWVGtTLoVAFemgswbpZtprY98OBTXyApXyk-3fcYm3CGd21_R6x7XwYjKMi2x4P_cGeMSpxnevKUlIwdeama98SvLgTr9wqmPtrJWZdVTde16NeBAPN24dmjZon1n6E/w640-h462/IMG_6558.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...where the sun always shines!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We drove down this year...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and took our bikes along.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIuw6d-V62MxmuC21l18Zd95yeGTy9mgGG4CzMgOdJdd0NpZUhOWJxZaW-CulcUVLWI2RzF9-wQg1G6NTBx4_icqgB1w-kqhJ74wDzV4nhDRpsezo3G4IA__SP8fUif1fsieD_PMfDCHNmitF8xOZEVLTvOut4SZc78WVu3xAbN5EnVl6J3NlgH0gyt8P/s2805/IMG_6435.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="2805" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIuw6d-V62MxmuC21l18Zd95yeGTy9mgGG4CzMgOdJdd0NpZUhOWJxZaW-CulcUVLWI2RzF9-wQg1G6NTBx4_icqgB1w-kqhJ74wDzV4nhDRpsezo3G4IA__SP8fUif1fsieD_PMfDCHNmitF8xOZEVLTvOut4SZc78WVu3xAbN5EnVl6J3NlgH0gyt8P/w640-h488/IMG_6435.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was nice to meet up with two of my sisters and brother-in-laws there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We played 'five crowns' together most evenings...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and shared a few meals. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_bznJIVBXQlgWHGFXR30SeKZIFfffK_yfy-7k0BAu25-9BxdlUvVdEVxPSAGWhjrqqO6U5ZoONuyxFPa71N8jJr6lGWdcuLb2W1LrSV-DBbPHx4gMbP56yqhwY3lw3CB4lkphqzjRjVfiYnKkjadSXxE9fSLElNBC8yoox20jAcXzSiFGR1ITGnPueT5/s4032/IMG_6527.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_bznJIVBXQlgWHGFXR30SeKZIFfffK_yfy-7k0BAu25-9BxdlUvVdEVxPSAGWhjrqqO6U5ZoONuyxFPa71N8jJr6lGWdcuLb2W1LrSV-DBbPHx4gMbP56yqhwY3lw3CB4lkphqzjRjVfiYnKkjadSXxE9fSLElNBC8yoox20jAcXzSiFGR1ITGnPueT5/w640-h480/IMG_6527.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We hiked in the badlands...</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKunHfsu3hHsr0qKBrm3c-hhJs-4BrMoQdC73-xQj9MEcEkMd1DPcJdIprJwJsrMQn09qFBhyi3qgplSu5TPabr4facQZvz3OwpAuE4BK2X65A3vmux1poJs1oI8ANeDImgt4gANMvBJCFkVTGRUCuXsFcl_AfQei7S9flSBDzKTzflFUg5YHVQSsRu3v/s3432/IMG_6504.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2911" data-original-width="3432" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKunHfsu3hHsr0qKBrm3c-hhJs-4BrMoQdC73-xQj9MEcEkMd1DPcJdIprJwJsrMQn09qFBhyi3qgplSu5TPabr4facQZvz3OwpAuE4BK2X65A3vmux1poJs1oI8ANeDImgt4gANMvBJCFkVTGRUCuXsFcl_AfQei7S9flSBDzKTzflFUg5YHVQSsRu3v/w640-h542/IMG_6504.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...cycled in the La Quinta area a few times.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXycRENai384qwaYz7chyphenhyphenSg93EkvTe6i7bK-3O-uXA03xvh2JwPqmizgz0EqBJrjBklrjd4uA8OC_89GJzUmT9gu5fiqRJiq3pELx17XVMTS8AGO-lVVzpis0m-ZVbqQTSS_Utxcle6t5ZXlBqyJvwLWb2Wdp1TWO3mPdxi55OPaoutFZPOFVf-jqrCOce/s4032/IMG_6546.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXycRENai384qwaYz7chyphenhyphenSg93EkvTe6i7bK-3O-uXA03xvh2JwPqmizgz0EqBJrjBklrjd4uA8OC_89GJzUmT9gu5fiqRJiq3pELx17XVMTS8AGO-lVVzpis0m-ZVbqQTSS_Utxcle6t5ZXlBqyJvwLWb2Wdp1TWO3mPdxi55OPaoutFZPOFVf-jqrCOce/w640-h480/IMG_6546.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We visited a date farm, watched the harvest...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and sampled sweet dates right off the tree.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFHvzsAdUq_iUM5iHoSJmmqSHR3Lxkw8ahU8j0juf78QQrg4DqQgmtTfGhNeOG8d5yH1nGc9qSDMk8FhkzfiLcNA2Rg-lb1j-5RAjESVe3_Tmab6E3if6FKClb7sCVySXnaI3okdTmsthcRluAGKEgTswSUCRRZeWueG9frjyP6H_jPAhxAhPh6_ADfpU/s3616/IMG_6565.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2975" data-original-width="3616" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFHvzsAdUq_iUM5iHoSJmmqSHR3Lxkw8ahU8j0juf78QQrg4DqQgmtTfGhNeOG8d5yH1nGc9qSDMk8FhkzfiLcNA2Rg-lb1j-5RAjESVe3_Tmab6E3if6FKClb7sCVySXnaI3okdTmsthcRluAGKEgTswSUCRRZeWueG9frjyP6H_jPAhxAhPh6_ADfpU/w640-h526/IMG_6565.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We relaxed at the resort...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and read one book after the other.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are the ones who spend hours floating down the lazy river on a double tube...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">with our e-readers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHn-KEe0M858rWAJs3w9lDGpDbM6CGLTnbQRo5LGT5fDG7vY7lo8wueiA35dlcdrHcFG6SQH_wGmrpSl1hTsgOwpNQB3cvHkiOxFVdQB-bfN3JGkKttA1Vkxf4yNTYqigkSxJbDHjYqxs8r2P8z4Hm85QUma9XIYNyCta6WqtqQ8__jOUcuU0RI1ogl8Z/s4032/IMG_6557.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHn-KEe0M858rWAJs3w9lDGpDbM6CGLTnbQRo5LGT5fDG7vY7lo8wueiA35dlcdrHcFG6SQH_wGmrpSl1hTsgOwpNQB3cvHkiOxFVdQB-bfN3JGkKttA1Vkxf4yNTYqigkSxJbDHjYqxs8r2P8z4Hm85QUma9XIYNyCta6WqtqQ8__jOUcuU0RI1ogl8Z/w640-h480/IMG_6557.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We also met up with friends for dinner one night...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">at the Daily Grill in Palm Desert.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd recommend it...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">both the restaurant and spending a lovely evening there with them!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7KcRUTzeDEfl0DDmgE_EMcP_vx-8fyWUou-87tUIrDmQXUZyhY8Vx5AvZBzYDMJyKoNLVUI2isnobwexLO1GtpcopkRMDlXLhmgNCR_1wr9GbGQjJ9KYBeS8-Lj46_Q40kthK70fNLMXSKb0Uu2yaQSYsEtuKDjr5cCvJkROIPvmtK1Cr5o7mMmo2FdK/s4032/IMG_6534.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7KcRUTzeDEfl0DDmgE_EMcP_vx-8fyWUou-87tUIrDmQXUZyhY8Vx5AvZBzYDMJyKoNLVUI2isnobwexLO1GtpcopkRMDlXLhmgNCR_1wr9GbGQjJ9KYBeS8-Lj46_Q40kthK70fNLMXSKb0Uu2yaQSYsEtuKDjr5cCvJkROIPvmtK1Cr5o7mMmo2FdK/w640-h480/IMG_6534.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before we knew it...</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">it was time to head home again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2017DCIxFUyJuhWrD-wPKGSJdADjo_xuk8I70okcymzDXM1yf_Td6yaYtTOqoHdwHaA2tnjfIW0J74N9knIQjU8RKC_MD1qrCRYcsaLZ3awbGo-fFv35RsRg4Q6ytjBnDTITkQxWSSYkcz1EhkXwSHMlGqyx7EJ-6Um7J83Y-5rUvLrUvcXQmQFsWCF-Q/s3027/IMG_6661.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3027" data-original-width="2495" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2017DCIxFUyJuhWrD-wPKGSJdADjo_xuk8I70okcymzDXM1yf_Td6yaYtTOqoHdwHaA2tnjfIW0J74N9knIQjU8RKC_MD1qrCRYcsaLZ3awbGo-fFv35RsRg4Q6ytjBnDTITkQxWSSYkcz1EhkXwSHMlGqyx7EJ-6Um7J83Y-5rUvLrUvcXQmQFsWCF-Q/w528-h640/IMG_6661.jpeg" width="528" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While we were away Micah turned 14.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went to watch him play basketball in a tournament once we got home...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and took him out for dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">A good basketball player...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a great guy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQoW8Ayj1pKvMohzQc1XqdzerEUQjgboN6KMsiDODPDpyGhu4vuMQHkvxAOjYDZOUoUg5V1RjdEGc-AUfSsCK-HrwW2uon4_W_FC4xl0tioQNZ9__bNpsFZwgb9SBAtAvnjYwzkgMOvyohEPtEcBP8mG-f9eDLNBFo_QvqkuU3iYtgiYti1lZVexvbfV3/s598/IMG_6232.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="525" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQoW8Ayj1pKvMohzQc1XqdzerEUQjgboN6KMsiDODPDpyGhu4vuMQHkvxAOjYDZOUoUg5V1RjdEGc-AUfSsCK-HrwW2uon4_W_FC4xl0tioQNZ9__bNpsFZwgb9SBAtAvnjYwzkgMOvyohEPtEcBP8mG-f9eDLNBFo_QvqkuU3iYtgiYti1lZVexvbfV3/w562-h640/IMG_6232.jpeg" width="562" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emme and Spencer had their twenty-second birthday this month.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Emme arrived home from her European travels to celebrate the occasion with her sister.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In many ways it seems like yesterday that they made me a Grammy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The years flew by but I am left with so many wonderful memories of these two. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbEjaqnz8tKwbtbgCgBfz8JKRObPUP-F2i_3QNwvqCX8vfYHDSBRzF17Q07yzN2bXUjK47SNKIi8KjoV9BzIGewCN-JI2verfrkoFUWlFfIz-ng-GyhzGVTIyPiqzhJ0E4WyjBgLboXwxLX4B9ZQVSCItkEbEeVLzXBEVDDvliJtbcNM_dmN99V992yas/s4032/IMG_6644.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbEjaqnz8tKwbtbgCgBfz8JKRObPUP-F2i_3QNwvqCX8vfYHDSBRzF17Q07yzN2bXUjK47SNKIi8KjoV9BzIGewCN-JI2verfrkoFUWlFfIz-ng-GyhzGVTIyPiqzhJ0E4WyjBgLboXwxLX4B9ZQVSCItkEbEeVLzXBEVDDvliJtbcNM_dmN99V992yas/w480-h640/IMG_6644.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the nice weather these last few weeks...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have walked a few trails and enjoyed the beauty of fall.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6msqHdGrdiBRBCRWSSP3RqN_Y702tRdD3Cb_FioFfkvQUT5bWO6cCmCDsb5UswKlBu_yLKlL0g-Dz7TKU2jdoFAJjQJSy4gfbFszsi3PhviRq_kXSnciZRwX1Vep7HKhLOQNmnMFNH6eBkFF5dDKZVEnud_c7UITlr0rY58vvUAKPhXY8Q-LFhCs3Qv1u/s3838/IMG_6696.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="3838" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6msqHdGrdiBRBCRWSSP3RqN_Y702tRdD3Cb_FioFfkvQUT5bWO6cCmCDsb5UswKlBu_yLKlL0g-Dz7TKU2jdoFAJjQJSy4gfbFszsi3PhviRq_kXSnciZRwX1Vep7HKhLOQNmnMFNH6eBkFF5dDKZVEnud_c7UITlr0rY58vvUAKPhXY8Q-LFhCs3Qv1u/w640-h502/IMG_6696.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cheam Wetlands...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">just before sunset a few days ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcutPpLtBUarrR41D7JVgZ2fF0QKA_p0MjjsT8Rvmze7mt0GJTUTM49rz0H9l5VnI4W1cT0gVL99fgyH7-kDd59EZmWkvXJcegocx0zL3T7GXeyUf2ugyrq9yEeFAX4ZkUufKOkvDB4NPPavEp2dczbZvtm5XPH8sZLwlQJ-lcEYvm6xza9vSDoW5-B19/s4032/IMG_6613.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcutPpLtBUarrR41D7JVgZ2fF0QKA_p0MjjsT8Rvmze7mt0GJTUTM49rz0H9l5VnI4W1cT0gVL99fgyH7-kDd59EZmWkvXJcegocx0zL3T7GXeyUf2ugyrq9yEeFAX4ZkUufKOkvDB4NPPavEp2dczbZvtm5XPH8sZLwlQJ-lcEYvm6xza9vSDoW5-B19/w640-h480/IMG_6613.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our local peaks got a dusting of snow a few times this month.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpQnEnCG4SgA8RiEjSOf93dcbSOanPWod23sPcL7fDhHUV6IzuRkiaW0q6e0aoD2KX2LMJ8oze96vKOaLfmzz84bf-_vI9k6RZ42jX8to8lYJfJoaggQ3Qddpcah_BT3E2NXiOp3eZ4p_y0hO6YfxTGYia0UhAhBlT3Uv8Ce2LZ9Hys9eer9SBRgR02ou/s3209/IMG_6678.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3209" data-original-width="2556" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpQnEnCG4SgA8RiEjSOf93dcbSOanPWod23sPcL7fDhHUV6IzuRkiaW0q6e0aoD2KX2LMJ8oze96vKOaLfmzz84bf-_vI9k6RZ42jX8to8lYJfJoaggQ3Qddpcah_BT3E2NXiOp3eZ4p_y0hO6YfxTGYia0UhAhBlT3Uv8Ce2LZ9Hys9eer9SBRgR02ou/w510-h640/IMG_6678.jpeg" width="510" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cut roses from the garden the other day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We'll see if there are any Christmas roses this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RBvuSfe8ZSGDoTN747kYbtBEkbZSENis_OWQAbzOJso2zm6F_VMqkw1UhCVX3N7P7VjSanTDeM7-cNUpAu7wPzznIdebnvxUcrlap81DE9vDbC_84U9TlevX1Rf5MIy9XsDydTD3eIirB9U81GXfptddjRtufRroihwByfNiydXtxOsglMNWKFUDVRW9/s4032/IMG_6713.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5RBvuSfe8ZSGDoTN747kYbtBEkbZSENis_OWQAbzOJso2zm6F_VMqkw1UhCVX3N7P7VjSanTDeM7-cNUpAu7wPzznIdebnvxUcrlap81DE9vDbC_84U9TlevX1Rf5MIy9XsDydTD3eIirB9U81GXfptddjRtufRroihwByfNiydXtxOsglMNWKFUDVRW9/w640-h480/IMG_6713.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the sun sets on November...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the roses are still blooming and the grass is still green...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">but the lights are on and we are getting ready for Christmas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You don’t need a reason to Hope — </span></i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">you only need the Person of Jesus. </span></i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">And He is Coming.”</span></i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wishing you all a wonderful advent season...</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as you prepare your hearts and your homes. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisnSwS5ZQDDySTeDJHv7P1kO28BbIVJU1SxfujAeV5ucMI0gioMkuvWL9mhOlxKl4N6eMHWf_vQQLBM9E6qzy8N0KA7KJ8srtJxjMRFsgFMt_yUFhq1sXMPGAM9Yd8HPRqIypEcBkYWh2RwyQpluBb6Y5vwb9a8wDTJV6Ja_-D_j1TVlMsCvjepHi0WQ4l" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisnSwS5ZQDDySTeDJHv7P1kO28BbIVJU1SxfujAeV5ucMI0gioMkuvWL9mhOlxKl4N6eMHWf_vQQLBM9E6qzy8N0KA7KJ8srtJxjMRFsgFMt_yUFhq1sXMPGAM9Yd8HPRqIypEcBkYWh2RwyQpluBb6Y5vwb9a8wDTJV6Ja_-D_j1TVlMsCvjepHi0WQ4l=s16000" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-76787630641149364882023-10-31T08:15:00.011-07:002023-10-31T10:43:09.864-07:00October - Memories and Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've said it before and I'll say it again...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. </i></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">~ Anne of Green Gables</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVNFAYGb6nuChGuBFTVD8czqwK4rgvrX5Y1DaPKi45LDLeZrL_ExeufbqnjEv3wP4XOrCcdebd__Bw9OM5b0AxUYz576Jjw79hRPpJzE-T-w7z8qzu0tQnaAbZOQ67bB1jTD8JDFVpzfb62_OzTa0NVegGdBfTA63-cLkKBSagzq1rytansEYZyr6c6ez/s4032/34202C1E-569A-4BC2-9000-31603D15ADE2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVNFAYGb6nuChGuBFTVD8czqwK4rgvrX5Y1DaPKi45LDLeZrL_ExeufbqnjEv3wP4XOrCcdebd__Bw9OM5b0AxUYz576Jjw79hRPpJzE-T-w7z8qzu0tQnaAbZOQ67bB1jTD8JDFVpzfb62_OzTa0NVegGdBfTA63-cLkKBSagzq1rytansEYZyr6c6ez/w640-h480/34202C1E-569A-4BC2-9000-31603D15ADE2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When the leaves fall...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the family gathers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were missing Emme who is still 'adventuring' in Europe...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but will be home soon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcaqiateWUcahqJEUsl8cHMyvwcI4a4ypR0SxY_VbInbq92UABruAS7QGcOcbXAtoZDZt8JPBOH7f0tRB-nFi1sMVZ0C94TrB_WRy5hMafD-ESwNffigHDw0R7Z7Hrpc-SRtytcnYdVg0GwFzYrrNbnJssZ_jq-vv4esZAJuhqa6Br0SotWRmTboaNw1s/s4032/F31CC263-C4AE-4955-BEBE-6D224A346580.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcaqiateWUcahqJEUsl8cHMyvwcI4a4ypR0SxY_VbInbq92UABruAS7QGcOcbXAtoZDZt8JPBOH7f0tRB-nFi1sMVZ0C94TrB_WRy5hMafD-ESwNffigHDw0R7Z7Hrpc-SRtytcnYdVg0GwFzYrrNbnJssZ_jq-vv4esZAJuhqa6Br0SotWRmTboaNw1s/w640-h480/F31CC263-C4AE-4955-BEBE-6D224A346580.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was up early on Thanksgiving Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and saw the sunrise over Mt. Cheam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs3pK35hfAE0AM3vrhvhXhYv1uiryT-am5vQCPQ7OLs0diwPEdPLgFf5RNU_QJ6bF2tQLwxE5bgbh72v3BqblN3FZfnYj-rZo5pjPtABHxwPy2a3pNB8UZTsXtofFWhynI2etZ7Sysy7YNxPF_gi0t8MESl69IvUghO5EvA308QcOv_vRmIDFlm-Q6JLM/s4032/A69B6956-19A7-4D48-94D1-A72FF2932875.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs3pK35hfAE0AM3vrhvhXhYv1uiryT-am5vQCPQ7OLs0diwPEdPLgFf5RNU_QJ6bF2tQLwxE5bgbh72v3BqblN3FZfnYj-rZo5pjPtABHxwPy2a3pNB8UZTsXtofFWhynI2etZ7Sysy7YNxPF_gi0t8MESl69IvUghO5EvA308QcOv_vRmIDFlm-Q6JLM/w480-h640/A69B6956-19A7-4D48-94D1-A72FF2932875.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their were eighteen gathered around the table this year...</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtPOXPPd9pxfc15vZgntwjoWvHNfoNw9Gab3SqV6brYQRyrenygsbZpwjc4cFVku3lFZ6NQzriufra4czuVVfpZkRoJbtTDApPQsMhmINtAw2IaLhv5S5I2GZuD5npR9k3ffE9nZN0GpZlEz7UCA11dnaVGRxHVLBHqK1A5_Owx1EIZmpgRZqxCsKvNNy/s2945/3B41D630-BC73-4DFE-9B39-EEE109A67BA5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="2945" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtPOXPPd9pxfc15vZgntwjoWvHNfoNw9Gab3SqV6brYQRyrenygsbZpwjc4cFVku3lFZ6NQzriufra4czuVVfpZkRoJbtTDApPQsMhmINtAw2IaLhv5S5I2GZuD5npR9k3ffE9nZN0GpZlEz7UCA11dnaVGRxHVLBHqK1A5_Owx1EIZmpgRZqxCsKvNNy/w640-h558/3B41D630-BC73-4DFE-9B39-EEE109A67BA5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">...and I'm left with a fuzzy photo and good memories of our time together.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Leo from Mexico joined us for a Canadian Thanksgiving celebration. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is much to be thankful for.<br />Every day!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0llAHKfyzyO4pjJnXGqAl0oLDSvHeL5jiBqommCbBlVkw2m18a-opjVrKnT24cWE02aM9xCJZ6NiK5F1Jharcatz-N7EheGEs5_EMAPxK6R9EzStseWtW7wneNe6EW33-Ile9EHz9agS7PDisRrc9Dc7Yyz5AwAduJA1Gcd6D-5u93ncPVinUY5Q8cPY/s1384/B8DC5BDF-B27E-40EA-9DCF-ED94917078F2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1384" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0llAHKfyzyO4pjJnXGqAl0oLDSvHeL5jiBqommCbBlVkw2m18a-opjVrKnT24cWE02aM9xCJZ6NiK5F1Jharcatz-N7EheGEs5_EMAPxK6R9EzStseWtW7wneNe6EW33-Ile9EHz9agS7PDisRrc9Dc7Yyz5AwAduJA1Gcd6D-5u93ncPVinUY5Q8cPY/w640-h480/B8DC5BDF-B27E-40EA-9DCF-ED94917078F2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">October...</div><div style="text-align: center;">when every leaf is a flower!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDey45_HVnKCl6ASPTJI8HuQaHaK9IN6N2k8QlLc__W3U2YJ3VmJP73vo02er66tH-KwudVt7VCDaLgOO7ydkIazOxvAc1xakE7r7DB9xqrk_YQ2R8YuTtHc-wFVnm-m0ily2nzRZldANHxDXCXTEBeUfl1_hQVLuUvc6bWx_kfbQNsIOZeMtUSyC6o97/s4032/5E4E1F03-32C5-4F16-B9DC-8DEBF1FA6D87.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDey45_HVnKCl6ASPTJI8HuQaHaK9IN6N2k8QlLc__W3U2YJ3VmJP73vo02er66tH-KwudVt7VCDaLgOO7ydkIazOxvAc1xakE7r7DB9xqrk_YQ2R8YuTtHc-wFVnm-m0ily2nzRZldANHxDXCXTEBeUfl1_hQVLuUvc6bWx_kfbQNsIOZeMtUSyC6o97/w640-h480/5E4E1F03-32C5-4F16-B9DC-8DEBF1FA6D87.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent a Sunday afternoon on the shores of Silver Lake...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a book and a blanket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYwmeWEnM58hyphenhyphenUVerfm-ZBrXqrW_wUVVP7BPn8QdK8jmw2d0sWn3D6XFfQxN-EgiYdf9doqBnWomzaJZiz1UjWKtES_qqxyoRdDXlPtELH21w-BTyKRqM68JUNB2HpG5VSHhm2t9NHkqHnLRwROIZ180Dg_VfCF2vk0Klie7b5F4-Io0E88aAQYilpmuF/s4032/0580C468-6095-45A1-91AC-C66AF1865DFA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYwmeWEnM58hyphenhyphenUVerfm-ZBrXqrW_wUVVP7BPn8QdK8jmw2d0sWn3D6XFfQxN-EgiYdf9doqBnWomzaJZiz1UjWKtES_qqxyoRdDXlPtELH21w-BTyKRqM68JUNB2HpG5VSHhm2t9NHkqHnLRwROIZ180Dg_VfCF2vk0Klie7b5F4-Io0E88aAQYilpmuF/w480-h640/0580C468-6095-45A1-91AC-C66AF1865DFA.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So peaceful!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gzyDNPQevCm6bq9rKMZvua3fIW1TQYwKuZPyscs469NF-2Dbm6MozQA1MlunhjOiA1GZHhJD6U51SdqJ3-5XR-VTXd8Aji-klC_tg1A1zsEY2HNw0xBNdZpvRtV1EbAaFNRZUaVzzvJhSTV2NprZ-nRqFafhkGbhLUULlYptln-Zub3iFZDFO4U8_xjA/s2498/3944D772-D1CD-44F2-8077-565EB442742B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="2498" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gzyDNPQevCm6bq9rKMZvua3fIW1TQYwKuZPyscs469NF-2Dbm6MozQA1MlunhjOiA1GZHhJD6U51SdqJ3-5XR-VTXd8Aji-klC_tg1A1zsEY2HNw0xBNdZpvRtV1EbAaFNRZUaVzzvJhSTV2NprZ-nRqFafhkGbhLUULlYptln-Zub3iFZDFO4U8_xjA/w640-h246/3944D772-D1CD-44F2-8077-565EB442742B.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cranberries down the road were harvested by mid-month.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrdvFFPBpVY2QeKXG0CnSWRvhKRaOOwtjb2ryJCs8D4jAtDra4Emv6V6npxLLp9yx4FnqW0yh34cqBJwPLVQIveBgVLwADQtGSwaXC1jF24Eif4cN5hr7vcxo_H8-zJ_L-Pug-DwERqBjsxf167z354rLl9D7p1onr63F-11Wrg0m3-DP0r2pqK_mHtj2/s2048/A8B05856-6EF7-404C-ABA7-6E615C559B15.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrdvFFPBpVY2QeKXG0CnSWRvhKRaOOwtjb2ryJCs8D4jAtDra4Emv6V6npxLLp9yx4FnqW0yh34cqBJwPLVQIveBgVLwADQtGSwaXC1jF24Eif4cN5hr7vcxo_H8-zJ_L-Pug-DwERqBjsxf167z354rLl9D7p1onr63F-11Wrg0m3-DP0r2pqK_mHtj2/w640-h640/A8B05856-6EF7-404C-ABA7-6E615C559B15.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We checked out the new trail up Vedder Mountain last Sunday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and rewarded ourselves with DQ treats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last of the season!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsySbuNrR_Hc5bqQ6qzfkdRdzMYvRYnoN5FdPeqcwIUCdSLQotn8GQnxg8QDd6-8FjHGY1BFssHODnX_kJ9wwWI-2mUDG4kbtCEWp5B9pBldYVN_UQHPH5lsiyt1OTPO0iP0jBRLEIzbq5G1N-peN3GXIFEebDdoeXNMU5klKv8q8ekgMRdImEVxTqNrt/s4032/BC7FBB1B-BD12-49A2-AE6E-569A9C4F1644.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsySbuNrR_Hc5bqQ6qzfkdRdzMYvRYnoN5FdPeqcwIUCdSLQotn8GQnxg8QDd6-8FjHGY1BFssHODnX_kJ9wwWI-2mUDG4kbtCEWp5B9pBldYVN_UQHPH5lsiyt1OTPO0iP0jBRLEIzbq5G1N-peN3GXIFEebDdoeXNMU5klKv8q8ekgMRdImEVxTqNrt/w640-h480/BC7FBB1B-BD12-49A2-AE6E-569A9C4F1644.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The final crop of grass for the year came off the fields...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>...and the last blooms of the season were brought in to enjoy.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH8ErQNxQZRmsLQ9tWvGsZboDUfWIbXJBKyRRbZ9FzAf5Qptztn6KJyFOchkhTlNnLbR4_JAWEW3WKAM8gK2fB7Y3dDJOc8ln5vXilrRharb8IE_wlaqAFEx9EQpaDU4IxAnnIL4dhWIFB3_9YcDN3I8RHa-EGb29jQH0Ab_ZnPIjAqfu-yZyCCfXp8WZ/s4032/411DC52C-94AF-46E8-AD9E-AE7236FA28BF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH8ErQNxQZRmsLQ9tWvGsZboDUfWIbXJBKyRRbZ9FzAf5Qptztn6KJyFOchkhTlNnLbR4_JAWEW3WKAM8gK2fB7Y3dDJOc8ln5vXilrRharb8IE_wlaqAFEx9EQpaDU4IxAnnIL4dhWIFB3_9YcDN3I8RHa-EGb29jQH0Ab_ZnPIjAqfu-yZyCCfXp8WZ/w480-h640/411DC52C-94AF-46E8-AD9E-AE7236FA28BF.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These were a gift from my DIL Lina's garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She dropped them off before leaving for Australia for two weeks...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPN4d0bEgSe9xIny6kzhtlr4EmJvyq6c_ixuzRfvTZphyphenhyphen2exzjyDf8W3GRhDpsjYZdIhz2Nd7i3eC4_0D7X1DzoLPJW26oietWp4aDpSas36WXkV5-A8gCt55VtF5Yjr9uHbSK6Qkc3Ul7HCFHg8YUGgk7VkhwqAoh4WpiB_uB-26uxgyhwk9GxGAPyJTM/s1008/26B45818-7C34-45CE-9E36-BA2A06CFAFD0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPN4d0bEgSe9xIny6kzhtlr4EmJvyq6c_ixuzRfvTZphyphenhyphen2exzjyDf8W3GRhDpsjYZdIhz2Nd7i3eC4_0D7X1DzoLPJW26oietWp4aDpSas36WXkV5-A8gCt55VtF5Yjr9uHbSK6Qkc3Ul7HCFHg8YUGgk7VkhwqAoh4WpiB_uB-26uxgyhwk9GxGAPyJTM/w526-h640/26B45818-7C34-45CE-9E36-BA2A06CFAFD0.jpeg" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...where Dylan was competing in the World Scooter Championships in Sydney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an experience of a lifetime for the two of them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and he did great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91zewu4eZZoWN1G4HbxM_EuYaUaMQ7GugkoiNkNOPcH44jqQv5oR82c-Rwbz5v176XWKrgZKGl6yZa4q3vp1UeFiXzHMYf1b21ss9xEhLlFVV2mCjj33u3GvmnOBG_pjnhDlyFHac9ONwqiJQjziaD039vdwWcNM270K5sLSpEjyG5ND52-d54AAHmU9O/s3452/1E03421A-5469-47FA-9984-9B7FA4732239.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3452" data-original-width="2704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91zewu4eZZoWN1G4HbxM_EuYaUaMQ7GugkoiNkNOPcH44jqQv5oR82c-Rwbz5v176XWKrgZKGl6yZa4q3vp1UeFiXzHMYf1b21ss9xEhLlFVV2mCjj33u3GvmnOBG_pjnhDlyFHac9ONwqiJQjziaD039vdwWcNM270K5sLSpEjyG5ND52-d54AAHmU9O/w502-h640/1E03421A-5469-47FA-9984-9B7FA4732239.jpeg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And just like that...</span></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the sun sets on October.</span></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjokL3Rztk3rjO5heHe7g_JviEPQwBoM7Mf6A7YpbiVPXGYoSuQ2wDvKbG1uu5lpmeGMmPTqFNplHlFVZs4lSQ2tGWQ4_i0nV0BGKbXVqRqxdWlzDrqFKcB4_LWQsXmShMETddcF_YPuOpUHNpO1M5f4-F0oywNl0rgDh4_CUNSr5XTe4iOEKe00GQ0UhD5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjokL3Rztk3rjO5heHe7g_JviEPQwBoM7Mf6A7YpbiVPXGYoSuQ2wDvKbG1uu5lpmeGMmPTqFNplHlFVZs4lSQ2tGWQ4_i0nV0BGKbXVqRqxdWlzDrqFKcB4_LWQsXmShMETddcF_YPuOpUHNpO1M5f4-F0oywNl0rgDh4_CUNSr5XTe4iOEKe00GQ0UhD5=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-28170138106240111802023-10-01T09:57:00.001-07:002023-10-01T09:57:31.874-07:00September Remembered <div style="text-align: center;">And just like that...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T6qJ9PWcX5raby7N9lLDpQ6UGxrU2i3SUwtlTVAj8mGJCO5ic-dqVrf2fb-GyX_Z2CAdJl4rv0ye0YgAZD41miOFrnjxK18UbyS-Px1_4klhnhoihGBLd6BE4psfRMClx0XyjKZQpLmjz1MDjP_g6M7bxM0kwsTTQFnMVGVMzE-091AVMZCquEyB9-WR/s4032/IMG_E6242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T6qJ9PWcX5raby7N9lLDpQ6UGxrU2i3SUwtlTVAj8mGJCO5ic-dqVrf2fb-GyX_Z2CAdJl4rv0ye0YgAZD41miOFrnjxK18UbyS-Px1_4klhnhoihGBLd6BE4psfRMClx0XyjKZQpLmjz1MDjP_g6M7bxM0kwsTTQFnMVGVMzE-091AVMZCquEyB9-WR/w640-h480/IMG_E6242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...summer falls into September.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/2023/09/berlin-and-beyond-baltics.html">We spent the first two weeks of the month in Europe...</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/2023/09/berlin-and-beyond-baltics.html">as posted here.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL09bXZvG4ZSysn-MAemOckNUzFrOMXlsphKK3bO7d2HUnCov42U9p8XMjtnUKjHZ1MtycuZKh8PgnqVaJHZtzF-6yVYWkO4NCz94_iQ808k2wxBNZLhn3lgL5VPjefZk1XSqk7Tojbasl0hKukDZtIQkdgFN0kUozc3g6cgLQdY-AbxbbacoyTgp0TkJ/s3810/IMG_E6030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="3810" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL09bXZvG4ZSysn-MAemOckNUzFrOMXlsphKK3bO7d2HUnCov42U9p8XMjtnUKjHZ1MtycuZKh8PgnqVaJHZtzF-6yVYWkO4NCz94_iQ808k2wxBNZLhn3lgL5VPjefZk1XSqk7Tojbasl0hKukDZtIQkdgFN0kUozc3g6cgLQdY-AbxbbacoyTgp0TkJ/w640-h472/IMG_E6030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we got home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we had a family get-together to 'catch-up', celebrate September birthdays...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and hear all about the new school year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQdbm7m_95sp4sZX-F4EBM03O9cHYfEj1dH-8zreAWULkagiVWw-EAteUkHmAYC6wUgqajFXLn_6VZvSUZnsX30mCwmmVlu8KQr1MElSUCWBm8DwK9fUQgMYmmLK34etpNLp2845rzu9rTd47CRscN9jQJ2GnwEIwi7Xr69mn7bscjvEr_AK1qfrYLuzf/s4032/IMG_6019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQdbm7m_95sp4sZX-F4EBM03O9cHYfEj1dH-8zreAWULkagiVWw-EAteUkHmAYC6wUgqajFXLn_6VZvSUZnsX30mCwmmVlu8KQr1MElSUCWBm8DwK9fUQgMYmmLK34etpNLp2845rzu9rTd47CRscN9jQJ2GnwEIwi7Xr69mn7bscjvEr_AK1qfrYLuzf/w480-h640/IMG_6019.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The grands spent the whole afternoon in the pool...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">making the most of the season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lhNzaCIo3ic-5BuIopmucbisvK435zf7xj8eg8l6TwSNf1QIWo_qmMVFoz0FOZYen5OnR1xEKX8YUHbvOWeSxlWlvg2jaZxbQOM-68_rJBEa8KpfpqDU_21Y-BovUJ7FjeVhzN4NNFj79D-X0Yq2rkoXX2vIDhbz7CEKAGBCeYOnF4XDbUv5EDX87Vb2/s5120/Maggie%20Track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lhNzaCIo3ic-5BuIopmucbisvK435zf7xj8eg8l6TwSNf1QIWo_qmMVFoz0FOZYen5OnR1xEKX8YUHbvOWeSxlWlvg2jaZxbQOM-68_rJBEa8KpfpqDU_21Y-BovUJ7FjeVhzN4NNFj79D-X0Yq2rkoXX2vIDhbz7CEKAGBCeYOnF4XDbUv5EDX87Vb2/w640-h480/Maggie%20Track.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sweet Maggie turned 15 a few days ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She enjoys life...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and always has a smile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7wKK3e_vxcnP9KIGkz_k0ywWDXdijmmqz288v_uZeYN3pIBuCOwAobkzcWkG98uxfMeIE48vpzhWM1ZotK0IHk4grU39212U2Q6F-gwTZ5-Z_aFhiTTXCvkBuF-ec6PJNnC2qeWC0swk3oJnDpNIuUYq3Ipolx7xQSFEe_Bng6G5gAEojlSqMc5ppDXw/s4032/IMG_6018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7wKK3e_vxcnP9KIGkz_k0ywWDXdijmmqz288v_uZeYN3pIBuCOwAobkzcWkG98uxfMeIE48vpzhWM1ZotK0IHk4grU39212U2Q6F-gwTZ5-Z_aFhiTTXCvkBuF-ec6PJNnC2qeWC0swk3oJnDpNIuUYq3Ipolx7xQSFEe_Bng6G5gAEojlSqMc5ppDXw/w640-h480/IMG_6018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Despite a summer of drought...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the corn crop was pretty good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ4-xwXX_Xs5tTZWsXAcS8dHGJi9O8ZG-j798P4yqSVs-vabHfePfeRpaw9e7F7yKgy1tWQCHIqfsryu326rQgWw6-IXT0WF7yhdoFE53QUgyszhvt6FIVhW01_hzp-df1oBwbjRhtIgdStmmJHAq8BKeDkypxcO_4DDmVSoCOHp16O9YnhJS89mem2eZ/s5120/Bears%20in%20corn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ4-xwXX_Xs5tTZWsXAcS8dHGJi9O8ZG-j798P4yqSVs-vabHfePfeRpaw9e7F7yKgy1tWQCHIqfsryu326rQgWw6-IXT0WF7yhdoFE53QUgyszhvt6FIVhW01_hzp-df1oBwbjRhtIgdStmmJHAq8BKeDkypxcO_4DDmVSoCOHp16O9YnhJS89mem2eZ/w640-h480/Bears%20in%20corn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The field next to the mountain had a lot of bears helping themselves.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Photos taken by neighbour with a drone.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The corn is off the fields and in the bunker for the cows winter ration.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The bears will have to look elsewhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkhMT9Bg5yZ4RBXVwnRUeGuQOgpdIHXXoSYTpTWSGxCTldDSYNT9GSZMVRjNX-iwPm_sjc1sucnBgPPq3i04RxP7vesyecZR2Lr240rly9aFOdfLKXgDFlsWv-t88msdavf6FUd18kF-Cz3ewW1Xs1CG-X_J0hsff8Ookr2sEd5ETgL5BqrwKiUylxq0a/s4032/IMG_6086.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkhMT9Bg5yZ4RBXVwnRUeGuQOgpdIHXXoSYTpTWSGxCTldDSYNT9GSZMVRjNX-iwPm_sjc1sucnBgPPq3i04RxP7vesyecZR2Lr240rly9aFOdfLKXgDFlsWv-t88msdavf6FUd18kF-Cz3ewW1Xs1CG-X_J0hsff8Ookr2sEd5ETgL5BqrwKiUylxq0a/w640-h480/IMG_6086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last weekend we enjoyed a wonderful time in the Chilcotin with friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaRroyokSD-GVmR4_DSx5mNoSjAppo7g7yAS_Dfg8PYPAOb9sXyQDqSFDCsF2fyKnVnIZ06rdx07cUwq6uQruQnriiLGbHQj59nCX4iN7emft581mKjvF2n1OExJhmrfIPQUpcGNEVAo28mpiBsVhFEJtZXAftbo7wE0NRMnr040jhnnchjcBHdb1CeMC/s4032/IMG_6087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaRroyokSD-GVmR4_DSx5mNoSjAppo7g7yAS_Dfg8PYPAOb9sXyQDqSFDCsF2fyKnVnIZ06rdx07cUwq6uQruQnriiLGbHQj59nCX4iN7emft581mKjvF2n1OExJhmrfIPQUpcGNEVAo28mpiBsVhFEJtZXAftbo7wE0NRMnr040jhnnchjcBHdb1CeMC/w640-h480/IMG_6087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John and Marg invited a group of friends to join them at their place on Pyper Lake...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGbxnbnBQT8AzMIxjd3lycHXG441PkYGT2QTtDKA8L6VsFCpjHYYjAtKiGD8-jmc7UvCNR2FaSTgeXSI0CNpsf_KNAdi7Nhkjz22PYF1P6DEC2soewsJVZVDounVp6tZk6kx_88a7LUZF2pHTXCgwLIBHlmFRqk-Sn4z94tPdZDz_81rsaNjGr9ZWid7O/s2959/IMG_E6141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2719" data-original-width="2959" height="589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGbxnbnBQT8AzMIxjd3lycHXG441PkYGT2QTtDKA8L6VsFCpjHYYjAtKiGD8-jmc7UvCNR2FaSTgeXSI0CNpsf_KNAdi7Nhkjz22PYF1P6DEC2soewsJVZVDounVp6tZk6kx_88a7LUZF2pHTXCgwLIBHlmFRqk-Sn4z94tPdZDz_81rsaNjGr9ZWid7O/w640-h589/IMG_E6141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and help them celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDNu-7eDHRXmRH31LLarykAu5hjWYdp_UqwYV2k4dcVoQK700v-XqycnsISvclsBUXHDka9M6Se_3ZRLkc_QJtKeqMNnjSWPiG5pVs491R8Z080jHE6iTYiMsRfdsOS8aaPR8OckoIRPgRhuxcC_7nmUDiOIEjvlsedVdkwEjiOgyia8botLxfFyR9OOZ/s4032/IMG_E6092.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDNu-7eDHRXmRH31LLarykAu5hjWYdp_UqwYV2k4dcVoQK700v-XqycnsISvclsBUXHDka9M6Se_3ZRLkc_QJtKeqMNnjSWPiG5pVs491R8Z080jHE6iTYiMsRfdsOS8aaPR8OckoIRPgRhuxcC_7nmUDiOIEjvlsedVdkwEjiOgyia8botLxfFyR9OOZ/w640-h480/IMG_E6092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And celebrate we did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We ate...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we sang...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we laughed...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we reminisced.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaYEkwGmU_5-YK3qiAWjVffHZ4-lo2W0T4oIbCKMyo7c2kRBnHSwAamPGEJV_Yt80ek6OLh4MaGgMtMkijUhifzAa8yqCOJmARkCZGrmJTCBrehw2MviAF7vAk8K_3nQPwE53ArFpYJgWtl-I_CC7psLMXE7jkk_5hutYDgzeQyjHI-7rucvojiEirBy9/s3088/MFJO9605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaYEkwGmU_5-YK3qiAWjVffHZ4-lo2W0T4oIbCKMyo7c2kRBnHSwAamPGEJV_Yt80ek6OLh4MaGgMtMkijUhifzAa8yqCOJmARkCZGrmJTCBrehw2MviAF7vAk8K_3nQPwE53ArFpYJgWtl-I_CC7psLMXE7jkk_5hutYDgzeQyjHI-7rucvojiEirBy9/w640-h480/MFJO9605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was such a great way to mark a milestone...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with good friends in a beautiful spot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdFdSCaGouhCnWOWLMcPigN7wtml792eoBxzdTY57-2UOTc5pgBkvOn80OcOSRkgxMlzc_SaAdm9EX59Th9fQkWhXyN4cFEuKUtL6mytFq6Aa-eM5w05ai4HV2A1cM_9AD0dRSB1JVLSpEliMRLGh6tv1CDfRYFn98yqBpin6z0hFPw4WSH7FTTPM7LDc/s4032/IMG_6172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdFdSCaGouhCnWOWLMcPigN7wtml792eoBxzdTY57-2UOTc5pgBkvOn80OcOSRkgxMlzc_SaAdm9EX59Th9fQkWhXyN4cFEuKUtL6mytFq6Aa-eM5w05ai4HV2A1cM_9AD0dRSB1JVLSpEliMRLGh6tv1CDfRYFn98yqBpin6z0hFPw4WSH7FTTPM7LDc/w640-h480/IMG_6172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We don't know the story behind this old house...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but had fun exploring the deserted farm stead.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVYY-uoKoAg-q2ewxykxIbjZ_iAiNiTKcJUnbE1EYct15EmZg0yGYA1m_mzDl9wvmISjLA-wtoPWM5qWq-XnwmzcRJj0_o1yNV2JnvOCagb79fhJFYcy_TYohKOws9uxQy03OJl4TUVL6o_L18vD2-am0c-GkyyQqsynMjgKyl5orHb5CmIPyEXcTj8V4/s3542/IMG_6216-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="3542" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVYY-uoKoAg-q2ewxykxIbjZ_iAiNiTKcJUnbE1EYct15EmZg0yGYA1m_mzDl9wvmISjLA-wtoPWM5qWq-XnwmzcRJj0_o1yNV2JnvOCagb79fhJFYcy_TYohKOws9uxQy03OJl4TUVL6o_L18vD2-am0c-GkyyQqsynMjgKyl5orHb5CmIPyEXcTj8V4/w640-h480/IMG_6216-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There were fences...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but these critters were on the wrong side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9lQR-2_SwZsYIJgmxvUvN1dSCU1gUs-ZlLjzHB_tYNnbm6mD7p3xclDyvD3btBhm1KsCewmNWps6Iq3GTJtWHVd_1rItdQTTYdVf1CZDK5JTvK919kToj9xzBGAoNdPlWNYlt8wnhWsdLcOEKrJZGrEO3C407JjLDwXAHQ8KqQuDXkPE1e78na9mXVX2/s4032/IMG_E6080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9lQR-2_SwZsYIJgmxvUvN1dSCU1gUs-ZlLjzHB_tYNnbm6mD7p3xclDyvD3btBhm1KsCewmNWps6Iq3GTJtWHVd_1rItdQTTYdVf1CZDK5JTvK919kToj9xzBGAoNdPlWNYlt8wnhWsdLcOEKrJZGrEO3C407JjLDwXAHQ8KqQuDXkPE1e78na9mXVX2/w640-h480/IMG_E6080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the horses also run wild and free up there.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n2Qfo9wr-1-FIs3mJyWoGJhUo5wkv79maW3XfJGzkoXMwdEutvdGBqhsixHUICIIajFhe9lcSHW_TypTXqJlAGeBXHJSTsOu46CDfEKaFrpUho1bDtAtRsURpxvXvO1myYhzc8XKfNHOgGAnt1NLojk_aVvOGXiwGn8w5BCWFp6Hw9RpsCZjjD1S7WkI/s4032/IMG_6097.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n2Qfo9wr-1-FIs3mJyWoGJhUo5wkv79maW3XfJGzkoXMwdEutvdGBqhsixHUICIIajFhe9lcSHW_TypTXqJlAGeBXHJSTsOu46CDfEKaFrpUho1bDtAtRsURpxvXvO1myYhzc8XKfNHOgGAnt1NLojk_aVvOGXiwGn8w5BCWFp6Hw9RpsCZjjD1S7WkI/w640-h480/IMG_6097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are left with many great memories.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a wonderful way to end the camping season of 2023.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">September came and went...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we are left with good memories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnTucn1pOXcj8kicKjxq7QAjGssfVnYnQgiuqLiqKX_J8vYt5zWEN-rRIpSNlDBF98sukYpuMi5PkD-TVwc_R8PiJQmhmstKLocGDO7b-8eKQPOnpJQ5XS_qyKP3vS2QgU_1bLDaQZq9l3GaT5QQ1RjcfdB9OD_tKDSW2ntoF7RV6lDFsrDCubUAqZQrsh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnTucn1pOXcj8kicKjxq7QAjGssfVnYnQgiuqLiqKX_J8vYt5zWEN-rRIpSNlDBF98sukYpuMi5PkD-TVwc_R8PiJQmhmstKLocGDO7b-8eKQPOnpJQ5XS_qyKP3vS2QgU_1bLDaQZq9l3GaT5QQ1RjcfdB9OD_tKDSW2ntoF7RV6lDFsrDCubUAqZQrsh=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-9656966422989277042023-09-27T20:09:00.002-07:002023-09-28T19:14:52.078-07:00Berlin and Beyond ~ the Baltics<div style="text-align: center;">We are back from Berlin and beyond. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an epic trip! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivaoFrjLAaB5zeJunR-I9s2mTsY3Z8ZMhGa9mEZuTyz-duxOZDXu3gUKlTxxQYcpdaCcO_k3uizK210zk2h674yR4-vjqKtItcFpvgKfouQ0B_fwQ1qNRQ1h3Xu-TNqpkrj_9f4z6b2NTmjZP4oAq8FjZjzo0odPbozE-TYdM4yPVeD6EF5zUCJE1Eez7/s2921/IMG_E5251.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2057" data-original-width="2921" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivaoFrjLAaB5zeJunR-I9s2mTsY3Z8ZMhGa9mEZuTyz-duxOZDXu3gUKlTxxQYcpdaCcO_k3uizK210zk2h674yR4-vjqKtItcFpvgKfouQ0B_fwQ1qNRQ1h3Xu-TNqpkrj_9f4z6b2NTmjZP4oAq8FjZjzo0odPbozE-TYdM4yPVeD6EF5zUCJE1Eez7/w640-h450/IMG_E5251.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's time to sort through photos and document a few things...</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">before we forget.</div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L-IFcEkqAPaVQRmUTiftyHLCMaFQ6VvphBZ1ZJLRfNVEFAPNobmXR2IJL6AKgdrlgtqGmWZLJJNf6rWenmds-Ha9C0njQa5y8sCYH8jQxpexwGDIQ07ImG9Yc0ze2c4rj8b0lXj6NqVuQ3Jg-TljIJnE0ikyddhpqVPNKWJtbhENa35gy3bZ0mJ-CH3G/s4032/IMG_5248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L-IFcEkqAPaVQRmUTiftyHLCMaFQ6VvphBZ1ZJLRfNVEFAPNobmXR2IJL6AKgdrlgtqGmWZLJJNf6rWenmds-Ha9C0njQa5y8sCYH8jQxpexwGDIQ07ImG9Yc0ze2c4rj8b0lXj6NqVuQ3Jg-TljIJnE0ikyddhpqVPNKWJtbhENa35gy3bZ0mJ-CH3G/w640-h480/IMG_5248.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emme was an excellent tour guide during our time in Berlin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She had been there for six months and definitely knew her way around!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before she left on her European adventure, she kept asking if we weren't planning to come visit her while she was there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure she really expected us to...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but we decided it was as good an excuse as any to visit a city we had never been to.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since we were going all that way...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we decided to book a Baltic cruise from Berlin's nearest port.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A 12-day cruise with only one sea-day sounded perfect...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and our long time friends and travel mates (Dave and Janet) thought so too!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirts35-pFDXiY1zswzMDdkT7PsyaOyIkoSNedy6lld9qPNueKm3xguBNF0Hm1VBfuUlfXTmXhMMhNhdmDCM0QlvIK25ve5Sztm0nxuWATVtLQotJuOST2uaQAris06afl66vHAxnsqX5tyfqNRAbVNpSHCk2Q_Hno2wZfyd0_DbBtGMz-jgjH4kK5dj38S/s4032/IMG_5256.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirts35-pFDXiY1zswzMDdkT7PsyaOyIkoSNedy6lld9qPNueKm3xguBNF0Hm1VBfuUlfXTmXhMMhNhdmDCM0QlvIK25ve5Sztm0nxuWATVtLQotJuOST2uaQAris06afl66vHAxnsqX5tyfqNRAbVNpSHCk2Q_Hno2wZfyd0_DbBtGMz-jgjH4kK5dj38S/w480-h640/IMG_5256.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Emme had reserved tickets for us to tour the Reichstag dome...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a large glass dome that sits at the very top of the government buildings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkqv0SOsXUdhpcX01uq4GNoVXpXUs1wSKQIHcQb5F80my_qF1OdlQ1Zlp99up_YycV8pX_Yur-qhN2GDYzWBmhTeMe0s5jo7JEpKKi0qYYxlugozFYIvw2ml4jkRisDDQLdbcZHbvvtsUgycvs4XDl7ZFTI4xPvm7i5AJNul7QT-F74MAKW8K5hocdlN8/s3834/IMG_E5240.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2876" data-original-width="3834" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkqv0SOsXUdhpcX01uq4GNoVXpXUs1wSKQIHcQb5F80my_qF1OdlQ1Zlp99up_YycV8pX_Yur-qhN2GDYzWBmhTeMe0s5jo7JEpKKi0qYYxlugozFYIvw2ml4jkRisDDQLdbcZHbvvtsUgycvs4XDl7ZFTI4xPvm7i5AJNul7QT-F74MAKW8K5hocdlN8/w640-h480/IMG_E5240.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Reichstag is the historic government building...</div><div style="text-align: center;">built on the banks of the Spree River in 1894.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDXiuivtkAtD1mIC8iETFW2r7uhBlHLlzFByT7TvoEQJI0-AAHv2uoz0GgDnjv-STajYuWV24A2m-cHEs2BMEpcRAHS_0N_XoeDr0MWZsP0Oy4PP-i84EfAZdCA8GIWEETLzuqJxxBFHKXwS0jDbpLk-UY58RjwLezdD1p1fZboYgNCHQqJzBqi9cz9r3/s3777/IMG_E5265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2881" data-original-width="3777" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDXiuivtkAtD1mIC8iETFW2r7uhBlHLlzFByT7TvoEQJI0-AAHv2uoz0GgDnjv-STajYuWV24A2m-cHEs2BMEpcRAHS_0N_XoeDr0MWZsP0Oy4PP-i84EfAZdCA8GIWEETLzuqJxxBFHKXwS0jDbpLk-UY58RjwLezdD1p1fZboYgNCHQqJzBqi9cz9r3/w640-h488/IMG_E5265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brandenburg Gate...</div><div style="text-align: center;">one of Germany's best-known landmarks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was built in the 18th Century under orders of King Frederick William ll...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and has played a role in Germany's tumultuous past.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJeFD_ohhh9dezq_MXgP3bssGY42UPySNyJ1KTyCu-o97rdA0SXUjOMPwvSQkXlC_YploM0lkCGX1py2f_GGSXzaemsTNJVnjD_-hzzFGZGWcqAdDDMKNyNtP8CxE6WcgymMi24Kx6paeUmh8UBIv_W8_UFDo01Wb5hxbCdD6YD4F_IgC3Hf2M1Vg-Gy7/s4032/IMG_E5266.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJeFD_ohhh9dezq_MXgP3bssGY42UPySNyJ1KTyCu-o97rdA0SXUjOMPwvSQkXlC_YploM0lkCGX1py2f_GGSXzaemsTNJVnjD_-hzzFGZGWcqAdDDMKNyNtP8CxE6WcgymMi24Kx6paeUmh8UBIv_W8_UFDo01Wb5hxbCdD6YD4F_IgC3Hf2M1Vg-Gy7/w640-h480/IMG_E5266.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emme's friend Katelyn joined us as we played tourist together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently one can not visit Berlin without having a doner kebab.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are a flatbread sandwich of Turkish origin made famous in West Berlin in the 1970's.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I agree.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They were amazing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0cJ0BWACsULK5pdrOKOgN-1oUmUg1Sd3gZHJhLdurgcX6b_vh1LCtRe4F45sLP3p0as-hg4Wt-Cd5lILCkpZ2d1C2rbhn9qPVD-LuuIBiwKjsEFKZNqIPmd-iZmjr-jp5KShKnyKFLPmOMh0AYARxCWrwGRsbm6oim42cnpFimazFbSZ_0f3FlHpjXTY/s4032/IMG_5285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0cJ0BWACsULK5pdrOKOgN-1oUmUg1Sd3gZHJhLdurgcX6b_vh1LCtRe4F45sLP3p0as-hg4Wt-Cd5lILCkpZ2d1C2rbhn9qPVD-LuuIBiwKjsEFKZNqIPmd-iZmjr-jp5KShKnyKFLPmOMh0AYARxCWrwGRsbm6oim42cnpFimazFbSZ_0f3FlHpjXTY/w640-h480/IMG_5285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked what remains of the Berlin wall..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a 1.3 kilometer section along the Spree River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the wall came down in 1989...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was decided to keep one section as an art gallery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Artists from around the world were commissioned to paint a section.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a202c; font-family: __Amiri_f9b55b, __Amiri_Fallback_f9b55b, sans-serif, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1UldEn8TWRHR9jCQCbjMipathto2AEv7LPvdJkBQCZJXxoFGo8PrF8W950QwqzKF5uc6LMsnY1fmGrPdwHA6gq1YlxBnrU78KmNt6zj-nXeKKSdBDBt7qb7XTnCPZyAFu0qkATG_Kr0iIvi0tHhw-1oTNm1vGQM8FuDdCg4fPwV801L1N65ddp9U_D_u/s4032/IMG_5284.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1UldEn8TWRHR9jCQCbjMipathto2AEv7LPvdJkBQCZJXxoFGo8PrF8W950QwqzKF5uc6LMsnY1fmGrPdwHA6gq1YlxBnrU78KmNt6zj-nXeKKSdBDBt7qb7XTnCPZyAFu0qkATG_Kr0iIvi0tHhw-1oTNm1vGQM8FuDdCg4fPwV801L1N65ddp9U_D_u/w640-h480/IMG_5284.JPG" width="640" /></a></p></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of the iconic paintings...</div><div style="text-align: center;">depicting a Trabant (popular East German car) breaking through the East Side Wall.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So much recent history...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQQUn8JSFrYi2Gy38NebH7t2vS3-TktdhAzC99gaUU53sptsUPKavIV4motjDjgO2Gvs4J-D3w0MFFFdXdnBzk5aVlml08phfpOlslJMLyflA_7JwYnn-A5kRNMgd4jBxGUKuvsHc7VvvfSQI-VOJIojWxzBgTKMwyKAT5SS1X4l8HJByaDOMacAzOtN9/s3950/IMG_E5276.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2962" data-original-width="3950" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQQUn8JSFrYi2Gy38NebH7t2vS3-TktdhAzC99gaUU53sptsUPKavIV4motjDjgO2Gvs4J-D3w0MFFFdXdnBzk5aVlml08phfpOlslJMLyflA_7JwYnn-A5kRNMgd4jBxGUKuvsHc7VvvfSQI-VOJIojWxzBgTKMwyKAT5SS1X4l8HJByaDOMacAzOtN9/w640-h480/IMG_E5276.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took a sightseeing cruise on the River Spree...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8erX4eyCRqLoLlLETEMchngQ5XpflSPfaCVv57vefYBt5MP_Kr35ICKDd0_LmH-GMoTG6s7xESpeQgm_9cXoU6AusA_fLygVgmNXw6IGdBre8Vz4I-TJk-osdWape1jYqp99KcC2DE8BroZ6DkthzIixzIkz-UdMK-RArpKQqk3f7AfTJSTvtalbOuKYW/s3520/IMG_E5292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="3520" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8erX4eyCRqLoLlLETEMchngQ5XpflSPfaCVv57vefYBt5MP_Kr35ICKDd0_LmH-GMoTG6s7xESpeQgm_9cXoU6AusA_fLygVgmNXw6IGdBre8Vz4I-TJk-osdWape1jYqp99KcC2DE8BroZ6DkthzIixzIkz-UdMK-RArpKQqk3f7AfTJSTvtalbOuKYW/w640-h478/IMG_E5292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...and then enjoyed coffee and a free concert on riverbank.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS-XpBNCow4K7PBbfNCPQHC8dvxe1EWLWUQtJ-M-qTKOExJT_sPf0eDZBmC4S_gJVdIiJagHZ6WsLWGJT88JrZtcVvIsE7b9to5XvbtTAGatr5k0AxfSN3YwU2gjOKwRy-T1nW0bPacr0bVLEDthrdjhyya4WW_AHU6WIW3ihNgGEP0mSayMG9yPlA7u2/s5120/Berlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS-XpBNCow4K7PBbfNCPQHC8dvxe1EWLWUQtJ-M-qTKOExJT_sPf0eDZBmC4S_gJVdIiJagHZ6WsLWGJT88JrZtcVvIsE7b9to5XvbtTAGatr5k0AxfSN3YwU2gjOKwRy-T1nW0bPacr0bVLEDthrdjhyya4WW_AHU6WIW3ihNgGEP0mSayMG9yPlA7u2/w640-h400/Berlin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We learned to take the train without our trusty tour guide...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and visited the Berlin Zoo one day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d2nZP9ZGSloqK74hzkGONTYOybNkFhFkEiXrsAG4DfdT0yTwrImJgV7FnjG0YduArSPwJCYxQFEBJqO_vyHJfXinghTM9DuzU6PB2ZCts75SYOT8W-0uryPV4YuAC593B_gGuu8W_t5v2vc1jANxhClBw0571yQVghSTTH1q7qelRYdIqvnfM96E8dPt/s3264/IMG_3134.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d2nZP9ZGSloqK74hzkGONTYOybNkFhFkEiXrsAG4DfdT0yTwrImJgV7FnjG0YduArSPwJCYxQFEBJqO_vyHJfXinghTM9DuzU6PB2ZCts75SYOT8W-0uryPV4YuAC593B_gGuu8W_t5v2vc1jANxhClBw0571yQVghSTTH1q7qelRYdIqvnfM96E8dPt/w640-h480/IMG_3134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">From kebabs to pretzels...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and all other things that remind us of Berlin...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was time to say good-bye to Emme and set sail on the Baltic. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQbsvBFdU0WjNUKonwTkzFYlj63kKt4bMM17Bx_1hTGLtlOUWMVo9wSfi9zU40nFrBq--Oz9lNBvc2XvV04T7PHw1lrB4Ybnwko5fMgLT8kpqwmqdkeGDXg-fo7K0Dg4uUvAzqR-8wItLTLxR1q49_djug8Ec-ovMPDVb0snVK9_hBO_yICiK158KVZCd/s4032/IMG_5506.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQbsvBFdU0WjNUKonwTkzFYlj63kKt4bMM17Bx_1hTGLtlOUWMVo9wSfi9zU40nFrBq--Oz9lNBvc2XvV04T7PHw1lrB4Ybnwko5fMgLT8kpqwmqdkeGDXg-fo7K0Dg4uUvAzqR-8wItLTLxR1q49_djug8Ec-ovMPDVb0snVK9_hBO_yICiK158KVZCd/w640-h480/IMG_5506.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We boarded the MSC Poesia in Warnemunde and set sail for Visby, Sweden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkvlrv6F-mVm6nDIph-n3I6cdjWbF33YLD-olDK4mUnxeZYuPR4SLq4aE92UUQMYmK65NgO-SCvmn3V91R5ni0NsREfPH3KLywHK7MWAbx-4xdONUSkoeX_08NmO6eHBJEWXmwvTi-VaZu3T029YvZTeUzNhvTrAqPuAbPkuQ7chEMxH6cCXk-vbSrNH/s4032/IMG_E5537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkvlrv6F-mVm6nDIph-n3I6cdjWbF33YLD-olDK4mUnxeZYuPR4SLq4aE92UUQMYmK65NgO-SCvmn3V91R5ni0NsREfPH3KLywHK7MWAbx-4xdONUSkoeX_08NmO6eHBJEWXmwvTi-VaZu3T029YvZTeUzNhvTrAqPuAbPkuQ7chEMxH6cCXk-vbSrNH/w640-h480/IMG_E5537.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visby is a town on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbKDOezEAjLie-JjAROeHlX7P7J6K36D7CgetVj_cKQFPp_CseBuelFfjXSwoscGBIpdACb6GcgQio6GZnz4qXENvx6Uo0u5nmk6UA0P16q6yY0BE9-Le7p9-kbNwXofNUdBMWWgQ48BW4n40gUKOPLopVu5f5UQb5NqdB0w0CmLvmrzFJgRfWNqz43Jh/s4032/IMG_E5509.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbKDOezEAjLie-JjAROeHlX7P7J6K36D7CgetVj_cKQFPp_CseBuelFfjXSwoscGBIpdACb6GcgQio6GZnz4qXENvx6Uo0u5nmk6UA0P16q6yY0BE9-Le7p9-kbNwXofNUdBMWWgQ48BW4n40gUKOPLopVu5f5UQb5NqdB0w0CmLvmrzFJgRfWNqz43Jh/w480-h640/IMG_E5509.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has a well-preserved medieval town wall...</div><div style="text-align: center;">complete with towers.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDOZDJY8zxcrTRZKa05ffX7Sc-nt4YE8qXIWI5UueZs4KeoCSlZIloyxEXQ2emyUaSgc2fcqBaI2CyYsfpldalR1VreISw_VnZBM0_hQPfwKPyTc1KYTN8R_0GeLbrjweSdhecyXeuEV2ngGtLerO6ISW8IiecE5_C8EJxg7o-0PiRwWX0Xod6BtElY4i/s4032/IMG_E5518.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDOZDJY8zxcrTRZKa05ffX7Sc-nt4YE8qXIWI5UueZs4KeoCSlZIloyxEXQ2emyUaSgc2fcqBaI2CyYsfpldalR1VreISw_VnZBM0_hQPfwKPyTc1KYTN8R_0GeLbrjweSdhecyXeuEV2ngGtLerO6ISW8IiecE5_C8EJxg7o-0PiRwWX0Xod6BtElY4i/w480-h640/IMG_E5518.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visby is a UNESCO world heritage site...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and has been dubbed 'the city of roses and ruins'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsCuvqSooJ0CMKbndcusSepPM_a9zi8248ZCROwOprEsvRQkrrdT3NRTVU62RRpJ0l5BoBoEyU7NrYLhce-6kVUOEF-ZtXhKkkEznWy0pGsFen9mJxCaWRAY30EmJvxm4b-kVlGsm7krCNM8D0HDjmgR_J5lwYyCrvZMcZ0lzCAWtwfC8qdRY9jiRy3WF/s4032/IMG_E5517.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsCuvqSooJ0CMKbndcusSepPM_a9zi8248ZCROwOprEsvRQkrrdT3NRTVU62RRpJ0l5BoBoEyU7NrYLhce-6kVUOEF-ZtXhKkkEznWy0pGsFen9mJxCaWRAY30EmJvxm4b-kVlGsm7krCNM8D0HDjmgR_J5lwYyCrvZMcZ0lzCAWtwfC8qdRY9jiRy3WF/w480-h640/IMG_E5517.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We strolled the narrow cobblestone streets...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU-od1cLs-5rXvr96Gbl84vQAGSc6Styk3ItQGn1JkbgtERGauXv7lsrYnCbQUkCTGcysJYVwVWEiJ1u1v6WQZFSx4qFGlhyE9xHvTSwo1kgGdDzC8knR0NyeGxHlMZXpC0y-Jzh6UC5SnFatTGYm4DCnJCLCBAzExdLGL3VI9kN48kZd41FJvdvBVLYN/s4032/IMG_E5529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU-od1cLs-5rXvr96Gbl84vQAGSc6Styk3ItQGn1JkbgtERGauXv7lsrYnCbQUkCTGcysJYVwVWEiJ1u1v6WQZFSx4qFGlhyE9xHvTSwo1kgGdDzC8knR0NyeGxHlMZXpC0y-Jzh6UC5SnFatTGYm4DCnJCLCBAzExdLGL3VI9kN48kZd41FJvdvBVLYN/w640-h480/IMG_E5529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and checked out the ruins of several old churches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This 13th Century church is the site of weddings today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOP5OqOgK1jxqeE60pF8XCf-9YpU4VLYxIAbYHuqhwYq0hnb49I0kfIfbaos5fvIWzQu7YLrFzWOnqFmPtI4YTrmuzZJwBD0SJ91Sr0uN6UhSOq0LDaqIc9dJc8O7bhNvUzYVTCzlPHeUTNHJX9BzDz3qiflUEF2VQu2LJYup-GQmbn3Et7uIPi95gXE0/s3641/IMG_E5414.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2742" data-original-width="3641" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOP5OqOgK1jxqeE60pF8XCf-9YpU4VLYxIAbYHuqhwYq0hnb49I0kfIfbaos5fvIWzQu7YLrFzWOnqFmPtI4YTrmuzZJwBD0SJ91Sr0uN6UhSOq0LDaqIc9dJc8O7bhNvUzYVTCzlPHeUTNHJX9BzDz3qiflUEF2VQu2LJYup-GQmbn3Et7uIPi95gXE0/w640-h482/IMG_E5414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gdansk, Poland was one of our favorite stops on our cruise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our taxi-driver was the best tour guide...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a storehouse of information!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gdansk is where World War 11 began...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and it was the worker's movement of Gdansk that brought about the end of the Cold War. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Q1ip73KEJndu1Vyvp7Gf5SK-3D4FhbgkVZ2bNvs8CCHbC0yRcru25rgVf4bKy_QDB_NRmhpStI3PqPdrdpC7vmOQHApPPwRB-DkjnQkAXl8guYvn_nBkwC-XF6LWANf-BQyyqTU65Ukg1cor4mjl7wXRWAskaIWxQPTDsPXIaIeKF6iaOltSvyWGXnH/s4032/IMG_5452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Q1ip73KEJndu1Vyvp7Gf5SK-3D4FhbgkVZ2bNvs8CCHbC0yRcru25rgVf4bKy_QDB_NRmhpStI3PqPdrdpC7vmOQHApPPwRB-DkjnQkAXl8guYvn_nBkwC-XF6LWANf-BQyyqTU65Ukg1cor4mjl7wXRWAskaIWxQPTDsPXIaIeKF6iaOltSvyWGXnH/w640-h480/IMG_5452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Upland Gate...</div><div style="text-align: center;">built in the 16th century at the entrance to the old town.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uSdia-GoMBkVa-vdwcV3rM16V7iGj8hqx6pve2bmdFSY69kuKjXuodGdvzt3zNoZeNTaHxHg4zTozwGdFZxBN31Ige4R3nUQh_X7-pZf_ObGb8C1C-v63UH53AJRnGcLLyie_nNm2Ydg8FBOQ6w85mtgIaqRTY_5hXoRDTJUu3w6-_dcarUZvrRyrD5V/s3851/IMG_E5399.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="3851" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uSdia-GoMBkVa-vdwcV3rM16V7iGj8hqx6pve2bmdFSY69kuKjXuodGdvzt3zNoZeNTaHxHg4zTozwGdFZxBN31Ige4R3nUQh_X7-pZf_ObGb8C1C-v63UH53AJRnGcLLyie_nNm2Ydg8FBOQ6w85mtgIaqRTY_5hXoRDTJUu3w6-_dcarUZvrRyrD5V/w640-h468/IMG_E5399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gdańsk has been a link to the waterways of Europe for centuries ...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">it's where Poland's main river, the Vistula, meets the Baltic Sea.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our well-informed taxi driver / tour guide also knew that the Mennonites once lived on the Vistula Delta. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGE-QTG-GYXO7NjCMY9sLEQnh8NNM4Nt1UV15XrxT1bNHl1k7ewDcPVqz0dGYz24l484FvUP1YAEn27VjgBfinptuxbNxD7OlsniXyE71hbJxUFbZaKUdxzHM5_QotESI6-7ecjwsDwNsAP3XxIhRZbAjsXV78rmB1VERR-07U_4bjPm88bRR6NRmr7tw/s3786/IMG_E5436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3786" data-original-width="2440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGE-QTG-GYXO7NjCMY9sLEQnh8NNM4Nt1UV15XrxT1bNHl1k7ewDcPVqz0dGYz24l484FvUP1YAEn27VjgBfinptuxbNxD7OlsniXyE71hbJxUFbZaKUdxzHM5_QotESI6-7ecjwsDwNsAP3XxIhRZbAjsXV78rmB1VERR-07U_4bjPm88bRR6NRmr7tw/w412-h640/IMG_E5436.JPG" width="412" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Old world charm...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7027yji8g9f6E9nu89T5TtVQSY1V6a84kR7Ha1X8nzTZ7Y7cTvOOiRVGXzeZvmwkVUQfNBfkSvdoYzd0ZxK2V7qNj8xltBpQ1gzt1i683xSSQHgkSUJCAj6wABuA5rax8fvWm4ApDbV2fmwp9yDANtB5py4HKMXhpVGttJ2i4iE95QKaQ_vBKcGLyo41P/s3224/IMG_E5397.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2620" data-original-width="3224" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7027yji8g9f6E9nu89T5TtVQSY1V6a84kR7Ha1X8nzTZ7Y7cTvOOiRVGXzeZvmwkVUQfNBfkSvdoYzd0ZxK2V7qNj8xltBpQ1gzt1i683xSSQHgkSUJCAj6wABuA5rax8fvWm4ApDbV2fmwp9yDANtB5py4HKMXhpVGttJ2i4iE95QKaQ_vBKcGLyo41P/w640-h520/IMG_E5397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...we loved Gdansk.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then we moved on to another historic old town...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0dwDTkqx01s0XzPu_61AwrKHpna5KBpqRCy7DRZRoHbiJmTd8elL6LA9bXKVZ35RaOlKO_IqH-xT3OzyZ-YTskTBbbwc1EbtoyzFhpPN2FHLsz6UKpoCs1f-HKKnfLFumhNn3NgUhwZ0_3CIHhFS8B8-Z21NsbRysl86-bGfAjYpVdowT7blIJOKswTq/s3614/IMG_E5554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3614" data-original-width="2721" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0dwDTkqx01s0XzPu_61AwrKHpna5KBpqRCy7DRZRoHbiJmTd8elL6LA9bXKVZ35RaOlKO_IqH-xT3OzyZ-YTskTBbbwc1EbtoyzFhpPN2FHLsz6UKpoCs1f-HKKnfLFumhNn3NgUhwZ0_3CIHhFS8B8-Z21NsbRysl86-bGfAjYpVdowT7blIJOKswTq/w482-h640/IMG_E5554.JPG" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riga...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the capital of Latvia.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8IO7v3lV5LUOcCy1EN5pcb998Bzs5KJh01qIMqwArqrL0Y-BE6HrSWNlIXog7Xp8m_Hwr7qmJymYZQxFWP_hxax64AV_LaKRAK2qPrea-9lDqZIArN8Yqu1v8sXp4VEETixe7KQt8bfGE2TTQZCC2V_zDlxS03Q9G7iNZTWocBtXR8sqLGuv0LZD20FN/s3247/IMG_E5558.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="3247" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8IO7v3lV5LUOcCy1EN5pcb998Bzs5KJh01qIMqwArqrL0Y-BE6HrSWNlIXog7Xp8m_Hwr7qmJymYZQxFWP_hxax64AV_LaKRAK2qPrea-9lDqZIArN8Yqu1v8sXp4VEETixe7KQt8bfGE2TTQZCC2V_zDlxS03Q9G7iNZTWocBtXR8sqLGuv0LZD20FN/w640-h534/IMG_E5558.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful old cathedrals...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with fresh live cut flowers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9OJP28eeBFfyPAKnK25MCH-uc2id8XbfaGMClcBp5wkGYx2JaKQ4mO3cEdtxXucIIb_SLvxRUECnhgXRooANAmXNZyPyrQJbpvqcNHr03cm_2olPRDQrIh8azw-2Yv1iCAjHaE5YKCWR-la8JvKcdSPAv6UbYzEt7f79wGBB9dhka3ufA9dPJLFcTiET/s3894/IMG_E5561.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3894" data-original-width="2621" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9OJP28eeBFfyPAKnK25MCH-uc2id8XbfaGMClcBp5wkGYx2JaKQ4mO3cEdtxXucIIb_SLvxRUECnhgXRooANAmXNZyPyrQJbpvqcNHr03cm_2olPRDQrIh8azw-2Yv1iCAjHaE5YKCWR-la8JvKcdSPAv6UbYzEt7f79wGBB9dhka3ufA9dPJLFcTiET/w430-h640/IMG_E5561.JPG" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riga is the largest city in the Baltics…</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf-YKJn5CUFVs_GI5yPZsJecnIxBCC7kF0IY7SD5uIpZ8hzSNTnhUNGLMBA5ZCpQUuDbeC9uAbbWY8hLD5fD0rje7CQQGCNmTH51fu71QL1mF3mOaXBlFyMpvooGsQL4w8FOIkO1vXGTQ2jIEf3gxj53V8dyxhhErBrq2bxmitHsYKAgBd72aoJgLMyIM/s3268/IMG_E5565.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3268" data-original-width="2744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf-YKJn5CUFVs_GI5yPZsJecnIxBCC7kF0IY7SD5uIpZ8hzSNTnhUNGLMBA5ZCpQUuDbeC9uAbbWY8hLD5fD0rje7CQQGCNmTH51fu71QL1mF3mOaXBlFyMpvooGsQL4w8FOIkO1vXGTQ2jIEf3gxj53V8dyxhhErBrq2bxmitHsYKAgBd72aoJgLMyIM/w538-h640/IMG_E5565.JPG" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">…with cobblestone streets and beautiful old buildings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ4WW9Pu3KL23yqgpnJlmowBvxvEJp4dqXU6zxxmgwuxPUF9vIHkBWXwnbZkd8JWvaJgPCSxGJdxllcOsiqD9KHZUQTD_TYSVZ_dfKQyP6xiDnIc4ASP0TmTLJOpsVzrNyWjLYxJkhlhesPtl1nkQtOiLQJTHC_c7n-8S-VD6_XdjUWpZfOf1A3O-kVrt/s3518/IMG_E5597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2563" data-original-width="3518" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ4WW9Pu3KL23yqgpnJlmowBvxvEJp4dqXU6zxxmgwuxPUF9vIHkBWXwnbZkd8JWvaJgPCSxGJdxllcOsiqD9KHZUQTD_TYSVZ_dfKQyP6xiDnIc4ASP0TmTLJOpsVzrNyWjLYxJkhlhesPtl1nkQtOiLQJTHC_c7n-8S-VD6_XdjUWpZfOf1A3O-kVrt/w640-h466/IMG_E5597.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The golden domed cathedral of Riga. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH8TbctcauD7pEpPR7xMaKzbG_7M9feqnbdUMAhKhcDRfI4HTWETaqskLBsWqw2UAX3J8gKN4H7qNIhMDUtlPVWmG3sQSrwVdcN_C4GuRAFRynlwlmmvUyhGD4OWrHlW59nFhwPb-H-ps91gAZavxgqneVo07puA1kFRRquByiboHJ68FC7oz67dsMSQR/s3740/IMG_E5579.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3740" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH8TbctcauD7pEpPR7xMaKzbG_7M9feqnbdUMAhKhcDRfI4HTWETaqskLBsWqw2UAX3J8gKN4H7qNIhMDUtlPVWmG3sQSrwVdcN_C4GuRAFRynlwlmmvUyhGD4OWrHlW59nFhwPb-H-ps91gAZavxgqneVo07puA1kFRRquByiboHJ68FC7oz67dsMSQR/w640-h518/IMG_E5579.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Corner House is an historic building in the city centre that served as the headquarters of the KGB in Latvia until 1991. We toured the KGB museum housed here. Very sobering. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our next port was Tallinn, Estonia...where we had a short walk from the pier to the old town.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrmMT0LMMtnQIoTd9ge1AGLdb0TOEpZyBBCHzeu_Pip_lVMfczha5sR_EiuHYWNYIJvRpa2h7WBKuRZ1yLOEmvZOQamm0Tov8iU4re2TpcvRz6yG34Sjv92df_cW36EAo8O3hGQlp3TAzomYhP4vxs-mhrSKkdJ1qHn3bFiq3e6jPh9J9dRSEAfMKhXKx/s4032/IMG_E5658.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrmMT0LMMtnQIoTd9ge1AGLdb0TOEpZyBBCHzeu_Pip_lVMfczha5sR_EiuHYWNYIJvRpa2h7WBKuRZ1yLOEmvZOQamm0Tov8iU4re2TpcvRz6yG34Sjv92df_cW36EAo8O3hGQlp3TAzomYhP4vxs-mhrSKkdJ1qHn3bFiq3e6jPh9J9dRSEAfMKhXKx/w640-h480/IMG_E5658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The walls and towers were built in the 13th Century.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy0Pr9KAoVrBMW8qb1jS8hixM4or1PALqFmmpIx3tqpmCe2Pw1RCFQqSiD3mft67LELyfztstHBRIqEtm-mEwPN0Rn6z1_Ug6UIV6djZoIjXarno5GonvKzU_5TmWxzyrlK1n37c2HSpQpPQuqelqAj__zZJgXb6tgpLsSIEka0Opr-5RT2zmxowJXY-b/s4032/IMG_E5663.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy0Pr9KAoVrBMW8qb1jS8hixM4or1PALqFmmpIx3tqpmCe2Pw1RCFQqSiD3mft67LELyfztstHBRIqEtm-mEwPN0Rn6z1_Ug6UIV6djZoIjXarno5GonvKzU_5TmWxzyrlK1n37c2HSpQpPQuqelqAj__zZJgXb6tgpLsSIEka0Opr-5RT2zmxowJXY-b/w480-h640/IMG_E5663.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the best preserved medieval cities of Europe...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5Aw_IAbxjmfS89VP6y21hzEJPQzWB3VAd8uRnMa4josxpWo0XCXSgVeVBSYkM7Fn4iOjcloJK2sQDuWBY2Ws7yQO6gteoNsfy4toTwVwnBdArzxb3mH5XvCYgNlLD7ceaUhs-iM_1ZprfOyN_BBruQtyH0i5jHI0yMHn0t-a5kkHB7cDHlX2vNe92IS/s4032/IMG_E5664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5Aw_IAbxjmfS89VP6y21hzEJPQzWB3VAd8uRnMa4josxpWo0XCXSgVeVBSYkM7Fn4iOjcloJK2sQDuWBY2Ws7yQO6gteoNsfy4toTwVwnBdArzxb3mH5XvCYgNlLD7ceaUhs-iM_1ZprfOyN_BBruQtyH0i5jHI0yMHn0t-a5kkHB7cDHlX2vNe92IS/w480-h640/IMG_E5664.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...it is a bit of a hidden gem.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUbpnCaA8QSOYxAC7zYPYKlENnBXM8S-HvQS2kujrDYOWeUXz-s4cCw9FiS3lBQE-KEtZlYCyCja-VC6Wf6kzfcUkT2fs6ZYhVhEn0Soh_h_RpJ5QunPpgjtJpdq29_Spx8HXmykIemSeLPmB1GqS9OTKTkGliRGwpl3TdiNX9t02ILnLtwnglaXZAeRJ/s3371/IMG_E5667.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3371" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUbpnCaA8QSOYxAC7zYPYKlENnBXM8S-HvQS2kujrDYOWeUXz-s4cCw9FiS3lBQE-KEtZlYCyCja-VC6Wf6kzfcUkT2fs6ZYhVhEn0Soh_h_RpJ5QunPpgjtJpdq29_Spx8HXmykIemSeLPmB1GqS9OTKTkGliRGwpl3TdiNX9t02ILnLtwnglaXZAeRJ/w640-h524/IMG_E5667.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We discovered that the people of Estonia are very wary of Putin / Russia...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a makeshift wall of artwork along a cobblestone street expressing that sentiment.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGSmeMsHMd34-TKh_vlYkSACq6ZI1fl24xAV7a2VUpyNbK7kh_ARVv1UtSUFnyqEvD7_hfi2-ZpU7sk6WTDGvb79lxlTSqfDOa79YqMC_oxMFfoPkrV0NrJEC0EQuSxO1_IqqniDVR3t8IKOXWIh1-RubSQWQrqM6CJlnRutk_Sa_PfemcaFYhPJXjEtw/s3604/IMG_E5678.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3009" data-original-width="3604" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGSmeMsHMd34-TKh_vlYkSACq6ZI1fl24xAV7a2VUpyNbK7kh_ARVv1UtSUFnyqEvD7_hfi2-ZpU7sk6WTDGvb79lxlTSqfDOa79YqMC_oxMFfoPkrV0NrJEC0EQuSxO1_IqqniDVR3t8IKOXWIh1-RubSQWQrqM6CJlnRutk_Sa_PfemcaFYhPJXjEtw/w640-h534/IMG_E5678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Town Hall Square has been the centre of the town since the Middle Ages.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAYF1Jk63SplvRMslvuRTmuFuzTt8iCvomcKW7ifVlqzqD_vP0zn9QDr3SkJw9fBHpMl5jv_cZ-I2GJRlinitkNx0Nc8EhbN98H4q5DFovpOuO2AeFX8jU7piJ56icSDGCOIln-9g2M-PiTFxmlJnjsCVHCObyD_vjDyyutYbRFrg3NeZxvnf09KeWm9d/s4032/IMG_E5682.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAYF1Jk63SplvRMslvuRTmuFuzTt8iCvomcKW7ifVlqzqD_vP0zn9QDr3SkJw9fBHpMl5jv_cZ-I2GJRlinitkNx0Nc8EhbN98H4q5DFovpOuO2AeFX8jU7piJ56icSDGCOIln-9g2M-PiTFxmlJnjsCVHCObyD_vjDyyutYbRFrg3NeZxvnf09KeWm9d/w640-h480/IMG_E5682.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Their bookstore had the most unique window boxes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD3nAxY3QoVJfwFOKqVYKUZNUZlsHkevUcBoCCmG4vxFygFRIrVM0-mibHW85PyD8ouxlwrLUvjIBnZ1SJZrNNOGpZN3AF-gFKlZ5j1bCQPghzNxZOQIx8aZBUq3vaWWUDiKq0EFzUpZTSY1bP42Z6fhJfmczSHHTP_UGhUnfmQ2HXZzsNDHdPGlb7CLC/s4032/IMG_E5686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjD3nAxY3QoVJfwFOKqVYKUZNUZlsHkevUcBoCCmG4vxFygFRIrVM0-mibHW85PyD8ouxlwrLUvjIBnZ1SJZrNNOGpZN3AF-gFKlZ5j1bCQPghzNxZOQIx8aZBUq3vaWWUDiKq0EFzUpZTSY1bP42Z6fhJfmczSHHTP_UGhUnfmQ2HXZzsNDHdPGlb7CLC/w640-h480/IMG_E5686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We checked out the coffee and pastries in every port.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We weren't ever disappointed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0-iI-VK9OuA8CDVkSHiwJ2vdQRhCAW8P6AqWQgSLBkixh-lQQt3ij4UVwIqmx42Iptgz3LG8iJnrVWKExq22Y8qA7TQ2bHx0Dsy23OBuDAKVEmFiHxxyGmjY1TnfX7j3KrBHBfoG4cscGi9teofV-ejedXvLcQpCurmeLUHUdHBA5PQ1vfPRGDJjOTbB/s4032/IMG_5784.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0-iI-VK9OuA8CDVkSHiwJ2vdQRhCAW8P6AqWQgSLBkixh-lQQt3ij4UVwIqmx42Iptgz3LG8iJnrVWKExq22Y8qA7TQ2bHx0Dsy23OBuDAKVEmFiHxxyGmjY1TnfX7j3KrBHBfoG4cscGi9teofV-ejedXvLcQpCurmeLUHUdHBA5PQ1vfPRGDJjOTbB/w640-h480/IMG_5784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stockholm, Sweden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYx4Jby1175EaYrDizNcplA5PuPcf-mqiwpFQSNqO9pdWdeD_OjaQlb4xMDUG39ezhbWg6Oio96cBVqrRpjSobuFX9XJe8WlPHY-9VYgMZSS9mtoQmWaydcOGRRTUOlcuEuvYeQJxNacGKD3_GVk31-QH4MKzpLgEqdSqriSJ8SgiAU7k6CdJavuiYwKW5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYx4Jby1175EaYrDizNcplA5PuPcf-mqiwpFQSNqO9pdWdeD_OjaQlb4xMDUG39ezhbWg6Oio96cBVqrRpjSobuFX9XJe8WlPHY-9VYgMZSS9mtoQmWaydcOGRRTUOlcuEuvYeQJxNacGKD3_GVk31-QH4MKzpLgEqdSqriSJ8SgiAU7k6CdJavuiYwKW5=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Parliament House.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We arrived in Stockholm along with the thousands who were there for the half-marathon taking place right then.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It also happened to be the week of the Golden Jubilee celebrations for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden who is Sweden's longest reigning monarch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-vYeed8Xy6SyRsOsnXKHEFwHH_wdiXqbUB4T-sOzn7DGqfDjxaISBZjuT741dQWibEi48pJJ9Ibru62yRqXuMlGm4N85JVe0iT388YJlzZm11tWhAAqOylXSe14aZQyEi1sVcDnAsXmNiVaVTXyWVgz1HllpUPkql4T7h2XTc4KenwqbzNdodCR3OX2S/s4032/IMG_5812.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-vYeed8Xy6SyRsOsnXKHEFwHH_wdiXqbUB4T-sOzn7DGqfDjxaISBZjuT741dQWibEi48pJJ9Ibru62yRqXuMlGm4N85JVe0iT388YJlzZm11tWhAAqOylXSe14aZQyEi1sVcDnAsXmNiVaVTXyWVgz1HllpUPkql4T7h2XTc4KenwqbzNdodCR3OX2S/w640-h480/IMG_5812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We watched the changing of the guard ceremony at the King's Palace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_mfFQhRPZy7YcUD2cFusD2W-q5wtbnSG5g_9MV8LQuVCP6FqDNqqDFNh9suagLJgoB3r6NHmSHueNpjKDVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And after all the pomp and ceremony...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the band played a little ABBA for our enjoyment!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h2 class="mt-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343a40; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0.25rem;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOBek-yQZQW1gZVdmhjVnLExKp7QDa4I4gWTcU7k7AWiVDyCOVbXk7omX9Kbb8b5GoNoDscytXU8ew1XauarSm-_xtwlpqs_otEgX5C_zoVcgRV5a-c1Ntci2cX78xOf-Ix8Jps4lA00Yexfomfl41aXJLKB_bgEN2tuhEnnEIgHEBZLUnpEug_U_N8XY/s4032/IMG_5822.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOBek-yQZQW1gZVdmhjVnLExKp7QDa4I4gWTcU7k7AWiVDyCOVbXk7omX9Kbb8b5GoNoDscytXU8ew1XauarSm-_xtwlpqs_otEgX5C_zoVcgRV5a-c1Ntci2cX78xOf-Ix8Jps4lA00Yexfomfl41aXJLKB_bgEN2tuhEnnEIgHEBZLUnpEug_U_N8XY/w640-h480/IMG_5822.JPG" width="640" /></a></h2></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sidewalk cafes...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LUCGNPyXS0ED8gzS-UhM-0Uod82GGRuqUtE6ZZiG0fxCuQqquab5uCauBKJVfe-D5gs4xUWg94_kv_3a5PPBfwxQn73mqAr9MenTvByOuioQXuR5kYgDzxyUiZCygQsF8u6q2WI9QszoEo-iiS7lkDGU5EKv89cZ-3mg8c3rgntBPTjTK4GZrzxtgAnr/s4032/IMG_5823.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LUCGNPyXS0ED8gzS-UhM-0Uod82GGRuqUtE6ZZiG0fxCuQqquab5uCauBKJVfe-D5gs4xUWg94_kv_3a5PPBfwxQn73mqAr9MenTvByOuioQXuR5kYgDzxyUiZCygQsF8u6q2WI9QszoEo-iiS7lkDGU5EKv89cZ-3mg8c3rgntBPTjTK4GZrzxtgAnr/w640-h480/IMG_5823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and afternoon coffee breaks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vsdZ31ewBoYwiBMqfTNWrhGoLKgHyqI_t7x8_3qmort2HIJs5Ap5gtd-Q8Md63qsdAMGXdKbSC2iWoy4_DTmnNJDMu2N60ByQC0zLhD--AeFEk3LLoI4dABtGVbxHCNz_Fr17tAw8m6SCe2F6vaaKCNRxZ03_WFCh2s_X-DaUam5pb2TJne5WP-MgGP/s4032/IMG_5825.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vsdZ31ewBoYwiBMqfTNWrhGoLKgHyqI_t7x8_3qmort2HIJs5Ap5gtd-Q8Md63qsdAMGXdKbSC2iWoy4_DTmnNJDMu2N60ByQC0zLhD--AeFEk3LLoI4dABtGVbxHCNz_Fr17tAw8m6SCe2F6vaaKCNRxZ03_WFCh2s_X-DaUam5pb2TJne5WP-MgGP/w480-h640/IMG_5825.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mårten Trotzigs Gränd is an alley in old town...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stockholm's narrowest street.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thirty-seven stairs and just 35" wide.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqgjwF0MFEALRiZS3CD9ftUyxW7XogNWmPG4Ia4JO5A5PAfB1wPe8Mv8BjWbDWON1XfKcUiU-cZBL2GzIwpY5LdSR1xV0MXtEhJgczIl6zbb3PKKQHW8lQCAcM1tZNnels3QhFmxmZmXYbr3LOOmORXhaYJ9KEnWIjU65a6kpFm3MCKVBOiqTJ5xufuzN/s4032/IMG_5834.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqgjwF0MFEALRiZS3CD9ftUyxW7XogNWmPG4Ia4JO5A5PAfB1wPe8Mv8BjWbDWON1XfKcUiU-cZBL2GzIwpY5LdSR1xV0MXtEhJgczIl6zbb3PKKQHW8lQCAcM1tZNnels3QhFmxmZmXYbr3LOOmORXhaYJ9KEnWIjU65a6kpFm3MCKVBOiqTJ5xufuzN/w640-h480/IMG_5834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Others scooted.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUwWnIt8FVh_gBJdAeePENFNNEiVSfK_IAmy_Kns3ALk6LwwUiXtHOJ9wesw2flKB3Po_uyJaavv-zFQat6Pitrc9XCTAXdvSvG5i8rbeR0IHCMXkrmRSmZVh0OyGGrBdE-r41zNjywjGSyrqT_wGQ51xHhxFOGXRax6XMIh4f-g1eVL9ybZUR9F9bds3/s4032/IMG_5836.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUwWnIt8FVh_gBJdAeePENFNNEiVSfK_IAmy_Kns3ALk6LwwUiXtHOJ9wesw2flKB3Po_uyJaavv-zFQat6Pitrc9XCTAXdvSvG5i8rbeR0IHCMXkrmRSmZVh0OyGGrBdE-r41zNjywjGSyrqT_wGQ51xHhxFOGXRax6XMIh4f-g1eVL9ybZUR9F9bds3/w640-h480/IMG_5836.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Strolling Gamla Stan...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6H8EMJzjFCU6IZ2WGfUB6PsAz6OU1aIsW78w38iA5VjTjsB5pEppA6X2vMo2imNdSfASy5ZiGQxli0kZOktbqRGYGTfYybYOQjI1o1ySRG_KNNjL3uHGFydYr52K66HxVkJGSvoJ4DvuqHYOuQLSoxT12H4y-oT8GrhFktBmzVXo5iONtOQs9ZzQoNi/s4032/IMG_5844.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y6H8EMJzjFCU6IZ2WGfUB6PsAz6OU1aIsW78w38iA5VjTjsB5pEppA6X2vMo2imNdSfASy5ZiGQxli0kZOktbqRGYGTfYybYOQjI1o1ySRG_KNNjL3uHGFydYr52K66HxVkJGSvoJ4DvuqHYOuQLSoxT12H4y-oT8GrhFktBmzVXo5iONtOQs9ZzQoNi/w640-h480/IMG_5844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...or the seawall on our way to the maritime museum. <span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTfEQZCZUdiSqUZNG5F3iZw3ouUBRFApLT1jEDdCXbM3LnXr5nxQPauxz-27h0zJ9RvcoYNV3rBHNd9yq06bWOLXpMS32ha6nYUz5t9mIktIaXdSkG1kDDZ2psft3nx_HeZdHT-CrFDTeLeTyry9dKcKmQL0a2XuMmAdDTH1nJGFZ5rcH_M7QVLPeV2JQ/s3410/IMG_E5848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="3410" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTfEQZCZUdiSqUZNG5F3iZw3ouUBRFApLT1jEDdCXbM3LnXr5nxQPauxz-27h0zJ9RvcoYNV3rBHNd9yq06bWOLXpMS32ha6nYUz5t9mIktIaXdSkG1kDDZ2psft3nx_HeZdHT-CrFDTeLeTyry9dKcKmQL0a2XuMmAdDTH1nJGFZ5rcH_M7QVLPeV2JQ/w640-h474/IMG_E5848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vasa Museum. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Vasa ship capsized and sank in </span>Stockholm<span style="font-family: inherit;"> in 1628 </span>just<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 1300 </span>meters<span style="font-family: inherit;"> into her maiden </span>voyage. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After 333 years on the seabed the warship was salvaged. It is the world's only preserved 17th century ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was well worth the visit! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our next stop was the ABBA museum.</div><div style="text-align: center;">'When in Sweden...'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOGpXOFhbm5vMwVbI2hF4Yz7ETHI_G5U61FBN84DGOsF-i5d1FSSOXel_fpaP6hm9HNputtmU3cVrgAgnbC4zuf2O2ML-jWHUVcHGzTFV__YGsaC5SJbaNt4kCjh4iF4ZIiHEQKsTjQY5iauuUP4ZseKKHJJvHz9PS_Aatudr8HvCEAvZ8gAS7Q8Vsj51/s4032/IMG_5764.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOGpXOFhbm5vMwVbI2hF4Yz7ETHI_G5U61FBN84DGOsF-i5d1FSSOXel_fpaP6hm9HNputtmU3cVrgAgnbC4zuf2O2ML-jWHUVcHGzTFV__YGsaC5SJbaNt4kCjh4iF4ZIiHEQKsTjQY5iauuUP4ZseKKHJJvHz9PS_Aatudr8HvCEAvZ8gAS7Q8Vsj51/w640-h480/IMG_5764.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Farewell to Stockholm...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a city built on fourteen islands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our one and only sea day was September 11th...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as we sailed toward Denmark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQM0gwBxShAFgK2ffqN4b8HfXFPdPUVP-6iAbFRKaseRA8mkunv0HFwRlWwobncjILr1Bj8ZHtD9Sf0a0l0bZdOpisBBsxl1_om9yXrlzk8rw3RstDWdx6QJ15Ot6cxYMkcuF6cH56snnGmeLYSeXHuFB1cHGgITKELkbvIQ6qPniIOT8Ivnnda1xDcf_/s4032/IMG_5873.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQM0gwBxShAFgK2ffqN4b8HfXFPdPUVP-6iAbFRKaseRA8mkunv0HFwRlWwobncjILr1Bj8ZHtD9Sf0a0l0bZdOpisBBsxl1_om9yXrlzk8rw3RstDWdx6QJ15Ot6cxYMkcuF6cH56snnGmeLYSeXHuFB1cHGgITKELkbvIQ6qPniIOT8Ivnnda1xDcf_/w640-h480/IMG_5873.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We sailed through the fog and the mist that day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fkKrRe2yFs4xbnML5jCUnkPI1zHGDEVYjXG070ozGGL91MfxqxJXKW2faYMrjIkYUoT7NOjPv_IB9Kdzg1Yx2HnGkkkUaB884mBQ-151Juy9MHBb8g01mUiADjfhsEaxOgwPZHZmaNQwdCRjTna_-lE67G4zmhkryWFsMTA5j6rJ_Q2rSGYYR3mwV6X3/s3000/BEFU7763-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fkKrRe2yFs4xbnML5jCUnkPI1zHGDEVYjXG070ozGGL91MfxqxJXKW2faYMrjIkYUoT7NOjPv_IB9Kdzg1Yx2HnGkkkUaB884mBQ-151Juy9MHBb8g01mUiADjfhsEaxOgwPZHZmaNQwdCRjTna_-lE67G4zmhkryWFsMTA5j6rJ_Q2rSGYYR3mwV6X3/w512-h640/BEFU7763-001.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and celebrated Elmer's birthday on the Baltic Sea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTVatyJwJDXdVv-GLtB2u1ANsw6JLoc-qcpoahOUtHmChulfES7HCa9GqP8oyrTDf-vV4ue-7qg_oBPBpkEK7Qokooihn_2p_LEN85NDVspkCpgDywJ8Qxop3T411JFrU3DnzMBO3L4yT1rkj1bgRx2v1xoOiiz-WO9uSUa85Yev1atdj5ubcQXVLSGfWU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="640" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTVatyJwJDXdVv-GLtB2u1ANsw6JLoc-qcpoahOUtHmChulfES7HCa9GqP8oyrTDf-vV4ue-7qg_oBPBpkEK7Qokooihn_2p_LEN85NDVspkCpgDywJ8Qxop3T411JFrU3DnzMBO3L4yT1rkj1bgRx2v1xoOiiz-WO9uSUa85Yev1atdj5ubcQXVLSGfWU=w640-h491" width="640" /></a></div><br />Copenhagen...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the colourful buildings of Ny Havn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRP-IvI2n23aezkv9FAI8L9Ue4rzM3SFWugHt0_XQhI3_iUXRlEsZ5jcd9TpN0pqLgsZnEwqXlaQF-83aLV40vubCF8T78ZJ6kwHXwapDoAKRSc677tm9lRqWwyt0w0NOes9Hwb6PbPbLDtzKaaqL5l1YJ8-waV-LKvgAyYbWlNCeAH3G4BXZWAqvz5d5/s4032/IMG_E5912.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRP-IvI2n23aezkv9FAI8L9Ue4rzM3SFWugHt0_XQhI3_iUXRlEsZ5jcd9TpN0pqLgsZnEwqXlaQF-83aLV40vubCF8T78ZJ6kwHXwapDoAKRSc677tm9lRqWwyt0w0NOes9Hwb6PbPbLDtzKaaqL5l1YJ8-waV-LKvgAyYbWlNCeAH3G4BXZWAqvz5d5/w640-h480/IMG_E5912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Christiansborg Palace...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danish government building.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbgOaXt8gWuVhOXiXJykwvoVKlQgQlJhhj-A_n-Twu2Zg7q01UFA3owMplpntPMkub6CFNkhWKokfXUuu0zq1USq3CnkxUWhvxgCUlyCAClAm9zHYCpEP6Ihrlgk8bupA5RSoxr_zjR_qNjCMi2QFsveuKF6J9r2EieEkiVkq6yQexZKSKlBip2s5p52r/s3857/IMG_E5916.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="3857" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbgOaXt8gWuVhOXiXJykwvoVKlQgQlJhhj-A_n-Twu2Zg7q01UFA3owMplpntPMkub6CFNkhWKokfXUuu0zq1USq3CnkxUWhvxgCUlyCAClAm9zHYCpEP6Ihrlgk8bupA5RSoxr_zjR_qNjCMi2QFsveuKF6J9r2EieEkiVkq6yQexZKSKlBip2s5p52r/w640-h492/IMG_E5916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took a boat tour on the canal...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and learned a lot about this city.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWqVFbHUhqeVmfwuC-vWZ7kroV0wqGPkD7BAuF1SrSsSiQ6bdFYS-ecna4mFE1LIyve78DqWiAMnTYQjebmKu9R9XdUKEtaZ__XV59KqT5Ta7hhPf8qmUFxQDcJcZ5V5xqGe4vDXtPPcBzYoIi7oi9GUs6ltPD7MYXMF8t2QsXNcCOjXVdPLCp2HiNT2c/s2865/IMG_E5921.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2865" data-original-width="2169" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWqVFbHUhqeVmfwuC-vWZ7kroV0wqGPkD7BAuF1SrSsSiQ6bdFYS-ecna4mFE1LIyve78DqWiAMnTYQjebmKu9R9XdUKEtaZ__XV59KqT5Ta7hhPf8qmUFxQDcJcZ5V5xqGe4vDXtPPcBzYoIi7oi9GUs6ltPD7MYXMF8t2QsXNcCOjXVdPLCp2HiNT2c/w484-h640/IMG_E5921.JPG" width="484" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw the famous mermaid statue from the boat...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and found it rather disappointing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ34R4SbVPkRHul3fycgOH_keSn1i9iUtX_HuPiQ9OFfjnPEuD77AB5VEXOQYzkEXz2ZlMVUmKygWoG8KIeX7_lvPUI7ZuB3AOcipgl8MiboHVWLwrGBOWp5TDSEQJOP32Yj85cOFvaXXQAj2B1xv8wDb0QeZIvIAy7hHo1WkmCNsX02A_cs5CTKkqxdbS/s3432/IMG_E5938.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2647" data-original-width="3432" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ34R4SbVPkRHul3fycgOH_keSn1i9iUtX_HuPiQ9OFfjnPEuD77AB5VEXOQYzkEXz2ZlMVUmKygWoG8KIeX7_lvPUI7ZuB3AOcipgl8MiboHVWLwrGBOWp5TDSEQJOP32Yj85cOFvaXXQAj2B1xv8wDb0QeZIvIAy7hHo1WkmCNsX02A_cs5CTKkqxdbS/w640-h494/IMG_E5938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of Copenhagen's most impressive buildings are visible from the water</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...so a canal cruise was the perfect way to see and learn about them.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbuUki-C1-aiEIFrPkj_9iYbP5fqsU7G6tsXwG_02hilh6IevGOGnKcwt0rstk2zJQgEoeWoGRvSCaKK-84eNkIZpWhMR_f5ugVyDUlpHkLBvqj0RkzuLFyoQOdrphHjGDm_u68fLI64LaGloId4sEpqbRYkpDHTkrfIU_ZZjyfGXlFwGhu80C6G4pzYn/s4032/IMG_E5955.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbuUki-C1-aiEIFrPkj_9iYbP5fqsU7G6tsXwG_02hilh6IevGOGnKcwt0rstk2zJQgEoeWoGRvSCaKK-84eNkIZpWhMR_f5ugVyDUlpHkLBvqj0RkzuLFyoQOdrphHjGDm_u68fLI64LaGloId4sEpqbRYkpDHTkrfIU_ZZjyfGXlFwGhu80C6G4pzYn/w640-h480/IMG_E5955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">King's New Square.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We left Copenhagen...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeoXl73-d-aBf39IXOF7H-_glnnrJJhJdUeEYI19dB6LjOUaHwF4biQfFTvSD4Yq3mYblUdEFxGugWb77rP0ccFLnQjFFpgjDJnf6r8H38lTm1pT91judJ83SCr7aKJo56oUuY6mKj38x7KvflJ5g-XBXI7oaxQ9Z3Mbnsf6whERumLgnrBswZHZGnOJC/s2583/IMG_E4744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="2583" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeoXl73-d-aBf39IXOF7H-_glnnrJJhJdUeEYI19dB6LjOUaHwF4biQfFTvSD4Yq3mYblUdEFxGugWb77rP0ccFLnQjFFpgjDJnf6r8H38lTm1pT91judJ83SCr7aKJo56oUuY6mKj38x7KvflJ5g-XBXI7oaxQ9Z3Mbnsf6whERumLgnrBswZHZGnOJC/w640-h494/IMG_E4744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and awoke to rain in Karlskrona, Sweden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was our only rainy day on our entire trip.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9PPCcX_lyrbTpdzoXPtQMk4YOoQYyncMXjb5XjcAPwYom2_GLiJTgKAcluAnOj48ohHCANHLiYVd1ffaRUOxLKhAvDMiZX2uJ7_f8s1jtXhChHG1mtD0udTDS9iO5V6ndHgDb2L2kJKnbca7jQsdBTDbh3y2gD_9gE3sDrd66mVPnrvhomxP3h8fVLMg/s3476/IMG_E5980.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3476" data-original-width="2543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9PPCcX_lyrbTpdzoXPtQMk4YOoQYyncMXjb5XjcAPwYom2_GLiJTgKAcluAnOj48ohHCANHLiYVd1ffaRUOxLKhAvDMiZX2uJ7_f8s1jtXhChHG1mtD0udTDS9iO5V6ndHgDb2L2kJKnbca7jQsdBTDbh3y2gD_9gE3sDrd66mVPnrvhomxP3h8fVLMg/w468-h640/IMG_E5980.JPG" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked in the rain...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkjghP0XNbYbEJdXvo8m03xWE3IJvEbk8aDM81FGC2LOUPWmcutue-kzr9C0np7r91yjXnfi_YPzTJCrBxx8t6jokBj5bOT-qG_DdmljngS-KS3w1EOnZEJkGqHYaqUXGUpMwwArv7bX0sb2sOZomcmntLMX2c7DMCJbMzWcqOUwJGl_ifp5ByL23gSfx/s3078/IMG_E5981.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2608" data-original-width="3078" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkjghP0XNbYbEJdXvo8m03xWE3IJvEbk8aDM81FGC2LOUPWmcutue-kzr9C0np7r91yjXnfi_YPzTJCrBxx8t6jokBj5bOT-qG_DdmljngS-KS3w1EOnZEJkGqHYaqUXGUpMwwArv7bX0sb2sOZomcmntLMX2c7DMCJbMzWcqOUwJGl_ifp5ByL23gSfx/w640-h542/IMG_E5981.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...and found a warm and cozy Swedish cafe. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Karlskrona is Sweden's only baroque city and has Sweden's largest naval base as well as the headquarters of the Coast Guard. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is another UNESCO World Heritage city...with amazing old buildings.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU1Nqq_SvJD7N3ppGRXwCYcPNccEPlkB7uVziXMOdJknu2-TEBgof9vSkAAbLE3t61C_UGOLuTpjyrGJaovotwke3_2S3Uq2DUnVTzIyf2CZ4STRh37g9ffyT6xZHtsXnMBf3sF8w54AFwmjctG5JgPEjQTniIeNtsCbEdCQrYWgvGq2QYN6GjEJHthKP/s4032/IMG_5992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU1Nqq_SvJD7N3ppGRXwCYcPNccEPlkB7uVziXMOdJknu2-TEBgof9vSkAAbLE3t61C_UGOLuTpjyrGJaovotwke3_2S3Uq2DUnVTzIyf2CZ4STRh37g9ffyT6xZHtsXnMBf3sF8w54AFwmjctG5JgPEjQTniIeNtsCbEdCQrYWgvGq2QYN6GjEJHthKP/w640-h480/IMG_5992.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And that was the last port of call on our Baltic cruise.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LplULw-2OYfBn57SdkE7EeVHzUdPQ379LoZQha7hr0bQFlTx8A83t-VFKHfASqKMc1a-_8dl7B-DPA13apqnYaYG4xjEgyf2GSvsn98g_sC2PlEo0b1sKukcW25JMEJTOmevs5NdyYtxiafKg6xgGx5JvEx77OtkTx06v-7yNtR96_LUt6m_vB_U4EcL/s4032/IMG_6006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LplULw-2OYfBn57SdkE7EeVHzUdPQ379LoZQha7hr0bQFlTx8A83t-VFKHfASqKMc1a-_8dl7B-DPA13apqnYaYG4xjEgyf2GSvsn98g_sC2PlEo0b1sKukcW25JMEJTOmevs5NdyYtxiafKg6xgGx5JvEx77OtkTx06v-7yNtR96_LUt6m_vB_U4EcL/w640-h480/IMG_6006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We woke up back in Warenmunde...</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">where we began.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now it was a simple matter of getting back to the Berlin Airport and flying home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It turned out not to be so simple!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had booked only one shore excursion through the cruise ship...and that was on our final day. It was a tour that would take us from the pier in Warnemunde, through Berlin and end at the Berlin airport. It was an easy way to get back to the airport before flying home the following day. Or so we thought! A few days before the end of the cruise we were notified that our pre-booked shore excursion was cancelled. 'Sorry for the inconvenience.' We scrambled to find a way back to the airport and were able to book first class train tickets with a direct train from the port to the airport. We had our tickets but when we tried to reserve seats, we got the message that there were 'no seats available'. There was not much we could do until we arrived at the train station that morning. The ticket agent confirmed that there were no unreserved seats. We might just have to stand for the 3.5 hours! We boarded the train at noon...found a few unoccupied seats and made ourselves at home. And then we sat on the tracks for a long time until we were told there had been an accident up ahead and the tracks were closed. After a long delay, we got underway but on a different route and we would now have to switch trains at Berlin Central station. That proved to be a bit of a challenge, as we had to run with all our luggage to a train departing on a different platform. We breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived at the airport and made our way to the hotel where we would be spending the night. We thought. They had no record of our reservation and then informed us that we were booked at the other airport hotel with the same name...but 8 kms away. We were done with trains and took a taxi to the other hotel. It was rather a stressful way to end our vacation...but it all worked out in the end. And we even had seats on our long train ride! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fun and memorable trip. And this is a very long post!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll re-cap the rest of the month in a few days time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOJ1nBgoyYmKOnUyRTGAdRIcECdqqVd_ia0_Ha11e-RWTRlMVBcPpDO319aGdjheDTqhMZF376CLHXBY2dB8HITZuYqH6O7D3wEhH-F_oH2wqTCmq9OHmTYYhomtMBpSQjjXbOVA7MfVGenQIFl79urGrLSTNxforQ2pOtLmpRYk5a2NNwae8yVO-imAsb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOJ1nBgoyYmKOnUyRTGAdRIcECdqqVd_ia0_Ha11e-RWTRlMVBcPpDO319aGdjheDTqhMZF376CLHXBY2dB8HITZuYqH6O7D3wEhH-F_oH2wqTCmq9OHmTYYhomtMBpSQjjXbOVA7MfVGenQIFl79urGrLSTNxforQ2pOtLmpRYk5a2NNwae8yVO-imAsb=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-49275426556185389882023-08-30T08:25:00.001-07:002023-08-30T08:25:34.731-07:00August ~ Summer's Last Stand<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I am trying tried to savour the moments...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gfmwj71oY8yJwBX1SsI-iV0qyInjGtSls5DE-8gbqs2ssVcWQd3chS11fRsQxch0a6E2NzSO1Ss8Rv1pGwerlVBWwbJmWPSePqhzWtfE9FICFGOKci6syeen1p069LkIiPz0_v2rTTtcNvk7Yg3Fg0QAr8a6fcqd5yZkg3sHOYjc7A9iT1SAVuWjc2EP/s4032/86D00AA6-E4BF-4423-AD6B-A28567C2FDA1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Gfmwj71oY8yJwBX1SsI-iV0qyInjGtSls5DE-8gbqs2ssVcWQd3chS11fRsQxch0a6E2NzSO1Ss8Rv1pGwerlVBWwbJmWPSePqhzWtfE9FICFGOKci6syeen1p069LkIiPz0_v2rTTtcNvk7Yg3Fg0QAr8a6fcqd5yZkg3sHOYjc7A9iT1SAVuWjc2EP/w480-h640/86D00AA6-E4BF-4423-AD6B-A28567C2FDA1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...since summer will soon be a thing of the past.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me just re-cap a few of the happenings of the month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOojmNoOBXvGRkR4cxb82LFxLiXOoAaWjs9G_wz4Wh08uQqQmhgWA3akKFkzOMdQmNLcVLE5UE81nC-azgcEgSLxkDChv1BR4qqmRo33r1RbhEZ6cWfxBK9kci4Wx7Ulw-X_PUr8Hpt7jYeuefMOatkz5_ghv9Mo3MVaH7Pub6_cwxLB6iEbY8EXudtHo6/s939/62F0A793-5539-4EF5-81FF-3441B63B70E6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="805" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOojmNoOBXvGRkR4cxb82LFxLiXOoAaWjs9G_wz4Wh08uQqQmhgWA3akKFkzOMdQmNLcVLE5UE81nC-azgcEgSLxkDChv1BR4qqmRo33r1RbhEZ6cWfxBK9kci4Wx7Ulw-X_PUr8Hpt7jYeuefMOatkz5_ghv9Mo3MVaH7Pub6_cwxLB6iEbY8EXudtHo6/w548-h640/62F0A793-5539-4EF5-81FF-3441B63B70E6.jpeg" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maggie participated in the National Track Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and did us all proud. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She placed fourth in the country in the 800 meter for her age group...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and had a fantastic time back east.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk1IAsv6RCzmIHQI840KRAwn2h2jq1w7gxTPQDzjXwu9VNHnrH_4_z_rJWxl3TCKYVAPZCZ9ri80sCa3PFhaC-HmCyyD62Lj51aUlQq_RZAlU3ChD5tLsT2gnTRSuu3Ra46Oemdih6lopmS11MKQNdDOvZ9fdW3qFH8SH7cCVd4m7H_-VVlsAEON_W8-Y/s4032/06267BB2-A087-4541-953D-C541A223597F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk1IAsv6RCzmIHQI840KRAwn2h2jq1w7gxTPQDzjXwu9VNHnrH_4_z_rJWxl3TCKYVAPZCZ9ri80sCa3PFhaC-HmCyyD62Lj51aUlQq_RZAlU3ChD5tLsT2gnTRSuu3Ra46Oemdih6lopmS11MKQNdDOvZ9fdW3qFH8SH7cCVd4m7H_-VVlsAEON_W8-Y/w640-h480/06267BB2-A087-4541-953D-C541A223597F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took Uncle Jake and Aunt Maggie for a country drive one evening...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and had refreshments on the porch after.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We always enjoy our time with them...</div><div style="text-align: center;">such a positive and encouraging couple.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A blessing to many!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x9kf0XlLGY909rn-59wBgzQmx0vTOPwTC2BLqRJ7nSx_P1HwBpv7-x2VhEUL3-vF47maB1cetRysHpwB556oevPAzKi9OwZEVZvXCNUXoy8Esrm2n1sjlEvosmAj64zkKptNoVuLmK0l_4q_CJwl4UfPuDpdh-jPdrb7-E2tXKsVLG9sE5t_9uHLnZKE/s667/Kris%20and%20family-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="484" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9x9kf0XlLGY909rn-59wBgzQmx0vTOPwTC2BLqRJ7nSx_P1HwBpv7-x2VhEUL3-vF47maB1cetRysHpwB556oevPAzKi9OwZEVZvXCNUXoy8Esrm2n1sjlEvosmAj64zkKptNoVuLmK0l_4q_CJwl4UfPuDpdh-jPdrb7-E2tXKsVLG9sE5t_9uHLnZKE/w464-h640/Kris%20and%20family-001.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kris turned fifty this month.</div><div style="text-align: center;">How is that even possible?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have half a century of a mother's memories to treasure! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing him much joy and God's richest blessings in the years ahead.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTQWc2JTpfam6tZa6DakrK50qdCBKS-IwhuRfdEaerWAtMxw_x0M_Z5R4DaiexIdyEZUlJFV4WRmkyytlnsX22HVl_9hXnvJUrgCmn7gdeHY3KHi02HRtNw6cB3msZJIj9sMaG_qYUuOT-7pdfzZLyIzRVM3UdKzBjcJABps-Ij9ggJqmesVuzJ8hwWg8/s4032/1689D3B9-BAEC-4F1C-87B5-32663C62EAB0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTQWc2JTpfam6tZa6DakrK50qdCBKS-IwhuRfdEaerWAtMxw_x0M_Z5R4DaiexIdyEZUlJFV4WRmkyytlnsX22HVl_9hXnvJUrgCmn7gdeHY3KHi02HRtNw6cB3msZJIj9sMaG_qYUuOT-7pdfzZLyIzRVM3UdKzBjcJABps-Ij9ggJqmesVuzJ8hwWg8/w640-h480/1689D3B9-BAEC-4F1C-87B5-32663C62EAB0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Central Community Church had a summer baptism at Harrison Lake.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We joined the crowds as dozens were baptized.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such a great evening!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e8VkwbL4UvM6QA81SC3y1gbf7P7DstI_Bt7ghO9Z0E-bZQYW7NFyRA166VzCPkK0XwUxonu1CN9GvrzS3AwQ65VZmQrKQ5sQpCGlJB8ERZq-ba1H2Wgov5x-ghcdbnxHwBkBnPfXhkmHsPcOosPMxRAQCIE1vMQOs6WZ9nQaJIOCScf18rPJZkShP0l8/s817/EBADC5DA-F315-4F54-BE99-A5BB150779EB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="817" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8e8VkwbL4UvM6QA81SC3y1gbf7P7DstI_Bt7ghO9Z0E-bZQYW7NFyRA166VzCPkK0XwUxonu1CN9GvrzS3AwQ65VZmQrKQ5sQpCGlJB8ERZq-ba1H2Wgov5x-ghcdbnxHwBkBnPfXhkmHsPcOosPMxRAQCIE1vMQOs6WZ9nQaJIOCScf18rPJZkShP0l8/w640-h362/EBADC5DA-F315-4F54-BE99-A5BB150779EB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What better way to spend a warm summer night than with the masses at Mill Lake in Abbotsford than to take in the Symphony in the Park?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having a granddaughter in the orchestra makes it even more special!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fantastic evening.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztu9PTx4jh3jViHYFKwA5S1FfMyQ9xCAfjkcibMTLalsr59y9xHsOABzM6mVJNKPs0HwRNtqeYkWelded2zg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last week we also took in the opening ceremony of the BC Senior Games in Abbotsford...</div><div style="text-align: center;">where Ranen was playing with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ur77BNoqRsmQuus7rlM9pr3wdxfussIyiM9DRvkaOgvnlQJUUZc7lWXDKZJD4nNGoaNkEBlADpgk2QE9cR2I-03rEWGAmCwL5yNhwsgJe2O9FX9Y-Pkz7sRC7t8Kuht-XSQfaJ7WNt4gq6hD-YvlzC20nI6l7EppAceenHtKqQEwGJzwo6VorK3BWsEu/s4032/697B2A78-0367-4B7D-A839-2CDFB59AB468.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ur77BNoqRsmQuus7rlM9pr3wdxfussIyiM9DRvkaOgvnlQJUUZc7lWXDKZJD4nNGoaNkEBlADpgk2QE9cR2I-03rEWGAmCwL5yNhwsgJe2O9FX9Y-Pkz7sRC7t8Kuht-XSQfaJ7WNt4gq6hD-YvlzC20nI6l7EppAceenHtKqQEwGJzwo6VorK3BWsEu/w640-h480/697B2A78-0367-4B7D-A839-2CDFB59AB468.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There has been a lot of smoke here this month...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">making breathing difficult and obscuring the nearby mountains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our province is in a record-breaking wildfire season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our hearts go out to the thousands that are evacuated...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the many that have lost their homes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFSx2k_GhND9xULhz9h3lpTzD0H-zf0cD2ipJHrh1HWf3LlptzrUO5CR3DZHasy31_Go0V94-8Dc6eEJN3rsWZ7igGSDJyu513n2lOo8Qb2chhIWKP1J9Hq1404iB4SrVnbnyue9fbLgHo_KfO2V0zBqxzClYx_7qEkdkH1uRW8s1ttpOVhPooaU678TtJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFSx2k_GhND9xULhz9h3lpTzD0H-zf0cD2ipJHrh1HWf3LlptzrUO5CR3DZHasy31_Go0V94-8Dc6eEJN3rsWZ7igGSDJyu513n2lOo8Qb2chhIWKP1J9Hq1404iB4SrVnbnyue9fbLgHo_KfO2V0zBqxzClYx_7qEkdkH1uRW8s1ttpOVhPooaU678TtJ" width="640" /></a></div><br />Over the years we have made a lot of fond memories at the 'Baerg cabin' at Scotch Creek. It was originally my parents' and now belongs to my sisters. It was in the path of the fires last week...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but is still standing. Others in the area were not so fortunate!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some 131 buildings in the area burned...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">including the firehall and many homes and businesses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pTPywQehehenu4XJIL1yIRdPiindbfh-WBRvrniwO6pa_pjjM41XdH9DQ5l35DjLrokAZWuNZ7TVWICLYSEhJePJYm02gOGyASMogScQLc3ZnwJWXhWFUhNxf5Crf399kYiDW9gD5KYJPHVWx-qMWIOGaM1h1COAKC_aDp22iYSWeykfzVFwGvqPbUaL/s3215/IMG_E0463.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2582" data-original-width="3215" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pTPywQehehenu4XJIL1yIRdPiindbfh-WBRvrniwO6pa_pjjM41XdH9DQ5l35DjLrokAZWuNZ7TVWICLYSEhJePJYm02gOGyASMogScQLc3ZnwJWXhWFUhNxf5Crf399kYiDW9gD5KYJPHVWx-qMWIOGaM1h1COAKC_aDp22iYSWeykfzVFwGvqPbUaL/w640-h514/IMG_E0463.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This old barn that stood next to the grocery store in Scotch Creek...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">apparently went up in smoke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have many pictures of it in my files.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTnqqoRFCzWe_7Uy5GflIWs7gMcg6LKqe935rHVToYW5fzZ-CSMk-oo9Mz7ZJUjd01dKhM03qcm7kz8N2GvR87ZdS7eUuqyxq6GlD-XTPlduMEdFpl-2FrLgduutMrQVlh-jn6ZJmugo1HKWwSht7ThV58LLgc8re80kMZvvo8BCLGRQDAA4CGGyPcAFu/s4032/000A2B3D-80E2-4193-AC43-33971BE0FDDC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTnqqoRFCzWe_7Uy5GflIWs7gMcg6LKqe935rHVToYW5fzZ-CSMk-oo9Mz7ZJUjd01dKhM03qcm7kz8N2GvR87ZdS7eUuqyxq6GlD-XTPlduMEdFpl-2FrLgduutMrQVlh-jn6ZJmugo1HKWwSht7ThV58LLgc8re80kMZvvo8BCLGRQDAA4CGGyPcAFu/w640-h480/000A2B3D-80E2-4193-AC43-33971BE0FDDC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tis the season!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The salsa is made...as are the pickles.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEgSQZ0nPFwq9OpKACXWRnQK0oeyU5fFf0nQCcv-onnnojoj8uzi0FoeY60HRxWtj-1QV_13LJ_J9N9fZ60IHMRviTaQSCQpvCSuIy5RAst1WKA3l6YDl6prBfm0ERDRaEDCs7i6d1PoO1lRFyQZbMVpPtIVIJ7QKDjH-qF0eb6V5eqvX_prGIp3S_jE2/s1102/682BDFEA-2D5A-45AC-AF5E-E2FFDA7FC88B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEgSQZ0nPFwq9OpKACXWRnQK0oeyU5fFf0nQCcv-onnnojoj8uzi0FoeY60HRxWtj-1QV_13LJ_J9N9fZ60IHMRviTaQSCQpvCSuIy5RAst1WKA3l6YDl6prBfm0ERDRaEDCs7i6d1PoO1lRFyQZbMVpPtIVIJ7QKDjH-qF0eb6V5eqvX_prGIp3S_jE2/w480-h640/682BDFEA-2D5A-45AC-AF5E-E2FFDA7FC88B.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jeremy and Broni flew overseas to pay Emme a visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently a good time was had by all!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now it's our turn to check up on her!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi65OAc5urMd2x54zsAwSfGZPVxOskroWtMZSk-IJXn_Kr-fRga_OTBzolJyXIHNc-2kEb3Jj2RzOjFZYaLHBAC7pD7wjLW9MAH84SBjGZdQZsmnmjs-eLSBhG55LFyqf4USiFtp4jh-52U4F9gsQrD2gUKPFFq5DUhQuyHlTm1y7z-w_8LMGe99ivanGEc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi65OAc5urMd2x54zsAwSfGZPVxOskroWtMZSk-IJXn_Kr-fRga_OTBzolJyXIHNc-2kEb3Jj2RzOjFZYaLHBAC7pD7wjLW9MAH84SBjGZdQZsmnmjs-eLSBhG55LFyqf4USiFtp4jh-52U4F9gsQrD2gUKPFFq5DUhQuyHlTm1y7z-w_8LMGe99ivanGEc=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-38847864627689757772023-08-07T18:54:00.001-07:002023-08-07T18:54:29.523-07:00July Finale ~ A Road Trip <div style="text-align: center;">They say it is not about the destination...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is about the journey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I say it is about both!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our destination was a family reunion in Manitoba,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the journey there was mostly on roads we had never travelled before.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiuuf1CB4Twp8t9W7_49savGpvnD1D7lflCZ81ytJBnxAwJWYqCrT1MeWJBhnQtIhoajDYECqLT3sr-bSydEZrnLohbT0WNc65iYJlvNI80oRT3e2pvM-hkUDwY3nyr4bZcPRaPn7bVo4EzzG9upKphuXKa_6GEHlLYRlSAcSb-TExYGjUxY37iTl0ugm/s3362/IMG_E4731-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="3362" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiuuf1CB4Twp8t9W7_49savGpvnD1D7lflCZ81ytJBnxAwJWYqCrT1MeWJBhnQtIhoajDYECqLT3sr-bSydEZrnLohbT0WNc65iYJlvNI80oRT3e2pvM-hkUDwY3nyr4bZcPRaPn7bVo4EzzG9upKphuXKa_6GEHlLYRlSAcSb-TExYGjUxY37iTl0ugm/w640-h432/IMG_E4731-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to drive east through the USA on Highway 2...</div><div style="text-align: center;">sometimes called 'the great northern road'.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is stretches for over 4000 kms from coast to coast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were told it was a very boring drive through Montana and North Dakota.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We never found that! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We also had the best campsites along the way.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTP0SfoGbqypLhfjfZJHOip3SC0hOzDhLDKs4OfUqjXkqsGpW4pZslYBquL3UC3xAgc4QCe1TjrlC3cSFvEnaxiHMqP1QDSVfU-9xr4q5TR54Als93BwGAbzvJocnxd_1voJaL1OkOC5O5WzhoeUlWEqkqMbGEUK_WVSBJpPEd3_bLm-4aEZHMFZHBiJf/s2579/IMG_E4654.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="2579" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTP0SfoGbqypLhfjfZJHOip3SC0hOzDhLDKs4OfUqjXkqsGpW4pZslYBquL3UC3xAgc4QCe1TjrlC3cSFvEnaxiHMqP1QDSVfU-9xr4q5TR54Als93BwGAbzvJocnxd_1voJaL1OkOC5O5WzhoeUlWEqkqMbGEUK_WVSBJpPEd3_bLm-4aEZHMFZHBiJf/w640-h564/IMG_E4654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We spent the first night in Colville, eastern WA with our good friends Ellen and Greg.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a lovely 'RV park'...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and cooked up a feast for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1drv8JJUdUNZuqGqvh9mXqpHvm0icj5kZuSFEhHdqFtyI2jdvieK7N-iThkQmB7HG1m7XtAsJsFTBY3rKmV4ZoBvKTU71G1IiB8y5x9QGtyzFG97H6MvsCxtqNBmsooMACQ3It-aPEohp1of26K8__OAkwLhnJ0h9blsQZTprUk_RKOop0eTHemiWIiE/s4032/IMG_4648.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1drv8JJUdUNZuqGqvh9mXqpHvm0icj5kZuSFEhHdqFtyI2jdvieK7N-iThkQmB7HG1m7XtAsJsFTBY3rKmV4ZoBvKTU71G1IiB8y5x9QGtyzFG97H6MvsCxtqNBmsooMACQ3It-aPEohp1of26K8__OAkwLhnJ0h9blsQZTprUk_RKOop0eTHemiWIiE/w640-h480/IMG_4648.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a fantastic steak dinner...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with huckleberry crepes for dessert.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was the first time I had huckleberries. So tasty!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSDBiUM_sIG2Than2guzutbIEXBZ2Bklv8XboLHvXglur_fyMgNIB3Wp2wRkPr4kGX40cUlOrB8dLFeC4Uz_QJr9R3Fxhu2XG3_UzfRs5Yo8X-dgz-IBkYY8B39NrniB8jqlNYTN6n26X9pmtOYzrUNRcKs27epEm6Qcp9PKu824ei7bn3xIzVUH9ms2Y/s2640/IMG_E4655.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="2640" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSDBiUM_sIG2Than2guzutbIEXBZ2Bklv8XboLHvXglur_fyMgNIB3Wp2wRkPr4kGX40cUlOrB8dLFeC4Uz_QJr9R3Fxhu2XG3_UzfRs5Yo8X-dgz-IBkYY8B39NrniB8jqlNYTN6n26X9pmtOYzrUNRcKs27epEm6Qcp9PKu824ei7bn3xIzVUH9ms2Y/w640-h552/IMG_E4655.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had coffee together in the morning and then rolled on down the road.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until next time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV6sHBf6DNpVoQm7TTXySZFo3NNb66CSpM5qxVw9fXT7Q70SjbnX92OoE32ztHaKgHlN35xWL3wruEFH5BtPO-LJjgqKjYhftPCqRk4hI1BlWm2qUSskE67uqnhFhB-fHEW2H5H6btztInV5Z5SJ5JQp-sYqvCCjzu2UiSz7E1nhNgru54StEeOGgRrQy/s4032/IMG_4677.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLV6sHBf6DNpVoQm7TTXySZFo3NNb66CSpM5qxVw9fXT7Q70SjbnX92OoE32ztHaKgHlN35xWL3wruEFH5BtPO-LJjgqKjYhftPCqRk4hI1BlWm2qUSskE67uqnhFhB-fHEW2H5H6btztInV5Z5SJ5JQp-sYqvCCjzu2UiSz7E1nhNgru54StEeOGgRrQy/w640-h480/IMG_4677.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were soon in Idaho...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and spent the next night with my cousin Janice and her husband Joe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's always nice to catch up!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4yqQN6zWgRdnPtjLzPiP-r3e2ypef8AV-DOXg9y5h2iRQino4yLd92mXoGirWw2-k0KZufuFrZJd2wcdtXWkwRyVIQ2Gz2gihsaOX3hZLvsLaD_Asasj3_Gq7N6WidvlTAzlPOtzPgdu_Z-pJfOOftdrsdYMEvCPJxE9jKcNe98WYjZdz8rBpXFT-AAe/s4032/IMG_E4686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4yqQN6zWgRdnPtjLzPiP-r3e2ypef8AV-DOXg9y5h2iRQino4yLd92mXoGirWw2-k0KZufuFrZJd2wcdtXWkwRyVIQ2Gz2gihsaOX3hZLvsLaD_Asasj3_Gq7N6WidvlTAzlPOtzPgdu_Z-pJfOOftdrsdYMEvCPJxE9jKcNe98WYjZdz8rBpXFT-AAe/w640-h480/IMG_E4686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not far away is Sandpoint, Idaho.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our next stop.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked along the white sand beach in the city park...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCs4AAuoKx7ReopQdwNYv7rHfYzMZL5jbLHQs8mV4i18C6qqL8BXrnY4REWyI3_U_7wiMuLCJyvzc2o1kTBPTbjWHw5xNOIMQ84MQXfCAq6hQCqXO2MQlXjwkL1We0AA361Bjg9lxe72sewUMQ1AOkXEeYv0NzexrVsVDwUuHGmfx96IIViCmGXbM8tam/s3568/IMG_E4690.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCs4AAuoKx7ReopQdwNYv7rHfYzMZL5jbLHQs8mV4i18C6qqL8BXrnY4REWyI3_U_7wiMuLCJyvzc2o1kTBPTbjWHw5xNOIMQ84MQXfCAq6hQCqXO2MQlXjwkL1We0AA361Bjg9lxe72sewUMQ1AOkXEeYv0NzexrVsVDwUuHGmfx96IIViCmGXbM8tam/w542-h640/IMG_E4690.JPG" width="542" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and watched a fisherman fishing from the end of the pier.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24BnUNULRz13ntYCacRFKimM5LQHSWmD1OgnKXhaVBJeQYXtaF01toQhfxlOgbVplnAgckEzq3HTf9nPzud_d29yyeqeTkX4i5LmuqgGj1-AzgVnszWYipmhZMLm14RgN8-H9S1FME8C0Puv7Twl633WhWbPWN6RLqCU-LDMS0ikkrco9N3d73KG7VeGL/s3508/IMG_E4688.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2665" data-original-width="3508" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24BnUNULRz13ntYCacRFKimM5LQHSWmD1OgnKXhaVBJeQYXtaF01toQhfxlOgbVplnAgckEzq3HTf9nPzud_d29yyeqeTkX4i5LmuqgGj1-AzgVnszWYipmhZMLm14RgN8-H9S1FME8C0Puv7Twl633WhWbPWN6RLqCU-LDMS0ikkrco9N3d73KG7VeGL/w640-h486/IMG_E4688.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knew there was a second Statue of Liberty in Idaho?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked through their very busy famer's market...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then carried on down the road.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIeyJJg4ZrsSNOF6by6cOyexoyLEGhABjf0X8DtGHWFNNu20ArUNtOVhiH4s0w3lCuPPIetaTOIOqvKyVVuVUgp2-YbDTzsQc6sz0Xr7P7vbRpRNhP9e9j6H6Om09Y7-pWYP1GAfanLdi8GhQ6G5lxBXYtM_NFVoLNlcLHUuqZIjHRodtrVpzWbjkZ1ba/s3985/IMG_E4713.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3985" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIeyJJg4ZrsSNOF6by6cOyexoyLEGhABjf0X8DtGHWFNNu20ArUNtOVhiH4s0w3lCuPPIetaTOIOqvKyVVuVUgp2-YbDTzsQc6sz0Xr7P7vbRpRNhP9e9j6H6Om09Y7-pWYP1GAfanLdi8GhQ6G5lxBXYtM_NFVoLNlcLHUuqZIjHRodtrVpzWbjkZ1ba/w640-h480/IMG_E4713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our next stop was at Kootenai Falls...</div><div style="text-align: center;">near Libby, Montana.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We hiked to the falls...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the largest undammed waterfall in the state.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAiF3Dt82dF-ptahgXYcgGKrzu8_QVlcBwXs9TV4slCkZnOw2r0mqFZFFlcYxyB2aD22F2ayHZN0Tcz1K708-BQOaZbEp-O34gunQy0z4yjpbKi0nbIy3ELyPpDPYM8_GtVjwf18x4L_GoCPLCVH2rDpIooXSlZohvM1CVexxjprNz2kdU73xGVU8SarM/s4032/IMG_4714.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAiF3Dt82dF-ptahgXYcgGKrzu8_QVlcBwXs9TV4slCkZnOw2r0mqFZFFlcYxyB2aD22F2ayHZN0Tcz1K708-BQOaZbEp-O34gunQy0z4yjpbKi0nbIy3ELyPpDPYM8_GtVjwf18x4L_GoCPLCVH2rDpIooXSlZohvM1CVexxjprNz2kdU73xGVU8SarM/w640-h480/IMG_4714.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>The Kootenai River river is a beautiful wild mountain river...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJhcSvuH5uUKubqGaYeA0IcitGNqm3CoDNCN02kGBhzQoJahlBpvY1VYkb3Fb-wKyZe663uiE0yjEmmxtkbCpQWhcdiChLuSWO_xQTOwUReKOQzal9AmtZBIP856XO6fBij7Dla3Yno_K1p6mUrX4LRj7g1fRxd3FYKnWNgtQHZkLRYg5Amm9LWnRCbJO/s4032/IMG_4707.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJhcSvuH5uUKubqGaYeA0IcitGNqm3CoDNCN02kGBhzQoJahlBpvY1VYkb3Fb-wKyZe663uiE0yjEmmxtkbCpQWhcdiChLuSWO_xQTOwUReKOQzal9AmtZBIP856XO6fBij7Dla3Yno_K1p6mUrX4LRj7g1fRxd3FYKnWNgtQHZkLRYg5Amm9LWnRCbJO/w480-h640/IMG_4707.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>...which we crossed on the swinging bridge.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>We camped near Glacier National Park that night...</div><div>with intentions of taking the shuttle into the park the following day.</div><div><br /></div><div>After driving an hour up the windy road to catch the shuttle...</div><div>we had a change of heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spending a day in a cramped shuttle on winding roads in a sweltering heat wave...</div><div> no longer seemed that appealing!</div><div><br /></div><div>We carried on east through Montana...</div><div>and on into North Dakota.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGzVxLNh6jAyFLwvWJj4xw9hXhaSCSaRisQEdYA8Zk8jWGKbaF470fvcEN_OGAXNi3oOLjaxpBeW4fMYbJkJxPAZLN1oBkgRqk9N-1RuvmzwwugYy5ug9dPk-GuvR7u47jP3lpjvUjnmVct9JydyoGDi1jOiEzeTug2avBcdBrS8CnOdvm3n9GNEeNe9N/s2767/IMG_E4754.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="2673" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGzVxLNh6jAyFLwvWJj4xw9hXhaSCSaRisQEdYA8Zk8jWGKbaF470fvcEN_OGAXNi3oOLjaxpBeW4fMYbJkJxPAZLN1oBkgRqk9N-1RuvmzwwugYy5ug9dPk-GuvR7u47jP3lpjvUjnmVct9JydyoGDi1jOiEzeTug2avBcdBrS8CnOdvm3n9GNEeNe9N/w618-h640/IMG_E4754.JPG" width="618" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped in Rugby...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the geographical centre of North America.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPAjHkTP18X-tcqathdRS53TzpfssZMnwFil701QVTaZLZN9Si42NNG8KG_03g_leN1WMVQYuSK5LDdVHxeocpivEs4Yy8n6h8D3NmStU6XWx9ws1doSxG5aqVq9zznV52wbKH0fso4BeZPj-3BWogy8_lGxnKfFxuDmqhEui665TRP9hzXOnXX3KkmzZ/s3627/IMG_4834-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2726" data-original-width="3627" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPAjHkTP18X-tcqathdRS53TzpfssZMnwFil701QVTaZLZN9Si42NNG8KG_03g_leN1WMVQYuSK5LDdVHxeocpivEs4Yy8n6h8D3NmStU6XWx9ws1doSxG5aqVq9zznV52wbKH0fso4BeZPj-3BWogy8_lGxnKfFxuDmqhEui665TRP9hzXOnXX3KkmzZ/w640-h482/IMG_4834-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My brother and his family from Iowa were camped at the state park on Devil's Lake.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We decided to join them there for a few days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a beautiful lake...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a long causeway leading to the campground on Graham Island. </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28trCqJPP1oS1_p40adDzVdH0VR6N9Qi7PcZGUEKa7jo5gVjadVL1wwyRz3PbkZf2EcCH6RBZvWJ_YW29SSVVfIhfzxY-uyNA-CEjwmdhnxe_J1og81yKD8mZgV1MhWcvPiH-Le-tBLt1Hhwnv1E7COhitolJ0wRvJDeoj_sKNjyv_C-TKwd019rqHwEz/s3314/IMG_4802-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2486" data-original-width="3314" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28trCqJPP1oS1_p40adDzVdH0VR6N9Qi7PcZGUEKa7jo5gVjadVL1wwyRz3PbkZf2EcCH6RBZvWJ_YW29SSVVfIhfzxY-uyNA-CEjwmdhnxe_J1og81yKD8mZgV1MhWcvPiH-Le-tBLt1Hhwnv1E7COhitolJ0wRvJDeoj_sKNjyv_C-TKwd019rqHwEz/w640-h480/IMG_4802-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was great to spend a few days with all my American nieces and nephews and their kiddos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA41p55ZJvWl_OGX9BoxKU8XW8lRUZKH3Ihyw34HslsuV7as68K5P7XdVHAQ52eZTzBrkiCliN4RVLQ8xJM6MafNR0P_NnWqCKurSZiX7oADAKhI3aQitqfsWruAWPhaAQ2vx03qVf5mg3GJMHzFcBglxGEG6oBUekqQuV9Augt5GM3FKr5K3t2L0C4SR/s3490/IMG_E4848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2507" data-original-width="3490" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxA41p55ZJvWl_OGX9BoxKU8XW8lRUZKH3Ihyw34HslsuV7as68K5P7XdVHAQ52eZTzBrkiCliN4RVLQ8xJM6MafNR0P_NnWqCKurSZiX7oADAKhI3aQitqfsWruAWPhaAQ2vx03qVf5mg3GJMHzFcBglxGEG6oBUekqQuV9Augt5GM3FKr5K3t2L0C4SR/w640-h460/IMG_E4848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From there we all drove north to Manitoba.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We crossed at a remote border crossing in Gretna.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The officer wanted to know why we were at this particular crossing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We said we were just following GPS. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He seemed to think GPS had made a mistake.</div><div style="text-align: center;">No worries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9SKszSiAGCgguslW4urF-Y7d4XI2F6X9jIpMt-bZep9JAh0PVLOLx92JNlblPh8hobWMyyM6wA69PEeRTyLMFoN4aBMuNqbg_dcTwtRKaeu4TeVY6BkakzAVcNUd_n-NM5bz0RprMBlEw5XKvHVHOZCSHuK54V12GI7gOmy8Gw-nc_w0ywV1YDVJaSa1/s2355/IMG_E4856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1957" data-original-width="2355" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9SKszSiAGCgguslW4urF-Y7d4XI2F6X9jIpMt-bZep9JAh0PVLOLx92JNlblPh8hobWMyyM6wA69PEeRTyLMFoN4aBMuNqbg_dcTwtRKaeu4TeVY6BkakzAVcNUd_n-NM5bz0RprMBlEw5XKvHVHOZCSHuK54V12GI7gOmy8Gw-nc_w0ywV1YDVJaSa1/w640-h532/IMG_E4856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Right or wrong...</div><div style="text-align: center;">GPS took us through some lovely farmlands!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzDmFXDob9JCkbvBJFzG52o2L2-9TsveTOico0elzHuoUvEa5Xb4ojpi72Gqy7kZJRwLKmMa2YS3BeFdOm8P47WvbzvkAYWjCnoRodpo31CYdO4wVQA8ZHKfVi-_A6jawHDcmyrqrMYb91oYKCgJVvnNazRv15cDXDuzdRH3WftoqEfAk2XpihSpuz6BQ/s2913/IMG_E4857.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2913" data-original-width="2871" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzDmFXDob9JCkbvBJFzG52o2L2-9TsveTOico0elzHuoUvEa5Xb4ojpi72Gqy7kZJRwLKmMa2YS3BeFdOm8P47WvbzvkAYWjCnoRodpo31CYdO4wVQA8ZHKfVi-_A6jawHDcmyrqrMYb91oYKCgJVvnNazRv15cDXDuzdRH3WftoqEfAk2XpihSpuz6BQ/w630-h640/IMG_E4857.JPG" width="630" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had to stop and 'smell the flowers'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We got to Steinbach where we met up with friends for dinner.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then...</div><div>on to Killarney for a weekend get-together with all my siblings, nieces and nephews and their families.</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-Z18akNzE9NJZEdumd4-BJ43MDU6tJHM498-15_uY5tKuU6f9BBfzOLR-207BXCMZNc-krEk1oKSaXfODGakAiRx3p1K4p1xr3BwzI1cN0tqF2YAaUMnfMhIthhofgmWyIvKQKPD-YD2-8wowbCAE3xnkVE9HTUxYtx94pZtXPT6k_pIFq3htj3c9JN0/s3760/IMG_E4870.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3019" data-original-width="3760" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-Z18akNzE9NJZEdumd4-BJ43MDU6tJHM498-15_uY5tKuU6f9BBfzOLR-207BXCMZNc-krEk1oKSaXfODGakAiRx3p1K4p1xr3BwzI1cN0tqF2YAaUMnfMhIthhofgmWyIvKQKPD-YD2-8wowbCAE3xnkVE9HTUxYtx94pZtXPT6k_pIFq3htj3c9JN0/w640-h514/IMG_E4870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jim and Kathy (my sister and her husband) hosted all sixty of us...</div><div style="text-align: center;">together with my niece Gillian and her husband Chad who live nearby.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a lot of fun and games for all ages...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY1dvg8M7VO8_s0EzigEHx178jNaMFvSV9_ID1ddPWogdvz7zZdPWvMCDBja3iO6StIqXuQZcfVU1gzH4DF8qCEdz6e8wp75dsLyQyFPDkNkkrm5oTeL6BN1A0qqO5K5HWJWRONKjg8zE08ep2tjWasWZUZbrqKC0zEunUG7nMHtjN0wRtT-t_Fw7Utb2/s3316/IMG_E4896.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3316" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY1dvg8M7VO8_s0EzigEHx178jNaMFvSV9_ID1ddPWogdvz7zZdPWvMCDBja3iO6StIqXuQZcfVU1gzH4DF8qCEdz6e8wp75dsLyQyFPDkNkkrm5oTeL6BN1A0qqO5K5HWJWRONKjg8zE08ep2tjWasWZUZbrqKC0zEunUG7nMHtjN0wRtT-t_Fw7Utb2/w640-h500/IMG_E4896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...from checking out the goats, the donkey and the cattle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyt5lIp8vv13Y5BVjpj1ZNIidN6MihaBY40A9eROvbjKJweZGsoXMRbzkhRAfOboGaYY18kNDLLc1nWjVxLI5NK2U3vbh60q9NPDa3vapYk4f-0vo0a0cfEt0I0V9RuPisCeW2uCXgRR_4uNJH5YY7rbxrAufwl6yhkehe3_EE9WhSbHu28zQaI37ZvNZo/s3742/IMG_E4906.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2974" data-original-width="3742" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyt5lIp8vv13Y5BVjpj1ZNIidN6MihaBY40A9eROvbjKJweZGsoXMRbzkhRAfOboGaYY18kNDLLc1nWjVxLI5NK2U3vbh60q9NPDa3vapYk4f-0vo0a0cfEt0I0V9RuPisCeW2uCXgRR_4uNJH5YY7rbxrAufwl6yhkehe3_EE9WhSbHu28zQaI37ZvNZo/w640-h508/IMG_E4906.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...to hours spent playing ball.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwbaGjRLgW7XN-WnFV84lWQd9-cutiMFTNqDIB_G6viK9MoS5igFqCDmQUcfgKeIdI6tyt2e2zj1yJs1TQ-4At3kEJ1GWjcvGHHlIeIm6covdrcRzwmGlDeC8WLZqs3vFAWv-ieIKsJPN_fzlTUvxzEoBTxTYT6VOetkCJxwsEAqyfPq7Cynv3UQ1pPdf/s3646/IMG_E4918.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2884" data-original-width="3646" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwbaGjRLgW7XN-WnFV84lWQd9-cutiMFTNqDIB_G6viK9MoS5igFqCDmQUcfgKeIdI6tyt2e2zj1yJs1TQ-4At3kEJ1GWjcvGHHlIeIm6covdrcRzwmGlDeC8WLZqs3vFAWv-ieIKsJPN_fzlTUvxzEoBTxTYT6VOetkCJxwsEAqyfPq7Cynv3UQ1pPdf/w640-h506/IMG_E4918.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever your skill level...</div><div>you were included.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik73-78uVSnjASZ22y5IPY6rOKx8aRhFfpdpkLRw5wWRwbqSnez7FW2VdMguLxnjCFGQDnl5C8okTFOtFE6OCJagH17o_7QwIHd8ILCJwmi3XbZexV22izxXVWSDq7BaKwdqujFAcGjC4D2w7aQukpsZHEiTQ28NcPoJpFSwH05VGVjc92-2GnmNdUvCuK/s4032/IMG_4989.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik73-78uVSnjASZ22y5IPY6rOKx8aRhFfpdpkLRw5wWRwbqSnez7FW2VdMguLxnjCFGQDnl5C8okTFOtFE6OCJagH17o_7QwIHd8ILCJwmi3XbZexV22izxXVWSDq7BaKwdqujFAcGjC4D2w7aQukpsZHEiTQ28NcPoJpFSwH05VGVjc92-2GnmNdUvCuK/w640-h480/IMG_4989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the end...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the two teams that went head-to-head all left the ball field happy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2iantiXrwvyuJkEDjgxncsUxvzdJniLDxEOD0zDkIhH7cK-4PCJKh-SwwrBXkAzc0thzOTuJb7mzBYxX2Af_YBIt30rg05loQF8NRutiez3bdcj6QqMTOFcUoeiWbJpHLXgplmTqZPWx4uOe2o0kaJO8EBd_CZNhR0rWHS65dL_BkqGUE8YxdpEg3H2R/s2776/IMG_E4919.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="2776" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2iantiXrwvyuJkEDjgxncsUxvzdJniLDxEOD0zDkIhH7cK-4PCJKh-SwwrBXkAzc0thzOTuJb7mzBYxX2Af_YBIt30rg05loQF8NRutiez3bdcj6QqMTOFcUoeiWbJpHLXgplmTqZPWx4uOe2o0kaJO8EBd_CZNhR0rWHS65dL_BkqGUE8YxdpEg3H2R/w640-h546/IMG_E4919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few ATV's shuttled everyone around...</div><div style="text-align: center;">between farms or to the far fields to see the cattle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bUHEBz3P6zX6x-LxZ2DKyUVTmO0v-WicnoL5xhFRBkj4YWjvNJ__EA8Kb2PAeGvGR7Qv1dyziwhexz7sk5fprYCoWg8qzMYWb-FMjBh6c3SeuAGqBGYCiXGRZxhPyW0up-9p4z-XXpELLs2CLuYEmWGEDWE6e_d3qSRie4Auz9ZGLaIO2cNUeM9BtWRF/s3444/IMG_E4940.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="3444" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bUHEBz3P6zX6x-LxZ2DKyUVTmO0v-WicnoL5xhFRBkj4YWjvNJ__EA8Kb2PAeGvGR7Qv1dyziwhexz7sk5fprYCoWg8qzMYWb-FMjBh6c3SeuAGqBGYCiXGRZxhPyW0up-9p4z-XXpELLs2CLuYEmWGEDWE6e_d3qSRie4Auz9ZGLaIO2cNUeM9BtWRF/w640-h542/IMG_E4940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We played games with fantastic prizes.</div><div>There is quite an incentive to be a winner when the prize is a handmade quilt by Kathy!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>(pictured ~ Kathy with the four winners of Baerg Bingo)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Though I never won any games...</div><div>I still came home with a coveted prize. </div><div><br /></div><div>Kathy gave me a belated 70th birthday gift...a beautiful quilt.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HKOw4NLuLCu-2AgFnKxMmcjzgffqlailx645TG0pTcoXr4Z7A26b6UNQBH5wIHKYi36c0RxAs9eCioqvem58RnQDl0Cowc8lg1F-qXkFCPvk5oi2Er9wwA5kAcm5Vk-4DYVpvUubWklpW_B0R9RIEn_dYzYN1zrMFYD1F_bFGiynwuL4XNVwZi5sJq0F/s2533/IMG_E4998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="2522" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HKOw4NLuLCu-2AgFnKxMmcjzgffqlailx645TG0pTcoXr4Z7A26b6UNQBH5wIHKYi36c0RxAs9eCioqvem58RnQDl0Cowc8lg1F-qXkFCPvk5oi2Er9wwA5kAcm5Vk-4DYVpvUubWklpW_B0R9RIEn_dYzYN1zrMFYD1F_bFGiynwuL4XNVwZi5sJq0F/w638-h640/IMG_E4998.JPG" width="638" /></a></div><br />On Sunday we had our own church service...</div><div>led by my Thomas and Robyn (my nephew and his wife).</div><div>Their daughter who is ten years old volunteered to give us the message.</div><div>She is a gifted speaker...</div><div>and not shy about sharing her love for Jesus.</div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mJXCnjVCXqg_19ja6GaHUd2HrIpu_CBFlNrd8WDLAPCkxGa05blAAoJDq8LWjgHuFZXP-xYZOeaQLDIHdDDCyNvcCJBWAEwosTjCB3e_BpV8CTrUdD-1S05fa7l49kBJNYWteRVt71-Hdja10avapKAL5AvYgpt9FX8U1UK9kNVTXpoUlAJoDaEyfu2D/s4032/IMG_E4944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mJXCnjVCXqg_19ja6GaHUd2HrIpu_CBFlNrd8WDLAPCkxGa05blAAoJDq8LWjgHuFZXP-xYZOeaQLDIHdDDCyNvcCJBWAEwosTjCB3e_BpV8CTrUdD-1S05fa7l49kBJNYWteRVt71-Hdja10avapKAL5AvYgpt9FX8U1UK9kNVTXpoUlAJoDaEyfu2D/w640-h480/IMG_E4944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We wrapped up the evenings with campfires and glowsticks. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We owe a big thanks to Kathy and Gillian for planning and prepping all the meals for four days.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is no small feat for a crowd our size...</div><div>especially when they are no grocery stores within a half-hour drive. </div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We missed my dad and my sister Bev...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but Dad would be so thrilled to know that the tradition of having a family reunion every three years has carried on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After four wonderful days together</div><div style="text-align: center;">we all parted ways.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKNDPSck1NkAt6MlKEpxIXNpAW70kaW36LC_vWfRLUTz3CXLf5t880TsezbXMGlk9Cn0DV9FOkQcBbgqqIWUwnBfIqTQJlOALQsRyXfpBROOMKHC_-9nL5HQZYVaDDMETIEnhf0X_HvPp96w6ad91et46LsllAUMx4JUC4GKWn9pgWd5rwN9eYqZUhEqY/s3380/IMG_5018-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2534" data-original-width="3380" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKNDPSck1NkAt6MlKEpxIXNpAW70kaW36LC_vWfRLUTz3CXLf5t880TsezbXMGlk9Cn0DV9FOkQcBbgqqIWUwnBfIqTQJlOALQsRyXfpBROOMKHC_-9nL5HQZYVaDDMETIEnhf0X_HvPp96w6ad91et46LsllAUMx4JUC4GKWn9pgWd5rwN9eYqZUhEqY/w640-h480/IMG_5018-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That just happened to be where we camped beside a river that night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb50IRD1iQ_DlPo3sdPyh2KvD_ritZC-wi6AmoUAcISBHajOq1SguKHo6XdxMs5JmEuCQwDH2md12278kdqra7OZiHUcXt72Cnv4WbyShOHoBtZS7gPdOrr7qkUE8GM5Arfa345F2FqOr3KujQSKp57YOFe--hrl3Fr6kqr-FeakdkRgtWwMq7jQjEdeu/s4032/IMG_5037-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb50IRD1iQ_DlPo3sdPyh2KvD_ritZC-wi6AmoUAcISBHajOq1SguKHo6XdxMs5JmEuCQwDH2md12278kdqra7OZiHUcXt72Cnv4WbyShOHoBtZS7gPdOrr7qkUE8GM5Arfa345F2FqOr3KujQSKp57YOFe--hrl3Fr6kqr-FeakdkRgtWwMq7jQjEdeu/w640-h480/IMG_5037-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We spent the next night with friends near Medicine Hat...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbF6ygAxhoMa9x2_2TZsKDW9nxQoyTo0OC-P3wWamLCiqilwOfgUVfEDZ6cZq-yTGT13RzHMrML088im7tBXSP-2rkt1kYTJeVQ1lS3pWtUlqarNHNZnKgyOUBCURJVMtkIVanyAglMBz2yZOPDjIW8UQWIfU3L_GGfUFgJ5WM-Bmid2pxF85CeNi3qL2/s4032/IMG_5057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbF6ygAxhoMa9x2_2TZsKDW9nxQoyTo0OC-P3wWamLCiqilwOfgUVfEDZ6cZq-yTGT13RzHMrML088im7tBXSP-2rkt1kYTJeVQ1lS3pWtUlqarNHNZnKgyOUBCURJVMtkIVanyAglMBz2yZOPDjIW8UQWIfU3L_GGfUFgJ5WM-Bmid2pxF85CeNi3qL2/w640-h480/IMG_5057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and then stopped at Canyon Hot-springs for our final night on the road. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making memories...</div><div style="text-align: center;">one road trip at a time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/2023/07/july-part-1.html">If you missed <i>July ~ Part 1</i> click here.</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnqTg4O3O7Nd4-JJ0bYHNtRCzwzqPUKflmHKhMW45Zug-UtqJAR5fKosHK38oseN0jyJNt6KcYfn3bRftXOLd4VQcalsmOZhcQL09wazigOPSrwqjt97XaV9qBX7aNJdqKOEBxTUHrgNfZxloSmPGBdmGWvYTzqLmwaoSS-6ZJ4Dve-ZuhXDtp-MzbFwGq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnqTg4O3O7Nd4-JJ0bYHNtRCzwzqPUKflmHKhMW45Zug-UtqJAR5fKosHK38oseN0jyJNt6KcYfn3bRftXOLd4VQcalsmOZhcQL09wazigOPSrwqjt97XaV9qBX7aNJdqKOEBxTUHrgNfZxloSmPGBdmGWvYTzqLmwaoSS-6ZJ4Dve-ZuhXDtp-MzbFwGq=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-662283505582885562023-07-31T21:41:00.002-07:002023-08-04T21:34:14.026-07:00July ~ Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">It's summertime...and a hot one at that!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga08WUNaQbLslVHytaHGjldjRfWpEqzqqWzu8GNOkg1qYKp-xZPukGmQA9GTnifeoGOrm4OIMFys0MWZsmZAwssSsnn72n5H5rAtGRy_Bny1BwrzhQWpqBONdtYpLu6bHiSsFxj6dv_FEcV8IENC02ErZHDuXjaW72Rc31MO0MGe4XbR0luOw8KZHeaX9l/s3563/IMG_E4594.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2622" data-original-width="3563" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga08WUNaQbLslVHytaHGjldjRfWpEqzqqWzu8GNOkg1qYKp-xZPukGmQA9GTnifeoGOrm4OIMFys0MWZsmZAwssSsnn72n5H5rAtGRy_Bny1BwrzhQWpqBONdtYpLu6bHiSsFxj6dv_FEcV8IENC02ErZHDuXjaW72Rc31MO0MGe4XbR0luOw8KZHeaX9l/w640-h470/IMG_E4594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plants are always thirsty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the watering seems endless.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoFWn___D5phEISeul_XhIWrdWChlwCbhrDcTEXTVhY5l7Tmgci8KaOhWAvC2PCd9SQyHAXNIbEcNSzu5HmVmCxpVQxMnrVKA1VuKTrWj6FNbwU7w1yXECEag4e_ijKP_1hUJVfcPCO_6RfHnrIbdc-Fzs8kLNpAipUk8MLnFgiv0xxXmSwGBBaEMS-Xa/s2048/NKUB9523.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoFWn___D5phEISeul_XhIWrdWChlwCbhrDcTEXTVhY5l7Tmgci8KaOhWAvC2PCd9SQyHAXNIbEcNSzu5HmVmCxpVQxMnrVKA1VuKTrWj6FNbwU7w1yXECEag4e_ijKP_1hUJVfcPCO_6RfHnrIbdc-Fzs8kLNpAipUk8MLnFgiv0xxXmSwGBBaEMS-Xa/w640-h640/NKUB9523.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On Canada Day we took in the classic car show at Pioneer Park in Hope...</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and then walked the Rotary Trail along the Coquihalla River.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another great trail close to home. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwJZY1ih9TwkB0vmhXGoKZJS2iVl5AedHm-dCRUERODVG0cUkMHZwmaSRp0TZmz7LKJtfZygERzQt6p9hVQJSko1aiEAY-Quskhjgu5KNNXRr2Afii8a3w73y9wbxyN-p4HucZz9fMDSdsJxDLYW22wZM-DKzp0iTQEpSm5bDvPgdP9ZJcazrcZxalG8A/s2547/IMG_E4520-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2547" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwJZY1ih9TwkB0vmhXGoKZJS2iVl5AedHm-dCRUERODVG0cUkMHZwmaSRp0TZmz7LKJtfZygERzQt6p9hVQJSko1aiEAY-Quskhjgu5KNNXRr2Afii8a3w73y9wbxyN-p4HucZz9fMDSdsJxDLYW22wZM-DKzp0iTQEpSm5bDvPgdP9ZJcazrcZxalG8A/w514-h640/IMG_E4520-001.JPG" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Elmer had his 'Class of '68 reunion' earlier this month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sandy Jacques (who was my childhood next-door-neighbour) came all the way from New Zealand to be at the reunion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We spent a day touring the old haunts with her.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a great time remembering 'the good old days' together!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3kRIG19XJxwYv9omKwVQ_8vao5YW5iKxBwSlvP02aFO3bgQXpKPlL3JnZ3ftoistSUnW-4_sJ_bsgHW0t9_x_4TgUmxWRa4Q4_WGzHJfZBUdQwTrGC2pIT3-H4oFMB2LQf6MmQ7tBrJzd72aJOE8ZaqogrX9gRfinVFKOOf2S3--yuemYqAUGMhvhLwZ/s3004/IMG_E4563.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2666" data-original-width="3004" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3kRIG19XJxwYv9omKwVQ_8vao5YW5iKxBwSlvP02aFO3bgQXpKPlL3JnZ3ftoistSUnW-4_sJ_bsgHW0t9_x_4TgUmxWRa4Q4_WGzHJfZBUdQwTrGC2pIT3-H4oFMB2LQf6MmQ7tBrJzd72aJOE8ZaqogrX9gRfinVFKOOf2S3--yuemYqAUGMhvhLwZ/w640-h568/IMG_E4563.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie was competing in a BC Athletics provincial track meet in Nanaimo earlier this month...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we packed up the motorhome and went to island to cheer her on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVVQiXWvy2ujPM-RR5ipZEQIhVXcedWjgH-OdDzZ8yERqYzibTB81364Tqez0Ml9fIZ9HUXoxGJTpkSdUh2g4WBi5lAliGjoEIfP-NB1hwC_Cu5StdHdpeE5p2AYB4Y3TNAGXztgDFaDUdHEXNZIjRzvFjno8CsZZjrnPbpmZAd_5BeQ1jOrGyx81p5rP/s4032/IMG_4585.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVVQiXWvy2ujPM-RR5ipZEQIhVXcedWjgH-OdDzZ8yERqYzibTB81364Tqez0Ml9fIZ9HUXoxGJTpkSdUh2g4WBi5lAliGjoEIfP-NB1hwC_Cu5StdHdpeE5p2AYB4Y3TNAGXztgDFaDUdHEXNZIjRzvFjno8CsZZjrnPbpmZAd_5BeQ1jOrGyx81p5rP/w640-h480/IMG_4585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stayed at a 'hipcamp' RV site for the first time ever. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is rather like Airbnb...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but for camping. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We camped on a private property right near the ocean.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was great!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB58ukopaNHkHVkzRGvlgoG1BfZ6zBrFSNwFKQNxQcLd-c3nUxm_yDwv-f3gIYD6HwXhTEsl0-I-xvAHNTOZFhaZSPLENLobDSamNxr24weGxUbh_urM5_Y4ESyFdGE6t1Xy-5o5_BU3C3qUMZaQhae3LH4Y4gVRTX2ZbHqR1rqpj2kBaXl1AOnw81o3Bc/s4032/IMG_E4548.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB58ukopaNHkHVkzRGvlgoG1BfZ6zBrFSNwFKQNxQcLd-c3nUxm_yDwv-f3gIYD6HwXhTEsl0-I-xvAHNTOZFhaZSPLENLobDSamNxr24weGxUbh_urM5_Y4ESyFdGE6t1Xy-5o5_BU3C3qUMZaQhae3LH4Y4gVRTX2ZbHqR1rqpj2kBaXl1AOnw81o3Bc/w480-h640/IMG_E4548.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We cycled the paved trails of Nanaimo in the mornings...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and spent the afternoons at the track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-FZyvJuPi3XjZwc5_QscqguRL-2-o9tkxRLCg6yLUhN3p7Z_CJWIzdYsIW3VlwNnhoxONEmzV1csjXdlwvBmtqMBIUkGq4F0CvGPB5tnNy2R7VOxBLrnFfg3xQ-FrVXQwZhqHaRsWIcKy5_zgVC9XsEOcDFyNCuybhXgp_Og-rwRCRFjW4akJA4tMRDx/s4032/IMG_4538.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-FZyvJuPi3XjZwc5_QscqguRL-2-o9tkxRLCg6yLUhN3p7Z_CJWIzdYsIW3VlwNnhoxONEmzV1csjXdlwvBmtqMBIUkGq4F0CvGPB5tnNy2R7VOxBLrnFfg3xQ-FrVXQwZhqHaRsWIcKy5_zgVC9XsEOcDFyNCuybhXgp_Og-rwRCRFjW4akJA4tMRDx/w640-h480/IMG_4538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took note!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJWrzNQO1g-IJ2yo1UDOXvUKbVI-Nee4M9TGI-zyKy1s6eSUu7b2796ADn6PjbxBX9xvjfPfWHFE4_wlVpKbVq5kkuFrrqBXBROIGkm5QnHcGEKcuvrlF68zSkicTNVFUOIwoi-A9kct8q08DXtuqr7qsemZ7iE-1N5PA7hPSDaFeuqqC08T9cTE-w6be/s4032/IMG_4579.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJWrzNQO1g-IJ2yo1UDOXvUKbVI-Nee4M9TGI-zyKy1s6eSUu7b2796ADn6PjbxBX9xvjfPfWHFE4_wlVpKbVq5kkuFrrqBXBROIGkm5QnHcGEKcuvrlF68zSkicTNVFUOIwoi-A9kct8q08DXtuqr7qsemZ7iE-1N5PA7hPSDaFeuqqC08T9cTE-w6be/w640-h480/IMG_4579.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One day we met up with good friends at the Crow and Gate...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and had a lovely long lunch on their patio.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis9tWmMpJ5dZGJQdubqVrK38rsJHyzX2z8Y01xEXSuxjgQunquehsbq_k2lbMovCc3rRUAKAq5FlBEUD1PVIznXCh5rMykfNhAuvxbcCmJlKaILOnsAJzGdNEwwYWwtXKnu1Rup47BRJfekZ3uOJTXMeRqy8ftsT-dZbC5fgVJXr4y6IESEuSDmaD0kXK/s4032/IMG_4577.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis9tWmMpJ5dZGJQdubqVrK38rsJHyzX2z8Y01xEXSuxjgQunquehsbq_k2lbMovCc3rRUAKAq5FlBEUD1PVIznXCh5rMykfNhAuvxbcCmJlKaILOnsAJzGdNEwwYWwtXKnu1Rup47BRJfekZ3uOJTXMeRqy8ftsT-dZbC5fgVJXr4y6IESEuSDmaD0kXK/w640-h480/IMG_4577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't meet up often...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but it's always so good to carry on where we left off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We laughed when we realized that we were dressed 'in uniform'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the guys were dressed alike as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmScTogr8uAVHcvg3W0yxHpFIYcLhE786cStjzJok77JwWygEW7tKB2yNLlLGbVXDOF4q3ETfMgrX-GnlSlO1T-xkidNQcgj0nJm-qHIi8dKsBuvChca8-WpKAqipIE0BYGYoXuKRxl0z87JHr9y4kp1TP7MyjmlKI3wJWu01nojoUujCH56jdkMrMNik/s2560/IMG_E4610-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2187" data-original-width="2560" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmScTogr8uAVHcvg3W0yxHpFIYcLhE786cStjzJok77JwWygEW7tKB2yNLlLGbVXDOF4q3ETfMgrX-GnlSlO1T-xkidNQcgj0nJm-qHIi8dKsBuvChca8-WpKAqipIE0BYGYoXuKRxl0z87JHr9y4kp1TP7MyjmlKI3wJWu01nojoUujCH56jdkMrMNik/w640-h546/IMG_E4610-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two weeks ago we enjoyed a bike ride on country roads with long-time friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Carol and I were best friends in high school...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it’s always good to reconnect and carry on where we left off last time. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegVmPzs7uJP3pxahufPd2476SlBO-YxnLHW-PwoDLzA29WyGkCBk8DiYRI1X0Kd7uKWXY0A3zI4umRmXW-kz969pOKKmpQlmmrFPGsADH2HFXGWHFB4YFYV0RGFIKbBokaoFQQBH0AvgAMqXdUfQL8n6zb4ruvV022UZc58lsJAriKZNvshXwW_1GLSMA/s2048/3CFEAF8E-5793-4967-BC7A-F292EB34441F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegVmPzs7uJP3pxahufPd2476SlBO-YxnLHW-PwoDLzA29WyGkCBk8DiYRI1X0Kd7uKWXY0A3zI4umRmXW-kz969pOKKmpQlmmrFPGsADH2HFXGWHFB4YFYV0RGFIKbBokaoFQQBH0AvgAMqXdUfQL8n6zb4ruvV022UZc58lsJAriKZNvshXwW_1GLSMA/w640-h640/3CFEAF8E-5793-4967-BC7A-F292EB34441F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We have been on the road for the last part of the month…</div><div style="text-align: center;">the road to the prairies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I’ll post ‘July - Part 2’ once I am back home again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For those of you who have been following my blog for a long time, you may know of my friend, Vee. We both started blogging at the same time and became friends from the start. I met Vee in person when we were in Maine while on a road trip to the US east coast. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Old Standard TT;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">On Sunday, July 23, 2023, Vee passed away peacefully after a four year battle with cancer. She had a strong faith and trusted God to the end. She will be missed!</span></span></span></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Old Standard TT"; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">One of the last scriptures she posted was: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWhsSYsfj_hsCudBKJEEz8W5BvYWTj5cQG8DfNnw_wI_BvusxKFIExrEluTLFeaBfw_qAU72qvDQIPty-AkK5xx-yQG6tO2AOQOjwDAKzNbaReSnjcdWmK2n1H0kkHT8FSaf4w2FZQckRdXMOF-OwwZUEBkW7NBh48XUuz8oLKWsXcxVm51jN-Ax0eb3e0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWhsSYsfj_hsCudBKJEEz8W5BvYWTj5cQG8DfNnw_wI_BvusxKFIExrEluTLFeaBfw_qAU72qvDQIPty-AkK5xx-yQG6tO2AOQOjwDAKzNbaReSnjcdWmK2n1H0kkHT8FSaf4w2FZQckRdXMOF-OwwZUEBkW7NBh48XUuz8oLKWsXcxVm51jN-Ax0eb3e0=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>With Vee in her garden. August 2013<br /><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPmmazA5MCmegKnDPpowQeFpV0Y4o4jFQSNi1F7_XTVxmVO5dtgnaMUMiqr4xyHrwdxViRa-4zXMFdUG8Cudk4qbiD0DLvfFKXT2T7rWpnQz31cbLjslt-Gjhv7Hq2XgPlBkqJjn4H48HdWOLXdBpxF4PGS5acg2TkVoP9dPUECJI2r3_6D9obsi-niamf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPmmazA5MCmegKnDPpowQeFpV0Y4o4jFQSNi1F7_XTVxmVO5dtgnaMUMiqr4xyHrwdxViRa-4zXMFdUG8Cudk4qbiD0DLvfFKXT2T7rWpnQz31cbLjslt-Gjhv7Hq2XgPlBkqJjn4H48HdWOLXdBpxF4PGS5acg2TkVoP9dPUECJI2r3_6D9obsi-niamf=s16000" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-63274154990792547752023-06-30T14:47:00.004-07:002023-06-30T19:40:50.729-07:00June ~ Memories and Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's summertime!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmSFRxSZ3mPPiem2Wdq7VUDwyIAWhN5Nu-7VbyWHB9NVpRMy4melXq1Y9qC3Maf1gdE2pR0wOzH1C6LVISUAFPFQfX_ce2fg5pBp6RHYeDUpEP6lZC6LFdkY0X2mi5s7nfUcUkTOy1SAJnECfokS-aHLnSGFP6yByk1b5uPihUFWHR6zfUmAP7FhrObFk/s3587/841448F1-AC95-429B-BD1D-CBC1C79B0C4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="3587" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmSFRxSZ3mPPiem2Wdq7VUDwyIAWhN5Nu-7VbyWHB9NVpRMy4melXq1Y9qC3Maf1gdE2pR0wOzH1C6LVISUAFPFQfX_ce2fg5pBp6RHYeDUpEP6lZC6LFdkY0X2mi5s7nfUcUkTOy1SAJnECfokS-aHLnSGFP6yByk1b5uPihUFWHR6zfUmAP7FhrObFk/w640-h516/841448F1-AC95-429B-BD1D-CBC1C79B0C4E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The lavender fields are in bloom...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and the berries are ripe for the picking!</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3a98BLJ2wT2XrIFW4-0qFVezccSuIKi41rJ4WbxcU57JKNonNYCAUuztBRBpueLGZbL_6TaK7H8u7be8oj1MwMi5TUGF8zc0hO1zgZbrxROMWxITnQzyx2W0GK0AJoAIjuhPwjCXb3aoqTHkvaGTOnFjHY7zfa8Jz87r_h6hx3ESFsja0OFDdPtLvz32/s4032/IMG_E4345-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3a98BLJ2wT2XrIFW4-0qFVezccSuIKi41rJ4WbxcU57JKNonNYCAUuztBRBpueLGZbL_6TaK7H8u7be8oj1MwMi5TUGF8zc0hO1zgZbrxROMWxITnQzyx2W0GK0AJoAIjuhPwjCXb3aoqTHkvaGTOnFjHY7zfa8Jz87r_h6hx3ESFsja0OFDdPtLvz32/w640-h480/IMG_E4345-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We took the motorhome out for a few camping trips close to home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At he beginning of the month,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we camped at Brae Island in Fort Langley.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssniRbeuE-lMagBk2Kng2Q_iTjAXA8fskLqzgUjHDYz-x6j326_bZhAfuUui8mjeOkKwzCZHNRxX9QsK8SPQZouYqAkF7OrLVPrFDnCo_dtqmUzm94xpSPIYzvYhjiDRV4GpuoFf19G71rw-fwFcPenmOvxI1Ne4l3eqH_Au2qMdlRkRPblN1T220tUfR/s1360/IMG_E4265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssniRbeuE-lMagBk2Kng2Q_iTjAXA8fskLqzgUjHDYz-x6j326_bZhAfuUui8mjeOkKwzCZHNRxX9QsK8SPQZouYqAkF7OrLVPrFDnCo_dtqmUzm94xpSPIYzvYhjiDRV4GpuoFf19G71rw-fwFcPenmOvxI1Ne4l3eqH_Au2qMdlRkRPblN1T220tUfR/w390-h640/IMG_E4265.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was fun to have good friends camping there as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We went on bike rides...</div><div style="text-align: center;">shared meals...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and played games in the evening.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaT8UcqsHm_5c978wC5m8MSqy7v6ZtOWkC0VEzMxuhxzL0RlN_grnWQ7-FtG-gWHzB_TTZN-LmI8Wyh2oZGrdighrnJf0kMttWvzHSG2xSk9DKEeKMSP2-J_Kw9671xHxs5Qkv_rwE5xaMt_MP50YkTQzLabj9a1fX6dM5J7vG8Cu8RTHJErsbhbphcu7/s3670/IMG_E4279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2799" data-original-width="3670" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaT8UcqsHm_5c978wC5m8MSqy7v6ZtOWkC0VEzMxuhxzL0RlN_grnWQ7-FtG-gWHzB_TTZN-LmI8Wyh2oZGrdighrnJf0kMttWvzHSG2xSk9DKEeKMSP2-J_Kw9671xHxs5Qkv_rwE5xaMt_MP50YkTQzLabj9a1fX6dM5J7vG8Cu8RTHJErsbhbphcu7/w640-h488/IMG_E4279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Camping meals are better shared with friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were camped in Fort Langley so that we could take in the BC High School track meet...</div><div style="text-align: center;"> which was happening at McCleod Stadium in Langley.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie was there representing GW Graham in several events. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFKYCpDtDHETzCOOszegmarkh0wB8rarOJTeYbPNv4eSGel-hbaFImdl0dab2A2eItq4LnUIhtEP0Yz58pXVzHRQP65D1_LwK5Rzc9nhBwvyndBJz-tqtMwUS-RvoCuKaGxBjOxe8qMcfNwsGWEoupOwy-fgXOWNck7NLPAANdWCsGvX3RRhAkP7kRa-1/s4981/DSC_E0410.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3972" data-original-width="4981" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFKYCpDtDHETzCOOszegmarkh0wB8rarOJTeYbPNv4eSGel-hbaFImdl0dab2A2eItq4LnUIhtEP0Yz58pXVzHRQP65D1_LwK5Rzc9nhBwvyndBJz-tqtMwUS-RvoCuKaGxBjOxe8qMcfNwsGWEoupOwy-fgXOWNck7NLPAANdWCsGvX3RRhAkP7kRa-1/w640-h510/DSC_E0410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She crossed the finish line of the 800 meter race with her personal best time...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and realized that she had just qualified for the national track meet in Quebec in August.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5DSEMPmi9LlW8myhvCA0mWTD4rBjRHOeyODevScugjWBZWPDtO9a2oCC6jEXqTKqGtiNC5LFqeH5oIL-0S7W7AQPpeX3lW0JOQYJw8GiWIFxmEcgmh3bnQjXJSzCYN1BY0R8_dB4CXDe5Ky7Gptu-jyPjadYr5geUnEo-FKXg7pHkK8kd5YnNPF-qzGw/s3094/IMG_E4292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2522" data-original-width="3094" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5DSEMPmi9LlW8myhvCA0mWTD4rBjRHOeyODevScugjWBZWPDtO9a2oCC6jEXqTKqGtiNC5LFqeH5oIL-0S7W7AQPpeX3lW0JOQYJw8GiWIFxmEcgmh3bnQjXJSzCYN1BY0R8_dB4CXDe5Ky7Gptu-jyPjadYr5geUnEo-FKXg7pHkK8kd5YnNPF-qzGw/w640-h522/IMG_E4292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, what joy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-iNiPcaPI_3_soP7WddjWgN2AiGdUxTvshIex1BxyfunXtfrlTz4VJmKuBqYkA3yycm51L8y_Xau6LJkOlR8PV4POoDEZVluEpf1mPTtykOzE0KqHByPgAdhJ8ndV6W8Ab5na5lYCcbggAdKndCwTz8Mf67sLRK_zK6y7Cyg-9b74AfNn34LKTMlqYRe/s1440/BEA22FF1-362B-4C4D-8AEF-A6FFFD380117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-iNiPcaPI_3_soP7WddjWgN2AiGdUxTvshIex1BxyfunXtfrlTz4VJmKuBqYkA3yycm51L8y_Xau6LJkOlR8PV4POoDEZVluEpf1mPTtykOzE0KqHByPgAdhJ8ndV6W8Ab5na5lYCcbggAdKndCwTz8Mf67sLRK_zK6y7Cyg-9b74AfNn34LKTMlqYRe/w640-h480/BEA22FF1-362B-4C4D-8AEF-A6FFFD380117.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While we were camping...</div><div style="text-align: center;">this mysterious orange dragon showed up on our front sidewalk.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving it was no small feat...</div><div style="text-align: center;">since it weighed a ton! (almost)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We eventually found out that my brother-in-law Terry had deposited it there...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and eventually he came to retrieve it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we already had several people waiting in the wings to take it off of our hands.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPxw6B_xV8_l9JEZbOat1s-jStxt-Ry-c2mj19eazvJfGmyxx1svv37LpUFULAi4X5HtO5Lx0CsB7vtwKrr9hTfKA7Gdn3IzU6QmJRH-j1IttINhAKzfO8HGztQe9e2LaTVVlWj9Pyb2aDZByYTNwh4XhYFerqSLzs5SKVv5LQaZEjoEoHls_I6ySXDYV/s2285/IMG_E4220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2285" data-original-width="2131" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPxw6B_xV8_l9JEZbOat1s-jStxt-Ry-c2mj19eazvJfGmyxx1svv37LpUFULAi4X5HtO5Lx0CsB7vtwKrr9hTfKA7Gdn3IzU6QmJRH-j1IttINhAKzfO8HGztQe9e2LaTVVlWj9Pyb2aDZByYTNwh4XhYFerqSLzs5SKVv5LQaZEjoEoHls_I6ySXDYV/w596-h640/IMG_E4220.JPG" width="596" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then there was another surprise on 'my front porch'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emme is working in Berlin until fall...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so what was she doing here?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She had a week off work,</div><div style="text-align: center;">found a cheap flight,</div><div style="text-align: center;">...flew home for a week to surprise us all!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Her mom had no idea she was coming...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and neither did Spencer.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't know they could ever keep secrets from each other!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMe7eJ0ali1XcBDAVV3qtVs-odJtVbZ6Kv6KW-0qrBE_t39gw71yj97YFk5uoxYHNK_12LZTq95dnFFjMvmVvKXm2zSDTuM-Rv96GEuTJ4fOL6eRPk9TE9XpsGxQlDgXgyyIkegNOWr2RFR0xrgrTrA90zwVrgvIdIPH2IrHOSuXCMl0SM5GHz1QEgxZF/s2292/IMG_E4244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="2292" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMe7eJ0ali1XcBDAVV3qtVs-odJtVbZ6Kv6KW-0qrBE_t39gw71yj97YFk5uoxYHNK_12LZTq95dnFFjMvmVvKXm2zSDTuM-Rv96GEuTJ4fOL6eRPk9TE9XpsGxQlDgXgyyIkegNOWr2RFR0xrgrTrA90zwVrgvIdIPH2IrHOSuXCMl0SM5GHz1QEgxZF/w640-h532/IMG_E4244.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She made the most of her week at home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfl_MBJ6ls8ybSA9UvYSQOSlX76xAM4bSkI0Zs8-bBb8IBuK7d2uk3NPJefs0PwvBUafIXUgPd1tT38zx_3PhyuJsyRsLGo_gZxvvm_aPBN-YSl4FaZg9dsP68j_1vSo2kzsRNbCtau0iO8pZy1Q6rRix8kv4c8WRuQlJ5IZQybxDgdD0y7L-J46Bs1AO/s547/IMG_E4233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="547" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfl_MBJ6ls8ybSA9UvYSQOSlX76xAM4bSkI0Zs8-bBb8IBuK7d2uk3NPJefs0PwvBUafIXUgPd1tT38zx_3PhyuJsyRsLGo_gZxvvm_aPBN-YSl4FaZg9dsP68j_1vSo2kzsRNbCtau0iO8pZy1Q6rRix8kv4c8WRuQlJ5IZQybxDgdD0y7L-J46Bs1AO/w640-h420/IMG_E4233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ranen had her Irish dance year-end production earlier this month...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then played with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra at two performances that same day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She manages to pack a lot in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMFHutyvqcZK4NCXGJ2jzh6WQH49VW0mHuJ7Fd6EgSerYOcaYo4JtscbADWKbohvBhcI7VKcqDkgjLBkzDMGhKNSiXey5kYLUOLigbvQSw_XZcIic6gE-9V7VrcBNLVgz34M9e5a1FiYwDFYnKAcunVvsSpvveHG5HQWVCEAZ-O-uayJk2QG9FHtLdsiC/s4032/IMG_4405-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMFHutyvqcZK4NCXGJ2jzh6WQH49VW0mHuJ7Fd6EgSerYOcaYo4JtscbADWKbohvBhcI7VKcqDkgjLBkzDMGhKNSiXey5kYLUOLigbvQSw_XZcIic6gE-9V7VrcBNLVgz34M9e5a1FiYwDFYnKAcunVvsSpvveHG5HQWVCEAZ-O-uayJk2QG9FHtLdsiC/w640-h480/IMG_4405-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lucy walked from Chilliwack to Abbotsford (some 30 kms) to raise funds for Himalayan Life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That was a tall order for an 11-year old...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but she did it and raised over $3500.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her mom kept her company.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lrf9QgV_CbqkOCWNVmkQaQtehDBVUkhl6KGIQSFSefvYZvOT4oi2dvBeEH51OFVOgyzq5pZDdMtHc4_ObmbxU8Qoo1JdOGG7Yvq5o2f2j2rFWotb8zwpR2-2gcHlNoyrb2pXzNWDjh-47_Zq3Dcik5_KTyD6qsSepvx8awbHJ8T7oPSJm5_0gN8E2l4c/s3725/IMG_E4366.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="3725" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lrf9QgV_CbqkOCWNVmkQaQtehDBVUkhl6KGIQSFSefvYZvOT4oi2dvBeEH51OFVOgyzq5pZDdMtHc4_ObmbxU8Qoo1JdOGG7Yvq5o2f2j2rFWotb8zwpR2-2gcHlNoyrb2pXzNWDjh-47_Zq3Dcik5_KTyD6qsSepvx8awbHJ8T7oPSJm5_0gN8E2l4c/w640-h480/IMG_E4366.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent a few days in Whistler...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the Riverside RV Park.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4PCXEaP3IIiTHVn7NSUUfG2PEyvsMukJTaG_13jeng34QwOh04SkYlbGvjzUSXoYax-0hgXUeSt6lnWkY-i6VDG3C1yMmvWJow3MJpPJeXusme_uQIExTwIAt81O7ASMExSsEZaQ_afXiQnL9xYLdeglW7QJee4MlRm7_cqj0__5kBK04jamXR8J1goI/s1440/3795CE50-3A84-4543-8AD9-4E1260A14B37.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4PCXEaP3IIiTHVn7NSUUfG2PEyvsMukJTaG_13jeng34QwOh04SkYlbGvjzUSXoYax-0hgXUeSt6lnWkY-i6VDG3C1yMmvWJow3MJpPJeXusme_uQIExTwIAt81O7ASMExSsEZaQ_afXiQnL9xYLdeglW7QJee4MlRm7_cqj0__5kBK04jamXR8J1goI/w640-h482/3795CE50-3A84-4543-8AD9-4E1260A14B37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We cycled the Valley trail...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and spent some time in the village.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50bDREf7oQXBLAxhW6lfqHufIbTwUaD-z-Yi_y5X5sUKjysASVPYxek1GxIO5YRR1v1DHyNN0iB0mC3mdoix1xxlo8ZKWyZmrvzvN0A9xflwtMZFe6xp-kao2akSUYe3bihDSQzFQsKCQeiRmH_4_amC8RhGsnhW5ZujvxOaiDSegAG7aoYynilAEzttD/s5120/Pipeline.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50bDREf7oQXBLAxhW6lfqHufIbTwUaD-z-Yi_y5X5sUKjysASVPYxek1GxIO5YRR1v1DHyNN0iB0mC3mdoix1xxlo8ZKWyZmrvzvN0A9xflwtMZFe6xp-kao2akSUYe3bihDSQzFQsKCQeiRmH_4_amC8RhGsnhW5ZujvxOaiDSegAG7aoYynilAEzttD/w640-h400/Pipeline.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here at home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we have been dealing with the twinning of the pipeline for quite some time now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Traffic delays.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loud noise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And even a lake across the road from the farm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It will all be over in a few months time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we are told.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No small feat!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X3CJWs7j6KB79R1hqGGEY0LSkg__yynxuHtf-ejfYJ0tZNyQBjiEWMAfuC-8tL-5gKdQyLi1DT6xR0M6tfPN_iBB1z1QCBJpTI5ThkcEoCSvkpJxNZo-sS9pOsBp8IBB-t5w6pD5VzeMOPXc6vcquesdLspYq0QxTQ-Ii2sLLGgJDTXu57CEeoUMToPC/s3896/IMG_E4486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="3896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X3CJWs7j6KB79R1hqGGEY0LSkg__yynxuHtf-ejfYJ0tZNyQBjiEWMAfuC-8tL-5gKdQyLi1DT6xR0M6tfPN_iBB1z1QCBJpTI5ThkcEoCSvkpJxNZo-sS9pOsBp8IBB-t5w6pD5VzeMOPXc6vcquesdLspYq0QxTQ-Ii2sLLGgJDTXu57CEeoUMToPC/w640-h480/IMG_E4486.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We cycled to Harrison Lake earlier this week...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where it looked like the geese were ready for the Canada Day parade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The lagoon that was my favorite swimming spot as a teen...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is now home to many Canada geese.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxVOZJmKAukwNEKjnesCrBboW-nYUinV4WXFBiWaXbpbxQFTpurkRZeChHqxojcWQW9xlIPG4EuWbZaMf8SWjZEdo9k_F-ZuK3ncqpQohptN4H5WvIMPeKzgm3P1Tx3kmbLfo1wu8_ZcToecQFQmnttB5GbuBAU7j4tMqpBQjSgKartOQWNDuPhYvSFSy/s3056/IMG_E4322.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2696" data-original-width="3056" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxVOZJmKAukwNEKjnesCrBboW-nYUinV4WXFBiWaXbpbxQFTpurkRZeChHqxojcWQW9xlIPG4EuWbZaMf8SWjZEdo9k_F-ZuK3ncqpQohptN4H5WvIMPeKzgm3P1Tx3kmbLfo1wu8_ZcToecQFQmnttB5GbuBAU7j4tMqpBQjSgKartOQWNDuPhYvSFSy/w640-h564/IMG_E4322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rainbows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope for tomorrow...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and prayers for our country as we celebrate Canada Day tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Canada Day to you all</div><div style="text-align: center;">...or July 4th to my American friends!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikVseHmNfA2iks56mr_ux1lVLL3s50habIFltxxJ8vsKdE4zg0RVktMPqI0jf37_gS-L8_xJxAjWeiL4d0v-90HiAbE65N4KbMkDRaEt9VizT083jaduFu4aItTgGludBFfINYBUpWo0vF4dCNe-1A8syTZnGuc-5DmFfyr_HI3ATiEFjYusWrH2omePIa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikVseHmNfA2iks56mr_ux1lVLL3s50habIFltxxJ8vsKdE4zg0RVktMPqI0jf37_gS-L8_xJxAjWeiL4d0v-90HiAbE65N4KbMkDRaEt9VizT083jaduFu4aItTgGludBFfINYBUpWo0vF4dCNe-1A8syTZnGuc-5DmFfyr_HI3ATiEFjYusWrH2omePIa=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-44543850809909733552023-05-31T14:55:00.003-07:002023-06-03T08:21:08.391-07:00The Merry Month of May<div style="text-align: center;">It's been a lovely month here in the valley.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunny and dry...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and very hot for a spell!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKqrJ79kghu1vbFNSNy2FxV_MNAD_dYvmG0asNmI-Vfeq5JlLJsIhdXoTTORXyBuduf1LUrJKP42vSSXUFg9ESjLYi21S_3ck4M2rbJPnojXwOI28lUw9jjCy33b1bVjNf1hGduoZQbHZKOtmMJ01OCOlgwnCbmRVIVm_bXV8fbJGGf4jtJk6hVAqDw/s1962/IMG_3897.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="1962" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKqrJ79kghu1vbFNSNy2FxV_MNAD_dYvmG0asNmI-Vfeq5JlLJsIhdXoTTORXyBuduf1LUrJKP42vSSXUFg9ESjLYi21S_3ck4M2rbJPnojXwOI28lUw9jjCy33b1bVjNf1hGduoZQbHZKOtmMJ01OCOlgwnCbmRVIVm_bXV8fbJGGf4jtJk6hVAqDw/w640-h524/IMG_3897.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have enjoyed the blooms of spring...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIm7tCl21aiFrxM9YjaHxxTqvXt97mR28B3VEeabaYIIv-0jxru9AuzDopxacx6dfcM1OoIwy3t18LnWg-E5spUu8wLLF4JxkD1v6aLzp05yM_YmiWFubXlMUTjKzG5Mrnw_kpXXY3N08oaMW8P1meaOe3qtO7RBSrZkha80WKFu3OGLrA_FlrmGq8A/s2001/IMG_3892.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1572" data-original-width="2001" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIm7tCl21aiFrxM9YjaHxxTqvXt97mR28B3VEeabaYIIv-0jxru9AuzDopxacx6dfcM1OoIwy3t18LnWg-E5spUu8wLLF4JxkD1v6aLzp05yM_YmiWFubXlMUTjKzG5Mrnw_kpXXY3N08oaMW8P1meaOe3qtO7RBSrZkha80WKFu3OGLrA_FlrmGq8A/w640-h502/IMG_3892.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and the smell of freshly mowed grass.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc88vZpdT8Fz2swRTe6i0MTD6yFLschsPOFg2qdjM_fn5_IuU8Syc52-lxoG8giCNMlynvl9HyKkE4RDs7NgjrYwMzQGnF2MbVMb03SvqvvPx5qYUS1I5ZaNGcXe_vPUk1p0wJYzspWp-dUaf4G3CH9VgZ3PX-Js3L4CcqPFD7jbUyDTHELy5voeNEA/s2048/IMG_3894.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc88vZpdT8Fz2swRTe6i0MTD6yFLschsPOFg2qdjM_fn5_IuU8Syc52-lxoG8giCNMlynvl9HyKkE4RDs7NgjrYwMzQGnF2MbVMb03SvqvvPx5qYUS1I5ZaNGcXe_vPUk1p0wJYzspWp-dUaf4G3CH9VgZ3PX-Js3L4CcqPFD7jbUyDTHELy5voeNEA/w640-h480/IMG_3894.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first crop of grass is in the bunker...</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and the corn fields are planted and thriving at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything is beginning to look thirsty though and we hope for rain soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzCbtmgGd4UsfmQ0oBFtg1ekL-MiP4lRKaEiKwGL5eaOIP3Pn_NxgEbLNT1XXLd8Q4KC9GCpl6ofPKOM247YYJNRiHFfeHOVyGitcddlZr4aUl9PFrxq9eunEQiuTUvfCOoLaJk6lrZQhGGho5_Mp7WDGM8bqLOCrgczgELgN9U6COFqwldUixKCcg/s5120/May%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJzCbtmgGd4UsfmQ0oBFtg1ekL-MiP4lRKaEiKwGL5eaOIP3Pn_NxgEbLNT1XXLd8Q4KC9GCpl6ofPKOM247YYJNRiHFfeHOVyGitcddlZr4aUl9PFrxq9eunEQiuTUvfCOoLaJk6lrZQhGGho5_Mp7WDGM8bqLOCrgczgELgN9U6COFqwldUixKCcg/w640-h480/May%2023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a few birthdays.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What better way to celebrate a milestone birthday with Broni than with a special lunch at <a href="https://www.reviveboutiquebistro.com/">Revive Bistro</a> with 'the girls'? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvYnsFXZmCOjlkr9AoL_63mxjhb0VJ0LKExluUjvPjRoyjMKCVhYQ0E6w-s6Bfuqz-BKOK8IZG39H9y_taTVgRoXIJVWFfIng86Mbn-QYHplGS-HFbiU_bUlqS6vD8zIi_Gv-dbYlrZWT4Re0nDXJt-d22EXlz1avtkkTS31uMum3eOstRp7Ab5ZBg/s1789/Ranen.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="1758" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfvYnsFXZmCOjlkr9AoL_63mxjhb0VJ0LKExluUjvPjRoyjMKCVhYQ0E6w-s6Bfuqz-BKOK8IZG39H9y_taTVgRoXIJVWFfIng86Mbn-QYHplGS-HFbiU_bUlqS6vD8zIi_Gv-dbYlrZWT4Re0nDXJt-d22EXlz1avtkkTS31uMum3eOstRp7Ab5ZBg/w628-h640/Ranen.jpeg" width="628" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took Ranen out for her birthday lunch before her shift at a local farm attraction ...</div><div style="text-align: center;">where she has been helping host school groups.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She manages to fit work into her daytime schedule, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when evenings revolve around violin and Irish dance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She just received the coveted 'N' and is now driving on her own!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where have the years gone? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So thankful for all the good memories we have made together!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNbPwbd-0qQaxwcD2NkB4njvubKhK91V0XWTVU4H1IPDTNtxbaafkJmIOGpfyvYXUqj_4RFahX1DDZFhkXH7WjkXG1ZGqjMfSqN4c4aqv_Rii_DlGdzUjEnUUSrEGggEIN8-8n5Z52QbUyuVfNwB2rFQSsqhwBwfs5IZwHD6YGpAOmtq_bNgdZQxN3w/s811/Lucy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="811" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNbPwbd-0qQaxwcD2NkB4njvubKhK91V0XWTVU4H1IPDTNtxbaafkJmIOGpfyvYXUqj_4RFahX1DDZFhkXH7WjkXG1ZGqjMfSqN4c4aqv_Rii_DlGdzUjEnUUSrEGggEIN8-8n5Z52QbUyuVfNwB2rFQSsqhwBwfs5IZwHD6YGpAOmtq_bNgdZQxN3w/w640-h580/Lucy.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knew that Lucy could jump? </div><div style="text-align: center;">She competed in hurdles and high jump at the district track and did great.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She may be short, but she has spring!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBvyowsfpGGV6kTvkEVeFNl7MvpmpsLMo9UAm1xmZ7P4ZHJLqcoelbDiypN5pSVhWFjvE2GW75taHSW92pGCrr_bPshGHbIXEEsF06RH-PtXKGm1tj-L2ltxRZsux2RFJpxWdfFoyadIYx8DwAKCIcKXauDfd2KEEgMPBhtusqV0AP6qrWleFjrySDA/s2996/IMG_E3040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2285" data-original-width="2996" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBvyowsfpGGV6kTvkEVeFNl7MvpmpsLMo9UAm1xmZ7P4ZHJLqcoelbDiypN5pSVhWFjvE2GW75taHSW92pGCrr_bPshGHbIXEEsF06RH-PtXKGm1tj-L2ltxRZsux2RFJpxWdfFoyadIYx8DwAKCIcKXauDfd2KEEgMPBhtusqV0AP6qrWleFjrySDA/w640-h488/IMG_E3040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have close friends with a special adult son who lives with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chris discovered that we had a 'gangster car' and was wondering if he could have a ride sometime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week Elmer picked him up and took him to DQ for an ice-cream treat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That made his day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6b5nAn11ySGJLLoGtoUNz15tUijF4o4CsW-wj0_h3ukVMYpNX6wnU5LC9HveLkzb3R-htRWPuy5o_AS8tS9gGzMQEiGnt0ZDkwonZA1kUOB1XRS6Pb5SSoPyYputr7M6h24jLrvuZge5Bza7Etf-zMuvNo5jMtPAQ021e6_cj-mRnhYD__ltpFTQmA/s4032/IMG_E4209.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6b5nAn11ySGJLLoGtoUNz15tUijF4o4CsW-wj0_h3ukVMYpNX6wnU5LC9HveLkzb3R-htRWPuy5o_AS8tS9gGzMQEiGnt0ZDkwonZA1kUOB1XRS6Pb5SSoPyYputr7M6h24jLrvuZge5Bza7Etf-zMuvNo5jMtPAQ021e6_cj-mRnhYD__ltpFTQmA/w640-h480/IMG_E4209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After years of planning and many disruptions...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the twinning of the Trans-Mountain pipeline is finally happening in our neighbourhgood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It makes getting around a little tricky at times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The work is happening right across the road from the farm and through property that is leased for cropping.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFIiwIgfzbJ-tMtwuN8sPg2wV5hQ3cLjxDk-D13HUx7js7STlXg6Nu7AAwnGCA68yVIp8soVHQC0H2mYGW0bObqe9VO6bu40gMwLhWYbeWN_n6DIbjSyoJKD5hOyGlCY9Axz0OL_lh_CE1EzgQTp53pDzkmMy4eowv56xISwmew5iUmv9VI9POCUN7w/s5120/Sunshine%20Coast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFIiwIgfzbJ-tMtwuN8sPg2wV5hQ3cLjxDk-D13HUx7js7STlXg6Nu7AAwnGCA68yVIp8soVHQC0H2mYGW0bObqe9VO6bu40gMwLhWYbeWN_n6DIbjSyoJKD5hOyGlCY9Axz0OL_lh_CE1EzgQTp53pDzkmMy4eowv56xISwmew5iUmv9VI9POCUN7w/w640-h480/Sunshine%20Coast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We ended the month with a little get-away on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We stayed in Sechelt overnight...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and took a tour up the Princess Louisa Inlet from Egmont the next day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is really a beautiful place,</div><div style="text-align: center;">accessible only by boat or air.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/2023/05/princess-louisa-inlet-sunshine-coast.html">I shared more details of our Sunshine Coast adventure in the preceding post.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is so much to see 'just around the corner'...</div><div style="text-align: center;">right close to home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><i>'The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.' </i>~ John Muir</h1></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-87531476368009479852023-05-31T13:00:00.001-07:002023-06-03T08:18:04.218-07:00Princess Louisa Inlet ~ Sunshine Coast<div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful British Columbia has so many hidden gems.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is always more to see...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we try to experience something new to us every year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtQA1G3IxDwG5WEFXXViTpDThIJFeNcLX8Zx8lLfAMd7jKgRTGTotQLIxnQJ8MjBE8kH6pxP5w9AS-N24S2q7OxY9h3XFD6MmEtdJHwzRVRjCQxp5AmIpFKXes1lr4VkfAxws9VRi5TiFH1KmvHy2IJN0zmj0fSZGEVvzYM3JHFdGLgojd0S7a9vgvA/s3370/IMG_E4028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2527" data-original-width="3370" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtQA1G3IxDwG5WEFXXViTpDThIJFeNcLX8Zx8lLfAMd7jKgRTGTotQLIxnQJ8MjBE8kH6pxP5w9AS-N24S2q7OxY9h3XFD6MmEtdJHwzRVRjCQxp5AmIpFKXes1lr4VkfAxws9VRi5TiFH1KmvHy2IJN0zmj0fSZGEVvzYM3JHFdGLgojd0S7a9vgvA/w640-h480/IMG_E4028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div>Though we have visited the Sunshine Coast several times over the years...</div><div>we decided to take a tour up the Princess Louis Inlet this time.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since it can only be accessed by boat or plane...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is rather a secret cove!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0-SQSuoD5PChz9BHdk-LYQXDNT7KBeKzLmCXhgd3qyKQ0FX2blpqb2c3rBLhF2GYDPPwCd4Nz_g-wmbWgDodXLIrVSIFg814n3eQc19bY2OpgNyEMJQvX7LQD7CId-57vTtrqXlkJRZ3gd1s43XQ8qIs8AANT-ru-in9e1DMGc-FWLKMROjGXqx93A/s4032/IMG_4008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0-SQSuoD5PChz9BHdk-LYQXDNT7KBeKzLmCXhgd3qyKQ0FX2blpqb2c3rBLhF2GYDPPwCd4Nz_g-wmbWgDodXLIrVSIFg814n3eQc19bY2OpgNyEMJQvX7LQD7CId-57vTtrqXlkJRZ3gd1s43XQ8qIs8AANT-ru-in9e1DMGc-FWLKMROjGXqx93A/w640-h480/IMG_4008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our day began at the marina in Egmont...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a small waterfront village on the Sechelt Peninsula.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-c8CbWZoJv-XNwr7Tx5CJKv3gm9xEF3LrTUmT-jZ9G0V4K5Y5vvJPH94dWyMMDF6o_H-JQJ_kZyLsKZWfZbs99asV9KEqBX_cE-IaxgLydXRtpxqAnfGU8L54jVqauyCp161Oshp2tDKJz3cvy9YhoFlddUWWD9R_VXWkfmSXNYT2AWkBwyBJGLlsg/s4032/IMG_4006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-c8CbWZoJv-XNwr7Tx5CJKv3gm9xEF3LrTUmT-jZ9G0V4K5Y5vvJPH94dWyMMDF6o_H-JQJ_kZyLsKZWfZbs99asV9KEqBX_cE-IaxgLydXRtpxqAnfGU8L54jVqauyCp161Oshp2tDKJz3cvy9YhoFlddUWWD9R_VXWkfmSXNYT2AWkBwyBJGLlsg/w640-h480/IMG_4006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were met at the dock by the 'captain' of our boat...</div><div style="text-align: center;">our tour guide for the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi6SG2dDfcpmDnR7Dqvy1IiQhcutcUALHmRF_T31iCgAAHTD3KJm_IriY2LJ-xyoU9WYt7Ir5utRNsZJpZEgokUsjtDeA6OP0kR5244u5mU8Gpb9K2L_oHm-bJjItsB_RipUbLcPEGzn5e-41A5OTeY9vfdw1R5EBLQaRBE7Ils3tmCElpCCXS4N05g/s4032/IMG_E4031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzi6SG2dDfcpmDnR7Dqvy1IiQhcutcUALHmRF_T31iCgAAHTD3KJm_IriY2LJ-xyoU9WYt7Ir5utRNsZJpZEgokUsjtDeA6OP0kR5244u5mU8Gpb9K2L_oHm-bJjItsB_RipUbLcPEGzn5e-41A5OTeY9vfdw1R5EBLQaRBE7Ils3tmCElpCCXS4N05g/w640-h480/IMG_E4031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We travelled up the remote areas of Jervis Inlet...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vCCQmsofbVdu-BBDhwMdUcKJ_YJI0Ngl6WQBWM5xxBrZopmMpSfjEzeVNdq0eBQtkK4FcQZKPjxF0StoCcM8owUGYM8YKWFbU8Bk7OVlbVm9ppLSrqMTMcgCNAhjYXZoS1F1eco_oQGe8Hg5qH2175V63r3hRzHMANlSYYtKU6MUo5XyHARFzi1qCw/s2790/IMG_E4017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2425" data-original-width="2790" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vCCQmsofbVdu-BBDhwMdUcKJ_YJI0Ngl6WQBWM5xxBrZopmMpSfjEzeVNdq0eBQtkK4FcQZKPjxF0StoCcM8owUGYM8YKWFbU8Bk7OVlbVm9ppLSrqMTMcgCNAhjYXZoS1F1eco_oQGe8Hg5qH2175V63r3hRzHMANlSYYtKU6MUo5XyHARFzi1qCw/w640-h556/IMG_E4017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...stopping at viewpoints along the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7YKN7q3ybrRD26VCxVzZdAnr4Y6CXqUrUS-mKmxyxVtMH_SYndSe3HagW2g9_YKb34zpNeKyu0sDM15ZQdshAEVxTtOQelz05VUFfX3ydIgSgKB9HK68FR9gw9S3UQr9o9VAk943RPDuTq3pcbOkBmUnbZqftyBictcU0SZX8KFp7OysI1_TP37Nng/s3509/IMG_4052-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="3509" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7YKN7q3ybrRD26VCxVzZdAnr4Y6CXqUrUS-mKmxyxVtMH_SYndSe3HagW2g9_YKb34zpNeKyu0sDM15ZQdshAEVxTtOQelz05VUFfX3ydIgSgKB9HK68FR9gw9S3UQr9o9VAk943RPDuTq3pcbOkBmUnbZqftyBictcU0SZX8KFp7OysI1_TP37Nng/w640-h482/IMG_4052-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our tour guide shared a wealth of information with us...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and pointed out wildlife as we passed by.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctFNQPMF-gtHg-ePHO_JcTiz1JcwOFlyijdmaHCshWt81-J5qg5i8SIPembFOE8F4fdBjAVRDU2CStUQFIwbqG5ge6NEm91IR1PgyxOK8EvyeNyRXwhlsqnbffk7ZpOz2xRrXBN1E3zgi8Tef-LtiHISTR4GKtmELABq5O0Ltec9Bm66mlo7BFYlS7g/s4608/IMG_4076-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctFNQPMF-gtHg-ePHO_JcTiz1JcwOFlyijdmaHCshWt81-J5qg5i8SIPembFOE8F4fdBjAVRDU2CStUQFIwbqG5ge6NEm91IR1PgyxOK8EvyeNyRXwhlsqnbffk7ZpOz2xRrXBN1E3zgi8Tef-LtiHISTR4GKtmELABq5O0Ltec9Bm66mlo7BFYlS7g/w640-h480/IMG_4076-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we passed through the Malibu rapids...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we were in the Princess Louis Inlet. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaReujBXujJ34dPciusRBXyLsg5lCyxfcMMheDrXW6tUJlNpc95HW8icPcHYUKUIajoMMTFvVIpt0Eg0mYcKmS1HJKcy2wP83VO-eyI0npMu3x7-j-dFT2qJ6T94zVd3CVea9CrzKi38PPiP8YNTUS6EXI0Z5XOebk7ftM7rwwgsGobRQDpuLz2NeHg/s4032/IMG_E4197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaReujBXujJ34dPciusRBXyLsg5lCyxfcMMheDrXW6tUJlNpc95HW8icPcHYUKUIajoMMTFvVIpt0Eg0mYcKmS1HJKcy2wP83VO-eyI0npMu3x7-j-dFT2qJ6T94zVd3CVea9CrzKi38PPiP8YNTUS6EXI0Z5XOebk7ftM7rwwgsGobRQDpuLz2NeHg/w640-h480/IMG_E4197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Right at the point sits the Malibu Lodge...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and next to it is the Young Life camp.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From Malibu to the marine park at the end of the inlet is 6 kms.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzKauYmzs-IWTFQCPLDOKDamEAj3cVGjJjBNBAxa_XdtnT8iGQ1ZdKKBvodHTeDZUkABLQ1dYVpKU4GdQVZirtEVFELi6JyKVnIODxJuk44cD289LeOHis95rfzfwfh2Xc55N7V-ruwHngyT7uk3wuJhDxl3VyxkCOQx-GlcABPkDgtg9a3gLj6ophg/s4608/IMG_4074-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzKauYmzs-IWTFQCPLDOKDamEAj3cVGjJjBNBAxa_XdtnT8iGQ1ZdKKBvodHTeDZUkABLQ1dYVpKU4GdQVZirtEVFELi6JyKVnIODxJuk44cD289LeOHis95rfzfwfh2Xc55N7V-ruwHngyT7uk3wuJhDxl3VyxkCOQx-GlcABPkDgtg9a3gLj6ophg/w640-h480/IMG_4074-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6666; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sheer granite walls rise from the ocean to plateau areas some 5000 feet above. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPWEJDRJRj2zIDKN5OCZO6e9bZsf-vg3Ubtr_uU4S0iYGO23hcm8eQrRlXi06FX0m8RPRT9fIMEr28c1tSWBRA0jBl8dpcWTesuViGlaepmx0P6e76PV28MiDzV4_BDpOc1bmFjDJZ-sVnHPugD1aiLnxuF0ziPM1hXvnNVsgx_E47CKJ2zOky5rblg/s4608/IMG_4088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPWEJDRJRj2zIDKN5OCZO6e9bZsf-vg3Ubtr_uU4S0iYGO23hcm8eQrRlXi06FX0m8RPRT9fIMEr28c1tSWBRA0jBl8dpcWTesuViGlaepmx0P6e76PV28MiDzV4_BDpOc1bmFjDJZ-sVnHPugD1aiLnxuF0ziPM1hXvnNVsgx_E47CKJ2zOky5rblg/w640-h480/IMG_4088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We chose the perfect time to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the sun melting the snowpack there are some eighty waterfalls cascading down the granite cliffs at this time of year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aS0jJY6zc_S58d72I9IHdPyhXWW4gSpsCrEQidtJWKHgdBWcF0nobp0Qu6CbHocnCErKOxLxoyeKowL-ihPjIndtfxXpnNuJdwKqrnTLGHIUPrqxwbUugsIJG3w_Kg2sBbp7GlvEOpyiZ8vTiQNZcOCSjv4HQHBODh6WlRAApqDXO8CyiWhDCxlpTA/s3896/IMG_4058-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2925" data-original-width="3896" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aS0jJY6zc_S58d72I9IHdPyhXWW4gSpsCrEQidtJWKHgdBWcF0nobp0Qu6CbHocnCErKOxLxoyeKowL-ihPjIndtfxXpnNuJdwKqrnTLGHIUPrqxwbUugsIJG3w_Kg2sBbp7GlvEOpyiZ8vTiQNZcOCSjv4HQHBODh6WlRAApqDXO8CyiWhDCxlpTA/w640-h480/IMG_4058-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we reached the provincial park...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">there were a few boats docked in the bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbVAeNuMyY1FmXJPNZBVtPbVggDTSqKy3ZbDfn0bkCRaVBD_wHkmVVTJQDLDhO0P85Hilc7wmY4JQBgWqCu3T6PaQkPkrerjv8zBF7CS115q84aPQ0iBNGqnbgN6b7O5E6vbq0Kx1kw4vO2pFjlYTEGWWtSY1iN1snYImQYOXAtQ5rCsCdGICNNodQ/s3565/IMG_E4094.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2824" data-original-width="3565" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DbVAeNuMyY1FmXJPNZBVtPbVggDTSqKy3ZbDfn0bkCRaVBD_wHkmVVTJQDLDhO0P85Hilc7wmY4JQBgWqCu3T6PaQkPkrerjv8zBF7CS115q84aPQ0iBNGqnbgN6b7O5E6vbq0Kx1kw4vO2pFjlYTEGWWtSY1iN1snYImQYOXAtQ5rCsCdGICNNodQ/w640-h506/IMG_E4094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We spent about about 1.5 hours there...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB12d6sp5HLrjYfOzWEimHpUwr8o6OWG8BctsvyEWoRy7gxXTcIevHYpE63jW3-E-OXrKp0ZKxrfrlPneKDiPVqkKDs8z4Pk85lHzBHGgI0PFueNzYytblOsXg5JQ7c9GZPdhD2gTkvuArDmnZ-BUr8HI59L1ceCThJhivG1kxmlYk5Rgy5ETqZZeFg/s4032/IMG_4062-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB12d6sp5HLrjYfOzWEimHpUwr8o6OWG8BctsvyEWoRy7gxXTcIevHYpE63jW3-E-OXrKp0ZKxrfrlPneKDiPVqkKDs8z4Pk85lHzBHGgI0PFueNzYytblOsXg5JQ7c9GZPdhD2gTkvuArDmnZ-BUr8HI59L1ceCThJhivG1kxmlYk5Rgy5ETqZZeFg/w640-h480/IMG_4062-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...and enjoyed a picnic lunch next to Chatterbox Falls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dya-Je3z-htJ7nUHjDZPGX1-XkUbiDkFl3Bl6MZxiZ2Yz4fgXPD3qYPMOfddkp0izZ7oxjiC7LbwMKaaxKU_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g5KqorIGYiRUzV_hCkjwBqGC5L57heqIWXzUItj6b3Om1kXmx-sis78mJB_oPg2SJZrfvRg4wvg0Bv_gaOQcvAGml54JcwLPaaDwSyfKHov1QK7Bgupc1s0UegV6G1xTIrC7kWQDWSVwoeiDAiqvQfCzLcmMqjnoxXspSEigldlNmknkGIJ3W77EAQ/s3718/IMG_E4101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="3718" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g5KqorIGYiRUzV_hCkjwBqGC5L57heqIWXzUItj6b3Om1kXmx-sis78mJB_oPg2SJZrfvRg4wvg0Bv_gaOQcvAGml54JcwLPaaDwSyfKHov1QK7Bgupc1s0UegV6G1xTIrC7kWQDWSVwoeiDAiqvQfCzLcmMqjnoxXspSEigldlNmknkGIJ3W77EAQ/w640-h496/IMG_E4101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back at the dock we boarded the <a href="https://www.sunshinecoasttours.ca/princess-louisa-inlet-chatterbox-falls/">Sunshine Coast Tours </a>boat for the return trip...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> along with our travel mates, Dave and Janet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were six others in our tour group as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUPWV9k856Or9FrQTE7ST-hmSK_Tan1nRoZjahBznMTVTEhfBwWuEAd-P4AG6RSYQyU24Id260ERhgl0PqnICt7O7STg1XqHjwl58IcysVD02ElKgAVa26XENc3h_PcJvTlqSeHQx9fwiX7EnGtmdxEsyDnlrBfqIZd-qkISNExe589E_3Lmsvy136Q/s4608/IMG_4083-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUPWV9k856Or9FrQTE7ST-hmSK_Tan1nRoZjahBznMTVTEhfBwWuEAd-P4AG6RSYQyU24Id260ERhgl0PqnICt7O7STg1XqHjwl58IcysVD02ElKgAVa26XENc3h_PcJvTlqSeHQx9fwiX7EnGtmdxEsyDnlrBfqIZd-qkISNExe589E_3Lmsvy136Q/w640-h480/IMG_4083-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The return trip was a quiet and peaceful one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiEQOZVKzwxTHiMsjfOTzpMBotgslsv-GFD9-8sidjC8G6QrYwfXUg_7CK5MUJ3n4HIc29M70t0LIUgahtx0jLnqS4LnDD_QfBftoiL-oSt7aci6VZlsvNL0pw_913CGy6N9jV3rG01L9dWkNnPjLSQinO_0rIjyeKSKiZ_9hOJVWlI8rdhLodykJ7g/s3608/IMG_4064-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2703" data-original-width="3608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiEQOZVKzwxTHiMsjfOTzpMBotgslsv-GFD9-8sidjC8G6QrYwfXUg_7CK5MUJ3n4HIc29M70t0LIUgahtx0jLnqS4LnDD_QfBftoiL-oSt7aci6VZlsvNL0pw_913CGy6N9jV3rG01L9dWkNnPjLSQinO_0rIjyeKSKiZ_9hOJVWlI8rdhLodykJ7g/w640-h480/IMG_4064-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...without commentary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Five hours after we began our adventure...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we were back where we started at the Backeddy Marina in Egmont.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From there we took the winding coastal road back to Sechelt where we spent the night at an Airbnb.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6vFoq_ynBPAw6g9e-RTs70mLUCRxERGCk1xy29mX4DMAerWFasTqb-BrAWhJQ9H-a0ZEAX_-k688bINDVSAs6RHoJ26q4aGyeQ99QW4YDR32QqfdMsDSere1E9E3XQUddZ-8Ya3T7KYp9uc4c3-LYNcvtm7-2wganxvtXqlMJm2Wb3TJCUN65Ykwog/s3831/IMG_E4005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="3831" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6vFoq_ynBPAw6g9e-RTs70mLUCRxERGCk1xy29mX4DMAerWFasTqb-BrAWhJQ9H-a0ZEAX_-k688bINDVSAs6RHoJ26q4aGyeQ99QW4YDR32QqfdMsDSere1E9E3XQUddZ-8Ya3T7KYp9uc4c3-LYNcvtm7-2wganxvtXqlMJm2Wb3TJCUN65Ykwog/w640-h488/IMG_E4005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sechelt has some great places to eat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fish...</div><div style="text-align: center;">of course!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fun time on the Sunshine Coast and a reminder to </div><div style="text-align: center;">'Seas the Day'!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXycmJNVsGOODPNSdpoqOI9FsgxGPfOjZpJnbtaFXI0Hx4TvytdDWoazV7wbuSzACeK_gn6c0S6B8PuaNsiQ1-jUEi2nQADBVbVUuGJ6k8gWFDaJKKKruk8DiWPj7otfTIxxNNIPaTnjjVB3FnT45xqAeVfoPos04XaDoTs-ArEvD9laGx8KbysqGgw/s4032/IMG_3994-002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXycmJNVsGOODPNSdpoqOI9FsgxGPfOjZpJnbtaFXI0Hx4TvytdDWoazV7wbuSzACeK_gn6c0S6B8PuaNsiQ1-jUEi2nQADBVbVUuGJ6k8gWFDaJKKKruk8DiWPj7otfTIxxNNIPaTnjjVB3FnT45xqAeVfoPos04XaDoTs-ArEvD9laGx8KbysqGgw/w640-h480/IMG_3994-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let me just add a little postscript about a relic from the past...</div><div style="text-align: center;">for those of you who remember The Beachcombers show.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we passed though Gibsons, we stopped to take a pic at Molly's Reach.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fictional restaurant in the show that aired on Canadian television for 19 seasons, until 1990. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is now an actual restaurant...</div><div style="text-align: center;">though it is closed for renovations at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIXUjxXXnN9EvAFy7wEiIQdx5D_YbGm69Xy5qhED2wt22hz9l0SH099KihWeZTmjiM7HXZ4kRPQhSTYXQl6k15vT4QHNe0Pb7hub07ukebHjm_fLGvhMoOb4xfg9dpbO1SdNiaoESYKErb2n1mbjb0wjtDc9opiySKKupGKFru0Sw1SgPguVh-Lp_U_A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIXUjxXXnN9EvAFy7wEiIQdx5D_YbGm69Xy5qhED2wt22hz9l0SH099KihWeZTmjiM7HXZ4kRPQhSTYXQl6k15vT4QHNe0Pb7hub07ukebHjm_fLGvhMoOb4xfg9dpbO1SdNiaoESYKErb2n1mbjb0wjtDc9opiySKKupGKFru0Sw1SgPguVh-Lp_U_A=s16000" /></a></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-88588162686073830982023-04-30T19:54:00.000-07:002023-04-30T19:54:06.027-07:00Goodbye April <div style="text-align: center;">And just like that, we are at the end of the month!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an April that seemed to have all four seasons.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It began with snow and ended with a heat wave.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZK8-kylCHNl3X5iCFOBXnxa9c4SSDtUkXrpXdeCMV4Gt_1kE5s8wDTnqfm3TsRfjRQubXsbihIk-wq_TnhjuYpaMAoWS3DwHDOA-dEBQopfrBv-7s5UktjoKRfR80G1vcFg8PR1w5-VKcfGkPGHx8rZP8BXybiCxA9nzRdGYAvKu8_OcwQLkf1b1Qw/s2011/IMG_3835.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2011" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZK8-kylCHNl3X5iCFOBXnxa9c4SSDtUkXrpXdeCMV4Gt_1kE5s8wDTnqfm3TsRfjRQubXsbihIk-wq_TnhjuYpaMAoWS3DwHDOA-dEBQopfrBv-7s5UktjoKRfR80G1vcFg8PR1w5-VKcfGkPGHx8rZP8BXybiCxA9nzRdGYAvKu8_OcwQLkf1b1Qw/w640-h498/IMG_3835.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Is there any month more beautiful than April...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB7syBlbxM3K4Rj71bGjEPmnvJtCYr0cHs4Oxs1Pp1hzTpAXt2MIDhtvET7NAJKHOsOGFvktzr6KrWXXD1bXjf5uBSBtaXjtv5Eo213xbzpbF13oKGp9t8rzaTCuhx5AaWwT9sBQYc6Ghco0_PDxx4FqJFyJra6P9VJejZhY3DQqxMXFsI_VAqh8Kaw/s2054/IMG_3834.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2054" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB7syBlbxM3K4Rj71bGjEPmnvJtCYr0cHs4Oxs1Pp1hzTpAXt2MIDhtvET7NAJKHOsOGFvktzr6KrWXXD1bXjf5uBSBtaXjtv5Eo213xbzpbF13oKGp9t8rzaTCuhx5AaWwT9sBQYc6Ghco0_PDxx4FqJFyJra6P9VJejZhY3DQqxMXFsI_VAqh8Kaw/w640-h478/IMG_3834.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...with all the beautiful blossoms?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlGJWYveVTxd1OTCn-sq6QxkxlYZi57C2gcos3BVFZE2OAut7VFD38xgSlSQwcaICFex_OhBw-CgwfsGe2MYRAOgQsHOAUQHYr1bN2QIPssaTeJitdn1M9zP4MB8nQn6u506F1jmYpGMN08zjn62CbO-AOWElJspu-HdurDtgFRV7klet--LPAqHegQ/s3876/IMG_E3720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2907" data-original-width="3876" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlGJWYveVTxd1OTCn-sq6QxkxlYZi57C2gcos3BVFZE2OAut7VFD38xgSlSQwcaICFex_OhBw-CgwfsGe2MYRAOgQsHOAUQHYr1bN2QIPssaTeJitdn1M9zP4MB8nQn6u506F1jmYpGMN08zjn62CbO-AOWElJspu-HdurDtgFRV7klet--LPAqHegQ/w640-h480/IMG_E3720.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let me just share a few of the happenings of the month...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and a lot of beautiful spring scenes from my neighbourhood.</div></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83wj1DMRyDZBTQ_sx34jyfpuGEMUU0ZPOh35WPa6TxeB_1eqJW-kTANBQOLHjqcpFdKoWOt4Jx1lCLEnfG1EVakoknK7wsGRplrztlR7ozA2agxY4jk2OPrwfwGxk3Hd4Gh9dAi7H8Ai7VIgUbLM3wwgTNRIyfPr90GkuPuQh98WJpqR2pX7rIL_F9w/s1959/IMG_3775.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1959" data-original-width="1605" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83wj1DMRyDZBTQ_sx34jyfpuGEMUU0ZPOh35WPa6TxeB_1eqJW-kTANBQOLHjqcpFdKoWOt4Jx1lCLEnfG1EVakoknK7wsGRplrztlR7ozA2agxY4jk2OPrwfwGxk3Hd4Gh9dAi7H8Ai7VIgUbLM3wwgTNRIyfPr90GkuPuQh98WJpqR2pX7rIL_F9w/w524-h640/IMG_3775.jpeg" width="524" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheam Wetlands...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a lovely spot to walk in any season.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoXpF_YwNTHcScTUOEo-fNG1pzm1HY6GAXPz0ZyK7zS_-7JZ4SccUaXy0E5vVFeLhbsTfOoXJJVJi89kAdRBmMUOrAxIqkzsos-uncPNTmIJmQqZ_6TS5PA1IIs4FgZSMTQtMSxT92XuKyt5XIBuescVzLsDQFv-R0dVZWCXqDWEcWZ24yWTxIT_dcA/s4032/IMG_3792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoXpF_YwNTHcScTUOEo-fNG1pzm1HY6GAXPz0ZyK7zS_-7JZ4SccUaXy0E5vVFeLhbsTfOoXJJVJi89kAdRBmMUOrAxIqkzsos-uncPNTmIJmQqZ_6TS5PA1IIs4FgZSMTQtMSxT92XuKyt5XIBuescVzLsDQFv-R0dVZWCXqDWEcWZ24yWTxIT_dcA/w640-h480/IMG_3792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie's magnolia in full bloom.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We planted a tree for each of our grands after they were born.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4v1zjr-G2PfxW1fCVEWtpycVsFDFY6aCrhGcHOSy6ge2iDIxyH4edsJjac39DkHW57woez11ndStICCP5GM8sondaj0yQbZB5cVN5dBPWZOGR3wg-mApkmylAobpODQeHtUsBPwZoUo7865uNDhntPLCaWXV7I1K_7nAYNL4DFLMPZvaKL59mxZ0tw/s3567/IMG_3814-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="3567" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4v1zjr-G2PfxW1fCVEWtpycVsFDFY6aCrhGcHOSy6ge2iDIxyH4edsJjac39DkHW57woez11ndStICCP5GM8sondaj0yQbZB5cVN5dBPWZOGR3wg-mApkmylAobpODQeHtUsBPwZoUo7865uNDhntPLCaWXV7I1K_7nAYNL4DFLMPZvaKL59mxZ0tw/w640-h526/IMG_3814-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What is it about the colour yellow in spring?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunshine and happiness!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had daffodils on the table for the past six weeks...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and am enjoying the yellow rhodo as it opens.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the dandelions are a thing of beauty...</div><div style="text-align: center;">if only they would stay in the field!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BMB2fC0i52CzipVgIZfWGdWpUtdDtjalCF4YcZiTEcPcFOMWXN-53eZKMpoaK2stmtuWHFniWGe_bmhrvZBilMvDYtyP7oRGyFqQyLViXNnIB1Mgq9bUh3FNk_6-BkDhJ71RcUQ10W8hSVI5xcuUbIUVvkW5kqE3-MPMHzlv-QhM6W2n9xdHQjXSdw/s2302/IMG_E3740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2010" data-original-width="2302" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BMB2fC0i52CzipVgIZfWGdWpUtdDtjalCF4YcZiTEcPcFOMWXN-53eZKMpoaK2stmtuWHFniWGe_bmhrvZBilMvDYtyP7oRGyFqQyLViXNnIB1Mgq9bUh3FNk_6-BkDhJ71RcUQ10W8hSVI5xcuUbIUVvkW5kqE3-MPMHzlv-QhM6W2n9xdHQjXSdw/w640-h558/IMG_E3740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Earlier this month we had the privilege of attending the Honours Music Festival at the Cultural Centre. It featured winners of all the different categories of music in the valley...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">choirs, strings and piano. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ranen played beautifully and received several trophies and bursaries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIp0cTR1l72wH-swZdeVdHBwVes0lsDxuZt1FIHopvKwAstctwCH7VTcLUW-74mpSGM-92KXc-bwAWcVfJYZXX7eteUqJPC-x9JpMKAwRw-jcsaWobNZ6Ve1f8iKDqbKQYz0qDofJfZfmWXKoa1Kv-URqDN69iBVSZqwQP05J_A1D4t9nVvBS-SHYvA/s3737/IMG_E3648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3737" data-original-width="2990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIp0cTR1l72wH-swZdeVdHBwVes0lsDxuZt1FIHopvKwAstctwCH7VTcLUW-74mpSGM-92KXc-bwAWcVfJYZXX7eteUqJPC-x9JpMKAwRw-jcsaWobNZ6Ve1f8iKDqbKQYz0qDofJfZfmWXKoa1Kv-URqDN69iBVSZqwQP05J_A1D4t9nVvBS-SHYvA/w512-h640/IMG_E3648.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so nice to spend some time with extended family earlier this month...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">including two of my mother's younger siblings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aunt Marguerite is 93 years old...and doing great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uncle Jake is my mom's youngest brother...and gives the best hugs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard to believe that my mom has been gone for 23 years already.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfdpoESQaOG-WvvGfhyKeGGRDBMoYJe65lWIZLL4fnUz74s3O67LKf1J5a9tYBFW1xVzQJ7jMUSNOPwcabNlTVjGuB2PvYOLZ1-3SBSyjrEbYGqOvQS18kZccE-FNNdXkdDMH-COvAbj4cpa_eUONBuHilajsEHolacrmEDZNNnASvswfbayeguon4Q/s3245/IMG_E3695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2469" data-original-width="3245" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfdpoESQaOG-WvvGfhyKeGGRDBMoYJe65lWIZLL4fnUz74s3O67LKf1J5a9tYBFW1xVzQJ7jMUSNOPwcabNlTVjGuB2PvYOLZ1-3SBSyjrEbYGqOvQS18kZccE-FNNdXkdDMH-COvAbj4cpa_eUONBuHilajsEHolacrmEDZNNnASvswfbayeguon4Q/w640-h486/IMG_E3695.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easter 2023. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were missing Emme...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">who is in Berlin until fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easter Sunday was a bit of a washout this year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so the Easter egg hunt was in the dark basement this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With flashlights. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been out on my bike a number of times...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">gone for a hike or two...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32_xN7S2dBKuWtbjbwXWmt_jbozEXK5s8Myf7QBkdyjiY8CZRNsCOts2G9GA_7eX7PaNyF9efk1dQVoBy0b6p-zcPuY5js7-ZnlU7AwXNotR82_vzniXgL0g-CsTnAS6p4kQJioXLo_Dgv2uBn1s2VjfnIDvxj-5vm1YIEchyAmaUqwsLuT0NWgFMtg/s4032/IMG_5181.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32_xN7S2dBKuWtbjbwXWmt_jbozEXK5s8Myf7QBkdyjiY8CZRNsCOts2G9GA_7eX7PaNyF9efk1dQVoBy0b6p-zcPuY5js7-ZnlU7AwXNotR82_vzniXgL0g-CsTnAS6p4kQJioXLo_Dgv2uBn1s2VjfnIDvxj-5vm1YIEchyAmaUqwsLuT0NWgFMtg/w640-h480/IMG_5181.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...with friends or on my own.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's so nice to be outdoors again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7T9KORTQHDj_4rRGungnR5A5qLDoRDhPa1PfrP179gZJ1nLXL3pA4GB9HhiB3ikiMf_wYqUe9ivkzyWTwtslv4sto6ul88R5RbEga8B_jgo7gnPKx754ymMObfN8MoJbSkmF8Fqc2p0S_GPToE18IsjkD2mqM2J1qaou3tyQDvzTSkuKMjRppzyMvA/s4032/IMG_E3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7T9KORTQHDj_4rRGungnR5A5qLDoRDhPa1PfrP179gZJ1nLXL3pA4GB9HhiB3ikiMf_wYqUe9ivkzyWTwtslv4sto6ul88R5RbEga8B_jgo7gnPKx754ymMObfN8MoJbSkmF8Fqc2p0S_GPToE18IsjkD2mqM2J1qaou3tyQDvzTSkuKMjRppzyMvA/w640-h480/IMG_E3811.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And so ends April...</div><div style="text-align: center;">when the earth laughs in flowers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Until next month...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE4useeq6qW_UgBaO4PYUHPU9JCqjzHRU-2J3BJrU2tpjN9-xt4zIbJhoTT1zpHdHk8HOd8T5dLoEgwJ00zOJOofQXu1DSQn4Yk8yJotHpg-7Ep7xKS9Qm-kf0ZZuKRWg2G5wkvO-mSfp/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE4useeq6qW_UgBaO4PYUHPU9JCqjzHRU-2J3BJrU2tpjN9-xt4zIbJhoTT1zpHdHk8HOd8T5dLoEgwJ00zOJOofQXu1DSQn4Yk8yJotHpg-7Ep7xKS9Qm-kf0ZZuKRWg2G5wkvO-mSfp/w118-h113/image.png" width="118" /></a></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-39358481154728598542023-03-31T20:32:00.002-07:002023-04-03T11:06:20.972-07:00March ~ spring has sprung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">March is the month of expectation. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">~Emily Dickinson.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xi_7_qC7y_j-0LZzv_2j-td8aDgl0CluLt9udlxG7OYoQ4sfpRyj1UqBzhDMwvjNYp1Es4uRdbVbmdIPwG1BqqYEqQlJLLK5L177DMWV4lmxLwOXyOFJ4_olhEqqS4hpuj_OAbGgoUPcHzlDqqL0i8OJXAoYTfPx0FY9GLYpJnj_W2dqJiiL5C_DKQ/s3523/2836BCE0-93F0-4416-BB57-337147589515.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2769" data-original-width="3523" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Xi_7_qC7y_j-0LZzv_2j-td8aDgl0CluLt9udlxG7OYoQ4sfpRyj1UqBzhDMwvjNYp1Es4uRdbVbmdIPwG1BqqYEqQlJLLK5L177DMWV4lmxLwOXyOFJ4_olhEqqS4hpuj_OAbGgoUPcHzlDqqL0i8OJXAoYTfPx0FY9GLYpJnj_W2dqJiiL5C_DKQ/w640-h504/2836BCE0-93F0-4416-BB57-337147589515.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Though March came in like a lion...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we had plenty of 'lamb-like' days as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92a6_Xxu7ultMjJWNEIb1YDhEF-wjLiRSIBrTXo3khEdi0nP4C4DndHtCQ5pQkS_0wqTc3X7-zI9BkhWenLsIyQIM4aIA7qUYHNYrfueVxLuZ5B1p8Kml_eqqITqTkmoQrm6Ezobp4A5civXzhTBDVcXFoCbpF850r2mu7LiTgxKriPra6XR0tzlQJA/s4032/IMG_3377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92a6_Xxu7ultMjJWNEIb1YDhEF-wjLiRSIBrTXo3khEdi0nP4C4DndHtCQ5pQkS_0wqTc3X7-zI9BkhWenLsIyQIM4aIA7qUYHNYrfueVxLuZ5B1p8Kml_eqqITqTkmoQrm6Ezobp4A5civXzhTBDVcXFoCbpF850r2mu7LiTgxKriPra6XR0tzlQJA/w640-h480/IMG_3377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was how the month began.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwPth-S19jNmcRVOduIxDl4clLdMMcMcvw7U9fzQJ_8V62RQdZB9N6IpSRWyN1vNkSbuAfkyx4yKg0iWuTbFVsGGtzn9RN_0SqIkzhsQqX0a_pFHYodBCEzcTTYSWKJNYFCPbSwzZlYCYecV7I4D_k2CCYn7dKxCnfjHpw0Cg5qU239YtWqO9hRrELw/s1051/1C000573-47C8-47D3-A6C6-740D098C5B89.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="825" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwPth-S19jNmcRVOduIxDl4clLdMMcMcvw7U9fzQJ_8V62RQdZB9N6IpSRWyN1vNkSbuAfkyx4yKg0iWuTbFVsGGtzn9RN_0SqIkzhsQqX0a_pFHYodBCEzcTTYSWKJNYFCPbSwzZlYCYecV7I4D_k2CCYn7dKxCnfjHpw0Cg5qU239YtWqO9hRrELw/w314-h400/1C000573-47C8-47D3-A6C6-740D098C5B89.jpeg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We said good-bye to Emme who will be spending the next six months working in Berlin. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She is loving her time there so far.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I asked if her on-line German course was proving to be helpful...</div><div style="text-align: center;">she replied that it wasn't necessary, since everyone spoke English.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sure it will be the experience of a lifetime for her!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkF1whZ1RnFGVO3GOwN3rfSv4U5jqD43iBaY3cEufdk8sPu5yVjfjMHGJat2bUcc7YxXv3WLf4mexV9OSKvpyQUeuonEHCEFGAwxUhtb5q7WUoM5shA16VUhb1J5QLwZncVTVdmcTRnLBnJEHCYlMgL7xbtiyXI5hpd_EDooHH0JRPPholmtwVdCWew/s3336/IMG_E3585.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2405" data-original-width="3336" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkF1whZ1RnFGVO3GOwN3rfSv4U5jqD43iBaY3cEufdk8sPu5yVjfjMHGJat2bUcc7YxXv3WLf4mexV9OSKvpyQUeuonEHCEFGAwxUhtb5q7WUoM5shA16VUhb1J5QLwZncVTVdmcTRnLBnJEHCYlMgL7xbtiyXI5hpd_EDooHH0JRPPholmtwVdCWew/w640-h462/IMG_E3585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In other news...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the work on the Trans-Mountain pipeline in our neighbourhood has finally begun.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sort of.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have placed a lot of stakes and dug many holes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The traffic control crew shows up for work every morning...</div><div style="text-align: center;">whether or not there is any other action.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g2lkfIswmlyBn3PrJbyol3Bw0FRDrAKoqg0TojnKUd-lD9kT56GXLnNiufkKXbUihZoSuP9yDRQnuXPLMPYMvh-01c7_85sziPLD58BlgqBmZxPzHiYUbbAcKjByFch_raIGW45Sr7I0v7UguDn66F4C8SguUmv8OW84w2OvSGM8BHtPL9lqMb4eRw/s2073/Ranen%20Music%20Festival.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2073" data-original-width="1566" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g2lkfIswmlyBn3PrJbyol3Bw0FRDrAKoqg0TojnKUd-lD9kT56GXLnNiufkKXbUihZoSuP9yDRQnuXPLMPYMvh-01c7_85sziPLD58BlgqBmZxPzHiYUbbAcKjByFch_raIGW45Sr7I0v7UguDn66F4C8SguUmv8OW84w2OvSGM8BHtPL9lqMb4eRw/w484-h640/Ranen%20Music%20Festival.JPG" width="484" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ranen 'played for gold' on her violin at the Chilliwack Music Festival.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She makes it look easy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClNXcG_NYrpL6Br3xslfZiAK08f8wl0b7cJ8t84FyLCPpX1ieVgfp2qMMFdzOMTjpHwCY9lI2aRZNQr_e1rGnPVk8p3SRllpJ088Db25KbrZbCj675E73FW2N3XS-FlOGgH97Kf8GfAgf1OWJNpm1g5nppnNFai_CHVRg2b8Y7IQGj3kzSKPlS-86QA/s3560/IMG_E3513.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="3560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClNXcG_NYrpL6Br3xslfZiAK08f8wl0b7cJ8t84FyLCPpX1ieVgfp2qMMFdzOMTjpHwCY9lI2aRZNQr_e1rGnPVk8p3SRllpJ088Db25KbrZbCj675E73FW2N3XS-FlOGgH97Kf8GfAgf1OWJNpm1g5nppnNFai_CHVRg2b8Y7IQGj3kzSKPlS-86QA/w640-h480/IMG_E3513.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We took a quick trip through the mountain passes to visit family in Kelowna.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjI8U0T9pXyOrGSLElQIcWJpnAaKHPxzXkoQMhjKfvJOMF-an0Ih8MAaU6t1T_UsaTts53gmhqdBlzdy3rCD1IUSAILSRnqCk-N3DrtYq_oWSDIh7mnZhHm_Dea6Q_HoC4mCxg1LZpYBTTu-_WSU-z0A9kmQtUL3dASiRk9Y0d-D_Ykh9yaL3M7bb5A/s3620/IMG_E3546.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2934" data-original-width="3620" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjI8U0T9pXyOrGSLElQIcWJpnAaKHPxzXkoQMhjKfvJOMF-an0Ih8MAaU6t1T_UsaTts53gmhqdBlzdy3rCD1IUSAILSRnqCk-N3DrtYq_oWSDIh7mnZhHm_Dea6Q_HoC4mCxg1LZpYBTTu-_WSU-z0A9kmQtUL3dASiRk9Y0d-D_Ykh9yaL3M7bb5A/w640-h518/IMG_E3546.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a lovely city...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jVGk-gcpgd9yA5eFf1rWhPf_x7n4m0dxx5nkdvnRuu3LeTMbd5v3ix7-SmhQyFx7NvdkPXmRxoTpod04QmjbWpHcRA0B78PpjNZx2Iw4Yz0xveECjvugc2cBRSS4O7cMdPZv0c6L8evoETBa7eWkDHGnYWir1Xu1WJGN63ebPg0Rb2UKXn8hRfcSHQ/s4032/IMG_3541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jVGk-gcpgd9yA5eFf1rWhPf_x7n4m0dxx5nkdvnRuu3LeTMbd5v3ix7-SmhQyFx7NvdkPXmRxoTpod04QmjbWpHcRA0B78PpjNZx2Iw4Yz0xveECjvugc2cBRSS4O7cMdPZv0c6L8evoETBa7eWkDHGnYWir1Xu1WJGN63ebPg0Rb2UKXn8hRfcSHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...whatever the season!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTnBr683ruI8S8WhY9pJV6R5bzZ5CWzf7_bqItIN2ZYyUixIND86LDNOdCCGTSAwT6qzx2EItS6YlHlj_afDNtIRjqBjMMVAjgzM6gmv59hv7LxL9IIArynj2lab2reAHQnTqK9H00fj5Q98YmjTn8ql6qWkk5OX4L3iIvBQzFBDwTOJT46fzTjvPkA/s3550/IMG_3457-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2659" data-original-width="3550" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTnBr683ruI8S8WhY9pJV6R5bzZ5CWzf7_bqItIN2ZYyUixIND86LDNOdCCGTSAwT6qzx2EItS6YlHlj_afDNtIRjqBjMMVAjgzM6gmv59hv7LxL9IIArynj2lab2reAHQnTqK9H00fj5Q98YmjTn8ql6qWkk5OX4L3iIvBQzFBDwTOJT46fzTjvPkA/w640-h480/IMG_3457-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Canadian Juno Awards are a big deal...'though we never really pay much attention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But this year we did!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2181194819777">My nephew won the Juno for Electronic Album of the Year.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were all excited for him and some of his cousins flew to Edmonton to celebrate with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglOXzjWrkSnLHhftHohGF_din4aGXiz06RjZfctVgIbyDpkR5ZsD9Mji8WoPX17tJV5TDdawClCx10oicRu2vezryOR6U2ZGPZqVJUDz0suFCtpyTotsz1xyKLL8Q9LkJP1W_fa0SBzP3SGNsH8p0Ge0nbB0mh_IUtfxsl7V41HoKlWOBzu4cC10f-g/s5120/U%20Jake%20&%20A%20Maggie's.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglOXzjWrkSnLHhftHohGF_din4aGXiz06RjZfctVgIbyDpkR5ZsD9Mji8WoPX17tJV5TDdawClCx10oicRu2vezryOR6U2ZGPZqVJUDz0suFCtpyTotsz1xyKLL8Q9LkJP1W_fa0SBzP3SGNsH8p0Ge0nbB0mh_IUtfxsl7V41HoKlWOBzu4cC10f-g/w640-h480/U%20Jake%20&%20A%20Maggie's.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My Uncle Jake and Aunt Maggie celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had lunch with them one day...</div><div style="text-align: center;">followed by coffee and dessert at their home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'There is always room at their table and in their hearts.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">So true!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrhNlI9A8tECYCEb9pIhAFrTOZoKh5u7eJ71A00jgOSvWkYLRMkk0b3AL-LABkn_YHJ4CRrkKeolsyQB1vxGpsfmMgIO_2qRC602chWddoPayEAOAJEIxETLYhKmZSXTkCfqfIG3J9kje_f5JBFzgmdQPOq-dIdKayZOmDsLla9Rk1XSnZAG_Gr7hHQ/s3745/IMG_E3590.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="3745" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrhNlI9A8tECYCEb9pIhAFrTOZoKh5u7eJ71A00jgOSvWkYLRMkk0b3AL-LABkn_YHJ4CRrkKeolsyQB1vxGpsfmMgIO_2qRC602chWddoPayEAOAJEIxETLYhKmZSXTkCfqfIG3J9kje_f5JBFzgmdQPOq-dIdKayZOmDsLla9Rk1XSnZAG_Gr7hHQ/w640-h480/IMG_E3590.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">~ Charles Dickens</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am thankful for those marvelous days of March...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the ones that made me forget winter and look ahead to the new season to come.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy spring!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" class="placeholder" id="02c93052a24ab" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/transparent.gif" style="background-color: #d8d8d8; background-image: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/i/materialiconsextended/insert_photo/v6/grey600-24dp/1x/baseline_insert_photo_grey600_24dp.png'); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; opacity: 0.6;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" class="placeholder" id="c0d1905849622" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/transparent.gif" style="background-color: #d8d8d8; background-image: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/i/materialiconsextended/insert_photo/v6/grey600-24dp/1x/baseline_insert_photo_grey600_24dp.png'); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; opacity: 0.6;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ZCFChyjO1r600qU2XZHYvk18EKP6Z5x82BUL0sC-OhYvMp_LEwjyhqcVkpX6XKF2JGSUhflRLRWAy-qoJ8DPOfou-EfinywwE09Gnh5fg5dcHcsYaHKcdX1fGiU7RZ-gGtJHzznJn_jGo1r0AY4W7achYZKRQDHL1Knq5XQ57P33vYyhpIuzKa6SQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ZCFChyjO1r600qU2XZHYvk18EKP6Z5x82BUL0sC-OhYvMp_LEwjyhqcVkpX6XKF2JGSUhflRLRWAy-qoJ8DPOfou-EfinywwE09Gnh5fg5dcHcsYaHKcdX1fGiU7RZ-gGtJHzznJn_jGo1r0AY4W7achYZKRQDHL1Knq5XQ57P33vYyhpIuzKa6SQA=s16000" /></a></div></div></div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-6371528509651601242023-02-28T19:58:00.001-08:002023-02-28T19:58:51.923-08:00February ~ short and sweet<div style="text-align: center;">And that's a wrap.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As this month comes to an end...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaDH__wSzNf1531rZ89RaaPNp6FxjuGd4A-BVTFLcoK2r8Z-bB358YjIlIqKoLSDG3DR7VA77X7YWubG15TtZUXauMT9mZ2eOKiDltDolqK-mZWKabhdTtFAqjXGRLD8FZdfYOdQWHbNx5PeVO9HmzvuH15Ahd83Ss4-f5AUieMhi836j3NpiO2550g/s3380/IMG_E3368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3380" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaDH__wSzNf1531rZ89RaaPNp6FxjuGd4A-BVTFLcoK2r8Z-bB358YjIlIqKoLSDG3DR7VA77X7YWubG15TtZUXauMT9mZ2eOKiDltDolqK-mZWKabhdTtFAqjXGRLD8FZdfYOdQWHbNx5PeVO9HmzvuH15Ahd83Ss4-f5AUieMhi836j3NpiO2550g/w640-h572/IMG_E3368.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...we are wrapped in snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had over 14 inches on Sunday...</div><div style="text-align: center;">much of which disappeared yesterday. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we had snow again today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since I was gone at the beginning of the month...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and because February is missing a few days...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the end came rather quickly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We managed to pack a lot in!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeaBLlvBbVgSZVPhrW-XcpQ49r_hndzdHL5-OrEeBHDzdPEukIa4sQi0kgGXCvbIK4TJEZgO9uEJ2iNQ3s-nG-e580tWkzpbSeygMKoM6DSjMsIz6WHNsvYaEUh3r3yd3QqvHFxWJjJoEl-SIWvNbhQEG0ey4-JHHGhmyBiS3N0hAPO4ATYRuibZWsg/s4032/IMG_3228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeaBLlvBbVgSZVPhrW-XcpQ49r_hndzdHL5-OrEeBHDzdPEukIa4sQi0kgGXCvbIK4TJEZgO9uEJ2iNQ3s-nG-e580tWkzpbSeygMKoM6DSjMsIz6WHNsvYaEUh3r3yd3QqvHFxWJjJoEl-SIWvNbhQEG0ey4-JHHGhmyBiS3N0hAPO4ATYRuibZWsg/w640-h480/IMG_3228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">T<a href="https://thebouquetfarm.com/">he Bouquet Farm</a> held a Galentine's workshop...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cmu0xBG1tDTApAcAFTEpY5ru5-1n5unH9NuU5akBe7jZlZ-140XfCjEmgklBservxyg49JHtsbUDa0URAE3ayEoPPKwUPq6UpLp1IUy5iWTA0ly-wrowTXRDadukFOv_vaJGHHdu0z9b_c0t7a2N1LGoq8vUjZhL3VrFfh6OzLEr1-ZecArd22ieDA/s2255/IMG_E3233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="2206" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cmu0xBG1tDTApAcAFTEpY5ru5-1n5unH9NuU5akBe7jZlZ-140XfCjEmgklBservxyg49JHtsbUDa0URAE3ayEoPPKwUPq6UpLp1IUy5iWTA0ly-wrowTXRDadukFOv_vaJGHHdu0z9b_c0t7a2N1LGoq8vUjZhL3VrFfh6OzLEr1-ZecArd22ieDA/w626-h640/IMG_E3233.JPG" width="626" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and 'my girls' joined me there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4i55ZUtQwFmB1pJPx7HnQiq7RpqSC-JYObSV5JdLzCdoWu485fWkrMVyVtlloJLg0UpYcXVLUlx6Q07sHzWMPnbrkXoxqiwQlUMGrAF6CkyP6QTG_LJNShEWox-VsnuHeHTVC8S0grFJfQoUH89aVHovO9EVpJ1MzzCOxJ9puXesym0WtzOY96PTQg/s3253/IMG_E3236.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3253" data-original-width="2763" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4i55ZUtQwFmB1pJPx7HnQiq7RpqSC-JYObSV5JdLzCdoWu485fWkrMVyVtlloJLg0UpYcXVLUlx6Q07sHzWMPnbrkXoxqiwQlUMGrAF6CkyP6QTG_LJNShEWox-VsnuHeHTVC8S0grFJfQoUH89aVHovO9EVpJ1MzzCOxJ9puXesym0WtzOY96PTQg/w544-h640/IMG_E3236.JPG" width="544" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a fun evening of playing with flowers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we each went home with our arrangement.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDlkqDkVjkNFatz7oAds_aFhdQdgbSWIzZTeg0jO1xUtn0AFlLNlfjjBwhekUBwcWtk350nhpaDoYePvMn0e4kIDLgI95DYk6pKszB0TAWj9Br0FapNr0u7wqkrDRweCxgY-r1kyaVKvd2HNsZmU5VnLHzuxtoBzbDogan7RtpqnObmEUjjnwadrzjQ/s3729/IMG_3264.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3729" data-original-width="2990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDlkqDkVjkNFatz7oAds_aFhdQdgbSWIzZTeg0jO1xUtn0AFlLNlfjjBwhekUBwcWtk350nhpaDoYePvMn0e4kIDLgI95DYk6pKszB0TAWj9Br0FapNr0u7wqkrDRweCxgY-r1kyaVKvd2HNsZmU5VnLHzuxtoBzbDogan7RtpqnObmEUjjnwadrzjQ/w514-h640/IMG_3264.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On Valentine's Day...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went for a hike with Marg.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnWcm9eItRClM2GstchkKR_1E7ORyS_GHmC_Aq0nml1oGoNGV6RtBfKcgrvNeKNtLqaifRK5GYfNSBviKVoxSWKnXt35KKaf73-OhKDhmoqsL5nB_Mdo4vdU1KfSK9eXQVxV2sIJkAM-EO28pAu34i-tVbnN_59v-ocQX9OQAFPGpq1w-GhHHca6WSg/s2048/74B34FD8-26E6-4991-A349-5D49A442D7DF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnWcm9eItRClM2GstchkKR_1E7ORyS_GHmC_Aq0nml1oGoNGV6RtBfKcgrvNeKNtLqaifRK5GYfNSBviKVoxSWKnXt35KKaf73-OhKDhmoqsL5nB_Mdo4vdU1KfSK9eXQVxV2sIJkAM-EO28pAu34i-tVbnN_59v-ocQX9OQAFPGpq1w-GhHHca6WSg/w480-h640/74B34FD8-26E6-4991-A349-5D49A442D7DF.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mostly we hiked.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I also did a little sliding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TOOp-EGccfSzxWdh-XKUocpSqUjf2Q0GBUlbn4KUq_bduz5HPPH6OgPWN7bPhnKEntouUVOfPj-OkBDfHAVd9D8mvYff1hvv5B0UE8Wkbhyk6V0_AKgWmp6kTAY8adiWA2P1blsAWGgCQCCN63AqMN2B9-fUuLo3ocHfG0EWX2DApNLPl7cciXb79g/s3675/IMG_3272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3675" data-original-width="2959" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TOOp-EGccfSzxWdh-XKUocpSqUjf2Q0GBUlbn4KUq_bduz5HPPH6OgPWN7bPhnKEntouUVOfPj-OkBDfHAVd9D8mvYff1hvv5B0UE8Wkbhyk6V0_AKgWmp6kTAY8adiWA2P1blsAWGgCQCCN63AqMN2B9-fUuLo3ocHfG0EWX2DApNLPl7cciXb79g/w516-h640/IMG_3272.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I came home to flowers on the table.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He knows I prefer flowers to chocolate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkvKkhF9TfSoKYERfpGUbEfgeB6hsWm4qrdlGV77330jlboqFg88cyArJoVhmjEniubUnwQ0_Ar2IdxlEsZO_b0J9AleZCJdyWujddCZ_D_KCMQpzoPVTU3Slog1PO71gKP4sX-NSpRDXl0cazrYMJEZni1P-ww1yT_Oskjhq3DjSWRBbl0A69TxTLQ/s4032/IMG_3306.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkvKkhF9TfSoKYERfpGUbEfgeB6hsWm4qrdlGV77330jlboqFg88cyArJoVhmjEniubUnwQ0_Ar2IdxlEsZO_b0J9AleZCJdyWujddCZ_D_KCMQpzoPVTU3Slog1PO71gKP4sX-NSpRDXl0cazrYMJEZni1P-ww1yT_Oskjhq3DjSWRBbl0A69TxTLQ/w480-h640/IMG_3306.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last week we had a 'girlfriends' outing across the line.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crossing the border to the USA seems a bit of a novelty now...</div><div style="text-align: center;">after a few years of mostly staying at home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We shopped Hobby Lobby...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and had lunch at The Olive Garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We celebrated...</div><div style="text-align: center;">birthdays and friendship.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ‘</span></span><em><span style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The better part of one's life consists of his
friendships’. </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"> </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="background-color: white; background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">~Abraham Lincoln</span></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFFjX0QJuU7v421dp4UaqgFu9wiVBcnERY8esvUzYYYb8T_P-V737KgJ3DKhs0dnwjEoE-8gnLbfjL0F899lRoGAR-Hf4fSlIKzalEnXy47wpJgAYZGbF3ZeepAhCrmWPG761X4FXCiE7x7BEXi2me8YbwmCQq2VmOAXae1DMYit98Ze3XXa5OYUUo7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFFjX0QJuU7v421dp4UaqgFu9wiVBcnERY8esvUzYYYb8T_P-V737KgJ3DKhs0dnwjEoE-8gnLbfjL0F899lRoGAR-Hf4fSlIKzalEnXy47wpJgAYZGbF3ZeepAhCrmWPG761X4FXCiE7x7BEXi2me8YbwmCQq2VmOAXae1DMYit98Ze3XXa5OYUUo7A=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then there were all the basketball games that we hadn't planned on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie played basketball for the first time this year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">joining the grade nine team at her school.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They could only muster up a team of six,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but what they lacked in height and numbers...</div><div style="text-align: center;">they made up for in enthusiasm and speed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had watched several of their games...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and they did amazingly well but never qualified for the provincial championships.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But wait...they did!</div><div style="text-align: center;">They got in on as a wildcard entry...</div><div style="text-align: center;">at the bottom of the pack in the standings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We dove to Port Moody to cheer them on...</div><div style="text-align: center;">as they defeated one good team after another.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who could have ever expected them to make it to the final game?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSS9lkXOt3dO6aIupfQux0G18flAyWR6GMwfTUVph-s2N9rlX1Z8YLRQifcCsyP6tZlS-4JdH2Ppr73RxCHwx2NUJ7eIkMb78iKrDPZseO5hLb-hGvrLyQXLGRr6z9PC81MEJfQlwaaXCwnZ6vSQOIEhfTlpR3nwxdgC_LUPqwptzt0eaCEtY_q4QKw/s1028/IMG_3373aa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="772" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSS9lkXOt3dO6aIupfQux0G18flAyWR6GMwfTUVph-s2N9rlX1Z8YLRQifcCsyP6tZlS-4JdH2Ppr73RxCHwx2NUJ7eIkMb78iKrDPZseO5hLb-hGvrLyQXLGRr6z9PC81MEJfQlwaaXCwnZ6vSQOIEhfTlpR3nwxdgC_LUPqwptzt0eaCEtY_q4QKw/w480-h640/IMG_3373aa.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.theprogress.com/sports/underdog-chilliwack-squad-makes-run-to-grade-9-provincial-basketball-final/?fbclid=IwAR2GAdvKAcvaDFuHwhz7HBkGLDT1-OchSAo0HZVCLGKd4wfwOn0_b0JUcrQ">'They played with heart, class and determination', said their coach...</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.theprogress.com/sports/underdog-chilliwack-squad-makes-run-to-grade-9-provincial-basketball-final/?fbclid=IwAR2GAdvKAcvaDFuHwhz7HBkGLDT1-OchSAo0HZVCLGKd4wfwOn0_b0JUcrQ">of his feisty team that came in second in the BC grade 9 provincial basketball final.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Never lose that determination...</div><div style="text-align: center;">or that smile, Maggie!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then it was on to the ice rink in Aldergrove...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlsdR7CZcPi3jnzcWnAazgste4Wl3seBiKOlHHPGqR9PTAYtlYU8aHo9hsKgqAlzQxINBn9u5QuVD0oBekS5U0MYWzJPRHcGc3WWIa-twV5QFVkgxpmxF0X8ay8kVEOnpl469hmbOjJU6tPOZhRBfW7cSTNd-VFSBewbbTqOTPXcsmQnPD8YE8SeuPA/s4032/IMG_3336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlsdR7CZcPi3jnzcWnAazgste4Wl3seBiKOlHHPGqR9PTAYtlYU8aHo9hsKgqAlzQxINBn9u5QuVD0oBekS5U0MYWzJPRHcGc3WWIa-twV5QFVkgxpmxF0X8ay8kVEOnpl469hmbOjJU6tPOZhRBfW7cSTNd-VFSBewbbTqOTPXcsmQnPD8YE8SeuPA/w640-h480/IMG_3336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>...where Ryder was playing on a Fraser Valley scholarship team in a tournament. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He scored the first goal...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7oFlv23ZZ_ICoeINdP7FiOBLUQCC7J3kB9-PrKGeGlDRQuwRt_jkdedjLhT90I5-mMou2VCFf75EBTsBF5oebkET_6KO74D1_9YEKsfE0fR6ibi5y8DEskAc6dg6ZtM8XNWlFiaMcMudQAChqpK5rZiylzLUznUP6rStIVHI3bsAZ-R-HYWNU0pdUg/s3817/IMG_3341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3817" data-original-width="2803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7oFlv23ZZ_ICoeINdP7FiOBLUQCC7J3kB9-PrKGeGlDRQuwRt_jkdedjLhT90I5-mMou2VCFf75EBTsBF5oebkET_6KO74D1_9YEKsfE0fR6ibi5y8DEskAc6dg6ZtM8XNWlFiaMcMudQAChqpK5rZiylzLUznUP6rStIVHI3bsAZ-R-HYWNU0pdUg/w470-h640/IMG_3341.jpg" width="470" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and he had a little 'time out' as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ryder is a gentleman on and off the ice...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so this was an unusual occurrence for him.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was his last game of the season...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we were thankful we could be in the stands.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBj_fDFGp8m_Luf7U0frPQMaMTkYrVv1j11MmEQFNxj_PwVONjoU858bQ9MCNNAhyxmPEUfbzHM1jDNcZa9YuIbXTi8-5JgZdH41RjGVHdd2P6KR26q6RqkN0MXZ7eQ9sj213UQ4HAsyt1iAccn4WaGHfQkBwjQQ-8xhh0rip9taiAh-L5LvZpBmL6Q/s808/IMG_E3359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBj_fDFGp8m_Luf7U0frPQMaMTkYrVv1j11MmEQFNxj_PwVONjoU858bQ9MCNNAhyxmPEUfbzHM1jDNcZa9YuIbXTi8-5JgZdH41RjGVHdd2P6KR26q6RqkN0MXZ7eQ9sj213UQ4HAsyt1iAccn4WaGHfQkBwjQQ-8xhh0rip9taiAh-L5LvZpBmL6Q/w594-h640/IMG_E3359.JPG" width="594" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On Saturday night we switched gears from basketball to music..</div><div style="text-align: center;">taking in the winter concert of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was an excellent performance...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDxZZr2HvNw">with Ranen putting down her violin for doing a little Irish dance for us.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(phone photography from a distance in low lighting leaves much to be desired!)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFffAJDqIBgXUASA0C8PT112kHpJ1KB6vWuMUtOh6C-x8SgerHrb0P11ZWNFZvqsc-B6dAKqSUGRA9HJdvw7SmEBO7xDM4ha0vC3lMsDFPDsux51munM1vivpUZFyMrrbVrfznBGv0RG_HNwY3xxZsA553L3liqLsa3_zW_ClwRzAulQoe0Bqz5Ik6YA/s3848/IMG_3314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2833" data-original-width="3848" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFffAJDqIBgXUASA0C8PT112kHpJ1KB6vWuMUtOh6C-x8SgerHrb0P11ZWNFZvqsc-B6dAKqSUGRA9HJdvw7SmEBO7xDM4ha0vC3lMsDFPDsux51munM1vivpUZFyMrrbVrfznBGv0RG_HNwY3xxZsA553L3liqLsa3_zW_ClwRzAulQoe0Bqz5Ik6YA/w640-h472/IMG_3314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div>And that brings us to the end of the month.</div><div><br /></div><div>It may not be Easter yet...</div><div>but did I mention that I was at Hobby Lobby last week?</div><div>Easter is coming. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not too early to prepare our hearts and our homes.</div><div>Especially our hearts!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ZCFChyjO1r600qU2XZHYvk18EKP6Z5x82BUL0sC-OhYvMp_LEwjyhqcVkpX6XKF2JGSUhflRLRWAy-qoJ8DPOfou-EfinywwE09Gnh5fg5dcHcsYaHKcdX1fGiU7RZ-gGtJHzznJn_jGo1r0AY4W7achYZKRQDHL1Knq5XQ57P33vYyhpIuzKa6SQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4ZCFChyjO1r600qU2XZHYvk18EKP6Z5x82BUL0sC-OhYvMp_LEwjyhqcVkpX6XKF2JGSUhflRLRWAy-qoJ8DPOfou-EfinywwE09Gnh5fg5dcHcsYaHKcdX1fGiU7RZ-gGtJHzznJn_jGo1r0AY4W7achYZKRQDHL1Knq5XQ57P33vYyhpIuzKa6SQA=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-39447986746298056712023-02-14T08:04:00.002-08:002023-02-14T08:04:45.077-08:00The Mayan Riviera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Mayan Riviera...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where it is always warm.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A0xgjxcIqxGU82aEBIgR4z2rhCqsMf0heSPL8Qh6He2nfVj_iCCqJ5E6HYwdCf_JpEe9ijSS-Fu-1qVDr81j6MyhHOVyNHyBjuUzyVHxU7pkhRfFPBVmlhat_qsatHf19niiluJUrwThv8gl93r4vsW67T9GhqM1SvN-thEFuwXQYQ_6u8mW-CDiKA/s3625/IMG_E2884.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2719" data-original-width="3625" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A0xgjxcIqxGU82aEBIgR4z2rhCqsMf0heSPL8Qh6He2nfVj_iCCqJ5E6HYwdCf_JpEe9ijSS-Fu-1qVDr81j6MyhHOVyNHyBjuUzyVHxU7pkhRfFPBVmlhat_qsatHf19niiluJUrwThv8gl93r4vsW67T9GhqM1SvN-thEFuwXQYQ_6u8mW-CDiKA/w640-h480/IMG_E2884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended last month and began February at an all-inclusive resort south of Playa Del Carmen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnZrNXM5CuRR50xU12_RK-fd7ulNGpfjSYTNRhQ9a478riUhdRSQP9Ml4W9HLeJuSLu28ZY0XSOXLDewb-ezRz9E1X3IyIH_IGR4yRlw6B9e8V9po1-pNliiPpst1xTIgGDRtRyhj6yWFnFKyj7Q3-U5-dYD5AWQjAhzX1Of4UICjiDolUlkv10KYgQ/s4032/IMG_2872.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnZrNXM5CuRR50xU12_RK-fd7ulNGpfjSYTNRhQ9a478riUhdRSQP9Ml4W9HLeJuSLu28ZY0XSOXLDewb-ezRz9E1X3IyIH_IGR4yRlw6B9e8V9po1-pNliiPpst1xTIgGDRtRyhj6yWFnFKyj7Q3-U5-dYD5AWQjAhzX1Of4UICjiDolUlkv10KYgQ/w640-h480/IMG_2872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunshine, sand and sea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizswNTz7ygKdKzyD-sIrIdVCwcO6Rui4SHFPLl2-6x-oldYMMrokqnZT8w9UQ8CgeCeGwIPuyIZDc-HOG-BJslzt7WIGdohYATH94k2FA7TXI0464ngsA3aSVBmWnWAnYGq0Kg8g7XMfRmB_YNK-fpi3ql_WD_ZK4t4Kq2S1Kf1FkNn28NktH4VwJpQ/s5120/Mayan%20Riviera.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizswNTz7ygKdKzyD-sIrIdVCwcO6Rui4SHFPLl2-6x-oldYMMrokqnZT8w9UQ8CgeCeGwIPuyIZDc-HOG-BJslzt7WIGdohYATH94k2FA7TXI0464ngsA3aSVBmWnWAnYGq0Kg8g7XMfRmB_YNK-fpi3ql_WD_ZK4t4Kq2S1Kf1FkNn28NktH4VwJpQ/w640-h480/Mayan%20Riviera.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Grand Palladium Colonial.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a lovely resort...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAvDgvM4al-tp8hXpU_TPhf3TePM1COH4euEZIhYJe1_9WAjWj6Svc7tkmXD8VFXmQ_Yne9f8xmT3urdrdHKiwiyBlyH9fvMb6wk5zDV2I0kS7flsO21j3wJaWVPQZ2vN8-6vkOG1LV8ZNulhZD8nWPehTJegvcK8qGcwV_6YWWIQ-7vbCisQMQOCAQ/s4032/IMG_2908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAvDgvM4al-tp8hXpU_TPhf3TePM1COH4euEZIhYJe1_9WAjWj6Svc7tkmXD8VFXmQ_Yne9f8xmT3urdrdHKiwiyBlyH9fvMb6wk5zDV2I0kS7flsO21j3wJaWVPQZ2vN8-6vkOG1LV8ZNulhZD8nWPehTJegvcK8qGcwV_6YWWIQ-7vbCisQMQOCAQ/w640-h480/IMG_2908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...with beautiful pools</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyME8dlw4tD9aPvHriLvgzF6kUP9bsIROEZTjkMezKLvico6ydnYqoA5994FDUtisdnThUdnNuoBR3YwWm6ACYbwwuEP698Ak0dAQ6Qxk3xe5fdGJt8pmjNisXT9nWAv4bJa-jLpRyU7CoHr-KueIU-pROuoRmKctdkYLOx0nL0_Z75KTP-5Z32SKwg/s4032/IMG_2915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyME8dlw4tD9aPvHriLvgzF6kUP9bsIROEZTjkMezKLvico6ydnYqoA5994FDUtisdnThUdnNuoBR3YwWm6ACYbwwuEP698Ak0dAQ6Qxk3xe5fdGJt8pmjNisXT9nWAv4bJa-jLpRyU7CoHr-KueIU-pROuoRmKctdkYLOx0nL0_Z75KTP-5Z32SKwg/w640-h480/IMG_2915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and Spanish colonial architecture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No need to leave the resort to spot reptiles, exotic birds and animals'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhSLrIDiD6Vtl1GS6xKYaXKOfIIMIJhsFBxAbLBEADMaknjn0L-r55K2W3EAlUbnEj6hY5v7p4eyZkXaz_U1h2nzR5n9Y5b9b0qmDl1eJ_ZoQSDpTtGAQplFTfrXtg9avcetY6RDVMWKev08Ml7oKlvkbPgCak_LeFFeSaEbsJj0bMyse3eXN5k9akQ/s4032/IMG_2777.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhSLrIDiD6Vtl1GS6xKYaXKOfIIMIJhsFBxAbLBEADMaknjn0L-r55K2W3EAlUbnEj6hY5v7p4eyZkXaz_U1h2nzR5n9Y5b9b0qmDl1eJ_ZoQSDpTtGAQplFTfrXtg9avcetY6RDVMWKev08Ml7oKlvkbPgCak_LeFFeSaEbsJj0bMyse3eXN5k9akQ/w640-h480/IMG_2777.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Iguanas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IeFp8Ib5w-PVEMhPiXaMWWtVWZqgGKsixtueKwJcMEf-1FzP2fy8QphgsTRf67nQ-6mhK9ySkTmldBJ-udB2A1mnM6hby1Ga1HbNSRzqWYoeMH8eZ-I4PXzX5LEeENjgWoxrgbdKYoAUzySJRj9GaocehwYm1whFYyU-6YWg54G4kS_GIq16CoQGeQ/s4032/IMG_2779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IeFp8Ib5w-PVEMhPiXaMWWtVWZqgGKsixtueKwJcMEf-1FzP2fy8QphgsTRf67nQ-6mhK9ySkTmldBJ-udB2A1mnM6hby1Ga1HbNSRzqWYoeMH8eZ-I4PXzX5LEeENjgWoxrgbdKYoAUzySJRj9GaocehwYm1whFYyU-6YWg54G4kS_GIq16CoQGeQ/w640-h480/IMG_2779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coati...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">roaming in packs.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Il3bAeDIl7UJ5lCxImuyvd2BQ9xSQ7m0Qs95093UbVXlIxrTCIrdQmuTI553eROWCDhhjZpZsTazrHvUc1hjUy8E8C8Gmg7yDXz7sGk1IE4ZJUY-_Jhptm2RDxu3jdhWm2L7Sayq1sTmiVjrDrWF2r3NKTJpywgICCLxxtDbgeJVPABqh3ep6cveQ/s4032/IMG_2842.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Il3bAeDIl7UJ5lCxImuyvd2BQ9xSQ7m0Qs95093UbVXlIxrTCIrdQmuTI553eROWCDhhjZpZsTazrHvUc1hjUy8E8C8Gmg7yDXz7sGk1IE4ZJUY-_Jhptm2RDxu3jdhWm2L7Sayq1sTmiVjrDrWF2r3NKTJpywgICCLxxtDbgeJVPABqh3ep6cveQ/w640-h480/IMG_2842.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flamingos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even monkeys and alligators.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUPDC3Ar-QWgVYnMkAugMmFlaoPDK9N5H8chQSDCrsB0az0mD4_iwSx9o4Q5ezQJNsOXK-u-SCo1G_uH0BYlbyWhpqEi2Q9yArTRTAhTROO20h-hLw-m4UbDqyuzHf5zesZPNGS0E8SWry-_yNMVfq4Ic5YQkE0zgM_c_47McVQQJZf6gsvfNyHxiZg/s4032/IMG_E2825.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUPDC3Ar-QWgVYnMkAugMmFlaoPDK9N5H8chQSDCrsB0az0mD4_iwSx9o4Q5ezQJNsOXK-u-SCo1G_uH0BYlbyWhpqEi2Q9yArTRTAhTROO20h-hLw-m4UbDqyuzHf5zesZPNGS0E8SWry-_yNMVfq4Ic5YQkE0zgM_c_47McVQQJZf6gsvfNyHxiZg/w640-h480/IMG_E2825.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And exotic blooms.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB5RTPJHZ7s0ZaGbl1i9q75GYHdZX40kei82oVDTAIk9DSw0WnS9eB33DEyItKAjBZN5LCiRaEh29s1rf8MDZJFRUspjrZW18AdIoTGlrF6JzhiDnLp5ZvHRr1WspQIvo8BiT7hYZ-Qzq5y22AXv4DyS_q7OtvN7kJjjIBGnsMg_Te-5fsSmYJHPzug/s3643/IMG_E2979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2892" data-original-width="3643" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB5RTPJHZ7s0ZaGbl1i9q75GYHdZX40kei82oVDTAIk9DSw0WnS9eB33DEyItKAjBZN5LCiRaEh29s1rf8MDZJFRUspjrZW18AdIoTGlrF6JzhiDnLp5ZvHRr1WspQIvo8BiT7hYZ-Qzq5y22AXv4DyS_q7OtvN7kJjjIBGnsMg_Te-5fsSmYJHPzug/w640-h508/IMG_E2979.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a lovely Spanish church on site...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbSIBUfdH7onA4mmvPJ1BtNS43HhsVTIMJq0ywiFI86FUGATJB7vdV2W4ZweJm6RCNDJI7dLpommdXZBe5uhfN7GXx0RcfUQZKs0A2j3k2UqOskLchMV6UVudh7KNNgfc0ElRMcIkPns9EyMOmY-ZFT5zBcdyrfdvyYMiJNiRdRu0XDkc5B1WnGCvWQ/s4032/IMG_3165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbSIBUfdH7onA4mmvPJ1BtNS43HhsVTIMJq0ywiFI86FUGATJB7vdV2W4ZweJm6RCNDJI7dLpommdXZBe5uhfN7GXx0RcfUQZKs0A2j3k2UqOskLchMV6UVudh7KNNgfc0ElRMcIkPns9EyMOmY-ZFT5zBcdyrfdvyYMiJNiRdRu0XDkc5B1WnGCvWQ/w640-h480/IMG_3165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...the site of morning mass or afternoon weddings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFd2plcXvM6U-XRx1CtCIBtclp7-nPH7lssONLpOI_4R3lLfc057XmiOZketT99QqB1BSkc08BVSFhAqtsuY4Q1CKE3vM6ZYFPO_nzragCsK6wH_Jt2Vb4utFAlnawRsEKFD5-X8vECr6hQ53w2tflgzAKzJKmbZxhYvGXcc3xbaHFnJ5w8ddj6Vhiw/s4032/IMG_2971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFd2plcXvM6U-XRx1CtCIBtclp7-nPH7lssONLpOI_4R3lLfc057XmiOZketT99QqB1BSkc08BVSFhAqtsuY4Q1CKE3vM6ZYFPO_nzragCsK6wH_Jt2Vb4utFAlnawRsEKFD5-X8vECr6hQ53w2tflgzAKzJKmbZxhYvGXcc3xbaHFnJ5w8ddj6Vhiw/w640-h480/IMG_2971.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A rotunda.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We only left the resort once during our time there...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and that was for an excursion to Rio Secreto.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8eT5KrIt5_RZuDCiDml93aQnR4_oiSiGdJ7VKiV5lEQ8ySJCj82jeSC7hhiqNWKuKjHP1dcGkvItRsuXdmxNPiLWABxbpqPRgRBZVvndMIsjPYf_OuBsAbDdKoQfbhdJyBCt1j9e3X3xVfOuK0UM-hHMMGR-otfU9eOndzEQzIWQpQzBaKlH0mTy8A/s4176/img-2023020209480063dbeb5e8c511bp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="4176" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8eT5KrIt5_RZuDCiDml93aQnR4_oiSiGdJ7VKiV5lEQ8ySJCj82jeSC7hhiqNWKuKjHP1dcGkvItRsuXdmxNPiLWABxbpqPRgRBZVvndMIsjPYf_OuBsAbDdKoQfbhdJyBCt1j9e3X3xVfOuK0UM-hHMMGR-otfU9eOndzEQzIWQpQzBaKlH0mTy8A/w640-h426/img-2023020209480063dbeb5e8c511bp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A network of underground rivers and caverns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This 'secret river' was discovered not too long ago (2004)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by a farmer who chased an iguana into a hole in the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That hole led to the discovery of an interconnected cave system with an underground river...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the longest flooded cave in the region.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been open to the public since 2008.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo22XRpRuG3aZW5eWfWDIXmnccmY82yQO21tdaCGDvK_Zf_0r-jMQ4rjPGUtblRGYGf2ZDKEnO6I3Hb7o22lw19VSP7CGbbwj6G-TCdxNRDXr_SlTcqINyNftZ9m1ZX8GTqMEuDh7sEbQXlry12ePBgr_6bg0Ku-04ej2VgurbDoI7eJnznZbb1atfoQ/s4176/img-2023020210173063dbeb7b1a392bp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="4176" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo22XRpRuG3aZW5eWfWDIXmnccmY82yQO21tdaCGDvK_Zf_0r-jMQ4rjPGUtblRGYGf2ZDKEnO6I3Hb7o22lw19VSP7CGbbwj6G-TCdxNRDXr_SlTcqINyNftZ9m1ZX8GTqMEuDh7sEbQXlry12ePBgr_6bg0Ku-04ej2VgurbDoI7eJnznZbb1atfoQ/w640-h426/img-2023020210173063dbeb7b1a392bp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were given wet suits, water shoes, helmets, life vests and headlights for our underground tour.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu3rC1JPO62pxUyx4Anmek2fLrNNWIV9dJER6P9l7gfPVTidR7YuFH3Y_nroRirA5oGs8lwbN_G940WThxc_iHaklhXJwa6mHPoX-IAZT7nOIes0wAgQ-jVFDtFQbqQvUVLHCpoaJYJJDh_12EZ0BKqd42BczpUHgf7HvsbdkA_k_2CqRX4qqMXtnRg/s4176/img-2023020210334363dbeb868b01fbp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="4176" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu3rC1JPO62pxUyx4Anmek2fLrNNWIV9dJER6P9l7gfPVTidR7YuFH3Y_nroRirA5oGs8lwbN_G940WThxc_iHaklhXJwa6mHPoX-IAZT7nOIes0wAgQ-jVFDtFQbqQvUVLHCpoaJYJJDh_12EZ0BKqd42BczpUHgf7HvsbdkA_k_2CqRX4qqMXtnRg/w640-h426/img-2023020210334363dbeb868b01fbp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We waded or floated through underground rivers for about 90 minutes...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">about ten of us with a guide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an incredible experience!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzqMAlam4h9rCW-hXaFv1tN2o3rxGkcSY-tr8PokJsKWEvwqgtGUfHdYPWVTdL_xRqGSmi__dFCsXZi3tZz43VemBgE71LrUsT1TITi1PURSDx--3tjvUv-UzvMF5915lkTokIa7RuZfP8jgw5Ix85QfGbM6X0g_dNyVXeSdoIXaYqAk2xt8i4SgZ1w/s3343/IMG_3200-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2508" data-original-width="3343" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzqMAlam4h9rCW-hXaFv1tN2o3rxGkcSY-tr8PokJsKWEvwqgtGUfHdYPWVTdL_xRqGSmi__dFCsXZi3tZz43VemBgE71LrUsT1TITi1PURSDx--3tjvUv-UzvMF5915lkTokIa7RuZfP8jgw5Ix85QfGbM6X0g_dNyVXeSdoIXaYqAk2xt8i4SgZ1w/w640-h480/IMG_3200-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were spoiled and well-fed during our stay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Mayan people are a friendly lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQYaqxURlPwvEPVsK9khGPyN0XW4A0xYNZtktlCeJuyEKy00jmHIxbkpCkrIkQ4UcsZyMZRvw9W3fPDFPc5_vyXw1M_bvcsAcmja-yVou3ODzFdxTvVR7hJs1EJn8ArBaCZyKSYz_yBK-HWpeZhZYScncW_DXCdp8O9uwYHLkxWN3mAGgMSHZzx7ViQ/s4032/IMG_2962.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQYaqxURlPwvEPVsK9khGPyN0XW4A0xYNZtktlCeJuyEKy00jmHIxbkpCkrIkQ4UcsZyMZRvw9W3fPDFPc5_vyXw1M_bvcsAcmja-yVou3ODzFdxTvVR7hJs1EJn8ArBaCZyKSYz_yBK-HWpeZhZYScncW_DXCdp8O9uwYHLkxWN3mAGgMSHZzx7ViQ/w640-h480/IMG_2962.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course we enjoyed the Mexican cuisine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had fresh salsa and guacamole for lunch every day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because we could!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we went to the Mexican restaurant one evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTssVa-xBmGe2LtDvbrJ0bULopbBnPCqQBsyAor8Ab7BtIOhS_ivNItuYzucWK_GS2xscq6Xw6_QMVYzgCciXrxa_OhQvLMVUB6EbjP8M0K_jbpJyUcF3BPunw4eW0hnP7Vvpn9_Pw1c4kaqQ-YYzICcujmJIsoZpYkqiMBv1Lf7FuRRlhTHLhISd1pA/s3955/IMG_E2966.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="3955" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTssVa-xBmGe2LtDvbrJ0bULopbBnPCqQBsyAor8Ab7BtIOhS_ivNItuYzucWK_GS2xscq6Xw6_QMVYzgCciXrxa_OhQvLMVUB6EbjP8M0K_jbpJyUcF3BPunw4eW0hnP7Vvpn9_Pw1c4kaqQ-YYzICcujmJIsoZpYkqiMBv1Lf7FuRRlhTHLhISd1pA/w640-h482/IMG_E2966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our long-time friends and travel mates...Dave and Janet...were there with us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We realized that it was exactly fifty years since we had first travelled together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In 1973 we went on a missions trip to Haiti and Guadeloupe...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then spent a week in Florida together afterwards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was the beginning of a lifetime of shared travel adventures...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">near and far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We reminisced on our shared experiences and were thankful!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGimehdxXOTIbKJT925IL226gYOUh7aq_Chsht9hwbNsG5SnpkuwB2vxzZpWOOQ14Oft6zWWRHH3oP_7Ox610ixFRtbOQ_LMHrRDF71vQbZuugeZJpJTGBfDmKM5n1HTkNwU5UnXe7wpN0pNwbntWJQzxKoHLteL8Ms-xplY9D1e9sv1dFtpQrGnHkQw/s4032/IMG_E2857.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGimehdxXOTIbKJT925IL226gYOUh7aq_Chsht9hwbNsG5SnpkuwB2vxzZpWOOQ14Oft6zWWRHH3oP_7Ox610ixFRtbOQ_LMHrRDF71vQbZuugeZJpJTGBfDmKM5n1HTkNwU5UnXe7wpN0pNwbntWJQzxKoHLteL8Ms-xplY9D1e9sv1dFtpQrGnHkQw/w640-h480/IMG_E2857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One night we ate at the Poseidon...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a seafood restaurant on the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lovely spot.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zIIMGQLHyGtqplF47D0wAo-CvLCyyjSyWyX2Mt2PBUhG7OQl21DA8Rfkp-HwQztQnKq18P7grDQjGgoT1GHslDqixv8Ixaiq1nondJlQ6XP5F1uFCie8xfE5Zgd1GS58ramJJLpcqZny_df5O4qCkiYj83t2vaLLEEHcLGW6HBle--_ELALVTYZNGQ/s3302/IMG_E2802.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2780" data-original-width="3302" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zIIMGQLHyGtqplF47D0wAo-CvLCyyjSyWyX2Mt2PBUhG7OQl21DA8Rfkp-HwQztQnKq18P7grDQjGgoT1GHslDqixv8Ixaiq1nondJlQ6XP5F1uFCie8xfE5Zgd1GS58ramJJLpcqZny_df5O4qCkiYj83t2vaLLEEHcLGW6HBle--_ELALVTYZNGQ/w640-h538/IMG_E2802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although it was always warm...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we had a few storms roll through while we were there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When it rains...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it pours!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-vd6tH8QR5bfGevGRs4x78TD4mUpD65bIEfxWeHcrAapHcoHzC5pqeW1W2_4k-DdHjvYdEBzyv5xnpE5i2WBM_uIko2IU9I7AZLz02g5BqgG_Gpm5oua1QiLJ1jx8XUQGOHYI9CRwKH6aaeFbO5ynuIKTKyanDpJc9xo3CChqdm7iQNp8C9p55JQYA/s1754/IMG_E3083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="1754" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-vd6tH8QR5bfGevGRs4x78TD4mUpD65bIEfxWeHcrAapHcoHzC5pqeW1W2_4k-DdHjvYdEBzyv5xnpE5i2WBM_uIko2IU9I7AZLz02g5BqgG_Gpm5oua1QiLJ1jx8XUQGOHYI9CRwKH6aaeFbO5ynuIKTKyanDpJc9xo3CChqdm7iQNp8C9p55JQYA/w640-h554/IMG_E3083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went for a swim in the Caribbean as the storm rolled in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBURouUZt-3N3hga0_vEJMuOQ8BHXa0qRupfRMISadHZdUNroCRPdy2F3mZlepbICqqI5-N2XLMKHgYdjXyyWCdBfLslHqcqy8KPzxgMUt6MhCdC-S1FQ84fdK-0AbY9EF0CNS6ZyvTwUa-JYoxh8XY2kJ3XNwwh7MxjxPoIlNbB6aIRtstR5MDAPQg/s4032/IMG_2783.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBURouUZt-3N3hga0_vEJMuOQ8BHXa0qRupfRMISadHZdUNroCRPdy2F3mZlepbICqqI5-N2XLMKHgYdjXyyWCdBfLslHqcqy8KPzxgMUt6MhCdC-S1FQ84fdK-0AbY9EF0CNS6ZyvTwUa-JYoxh8XY2kJ3XNwwh7MxjxPoIlNbB6aIRtstR5MDAPQg/w640-h480/IMG_2783.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every morning the men and we equipment were hard at work cleaning the seaweed off of the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They do a good job. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7v10iC6OFX2JuplJrRrtIbQk5m0g41ikKb0WcAbsRJ8icBTh6wy6WnEUvtR8b2nx2NUr3XLthsFgWbWivT0s-LrE3lP8QXPEj8nm5h7KfXTdc0W2O_1QHLHtAf6iH9j4T2RZV6cl2ugPpXbiXidM9Y8xSBPcKRiS5eo3_ZckKHUK9xreYVW9Wspf_g/s4032/IMG_2856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7v10iC6OFX2JuplJrRrtIbQk5m0g41ikKb0WcAbsRJ8icBTh6wy6WnEUvtR8b2nx2NUr3XLthsFgWbWivT0s-LrE3lP8QXPEj8nm5h7KfXTdc0W2O_1QHLHtAf6iH9j4T2RZV6cl2ugPpXbiXidM9Y8xSBPcKRiS5eo3_ZckKHUK9xreYVW9Wspf_g/w640-h480/IMG_2856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maharachi band...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the music of Mexico.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpqin6F5WSypSc7cU4lawyh_Tu0Cyzwmszrg6LT1ejRhO_T19ZgIHN3xi4IkYdM7qzRE8-k0dtV21Q3ktgjkLXfmvOGk5fZFPWlYYASecKPhSQA0kgbwK69AFHE6fyDGigXWKZJw4du-OcuLfmTOmRhR-Z7mkwCLzDvm9-rnD6D-_yF0B9L5XIfPNng/s2552/IMG_E4057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2552" data-original-width="2060" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpqin6F5WSypSc7cU4lawyh_Tu0Cyzwmszrg6LT1ejRhO_T19ZgIHN3xi4IkYdM7qzRE8-k0dtV21Q3ktgjkLXfmvOGk5fZFPWlYYASecKPhSQA0kgbwK69AFHE6fyDGigXWKZJw4du-OcuLfmTOmRhR-Z7mkwCLzDvm9-rnD6D-_yF0B9L5XIfPNng/w516-h640/IMG_E4057.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love was in the air...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1is5qKbnyxTZ9BalxJlItfIeNTJhNkBVvCqMHgBfdMgt9WxVjCj7uHlj8ikelxhN5mXW6SZhMm_9SE-MaerD2p84JI70sUM_n7ACQ1gwW-n60eWgudPonwrwoCjNV264_LyudUzYVJ12SO--CQWItWfTNGj5XmUX8sZSmrUcV_gHZJ7Z8zEN5v1Jww/s4032/IMG_E3058.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1is5qKbnyxTZ9BalxJlItfIeNTJhNkBVvCqMHgBfdMgt9WxVjCj7uHlj8ikelxhN5mXW6SZhMm_9SE-MaerD2p84JI70sUM_n7ACQ1gwW-n60eWgudPonwrwoCjNV264_LyudUzYVJ12SO--CQWItWfTNGj5XmUX8sZSmrUcV_gHZJ7Z8zEN5v1Jww/w640-h480/IMG_E3058.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...maybe because of all the weddings that were happening at the resort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aL3e954RMMPl95P9m4O0O7_QhkFYm-NVvARPfw8HL1pE-kYmoni0NEJFz03_b69pEZn8kCfZwD68tHeHkUqjbQpg4tfM8kkbgPxgFZqBFU5hoTzdWrV0JqvVml3EYzz6fnBbCLDsCKa_rq1rFSNPxZHMDY4gm9nss-A-g3s8SZ-MH5AEO_2FrxsnPw/s3358/IMG_E3048-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2521" data-original-width="3358" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aL3e954RMMPl95P9m4O0O7_QhkFYm-NVvARPfw8HL1pE-kYmoni0NEJFz03_b69pEZn8kCfZwD68tHeHkUqjbQpg4tfM8kkbgPxgFZqBFU5hoTzdWrV0JqvVml3EYzz6fnBbCLDsCKa_rq1rFSNPxZHMDY4gm9nss-A-g3s8SZ-MH5AEO_2FrxsnPw/w640-h480/IMG_E3048-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...or maybe because it is 'love month'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We borrowed their props. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkvt99rIsVtcvn38ewaInfHZTI9vaUcOnKySj-Q7DXW7pC3gRRBCOIsZEe8vQpckFwdnEopzla6MxtRc8Wj4GqVsiQ27RtuJSRqkWba725KY9GeAMLnnifBUZLUiNMoqv7EY9GK7j9NhShSpOJdzVOOzFOELpxrmBlG7CYi93eiAZV4_lx9rH2XR1IA/s2566/IMG_E2931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2566" data-original-width="2119" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkvt99rIsVtcvn38ewaInfHZTI9vaUcOnKySj-Q7DXW7pC3gRRBCOIsZEe8vQpckFwdnEopzla6MxtRc8Wj4GqVsiQ27RtuJSRqkWba725KY9GeAMLnnifBUZLUiNMoqv7EY9GK7j9NhShSpOJdzVOOzFOELpxrmBlG7CYi93eiAZV4_lx9rH2XR1IA/w528-h640/IMG_E2931.JPG" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankful for a wonderful time in the sun...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on the Riviera Maya!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have no sunset pictures, since we were on the eastern coast of Mexico...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so let me close this post with a sunrise photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hopped out of bed early one morning and went to the beach to watch the sun rise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewpQP5iDv0XQBeAHgirqUzxpP00fZT0bscnOjQwjJuuu68MauQMJbNIPP18p9_NgFWpbJnk9PHLjieCJ9KgC8kKcKLYZTVTVRE34KH0MHEp8DTybW1QmMA_MvFfg9ISZdPXn9idKrrQrORxr25CziiflaJM75MacKxmUHNyVfpalDznZzp5hhVdN3LA/s4032/IMG_E3150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewpQP5iDv0XQBeAHgirqUzxpP00fZT0bscnOjQwjJuuu68MauQMJbNIPP18p9_NgFWpbJnk9PHLjieCJ9KgC8kKcKLYZTVTVRE34KH0MHEp8DTybW1QmMA_MvFfg9ISZdPXn9idKrrQrORxr25CziiflaJM75MacKxmUHNyVfpalDznZzp5hhVdN3LA/w640-h480/IMG_E3150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wasn't the only one there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkS9Dor_2S4CjucqAvf33AH422w2w64stFu0CuG8oInHXzTm7QLItyfCjswqq_8g1SkbpBZpnOgFEDhpT2d81m32tMi9oduvxJSJQ9mRMMrA5nQlx2Kjm9IaQyKw2o9SDsLRXkPKcbli100fXATLso_3WwlffW57A0xRSQfgi9id5fIMaw98UnbFrtg/s3775/IMG_E3162.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2881" data-original-width="3775" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkS9Dor_2S4CjucqAvf33AH422w2w64stFu0CuG8oInHXzTm7QLItyfCjswqq_8g1SkbpBZpnOgFEDhpT2d81m32tMi9oduvxJSJQ9mRMMrA5nQlx2Kjm9IaQyKw2o9SDsLRXkPKcbli100fXATLso_3WwlffW57A0xRSQfgi9id5fIMaw98UnbFrtg/w640-h488/IMG_E3162.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a beautiful start to the day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wishing you all a wonderful day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">filled with love and all thing that bring you joy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on this February 14th!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuVJPV70b_OaoSqijPbViZmkpv_BXnTD07YGMFYTDJP9AUU8Sv9-vmRtt_YNV08O_QC_ZpvblYTg588WgPCgVX7jQ6w8Kt47J9QHBStgChTY6RQi2WHQ1tIve5jHYwnhYNpASSyeXMnJerEr3aGJr2w3yGD6FHMWjtBueS8oy8dGRM3swvA7Sv-Dt3yw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuVJPV70b_OaoSqijPbViZmkpv_BXnTD07YGMFYTDJP9AUU8Sv9-vmRtt_YNV08O_QC_ZpvblYTg588WgPCgVX7jQ6w8Kt47J9QHBStgChTY6RQi2WHQ1tIve5jHYwnhYNpASSyeXMnJerEr3aGJr2w3yGD6FHMWjtBueS8oy8dGRM3swvA7Sv-Dt3yw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-78095743016129535972023-01-31T05:00:00.003-08:002023-01-31T05:00:00.198-08:00January ~ memorable moments<div style="text-align: center;">It's a new year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1yCb_EatVGlQzwR6n4GTW2ymnRvF13WWT5DJI6E6_Z9DuAz9Ow8RSssf775UJXAdO_epRGyrRYMPuuL50zawLlHV-QhLXLND0vhSQQfzef55SQGiSDbcTtegxZ_TECfCJVRqpxnco5JQVUhDrD3HT99FioS5Z_yvhlgatIDD0UELikkx0VdyIDxeAg/s4032/IMG_E2605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1yCb_EatVGlQzwR6n4GTW2ymnRvF13WWT5DJI6E6_Z9DuAz9Ow8RSssf775UJXAdO_epRGyrRYMPuuL50zawLlHV-QhLXLND0vhSQQfzef55SQGiSDbcTtegxZ_TECfCJVRqpxnco5JQVUhDrD3HT99FioS5Z_yvhlgatIDD0UELikkx0VdyIDxeAg/w640-h480/IMG_E2605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2022 is 'water under the bridge'!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of that water came down the river as icebergs and piled up along the shores of the Fraser River near the Rosedale Agassiz bridge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizggBp6DTAecvq90LaxY90ooYlrvmBAfhIBHnCopFv8NPyx4C8W5J-GvMlsgzebU8EF3h04UMXNrSWORZImI5ydScK6vsqDi3dmdcpfSqpFd60KXNhxDOPC8e_jZ4TN3gG__MsGo2CwjlDk4_0xzRga-RhJ9o9b2UVwXr3ypn69NenaFHWJVghELlanw/s4032/IMG_E2621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizggBp6DTAecvq90LaxY90ooYlrvmBAfhIBHnCopFv8NPyx4C8W5J-GvMlsgzebU8EF3h04UMXNrSWORZImI5ydScK6vsqDi3dmdcpfSqpFd60KXNhxDOPC8e_jZ4TN3gG__MsGo2CwjlDk4_0xzRga-RhJ9o9b2UVwXr3ypn69NenaFHWJVghELlanw/w640-h480/IMG_E2621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was really quite amazing...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and drew crowds there at the beginning of the month. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsnG3qQtJRhoGmFQiRGrqY4rBmHTucLXlxw59GRi6u5fPKdfyrXo5AbH5Dajmsc_LrhuKFzbVQ5zdDonqlTWc0tQoPgtc7-g3KWxXZyHre2G5rRwYyYwWbDlUKFanH3j81bRrr6CKnX_7UFN4hAInE-k7rTyOItQj0FW52NZpvMdbv6aQE47ayx7jVg/s3889/CMNQE6332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="3889" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsnG3qQtJRhoGmFQiRGrqY4rBmHTucLXlxw59GRi6u5fPKdfyrXo5AbH5Dajmsc_LrhuKFzbVQ5zdDonqlTWc0tQoPgtc7-g3KWxXZyHre2G5rRwYyYwWbDlUKFanH3j81bRrr6CKnX_7UFN4hAInE-k7rTyOItQj0FW52NZpvMdbv6aQE47ayx7jVg/w640-h488/CMNQE6332.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What better way to start the new year than to go bowling with the whole family on New Year's Day?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fun time! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Those of us who thought we knew how to bowl found out otherwise!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9G2k3EdKOOEyMgxuJLQP7Q4F56bgps_XigLFzCA8PYnbuuFKcIfLpmyuaXxSNdxgXNcdo04YcIjEUT4Qhg7E2hOR4Xr-Qb9oA4NXFuf-YcGGeHBXS57rPEvVxX3oD4oC5Ezo4SCNeD1a_3E4GrsH34jeozv8ncqyt98hDywbomv2nWYVKlMVU06V9w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW9G2k3EdKOOEyMgxuJLQP7Q4F56bgps_XigLFzCA8PYnbuuFKcIfLpmyuaXxSNdxgXNcdo04YcIjEUT4Qhg7E2hOR4Xr-Qb9oA4NXFuf-YcGGeHBXS57rPEvVxX3oD4oC5Ezo4SCNeD1a_3E4GrsH34jeozv8ncqyt98hDywbomv2nWYVKlMVU06V9w=w640-h477" width="640" /></a></div><br />And when we were done bowling...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we had a feast of New Years fritters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We call them Portzelky...</div><div style="text-align: center;">our Dutch neighbours call them Oliebollen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I made half with apples and half with raisins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQMH74pMPxxgmLuq5hUWSUVBGJuimjaA-TBvN-pr7UMUgAbB9Vr5kWohVSTqxaQiY8AdHAaUFrVtzQNMJXsnEZ9GilM1wo1pxi4yCwsybQLBWuiqFP8Y4Iixj6bVDpsB9wZHVOwqYK1B2g9-wEJdFl4Kr2zMFf8s_YWnfFy1GoxryMZ7c8rgESGypBg/s4032/IMG_E2711.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQMH74pMPxxgmLuq5hUWSUVBGJuimjaA-TBvN-pr7UMUgAbB9Vr5kWohVSTqxaQiY8AdHAaUFrVtzQNMJXsnEZ9GilM1wo1pxi4yCwsybQLBWuiqFP8Y4Iixj6bVDpsB9wZHVOwqYK1B2g9-wEJdFl4Kr2zMFf8s_YWnfFy1GoxryMZ7c8rgESGypBg/w480-h640/IMG_E2711.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">An invitation to a 'high tea' at the home of a friend was a most welcome.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8d6qJM5XAgF0_ohzlJEQ_kQub8HbdMWdnAdDAKdvysfu57BB2DEgxVrGnV9fVqOo1XnpRHe3MVHAcbhgfuk5xrHQ3bFSPH91IdiObozKa_mICTuIpTsUolhDgJcwM-rHxzYBSbISibP6uD2viHFJGoY1e7b5V5PM4VLgjADst2ruQczesapH_qxYyA/s640/IMG_0197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8d6qJM5XAgF0_ohzlJEQ_kQub8HbdMWdnAdDAKdvysfu57BB2DEgxVrGnV9fVqOo1XnpRHe3MVHAcbhgfuk5xrHQ3bFSPH91IdiObozKa_mICTuIpTsUolhDgJcwM-rHxzYBSbISibP6uD2viHFJGoY1e7b5V5PM4VLgjADst2ruQczesapH_qxYyA/w640-h480/IMG_0197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We may not have acted too regal...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but we sure had a fun time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have been friends for years...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and don't need much of an excuse to celebrate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It had been awhile since we had been together...</div><div style="text-align: center;">health, surgeries, and travel got in the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdL-AU9fk_1PptjGR4l856MAfNg41SWo-hn9fO8yNox7r063ukGRen-z-4AM29kQYckw_cgMKxGGNKXHJsn9w0cMKcRQzrxshkBwMH68AasSAdJjeFLopoLSuNv04Y_OQpqF98oE9E11alY6B0-kbhK8x4-Wy7HCXtYsWeDQDP8_yaSnZ5bpe2Ioxfg/s3739/IMG_E2673%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3739" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdL-AU9fk_1PptjGR4l856MAfNg41SWo-hn9fO8yNox7r063ukGRen-z-4AM29kQYckw_cgMKxGGNKXHJsn9w0cMKcRQzrxshkBwMH68AasSAdJjeFLopoLSuNv04Y_OQpqF98oE9E11alY6B0-kbhK8x4-Wy7HCXtYsWeDQDP8_yaSnZ5bpe2Ioxfg/w640-h488/IMG_E2673%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Mavis lost the love of her life a few weeks ago...</div><div>so it was a bittersweet get-together.</div><div><br /></div><div>We watched grands play hockey (Ryder) and basketball (Maggie).</div><div>Always fun to cheer them on!</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HbG2WI9N13ltykRKJZ8YWOUqgHAEFNTRzWOwHtAjNEnS7kQop6v2pJX3BSbrRkojxdrF7ugrvxc-llPDkvtRIgASZZITeQGX0WrWOVYkDGA8sc0S4JZ97FbZrCD_MkMtyJwGqHh_wdMAX72tjpuKci47KkMZ7CjHIR8v2WYHfqO5p8o3n3v3abXgMg/s4032/IMG_2692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HbG2WI9N13ltykRKJZ8YWOUqgHAEFNTRzWOwHtAjNEnS7kQop6v2pJX3BSbrRkojxdrF7ugrvxc-llPDkvtRIgASZZITeQGX0WrWOVYkDGA8sc0S4JZ97FbZrCD_MkMtyJwGqHh_wdMAX72tjpuKci47KkMZ7CjHIR8v2WYHfqO5p8o3n3v3abXgMg/w640-h480/IMG_2692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a birthday this month and was celebrated royally.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My uncle and aunt stopped by to drop off this lovely planter...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we had such a nice visit.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who has uncles and aunts that are nearing ninety and still remembering your birthday?</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are special people.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was their flower girls some 67 years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am thankful for another year of good health and the many other blessings of the past year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPek9w4I4jXyOi5ukzHyhWVx82Ov6wVbaCgVzVikVqgr9oF4114nHeTruzI7EjX8YDkPvimkilakm1eLWT2M7cKE8xK7Y2mBzTFx7o608lSa8_S9HqLtc7E4dCes2zEkilkZ9lPyajmkyi1FViM-bI0usbt5VL5SSXEGdtEaqea5nFM3KeuKUSPFO7A/s3390/IMG_E2683.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3390" data-original-width="2663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPek9w4I4jXyOi5ukzHyhWVx82Ov6wVbaCgVzVikVqgr9oF4114nHeTruzI7EjX8YDkPvimkilakm1eLWT2M7cKE8xK7Y2mBzTFx7o608lSa8_S9HqLtc7E4dCes2zEkilkZ9lPyajmkyi1FViM-bI0usbt5VL5SSXEGdtEaqea5nFM3KeuKUSPFO7A/w502-h640/IMG_E2683.JPG" width="502" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once the Christmas decor was packed away...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...it has been nice to enjoy the blooms of spring indoors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G59cLpJciWTx1wismzvz8obriJOpynQfakCwsssyo2m34aWjIioxmUYJf2-lYPGLUdV7vg9Xy5cfyxJt2DsP9dbiNCrg3-0_8ANCdlhajvSFOrwpsHEsV6yLu44XTQQDD-nwbP12Kfo0aWDUvpUNfzvqLsv4dbvXmLLGQk-XAP3pmCy6hgris22XDA/s1860/IMG_E2676.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1860" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G59cLpJciWTx1wismzvz8obriJOpynQfakCwsssyo2m34aWjIioxmUYJf2-lYPGLUdV7vg9Xy5cfyxJt2DsP9dbiNCrg3-0_8ANCdlhajvSFOrwpsHEsV6yLu44XTQQDD-nwbP12Kfo0aWDUvpUNfzvqLsv4dbvXmLLGQk-XAP3pmCy6hgris22XDA/w640-h518/IMG_E2676.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have had some amazing sunsets this month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"The heavens declare the glory of God."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9rClAbzBqB8FX1AxJ7IhlBDSNQIeimugGowNchjrCzw29obat7rf5Bw1SnMFcmxmZ4Eiu_53FNDd_yN-6jhF1DcdBBdtOrBKBkkdQ_bwtj3Zx2L7oGVKFSFriQXOXTdRoUMK7YhPLHq-75wLq8PsR2C3LFPsV5ARmjcMIFrrAQwQLVRX8LCfoX64U6w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9rClAbzBqB8FX1AxJ7IhlBDSNQIeimugGowNchjrCzw29obat7rf5Bw1SnMFcmxmZ4Eiu_53FNDd_yN-6jhF1DcdBBdtOrBKBkkdQ_bwtj3Zx2L7oGVKFSFriQXOXTdRoUMK7YhPLHq-75wLq8PsR2C3LFPsV5ARmjcMIFrrAQwQLVRX8LCfoX64U6w=s16000" /></a></div><br />Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-8938279924107529872022-12-31T11:43:00.002-08:002023-01-02T10:20:42.979-08:00A December to Remember<div style="text-align: center;">And just like that, December has come to an end and we close the book on 2022.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we move on to the new year, let me just re-cap the happenings of December. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5UqpAryHYZeUa6SE4c73DQo-2vmBcrY1EEfd3pTDGKpnEvEmRa-qCX5WGpYAmmiZFwYxhp7K5v7iTEToqzEDK2Qn0YwZS_ZJhdRj7fqMwNiXm6WlNkdzHC6pIrjH6xttVUEX4BNKk2PJQEThSZM39eiUkGCBww51RUMiu1yXhnJompCS4ve8vNeQDw/s2698/IMG_E2322-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="2698" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5UqpAryHYZeUa6SE4c73DQo-2vmBcrY1EEfd3pTDGKpnEvEmRa-qCX5WGpYAmmiZFwYxhp7K5v7iTEToqzEDK2Qn0YwZS_ZJhdRj7fqMwNiXm6WlNkdzHC6pIrjH6xttVUEX4BNKk2PJQEThSZM39eiUkGCBww51RUMiu1yXhnJompCS4ve8vNeQDw/w640-h480/IMG_E2322-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We began the month with snow...</div><div style="text-align: center;">had three snow storms come and go...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and are ending 2022 with rain and balmy temperatures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For the past many years we have had a MGCC Christmas party...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">for those who live close enough to attend.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPyHzz-pGvddFvOMpcCS1pnSX-PJsXp6tjdCw7IJN4OWpE07aRg9ZCstwQIO7p4SkuW8bpxGUXJ7w22DjKiGyZL0Kzvd-KenEHJDJkn04OgQv4HCEHZVC2IpvyVZuEt4TukCoIIj1-0PhNAY1qlfKUODQEsELy0BHZY4VlC793Wh1cGXGlIW1L6z6eg/s640/IMG_2223.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="640" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPyHzz-pGvddFvOMpcCS1pnSX-PJsXp6tjdCw7IJN4OWpE07aRg9ZCstwQIO7p4SkuW8bpxGUXJ7w22DjKiGyZL0Kzvd-KenEHJDJkn04OgQv4HCEHZVC2IpvyVZuEt4TukCoIIj1-0PhNAY1qlfKUODQEsELy0BHZY4VlC793Wh1cGXGlIW1L6z6eg/w640-h478/IMG_2223.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year there were seven of us and our spouses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so good to have Ellen join us again...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">after a few years of 'pandemic separation'!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We missed Betty, Char and Kathy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqOiTP1Z9CI4CXgm-kzgXBZ_af8Qc5O-N274YlmSD7HYqMuZEy4cOTDQUPyh8cYaUfSsZO1DVRQqmqabEwA4VdVXYUlQXHAKh7GMcj03aJUieV2DB9-KtihtlMpq59eJlWymyMbca7oMlyGeeUDA3lHZPkLQBHOJNPF4pQRKfRUmp6CdtgtJtiCR91w/s2048/EZEY2507.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqOiTP1Z9CI4CXgm-kzgXBZ_af8Qc5O-N274YlmSD7HYqMuZEy4cOTDQUPyh8cYaUfSsZO1DVRQqmqabEwA4VdVXYUlQXHAKh7GMcj03aJUieV2DB9-KtihtlMpq59eJlWymyMbca7oMlyGeeUDA3lHZPkLQBHOJNPF4pQRKfRUmp6CdtgtJtiCR91w/w480-h640/EZEY2507.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hosted the first MGCC Christmas dinner ten years ago...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so it was fitting to have it at our home again.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-zgaVQ0zDvKETC666fPaqZleoOrBlZql6mukEIoRkQt8RntB2ykl3jmclO4UjI4u3eyAFBR7awithgzabDnMukacE-Dn0lKmvADr3TEpdiZQk90m9BjePjUwC7nQiCBtyF2f8_AcSAExkZq4FUiGMw6XRfCtlvjTWTZ30FpMpueF77XehYy9zk77Q/s5120/MGCC%20Christmas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-zgaVQ0zDvKETC666fPaqZleoOrBlZql6mukEIoRkQt8RntB2ykl3jmclO4UjI4u3eyAFBR7awithgzabDnMukacE-Dn0lKmvADr3TEpdiZQk90m9BjePjUwC7nQiCBtyF2f8_AcSAExkZq4FUiGMw6XRfCtlvjTWTZ30FpMpueF77XehYy9zk77Q/w640-h480/MGCC%20Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I prepared the main course and the rest brought salad, appies and dessert.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I need not have cooked a main course at all.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We could have made a meal of the appetizers!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq9QvCdKHv-03_Zs89Zzgaix4cNIId4QwgivvYjq0EM3PS7lQezrs8l7etAlLq11LHWKnV_F5rTKJyqqXWyTk4Av-fOOOyPQz-H3rNlAJGvYItgsUybMYRHXzxSarIUSKwSdMvxbgBhaKwIzO5Ey7DVji_AKml6z4j8wsrOdIE96bFAjZbbwEJjvvew/s4032/IMG_2188.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq9QvCdKHv-03_Zs89Zzgaix4cNIId4QwgivvYjq0EM3PS7lQezrs8l7etAlLq11LHWKnV_F5rTKJyqqXWyTk4Av-fOOOyPQz-H3rNlAJGvYItgsUybMYRHXzxSarIUSKwSdMvxbgBhaKwIzO5Ey7DVji_AKml6z4j8wsrOdIE96bFAjZbbwEJjvvew/w480-h640/IMG_2188.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been a real joy to share this friendship through these many years.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knows what the next ten years will hold?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0TZUAxtxl6OAxmFFzwbTjKW0XqyQOFQbrazv-zgfD8d3Ps4zZvhfNA_Zxhp-NDTbuAMrotpVdbPtqMRbAPFFJylf0XgBbnUlwZYFWE9zLpd-fkAqSpHN26fqn9AmGSnaLsGr-9vWGysdGUW2GPI7yyc6AbRHzoCY7db4tqUGfxth39Z95bo6fzpAlg/s2048/mgccxmas22b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0TZUAxtxl6OAxmFFzwbTjKW0XqyQOFQbrazv-zgfD8d3Ps4zZvhfNA_Zxhp-NDTbuAMrotpVdbPtqMRbAPFFJylf0XgBbnUlwZYFWE9zLpd-fkAqSpHN26fqn9AmGSnaLsGr-9vWGysdGUW2GPI7yyc6AbRHzoCY7db4tqUGfxth39Z95bo6fzpAlg/w640-h480/mgccxmas22b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After dinner the guys went upstairs for a crokinole tournament...</div><div style="text-align: center;">just like they did ten years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a gift exchange and enjoyed each others company.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is always so good way begin the Christmas season with these friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After a few years of gathering restrictions,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was good to have all the Christmas concerts back this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUuh_PE60FqG27qfXS5AusvjdfHTJ_kYNHt0EwqIwSBmZXLiQkIVw2Sit3Xys7fwjGQRIEVosoDFGHL3OjebKAvVkN8NpecGgzyqTocx5ngS4QrCWM-mIqO1nDjVYecQLRqmdVDnQTMpzJzBTxz4AWy_qH_WJmSD2Yie55csCt5x1USjOuCcp7aZrGw/s3649/IMG_2178-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2737" data-original-width="3649" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUuh_PE60FqG27qfXS5AusvjdfHTJ_kYNHt0EwqIwSBmZXLiQkIVw2Sit3Xys7fwjGQRIEVosoDFGHL3OjebKAvVkN8NpecGgzyqTocx5ngS4QrCWM-mIqO1nDjVYecQLRqmdVDnQTMpzJzBTxz4AWy_qH_WJmSD2Yie55csCt5x1USjOuCcp7aZrGw/w640-h480/IMG_2178-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the beginning of December we took in the Christmas production of the Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir and Abbotsford Youth Orchestra.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a great from beginning to end...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the finale was amazing, featuring Ranen on the fiddle and Irish dancing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/fJyP3aTGLjw">Go Tell it on the Mountain like we had never heard before.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(click to watch)</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had good reason to be proud of her. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The following weekend she played in the symphony orchestra at the performance of Handel's Messiah at Central Heights church in Abbotsford before a sold-out crowd. It was a fantastic performance...all three hours of it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We so enjoyed all the in-person Christmas events this year, including Brian Doerksen's 'Heart of Christmas' concert!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_-ag9W29iP9jM4DSWSVA8yRmdUDfkwM499Xg-rmytH8Eh93xCHUHo89fqxKHi3Fag3Kewdz-DSF5_m9CGc_ryybAwfKDc61L9bvF-knjNKYllIe2aaX5QE5ILhsMRaTO5aFxaTEH_LHsNVycXjxwq3sU3TjLm0Ju_oGRYCwmr0UEtm4_8DPKlSLrbw/s3527/IMG_E2267.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3527" data-original-width="2974" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_-ag9W29iP9jM4DSWSVA8yRmdUDfkwM499Xg-rmytH8Eh93xCHUHo89fqxKHi3Fag3Kewdz-DSF5_m9CGc_ryybAwfKDc61L9bvF-knjNKYllIe2aaX5QE5ILhsMRaTO5aFxaTEH_LHsNVycXjxwq3sU3TjLm0Ju_oGRYCwmr0UEtm4_8DPKlSLrbw/w540-h640/IMG_E2267.JPG" width="540" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our church sponsored a Christmas event for women...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I was asked to prepare a Christmas grazing table.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My first impulse was to decline...</div><div style="text-align: center;">since it was not something I had ever done.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But with the help of my good friend Marg...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we made it happen. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was quite fun to put together!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FBrscsZNOt_qY_BBCbcOaF_JZurtJ6sW0G3vm2_aoZXOzuSX4oz8sy_6vVLxcR4fkp7BVzKf0I1hkHRjzJxrVIZYc3806ryR4f1qd_Hldp0uBUWT_kqtQh375nNRUctVAkMyiEpHeCo5rPj9FHw6FJ1qV8AkD1tLOdN2uvQ00yijyQScUjZS9V_YvA/s4032/IMG_2335-002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FBrscsZNOt_qY_BBCbcOaF_JZurtJ6sW0G3vm2_aoZXOzuSX4oz8sy_6vVLxcR4fkp7BVzKf0I1hkHRjzJxrVIZYc3806ryR4f1qd_Hldp0uBUWT_kqtQh375nNRUctVAkMyiEpHeCo5rPj9FHw6FJ1qV8AkD1tLOdN2uvQ00yijyQScUjZS9V_YvA/w640-h480/IMG_2335-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ignored the front sidewalk for several days while the snow was still blowing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but dug out a path for Christmas.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDavj9IxCOILebfVKgnd7C4T8mOjRxyikHF80Jsevyv6TlupuxQU6MUOVwu58QgdWUhqLcxgwDEb-QndCg5DJtmFYnmKFIDjTptnnp9q9Yoanale63v5nS2SnyFtQj_rKHRM1WowmUOmVW251NT88mE_0mPwYuWsVsLuoPYhO8Pklgp0O411CVnelF0g/s3804/IMG_E2313.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3804" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDavj9IxCOILebfVKgnd7C4T8mOjRxyikHF80Jsevyv6TlupuxQU6MUOVwu58QgdWUhqLcxgwDEb-QndCg5DJtmFYnmKFIDjTptnnp9q9Yoanale63v5nS2SnyFtQj_rKHRM1WowmUOmVW251NT88mE_0mPwYuWsVsLuoPYhO8Pklgp0O411CVnelF0g/w640-h480/IMG_E2313.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is rare for snow to blanket the ground evenly over here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As it falls the wind whips it up into drifts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw_PH9OpeG_ajnnZz9Fu6lKwagJKmH14ewRFDLn6obO0sIR7UV1QF5LVOCvERPRtiWvoJbbkq6mupvURVa6BaU5RfUl1knhgrW1_bNBMqCp2-dWgcyfYyg1YQEIfxB095KVilZCH012RkBxSXJGSDtYvTArhhKV_61KZjUXiPMQiNdaDXA_YT2n70mg/s4032/IMG_2342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw_PH9OpeG_ajnnZz9Fu6lKwagJKmH14ewRFDLn6obO0sIR7UV1QF5LVOCvERPRtiWvoJbbkq6mupvURVa6BaU5RfUl1knhgrW1_bNBMqCp2-dWgcyfYyg1YQEIfxB095KVilZCH012RkBxSXJGSDtYvTArhhKV_61KZjUXiPMQiNdaDXA_YT2n70mg/w640-h480/IMG_2342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>While our temperature was still at -9C (15F)...</div><div>the rains began and covered everything with a sheet of ice.</div><div>As December comes to an end, most of our snow has washed away.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MeDyPdT_lAD-WzjjPWyTL4n7C6D367sEhbGeT5isNUhukFf4zxP_NVgVwsIFVy8cVnSD3e6aaba0TsBDA2Xf9kJ_9Iawm0HlAPuG4Wd5STxG6APeTFFOqxRcgf7UU2Ya2GjOlpToUBPvzqIMWOtb53u8Tx4dQFYc_Jg5GfPI_b9cRO-1UbUGrvrSOA/s3409/IMG_E2377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2941" data-original-width="3409" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MeDyPdT_lAD-WzjjPWyTL4n7C6D367sEhbGeT5isNUhukFf4zxP_NVgVwsIFVy8cVnSD3e6aaba0TsBDA2Xf9kJ_9Iawm0HlAPuG4Wd5STxG6APeTFFOqxRcgf7UU2Ya2GjOlpToUBPvzqIMWOtb53u8Tx4dQFYc_Jg5GfPI_b9cRO-1UbUGrvrSOA/w640-h552/IMG_E2377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas Eve, 2022.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Family gathered.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They all went home for a few hours and came back for brunch on Christmas Day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brunch is the same every single year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and even those who don't care for 'Christmas Morning Lifesaver' don't want to change the menu.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Breakfast casserole, fruit salad, fresh rolls and cinnamon buns.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWfevLEXU40IjfS1OH3nyotiYaNN72QPtmrRhMI9jx3GF-IocVqZYuxWdXluMprhTcYQy1Gpx8aeoXfID09_6w-h8yhry2LWIwO19ovmTfgvpU8InkeHLeR3wK6OkDJNMhHvuKFChDVmGxGq0XA5gElmAqe_P0hx0GWKWVbJfb75m9DTqDEY9a8n36w/s4032/IMG_2392.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWfevLEXU40IjfS1OH3nyotiYaNN72QPtmrRhMI9jx3GF-IocVqZYuxWdXluMprhTcYQy1Gpx8aeoXfID09_6w-h8yhry2LWIwO19ovmTfgvpU8InkeHLeR3wK6OkDJNMhHvuKFChDVmGxGq0XA5gElmAqe_P0hx0GWKWVbJfb75m9DTqDEY9a8n36w/w640-h480/IMG_2392.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then...</div><div style="text-align: center;">gift opening.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It seemed so much more peaceful this year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with no one in a hurry to leave.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What happened to all the impatient grands and the chaos of yesteryear?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PNXS51BJPYL_NwDrfpZ7VB57RZvQ1jps5VqKJHQt174piKvIIayipJ-X8aHoZwxG2OqWaiH9_a5bJanSBWOG4Qv9QfD4eig1HUdKBg8Ni4GD_ixmNDws7k3qIdMig6M5lKFYiwq82ndEj1zxG8Neip9k8QJujy566cBa7sWoAGzDA0oOPPh3s26oeg/s4032/IMG_2391.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PNXS51BJPYL_NwDrfpZ7VB57RZvQ1jps5VqKJHQt174piKvIIayipJ-X8aHoZwxG2OqWaiH9_a5bJanSBWOG4Qv9QfD4eig1HUdKBg8Ni4GD_ixmNDws7k3qIdMig6M5lKFYiwq82ndEj1zxG8Neip9k8QJujy566cBa7sWoAGzDA0oOPPh3s26oeg/w640-h480/IMG_2391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maggie adores cousin Ryder...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and gifted him a box of cookies she had painstakingly decorated.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0-a5SYewbAYEhEbU_Zyc2OYA40BY-qWGpV1ADt122tcDwBVxMfyqv6XT2-kSGwPOHGE-8ZdNEi4ZeV_5_XYoytaBAsRxHWsPRxpEfopMpQ_DqFWNysSXACM6azGzjgGIm3YW_mWOnQIh0k5dDBaMX_tsimu6x6a044WiPsPXI_isyRX47yt_T9sB9g/s4032/IMG_2395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0-a5SYewbAYEhEbU_Zyc2OYA40BY-qWGpV1ADt122tcDwBVxMfyqv6XT2-kSGwPOHGE-8ZdNEi4ZeV_5_XYoytaBAsRxHWsPRxpEfopMpQ_DqFWNysSXACM6azGzjgGIm3YW_mWOnQIh0k5dDBaMX_tsimu6x6a044WiPsPXI_isyRX47yt_T9sB9g/w640-h480/IMG_2395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And after the gifts...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJ9qMf8T2suqgjLZKYcswLLngqllDX8KWMdygT3xtMdTAr3xlrwJduGCWS88P9SOK1nsUjA1Q6-B44wTV1MsS-wk0-MvTgXJEw5hQm7NCN-CV6jj_vOK_b1H-POoBgTAK9P4-YR4HmetGIwXC1sNmkD5hpfv-_NWX4-rDKfejC7XxkgNTx2__Ti-Eg/s3490/IMG_E2371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2332" data-original-width="3490" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNJ9qMf8T2suqgjLZKYcswLLngqllDX8KWMdygT3xtMdTAr3xlrwJduGCWS88P9SOK1nsUjA1Q6-B44wTV1MsS-wk0-MvTgXJEw5hQm7NCN-CV6jj_vOK_b1H-POoBgTAK9P4-YR4HmetGIwXC1sNmkD5hpfv-_NWX4-rDKfejC7XxkgNTx2__Ti-Eg/w640-h429/IMG_E2371.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...fun and games.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAhFbeUSCURg4hzCk8eoQWGJMZ0BUZA96961zb1BqrG1j1UFn3PxnZwe3GWQZMUJKtqRZMKpnZp5NqZZJVFjtJhM5k3zdHhYMldjnrNTA_8TmML9KDrIrdGEXhDyjLEa0HK4uRXbyTtyudVTIQKjBPXxZhHRYuT74PeN7VBKlgVZzRt4FbMFpAXCRsg/s782/NDRQ3279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAhFbeUSCURg4hzCk8eoQWGJMZ0BUZA96961zb1BqrG1j1UFn3PxnZwe3GWQZMUJKtqRZMKpnZp5NqZZJVFjtJhM5k3zdHhYMldjnrNTA_8TmML9KDrIrdGEXhDyjLEa0HK4uRXbyTtyudVTIQKjBPXxZhHRYuT74PeN7VBKlgVZzRt4FbMFpAXCRsg/w640-h640/NDRQ3279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played 'Codenames'...</div><div style="text-align: center;">a fun game for teams.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgvdlSZ8F4pIRTrHwrf4rZAUubITqB6kSxrehygHc8jyLHyICA5VRFxtOFDhRKMxTu3ULujRcBUNhWFZ6GNT6NvrHdWDz12g4_1vdh5J00uYO-6p081hQSME1-P8d_eeUqRTmr5XZ-oZOkrAMROSV4GF1J6sOUvvQw8oHvIZvoVlwh1mJBDELbGhQcA/s2048/B3ACD956-3931-4243-BA7C-9FCF92051EF0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgvdlSZ8F4pIRTrHwrf4rZAUubITqB6kSxrehygHc8jyLHyICA5VRFxtOFDhRKMxTu3ULujRcBUNhWFZ6GNT6NvrHdWDz12g4_1vdh5J00uYO-6p081hQSME1-P8d_eeUqRTmr5XZ-oZOkrAMROSV4GF1J6sOUvvQw8oHvIZvoVlwh1mJBDELbGhQcA/w640-h640/B3ACD956-3931-4243-BA7C-9FCF92051EF0.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas Day was not all 'comfort and joy'.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We received sad news that morning that our longtime friend Mel had just passed away.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For him it was joy...</div><div style="text-align: center;">he spent his first Christmas in heaven.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For those left behind...</div><div style="text-align: center;">there was sadness that day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have both known Mel since our youth and shared many experiences over the years... </div><div style="text-align: center;">more recently were in a small group together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He will be missed! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0HaxI4AfesPcT7Fn84_aYXekvzJCHOLuzlTeD5_p--rCnOTABONefHrX2nt1V2gZO81r4vvAvsbsLFHJxui-E5mUYNt8BM1I3jU7ikeD5tO8JpXFwCDavQR1oTGdJ2XWay0notDO5TL-EAMfhTqrSMShchUM1IyUHz8KWNVOsenYig7cANuYmf3Qtqw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0HaxI4AfesPcT7Fn84_aYXekvzJCHOLuzlTeD5_p--rCnOTABONefHrX2nt1V2gZO81r4vvAvsbsLFHJxui-E5mUYNt8BM1I3jU7ikeD5tO8JpXFwCDavQR1oTGdJ2XWay0notDO5TL-EAMfhTqrSMShchUM1IyUHz8KWNVOsenYig7cANuYmf3Qtqw=w640-h482" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new year.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I don't know what lies ahead...</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">but I do know that I can count on God's faithfulness!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy New Year!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgKUbngf8v3eEwtzqnfFSyTUKfr2EwfOKIzWWhviDoctav93Icks1HZdbpMh5v-OE4I0rFw0esxoCdvZrL8Uc7oawDAJ4Ky_psF1CybFKqoESZF8OQTjsbgvFfRHRNa4h0WKHSUL2Qa6v_YeDaJIZd2_JJGMh66zfBH0wbp5bX6OUvWjmEVU8nDCAudyzNEjyF7KNOI=s0-d" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 5px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px;" /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-19717197682320306472022-11-30T11:28:00.001-08:002022-11-30T11:29:00.033-08:00November ~ come and gone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Why does it seem like this was a very short month?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Time hurries on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We spent the first week of this month down south...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">and came home to lush green lawns and fields.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After five months of drought, the long-awaited rain arrived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVjD90ms2RkZ5luDL4TS1h6iNMjS6J0rQpBZ1f-pAQt-ssDdny0ZJzTxib2KiBncrXZF-ft_g4KBD8X1is9I0uJQlS7Q5B7O7alpExKxQpmUDCyPjng-gGV9-gE-IuLGitmziMIMtubbhDgu3G5PrWUIhl5hI2PeuCCQZZxRtc99YbkarbQjGYeZQAA/s4032/B48C2030-7110-4EDE-82DC-869F65BC9683.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVjD90ms2RkZ5luDL4TS1h6iNMjS6J0rQpBZ1f-pAQt-ssDdny0ZJzTxib2KiBncrXZF-ft_g4KBD8X1is9I0uJQlS7Q5B7O7alpExKxQpmUDCyPjng-gGV9-gE-IuLGitmziMIMtubbhDgu3G5PrWUIhl5hI2PeuCCQZZxRtc99YbkarbQjGYeZQAA/w480-h640/B48C2030-7110-4EDE-82DC-869F65BC9683.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we also had plenty of sunshine and blue skies this month...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and fresh snow on the mountains nearby!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlo8zPMW4C5AN5uttQ9GbYsjw6E5KcxpQ44ijB4R0t3B7s3Oq3_L5aSglTTI2gURxA6CGVB9BJGUc5I4g2dgu24IkFQdGL7GXPmeo6omcW9o6gOEzj3YcEwCSBPnCo0n23EOUcEAbjt5HxCgRHHyK_tmpPRSFa9uaxyRaDusM8_fkKr_YY36iypDr8Q/s2924/02CED175-B019-45F9-9951-1BDA74FB3BC4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2871" data-original-width="2924" height="629" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlo8zPMW4C5AN5uttQ9GbYsjw6E5KcxpQ44ijB4R0t3B7s3Oq3_L5aSglTTI2gURxA6CGVB9BJGUc5I4g2dgu24IkFQdGL7GXPmeo6omcW9o6gOEzj3YcEwCSBPnCo0n23EOUcEAbjt5HxCgRHHyK_tmpPRSFa9uaxyRaDusM8_fkKr_YY36iypDr8Q/w640-h629/02CED175-B019-45F9-9951-1BDA74FB3BC4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On November 10th these two turned 21!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emme and Spencer made me a Grammy all those years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I could never have anticipated what a joy that role would bring!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will forever treasure the memories of all the time we have spent together...</div><div style="text-align: center;">reading books, watching movies, hiking, picnics, sleepovers, camping trips, and road trips.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's hoping I'm around to share many more of life's special moments with them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd3uK3kUBwzgFPeDqdpMqGaUClLWn7W1LZjLmsPYIjmv5Qz1BxrozOISRTJVRfxf7IYGBoLqVhQKDjDKK-ZM0759IDsD-5XACd8Z6sqlXQLFZtVJvxNBFtM9QLIo4vqdgtdBGW8kmsAlfiXxysUBpHSQmGoAe6ltpRpLGcs6rPR4m7NIURH5D5q_v_g/s4032/9BA94E18-9D3B-4B17-B088-29BF337EC4E8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd3uK3kUBwzgFPeDqdpMqGaUClLWn7W1LZjLmsPYIjmv5Qz1BxrozOISRTJVRfxf7IYGBoLqVhQKDjDKK-ZM0759IDsD-5XACd8Z6sqlXQLFZtVJvxNBFtM9QLIo4vqdgtdBGW8kmsAlfiXxysUBpHSQmGoAe6ltpRpLGcs6rPR4m7NIURH5D5q_v_g/w640-h480/9BA94E18-9D3B-4B17-B088-29BF337EC4E8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div>I had a milestone birthday at the beginning of the year.</div><div>As did my friend, Marg.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our hubbies had made arrangements a year in advance to have Rosemary Siemens & Eli Bennett serenade us for the occasion...</div><div>but the pandemic got in the way and the party was cancelled.</div><div><br /></div><div>On November 11th Rosemary and Eli put on a concert at church...</div><div>and caught us by surprise when they ended the evening with a birthday medley for the two of us</div><div>...for a birthday long forgotten.</div><div><br /></div><div>A memorable Remembrance Day it was!</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA-LONgKkvCFB9qAcBjvzJU1BXkqq9ypsXR34naMIZ7AjWvPJf3QI-rrVHfR_rn_r5AiK3FxePZ_oNOu-GJfGsl-AQ-X3MNV8w1UlUPqMhHtwbpx67v4Bk_2UkHPgWOLSs3m3FvSMahpxwaAAceBkoSv2wNhLn473SYsNFh8-MPTZD3d6d3oXxdRCTQ/s3737/CFEF5807-A7CD-4AC0-997C-1F5F74AB1787.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3737" data-original-width="2767" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixA-LONgKkvCFB9qAcBjvzJU1BXkqq9ypsXR34naMIZ7AjWvPJf3QI-rrVHfR_rn_r5AiK3FxePZ_oNOu-GJfGsl-AQ-X3MNV8w1UlUPqMhHtwbpx67v4Bk_2UkHPgWOLSs3m3FvSMahpxwaAAceBkoSv2wNhLn473SYsNFh8-MPTZD3d6d3oXxdRCTQ/w474-h640/CFEF5807-A7CD-4AC0-997C-1F5F74AB1787.jpeg" width="474" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Earlier this month, Ranen took part in the western Canada Irish Dance Competition in Victoria. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She finished well and qualified for the World Irish Dance Championships to take place in Montreal in spring. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have never been to Montreal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think we may have a good excuse to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEj4y4lQCHGpzROFQ4i4qJvhRg04HrxVhGnkKfR3XzvWEqcO8v2V32coYPeR8henQIeTrUatkN_IZDUw29twTIbbtsEwuQqffK5iGfKwTuHITEGUl_BAW2px_k6sKZ3s0UoWfP02qeKs-6GdcNMXGOU2k8XMbwXEv7N0xJcrIT8hTqF879xAmi-o2Hgg/s3702/7F5ADC7C-5052-44F7-B09E-885A6AF61084.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3702" data-original-width="2774" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEj4y4lQCHGpzROFQ4i4qJvhRg04HrxVhGnkKfR3XzvWEqcO8v2V32coYPeR8henQIeTrUatkN_IZDUw29twTIbbtsEwuQqffK5iGfKwTuHITEGUl_BAW2px_k6sKZ3s0UoWfP02qeKs-6GdcNMXGOU2k8XMbwXEv7N0xJcrIT8hTqF879xAmi-o2Hgg/w480-h640/7F5ADC7C-5052-44F7-B09E-885A6AF61084.jpeg" width="480" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>We have had the most beautiful sunsets this month.</div><div><br /></div></div>After a few good windstorms (including power outages) ...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the trees have lost their leaves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I write this post...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0VsPxeKh-iAtvAWmlG9D6_MZmZwfbivURwU089YuruwdKavgYiEKdIO1Ho4FnDRwC-P29MOfm3J9i-pOl6UGsdXoH9c9qAzU_04YpFO0ht7iAZHz-2jApaeawswv1I1XTNWegvdf42KIeDrW2zPDhYTSiyVG4S5nyXNO-wbv3upIH3o83JhGNKmBg/s5128/B63D0960-97DC-486A-9AF6-F4BE5178FEFD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3199" data-original-width="5128" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0VsPxeKh-iAtvAWmlG9D6_MZmZwfbivURwU089YuruwdKavgYiEKdIO1Ho4FnDRwC-P29MOfm3J9i-pOl6UGsdXoH9c9qAzU_04YpFO0ht7iAZHz-2jApaeawswv1I1XTNWegvdf42KIeDrW2zPDhYTSiyVG4S5nyXNO-wbv3upIH3o83JhGNKmBg/w640-h400/B63D0960-97DC-486A-9AF6-F4BE5178FEFD.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...we have a winter wonderland out there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77GTEX9UkJScPtl_zTHsgSzotlRiDwwXlqkvlssVkLniq4IDsW4-0-UDVNTQDuGJivCNJM-eUMpVelKKlXpnQu7t7cvkn1-TfUSjpM7LSlOplToz0OOV_NDzm4GNDQGRNraQc2mM42SVBQ9EkSITF0348Si8L0SjWBtFYKYTXRSyHfDvNNN4VlqEfNQ/s6148/0510ECC0-5A38-4B90-B1D9-5FF88DD28C19.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3306" data-original-width="6148" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77GTEX9UkJScPtl_zTHsgSzotlRiDwwXlqkvlssVkLniq4IDsW4-0-UDVNTQDuGJivCNJM-eUMpVelKKlXpnQu7t7cvkn1-TfUSjpM7LSlOplToz0OOV_NDzm4GNDQGRNraQc2mM42SVBQ9EkSITF0348Si8L0SjWBtFYKYTXRSyHfDvNNN4VlqEfNQ/w640-h344/0510ECC0-5A38-4B90-B1D9-5FF88DD28C19.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Inside...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">it's also beginning to look a bit like Christmas!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Wishing you all a wonderful advent season...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">as you prepare your hearts and your homes. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_QCwPvpIBNE05jkEUXQureRsRFOe0qWAw7_W6EjWFQGX_6k_0H7ykMFLOzgWGsX52Le0jQgIkTLumRU91EvWQPvOe6A2Izjm9LZP7Ym6rNhIQQ3S-hThgZgXyv20ru5ZrcNN-c0oP7eo4j9eEkXyP1cZluwCiScIbOEvWIvNvz9PqGTaHs5UB4ZiHyw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_QCwPvpIBNE05jkEUXQureRsRFOe0qWAw7_W6EjWFQGX_6k_0H7ykMFLOzgWGsX52Le0jQgIkTLumRU91EvWQPvOe6A2Izjm9LZP7Ym6rNhIQQ3S-hThgZgXyv20ru5ZrcNN-c0oP7eo4j9eEkXyP1cZluwCiScIbOEvWIvNvz9PqGTaHs5UB4ZiHyw=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><i>“I want a Christmas that whispers ‘Jesus’.” ~ Ann Voskamp</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-83882816566127979762022-11-19T13:06:00.002-08:002022-11-19T13:06:31.980-08:00A Desert Getaway to Remember<div style="text-align: center;">Since our desert retreat had its beginning in October and its end in November...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it will get a post of its own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4voU9IacmvP-Tl6uc6uPUd0VDOkdjjN2Ai15V1rlDIvoLOAL2rlu3svBIvE92WVefxeyER7NwlbosaZGk8Eq-9xB-pZk0HfTfbLdrvkZzCIHXsQ0dmOR4IKECJGYz_4sx4bpvbKGhppUSTrM5cj5byCG67SbI8gG5h0A75lregnSaKAjDBkdnPp8UA/s4032/IMG_1876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4voU9IacmvP-Tl6uc6uPUd0VDOkdjjN2Ai15V1rlDIvoLOAL2rlu3svBIvE92WVefxeyER7NwlbosaZGk8Eq-9xB-pZk0HfTfbLdrvkZzCIHXsQ0dmOR4IKECJGYz_4sx4bpvbKGhppUSTrM5cj5byCG67SbI8gG5h0A75lregnSaKAjDBkdnPp8UA/w640-h480/IMG_1876.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">During these past few years when travel was not a simple thing,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our family suggested we all go to Palm Springs 'once the pandemic was over'.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So we made tentative plans for the end of October,</div><div style="text-align: center;">though we never expected that all 18 would be able to participate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBvc4kHqYm_HuawcJmEizCnNyHjQbLZ30Hdi9hGz7ZcDvVO3p5Qo1ZkE_zoYWYABPHt8hNnFpRXqgRa-plf2BXSK2NWX7l31oE35j2cUO7tnknp5Lrhe78OT5e5ZO4IgoimNynBMrMQy91ObOY978cx5iwk7n6JWAVl3S9FnhLvjP5LgvXtDU6woVDw/s3684/IMG_E1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="3684" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBvc4kHqYm_HuawcJmEizCnNyHjQbLZ30Hdi9hGz7ZcDvVO3p5Qo1ZkE_zoYWYABPHt8hNnFpRXqgRa-plf2BXSK2NWX7l31oE35j2cUO7tnknp5Lrhe78OT5e5ZO4IgoimNynBMrMQy91ObOY978cx5iwk7n6JWAVl3S9FnhLvjP5LgvXtDU6woVDw/w640-h438/IMG_E1960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They did!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgVqfhgi0QFyByueOkT9gAB3UWY_kT-RSVctc7wt5rQ0tNnO7f0XLcYyepjzBYteUfEiMcr_P6ldMU58XHW9DywEsn1bJ-fqFBEd2H5--o5KQW0G5BoT_Wl8KDC1PjJsr3T-uFS0C77EXafWpwXlJlHXQxNIPI7p7k0vvv6lU26AAZYeq0CfNgndYQ/s1577/FZFA4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZgVqfhgi0QFyByueOkT9gAB3UWY_kT-RSVctc7wt5rQ0tNnO7f0XLcYyepjzBYteUfEiMcr_P6ldMU58XHW9DywEsn1bJ-fqFBEd2H5--o5KQW0G5BoT_Wl8KDC1PjJsr3T-uFS0C77EXafWpwXlJlHXQxNIPI7p7k0vvv6lU26AAZYeq0CfNgndYQ/w584-h640/FZFA4700.JPG" width="584" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For one whole week our kids and grands were all there with us...</div><div style="text-align: center;">...enjoying time together in the sun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqZ4rzUcenj_EFdmKAq_xC05m4kw2m0L8cGYYlfpKgWA9vpjNgT3dXHieoaHPsQSdxNXA5IHf7l12RfxEVrsHx9ytcqLV8UBQx6dCP7zVNwmpyMJr4bBtjshye011i-Hac5B4zL5JVgMIDJXnlhsun1fOnJvcp1HVCQhrHtjMuNsNvqX7ZIRyuECMbg/s2586/IMG_E1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2120" data-original-width="2586" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqZ4rzUcenj_EFdmKAq_xC05m4kw2m0L8cGYYlfpKgWA9vpjNgT3dXHieoaHPsQSdxNXA5IHf7l12RfxEVrsHx9ytcqLV8UBQx6dCP7zVNwmpyMJr4bBtjshye011i-Hac5B4zL5JVgMIDJXnlhsun1fOnJvcp1HVCQhrHtjMuNsNvqX7ZIRyuECMbg/w640-h524/IMG_E1790.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pickleball...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6Jgp0BWQpTszJR-qxYM7MGqS7tRWBWzh5WS3zC0Al8vjzbpzYMqZ_cZg8qBJxTnvmgS8sSgAc3rLZig0MauL5gVMW3lrz34GMlCLE9svtCwuqG6pz3uo9t3QABTaWx3baz8Sgs_vyHhbQsWqPlqT8QklfnMRTWUh1kAQYiwXZEXSd5-f8uN3RDA77A/s4032/IMG_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6Jgp0BWQpTszJR-qxYM7MGqS7tRWBWzh5WS3zC0Al8vjzbpzYMqZ_cZg8qBJxTnvmgS8sSgAc3rLZig0MauL5gVMW3lrz34GMlCLE9svtCwuqG6pz3uo9t3QABTaWx3baz8Sgs_vyHhbQsWqPlqT8QklfnMRTWUh1kAQYiwXZEXSd5-f8uN3RDA77A/w480-h640/IMG_1842.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..hikes in the desert</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoramZ1SimnVN8rRlseO2Bh4UcRHVb3WlqmNxIcTQio7Bq6ikyxFBrhkLp_NXp_OXFnn7SvHffM6fSITZdbEGP7wXcnGZb2FU8Hm00X1kT9wn3uY2rQOeqFvhv0AeVzftIwWdolepR2H0SALxeSY_RZ4qrQT-PeaoiO_FpOIcnmxm-FOAfthHmQOF9w/s5120/Palm%20Springs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoramZ1SimnVN8rRlseO2Bh4UcRHVb3WlqmNxIcTQio7Bq6ikyxFBrhkLp_NXp_OXFnn7SvHffM6fSITZdbEGP7wXcnGZb2FU8Hm00X1kT9wn3uY2rQOeqFvhv0AeVzftIwWdolepR2H0SALxeSY_RZ4qrQT-PeaoiO_FpOIcnmxm-FOAfthHmQOF9w/w640-h400/Palm%20Springs1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...or competing to take that top prize.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawi0eLnibFgGaItEk9rVVL_w1H4nLKDM-hlKonKQK2zCwlvEelekH5V2X4a866x2M1C9h29-gt3ccaBzL0wsqmcPhqRbweVMwilYPAZJxPLACPN2Bb0Mo_ZH_IAsghnmENtp0QFsaei40dqDOQQLgwiMXbRcL4-igGl5Pnw3SoSSXiOD2ueSTxyJNwg/s5120/Palm%20Springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawi0eLnibFgGaItEk9rVVL_w1H4nLKDM-hlKonKQK2zCwlvEelekH5V2X4a866x2M1C9h29-gt3ccaBzL0wsqmcPhqRbweVMwilYPAZJxPLACPN2Bb0Mo_ZH_IAsghnmENtp0QFsaei40dqDOQQLgwiMXbRcL4-igGl5Pnw3SoSSXiOD2ueSTxyJNwg/w640-h400/Palm%20Springs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a fun week for the cousins...</div><div style="text-align: center;">something they had looked forward to for a long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAdsge-f3l3BdJOoXpfb8GP2nlLaBk_P4LA3c66bkiwxXAGzLn6Cisrzsr8JdHYeAswGXfuYnZCjqkEiAJa75uDwOXWdmSDy2DcjCYS97ZjXYLNmEYaPK6W4lwCUnX-EdjIjAbRd5B7HHYGyqPQLFgR4huyRnV0n2YCTMXnLacI7WksvS2uDC3Pw9gg/s1215/IMG_E1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAdsge-f3l3BdJOoXpfb8GP2nlLaBk_P4LA3c66bkiwxXAGzLn6Cisrzsr8JdHYeAswGXfuYnZCjqkEiAJa75uDwOXWdmSDy2DcjCYS97ZjXYLNmEYaPK6W4lwCUnX-EdjIjAbRd5B7HHYGyqPQLFgR4huyRnV0n2YCTMXnLacI7WksvS2uDC3Pw9gg/w360-h640/IMG_E1818.JPG" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was not all play though! </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ranen practiced her violin every day, had an online dance class one morning as well as a chemistry exam. And she flew home early to play in the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra's fall performance. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4Nwdillde37pQfAGRiEUe_5WSIR_DCCxclzhzMXggCEML46TIJznrpVEghCpTVdWnJinLZ4pdmkcAUgrigitNjDRPdBt0dAPad1IizWvbq9Rnke7BvQW7v4C96HMwZ4iVkMk0vC8_aUwTrw4sz_tQ5GQ7Djuy7dFXACw10z05BQFTi8r7lHjjlkJWw/s3057/IMG_E1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="3057" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4Nwdillde37pQfAGRiEUe_5WSIR_DCCxclzhzMXggCEML46TIJznrpVEghCpTVdWnJinLZ4pdmkcAUgrigitNjDRPdBt0dAPad1IizWvbq9Rnke7BvQW7v4C96HMwZ4iVkMk0vC8_aUwTrw4sz_tQ5GQ7Djuy7dFXACw10z05BQFTi8r7lHjjlkJWw/w640-h548/IMG_E1870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Indio Night Market with a group of eighteen was a lot of fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some found treasures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKU1QEuXOFy5FtmdaNsWOKnmgCGZsMy85TtowDEa_x-Ph-HQ3wMh0mI9Ksi3RYTGdHEeyoKdBAgPn3hFcMVTfet1c8rp1kWonbNbUQmtmllKgDHYxffd2uSaAzuPCfkyrSyefK-UVb-vCVFX6DXlVZNJpgzap6K1dcXhyf_r2xAOObDwjv-dKScdMKA/s3669/IMG_E1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2907" data-original-width="3669" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKU1QEuXOFy5FtmdaNsWOKnmgCGZsMy85TtowDEa_x-Ph-HQ3wMh0mI9Ksi3RYTGdHEeyoKdBAgPn3hFcMVTfet1c8rp1kWonbNbUQmtmllKgDHYxffd2uSaAzuPCfkyrSyefK-UVb-vCVFX6DXlVZNJpgzap6K1dcXhyf_r2xAOObDwjv-dKScdMKA/w640-h508/IMG_E1871.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We all enjoyed the yummy churros.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do these four not look like sisters?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWEMc6ovmqsOJyiZJFipIBMGpsKBAVXw-5XqCbyrnBRMkE-kTyt_N9rtr84lgabhpKrbO917XKwVsIaSJXf6Tk7DjduF1GmeIzJ4iyQCwNYlscZ6iAQI8ZMM0IEycFYLMjFK3ha9ihayc-mh0bwb6uTyjNU62y-0YwIO-x0dBo1dEtYUtpogX9HMNvw/s4032/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWEMc6ovmqsOJyiZJFipIBMGpsKBAVXw-5XqCbyrnBRMkE-kTyt_N9rtr84lgabhpKrbO917XKwVsIaSJXf6Tk7DjduF1GmeIzJ4iyQCwNYlscZ6iAQI8ZMM0IEycFYLMjFK3ha9ihayc-mh0bwb6uTyjNU62y-0YwIO-x0dBo1dEtYUtpogX9HMNvw/w640-h480/IMG_1833.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had group dinners on a large patio.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW449CrPChfxStxR9h_thQbNaMJtVG34zsJrvYclvG-ZcPHjGrzf3moFjBxS1AMak_00tSCxTv8NxfJOPoAJKyqD54kkNMde-di8vQFHK6MWy6CKeyCMubMAmBcDMMvSvmL9slfk1rzjBfyRYxJtTw269vrskfqX79H2M_PqOc30KzatIuHbK9UXitwg/s4032/IMG_0775.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW449CrPChfxStxR9h_thQbNaMJtVG34zsJrvYclvG-ZcPHjGrzf3moFjBxS1AMak_00tSCxTv8NxfJOPoAJKyqD54kkNMde-di8vQFHK6MWy6CKeyCMubMAmBcDMMvSvmL9slfk1rzjBfyRYxJtTw269vrskfqX79H2M_PqOc30KzatIuHbK9UXitwg/w640-h480/IMG_0775.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One night the adults enjoyed dinner at the Cheesecake Factory...</div><div style="text-align: center;">while <strike>the grands</strike> most of the grands had a free-for-all back at the resort.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The oldest two grands have switched camps. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCuWFsKo-orOCukOvKPlh54Rn6AnlqUqX-WkDVPlVECQ2zHwTyvFV6dulvXtpA_4dYwbiT3As-OsClubMvtZaXkPEcKpsVuyF8T6RoVb7sJ4WZJ-5-5vCoDWiz2eVHSCoePPIRTu36oXErP5mooUkYAiMei1iIPDgNAa_TDods5GhJfYDEkFhxb5jaA/s1577/NUMJ2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCuWFsKo-orOCukOvKPlh54Rn6AnlqUqX-WkDVPlVECQ2zHwTyvFV6dulvXtpA_4dYwbiT3As-OsClubMvtZaXkPEcKpsVuyF8T6RoVb7sJ4WZJ-5-5vCoDWiz2eVHSCoePPIRTu36oXErP5mooUkYAiMei1iIPDgNAa_TDods5GhJfYDEkFhxb5jaA/w584-h640/NUMJ2964.JPG" width="584" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We celebrated Micah's 13th birthday in true Mexican tradition...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi0fYBoJyauHuBXYAQABTfUxf_tRAwNn7_I53dQGXE7yZ6rHnf8Lcmf_FTBj4fDS9sVlAnuGL2DLQovHFjNS1g07_ku1EFcEW-cVq4eKoH9xxjEs_rt-HejYCYgpNf3UvBDJ_IMqSpSEnhfXeZVqUrwaozUBVBMiGkbI50BZGQntLfBESizFza1qqzg/s4032/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi0fYBoJyauHuBXYAQABTfUxf_tRAwNn7_I53dQGXE7yZ6rHnf8Lcmf_FTBj4fDS9sVlAnuGL2DLQovHFjNS1g07_ku1EFcEW-cVq4eKoH9xxjEs_rt-HejYCYgpNf3UvBDJ_IMqSpSEnhfXeZVqUrwaozUBVBMiGkbI50BZGQntLfBESizFza1qqzg/w480-h640/IMG_1893.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...with a pinata.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Hm_DK81wEFyRcu_Lbs4Yga-R6oiOVI7BRMBGYSOf0RTC7LtcIRKvzgtvraSbKi7a5HiZxK3saRbLvkfsko0xtcDC9TI0hmKaVB22VXzC924HFXBOi9arWs9G70o5kbKWgU6fNBmfbFQVMqKABKEqphyRNLDN8hpAbmReF-IxWoWnBt3EugeongkMA/s3523/IMG_0779.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2642" data-original-width="3523" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81Hm_DK81wEFyRcu_Lbs4Yga-R6oiOVI7BRMBGYSOf0RTC7LtcIRKvzgtvraSbKi7a5HiZxK3saRbLvkfsko0xtcDC9TI0hmKaVB22VXzC924HFXBOi9arWs9G70o5kbKWgU6fNBmfbFQVMqKABKEqphyRNLDN8hpAbmReF-IxWoWnBt3EugeongkMA/w640-h480/IMG_0779.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The week together was wonderful...</div><div style="text-align: center;">such a blessing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXiSQDWU4pS_bColxj-tuJubTQdy0AzeBgq873dJNMRqhs0CcW6XChwd4ZVuJyFdmN6eHULNnpqJT9AwEbDpymbCaLWHR38qR63_kxD9nUtGm5sgLBfL5RwTZHIUcNey00NfTYqpqFKp5uodqdkbqm7ncek5RdoP9h8Z-_5_ZsQOG9_eUiDvb_21ONg/s3465/IMG_E1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3465" data-original-width="2317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXiSQDWU4pS_bColxj-tuJubTQdy0AzeBgq873dJNMRqhs0CcW6XChwd4ZVuJyFdmN6eHULNnpqJT9AwEbDpymbCaLWHR38qR63_kxD9nUtGm5sgLBfL5RwTZHIUcNey00NfTYqpqFKp5uodqdkbqm7ncek5RdoP9h8Z-_5_ZsQOG9_eUiDvb_21ONg/w428-h640/IMG_E1947.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After the family left for home...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we spent some time with friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dave and Janet were staying at the same resort...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we shared some meals, outings, games and lots of laughs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P4-vcmRLrC4cERaOr5RTyQi646tTVoKIzB4ivxJgRyxBHtWogRKZrFCwssAtzwDTgR6h22nsuXQ1-b26s3hvk33vU-36yIYO75EvFBYoY7YkFSPdtwmDwT4LmNGSq5x4YEo3dQ-8y3biMylhiYfn8-WyyJ02kEPtDIEokt1_0hrsfT8QOTxXsGIGtw/s4032/IMG_E1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P4-vcmRLrC4cERaOr5RTyQi646tTVoKIzB4ivxJgRyxBHtWogRKZrFCwssAtzwDTgR6h22nsuXQ1-b26s3hvk33vU-36yIYO75EvFBYoY7YkFSPdtwmDwT4LmNGSq5x4YEo3dQ-8y3biMylhiYfn8-WyyJ02kEPtDIEokt1_0hrsfT8QOTxXsGIGtw/w640-h480/IMG_E1950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We hiked the Indian Canyons...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">met up with Anneliese and Herb for dinner one night and with Gord and Esther another night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3X1BhA55DswDFqppWVe0iAQ19cL5Ok-rVT4NXJCtL8PsVRCxnOHHK79v3rDu3ohBt_togG_3DVDPWg7V8OtFy9lKRdStQXYDf2X1J_7esroDOW2znq4U5Sg_L9syufNPgFa5ch-6rwDkIHyE3al5Fu2RlOWvsry9iOB6UGNh_BNroLTyKt2kO904A/s4032/IMG_E1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB3X1BhA55DswDFqppWVe0iAQ19cL5Ok-rVT4NXJCtL8PsVRCxnOHHK79v3rDu3ohBt_togG_3DVDPWg7V8OtFy9lKRdStQXYDf2X1J_7esroDOW2znq4U5Sg_L9syufNPgFa5ch-6rwDkIHyE3al5Fu2RlOWvsry9iOB6UGNh_BNroLTyKt2kO904A/w640-h480/IMG_E1801.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before we knew it, our time in the desert was over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A good time!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQix4LoWyPer7YRmoAfwHzWy6uXmAo3XooGeMgmsysRoCIDItuxBojExJLdWtRwdX3f0_Xph7LmNG6TLvRbcDojo7rnmvKEjXGTlOycWo7CpPCT2N1fTiyb9AHnBMeSvq9dvAHKfs8-KQ141yRWEx4u2-sug2C2m88ovDYUBCRwBGdbPj7aEXbfw1MhQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQix4LoWyPer7YRmoAfwHzWy6uXmAo3XooGeMgmsysRoCIDItuxBojExJLdWtRwdX3f0_Xph7LmNG6TLvRbcDojo7rnmvKEjXGTlOycWo7CpPCT2N1fTiyb9AHnBMeSvq9dvAHKfs8-KQ141yRWEx4u2-sug2C2m88ovDYUBCRwBGdbPj7aEXbfw1MhQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-6040048456669914492022-10-31T05:00:00.005-07:002022-10-31T05:00:00.197-07:00October ~ Memories and Moments<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">October...</div><div style="text-align: center;">as seen through a smoky lens for most of the month.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO5bGPogo9yJLfcsmws5GEMBuBzjGE6vtSZEN22Wjzz35qW46QErDhHo830bnAjoUkmHgLG_ayMQz4wtuoZCmfSqVEDlWoY-zRjLmHVBng1qNeer6o2iyNkCkyvYo03eMZ5ADqbaFRUPMF8PxAJXeRTaC1jVlfERL1ePuxWTY_w7e4EXVQ52lrWtUBw/s1440/FNPA7486.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO5bGPogo9yJLfcsmws5GEMBuBzjGE6vtSZEN22Wjzz35qW46QErDhHo830bnAjoUkmHgLG_ayMQz4wtuoZCmfSqVEDlWoY-zRjLmHVBng1qNeer6o2iyNkCkyvYo03eMZ5ADqbaFRUPMF8PxAJXeRTaC1jVlfERL1ePuxWTY_w7e4EXVQ52lrWtUBw/w640-h482/FNPA7486.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had 8mm of rain from July 1st and on into October...</div><div style="text-align: center;">when we would normally have 278mm. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wildfire situation was dire...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we breathed smoke most days.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31-dOu0clIMQvRqMMnuSO9aut0NIj4dyg7vNqDmaHoztsLcEjSKFy42R6xASHzP2G9Bw_bbqrdJACeEPxdYp2OHsfIFwm3lRmlyGK7KffEonimGLH7Gqkc00wJmiLlAFo3KFsLHyPd6xQR9Fx5d91MKsVtly9x2er_pEwKige3UBODuAlQh_2VHOXTQ/s4032/IMG_E1744.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31-dOu0clIMQvRqMMnuSO9aut0NIj4dyg7vNqDmaHoztsLcEjSKFy42R6xASHzP2G9Bw_bbqrdJACeEPxdYp2OHsfIFwm3lRmlyGK7KffEonimGLH7Gqkc00wJmiLlAFo3KFsLHyPd6xQR9Fx5d91MKsVtly9x2er_pEwKige3UBODuAlQh_2VHOXTQ/w640-h480/IMG_E1744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were advised to stay indoors...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the fishermen along the Vedder River never got the memo.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The water levels were at all-time low but apparently the fishing was great!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgU4qr_W5HtWLAuX-4SJJJeXsuew4a466GU6SGK7JgnqcHaOjv9Q4X5e8y7UA5-XD0-khiBq3dMa3TwcAY_nKv_gPEEAGJUzsrRvH33pCdq39pZ94hMP4jUTHcmFAX0s-CQVuOQXAUOVVK6khWxUlUTATUer7jGohEbtmhUIQIFTyGOJ6D5GzRkBgNg/s4032/IMG_1646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgU4qr_W5HtWLAuX-4SJJJeXsuew4a466GU6SGK7JgnqcHaOjv9Q4X5e8y7UA5-XD0-khiBq3dMa3TwcAY_nKv_gPEEAGJUzsrRvH33pCdq39pZ94hMP4jUTHcmFAX0s-CQVuOQXAUOVVK6khWxUlUTATUer7jGohEbtmhUIQIFTyGOJ6D5GzRkBgNg/w640-h480/IMG_1646.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The last crop of grass came in off the fields.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP1qTcEsI3m00chqUVk5rwYKDPh3AHoo1Y8AM4HEcQZuTGpmM67IVFZWTcBEeDRZoobHd7V53k8JMUKvrVuk09xXdOw28rOku5a_Hc0t6iaVoBAt0epDmJawmZ-kulpy0sc0-D2r5zH-dIcZDe5y_rGiUpxFdMw8oVgEoamyCtlphHuZdnpo4SJhruA/s1440/AYAS6044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP1qTcEsI3m00chqUVk5rwYKDPh3AHoo1Y8AM4HEcQZuTGpmM67IVFZWTcBEeDRZoobHd7V53k8JMUKvrVuk09xXdOw28rOku5a_Hc0t6iaVoBAt0epDmJawmZ-kulpy0sc0-D2r5zH-dIcZDe5y_rGiUpxFdMw8oVgEoamyCtlphHuZdnpo4SJhruA/w640-h482/AYAS6044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Micah had a 'professional day'...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and came to help out on the farm.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkBoqQAWyPTTO2p2qwYJ0KJmmNLPs3tgmsPG3_LV2xSk2i--Y82TvUd6ZqPRlHAN9Xln54uGpOqcBgV_8DuSQyVfu5MOGRM8ri2admprn1HnM5s7Dz_TxnX5wgtwi4PcB1-phoX4B2GLi401CE2dErOtuGedCnWQKO5dtzJt0uacdNwYPDIZ_DZgGhw/s1440/BGVG0180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkBoqQAWyPTTO2p2qwYJ0KJmmNLPs3tgmsPG3_LV2xSk2i--Y82TvUd6ZqPRlHAN9Xln54uGpOqcBgV_8DuSQyVfu5MOGRM8ri2admprn1HnM5s7Dz_TxnX5wgtwi4PcB1-phoX4B2GLi401CE2dErOtuGedCnWQKO5dtzJt0uacdNwYPDIZ_DZgGhw/w640-h482/BGVG0180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The petunias were still thriving in mid-October...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but the calendar told me it was time to replace them with winter pansies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VwKTbCxcaI9wSFvPKyhOPpdUwkHepmmVrOcMMf-ip3t8wXInrZG4hxea9PNK19pf8yLCfsuqiTUwGE_jWjZh1VQws0oiJnOSucA1E9oOJi2yE38Zi0A-7M-1Lz9zFnSsUwBsB4zL7SChjaLkhq6rCtbwVWk7wN3Sy0kB5lxg8JCnf8SWVjRzE_Oeuw/s2740/IMG_E1634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2423" data-original-width="2740" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VwKTbCxcaI9wSFvPKyhOPpdUwkHepmmVrOcMMf-ip3t8wXInrZG4hxea9PNK19pf8yLCfsuqiTUwGE_jWjZh1VQws0oiJnOSucA1E9oOJi2yE38Zi0A-7M-1Lz9zFnSsUwBsB4zL7SChjaLkhq6rCtbwVWk7wN3Sy0kB5lxg8JCnf8SWVjRzE_Oeuw/w640-h566/IMG_E1634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As long as it still feels like summer...</div><div style="text-align: center;">ice-cream is a good idea!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We have a new ice-cream shop in town.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bantericecream.com/chwk">Banter Ice-Cream at the Vedder River.</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We checked it out with some of the grands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We'll be back!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there was Thanksgiving 2022...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where my camera got left behind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We gathered around the table at Tim and Heidi's this year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thankful for the blessings of the past year and the turkey dinner we could share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5lpwFrdifNCVVPWLRcTDypCDoxyjX6bDn6-i0Rn9tzMaNNUcfQOo0qtjZigA2yIuHJXlqS5y77OSAlNYF36PdVmtKDQsKyBa65Z-NkbNfY2koDhQGEgKqWUgonniN7jXYZd4pXtssWzxA9f_-zY8jNTrbM8w7hKVdQrkl2TGUGGGyrl3JQ2Zq0OJ3Q/s4032/IMG_1712.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5lpwFrdifNCVVPWLRcTDypCDoxyjX6bDn6-i0Rn9tzMaNNUcfQOo0qtjZigA2yIuHJXlqS5y77OSAlNYF36PdVmtKDQsKyBa65Z-NkbNfY2koDhQGEgKqWUgonniN7jXYZd4pXtssWzxA9f_-zY8jNTrbM8w7hKVdQrkl2TGUGGGyrl3JQ2Zq0OJ3Q/w640-h480/IMG_1712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent Sunday afternoons on our bikes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6bLyjp6pxtBB0XekpPbEPQBFs3xqMKuH7se3qvQvw_uPZKqsF4PM8jPu6uFN-EHJRJ-l8XUP9UQSx2H2OJUwi7EuYctbNZ52eXHNr6LihydwhCYkMLu8NCjRtub4dhNeuRl5hoU89NFO926CDaG6Qcg-1GIevv7k7jQ0Ed7KyqYxquPWxCvGvduQhQ/s4032/IMG_1710.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6bLyjp6pxtBB0XekpPbEPQBFs3xqMKuH7se3qvQvw_uPZKqsF4PM8jPu6uFN-EHJRJ-l8XUP9UQSx2H2OJUwi7EuYctbNZ52eXHNr6LihydwhCYkMLu8NCjRtub4dhNeuRl5hoU89NFO926CDaG6Qcg-1GIevv7k7jQ0Ed7KyqYxquPWxCvGvduQhQ/w640-h480/IMG_1710.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Poco Trail was new to us...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a 25-30 km loop through Port Coquitlam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriYlP1wGxYYLTKqIOKn0HYEkfN7N6Z_HAtbiO2jv1-NkiGbkJtmCpGOK6KnkMz1uNjZYyozq9P_ILpeefYl6rvcu_JfGli649krkgFJF-ijJV0K_Xj--cwTXobg0QsUYYMogfvawupCDlJRLL_1lS7Kv2Th06qojI6a-IV1SbV9JzhGI_X_I5-5qHtw/s4032/IMG_E1713.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriYlP1wGxYYLTKqIOKn0HYEkfN7N6Z_HAtbiO2jv1-NkiGbkJtmCpGOK6KnkMz1uNjZYyozq9P_ILpeefYl6rvcu_JfGli649krkgFJF-ijJV0K_Xj--cwTXobg0QsUYYMogfvawupCDlJRLL_1lS7Kv2Th06qojI6a-IV1SbV9JzhGI_X_I5-5qHtw/w640-h480/IMG_E1713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much of it follows the Pitt River...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqmAwnYirTFZovnyJAPHe8e1-EB5VNz6VAjsZBFUzzNzUGiMgTETFWYh-NeYZiy8CHiXee9lfJryt9YIqhmn3hS9flkq40vsPILW4IaXtoYap5vnynY50LTyWJxSdfWNMWKGnwibWZcA_9ohmC5MsSvFCPKCOXf52HGes_4mJcAD0I47n_WeJ8I1uRw/s4032/IMG_1708.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqmAwnYirTFZovnyJAPHe8e1-EB5VNz6VAjsZBFUzzNzUGiMgTETFWYh-NeYZiy8CHiXee9lfJryt9YIqhmn3hS9flkq40vsPILW4IaXtoYap5vnynY50LTyWJxSdfWNMWKGnwibWZcA_9ohmC5MsSvFCPKCOXf52HGes_4mJcAD0I47n_WeJ8I1uRw/w640-h480/IMG_1708.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and then on through Colony Farms Regional Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is an urban green space within city limits...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">though Elmer sees it as a bit of a wasteland since it was once productive farmland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID-nnNpL5yE-AY4Y8P2njNIOhG7n46YcwEoivw6mdbFgfIVPFhR0KsHF5_-TcqvECXFw2Q-yxkgDl1SLNy1f3JY7CcIJlebkioUdQgsKs12uTtm3EtQHY8pEsQ7fKJ7C9Z6aYCOQcvJWG_gsTv7IOvWZ5YHT4e5HpDTntAELfwJmc7IDL8G_7n7jm8w/s4032/IMG_1675.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID-nnNpL5yE-AY4Y8P2njNIOhG7n46YcwEoivw6mdbFgfIVPFhR0KsHF5_-TcqvECXFw2Q-yxkgDl1SLNy1f3JY7CcIJlebkioUdQgsKs12uTtm3EtQHY8pEsQ7fKJ7C9Z6aYCOQcvJWG_gsTv7IOvWZ5YHT4e5HpDTntAELfwJmc7IDL8G_7n7jm8w/w640-h480/IMG_1675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poco Trail.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s flat, off road, and scenic…</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the perfect combo for a sunny Sunday afternoon in October.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFpiIywn1dcZGM8asednnt4x9jLnK9ArBmv2osdeUTY8vq9t4dCOaQndgxV1c49JC2nju_bAUOnU4kXLmeUr7QOGZV8t25nQ2E7tXFbjB4PYMqkNJS7FSviUFsci-6gsiN94rKMTUy0EuSMRHcmY5ZLydGhofx734VHlqKfVbZ0va2uY7y390a-nFBQ/s3612/99DB1BCA-ECE2-47DE-A7B3-9B99E36839B4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2681" data-original-width="3612" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFpiIywn1dcZGM8asednnt4x9jLnK9ArBmv2osdeUTY8vq9t4dCOaQndgxV1c49JC2nju_bAUOnU4kXLmeUr7QOGZV8t25nQ2E7tXFbjB4PYMqkNJS7FSviUFsci-6gsiN94rKMTUy0EuSMRHcmY5ZLydGhofx734VHlqKfVbZ0va2uY7y390a-nFBQ/w640-h476/99DB1BCA-ECE2-47DE-A7B3-9B99E36839B4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">'I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.' ~ said Anne with an 'e'.</span></h1><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I agree!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZZQ1t_rkICSjzK7nXCjaUFhWeWIljCDpQz9xeq5q1RyAl5IcFxEX9tpfxrVgUEGOq2xOW3tCKWuISME_qX1NrOWduKXHMglQENivfPzsu3cKoeMJ1aBEx-75breR-9yrOuh4g6m-It1Wi8SHQM0hk2H_Rd9aAmFlDF7fs7FUH26qDV8o0HqgUzDyoQ/s4032/IMG_1660.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZZQ1t_rkICSjzK7nXCjaUFhWeWIljCDpQz9xeq5q1RyAl5IcFxEX9tpfxrVgUEGOq2xOW3tCKWuISME_qX1NrOWduKXHMglQENivfPzsu3cKoeMJ1aBEx-75breR-9yrOuh4g6m-It1Wi8SHQM0hk2H_Rd9aAmFlDF7fs7FUH26qDV8o0HqgUzDyoQ/w640-h480/IMG_1660.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And as the sun sets on the month of October...</div><div style="text-align: center;">you may just find us watching the sun set behind the palm trees instead of the old oak tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54485/366/37B460BBAF46377141BE6F1B46CB9DFA.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; padding: 5px; text-align: start;" /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-77361079046446846752022-09-30T20:14:00.006-07:002022-10-04T21:11:55.924-07:00September Remembered<div style="text-align: center;">Though it is officially fall now...</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">it still feels like summer. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzAvhumzKwqksMjd1G-uR2fcoIQwpiP84vF6fV96NS_22NGL2DISyQSHd1ruxN9X0vpXiYXfG6M5bxbkkz7TLAE4WTKIEuWygUbsESVPJQ_dNYkD4Z_v02jNn4b2mOWM8j2ACmp9y6K6QL-D0VkNOV-p62atl493L8QkLtlsCBVbGf9NLgsr6irF77A/s3458/IMG_E1439.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2524" data-original-width="3458" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzAvhumzKwqksMjd1G-uR2fcoIQwpiP84vF6fV96NS_22NGL2DISyQSHd1ruxN9X0vpXiYXfG6M5bxbkkz7TLAE4WTKIEuWygUbsESVPJQ_dNYkD4Z_v02jNn4b2mOWM8j2ACmp9y6K6QL-D0VkNOV-p62atl493L8QkLtlsCBVbGf9NLgsr6irF77A/w640-h468/IMG_E1439.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can I still call it Indian summer?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are waiting for rain!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been three months since we have had any significant rainfall.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAUVJu08cC-YDEk7jDjyjv4cU1udQpLVLM-VnW9-IfjsOnwDdKNp8PFGjygKqDiYMkrTfMyHLwDoXuZGg8vPKMPavxIKsivGiZ2290KXUJJI5lHhuid7Q0S9Kgz0EDAUDt7FrHLh4_M9IRCiOMCF-Aa0tQGKxMcLMUFu3yOdT7BlgwMzQvpgHhQj0Rg/s4032/IMG_E1588.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAUVJu08cC-YDEk7jDjyjv4cU1udQpLVLM-VnW9-IfjsOnwDdKNp8PFGjygKqDiYMkrTfMyHLwDoXuZGg8vPKMPavxIKsivGiZ2290KXUJJI5lHhuid7Q0S9Kgz0EDAUDt7FrHLh4_M9IRCiOMCF-Aa0tQGKxMcLMUFu3yOdT7BlgwMzQvpgHhQj0Rg/w640-h480/IMG_E1588.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The last of the corn fields are being harvested as I post this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some fields are looking rather parched.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLY21j-lezcOf9VDMCgoBdpEojC2FUs9ZphdLGkNQzO-vcXAAgmMFU6BT3Tsm2RvjLB8ldFWiI7u1sz1YlVOFRP08vSQFU8AazlGPtFdAbg3oHYN0EXSylJsRYFE0NAe4pHG-JClteaULOg_EaY1vutRWPtRBqpNWflsz5kw8zBy7OZxd01jCGFxYhw/s3107/IMG_E1450.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2053" data-original-width="3107" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLY21j-lezcOf9VDMCgoBdpEojC2FUs9ZphdLGkNQzO-vcXAAgmMFU6BT3Tsm2RvjLB8ldFWiI7u1sz1YlVOFRP08vSQFU8AazlGPtFdAbg3oHYN0EXSylJsRYFE0NAe4pHG-JClteaULOg_EaY1vutRWPtRBqpNWflsz5kw8zBy7OZxd01jCGFxYhw/w640-h422/IMG_E1450.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We are always thankful for the help of friends come harvest time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It takes a village to run all the equipment!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2whpRuwEO4CrnkJkPGi99JzdpYfpqAxHq-nj_tXc-qwYy6JF3LJs3APxyDSNId7Y4wzLjxte-8h4YxTkilakl55RihXUiOQkOt5LpVpIeUXze6v09HJh_zrt4JyEJg6Ueoe1SThTHeIu3xy_BGntrPxtNxdPX1_DP5v23-JSdd0ETEL4ND4eYhw1zOw/s4032/IMG_2855%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2whpRuwEO4CrnkJkPGi99JzdpYfpqAxHq-nj_tXc-qwYy6JF3LJs3APxyDSNId7Y4wzLjxte-8h4YxTkilakl55RihXUiOQkOt5LpVpIeUXze6v09HJh_zrt4JyEJg6Ueoe1SThTHeIu3xy_BGntrPxtNxdPX1_DP5v23-JSdd0ETEL4ND4eYhw1zOw/w640-h480/IMG_2855%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This handsome fellow and his friends had a 'hay day' in the corn field that lies next to the mountain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The neighbour took drone pic's...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we knew who was doing all the damage.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5AUpd9igohbCg3AMB7nhnQLsTzv4Z_m3y6h28ht-OOvyectrUTOkbCT17CzQW3u3jaBwviLDUuJMUCg32e1FI6zQB4z38bhEARA0hDe3gF8EUHS02TToQl87dwl7tzYBowpvDmtXVs8YovcAu-_hHVK4XVOwlvQAAdQQ90Kx16SVLbdRDLeLfKJVqA/s4032/IMG_E1441.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5AUpd9igohbCg3AMB7nhnQLsTzv4Z_m3y6h28ht-OOvyectrUTOkbCT17CzQW3u3jaBwviLDUuJMUCg32e1FI6zQB4z38bhEARA0hDe3gF8EUHS02TToQl87dwl7tzYBowpvDmtXVs8YovcAu-_hHVK4XVOwlvQAAdQQ90Kx16SVLbdRDLeLfKJVqA/w640-h480/IMG_E1441.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">This flattened patch of corn was over half and acre in size.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis225M51DxNvIlxFYqv47te2NP4VBssH7y17aycYxHMk0U75j6DNo4nswr40pt1fUV24yyM-rFyScZ1HrXkirBGMrl_3g-RwGovQ1hfKgZIlSqXLO86-hRhrzi86p3WI7aZoTapR7u8pVl9kdxfeA_c2ZjISWpj-MIraAIvF9LcCMFZwiNMzC9BHXLTA/s3011/IMG_E1230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="3011" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis225M51DxNvIlxFYqv47te2NP4VBssH7y17aycYxHMk0U75j6DNo4nswr40pt1fUV24yyM-rFyScZ1HrXkirBGMrl_3g-RwGovQ1hfKgZIlSqXLO86-hRhrzi86p3WI7aZoTapR7u8pVl9kdxfeA_c2ZjISWpj-MIraAIvF9LcCMFZwiNMzC9BHXLTA/w640-h470/IMG_E1230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Early in September we packed up the RV for a visit to the Oregon coast...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://judys-front-porch.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-oregon-coast-in-september.html">and I recorded our adventure on a separate blog post.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpylLTS_BinDqmw4iABIpom_v9bh9sSeaYdFJKWci_cwJKMOZKi9Yh0Ixw-VKPqZemtqXmXtWK-h0poJVaTP0X__ULsb2iZUKWr7ZiLk-J8Jd7Bg4jgdwNqDlmTJiNrIQMO_toGwq6sRXIEWXy50NbbDFhVbJUGEGu4d6VQSihCpatrSW7NwoOsGgg/s3564/IMG_1128-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2674" data-original-width="3564" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpylLTS_BinDqmw4iABIpom_v9bh9sSeaYdFJKWci_cwJKMOZKi9Yh0Ixw-VKPqZemtqXmXtWK-h0poJVaTP0X__ULsb2iZUKWr7ZiLk-J8Jd7Bg4jgdwNqDlmTJiNrIQMO_toGwq6sRXIEWXy50NbbDFhVbJUGEGu4d6VQSihCpatrSW7NwoOsGgg/w640-h480/IMG_1128-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It was a good way to end the camping season 2022.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggva2QSI9lGxQ-9YwcLPXpDirPpN7BYRejORGg6alb4Dnr1JpMh0I93NwyaM4jhv3NzlSnO3mqosCJi4KJ7q9TB6zrSlDZyjQCULPCETMeKNXgtB5XsxlmCB_8fcWbDfXq18LtugcUiO4ydcdd-hHAQiJVOa2ClfK7AjPQEpYUJ_0Zh1JGVE7Xmywx2w/s828/IMG_E1423.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="828" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggva2QSI9lGxQ-9YwcLPXpDirPpN7BYRejORGg6alb4Dnr1JpMh0I93NwyaM4jhv3NzlSnO3mqosCJi4KJ7q9TB6zrSlDZyjQCULPCETMeKNXgtB5XsxlmCB_8fcWbDfXq18LtugcUiO4ydcdd-hHAQiJVOa2ClfK7AjPQEpYUJ_0Zh1JGVE7Xmywx2w/w640-h472/IMG_E1423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tim (son-in-law) had an adventure of a lifetime this month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJreio9W17hxXdFqiGgFqNiKyCakpRK1zokrDd_ac4f9-4Yj-FwI7iCowBs9k5ALppcr0k76dtLj-O0ltbfkZFnt6pAiNLcjdnwguRo5GjYILt1JNq-kPlyyatXEtHOFp6ABeO-Gi2ga6K1Jo7jNLvuPoWvXHtsqWhus0S4h4gFrRThqimSgt4yRhIA/s695/IMG_E1409.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="695" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJreio9W17hxXdFqiGgFqNiKyCakpRK1zokrDd_ac4f9-4Yj-FwI7iCowBs9k5ALppcr0k76dtLj-O0ltbfkZFnt6pAiNLcjdnwguRo5GjYILt1JNq-kPlyyatXEtHOFp6ABeO-Gi2ga6K1Jo7jNLvuPoWvXHtsqWhus0S4h4gFrRThqimSgt4yRhIA/w640-h397/IMG_E1409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">He cycled over two of the highest passes in the world in the Himalayas of northern India,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">as part of a team of six riders who were raising funds for <a href="https://himalayanlife.com/about/">Himalayan Life.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cycling the <span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.0225px;">Khardung La Pass at 18,380 ft and Chan La at 17,586 ft was not ' a piece of cake'...</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.0225px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">but they all made it! </span></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8bjAlOCQuzVnF7ZXL5wyLzlkeESxIf1w-sQiumV_lxNIoU9vPr1ZuInsf5MsJRCKXkka_HKqMlhMZdagojSUu_K6GSlwjEwv7rONMRnoB3ZjRYlxNpI8h2rrRq_3e0JHtv6PnZ40qd7Jd_AcpyFQMNt1ywPJL_5eYliuWgzUSJ8RG0iDqbDUENrd7Q/s2776/IMG_E1394.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2649" data-original-width="2776" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8bjAlOCQuzVnF7ZXL5wyLzlkeESxIf1w-sQiumV_lxNIoU9vPr1ZuInsf5MsJRCKXkka_HKqMlhMZdagojSUu_K6GSlwjEwv7rONMRnoB3ZjRYlxNpI8h2rrRq_3e0JHtv6PnZ40qd7Jd_AcpyFQMNt1ywPJL_5eYliuWgzUSJ8RG0iDqbDUENrd7Q/w640-h610/IMG_E1394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">September 11th is a date to remember for more reasons than one over here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Grandpa (Dad, Elmer) had a birthday and we gathered the gang to celebrate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp90cP9-9JpWvd6ngZvmrY3wZcEJ5FBc21T62AOsl_MoWY0jTQb-zV-hCWFx94oNEb7qm33cUvAeNhQLH_3-Iu6dSku9lLt2g4fdOJwe79xP5LObPsAV5iFsVWV7ufzabCNwmVCF8JjlPjMLMMBJMUjHhn3haRBk3RcgTMkc8mq8OaHwe8n88YhGzA2g/s4032/IMG_E1401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp90cP9-9JpWvd6ngZvmrY3wZcEJ5FBc21T62AOsl_MoWY0jTQb-zV-hCWFx94oNEb7qm33cUvAeNhQLH_3-Iu6dSku9lLt2g4fdOJwe79xP5LObPsAV5iFsVWV7ufzabCNwmVCF8JjlPjMLMMBJMUjHhn3haRBk3RcgTMkc8mq8OaHwe8n88YhGzA2g/w480-h640/IMG_E1401.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">September 14, 2022 would have been my dad's 100th birthday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He left us a little too soon...</div><div style="text-align: center;">but he is not forgotten.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dad had an amazing cactus plant for years and wanted us to all to have a piece of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">On his 100th birthday...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we gave each of our children (his grands) a thriving cactus...</div><div style="text-align: center;">from those he had propagated.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The one pictured here that sits in my front entry is a two-year old descendant of his original plant.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkU9IbkR28vuIISpVDxZ21Dm2tbvu1MBjq7s_ZQLetBt9E-E7Q9X8jDZZbfF93mXmulC7I8vCPjaQkrYshQXT2rhJ4NuzJld5DrPJWMmxRHimRDrNC_c4_LtMoEbGmksU4AH_O21WAID2lqYGl_st210_xkK3fsNnSoQybaBUP3onQ4Yh7ZwQDA5C0Q/s3236/IMG_E1621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3236" data-original-width="2712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkU9IbkR28vuIISpVDxZ21Dm2tbvu1MBjq7s_ZQLetBt9E-E7Q9X8jDZZbfF93mXmulC7I8vCPjaQkrYshQXT2rhJ4NuzJld5DrPJWMmxRHimRDrNC_c4_LtMoEbGmksU4AH_O21WAID2lqYGl_st210_xkK3fsNnSoQybaBUP3onQ4Yh7ZwQDA5C0Q/w536-h640/IMG_E1621.JPG" width="536" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our smiling happy-go-lucky Maggie is fourteen.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Always on the go...</div><div style="text-align: center;">never one to complain...</div><div style="text-align: center;">she is a joy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc3sx9G0brPS46RMx0culirE-EVjGw12sU7P5M2WxDBoGjyAd2feKiR-bQTwPGnwDk1VWGGxBEAR15ib_DnjuTkG8IPcD8Ty2Bw7SqsSmkgU6TZkSpp3IQsNeeCJJr-QoCq2xfF5W_7RejWXiqGfvQXEVrpUjqIvT2DLneDo2KoBlVWTj55WYmlWjHQ/s2657/IMG_E1557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2657" data-original-width="2371" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc3sx9G0brPS46RMx0culirE-EVjGw12sU7P5M2WxDBoGjyAd2feKiR-bQTwPGnwDk1VWGGxBEAR15ib_DnjuTkG8IPcD8Ty2Bw7SqsSmkgU6TZkSpp3IQsNeeCJJr-QoCq2xfF5W_7RejWXiqGfvQXEVrpUjqIvT2DLneDo2KoBlVWTj55WYmlWjHQ/w573-h640/IMG_E1557.JPG" width="573" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carol, Darlene and myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We go back a long way...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">graduating from high school together in 1970.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life took us all on different paths and we have only been together once in all the years since.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since we were all celebrating milestone birthdays this year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we made plans to meet up in Osoyoos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YWFHI27Bo9-THqmcQMxaDzxZYHJsKCywYB0o1IV1j42aR6ep5hNsIm2Lb1VRhdTtWnePaTynVtzgKT78FueTsGFzwBfOq3k_ZMSSXa-_LqJ7_JYOv6vLrWmG0MpM89Fzh-n0cyfFbAJCTYPDXV6aWM6VUenv-1OvxMwL8o3PjTqAkVA-1MYFxRWu5w/s4032/IMG_1583.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YWFHI27Bo9-THqmcQMxaDzxZYHJsKCywYB0o1IV1j42aR6ep5hNsIm2Lb1VRhdTtWnePaTynVtzgKT78FueTsGFzwBfOq3k_ZMSSXa-_LqJ7_JYOv6vLrWmG0MpM89Fzh-n0cyfFbAJCTYPDXV6aWM6VUenv-1OvxMwL8o3PjTqAkVA-1MYFxRWu5w/w640-h480/IMG_1583.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last week Carol and I took a road trip to the Okanagan in her little 'Daisy'...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and met up with Darlene there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuYtNLX6MD6JSRikPlDfxgaGmTFFUrFGMBVSDopY36qSTAhL6vdCHQK32fshNRqkbIryeanFRK28X90jG-6fySBhRWC0g5orFmvTzaZruaAWG0rGhK8TXvev9nP6TuzX3Vq5qL1y_LAeNTJwDbK-VE1SrULX8arCr3A3MwGfyIXgBc2gBxtFPhd6oHw/s4032/IMG_E6082.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuYtNLX6MD6JSRikPlDfxgaGmTFFUrFGMBVSDopY36qSTAhL6vdCHQK32fshNRqkbIryeanFRK28X90jG-6fySBhRWC0g5orFmvTzaZruaAWG0rGhK8TXvev9nP6TuzX3Vq5qL1y_LAeNTJwDbK-VE1SrULX8arCr3A3MwGfyIXgBc2gBxtFPhd6oHw/w640-h480/IMG_E6082.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had such a great time together...</div><div style="text-align: center;">picking up where we left off...</div><div style="text-align: center;">sight-seeing, shopping, visiting wineries, playing games.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eating, laughing, reminiscing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Friends are friends forever..</div><div style="text-align: center;">if the Lord's the Lord of them.'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our friend Vi had planned to join us as well but was unable to because of a recent surgery.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Since she lives less than two hours from where we were staying...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we drove out to see her one day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hOn2TbWObjXJxUR4pQek98hp88ObUwD5N8nzTnWvZy9OM5KQeEVUDlc0SvZ5AMNEDzzIAtjCGfSlRDRW6BV7MEhgXysq-AokB1OLlIrg7n_CsxlL_WkfLm0YeHPlXuTeeS2tuFWthauvspTwICvhA50ixm0DmZQtXXmA-RX0t6bj-WH7QaPV8CbJVQ/s2754/IMG_E1571.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2283" data-original-width="2754" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hOn2TbWObjXJxUR4pQek98hp88ObUwD5N8nzTnWvZy9OM5KQeEVUDlc0SvZ5AMNEDzzIAtjCGfSlRDRW6BV7MEhgXysq-AokB1OLlIrg7n_CsxlL_WkfLm0YeHPlXuTeeS2tuFWthauvspTwICvhA50ixm0DmZQtXXmA-RX0t6bj-WH7QaPV8CbJVQ/w640-h530/IMG_E1571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it seems appropriate to end with this photo of a beautiful metal sculpture at the Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4NQldmLjQPFIqZyrWkpzHmA9C9YMreUWpD_KKqw9ZsCvSULSdwaGMlysjKHztKD1FysutNZKOGA3h0rfUl-P4b2ap8wxGEBqBebPyspBqjSPmgzWyK0esmNwRI303HKKs30eLYyqZi-S3fx8ujqLCafJYGkA-g4vVtZlVKVhc5nsx5h7_oAt6Zko-A/s3824/IMG_E1613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3824" data-original-width="2868" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4NQldmLjQPFIqZyrWkpzHmA9C9YMreUWpD_KKqw9ZsCvSULSdwaGMlysjKHztKD1FysutNZKOGA3h0rfUl-P4b2ap8wxGEBqBebPyspBqjSPmgzWyK0esmNwRI303HKKs30eLYyqZi-S3fx8ujqLCafJYGkA-g4vVtZlVKVhc5nsx5h7_oAt6Zko-A/w480-h640/IMG_E1613.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And that was how September played out over here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Autumn!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuuTo7GUzvwgoPHxlbYdPoBQHq1W_YkGNm-Uz6kKdccX0nfwmI9FLC6-lLe21vhiu9CEonAMIX7LrElp5pRM1g-QTW7YG36CuiSguq4o34Ez79xZJ31HanqWKlqdqmWlf0IEJZTxtptToeHUrcuYUPwGpWeLPy66wpM0DCCiPZXt049HQyuS4haoVQOA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuuTo7GUzvwgoPHxlbYdPoBQHq1W_YkGNm-Uz6kKdccX0nfwmI9FLC6-lLe21vhiu9CEonAMIX7LrElp5pRM1g-QTW7YG36CuiSguq4o34Ez79xZJ31HanqWKlqdqmWlf0IEJZTxtptToeHUrcuYUPwGpWeLPy66wpM0DCCiPZXt049HQyuS4haoVQOA=s16000" /></a></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-78497118215562497952022-09-29T14:55:00.008-07:002022-10-01T08:59:01.071-07:00The Oregon Coast in September<div>The Oregon coastline includes 365 miles of windswept beauty. We had been to a few spots along the coast in the past but decided to spend a week there earlier this month. </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMiHs3up8vQ_hpYYpHcIW6yo2ixgK18xt8Sungk7OHrjZiJWEDxGgv0--c_toRmIC6tmD55PQ1tlyGLqh5YL1RpBBU-USp-IAnZcFvvUjyF1vNnFmvaLmCrf_JHYG4dpGTxky8TRXc2BaieyzojEp35bLjLoVwdgeYfAoC7aEGtgYvlXY8OJLccC4QA/s4032/IMG_1107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMiHs3up8vQ_hpYYpHcIW6yo2ixgK18xt8Sungk7OHrjZiJWEDxGgv0--c_toRmIC6tmD55PQ1tlyGLqh5YL1RpBBU-USp-IAnZcFvvUjyF1vNnFmvaLmCrf_JHYG4dpGTxky8TRXc2BaieyzojEp35bLjLoVwdgeYfAoC7aEGtgYvlXY8OJLccC4QA/w640-h480/IMG_1107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And we are so glad we did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg94YeH73CpuPS0D907B5ayj7WOJX9HB7VP1FZ-n0w4SyjFd8b4cwzlwKlkUv3BBtcHyP9JjEWIDO65wzg8F4UbCLiGv4gtsCqLy7ooY9i3ajIsXSQAzvUg7lw6JKFzuvVEx-vqNIUARq9cEAjwetZCIOFN16Oag4F96e_eFplP7NBwiS8wFNDdrzEWw/s4032/IMG_1087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg94YeH73CpuPS0D907B5ayj7WOJX9HB7VP1FZ-n0w4SyjFd8b4cwzlwKlkUv3BBtcHyP9JjEWIDO65wzg8F4UbCLiGv4gtsCqLy7ooY9i3ajIsXSQAzvUg7lw6JKFzuvVEx-vqNIUARq9cEAjwetZCIOFN16Oag4F96e_eFplP7NBwiS8wFNDdrzEWw/w640-h480/IMG_1087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div>Our first stop was Astoria...</div><div>a lovely port city at the mouth of the Columbia River...</div><div>which is also a cruise ship terminal.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It happens to be the oldest city in the state of Oregon...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">founded in 1811.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFWD9vCzMfWUHqALBRRYZkeCoN-GTFDQ5cD4rnsoLieJLZfxQX9wN9I345Phaa1WKxusvgEFVCWL75JbpxeLrtHqQrtXDTJf-jZM1H4yZkUDo5hcNN72rXi7rBJPiEHnjMgqAEmtRp_zCtNrSRkF-ef5H1ZXgsAwsC40mjK65PVZtuHtvDeEZgWD4Sg/s3807/IMG_1091-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1514" data-original-width="3807" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFWD9vCzMfWUHqALBRRYZkeCoN-GTFDQ5cD4rnsoLieJLZfxQX9wN9I345Phaa1WKxusvgEFVCWL75JbpxeLrtHqQrtXDTJf-jZM1H4yZkUDo5hcNN72rXi7rBJPiEHnjMgqAEmtRp_zCtNrSRkF-ef5H1ZXgsAwsC40mjK65PVZtuHtvDeEZgWD4Sg/w640-h254/IMG_1091-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had fish and chips on a pier...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where we watched sea lions in the waters below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We could see the Megler bridge in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-dwuRbjuL91k9Corzy6dwVyKQX5F0dS5kWVAETX0eiPwJr4zy37ETG8duakFXzA_UfS1ug-yv_QY6DJVjWoUADOUnuRsIyve8pDLid6JSW9iw-wEUO0nheXLiW5w5r5YhQ2A4cWVj2UOOX7w9qHhv6CRsSwgtughdKCUGFT1O_GGelMKLx-Oube_5A/s5120/Oregon1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-dwuRbjuL91k9Corzy6dwVyKQX5F0dS5kWVAETX0eiPwJr4zy37ETG8duakFXzA_UfS1ug-yv_QY6DJVjWoUADOUnuRsIyve8pDLid6JSW9iw-wEUO0nheXLiW5w5r5YhQ2A4cWVj2UOOX7w9qHhv6CRsSwgtughdKCUGFT1O_GGelMKLx-Oube_5A/w640-h480/Oregon1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At 6,545 meters, it is the longest continuous tress bridge in North America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was completed in 1966...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">replacing the ferry service which was the only link to Washington State</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMiHs3up8vQ_hpYYpHcIW6yo2ixgK18xt8Sungk7OHrjZiJWEDxGgv0--c_toRmIC6tmD55PQ1tlyGLqh5YL1RpBBU-USp-IAnZcFvvUjyF1vNnFmvaLmCrf_JHYG4dpGTxky8TRXc2BaieyzojEp35bLjLoVwdgeYfAoC7aEGtgYvlXY8OJLccC4QA/s4032/IMG_1107.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMiHs3up8vQ_hpYYpHcIW6yo2ixgK18xt8Sungk7OHrjZiJWEDxGgv0--c_toRmIC6tmD55PQ1tlyGLqh5YL1RpBBU-USp-IAnZcFvvUjyF1vNnFmvaLmCrf_JHYG4dpGTxky8TRXc2BaieyzojEp35bLjLoVwdgeYfAoC7aEGtgYvlXY8OJLccC4QA/w640-h480/IMG_1107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Such beauty.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ecola State Park.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpS-NVbwPBdNfLApibLGna_NkFQCyWxpuzoHvBbIQsqLpO5JdMHTRMlSx3y1y8n40uwz0YEpi5zlcOaUiVpj4mx0wqEyJqGH2sHI6yUHK6MAZDfnyG-XVhU7DTt2q1_731gMO-X14tBN0H7Zcl6UQQuIrUA2k4PCZs8URiQQFHEW1zgUwEKGTw8JRqw/s4032/IMG_E1122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpS-NVbwPBdNfLApibLGna_NkFQCyWxpuzoHvBbIQsqLpO5JdMHTRMlSx3y1y8n40uwz0YEpi5zlcOaUiVpj4mx0wqEyJqGH2sHI6yUHK6MAZDfnyG-XVhU7DTt2q1_731gMO-X14tBN0H7Zcl6UQQuIrUA2k4PCZs8URiQQFHEW1zgUwEKGTw8JRqw/w640-h480/IMG_E1122.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nehalem Bay State Park...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our home base for our visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9ifA9fP3zFl5jT8gBQUE_nHsD5wWSDH9LEzcHwyyL_UUcOjomGnFw6IQqLJURFzYj6WVr1nOuDcZFz7-c6mIaVcpFBKU-_dGHrD9B2rUTFfdgrHYFe42uGC6G1vRWseXrOEry5BDbKBLaEB9ZohV-FKvtfb1Gk1OhZLWTfCwPpjC6GgIh-YJkgVtLQ/s4032/IMG_1139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9ifA9fP3zFl5jT8gBQUE_nHsD5wWSDH9LEzcHwyyL_UUcOjomGnFw6IQqLJURFzYj6WVr1nOuDcZFz7-c6mIaVcpFBKU-_dGHrD9B2rUTFfdgrHYFe42uGC6G1vRWseXrOEry5BDbKBLaEB9ZohV-FKvtfb1Gk1OhZLWTfCwPpjC6GgIh-YJkgVtLQ/w640-h480/IMG_1139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With miles of sand beaches...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_1C6RcYQD7E3_huDBiRGJv1ujgA65LRLPYXwLAnXbp17_2iJBwoqMivIpKfmxyPZ4TqCK_6wBOKTmj2AkFfAayZr-kTaiFFRMTrGM53hn7bVylleXX7ZgJ0b1qaSKzk7-NUz39kQutREgwF7liqqq_9yxpkycYVqRgbSCAfv7UIumxaczz_r14-VtA/s2941/IMG_E1165.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2322" data-original-width="2941" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_1C6RcYQD7E3_huDBiRGJv1ujgA65LRLPYXwLAnXbp17_2iJBwoqMivIpKfmxyPZ4TqCK_6wBOKTmj2AkFfAayZr-kTaiFFRMTrGM53hn7bVylleXX7ZgJ0b1qaSKzk7-NUz39kQutREgwF7liqqq_9yxpkycYVqRgbSCAfv7UIumxaczz_r14-VtA/w640-h506/IMG_E1165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...dunes to climb </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD_3KTRVY8wNHf4t6Hv-BlJy4PxYZHpH6lPRyf5FnUUiy3Kc5ymja6lQhgrqUoszkTq5oqmwW30GsykZ1o8Bqbhy_hpzwdFuU8qGxyfdbq7PN53Lo3zadEfEHYFrO-bo2dsq71qekLUoAdW5YhZui9WXQG7a0tAHDDSCUUKzlRNW7s2iEwzE7TZtY4Q/s2822/IMG_E1333.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="2822" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD_3KTRVY8wNHf4t6Hv-BlJy4PxYZHpH6lPRyf5FnUUiy3Kc5ymja6lQhgrqUoszkTq5oqmwW30GsykZ1o8Bqbhy_hpzwdFuU8qGxyfdbq7PN53Lo3zadEfEHYFrO-bo2dsq71qekLUoAdW5YhZui9WXQG7a0tAHDDSCUUKzlRNW7s2iEwzE7TZtY4Q/w640-h512/IMG_E1333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and trails to cycle,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was a good choice.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeEMNIj8DTh0DiNpx6fw68USDO-A2aS_ZR603Y7mGlgvV7Mz8213KXiSYKOSj47ZTr1PN8_L1m0Td0OtXrCwnkWSLBgBWMHZJV-BGfXjY8pzbzJVAi27skNFBXdB_gyega4epyFUDdOqyictzJnmt8WysDSToD-Cle5ygn_OpfcDCl7bpqoJ5Cp5esw/s2612/IMG_E1207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1997" data-original-width="2612" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeEMNIj8DTh0DiNpx6fw68USDO-A2aS_ZR603Y7mGlgvV7Mz8213KXiSYKOSj47ZTr1PN8_L1m0Td0OtXrCwnkWSLBgBWMHZJV-BGfXjY8pzbzJVAi27skNFBXdB_gyega4epyFUDdOqyictzJnmt8WysDSToD-Cle5ygn_OpfcDCl7bpqoJ5Cp5esw/w640-h490/IMG_E1207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our visit to Cape Meares Lighthouse was a bit of a disappointment as the fog rolled in that morning.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSDBeITSYNbm5lFag_H7FBRxlxPtR1n7JHxV0pPogUwMSdnQcZdoUN_EgMo37zizM_prFAO6Jda_T1ymm2H3F0jB07rfdxBzoiaN2ZGkJRwoRStz5ZaBwbeHcPpddVTXeIGekedhlBfHoFkTmVzN3eIMzS86qyiGTBBrnUrAPejONv3JRQFyJqDDuCQ/s3834/IMG_E1217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2876" data-original-width="3834" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSDBeITSYNbm5lFag_H7FBRxlxPtR1n7JHxV0pPogUwMSdnQcZdoUN_EgMo37zizM_prFAO6Jda_T1ymm2H3F0jB07rfdxBzoiaN2ZGkJRwoRStz5ZaBwbeHcPpddVTXeIGekedhlBfHoFkTmVzN3eIMzS86qyiGTBBrnUrAPejONv3JRQFyJqDDuCQ/w640-h480/IMG_E1217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By the time we reached Oceanside (a few miles to the south),</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">the fog had lifted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We stopped at Three Arch Rocks...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">a national wildlife refuge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Each of the three rocks seen in the distance is an arch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJSj_LaY17Je7-drCbzOZHlVKhUB4nzZUkAo4JwaLfq8-BQn6iUpNluaqL0ThneGYOGdA7Lz4pACnhVQi7WKIYGjdI05EcenWwNUwnt3q6Rrk8-1kwbqtfHmJDqcBgKJlvuJcASHIpWV2ylTYkARc9ELAp-dGlpN4QOm7HTiJO-RRg_yGZAhnefDOCA/s3263/IMG_E1214.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2332" data-original-width="3263" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJSj_LaY17Je7-drCbzOZHlVKhUB4nzZUkAo4JwaLfq8-BQn6iUpNluaqL0ThneGYOGdA7Lz4pACnhVQi7WKIYGjdI05EcenWwNUwnt3q6Rrk8-1kwbqtfHmJDqcBgKJlvuJcASHIpWV2ylTYkARc9ELAp-dGlpN4QOm7HTiJO-RRg_yGZAhnefDOCA/w640-h458/IMG_E1214.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The refuge is home to many seabirds.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOc7tNIvRbr3ZTk6XT16-UjdOPqnFEfcDL1AI5jjKIuLxeXZHHx53ReTnaAjiGwBfPP7sxcgX9PClCBzrHrzQzxGgKtG9eJ4ayhU6rBdHRPO6Y67TSyI9ILbTc2tr3KPwiTm1TUO89plnATWIIJTy4Pd6L8oFUwBda6bavxIAUM8AanHZlu7GtvEGMA/s5346/IMG_E1221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3144" data-original-width="5346" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOc7tNIvRbr3ZTk6XT16-UjdOPqnFEfcDL1AI5jjKIuLxeXZHHx53ReTnaAjiGwBfPP7sxcgX9PClCBzrHrzQzxGgKtG9eJ4ayhU6rBdHRPO6Y67TSyI9ILbTc2tr3KPwiTm1TUO89plnATWIIJTy4Pd6L8oFUwBda6bavxIAUM8AanHZlu7GtvEGMA/w640-h376/IMG_E1221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We drove the 'Three Capes Scenic Loop' stopping here and there along the way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2pFw1N4GQIQhO6JhoM7hQxs75Nr-ikgg2RZICVpaZJsW0kMa2eKpQ-XkNNCTI4VZ7uvb64ts9cxOEnpKUMcMIxWIRsY2PqQat55mjCc_A2XqKHJ3-Z8OKsaMZaBkTI3yD8DIid_OI8zYLuSEpGL5PY9dewMxa04dutLKb_02YeRXCCd2CR_kW-yowA/s3011/IMG_E1230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="3011" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2pFw1N4GQIQhO6JhoM7hQxs75Nr-ikgg2RZICVpaZJsW0kMa2eKpQ-XkNNCTI4VZ7uvb64ts9cxOEnpKUMcMIxWIRsY2PqQat55mjCc_A2XqKHJ3-Z8OKsaMZaBkTI3yD8DIid_OI8zYLuSEpGL5PY9dewMxa04dutLKb_02YeRXCCd2CR_kW-yowA/w640-h470/IMG_E1230.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Who knew Oregon had two Haystack Rocks?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">This is the lesser known one at Cape Kiwanda,</div><div style="text-align: center;">just north of Pacific City.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO2euHeiZ6C9vFqfi68UZi9aX8yh5Poc24sWaISuZ_x8MZP9-7MnRgQAD6s9ib3AvF68z0jOYEqO5aQGzgwJsM_otxMboCJnyraGjX6WEq158-XLkXnWtA9sB-u08JzZdT5o647ym_lzfXn_ZGno2URk6hkzF_nfoYKYex7jqIeWT9poXwgRbQSkybg/s3485/IMG_E1229.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2564" data-original-width="3485" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO2euHeiZ6C9vFqfi68UZi9aX8yh5Poc24sWaISuZ_x8MZP9-7MnRgQAD6s9ib3AvF68z0jOYEqO5aQGzgwJsM_otxMboCJnyraGjX6WEq158-XLkXnWtA9sB-u08JzZdT5o647ym_lzfXn_ZGno2URk6hkzF_nfoYKYex7jqIeWT9poXwgRbQSkybg/w640-h470/IMG_E1229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hiked to the top of the sand dune at Cape Kiwanda...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTNLbICSb0mNddqTW_blM6bZUTx0aGhgnwXrKUDFq1fGXdsJ3vaJB7h4iSlR8EbrijN1retEfrQsu7wQJCF1C-gYCJnbzdpy2n858QAtSoePUxg1q4tGlKQowt1slUQ8xmKyK6WLBbz-cFN89_Gv0ZY6CeDA3invZJ67EeYJEoKYnIsKY3QjRe3EwZA/s4032/IMG_E1228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTNLbICSb0mNddqTW_blM6bZUTx0aGhgnwXrKUDFq1fGXdsJ3vaJB7h4iSlR8EbrijN1retEfrQsu7wQJCF1C-gYCJnbzdpy2n858QAtSoePUxg1q4tGlKQowt1slUQ8xmKyK6WLBbz-cFN89_Gv0ZY6CeDA3invZJ67EeYJEoKYnIsKY3QjRe3EwZA/w640-h480/IMG_E1228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">...for amazing views.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was worth the half-mile climb up sand!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SpQtUiBFXLdophoKSwI8_3NJolgjLgoIdwBkEOvWchvabb6RokBqQ4aF9dnhK75mUq7l7lZyKWVWp7Rczmd-5e-p8ayKKre0LH-bqIBci0RSyGmrQ2FL8J309UGw4RwS5W2z_TComgQh7_87neEEpgZkHreiHo9CnF-_XOfFTgFbsFo8EJbVihXgyQ/s5120/Oregon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5120" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SpQtUiBFXLdophoKSwI8_3NJolgjLgoIdwBkEOvWchvabb6RokBqQ4aF9dnhK75mUq7l7lZyKWVWp7Rczmd-5e-p8ayKKre0LH-bqIBci0RSyGmrQ2FL8J309UGw4RwS5W2z_TComgQh7_87neEEpgZkHreiHo9CnF-_XOfFTgFbsFo8EJbVihXgyQ/w640-h480/Oregon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped by Tillamook Creamery for ice-cream...</div><div style="text-align: center;">along with hundreds of others who also thought that was a good idea! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I can recommend their salted caramel ice-cream!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there was Cannon Beach...</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnZ1lHnCRef1HzE_BjyV4S2XZk7pL7z9IcFePykXPm1Q2EpiY0TeU8BmIwniOHf50X99AUtCKR73_IoSI76rkd6Ed11rT_90yKPnxkyFPM-5fVbwsoBZoNNc1RPo-1_4va0_emkn6LbS_Ga3zR7kOuBr6A6W761yMnWhettsxTrQ1eTl5En0BfT0WQQ/s2573/IMG_E1292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1882" data-original-width="2573" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnZ1lHnCRef1HzE_BjyV4S2XZk7pL7z9IcFePykXPm1Q2EpiY0TeU8BmIwniOHf50X99AUtCKR73_IoSI76rkd6Ed11rT_90yKPnxkyFPM-5fVbwsoBZoNNc1RPo-1_4va0_emkn6LbS_Ga3zR7kOuBr6A6W761yMnWhettsxTrQ1eTl5En0BfT0WQQ/w640-h468/IMG_E1292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>...with its famous haystack rock.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMY7Y1fJQOaQLgG50tqn4BCx2InMucpD8rAbc-ZtxqdP3GTqxCA2Q23OMgf2GeH7Y1MH7ixGKRk2hND2QUVyeyQiUidgyY52HE2RsLyIQCDZuDdtsKbdrTRNXlmKM8kaGww6crCL8HgdFoX1Kjgxea0scPZ8mgJnNGjJofo7fsW8DVcV7psBxCK1rgQ/s3878/IMG_E1315.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="3878" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMY7Y1fJQOaQLgG50tqn4BCx2InMucpD8rAbc-ZtxqdP3GTqxCA2Q23OMgf2GeH7Y1MH7ixGKRk2hND2QUVyeyQiUidgyY52HE2RsLyIQCDZuDdtsKbdrTRNXlmKM8kaGww6crCL8HgdFoX1Kjgxea0scPZ8mgJnNGjJofo7fsW8DVcV7psBxCK1rgQ/w640-h470/IMG_E1315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We spent an afternoon there...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P51MK_Om7OTT1HT5mAAsO9HEvlMReFlYNOVh5z7GESO5HrH97Md3DG7o1izhj2ipcaY9qRMvew_zM-EpTUANvkxjAxz8WGyC1geHk8E8ih8Le4m4D4WAF5dp2-F5cWg5PG8wLUYsCBcRhn07ZfUHfVCadazPv_CRbkbSID3UpbrjHGgMSfzZ3Dv6pg/s3265/IMG_E1288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2652" data-original-width="3265" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P51MK_Om7OTT1HT5mAAsO9HEvlMReFlYNOVh5z7GESO5HrH97Md3DG7o1izhj2ipcaY9qRMvew_zM-EpTUANvkxjAxz8WGyC1geHk8E8ih8Le4m4D4WAF5dp2-F5cWg5PG8wLUYsCBcRhn07ZfUHfVCadazPv_CRbkbSID3UpbrjHGgMSfzZ3Dv6pg/w640-h520/IMG_E1288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>...watching the kite fliers and the castle builders.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnB1mL-hYdkHMiT-RSVdMJN3uTuAuZ5wYgo88vhkXWoWiYNkJ-Ut9IWQVCoO44997o4BpSie-YEGvxgjz9UQsTwF_NQTxvfXR4qITKGfPGmpFnzMs5g4RjdDKH2-5iDx64yChVxm3qyDmUJUuEZazWwxTQW65nb_H4Du3Mp6_aNJxhul1caQsotGejQ/s3311/IMG_1363-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2575" data-original-width="3311" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnB1mL-hYdkHMiT-RSVdMJN3uTuAuZ5wYgo88vhkXWoWiYNkJ-Ut9IWQVCoO44997o4BpSie-YEGvxgjz9UQsTwF_NQTxvfXR4qITKGfPGmpFnzMs5g4RjdDKH2-5iDx64yChVxm3qyDmUJUuEZazWwxTQW65nb_H4Du3Mp6_aNJxhul1caQsotGejQ/w640-h498/IMG_1363-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back at our campsite...</div><div style="text-align: center;">we had visitors daily. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHyDRf5iLIW2ZlN3yxTyZp2-092rBhArC-MWAbHbmssyCdYcFWtzD5OSrLIqBJrCOPYVvcHgqSg2QpXhL8LRp1lHDxErIx2O4GQW5SqObj_M5t2zFhg3FB5n82ue4e0cSpPG09-I-KiFgPcq706N3kb41ZSI6k0S1FF6czG3DvrB3Aq7bMPcGUyfF9A/s4032/IMG_1264%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHyDRf5iLIW2ZlN3yxTyZp2-092rBhArC-MWAbHbmssyCdYcFWtzD5OSrLIqBJrCOPYVvcHgqSg2QpXhL8LRp1lHDxErIx2O4GQW5SqObj_M5t2zFhg3FB5n82ue4e0cSpPG09-I-KiFgPcq706N3kb41ZSI6k0S1FF6czG3DvrB3Aq7bMPcGUyfF9A/w640-h480/IMG_1264%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The deer were right at home...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM_rjNP1mL6ciVWBVDV7uC5otekZvOsyKV5BxNHG4zIFx382XeYFOlW6msmjjL1tuyQOF_fjiTSmUg39QkSI__i_7FemkAZzKvEXmJrTyLV-wh2wTIadfzWi1kz-cS-Zdgn0nMr4rrPV0bIvII_QzodGsjhKo3MzAnXBkBlw8Tm1IQgnKoBIDhKmAvg/s2916/IMG_E1339.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2163" data-original-width="2916" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheM_rjNP1mL6ciVWBVDV7uC5otekZvOsyKV5BxNHG4zIFx382XeYFOlW6msmjjL1tuyQOF_fjiTSmUg39QkSI__i_7FemkAZzKvEXmJrTyLV-wh2wTIadfzWi1kz-cS-Zdgn0nMr4rrPV0bIvII_QzodGsjhKo3MzAnXBkBlw8Tm1IQgnKoBIDhKmAvg/w640-h474/IMG_E1339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and we bumped into elk a few times along the trail. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyCJWh6oPRQeGyTUmWbs5TO-1KE4sipIP6HrSYfRzIOYzSrXbij1tHH3K6XggxqqvY0_hQdsty7tePIyp87mA1mHtzVPwFjjHSyPBPUjg7S_RPMlQ0OOSTun-XX2WM8zi4BrATKX2jDIuY5gAAMcC4EpCXu5ut1nAyKVGhELK-cyKrobxDPn7z9p07w/s4032/IMG_E1192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyCJWh6oPRQeGyTUmWbs5TO-1KE4sipIP6HrSYfRzIOYzSrXbij1tHH3K6XggxqqvY0_hQdsty7tePIyp87mA1mHtzVPwFjjHSyPBPUjg7S_RPMlQ0OOSTun-XX2WM8zi4BrATKX2jDIuY5gAAMcC4EpCXu5ut1nAyKVGhELK-cyKrobxDPn7z9p07w/w480-h640/IMG_E1192.JPG" width="480" /></a><br /><br />The Oregon coast sunsets were amazing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_G77Z7yKe8rFvzT2_0TDhwzhWY0uUc1Rqa7Z5DZgxK7ovBVmMJNnC5m7uMpSqowuKPZNVzoX9TZ7-Pr-o_A6qyDKwHwDzi5DygwF-a2VJfYmkigbBYWVxNDeLQXgpt8smPKMuajgJXJe4vv92VGjjx8HYnAC4Npl1L6XAC7Z7PxTjvB1XhdgC9b0Pw/s4032/IMG_E1193%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_G77Z7yKe8rFvzT2_0TDhwzhWY0uUc1Rqa7Z5DZgxK7ovBVmMJNnC5m7uMpSqowuKPZNVzoX9TZ7-Pr-o_A6qyDKwHwDzi5DygwF-a2VJfYmkigbBYWVxNDeLQXgpt8smPKMuajgJXJe4vv92VGjjx8HYnAC4Npl1L6XAC7Z7PxTjvB1XhdgC9b0Pw/w640-h480/IMG_E1193%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Waves of sand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDPGoApK2ECMsJgdbCh6Yv1flqABg-klFc07PRUYU7KvnDR-YbX7UQodBfDyLQ5rHkx4BT_iCUZUCo0s42GAgn0w8MB4ZCzuyobeAyxPtnG8bUn6nrnOjXL8GuvPaFw_d6nLvcRyg9ZrzJ9z5rudqVgOOzqBIPAizh79CjqXit4xsY0yEK3D4oc5gXw/s4032/IMG_E1191%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDPGoApK2ECMsJgdbCh6Yv1flqABg-klFc07PRUYU7KvnDR-YbX7UQodBfDyLQ5rHkx4BT_iCUZUCo0s42GAgn0w8MB4ZCzuyobeAyxPtnG8bUn6nrnOjXL8GuvPaFw_d6nLvcRyg9ZrzJ9z5rudqVgOOzqBIPAizh79CjqXit4xsY0yEK3D4oc5gXw/w640-h480/IMG_E1191%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our northern Oregon coast adventure was the perfect way to end the camping season for 2022.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to give my Oregon memories a separate post.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned for my September monthly re-cap...</div><div style="text-align: center;">coming soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHZwD_iSXH-GLAFX6HKvezDjTjklcnuwBoM2aS8W46fgJIuk4Tjoy3wip-rF2OKCBKPRop7FUTGxoynocp_pFh9DGfnff9dRGVftzmEkHHBCFAEWhuBeLk5wiT6serD5mr5J9X0g1yvWwKGrPXSnWKnMZArhN85raep6b1a9DxM0nNliJgm72BYISIbQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHZwD_iSXH-GLAFX6HKvezDjTjklcnuwBoM2aS8W46fgJIuk4Tjoy3wip-rF2OKCBKPRop7FUTGxoynocp_pFh9DGfnff9dRGVftzmEkHHBCFAEWhuBeLk5wiT6serD5mr5J9X0g1yvWwKGrPXSnWKnMZArhN85raep6b1a9DxM0nNliJgm72BYISIbQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6429786372649785047.post-49635418561703306872022-08-31T22:36:00.004-07:002022-09-01T08:21:24.256-07:00August ~ sizzling summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">As the sun sets sets on August, let me just recall a few of this month's happenings. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNmE0lxI-7mQv9HFV3deGF4WUbFf6tLRoM3E301foZD8V8RtTdKq1SqI5Ej6VIDpfUHneHcAV33FkBEOUsv9ypNX0rtAUBF1IQgxmYzha1rJs-iGQHu4ZzCFBsCr1Skq54r5Fj-JgpfZBB0spyKdcIZZKA4uoQpLIUXP2EjrVciBS6CKbSxL-WUUmbw/s2810/57342C42-1844-4818-8E44-349F59E492FC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="2810" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNmE0lxI-7mQv9HFV3deGF4WUbFf6tLRoM3E301foZD8V8RtTdKq1SqI5Ej6VIDpfUHneHcAV33FkBEOUsv9ypNX0rtAUBF1IQgxmYzha1rJs-iGQHu4ZzCFBsCr1Skq54r5Fj-JgpfZBB0spyKdcIZZKA4uoQpLIUXP2EjrVciBS6CKbSxL-WUUmbw/w640-h488/57342C42-1844-4818-8E44-349F59E492FC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a whole lot of sun...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a whole lot of heat!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our wet spring is now a distant memory!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started the month off with a camping trip to Vernon...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q6j74wfYn0xgRt4nGwP9wSP5A30iwqbWcVPfaHrKbovuO8g2sJzKORqVT7O26D1TGeFyqMqx8fgARWcrsafmNzQwbskpF00S-u8HiOvN_AIQbCd7dMGUWFKxvcHoF03HSGJLo3d6U7-FZGQlj3tmO1lX_XA3MH-t3MMllzAD3jXGaOE2ooYb439vGQ/s4973/IMG_E0822.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3440" data-original-width="4973" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q6j74wfYn0xgRt4nGwP9wSP5A30iwqbWcVPfaHrKbovuO8g2sJzKORqVT7O26D1TGeFyqMqx8fgARWcrsafmNzQwbskpF00S-u8HiOvN_AIQbCd7dMGUWFKxvcHoF03HSGJLo3d6U7-FZGQlj3tmO1lX_XA3MH-t3MMllzAD3jXGaOE2ooYb439vGQ/w640-h442/IMG_E0822.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We cycled everywhere from our home base.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxFnquMfEoAoZMmu6plVsHWfhakZcPIlmBj9Z_5uAQs4LuHVpN4S4uUJczkgwbraRKTlzk_N3G3775By3n_tX3PHfZ-xrYbfxjnZyCUQlKkJUluaISg_b7Cjd0T-Sdb08_s1ym4hblV6KtlE-xbzyeIi9xEKIqpT94WWbUrT5E9p7jQ0r1I3hkUEenQ/s2221/IMG_E0820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="2221" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxFnquMfEoAoZMmu6plVsHWfhakZcPIlmBj9Z_5uAQs4LuHVpN4S4uUJczkgwbraRKTlzk_N3G3775By3n_tX3PHfZ-xrYbfxjnZyCUQlKkJUluaISg_b7Cjd0T-Sdb08_s1ym4hblV6KtlE-xbzyeIi9xEKIqpT94WWbUrT5E9p7jQ0r1I3hkUEenQ/w640-h518/IMG_E0820.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We shared the trail with quail, deer and rattlesnakes (apparently)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYha0ibrBoYBAWN3wN__bZXjnIcRCjgnS4rlxMpU6z83DiOXk5o-Ggn-UjkMB4jD6_4cCZSt0xIxfxmr6FzQYZvO0TxleENeEvi7QLvrgPpaOOuQcv75_ovacyNeJah5HcFmHKLAwOnclx3RFdqu3RQIurfDwSDNO0sYKbxXOkdKUEj0XdW1MK9eKciw/s3459/IMG_E0825.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3015" data-original-width="3459" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYha0ibrBoYBAWN3wN__bZXjnIcRCjgnS4rlxMpU6z83DiOXk5o-Ggn-UjkMB4jD6_4cCZSt0xIxfxmr6FzQYZvO0TxleENeEvi7QLvrgPpaOOuQcv75_ovacyNeJah5HcFmHKLAwOnclx3RFdqu3RQIurfDwSDNO0sYKbxXOkdKUEj0XdW1MK9eKciw/w640-h558/IMG_E0825.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and had picnic lunches along the lakeshore.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISvTRyyHgNpkP0HwdiSdlz0_C-IT4ROs0pyLDPZKa7szsehvGaAFt9-9qVJFWYEB-vSBQ2ufUrB71xNc_40WbkuMalhIB8QXNHna-Ou3WvOXEYbBSM-SiqbevBx4ll8RcKkBMVna8pfINrOGGRzvQ1xOY_RNSC2sSAa7Sf5mIwUXUh8Eauc5aSVbm2A/s3472/IMG_E0826.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="2789" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISvTRyyHgNpkP0HwdiSdlz0_C-IT4ROs0pyLDPZKa7szsehvGaAFt9-9qVJFWYEB-vSBQ2ufUrB71xNc_40WbkuMalhIB8QXNHna-Ou3WvOXEYbBSM-SiqbevBx4ll8RcKkBMVna8pfINrOGGRzvQ1xOY_RNSC2sSAa7Sf5mIwUXUh8Eauc5aSVbm2A/w514-h640/IMG_E0826.JPG" width="514" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We visited Davison Orchards...</div><div style="text-align: center;">where we sampled the ice-cream made with real fruit while we watched.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was worth trekking up the hill for!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZqFLALbVPlDDy_WyqsLSRvzUUeIew0yfpohggtw6XKikXLZpbAVu5AoTx11YbBQAgaWOmFobtG3TolvcAUQfv7gTINx9DsmG63ijWdzCXMp18jJzV4Glyc28NtC3ssjYYVEdvyjI1bWQ8ZHNZP45PIUNrqgrca3Z91AHritRrbAPzFymMRoV9H9Pyg/s4032/IMG_E0839.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZqFLALbVPlDDy_WyqsLSRvzUUeIew0yfpohggtw6XKikXLZpbAVu5AoTx11YbBQAgaWOmFobtG3TolvcAUQfv7gTINx9DsmG63ijWdzCXMp18jJzV4Glyc28NtC3ssjYYVEdvyjI1bWQ8ZHNZP45PIUNrqgrca3Z91AHritRrbAPzFymMRoV9H9Pyg/w640-h480/IMG_E0839.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We rode 70 kilometers along the Okanagan Rail Trail...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">from Mile 0 near our campsite to the city limits of Kelowna. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A good part of the trail hugs the shores of the beautiful Kalamalka Lake. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Rail trails are always an easy ride...</div><div style="text-align: center;">with next to no slope.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyZR44nD-CNFCVt_Kf4yxfzbzKUbt9CM7DkPysfIpQNSmMvy4g2ZEhjwcfRk5eaMUXi0d0owvnJsD4VK9hnGfrVnc-Sfg2JNp3-D1r0yRgG8d6j17p5e5nsQHOW085SJfQOjupGAF7YK68uS_AB99jEbVS4g7_qQ8Nm5RgTMwqh6xuafSxd-94l2zig/s3135/IMG_E0913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2378" data-original-width="3135" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyZR44nD-CNFCVt_Kf4yxfzbzKUbt9CM7DkPysfIpQNSmMvy4g2ZEhjwcfRk5eaMUXi0d0owvnJsD4VK9hnGfrVnc-Sfg2JNp3-D1r0yRgG8d6j17p5e5nsQHOW085SJfQOjupGAF7YK68uS_AB99jEbVS4g7_qQ8Nm5RgTMwqh6xuafSxd-94l2zig/w640-h486/IMG_E0913.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the farm...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the third cut of grass came off the fields early in the month.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6YczVdHJTI7b80PlDfpjlCa91xze79S8G11fatcWMhqX5Tml7vn1gptlPHTSsK4C4Y3UbYFnmtIjQOcFrC58hbgu0uo2y95fqSmoFh2sRR97OqQTF-iA7rSFKXjfRyBlXKnvGpvmRvAMFbxXTC-X1qKm1o6pM3C-HyN4dFTEL-xTx55PXrylzRysMw/s3186/IMG_E0930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2452" data-original-width="3186" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6YczVdHJTI7b80PlDfpjlCa91xze79S8G11fatcWMhqX5Tml7vn1gptlPHTSsK4C4Y3UbYFnmtIjQOcFrC58hbgu0uo2y95fqSmoFh2sRR97OqQTF-iA7rSFKXjfRyBlXKnvGpvmRvAMFbxXTC-X1qKm1o6pM3C-HyN4dFTEL-xTx55PXrylzRysMw/w640-h492/IMG_E0930.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On August 12th we joined the masses for an outdoor concert at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford...</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Symphony in the Park' with Calvin Dyck and orchestra.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What a fabulous turnout!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeHHIayoK9LBairEuJvSbMVWu1qyfjYYk9w4dIG1pf6yF8y9ym_dMNBN79rI9Ssu73PhpWSIWdN0UB4JUn-AyTtDYJ1JTesJZFpaiSEUDwJPbDtcccQn_Bdn7QiTpYI7KN0zqvG1v7ZtNSvYYlAgxSn-CGGYk5NvAnms43-_RbaBFsUP6fytXlabLlg/s2698/IMG_E0937.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="2698" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeHHIayoK9LBairEuJvSbMVWu1qyfjYYk9w4dIG1pf6yF8y9ym_dMNBN79rI9Ssu73PhpWSIWdN0UB4JUn-AyTtDYJ1JTesJZFpaiSEUDwJPbDtcccQn_Bdn7QiTpYI7KN0zqvG1v7ZtNSvYYlAgxSn-CGGYk5NvAnms43-_RbaBFsUP6fytXlabLlg/w640-h504/IMG_E0937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knew Ranen could tango?</div><div style="text-align: center;">She missed part of her family vacation to take part in the performance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoV5m4ciL6NKB2OK7NUU-8KrOq4ZYWsfrYvnj_0J7zRZZZncCwDXYW1uaoWikokh_mw_mSm6zKQLv1UujlaPzPYTcQrj6N6iXhs7wAjADkWk-pNjpdPIRU2pihvJPDCoGuIFkS6Z8EdkCofkZZefHzmLcHqF3gss3U8dd2uLlSkuBs62co2hHPkrYGg/s3172/IMG_E0933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3172" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoV5m4ciL6NKB2OK7NUU-8KrOq4ZYWsfrYvnj_0J7zRZZZncCwDXYW1uaoWikokh_mw_mSm6zKQLv1UujlaPzPYTcQrj6N6iXhs7wAjADkWk-pNjpdPIRU2pihvJPDCoGuIFkS6Z8EdkCofkZZefHzmLcHqF3gss3U8dd2uLlSkuBs62co2hHPkrYGg/w640-h514/IMG_E0933.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After a wonderful evening...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/SivMZsuWTL8" target="_blank">the finale</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click on link)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Summer evenings are the best!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFEyMCDwDIOQ_N5mbJCb0kjC2ZHPl_vchUqXXHSoNdqYAd4xQ0WW7iRBrG7uAX3sRcmL7D37-DxgqXRjMl5QHKHS6ddH2-idBFBP365PPwdiYm3cUrDOZf1XQk0LCFMT21lTLa8Fdp3-AWENHX5JtJHY8GHofY-1PTw4_-2rbDJA32BhyhM1WQKQcKQ/s3457/IMG_0929-001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="3457" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFEyMCDwDIOQ_N5mbJCb0kjC2ZHPl_vchUqXXHSoNdqYAd4xQ0WW7iRBrG7uAX3sRcmL7D37-DxgqXRjMl5QHKHS6ddH2-idBFBP365PPwdiYm3cUrDOZf1XQk0LCFMT21lTLa8Fdp3-AWENHX5JtJHY8GHofY-1PTw4_-2rbDJA32BhyhM1WQKQcKQ/w640-h480/IMG_0929-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We went for evening bike rides...</div><div style="text-align: center;">sometimes with friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiledxjlNd0OD2RzRkUa7MlcXQ9c89t_eMSskBb01w2oODOx8RZxXxnjajYbkTTJBZb5NnjU1qjEnJPvs1RBer92ywhsNe59-SCTtsQ96jxPXUTSMtWm8R-eG80OA9z1Yz1HsuuCktun_cVpXxiiRdoxAGmvKAOwMoye3lzmODPGwnBjtmlwzCp2Kv8gQ/s3408/IMG_E0883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="2550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiledxjlNd0OD2RzRkUa7MlcXQ9c89t_eMSskBb01w2oODOx8RZxXxnjajYbkTTJBZb5NnjU1qjEnJPvs1RBer92ywhsNe59-SCTtsQ96jxPXUTSMtWm8R-eG80OA9z1Yz1HsuuCktun_cVpXxiiRdoxAGmvKAOwMoye3lzmODPGwnBjtmlwzCp2Kv8gQ/w478-h640/IMG_E0883.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One night Uncle Jake and Aunt Maggie came for a visit.</div><div>Always a delight.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6LaJtsHBzKaD5nosmqevLSQwvVubMFaULGXheio4odDK_oCU7_asq4P34umS0UifHCilyQpIT_7pGyWUohRlqCMO_BzicTj7sRjoi2wERggX2pUs6qzwu5Wwguv2nV4Idp5lISusa_YaJCsJjBFkNY0FVuGL32UsL6UdMAiHR0CcxLkssvvAehpFxg/s3669/IMG_E0986.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3669" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6LaJtsHBzKaD5nosmqevLSQwvVubMFaULGXheio4odDK_oCU7_asq4P34umS0UifHCilyQpIT_7pGyWUohRlqCMO_BzicTj7sRjoi2wERggX2pUs6qzwu5Wwguv2nV4Idp5lISusa_YaJCsJjBFkNY0FVuGL32UsL6UdMAiHR0CcxLkssvvAehpFxg/w640-h528/IMG_E0986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our friends have hosted a 55+ barbecue at their farm most every summer for the past few decades.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This year we were home and free to attend for the first time ever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a great afternoon...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and brought back memories of meeting at that same farm for youth group get-togethers more than fifty years ago. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt6m6DwMUVOS1Qvzh3izhgl0u0LSL0Zg1AHfR_lzhIqwnLdqn7h8uyStQlTmX5ZVdb2GFge-Mqt7xbwXSue0zHR16qnMKANUTUss-mGD9WiYScGdQwIXhuLBVQcjxPtyBitt7hAQReznsfeKfXWLomHJYuZB4EZyAfsNCucwA2guAwBMbU2y648kykA/s5120/Lucy%20%20Maggie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="5120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt6m6DwMUVOS1Qvzh3izhgl0u0LSL0Zg1AHfR_lzhIqwnLdqn7h8uyStQlTmX5ZVdb2GFge-Mqt7xbwXSue0zHR16qnMKANUTUss-mGD9WiYScGdQwIXhuLBVQcjxPtyBitt7hAQReznsfeKfXWLomHJYuZB4EZyAfsNCucwA2guAwBMbU2y648kykA/w640-h400/Lucy%20%20Maggie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie and Lucy came to spend a few days with us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We picked blackberries, baked cookies, played games...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and one evening Ryder joined us as we visited a new adventure park.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The mosquitoes saw to it that we never stayed too long!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqS8SpGRwvwUwdBV57TCnDf6hJw-Y70GlUVgMaQ2EJGq3ylfWV6q-TsQvXjbZkpB59lDV6WJsTomNBuyei3taSZiOzr26JJhaFKNEdIAMlzJbnnQ6aVpJSpyrsECYVslkuNt71ortLP17uQaLo1__f7wWuqK0fJhj_2xrhwi7d3KKMsq2A1uwHBkt3A/s4032/IMG_0905.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqS8SpGRwvwUwdBV57TCnDf6hJw-Y70GlUVgMaQ2EJGq3ylfWV6q-TsQvXjbZkpB59lDV6WJsTomNBuyei3taSZiOzr26JJhaFKNEdIAMlzJbnnQ6aVpJSpyrsECYVslkuNt71ortLP17uQaLo1__f7wWuqK0fJhj_2xrhwi7d3KKMsq2A1uwHBkt3A/w640-h480/IMG_0905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm saying good-bye to August...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but it doesn't look like summer is over quite yet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCl-Tm9rGN746gylohp1Jvfutkv_VqYzNr4Ad214TRMpBq4A-xD3VI16a2wrIPOzjl66GWSY7bqrZ01_tG8BQGIAUPAcN7sDhlB99JREFtoyUEUZ_hWORV1c8EnjuMmAmS7l3HkKvazYYJD5QmOkIuDLzCHAKrzh72WuAIN1B-7g5IkZ9x2Yh7HDEzqg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCl-Tm9rGN746gylohp1Jvfutkv_VqYzNr4Ad214TRMpBq4A-xD3VI16a2wrIPOzjl66GWSY7bqrZ01_tG8BQGIAUPAcN7sDhlB99JREFtoyUEUZ_hWORV1c8EnjuMmAmS7l3HkKvazYYJD5QmOkIuDLzCHAKrzh72WuAIN1B-7g5IkZ9x2Yh7HDEzqg=s16000" /></a></div><br /></div></div>Judy http://www.blogger.com/profile/00929685771427155673noreply@blogger.com6