My Front Porch

the week that sailed by....

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Where do the days go? They seemed to disappear like the snow this past week. The week was filled with many good things...and never a dull moment. As for the snow...

...the fields are looking mighty green...and the big drifts are shrinking fast!

For the second time in as many weeks...we had the opportunity (or obligation) to put on our fancier duds. We joined some of our agricultural friends (translated 'farmers') at an Ag Gala in the valley. We had never been before...but heard it was a fabulous event...so we decided to check it out.

We found some other farmer friends we knew and joined them at their table!

The keynote speaker who was to be flown in from 'who knows where' had an accident the preceding day...and so they scrambled to find someone to fill his spot. I have no idea who was scheduled to speak...but I sure enjoyed the 'fill-in'! I have heard Colin Angus interviewed in the media before...and read his book called 'Lost in Mongolia'...but here he was in real life. He has been named National Geographic 'Adventurer of the Year'....and has authored five books and produced several documentaries. He shared snippets of his journey around the world by human power...walking, biking, and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. Just incredible! He's a Canadian...from British Columbia...and his message was to follow your dream...one step at a time. I think we could relate that to agriculture as well.

One night we were together at an Ag Gala...and the next evening Lovella and I were together again...at Lepp Farm Market.

Judy, Lovella, Kathy, Anneliese and Bev

This time we were preparing comfort foods for those who signed up for the January MGCC cooking class. Cabbage rolls, garlic mashed potatoes, green salad, french bread and bodentorte...does that not sound like a perfect winter feast? We had a fun time! Oh...and if you are interested in signing up for the next class...it looks like we may be doing another one on March 22. You can learn to bake paska just in time for Easter!

And now the weekend is upon us. I'm not sure where Lovella is heading for supper tonight...but I know I'll be home. The grands are coming to visit.

Have a great weekend!

Red Rock Canyon

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Red Rock Canyon lies just 15 miles west of Las Vegas.

What a switch from all the hustle, bustle and bright lights of the city.

Red Rock offers awe-inspiring views and lots of hiking trails...

among the towering red cliffs and desert vegetation.

The mountains in the Red Rock area were formed along fault lines in the earth's crust...

a very long time ago.

Some of the cliffs are 3,000 feet high...

made of sandstone which gets it's crimson colour from the build up of iron oxide over the centuries.

Red Rock Canyon is part of a national conservation area...

and has a large visitor center.

Here we learned all about the plants, animals and people...

a history of this part of the Mojave Desert going back thousands of years.

It was at the visitor center that we began our 13 mile scenic drive...

stopping at viewpoints along the way.

(Red Rock Canyon 1993)

We had visited Red Rock before...

nearly twenty years ago with our friends...

Dave and Janet.

So we knew sort of what to expect.

We expected wild burros...

running free and wild....

and coming to see if we might possibly have treats for them!

That's how it was in 1993.

That's not how it is in 2012.

We never saw any burros this time...

and were informed by a park volunteer that they are still there...

but have gone into hiding in 'them there cliffs'.

It seems too many people have been touring this area...

some 1.2 visitors every year.

We never saw any snakes either.

Good thing.

The sky was blue.

The air was fresh.

The scenery was awesome.

The company was the great...

and so was our rental car.

Red Rock...

check it out if you ever visit this corner of Nevada.

the trump, the circus and the eiffel tower of vegas...

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Our tour guide had little to say about the Trump Hotel...

other than the top two players along The Strip were not too welcoming of the newcomer.

We decided to check it out on our own.

Set back a little from all the other hotels...

the Trump non-gaming hotel towers above the rest.

We even rode the elevator to the pool deck.

Does that not look like a nice spot to spend some time...

in January?

There was not a soul in sight!

Of all the hotels we toured...

this was the quietest.

But most special!

We really thought we should have a coffee at the Trump Hotel coffee bar...

just to say we did.

We somehow thought it would come in lovely gold-gilded mugs.

That was not the case.

We sipped our Starbucks coffee from a disposable cup...

with the Trump sleeve.

Oh...and it was only half the price of the coffee we had at the Eiffel Tower!

I just had to post this picture of the old Circus, Circus Hotel...

which opened in 1968...

and features the largest permanent big top tent in the world.

Vicki left me a comment yesterday...

to say that she was married at Circus, Circus on April 4, 1981.

So this one is for you, Vicki!

We actually watched a short performance by an acrobatic troupe from Kenya at this venue.

And in the evening...

we rode the Eiffel Tower to the top.

It is an exact replica of the original in Paris...

built on half scale.

As for the line-ups to ride up...

there were none!

From the top...

we had an excellent view of the city in all directions...

and front row seats to the water works at the Bellagio!

The Paris Hotel...

all part of the same complex...

looked quite impressive from up there.

The Eiffel Tower restroom facilities should definitely be called 'comfort stations'...

...something Marg can attest to.

Also on the property of the Paris Hotel...

...is the Arc de Triomphe.
It is two-thirds the size of it's counterpart in Paris.

And from on high...

I spotted our hotel...
set back a bit from the strip.

It was a fine place...

though we never spent much time there!

Since the guys planned the getaway...

it had to have something to do with farming...

don't you think?

We saw a chicken...

...and a cow.

Does that make it a business trip?

Next stop...

some fresh air at Red Rock Canyon!

a hop-along tour ~ Las Vegas

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hop-on.

We'll be touring Vegas today...

and hopping off many times along the way.

This sign has been here since 1959...
not quite as old as the two posing beneath it!

It was designed by Betty Willies and cost all of $4000 to build and install.

Since everyone stopped along the way to take photos here...

the city recently created a wee spot for the tour buses and cars to make safe pit stop here.

The Welcome to Las Vegas sign was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

We rolled down The Strip...

past one opulent hotel after the next.

Every once in awhile...

we hopped off to explore.

What could possibly be inside the pyramid of the Luxor Hotel?

We checked it out!

There were some 35 check-in stations at reception.

They are prepared for the masses.

New York...

is in the same neighbourhood as Paris.

Only in Las Vegas!

We'll come back after dark...

and ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a better view.

The Bellagio...

where there is always a crowd gathered outside to watch the water show.

And inside...

...they are celebrating the Chinese New Year.

It's worth hopping off here...

just to stroll through the Mediterranean style botanical gardens.

And besides...

it's lunchtime.

We found a nice spot in the sunshine...

just across the street from the Bellagio...

with front row seats of the dancing waters.

Not far away...

...we toured the Wynn.

This is one of the newest luxury hotels to hit The Strip.

They too were all decked out for the Chinese New Year with amazing floral displays.

Our next stop was not on the tour...

but provided great entertainment.

We spent quite some time watching the window washers doing their thing...

some thirty and forty floors up.

Yikes!

The Excalibur...

...the Leaning Towers of Vegas...

...and the world's most expensive billboard.

Our tour guide told us the stories behind each building.

The Harmon Tower (meant to be a boutique hotel) did not pass final inspection...

and has been sitting empty for the past few years.
While 'the powers that be' decide what to make of it...

it serves as a billboard.

The Venetian Hotel was one of my favorites...

It may be as close to Venice as I ever get...

so I quite enjoyed our stroll on polished marble floors beside the canals.

And the majestic Caesar's Palace...

...home of the Coliseum that plays host to world class stars.
The likes of Celine Dion!

Enough of our hotel tour for today.
Tomorrow...
I'll take you to the hotel that wasn't really welcome in Vegas.
The one that belongs to 'the Donald'.

a most memorable getaway...

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

The bags were packed...and we left for the airport. I knew only that where I was headed it was warm in the daytime and cool at night...and to bring along some nice clothes. 'Like what you would wear for a wedding.' Hmmm.

We had to be going south...since I live in one of the mildest spots in Canada...and it was anything but warm! We left home before the blizzard closed the roads. Just before we checked in at the airport...Marg and I finally found out where we were off to.

Two Canadian girls...celebrating a milestone birthday...were on their way to Las Vegas to hear the Canadian Celine Dion in concert.

We had a little too much time to spend at YVR before boarding...and found these jackets which seemed just perfect for the trip. And they were! We could always be spotted in the sea of black jackets.

Before the 'jacket shopping' spree...we enjoyed a cup of Tim Horton's coffee at YVR compliments of our friend Betty. Thanks, Betty...from all of us!

So how exactly would we spend a few days in Vegas...if we don't gamble? Here's how...

We spent an entire day touring the city...doing the open top bus tour...and learning about the history, the architecture and all else Vegas. Who would have known that they have more than 300 days of sunshine...or that the construction of the Hoover Dam was what really put this city on the map...or that most of the 10 biggest hotels in the world are situated in Vegas? We checked out many of them. We spent a day driving about the countryside...visiting the Red Rock Canyon. We rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower (Paris Las Vegas)...enjoyed the views...and sampled some fabulous French desserts in their restaurant. We had lunch at a sidewalk bistro and basked in the sunshine while watching the crowds of people passing by. We enjoyed Italian, Chinese and French cuisine...and American of course.

And on our final evening, we took in the concert that we came for. It was a great way to end our stay...most special! There is a good reason she is the best-selling Canadian artist of all time. Since my camera was under safekeeping in 'guest relations' at the Coliseum at Caesar's Palace throughout the concert...I don't really have proof that we were actually there. They didn't seem to think Marg's camera needed confiscating...so she may have a few pictures that she is willing to share. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the 'No cameras allowed inside' sign. I rationalized that there was no way they could take my camera...since most all of the concert goers had cell phones cameras on their being. They searched bags...and allowed most ticket holders through with a warning not to photograph the concert. I was not so lucky!

We packed so much into our time there...and stayed up far too late every night. The games that we had brought along to play in our downtime were never unpacked...the books remained closed...and we never checked out the gym or the pool deck at our hotel. Oh...and we never went shopping! And who knew one could visit LasVegas without leaving one cent in the casino? That part was easy! We saw the highlights of Vegas...and turned a blind eye to those things that give the city it's reputation.

We had a most memorable sixtieth birthday. Thanks guys! I'll take you on the city tour one of these days.

We arrived home on Saturday evening...quite curious as to what we would find. After a week of blizzards, blowing snow, and then freezing rain...the temperature was a balmy 7°C in the Fraser Valley and the snow was rapidly turning to slush. Thankfully, Jeremy had cleared a path into our yard...or we would have been stranded on the road.

As for the sidewalks...they were under huge drifts.

The front and back doors to the house were inaccessible...so we entered through the garage. Sunday was a day of rest...and today we will shovel.

And that is a synopsis of my comings and goings last week. Thank-you so much...all my blogging friends...for the kind wishes and messages you sent my way. Oh...and being sixty is just fine. So far!

six decades of celebrations...

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

I arrived on January 19, 1952

at 12:12 am...

weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz.

That would be sixty years ago today!

I have a few cards that were sent to mark the occasion of my arrival way back then...

including this one that says..

Love from Uncle, Aunt and Cousins at Ninga.

I must find out who that might have been.

I also have a wee baby book that Mom kept for me.

I know that my first visitors were my cousins...

Lorraine and Bobby Fast and Marilyn Baerg.

How fitting!

Other than a few snapshots...

I know little of those early years.

But birthdays were always meant to be celebrated...

and that was usually a family affair.

The cake was the same every year...

an old-fashioned golden layer cake...

with plum preserves between the layers...

and smothered in seven-minute frosting.

I can almost taste it!

Having a birthday in January definitely had it's disadvantages.

Birthday parties were cancelled due to a snowstorms.

Sweet sixteen arrived in no time.

It can't have been all that memorable...

since I have no recollection of that particular birthday.

One that I will never forget however...

was my 20th birthday.

I was newly married...

and we moved into my parents house for the month of January while they went to Australia.

It seemed like a good idea at the outset.

We would look after the dairy farm...

and my four younger siblings in their absence.

My little brother was six at the time.

January 19th marked the beginning one of the most devastating ice-storms to hit our area...ever.

How's that for a nice birthday picture?

I think I wore my dad's coveralls and lived in the barn for a week straight.

For many days we had no power (72 1/2 hours to be exact).

And when the electricity returned...

the house was without water as all the pipes had frozen underground.

Oh yes...that was a birthday I would sooner forget!

My 30th was celebrated in Hawaii.
Pierre...our Swiss exchange student...looked after the farm.
My sister and brother-in-law moved in with our children while we were away.

It was difficult to turn 40 without anyone noticing.

I'm not sure anyone ever admitted to placing that sign on our lawn...

but I think I can thank my sisters.

My 50th was celebrated with 50 friends...

a surprise orchestrated by my hubby.

We rode a motor coach together to our destination...

my first 'seniors bus tour'!

It's been fun celebrating birthdays with the grands this past decade.

I still remember how excited these two were the day they had me over for a surprise birthday dinner.

As for the handsome gentleman seated on the chair in front of us...

it was the card the girls gave me.

We were on our way to Hawaii...

and so they thought I needed a themed card.

I still have it...of course!

Last year my birthday came and went while we were in Kenya...

...at this lovely spot near Mombassa, actually.

And how am I celebrating my 60th birthday?

I have no idea...

really.

I have a good friend who is also having her 60th birthday...shortly.

Our husbands have collaborated and are whisking us away for a few days...

and that's where we will be by the time this post is published.
(It seems we have left a blizzard behind at home!)

I'll be back...
when the party is over!

we're in this together....

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

They have new rules in our country...

regarding dipping into the pension plan that we have been paying into.

I decided with a birthday coming up soon...

I should maybe look into the new rules.

A visit to the government offices seemed a good place to start.

In a city of 90,000 folks...

what are the chances of meeting someone you know while running errands uptown?

As I was trying to locate the government offices (which had moved recently)...

I ran into my good friend.

She was on her way to the hardware store...

but decided to join me on my mission.

She has a birthday coming up real soon as well.

Maybe she should be asking questions also!

The nice lady at government services had a good laugh at us.

It seems people don't come in pairs to ask CPP packages.

It seems most folks don't have so much fun...

with this milestone birthday.

We decided to document the occasion...

for the records.

The gal on the sidewalk who did the honours thought it was too funny...

two old friends from high school checking out Canada's pension plan together.

From the basketball court...

to the 4-H circuit...

to sleepovers through our teen years...

to a fine neighbourhood in Rosedale...

to the carpool with our daughters...

to long walks and talks...

and good games of tennis...

and now...

on to the golden age!

Did I just say that?

Pasta Tuesday

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

I'm challenging that theory!

Two of my sis-in-laws decided to gift me with a noodle maker...

just like the one my mom-in-law used to have.

The gift was for my milestone birthday...

coming soon.

Very soon!

But I unwrapped it early...

and decided to see how it worked.

And for the record...

I have never made noodles before.

I mixed the dough...

wrapped it and put it in the fridge until hubby came home.

I thought two heads might be better than one at figuring out how the machine worked...

and I was right.

I dismissed him once I knew what I was doing...

but he was having so much fun...

he stayed till the last noodle was made!

My very big farmhouse table worked just fine as a drying rack...

...and a few hours later they were all good to go.

The fettuccine went into the pot of boiling water...

and we had the best noodles ever that night....

topped with a Skillet Steak Dinner .

The rest of the noodles are in the freezer...

awaiting chicken noodle soup one of these fine days.

Who could have known it was that easy to make noodles?

Thanks, Liz and Martha for a wonderful birthday gift!

It's Pasta Tuesday today.

Are you coming for dinner?

flying high...

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

It was just a normal Friday.

I was going about life a usual.

And that involved emptying out the dishwasher.

I glanced out the kitchen window...

and saw a plane landing on the grass immediately behind our house.

What in the world?

The pilot hopped out...

and then it all made sense!

Ernie.

He usually taxis businessmen around the country in executive planes...

and on his days off he occasionally plays close to home with smaller planes.

It was good day for flying...

so he popped by with intentions of taking Jeremy or hubby up for a sightseeing jaunt.

He came to the door to see if either of them were around.

Hubby was at a meeting...

and Jeremy was not answering his cell phone.

Missed opportunity!

Since they were not about...

Ernie wondered if I might want to go for a short flight around the area?

Of course I would!

I grabbed a jacket...

and my camera (of course)...

and off we went.

I saw my neighbourhood from a whole new perspective!

As you can see...

the field behind our house made for a perfect landing strip.

As for the fields directly behind the barns...

one would need pontoons to land there.

We have several aerial photos of the farm taken over the decades...

always from this angle.

Jeremy and Broni now live in the farmhouse with their family...

...and we live on the 'back forty'.

Hubby drives to work.

The grands run across the fields!

We flew over the subdivisions on the hillsides...

where our other kids live.

Who knew that Cultus Lake was almost in their back yard?

And then we looped back over the city...

...and east to the 'green, green fields of home'.

We were just coming down for a landing...

as hubby pulled into the yard with his truck.

He was quickly trying to call me from his cell phone...

wanting to tell me there was a plane landing in our field.

What a look of surprise when he saw me waving at him from the plane.

Too funny!

It seems he never missed out after all.

Ernie offered to give him the tour from 'up above' as well.

A quick taxi down the 'runway'...

and they were up and away.

I got the dishwasher emptied while they were gone...

and then some.

Who would have thought a plane could land so smoothly on our pasture?

I had to think back to another time when I was in a plane that landed on a grass runway.

It was not so smooth!

The runway was in a remote part of Haiti...

and we weren't so sure the pilot would manage to stop the plane before he ran out of grass.

Next to the runway lay the wreckages of all the planes that hadn't quite made it!

We lived to tell if it...

but it was a scary experience.

That was decades ago.

As for now...

I had no fear whatsoever.

Thanks, Ernie...

for the experience of a lifetime!

Once hubby was safely back on the ground...

Jeremy heard his cell phone message...

and came out to see what he had missed out on.

He was too late for a plane ride...

...but Ernie put on a bit of a show for him as he left.

It seems he has way too much fun at work!

I think I'll be flying high all week.

A few hours after my flying adventure...
it began to snow.

The green fields...
and the brown fields...
and the red fields...
and the wet fields...
all look the same today!

Have a wonderful day.
One never knows what the day will bring!

things that work....

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

There have been many neat tips and tricks around blogdom over the years...many which I have borrowed and used. Today I'm sharing a few things that work really well around my place...and maybe there is something here that would work for you as well.

Last year a friend gave me one of these little scrubbies....and now I have many. I found they work great for scrubbing pots and pans...cleaning counters and ceramic cook tops...glass and tile...and anything else around the kitchen. Fresh potatoes and carrots just need a quick scrub with this little pad...and then they are ready to cook. I throw them in the dishwasher...or the washer. Oh...and I keep one in the shower...for cleaning the tiles. Apparently they are called 'the world's greatest scrubbies'...and are available locally at Winks Gift Shop.

Where do you keep your ironing board? We have a closet in the laundry room...and the ironing board is attached to the door. Open the door...flip out the board...and go at it. We also had an electrical outlet put inside the closet...so the iron is always plugged in and handy. It works well for me!

I have a jewelry drawer in our walk-in closet...but chains get tangled in a drawer. I bought a pack of the teeny self-stick hooks and attached a row inside the closet. Easy to reach...and always tangle-free. It works for me.

Our powder room has a free-standing pedestal sink...and no cupboard of any kind. So where does one store extra toilet tissue? I found this canister...which was definitely not intended for a restroom...but does the job perfectly. It matches the decor...and holds three jumbo rolls...which are kept out of sight and within reach.

And in the en suite...

...here's another feature that works well for me. We had an electrical outlet put in the wall behind the en suite cabinets....for a good reason. My blow dryer is stored in the top drawer...and it stays plugged in. It always goes back in the drawer when the job is done. I don't know who gave me that idea...but it was a good one. It's probably not that easy to implement unless you are in the building or renovating process...but I thought I'd pass along the idea.

Have a great weekend...

teachers remembered...

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a book this past week...one called Tuesdays With Morrie...and came across this quote.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

~ Henry Adams

I have thought a lot about the teachers of my past lately. Seeing the obituaries of some of my favorites in the paper recently...got me thinking about what an influence teachers can have in our lives.

I recall with fondness the two years I spent in Mrs. Smith’s class. She made books come alive...and I can still picture her reading The Boxcar Children to the third grade class. She also was a gifted music teacher...and managed to instill a love of music in even those students who had not a musical bone in their body. Then there was my very serious grade six and seven teacher...who came with the name Earnest. He piqued my interest in ancient history and poetry...though I don’t recall having much fun in class. In junior high I had two excellent English teachers. I discovered my love of words...reading them and writing them.

Fast forward to my final year of high school. It was a great year...carefree and a breeze. I had classes and teachers that I enjoyed...and the best of friends to share those days with. My English teacher was also involved in the production of the school newspaper...appropriately called The Tattler. One day as we arrived for class...he told us that we were all to be ‘roving reporters’ during this particular session. Our assignment was to wander about the school, document what we observed...as though we were writing an article for the school newspaper. We would be graded on our completed article...which we were to hand in at the end of the class. What’s not to like about an assignment like that? We were free to wander the hallways rather than sit in the classroom. I observed...and I wrote...and I handed in. I had no idea that my article would be in the next edition of the Tattler. On the day the school paper was published...I heard my name called over the school PA system. I was to report to the office of a certain teacher who I knew by reputation only...since he had never been a teacher of mine. I was totally puzzled...since I was not accustomed to being summoned to any office...ever. I went to the prescribed place...and found the teacher holding a copy of the school paper and demanding to know if I was the author of the article he had before him. I had to admit I was. He was absolutely livid...and said I had made him look like an fool. He demanded an explanation...or was it an apology? As I had wandered about the school that day...I had observed what I saw or heard from the hallway, but had not actually entered any classrooms, since we were not to disrupt. I can still recall as though it were yesterday...the open doorway at the back of his classroom and the droning voice of the lecturer. All the desks at the back of the room were vacant...and my observation was that Mr. X (that would be him) 'was waxing eloquent before an empty classroom'. And I carried on and noted the fun in Mrs. Pucher’s foods class...the chaos in Mr. Fulford’s French class...and the serious studying happening in the study carrels. I penned my observations...handed in the report...and never gave it a second thought. Until now, that is...as I stood before a teacher who was red-faced...and very angry. I apologized...and explained again what our assignment was...and that I had not meant to make him look bad. Had I really thought he was lecturing to an empty classroom? Well, no...but that is how it appeared. Well he would teach me a lesson...and I would spend my lunch hour in his office writing lines on the chalkboard. I humbly did as I was told. I have no idea what the lines were...but I know what that lesson taught me. Do not put your words in writing...they may come back to bite you! Though my English teacher gave me top marks as a roving reporter...the teacher in question squelched all creative writing ambitions I may have had.

Many decades later, I thought of starting a blog. And then I thought of writing lines that day...and wondered if I could actually be brave enough to put my words in print. One day I 'picked up my pen again'...and began to tell stories. I still think of that teacher who managed to put a stop to my writing for years...but his name and face have faded from my memory. And mostly I recall all those teachers who were such an inspiration to me, and they were many!

Back to the book that prompted this post. If you have not read 'Tuesdays with Morrie'...you might want to. It is the story of one teacher...facing death by Lou Gehrig's disease...and his impact on a student. Though the teacher has now passed...his teaching goes on. It was of special interest to me...since one of my former classmates is struggling through the final stages of Lou Gehrig's at this very time. She is in my thoughts and prayers often.

And...for the record...I did not attend the cute one-room school pictured above. It is a photo from my files...taken near my sister's place in southern Manitoba.

Have a wonderful weekend. And...if you have a most memorable teacher you would like to tell us about...I'd love to hear your stories.

warming things up...

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

In my experience...furnaces last forever. The farmyard house where we once lived (now Jeremy and Broni's house) is still on the original furnace (circa 1967). How is it that our ~~new~~ seven-year-old furnace is having issues? Since everything is electronic...only the repairman knows for sure...and he has no idea what the problem is. So for now...the furnace comes on when it decides to...and we are keeping the fireplace aglow! Thankfully, things are rather balmy outside for January...so we are not in danger of freezing just yet.

But we decided to get out of the cool house on Saturday night...and find a little heat. We had complimentary tickets to an Abbotsford Heat hockey game...a local team which is a farm team for the Calgary Flames. Dad and Marge love watching hockey...so we invited them along for the night out. They quite enjoyed the game...though they did look for the remote control a few times..thinking there must be some way to turn down the volume. Their observation was that hockey games have become VERY loud since they had last been. When the game should have been over...the score was tied...and so it went into overtime. By the time three periods are done...I don't really care who wins anymore...just get the game over with! Having said that, I was a little disappointed that the Heat lost out in the end.

And when the game was over and done...we went to Dad and Marge's to enjoy a little birthday ~~cake~~ pie...in honour of Marge's 81st birthday.

If you light a fire on top of a mini-pie...it passes quite nicely for birthday cake. Marge has had to get used to Dad's dessert of choice...pie and ice-cream for every occasion. Even if it was her birthday!

It has been eleven years since I met Marge for the first time. Six months later...Dad and Marge were married. Since that time we have shared many experiences. We have seen the sites of Newfoundland together...enjoyed the beaches of South Padre Island...played many a game of Rook...been to family weddings...and funerals...spent time in hospital rooms...and shared good times around many a table. The years have slipped by so quickly. A birthday is always a good opportunity to reflect...and to send our warmest wishes. And so we did! It was a good way to warm up a winter evening.

a winter visit to the city...

2012-01-06T04:58:00.000-08:00

We took a little break...

and headed for the city of Vancouver.

We were there many times during the Winter Olympics of 2010...

and had hardly returned since.

We went armed with umbrellas and rain gear...

but never needed them yesterday.

It was a lovely day for a walk-about!

This particular spot was the focus of many news reports over the past few months...

the home of the 'Occupy Vancouver' movement.

It looks quite bleak in the aftermath.

Where green lawns once flourished...

there are now fields of mulch.

At Canada Place...

the workers were busy dismantling the Christmas lights.

Lunch at an Italian place on the waterfront...

was the perfect spot for view of the famous sails.

We stopped by 'Eye-kee-ya' while we were there...

but discovered that the item we were after did not fit in our car.

It looks like we may have to return to the city again...

with a truck next time!

It's a great city to visit from time to time.

And I'm always thankful to be living in the country on my return home!

Have a great weekend.

the blooms of winter...

2012-01-04T05:01:00.000-08:00

The farmer's almanac...

and our trusty weathermen...

had us all fearful of this winter.
It was to be one of the worst on record!

But each new sunrise...

seems to bring another balmy day.

We have yet to pull out the mitts and toques!

I don't have any winter roses...

but the pansies are putting on a nice show.

And the heather is also thinking it might be spring.

I know there is still plenty of time for winter to rear it's ugly head...
but for now...
we will enjoy the warm weather!

I will be away from My Front Porch tomorrow morning.
And for the record...I plan to do fewer posts in 2012.
After four years of blogging...
I have documented most of the places of interest in my community at least once.
Much as I love to blog...
some of the things I don't enjoy quite so much need to be looked after as well!
So if there is no new post on My Front Porch one morning...
don't send me an e-mail to see what happened.
(That has happened!)
I'll be back...
soon enough.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

marking another year...

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve came and went quite quietly at our place this year.

We had dinner with good friends...

and then watched a movie together.

We had another occasion to mark over here on December 31st...

Ryder's birthday.

I can hardly believe that six years have passed since that memorable New Year's Eve when he arrived.

He has been checking for awhile to see if we would be here for his birthday this year.

He has not forgotten that we missed it last year!

We decided to have a wee birthday luncheon for him over here on New Year's Day...

...complete with birthday cake, of course.

He couldn't help but join in the singing of...

'Happy Birthday, dear Ryder'.

And when we were all done...

we discovered that one of the candles was playing his song too!

Once he had the fire out...

we cut into the Lego cake...

an idea I found on Pinterest.

It was quite easy to tell what colour Lego he picked!

And...sticking to the theme...

...he unwrapped his gift.

I think he'll have a little help in building his Lego police station.

Buying Lego and wrapping it doesn't take much time.

Giving Ryder a book of Grandpa's memories...

involved a lot more than meets the eye.

I met Pondside for breakfast sometime in 2009.

And after our meal we did a little browsing in a gift shop ...

and I picked up this 'memory book' for Grandpa to give to Ryder sometime.

Grandpa thought it was a great idea...

but that Grammy should do all the writing...

so that Ryder could one day read it.

So it got put in the 'someday' file!

It became our joint project on our trip to California this fall...

and we finished it up a few days ago...

just in time for Ryder's birthday.

As we filled out the pages of the book...

I realized how much life had changed since Grandpa was a boy.

But some things will never change!

A son will always be joy of his family!

I treasure the time I have spent with Ryder over these six years.

We have baked cookies...

and gone for hikes...

and played 'snakes and ladders'...

and read books...

and gone camping together.

I can't stop the clock from ticking...

but I will always enjoy the memories of Ryder's pre-school years.

Ryder...

may you always be as sweet...

and kind...

and generous...

and funny...

as you are today!

Have a wonderful year, Ryder.

it's a new day...

2012-01-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

It is also a New Year!

The old is in the past...

though not soon forgotten.

We cooked our ~~New Year's Fritters~~ portzelky...

and ate them too.

We even shared them with some friends and neighbours.

Now it is time to get back to the routine...

the one that includes a wee bit more exercise...

and a whole lot less eating!

The new calendar is hanging in it's place...

with events marked on it's pages which I am looking forward to.
And others...not so much!

I also know that many things will come my way that are not on the calendar...

things that God only knows.

My prayer is that I can view each day as a gift...

make the most of every opportunity...

and live my life to glorify God.

Enjoy the day.

It is still officially a holiday.

a look back on the year that was...

2011-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

As the year draws quickly to a close....

will do my annual rear-view mirror post.

January 1, 2012 began for us under the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

From there it was on to Kenya...

an amazing experience!

February ~ the eagles and snow-capped peaks of home.

March ~ the first wiener roast of the year.

April...a trip across the mountain pass to retrieve Kris's vehicle following his accident.

May ~ Mennonite Girls Can Cook book launch celebration.

June ~ the latest we have ever planted corn on our farm...
due to a very wet spring.

July ~ we welcome Baby Lucy

We celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

September ~ a trip up the Sunshine Coast

October ~ we are thankful for family and the harvest that was late, but plentiful.

November ~ Yosemite National Park and Palm Springs

As the sun sets on another year...
I realize again how much I have to be thankful for!

Soon we will be opening the door on a new year.
I'm a little fearful of stepping through.
But I know Who goes before me...
and His mercies are new every morning.

Happy New Year to all of you...
my blogging friends!

the bumps along the road....

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Just in case you think everything went off without a glitch over here during the Christmas season...

let me tell you about a few of the little bumps along the way.

We made several trips across the border to pick up parcels before Christmas.

One of the packages had been shipped on December 1st...

but had not yet arrived when we went down the first time.

A few days before Christmas we made another trip to Ship Happens...

with plans to pick up the last of the packages.

But I'm thinking it might have been on this Greyhound bus...

...which ran into troubles along the way.

We waited in a long line-up to cross the border into Sumas, Washington...

and then waited in a long line-up at Ship Happens...

where many Canadian shoppers were picking up parcels.

While waiting to be served at Ship Happens...

one can amuse oneself by reading the sayings posted on their walls.

Or even taking photos of them...

so they can be shared!

I thought they were worth passing on.

We arrived at the front of the line...

only to find the package in question was not there.

Since that time...

Christmas has come and gone...

and a gift from American Girl is still missing.

Many phone calls and e-mails later...

the package has still not showed up....

and no one seems to have a solution for finding or replacing the item...

which has been paid for...

of course.

Emme may just have another gift to open sometime in the New Year!

There were other things that never went as planned!

Here's one we can laugh about.

I had made up a number of Christmas ice-cream cakes for several occasions over the holiday season.

There was one totally untouched...

and so I offered it to Broni for the turkey dinner she was hosting on Christmas Day.

I packaged it up for her...

and sent hubby down to the basement to put it in the freezer.

On Christmas Day...

Broni came calling for her dessert.

Hubby went down to retrieve it...

and was gone for a very long time.

He could not find the dessert!

At long last he decided to look in the fridge...

and there it was.

An ice-cream cake that has spent five days in a fridge is not a pretty thing!

We did some quick thinking...

and found an alternate dessert for Broni.

Oh boy!

Stuff happens.

Sometimes we just have to laugh about it!

So...let's hear about the hic-cups in your well-laid plans!

surprises on the front porch...

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

It was Saturday...

Christmas Eve...

and I was working my way down 'the list'...

and checking it twice.

A little car zipped into the driveway...

and someone ran to the front door and rang the bell.

I opened the door...

and there stood a neighbour holding out a tray of goodies.

She wished us a Merry Christmas...

and hurried on her way.

Check them out.

These cookies were not only delicious...

but a work of art!

No sooner had I put the goodies on the counter...

than the doorbell rang again.

Another neighbour held out a jug of mulled apple cider...

and wished us a Merry Christmas.

Did I tell you...we have the best of neighbours?

Hubby came home bearing gifts from two employees.

I thought we should be giving them gifts.

Since when do employers get gifts?

Did I tell you...we have the best employees?

I just turned on the vacuum cleaner...

and the doorbell rang again.

There stood our builder...

who had just completed the barn project for us...

bearing a gift as well.

Did I tell you...we have the best contractor around?

We gabbed for some time...

and then he was on his way.

Back to the vacuuming...for a moment.

And then the doorbell rang again!

There stood my brother-in-law, Terry.

He was making a special delivery from my sister.

She had made me a Christmas wreathe...

and I knew just where to hang it.

The picture of butterflies and wild flowers which hangs on the powder room wall year round...

has been replaced for the festive season.

It needed a little bling!

Did I tell you...I have the best of sisters?

We had a lot of unexpected surprises over Christmas!

We are most thankful for one and all.

so this was Christmas ~ part 2

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

On Christmas morning we meet as a family for brunch...

every year.

And we have the same thing on our plates...

every time.

It just wouldn't be the same without 'Christmas morning wifesaver'...
which comes out of the oven piping hot at the time the kids all arrive.
Along with fresh rolls...
and a fresh fruit salad.
And so it was on Christmas Day at our home.

The grands already know the drill.
Grandpa slips away from the table...
and re-appears somewhere as Grandpa Santa.
We fooled them this year!
We re-cruited the real Santa to show up at the front door with their stockings in hand.

Some were amused.

Some were afraid.

And all will remember the Christmas the real Santa came.

And once Santa had departed...
we set about exchanging gifts with one another.
The grands always pick names...
and have such fun choosing gifts.
Everything needed to be tried and tested...
pronto!

As for the gift of the year?
Kindle...
the hands-down winner.
We so enjoyed the Kindle reader we had on loan for our vacation...
that we decided to get the kids each one for Christmas (the big kids, that is).
They thought that since we had so enjoyed our borrowed Kindle...
they would get us each one.
So we opened a lot of Kindles on Christmas Day.
And we were all happy with our gifts.

But at the end of the day...
we know it is not the gifts we shower each other with...
but the gift of God's Son sent for us...
that matter's most!

so this was Christmas ~ part 1

2011-12-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

For the record...

there was no white Christmas in our part of the world this year.

There was however...

a 'near white' Christmas Eve.

I stepped outside to take this photo just before the sun set on the 24th of December.

The blanket that covered our world may not have been snow...

but it was a nice touch!

God is the Master artist.

We attended an early church service on Christmas Eve...

...one where we knew a few members of this particular choir.

They sang.

We sang.

We heard the real story of Christmas...

the one that is not heard much in the hustle and bustle of the season.

Joy, joy for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

And when the service was over...

we were a hungry lot.

And as tradition dictates...

they all come for appies after.

But before we can eat...

can Grammy just get one picture?

We managed to include baby Lucy this time.

She also sat in a high chair at the table for the first time...

and never spilled a thing!

Another first....

we played Guesstures together...

young and old.

It was a game we used to play at my parents' place at Christmas...

decades ago.

It was good for laughs then...

and now!

Oh...and the guys are better actors than the girls.

Though I question the final score somewhat...

since the guy's team was doing the tallying.

Eventually it was time for everyone to rush off to their beds...

before Santa's scheduled arrival.

And in the morning...

they would all be back to carry on with the festivities.

To be cont'd...

rejoice!

2011-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

May you take the time to pause and reflect...

to pray and rejoice...

as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour!

I wish for each of you a blessed Christmas...

filled with love, hope and peace.

we care....

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

For the past several years we have been part of a small group of friends that meet together on a regular basis...mostly just to share this journey we call life. Some call us a life group. I call us a care group...because we care! We take turns hosting...and we work our way through a Bible study...or sometimes are inspired by an inspirational video series. But mostly we share our joys and sorrows...and pray for each other. During these years we have been meeting...we have had been through so much with each other. There have been children married and parents buried. Many new grandchildren have joined our ranks and one grandchild went on ahead to her heavenly home. There has been illness...and a couple from our group who underwent a double kidney transplant operation. One has a son with disabilities. There are others who have shared relationship problems with family members...co-workers...or even neighbours. We are there for each other. We care! Sharing with friends makes the sorrows easier and multiplies the joys.

We also know how to fun together...and celebrated a few milestone birthdays in the recent past. And every year around this time we have a Christmas party. We did just that...a few days ago. Though the food is always fantastic...the highlight of the evening is our gift exchange. We know how to give the best of gifts! Who could have known that a 'white elephant' gift exchange could be so entertaining? A few of the gifts seem to come back from year to year!

The antique rat trap was a real prize this year...though it seems it got left behind when the party was over. And who would not want a 'green valley' sign for their man cave. I would have been quite happy to take home the ceramic Christmas tree with its many sparkling lights. We had such a good time. We put our cares aside...and we laughed.

And now it seems our journey together will be changing in the New Year. One of the couples will be moving on...due to a job transfer. I'm sad about that. But we wish them any blessings...and we will keep them in our prayers...because we care!

all on a winter's day...

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a picture perfect day here in the valley.

I wish I could have been outside...

but had to be content with the view from my office window for the most part.

I had a friend call...

just wondering if we might possibly sneak in a game of tennis before the day was over.

It was a good idea...

but my 'to do list' was too long!

In the afternoon...

I took a drive out in the countryside to deliver necessary paperwork to our accountant.

While most accountants have an office in the city...

ours has an office on his farm.

I always enjoy the drive back to the neighbourhood where we once lived!

And while I waited on a passing train...

I played with the camera.

It was hard to take a bad shot yesterday!

It may be known as the shortest and darkest day of the year...

but December 21st was bright and beautiful in my corner of the world in 2011!

I picked up the mail on the way home...

and was delighted to find a parcel.

The name on the return address was unfamiliar to me...

but I opened the package and read the note.

And I smiled!

It was from someone who grew up nearby...

and even babysat my children on occasion.

She made beautiful music...

and always had a smile on her face.

She married and moved away many years ago...

and took on a new name that I never recognized.

She had read the post about halvah on 'My Front Porch' last year....

...and when she saw a small brick of the Christmas confection in a store recently...

she decided to gift me with it.

How sweet is that?

And here's the thing.

As we drove home from the Christmas concert the previous evening...

we talked of her and wondered how she was doing.

We haven't seen her in years!

The next day...

the package arrived in the mailbox.

How can that be?

Thank-you, Janice...

for the halvah!

I sampled it for 'night lunch'.

It was good...

a taste of Christmas past!

memories of Christmas past...

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I like to dwell in the past just a wee bit at this time of year!

The red sled gets propped up for old times sake.

It belonged to hubby when he was a kid.

Now it belongs to me.

Smile!

The wee red stockings were knit with love by my mom-in-law many decades ago...

and hang on the old Singer that my grandmother sewed with.

And the vintage tree ornaments handed down from a family collection...

are pulled from their original box every December.

And this year...

we will also enjoy a candy that I recall showing up in my childhood home every December.

They were called 'rock-a-va-shaky'...as I recall.

A Russian candy...

with a lobster on the wrapper.

I found some in a European deli...

and had to pick up a handful for old time's sake.

Truth be told...

they don't taste any better now than they did then!

We took in a wonderful community Christmas concert last night...

with orchestras, choirs, drama.

It told the story of Christmas celebrations through the ages...
particularly among the German speaking Mennonites of the Ukraine.

No matter how bleak their situation...
they always had a reason to sing.
And sing they did...beautifully.

Though the decorations and the customs may change...

the message of Christmas remains always the same.

Immanuel...

God with us.

Jesus...

born a King.

And that is why we sing!

passing the turkey...passing the puck...

2011-12-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Though there are plenty of choices...

it's the turkey platter that goes around first...

always.

We have a tradition at our place...

to have our turkey dinner and celebrate Lisa's birthday at the same time...

about a week before Christmas.

Jeremy was wondering...
why does Lisa always get a turkey dinner for her birthday...
while he gets a wiener roast most every year?
There are a few benefits to having a birthday right near Christmas!

Let's just say it was a special birthday for her this year!

Though it may look like all was calm and peaceful...

there weren't too many of those quiet moments on Sunday night!

They have a lot of energy...

...and so we encouraged them all to go down to the basement and play a little floor hockey.

It was a good time for all...

big and small.

It is just important for those over six feet tall to keep their heads bowed as they play!
Technically...
it is a crawl space.
Perfect for little people...
hockey, trikes...
and storage.

They'll be back soon...
for the next round.
Grandpa Santa is making plans!

of candy canes and Christmas corn...

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

We had the gang here for turkey dinner last night.

I'll tell you about it once I've finished with the aftermath.

Smile.

And I'll share the candy cane place cards that I found on Pinterest.

They were easy to copy...

and the kids quite liked them.

Hold three candy canes in place with hot glue, elastic, or whatever...

(I used the soft wax that is meant for keeping candles in candlesticks)...

then tie with a ribbon.

Slip place card in front.

Done!

If you are looking for a veggie side-dish that looks festive...
and that even the kids will eat...
try adding chopped red and green peppers to your corn.
Add the peppers to the corn once it is fully cooked...
and heat through for half a minute.
Strain and serve.

That's it for scraps from the table for today!
We had a good time together...
enjoying a Christmas feast and celebrating a 'special' birthday.

the occupy movement...in our part of the country

2011-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while in the works...

but our new barn addition is totally finished...

and as of yesterday...

occupied!

Yesterday was moving day.

The cattle that had been making their home in our neighbour's barn...

came back to the farm.

They were soon lounging in their new comfort stalls...

and having their backs scratched under the bright yellow back scratcher.

No protests from the farmyard whatsoever!

I had planned to go document things on moving day...

but had little visitors here yesterday...

so this reporter stayed home.

But I did send my camera.

So I now have a few photos...

and a camera that smells like the barn.

We'll have to find a way to remedy that.

Have a wonderful weekend!

a visit to dickens village square...

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

We have a sweet shoppe in our town...

featuring all things British.

Every December...

Dickens Village comes to life with some 200 animated figures.

Our pre-school grands always enjoy an outing to the Christmas village.

Yesterday it was Maggie and Micah's turn.

Trains, teddy bears, toy soldiers...

and horses that ate quarters...

it was all good!

Oh...

and when the village stroll is done...

we have lunch at the golden arches.

Once a year!

where's the line to see Jesus?

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

I love all the lights at this time of the year.

Especially those that point us to the reason for this season.

I heard a song on the radio yesterday...

and it's been playing through my mind ever since.

A beautiful and touching song called...

'Where's the line to see Jesus?'

The song was written by the grandfather of a four-year-old boy...
who saw the long line-up of children waiting to see Santa...

and wondered aloud where the line-up was to see Jesus.

Was this not Jesus' birthday?

Christmas time was approaching, the snow is starting to fall,
Shoppers choosing their presents, people filling the mall,
Children waiting for Santa with excitement and glee.
A little boy tugged my sweater, looked up and asked me,

Where's the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday, why don't we see Him more?

As I stood in amazement at this message profound,
I looked down to thank him, he was no where around.
The little boy at the mall might as well have had wings
As the tears filled my eyes, I thought I heard him sing,

Where's the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday, why don't we see Him more?
Where's the line to see Jesus? He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents, but Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye, at the sound of His trump,
We'll all stand in line at His throne.
Every knee shall bow down, every tongue will confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

Where's the line to see Jesus? Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday, why don't we see Him more?
Where's the line to see Jesus? He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents, but Christ gave His life for me.

Where's the line . . .
Where's the line . . .
Where's the line . . .
For the Lord?

Written by Steve Haupt

Are we are in the right line-up?
Let's keep Jesus at the center of our celebrations this Christmas!.

rendezvous in merritt...

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

For decades...

they (hubby's siblings in Kelowna) braved the winter driving conditions and came to the Fraser Valley to celebrate Christmas with us.

Often the roads were a nightmare...

and they have many harrowing tales to tell.

As time went on...

the Christmas treks to the valley ended.

But we began a new tradition about six years ago...

that of meeting up in Merritt sometime in December...

to enjoy a 'Christmas dinner' together in a restaurant.

Yesterday was the day.

And a perfect one for a drive through the mountain passes it was!

We played Christmas carols en route...

and enjoyed the scenery.

Merritt happens to be about the half-way point between our city and theirs.

We all leave home at the same time...

we each cross one mountain pass..

and we arrive in Merritt at the appointed time and place.

That place has been *BP* for the past few years...

where they don't care one iota if we stay from noon until the sun is setting!

And if we stay that long...

we have room for dessert as well!

And the coffee pot keeps coming back.

We had ourselves a wonderful Christmas get-together in Merritt...

once again.

And as the sun was setting...

we each headed back over our respective mountain passes...

to our hometown.

a European Christmas experience...

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas markets are an old tradition in Europe.

Most of us will never have the opportunity to experience the real thing...

but we have a replica nearby...

...the Vancouver Christmas Market.

We gathered a busload of friends...

and picked a beautiful clear and crisp evening...

to enjoy a wee taste of traditional European entertainment and food.

It was easy to pretend we were in Rothenburg, Germany...

der Weihnachtsdorf...

where the Christmas village is open all year around.

We sampled this and that...

German pasta...

Swiss raclette...

and chocolate covered hazelnuts.

And once we were chilled to the bone...

we found a nice Canadian cup of coffee nearby...

served indoors where it was toasty warm.

Though we left the European entertainment behind...

we entertained ourselves on the way home.

As the bus rolled down the freeway...

we sang Christmas carols...

in four part harmony...

in English and German (Stille Nacht).

It was a good time with friends.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

toy story....

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Meccano is not a toy of the twenty-first century.

But since hubby still has his original sets...

they came out of hiding last week...

just for fun!

I'm thinking Lego is a little more user friendly...

...but Ryder and Grandpa built a fine car with their bits and pieces.

And then they took it to the basement for a little test drive.

It got a thumbs up!

I don't think you will be finding any Meccano at your local toy shoppe this Christmas.

But check the attic!

Have a great weekend...

celebrating 'the man with the hat'...

2011-12-08T04:58:00.000-08:00

He is actually a man who wears many hats...and wears them well.

On Sunday he wore the 'big 50' hat...

just to try it on for size.

His wife arranged a big party in his honour...

a surprise that she almost managed to pull off!

Fify-ish of his friends and family gathered to celebrate Dave!

It was a fun time...

where we heard lots of stories from the last five decades.

And we heard tributes from those who know Dave well.

You never tell Dave it can't be done...

because he will always find a way!

He's funny, he's musical, he's loyal, he is a hard worker, a true friend...

and a devoted husband and father.

Oh...and terrific cousin.

And what really came through is what Dave values most in life...

and that would be his relationship with God!

His parents flew out from Manitoba to add to the surprise.

And since they were here just a little while ago...

it was definitely a surprise that they were back.

Someone at the party came and introduced themselves to me.

I gave my name...

and added that I was Dave's cousin.

They replied that they knew that...

since I looked so much like his mom.

Too funny!

Aunt Justina and I have been hearing that for the past four decades.

But here's the thing...

she is married to my uncle...

so we are not really related.

When the birthday party was all but over...

and the birthday song had been well sung...

the usual band formed in the corner.

Ron and Terry...
two of my brother-in-laws...

along with the birthday boy, Dave...

make great music together!

They could take the show on the road...

but mostly they just take it to family gatherings.

The best of the Eagles...

for our listening pleasure.

Oh...and if you happen to see the 'man with the hat' out and about today...

be sure to wish him a happy 50th!

Today is the day.

photo delivered to my door...

2011-12-07T05:00:00.001-08:00

I went to the Santa Claus Parade last weekend to cheer on my granddaughter, Emme...

and had hoped to get a photo.

Of course!

At the moment she passed by...

my camera batteries died.

The picture was in my memory only!

What should arrive on my doorstep yesterday...

but a picture of the Vertical Zone skipping team in Saturday's parade...

featured on the front page of the local paper.

Emme is easy to spot...

front and centre with her foot above her head!

Thanks to Jenna Hauck...

I now have a photo!

trumpeter swans...or unwelcome squatters?

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

The sun was shining....

the air was crisp...

and the view out the window was quite lovely.

The trumpeter swans have arrived in the valley for the winter...

and are taking up residence wherever they please.

Yesterday...

'they pleased' to settle in our fields.

We try our best to discourage them...

since they do a lot of damage to the crops...

but they weren't in any hurry to move on.

I pulled on my boots...

grabbed my Canon...

and walked among them.

Some took a short hike...

and came back.

Others were not moved at all!

They do make a lovely picture though.

The day was not entirely for the birds, however.

It's December...

and I managed to fit in a game of tennis in the afternoon...

with a friend.

The fruitcake is baked...

and the Christmas cards are ready to be mailed.

I'm checking my list!

guess who came to town?

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Santa Parade happens in our town on the first Saturday night of December most every year.

Many times we have gone as a family...

with all the kids and grands.

We would go early...

and grab some spots along the sidewalk

...and enjoy the bands and floats.

And mostly we would enjoy watching the grands!

Last week Emme informed us she would be marching in the parade this year...

with her skipping club.

Of course we would all be there to watch her!

It turned out that her dad couldn't come...

since he had a hockey game at that exact time.

Uncle Tim and Auntie Heidi couldn't come...

since they had a work banquet.

Uncle Kris and Auntie Lisa couldn't come...

since they had prior commitments.

So we decided we would invite Maggie and Ranen to join Grammy and Grandpa.

We were under the impression that the parade started at 6:30 and so we went in good time.

We got front row seats!

Of course...
since the parade actually only started at 7 o'clock.

So these two cousins had an entire hour to amuse themselves before the parade began!

They did that quite well!

At long last the parade arrived...
with marching bands and floats of every kind.
And clowns who threw out candies for the kids.
Do you know what that is like for a child who can't eat anything unless the label has first been read?
Maggie collected sweets...
and then promptly gave them to her cousin.

Finally...
the moment we all were waiting for.
Cousin Emme and her skipping team.
(No photos.
My camera batteries chose that moment to play dead!)
They came by and were gone in a flash...
skipping off into the darkness.

The parade lasted for well over an hour...

and I'll spare you the details.

But I will include this one float...

...since I know what lies beneath the decorated exterior.

It happens to be a hay wagon...

that normally sits in a shop at our farm...

and only gets called into action in the summertime when there is hay to be hauled.

It made a fine float.

And last...

but not least...

Santa made a quick appearance.

He'll be back in a few weeks...

I'm sure!

By the time the parade was over...

and we made our way back to the car...

it was late.

Then the girls were so very thirsty they would surely die if they never got something to drink immediately.

So we stopped at a grocery store and I ran in to buy them each a bottle of water...

the only beverage we allow in our car!

I unscrewed the caps and handed them their bottles...

in the dark.

The next thing I heard was...

"This water tastes like strawberries."

I grabbed for a bottle...

and sure enough...

I had bought strawberry flavoured water.

And given it to Maggie...

who is allergic to strawberries.

(I had no idea one had to read labels on bottled water!)

After a moment of panic...

it was decided that she had not started hers.

We eventually got them both safely home again...

none the worse for their late night out on the town.

Whew!

Let's just say it was a night to remember!

a farm boy in the making...

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

I asked Micah if he wanted to go see the cows...

and he seemed pretty excited about the idea.

He was not so excited about the reality...
and stuck right close to Grammy!

He liked this end of the barn better.

The part where there are no cows...

since the comfort stalls are not quite ready.

From there we went to look at the flock of chickens...

all eight of them.

He much prefers chickens to cows.

And he really likes the John Deere sippy cup grandpa bought for him!

rudolph's red-nosed fiasco...

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

We've been making reindeer cookies every year around this time since Emme and Spencer were wee things.

They were over yesterday...along with Ryder...
and we did a bunch of baking...

including reindeer cookies.

We used gingerbread dough...smarties for the eyes...pretzels for the antlers...

and Swedish berries for the red nose.

Just like always!

This time, however..

...the noses gave us grief in the oven...

and bled over the entire pan.

I guess not all Swedish berries are created equal!

The grands decreed that they could not eat those...

and wouldn't even take them home.

But then they reconsidered.

They would take them home for their dad...

because 'he eats anything'!

I promised last week that I would post my next kitchen flop.

I didn't have to wait long.

Thankfully the rolo cookies turned out just fine...

as did the cranberry bliss bars.

If you live in the area...

feel free to stop by House of James this evening...

and sample some Christmas baking.

The 'Mennonite Girls Can Cook' team will be there signing books...

and meeting and greeting.

And don't worry...

the reindeer cookies didn't make the cut!

dark days of November...

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

The grey month of November is about over.

It has been especially dark around here lately...

with storms, and winds and power outages.

We had dinner by candlelight...

cooked on a little propane burner the other night.

Across the fields...

over at the farmyard...

it was business as usual once they got the generator hooked up.

Our extension cords don't reach that far!

Last Saturday afternoon...

the lights went out during afternoon milking.

It wasn't long before I saw the lights back on at the barn

...and knew the generator must have kicked in.

Awhile later...all was dark again.

It seems the generator only works until the tractor runs out of diesel.

Oh dear!

And getting a diesel tractor going again requires more than just adding fuel...

so I have discovered.

And while that whole process is happening...

the cows are having a 'hay day' in the dark barn!

I'm glad I wasn't there.

This I know...

there is not much that can be done without power around here.

I spent my 'dark time' writing a Christmas letter on my battery-powered laptop.

I'm hoping the lights burn brightly throughout December!

But just in case...

I have my candles, lanterns and flashlights handy.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

seeing is believing...or is it?

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

If we see something that works just as slick as can be on TV...

it must be 'just as slick as can be'!

Right?

I don't think I have ever ordered anything from an infomercial before.

But I somehow fell for this one.

And the best part was that if I ordered immediately...

I would get two for the price of one.

Two arrived.

I unpacked one of the boxes...

and found it to be much more complicated than a knife!

I packed it away until I have time to read the instructions.

Whether it really is 'slick'...

I have no idea, as yet!

I'll have at least one 'slice-o-matic' to give away as a stocking stuffer.

Maybe two.

But when I see two of my good friends on Global B.C. News...

showing how easy it is to whip up a hazelnut log for Christmas...

I believe it to be so!

I already knew it was a winner of a recipe...

as I had sampled it in Marg's kitchen on several occasions.

Anneliese and Lovella did a fabulous cooking segment on Saturday's noon news.

If you didn't see it...

just believe it!
Or check out the video right here.

And if you want to whip up a hazelnut log for your holiday table...

you will find it featured on page 154 of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook cookbook.

Seeing is believing.

Sometimes.

lions pride...

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

We discovered earlier this year that the lion is the pride of Kenya.

The Kenyan lions are a pretty laid back lot!

Yesterday we watched the B.C. Lions in action...
our NFL football team playing in the championship game on home turf.

Not so laid back...

when the coveted Grey Cup is on the line.

We watched from the comfort of our couch...

while we snacked on oranges (the right colour) and nuts.

The plan had been to join a group of friends at a 'grey cup party'.

However, hubby came down with a bad case of 'orange eye'...

(otherwise known as pink eye)...

which we think the grands shared with him.

So we stayed home...

and ate the hot taco dip all by ourselves...

and cheered on the home team.

I'm not that informed when it comes to football...
but there was no doubt as to who won the game.

After starting the season with a dismal record...
the B.C. Lions came out on top!

I think there is a lesson here for all of us.

It's not how we start that matters most...
it's how we finish!

Have a wonderful Monday...

uncle ben comes of age...

2011-11-26T07:40:00.000-08:00

My Uncle Ben is celebrating his 80th birthday this weekend.

That celebration is happening far away from here...

in Alberta.

He will be surrounded by his wife...

his children and his grandchildren.

He deserves to be celebrated...

big time!

I vaguely recall a time when Uncle Ben was still single...

and I was a wee thing...

and he liked to horse around with his nieces.

Of his wedding...

I have no memory.

Maybe I never attended.

But visiting him in the logging camp near Lac La Hache...

that I recall.

And later...

he moved to southern Alberta to farm...
becoming a potato farmer extraordinaire.
Over the years we had several occasions to find our way to his farm...

located near the hamlet of Hays...

where roads had no names.
And where the wind never ceases to blow!

We were always welcomed with open arms...

and treated to a good dose of southern Alberta hospitality.

Uncle Ben has always made a point of staying in touch with his nieces and nephews...

and usually gives us a call when he passes by our way.

Often...they stop by for coffee.

Turning eighty is a big deal.

But I know he will find himself in good company!

Uncle Ben was one of the Baerg boys.
There were enough of them to field their own ball team.
Nine brothers.

One brother is missing from this photo taken in the sixties.

Uncle Neil has lived in Florida most of his adult life...

and wasn't able to make every gathering of the clan.

Uncle Ben is the one in the center of the back row.

My dad is immediately to his right.

Dad was telling me the other day that with Ben turning 80...

there would be five brothers in their eighties.

Really?

Are there any other families out there with five brothers in their eighties?

Not likely.

Of the nine brothers...

three have passed on.

The youngest still has a few years to enjoy his seventies.

Here's what I can tell you about those brothers.

They know how to tell a good story...

and the stories get better with the passing of time.

They all drive a Ford...and nothing but.

They are easy to pick out in a crowd...

often standing taller than those around them.

They can sing.

They can fix most anything.

They'd still be playing hockey if they could.

They are all great examples of lifelong learning...

reading and learning new skills to this day.

They have something special...

a brotherly bond not many have had the opportunity to share.

Uncle Ben...

best wishes to you as you are inducted into the 'over eighty Baerg brothers club'.

May God bless you on your eightieth birthday...

and go before you as you journey on!

Yosemite National Park

2011-11-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

The majestically beautiful Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular parks in the USA. Late fall was the perfect time to visit...as most of the other 4 million visitors of 2011 had already come and gone over the summer.

'...the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.'

~John Muir

We arrived almost at the crack of dawn...to be a part of the 'grand tour'. And grand it was! It was especially nice to be in a small group...and have the tour guide almost to ourselves.

We crossed the Merced River...which flows wild and free from the Sierra Nevada Mountains for 112 miles into the San Joaquin River...and eventually into the Pacific Ocean.

We noticed water flowing over the sheer granite cliffs as we entered the park. We had heard that the waterfalls are all dry in autumn...but 2011 was an exception. With a huge snow pack from last winter...and and early snowstorm in October...the falls were still flowing. Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest in North America...with a drop of 2425 feet.

We met at the lodge and began our day of Yosemite immersion!

Cathedral Rocks...a prominent collection of pinnacles and spires are located near the entrance to the valley. These rocks have been the location for some serious rock climbing this past century.

Rivers, falls and granite cliffs...

...and the colours of the fading autumn sun reflecting from every surface.

A photographer's delight!

This fellow looked lean and hungry to me...but I kept my distance.

From Glacial Point...we had the most awesome views. At an elevation of 7,214 feet...we were at the top of the world around us!

Those peaks all have names. One of the most well-known would be Half Dome...on the top left of the above photo. It calls out to rock climbers from around the world...and was first scaled in 1875. Now there are thousands of climbers reaching the top every year with the help a pair of post-mounted braided steel cables originally constructed in 1919.

I think someone else loved the view from up here!

We had a fabulous lunch at the historic Wawona Hotel...which happens to be national historic site. I think it would be a grand old place to stay. It also looked most lovely at dusk...we noticed as we passed by at the end of the tour.

In the afternoon we wandered about among the giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove. The grove contains some 500 mature giant sequoia trees...known to be thousands of years old.

And did I mention...giant? I took a few photos of this particular tree...and stitched them together in order to have the entire tree n one photo!

The trees pictured here all come with important names as well...from the fallen Monarch to the Grizzly Giant to the Clothespin Tree and the California Tunnel. One must see them to believe them!

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you...

and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

~John Muir 1901

If you ever have the opportunity...experience Yosemite! It happens to be Thanksgiving Day in the USA today. I am thankful for all those who had the foresight to set aside some of the country's most beautiful and scenic places for all to enjoy...the U.S. National Parks.

on-the-road crocheting...

2011-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Baby Lucy came to spend the afternoon with Grammy yesterday...

...and was quite willing to model the hat I crocheted for her on our recent road trip to California.

Perfect!

Not everything from my crochet-as-we-drive bag turned out quite so good.

The slippers I attempted may be functional...

but not so pretty!

I've commissioned slipper-making to my sister-in-law.

It's probably better that way.

It is hard to go wrong with dishcloths!

I have enough to last a long while.

Listening to an audio book...

poking through yarn with a hook...

and enjoying the sights along the way.

That's my favorite kind of road trip...

a good way to while away the miles.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

To those who are interested in the 'ruffled rose hat' pattern...
it is available here.

how to make frozen grapes...

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here it is...

the most effortless method!

Go on vacation in fall...

leaving the grapes a few more weeks to ripen on the vine.

Come home to chilly temperatures.

Allow the deep freeze to envelope the grape crop of 2011.

Pick right off the vine...

and pop into mouth.

Frozen grapes.

They would be most refreshing on a hot summer day!

As a winter treat...

still not bad.

Next year I'm hoping the grapes will be ready for the picking before winter rolls in.

'tis the season...

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season...
for warm winter woolies and a fire on the hearth!

Winter rolled into our valley like a freight train over the weekend...

ready or not!

'Tis the season for Christmas craft fairs and such.

The one I had the pleasure of attending over the weekend...

was sponsored by Ten Thousand Villages.

We shopped...

for products from around the world whose sales benefit the needy.

That's guilt-free Christmas shopping!

We noticed our favorite cookbook on display...

and we came prepared to add our signature.

We were also invited to stop by the Village Coffee House...

where local bakers had prepared a variety of treats and sweets...

all MGCC recipes.

How fun is that?

'Tis the season to cook up a pot of chicken chowder...

bake a batch of bread...

and invite the neighbours to the table on a Saturday night.

'Tis also the season for football...

and cheering on the home team!

'Tis the season for picking up our ~~cousins~~ friends on a Sunday night...

and driving to the home of other ~~cousins~~ friends...

for some fun, frivolity, fellowship...

and fabulous food, of course!

'Tis a season I like!

of comfort stations along the way...

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Comfort stations...it was a new term to me. I've heard them called a lot of things...but this tops the list. It seems a more appropriate moniker than 'rest room'. We visited many comfort stations along the route of our most recent travels.

Here is what you can expect from a comfort station at Yosemite National Park.

And if you go out for Mexican food...

this is what the comfort station looks like.

After a fabulous meal at Jackalope Ranch ...

I stopped by the comfort station before leaving.

Interesting! I still have not figured out how the 'magic taps' worked. They really were TAPS. Just tap on the copper pipe and the water would flow. If you are ever in the Palm Springs area...you might want to check out Jackalope Ranch...for the food and the comfort stations.

As you can imagine...we stopped by a few comfort stations along the road on our 23 hour drive home. Some were at rest areas, others at service stations...but my favorite place to stop was McDonald's. A visit to the comfort station and a quick cup of coffee for the road...and we were good to go.

On the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year...we were in good company at McDonald's. The troops were there as well...having their Veteran's Day rations. We were there solely for comfort and coffee.

So there you have it...a frivolous Friday post about looking for comfort in all the right places.

the wonders of the Indian Canyons...

2011-11-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Since it feels like winter here today...

I'll take you back to the desert canyons in Palm Springs...

where one can warm up quite nicely while hiking some of the trails.

We drove to the Trading Post at Palm Canyon...

where a ranger met us and told us all we needed to know about hiking in the area.

He looked us over and decided we were good to go.

As for the couple from London that arrived at the same time as we did...

he suggested they might just want to stay at the viewpoint.

She was wearing high-heeled sandals...

not so good for trekking the trail or warding off rattlesnakes!

Palm Canyon is a fifteen mile long gorge...

...with an abundant water supply that gives life to lush green undergrowth growth and healthy palms trees within a barren desert.

We chose the easy trail down into the canyon...
one the high heels could have almost negotiated.

We met another couple along the trail...

fellow Canadians.

They were from Alberta...

and it never took us long to connect the dots.

Our former neighbours were their current neighbours...

and his uncle was well-known in the dairy industry in BC.
A business associate of ours...
was a former associate of theirs.

By the time we were done chatting...

we were 'almost' related.

It's surprising what you learn when you talk to the strangers you meet along the way!

From the bottom of the canyon we worked our way up...

and returned along the ridge trail (the Victor Trail).

Sunny and warm...with magnificent views.

Secluded beauty!

We kept an eye out for prickly things and rattlesnakes...

and never had any close encounters.

We saw butterflies galore...

who seemed to be having their lunch while we had ours.

The loop was about 3 miles in total...

and more like a walk than a hike.

Before leaving Palm Canyon...

I observed the hummingbirds next to the Trading Post.

They were in a feeding frenzy!

Sweet.

A short distance from Palm Canyon...

is Andreas Canyon...

another lush oasis in the desert.

We followed the scenic foot trail along Andreas Creek...

...and spotted a few abandoned stone buildings on the hill overlooking the canyon.

They belong to the 'Andreas Canyon Club' and are situated on property purchased from the the Southern Pacific Railway in 1923...

and still owned by the original family.

We passed the bedrock mortars and mestates used by the Agua Caliente Cahuilla peoples to prepare their food centuries ago.

We gathered the Cahuilla Indians were not into inukshuks...

...so we left them one down by the river.

We enjoyed walking in the footsteps of the 'Kaw-we-ah'...

if only for a few hours.

If you are ever in Palm Springs...

check out the Indian Canyons.

Oh...and leave the high heels at home!

a case for kindle...

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

His pile...left.

Her pile...right.

We worked our way through our respective stacks of books while on vacation.

There's a reason why her luggage takes up more space than his.

I'm just saying!

Kindle e-reader...

a traveller's best friend.

Speaking of reading...
I'll give you my top three picks from 'her pile'.

I'll start with one that we listened to as an audio book while driving. Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies is the story of the woman who helped hide Anne Frank and her family. Spell-binding...it made the miles slip by quickly!
Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. Mary Beth is the wife of recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman and shares her journey of struggle and hope following the very tragic loss of their young daughter.
Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo. My daughter-in-law recommended this book...and we found it at Costco. It's a quick read...of a little boy's trip to heaven and back during surgery.

I read others...some were good for laughs, others were most intriguing...but these three were the most inspirational!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

palm springs aerial tramway...

2011-11-15T05:02:00.000-08:00

It had been on our agenda on previous visits to Palm Springs...

but somehow never happened.

Last week we finally took the tram up Mt. San Jacinta...

and were so glad we did!

The tram takes passengers on a 2 1/2 mile trip to the Mountain Station..

which has an elevation of 8516 feet.

The tram features two enclosed rotating cars...

each holding 80 passengers.

It seems November is a good time to beat the crowds.

We shared our ride with only a few others.

On the trip up we passed through five zones...

from the Mexican Sonoran Desert to the Alpine wilderness.

From the top we enjoyed incredible views of Palm Springs...

and the desert below.

Though they don't normally have fresh snow up there until the end of November...

last weekend saw a big dump.

There are some 53 miles of hiking trails in the Mt. Jacinta State Park...

but we soon discovered that our jogging shoes weren't meant for snow-covered trails.

We never strayed too far..

but quite enjoyed our first taste of snow for the season.

I only wiped out once...

and managed to hold the camera high as I went down!

We enjoyed fine 'California cuisine with breathtaking views'...

just like the brochure said!

And before the sun went down...

we took the tram back down the mountain.

Who knows...

we may even go again one day...

and do a little hiking on all those trails that were calling.

with a cherry on top...

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

After two very long days on the road...

we arrived home on Saturday evening.

Palm trees and deserts are a distant memory...

and we are back to the views to which we are accustomed.

Since we had missed a few birthdays...

and had a lot of catching up to do...

we decided Sunday night would be a good time for a get-together.

We sang 'happy birthday' loud and clear...
three times over!
It was enough to wake Baby Lucy with a start.

We all had our cake and ate it too...

...and Grandpa and Ranen ate all the cherries.

Though we all want a cherry on top...
just because it looks nice...
most of us don't really like to eat it!

It was a good vacation...

and it is good to be home again!

I'll take you back to Yosemite...

the Indian Canyons...

and San Jacinto Mountain one of these days.

Have a wonderful day...

a postcard in parting...

2011-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today we bid farewell to Palm Springs...and as we leave the area we will once again be passing by this huge forest of wind turbines just west of the city.

They are situated in a pass that happens to be one of the windiest places on earth. Why not harness that power...from a sustainable renewable energy resource? California produces over 80% of the world's wind generated electricity.

As we pass by...I see row upon row of huge wind turbines...in every direction. Though there are no poppies blowing in the wind below...a familiar poem comes to mind. One by John McCrae which I always recite on this day.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

John McCrae

~1915

It's Remembrance Day.

Let us not forget!

Oh happy day...happy day!

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Born on the same day, two gifts from above,
lives entwined, two babies to love.
~Author Unknown

Twice as much to love...

two blessings from above.

God touched our hearts so deep inside...

our special blessing multiplied.

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.

All who would win joy, must share it;

happiness was born a twin.

~Lord Byron

So we grew together

Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,

But yet an union in partition,

Two lovely berries moulded on one stem...

~William Shakespeare

Life is two-riffic.

Not double trouble, but twice blessed.

A sister is a forever friend.

It's been one year since these 'forever friends' shared a birthday cake.

Today they will be sharing one again.
We are missing out on the fun...

but send our love.

We'll be home soon!

Happy 10th birthday,

Emerson and Spencer!

With Love....

looking for snow in palm springs....

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today we our departing from our usual Palm Springs routine....

...the one that includes floating down the lazy river and reading a good part of the day!

Do you see all that snow up on the peaks?

We are heading down the highway today...

and up that very mountain...

to see what we can see.

The Palm Springs Tram to the top of Mt. San Jacinta is

Palm Springs most popular tourist attraction.

We thought it was high time we checked it out!

Today is the day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

a postcard from the Indian Canyons...

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Centuries before we ever got the notion to visit Palm Springs...the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians settled in this area. Their communities were in the bottom of the canyons...where there was an abundant supply of water.

We did a little exploring the other day....hiking through both Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon. It was a good time! I'll fill you in...once I have all my pictures 'developed'. Smile.

terrific at two!

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Two years ago we were also in Palm Springs at the end of October.

But we hurried home that year so as not to miss a very important event...

that being the arrival of our grandson...

Micah.

Micah...

with the ready smile...

and a twinkle in his eye.

Micah...

a man of few words...

who loves trucks and tractors and things that go.

This weekend Micah will be celebrating his second birthday...

and we won't be there.

He will be 'king of the castle'...

if only for a day!

Happy Birthday to our precious grandson.

Love,

a postcard from Palm Springs...

2011-11-02T05:02:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Palm Springs...

where the sun always shines...

the skies are always clear...

...and one can spend all day lying under the palm trees reading a book.

Can you tell we are on vacation?

Though there are big plans to do some touristy things while we are here...

to this point we have not left the resort.

I have read three books so far...

and met some interesting people at the pool.

The blackbird in the photo always comes to watch us eat on our patio.

I think someone must have spoiled him before we arrived!

Whether the sun is shining in your neighbourhood...

or you are experiencing a touch of winter weather...

may you have a wonderful Wednesday!

a postcard from Yosemite...

2011-10-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

He is like a tree planted by streams of water...

which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:3 NIV

Greetings from the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

P.S. It seems that cyber mail is also dependent on the mailman. Though this postcard was to be sent from Yosemite last night or this morning...the wi-fi mailman was slacking off and it couldn't be sent. By now we are some 400 miles south of the park...under trees of another kind.

a tree alone...

2011-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Speaking of trees...

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer 1886-1918

The little oak tree outside my kitchen window is likely one of the world's most photographed subjects.

Whether it is peaking through the morning mist...

...or standing tall in the evening sun

...it always seems to find a way into the photo.

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The golden locust tree makes for a lovely photo as well.

I took one more...

for the record....

as the sun was setting.

You see...

we are off in search of trees of another sort.

By the time we return home...

the oak and the locust may not look quite like today.

Where we are headed...

the trees look more like this...

...and like this.

I'll let you know if we find the trees we are seeking!

lilacs for lucy...

2011-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned yesterday...

I was going tree-shopping!

I came home with a little lilac tree...

and by the time lunch rolled around...

the tree was planted.

We have planted a tree to mark the arrival of each new grandchild...

and it was time for Lucy to have her own tree.

Magnolia for Maggie...

lilac for Lucy.

It just seemed right!

The tree was barely settled in it's new spot...

when Lucy stopped by to check it out.

I think she liked it!

So...Grammy was supposed to pick Lucy out of the line-up above.

Hmmm...both babies look the same to me!

Only Mommy knows for sure.

Maggie (left) ~ Lucy (right)...

both at three months of age.

I suggest Mommy label all her baby photos!

Have a wonderful Wednesday....

the weekend in the rearview mirror...

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I've had a moment to put my feet up...

I'll share a few thoughts about the weekend past.

We have the most amazing little gift shop in our town...

whose owner invited us (MGCC team) to join her at the West Coast Women's Show this past weekend.

What a great time it was!

The Winks booth was the nicest one at the trade show...

in my unbiased opinion.

We had such fun meeting the shoppers...

and all those who came by to say 'hi'...

or to have a cookbook signed.

I'm remembering some of those fine folks~

...the master painter from the booth next door who came to buy a book

...the gal who said she had the book and called it her 'idiot proof cookbook'

...the one who didn't even bother to look at the book but bought several because she loved our cause

...the two gals who remember me as their Pioneer Girls Club leader from eons ago (really?)
...Amy from Star FM who came by to purchase a book before work

...the gal who got us to sign her book just as we were about to go on stage for our cooking demo

...the one who was purchasing a book for her Mennonite husband in hopes that he will learn to cook

...the gal who flew in from Calgary just to have us sign her book!

And yes...

we did two cooking demos at the Kitchen Theatre.

We've all had a chance to watch Chef Dez in action as he does his cooking classes.

This time he introduced us...

and said kind things about us...

and came back for a taste test after the show.

Those who were there had a chance to sample waffles with custard and berry sauce...

and fall soups after the second demo.

We just gave out wee samples.

Those who wanted more...
bought the cookbook and went home to cook up their own!

If you are still wanting a cookbook...
I know my friend Pondside is giving one away over on her blog this week.
Go pay her a visit!

Today?
I'm buying a tree...
having a pedicure that I won at a fundraiser...
and having a visit from some grandgirlies this afternoon.

It's all good!

Have a great day...

'make mine milk' monday....

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Milk...

...as fresh as it comes.

And delivered on demand by the milkman.

That's right.

Does anyone else still have a milkman...
in this day and age?

And my milkman brings milk in jugs that look like this...

I send them along empty in the morning...

and hope they come back full later in the day.

Sometimes I call him on his cell to remind him...

that I am out of milk.

Sometimes he tells me that the tanker just came...

and the milk tank is empty.

If I know the grands are coming...

I go out and buy milk like everyone else.

It seems they aren't used to drinking milk without any butterfat removed.

Raw milk...as it is called.

If you aren't quite sure about drinking milk...

check out this link.

It may just make you want to go out and buy milk...

or maybe a cow or two.

Truth be told...

I'm not that fond of milk.

Oh...

but I do love the milkman!

celebrating my daughter...

2011-10-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.

~Author Unknown

On October 21st...

many years ago...

a daughter arrived to brighten my days.

Thirty years ago...

on this date...

Heidi posed with her favorite doll...

Jenny.

She still has Jenny!

Twenty years ago...

she celebrated her birthday with a sleepover.
And lots of friends...

some whose names I no longer recall.
I see her dog was at the party as well!

Heidi was the wee one in the middle.

Ten years ago she celebrated her birthday with her husband...

for the very first time.

Today is Heidi's birthday...

a good reason to celebrate.

We did just that...

last night.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past...

the joyful moments of the present...

and the hope and promise of the future.

~Author Unknown

Happy birthday...

daughter of mine!

With love,

cranberry time...

2011-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

For the first time in history...cranberries are being harvested in my neighbourhood. We watched with interest several years ago as the fields which were once grazed by horses...became a nursery for cranberry plants.

Yesterday I noticed one of the fields was flooded...and soon the first cranberry harvest was underway next door.

The water is only about eight inches above the vines...and a harvester is driven through the beds to separate the fruit from the vines. I didn't stick around to see how the floating berries were removed from the pond...but big trucks were on hand to take away the first crop of cranberries. So now I know where my cranberries come from.

I took a hint from Lorrie and poured half of my hot cranberry sauce into wee jars and sealed them when I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner. How nice to cranberry sauce on hand!

Here's a tasty little cranberry sauce appetizer that I sampled recently at a friend's. Brush baguette slices with with olive oil and sprinkle with poultry-seasoning-herb-mix. Broil on high until golden brown...and serve with cranberry sauce.

In scones...as juice...or as a saucy topping for poultry...cranberries are the best. And good for you too!

done...

2011-10-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

My morning walk takes me past fields of golden corn...

...though I know that will soon change.

The birds have a field day...

flitting about among the stalks.

Their fun is about to end...

as one by one the fields of corn are being harvested.

We've had a spell of beautiful weather...

...and things have been busy on the farm.

On the weekend...

...the last crop of grass came in from the fields.

The grands were over...

and Micah was in his glory watching trucks and tractors.

He wasn't all that thrilled about leaving his post at the window to have supper...

so Grammy let him eat at a window with a view.

His sister informed him that trucks and tractors were very boring!

He did not believe her.

As of yesterday...

our corn harvest is done for 2011.

The bunkers are full to overflowing.

We are always thankful when the cropping is done...

and grateful to all the friends and neighbours who pitch in to make it all happen.

And most of all...

we give thanks to God for his bounty!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

out and about...

2011-10-18T05:00:00.001-07:00

We are so enjoying these days of fall sunshine.

There are many pictures begging to be taken!

(photos taken on a country road in Rosedale, BC)

Bright red Virginia creeper...

hens running free...

snow on Mt. Cheam...

a picture of autumn in my corner of the world.

On Sunday afternoon we went for a drive...

to a place we had never been before.

Our destination was Rolley Lake Provincial Park...

which we had often heard about...

but never visited.

It seems the powers-that-be think mid-October is too late to visit the park.

We didn't think so!

So we left our car outside the locked gate...

and walked in.

We were in good company!

A quiet little lake...

with spacious campsites...

it looks like a lovely place to come in the summertime.

We walked along the lake...

and down a short trail to Rolley Falls.

I see I should have done my homework before we set out.

We saw the Upper Falls...

and were not aware that if we had carried on a little further...

we would have come to the more spectacular Lower Falls.

We returned the way we had come...

and visited nearby Stave Lake before heading home.

Allouette Lake, Stave Lake and Ruskin....
three adjoining dams...

provide hydro power to our part of our province.

So close to home...

it was high time we explored some of these places.