Quilting Time

Monday we went over to West Vancouver for a visit with my aunt and uncle, Mom's sister and had a really nice time. Ken met Floss at a florist's convention when she was working for Brown Bros, uncle Joe's business.
We shopped for food at the new WalMart here in South Surrey and hear it is the largest in Canada. We got our winter fleece sheets and they are heavenly. I also got a new iron and it works like a charm - even steams well. No wonder I notice the difference, mine was 29 years old.
More rain, so here I am finishing Lexi's quilt. I used the bigger tables up in the clubhouse and used my new iron to finish it. I still learning about quilting so I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to do things an easier way. When you start putting it all together, you wonder why you can't even sew a straight line. However it's done, I'm pleased and I'm sure Lex will love it.

Rain, rain go away.

Well, we are having a week of rain on and off. I actually don't mind it as I'm cleaning cupboards and sewing as well as reading and doing Sudoku with my morning coffee. However, this Aug. we're had about twice as much rain as usual so will love the sun again. One day the rain stopped and there was a rainbow.
We had our usual fun at Friday night Pool and went out to Chilliwack yesterday,in the sunshine to visit Adele and Bob and see the additions to their new townhouse. Really nice, pool room and privacy fences. We gave gave them a Rose of Sharon, perennial Hibiscus for the garden which Adele loved and sure enough we had to plant it then and there in the back where she'll see it from the kitchen. We also had a nice visit with the Doyles in Abb0tsford on the way home.

Our Whaling Wall

We're enjoying life these days here at home. Ron and Glen played their final crib game Wed. night, the season's finished. I've finally added walking to my swimming exercise program. We're on a slimming program so I'm trying to be creative with low cal meals. Thank heavens for all the wonderful local produce.
I was shopping in White Rock and passed the Whaling Wall which was done by Wyland, a painter of 'whale' walls on buildings around the world, back in the eighties. There are 2 big high rises going up behind it so hopefully it will be saved when they get to this part.

Mama Mia

We've been enjoying catching up, relaxing, seeing friends Friday night at Pool and out for dinner with others. Barb, Gini and I saw Mama Mia today and if you can possibly go see it, DO. The Abba music is great. I didn't know Meryl Streep was such a good singer. The music is great, the comedy is hysterical, the scenery beautiful - I want to go to Greece!

Settled for the summer

We've had such a fun spring and summer, but are now home and looking forward to catching up with everything we've been neglecting. Housework? I'm back to swimming 80 lengths 4 times a week and must start walking. My goal is to reduce the pills I take for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Why did mom pass these genes on to me when my brother and sisters have nothing?
I got a chuckle driving home from town recently because I saw 'Rudolph' of all deers. There were several around here but now the spoilsport municipality workers have removed the red noses. If you you dbl clk, you'll see his red nose.

Birthday Celebrations

We enjoyed a great party for Nikki and Bill Sunday. It was held at their clubhouse at their townhouse complex and it was fun to meet all their friends and relatives. The cake was made by Chris' wife Wendy, a masterpiece representing many of the places where they've traveled. It was really fun to see Chris, Randy and families. Chris told us he's just lost 60 lbs and he looks fantastic.

Spanish Banks

We went into Vancouver for a going away party for Allison and Charles. It was a great way to do a gathering for a large group; appys on the beach from 3- 8 p.m. with many people arriving all the time. There was the van with South African flags and gazebo as rain sprinkles threatened. It was a lovely party with a spectacular Vancouver skyline back drop.

Home again

We had an pleasant, easy drive home. When we fueled up the the flying J in Chilliwack, we were next to perhaps one of the youngest truck drivers on the road.

At the Homestead

I lounged in my easy chair this morning, watching the birds in the big rock with a natural bird bath depresion in it. Saw about 10 different kinds, some new to me. We sat in the cool of the pump house with the mister spraying and Carol and I swim to cool off as it is 30 degrees. We walked up to the spot where they will build their house and it even has a view of the lake. The camping area is about 200' below. Cards were played each night and guess what? - the girls dominated again.

Yurts

I dropped Carol off for a haircut and went to the First Nations RV Campground to check things out. We had so much fun on our family reunion, we plan to have another one in 2011. The RV Park has all the amenities including 24' air conditioned Yurts for the non RV folks and it's right on the water, surrounded by orchards.

Off to Osoyoos

We left about 9:30 and headed through Keromeos where we stopped for fruit. There were about 20 very old rusted cars and tractors, very interesting, in the orchard.
We're staying 3 days with C and R on their 10 acres on Anarchist Mtn. Osoyoos was know as the Southern Crossroads as the valley runs north/south and a sand spit runs east/west across the lake which ends at the south end in Orville, U.S.A.,

Nelson Time

Four groups were off from 5:30 to 7a.m. this morning so later R and I went to town and met our sister in law and did the artist tour. Peter joined us for the pic in front of a mural of historic scenes. This is a very artsy town and well know for all the cultural, artistic and heritage architecture. Alex’s grandfather arrived here about 1905 and designed the Land Title Office, Court House and many other buildings in town. Baker Street is designed for coffee spots and the flowers are incredible. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, then retreated to the lakeshore at R and A’s for the rest of the day and hamburgers on the beach. We had a wonderful weekend and all had so much fun we’re planning a bigger reunion in 3 years, August long weekend and 2011. Mark it down.

Crawford Bay

Sunday we played tourist and carpooled 5 cars up to Balfour and took the ferry across Kootenay Lake to Crawford Bay. Our first stop was the North Woven Broom company in their old log barn. Here they make handcrafted brooms from the tassels of the Broomcorn plant. It’s an annual grass (Sorghum vulgare) which is grown in the Torreon region of Mexico. The natural stem in left intact and tightly woven onto a handle with a hand winder for the smaller brooms or an antique broommakers vise for the larger ones. They are very distinctive and one claim to fame is that they sold 75 brooms for a Harry Potter movie.

Barefoot Handweaving Studio and Gallery was next. We saw big floor looms in use and all sorts of different woven items. The building was of straw bale construction and was shown by a ‘porthole’ cutout and the 2 foot thick walls. We also saw metalwork, pottery and glass works.

Then it was back to the ferry with lots of visiting in the line up, and up to Ainsworth Hot Springs. We had a wonderful time in the water and one fun thing was a semi circle tunnel about 6 feet high and wide, you could walk through. Best thing was that 2 of the little kids got their faces in the water for the first time and had fun. They were so pleased with themselves, being just like their older siblings. Our day was complete with a marshmallow roast on the beach that night.

A Day at the Beach

Everyone was responsible for different meals so Paul did French toast, Alex did bacon, Graham and Allison were on the pancake detail and there was cereal and toast plus tons of Okanagan fruit as well. Each child has someone around their age so we all had a ball. Another husband, sister and brother and spouses arrived so there was more excitement.
It was busy with golf, Frisbee and croquet on the front lawn and then we spent the afternoon on the lake shore. Glacial water was a different experience for the coast and pool people but we swam, paddled, kayaked, tubed and visited. Thanks heavens for paper plates; turkey and ham with everyone’s contributions made sure we ate well. We roasted marshmallows at the bonfire in the evening.

On to Nelson

The whole family is going to Nelson to surprise my sister and husband for their 40^th wedding anniversary. Her daughter had arranged this and she and her sister and their 3 kids were there for a week vacation. They were expecting us, as a stop on our trip to see other friends but they were very surprised when Paul and Chris arrived with family at 3 p.m. and then Suz and James with 3 kids at 5 p.m. Friday night was enjoying all the kids and we loved being together.