IWW

This week's  IWW walk around the resevoir  was beautiful, invigorating  and fun.

Thanksgiving

It was delightful in the Valley where we celebrated thanksgiving with Jim, Carmen and the children

Douro Valley

Lan and I have lived our dream of experiencing the grape harvest in the spectacular Douro Valley.Wine tasting, grape picking, grape stomping,  ceramic museums, castles, exquisite dining in  the historic pousadas in which we stayed were all wonderful. Spending time with Lucinda and her family was a great finale.

Lisboa

Had a wonderful time exploring Lisboa  on foot and tonight we rxperienced Fado , the most beautiful emotional vocal and guitar music imaginable ( along with Port, dinner , vinhao branco and more Port) Love travelling with Lanny

And we are off to Portugal

Labour Day

Pat, Audrey, Giorgia, Graham, Ryan and Brennan joined us in Invermere for the Labour Day Holiday.
We had a great bike ride on West Side Road. Sandy and Ersilia invited P&A and JR & me to a pig roast hosted by their neighbors John and Gayle. We golfed with Pat, Aud, Chris and Den and had dinner with them. Most of the crowd went paddling canoes and kayaks one morning.Weather was perfect and a good time was had by all.

Emma 2013

Another great summer at the lake! Cousin Arthur visited. We celebrated 35 years for B&G, Johnny's BD and Owen's BD. Generation #5 had fun fishing in the Tin Princess, playing at Christopher Lake, building sand castles, bouncing and riding on tubes and skiis and  riding in the Full  Ponty. Dinners were prepared by teams (some a bit raunchy). The Norgards and Taits did a canoe trip in the far north. We overnighted in Saskatoon to attend the Folk Fest and visit Wanuskewin. Our friends Bob and Jan visited. Sadly it had to end.

Out of Their Box

Out of my Box

Stampede 101

The city of Calgary and thousands of volunteers miraculously evacuated all the water and sludge from the Stampede buildings and grounds and "Come Hell Or High Water " the show went on! We celebrated at a pancake breakfast with many friends at the CWC, then with Pat and Harold at "Nashville North" and the rodeo, and shared  traditional grub (including "Those Little Doughnuts"), then  with curling friends at the "Wild Horse Saloon" downtown, then at a  "Shindig" at the CWC, with beef, beans, bull riding and dancing to a live C&W band, and finally with the Taits and all their neighbors at the annual "Hobart Road Breakfast".

High River Help

Our friends Pat and Harold were severely effected by the recent flooding. Only yesterday (Canada Day ) were they allowed to enter and witness damage.  There are four levels: green-no damage, yellow: minor flooding but power panel not damaged, orange: major flooding with no power and  basement demolition required   and red: total demolition. They are in the orange category, living only four blocks from the Highwood River. We had to , amidst inches of sludge, haul out ruined  furniture, appliances, precious photo albums, sports gear, clothes, soggy carpet and underlay and ALL the other items one would store in a basement.I looked like a mud wressler! Ten of us worked all day and the nearby Hutterites provided sandwiches and water: an example of how people come together in times of need.

New Housewarming

Canada Day Celebration

Spring Loaded

Pianist

A Walk In The Park

Inglewood

JR and I shared a day at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary with Eli and Mio. Chasing gophers was actually more fun than bird watching!