Visit to Comox

All visits to Vancouver Island are too short but especially this one. For 2 days we were entertained by Nicholas and dined and toured by Kim & Yan. The weather was sunny and warm and our hosts were terrific!

Of course Grandma & Grandpa had to bring Nicholas a farm set but the box proved equally entertaining!

Have to brush those 6 teeth after breakfast.

The little explorer all dressed for his Safari to church Sabbath!

Grandma enjoying cuddle time.

At the beach flinging sand at grandma & grandpa!

Chillin'
Grandpa played horsey all wknd.
I 'm headed to the water. Anyone coming?

With Mommy.

Even though the water was extremely cold that didn't stop Nicholas & Grandpa from wading.

On Sunday we went to the Kingfisher Resort for Father's Day Brunch. The flowers were lovely, the food delicious and the company the best.
Keeping Nicholas entertained.
Grandma & Nic.

Father & daughter.

Trying hard to keep up with the grandson!

Nicholas & Daddy

We checked out Kim's clinic and here are Kim & Murray in the gym portion and a view of the entry, reception & waiting area. For more pics check out Kim's blog @ http://www.yksenechal.blogspot.com/. Returning to the ranch we found we had more rain so things continue to be nice & green.

Happy Birthday & Anniversary

Today we had Murray's folks over for dinner as it was a special day for them. They were married 59 years ago today & it was Father's 84th Birthday. Congratulations to you both!

In the last few days we have had about an inch of rain. For us that is reason to celebrate, take pictures, dance naked in the rain (or NOT!) or whatever! Here are a few pics after a heavy shower we had today.

Just yesterday Murray worked up our roundabout as we have to reseed it. Before we could get the seed in it rained. Oh well , all in good time.

My lawn also needs serious cutting but it sure is nice & green for a change.

Our Week

This week had a little of everything in it. Monday Mom & I returned from Kelowna. Tuesday I helped the 2 Stevens and Dayleen with vaccinating some heifers. We had lovely blue sky but it would have been better if it was raining!

Steven Kerr doing the vaccinating.

Mom & the Via Rail Employee

Wednesday I drove Mom to Wainwright where she took Via Rail to visit Eugene in Portage.Today Murray is finishing seeding and the custom sprayer is trying to do some work in spite of the wind. Tomorrow after church we head to Red Deer to work the garden there on Sunday & then bring the tiller home so the garden here can be worked. Just maybe I will get my garden in before Fall!

Happy Birthday Ev

For the last 65 years May 24th has been my sister's birthday so this year my Mom & I flew to Kelowna to help Evelyn celebrate her birthday.

We started out with a family dinner on Saturday with (L to R) Lloyd & cousin Juliana from Port Quoquitlam, Ev & Ken, Aunt Mary & Uncle Paul Babiuk (Kelowna), me, Mom (Alberta) & Fern & Dan (Vernon & Alaska)(their unofficially adopted daughter!) .

Ev with her many gifts of flowers.

Unbeknownst to her we also had another party planned later in the evening with about 30 friends!
When Ev, Mom & I arrived home from an orchestra performance with Jaime Jorge and the Fountainview Academy Master Class she walked into the house to a shout of SURPRISE! Ken had done a great job of co-ordinating all the arrivals while we were gone and she didn't have a clue! A neighbor even decorated. I think I had the easy task!

Everyone brought food and we had a fun time.
Mom & "the girls".

It was so special that at 85 Mom could still come with me to celebrate with Ev.

Wishing you many more fun-filled years dear sister. We sure did have fun! Now we get to catch up on our sleep!

Congratulations Trevor!

The Kerr family has been working with us on the ranch for 10 years now and we have become quite attached to their kids. Trevor, the oldest who has helped us for 3 summers, graduated from high school this year. Yesterday we were honored to be part of the celebration as the Consort School held its Grade 12 Graduation Exercises. Pictured above is Trevor with his parents, Sheri & Steven.

Dinner table centerpiece.

Murray with Trevor

We are so proud of Trevor as he was one of the organizers of Consort School's first "Dry Grad Party" after the graduation excercises. Almost one-quarter of his class chose to attend this alternate to the "Safe Grad" party. I volunteered to supervise and although it was one of the few nights of my life that I didn't see the bed until 6:00 AM it was totally worth it to see all the good, safe fun they had. The activities they had were sumo wrestling , a rock climbing wall, movies, virtual band (or whatever it was called!), non-stop food, doorprizes and the most popular of all, non-stop paintball all night! Almost 70 people participated as grads, their families and friends interacted with no problems whatsoever! Congratulations Trevor on achieving this milestone and the best of luck at Lakeland College in the Fall.

Sumo Wrestler!

April Snow

I haven't posted for awhile as there hasn't been anything newsworthy, but this April snow has changed all that! Last week Murray installed a camera in the calving barn so we can keep an eye on things from the house. If nothing else I can keep an eye on the men!!!

There have been numerous postings of newborn babies so here is a pic of one of ours with its mama! We have been cycling about 20 /day through the barn to dry them off, warm them up and send them out into the cold world. Since Friday night we have had about a foot of snow and strong winds so each day (& night) has been a marathon for the men.

This was taken Saturday.

Calves peeking out of their shelter.

The blizzard conditions on Sunday.

See the snow accumulated on the bale.

We had to move feed troughs to empty them of drifted snow before feeding Sunday and then again today.

This would be a pretty picture in January but not in late April!

By the end of the day today the wind had subsided and although it was still below freezing the sun on the roof had melted some snow into icicles. Once in awhile I would hear a bang and then realize another icicle had fallen. We are not forecast to have temps above freezing until late in the week so hope we can hang in until then.