Even though it was cool on Sabbath we went to the lake (Gray's). Notice the nice sandy beach kids! We enjoyed hearing the waves lapping on the shore and the beautiful sunset over the water.

Yesterday & today I have been tending to my trap line. Who would have thunk I would turn into a ruthless trapper, but when the moles starting invading our yards a couple of years ago I took mole trapping lessons from a friend near Balzac and although they are coming in fast I have had some success at keeping the moles out of my immediate vicinity at least. Yesterday afternnon I set one trap in my yard & a couple hours later had caught a mole. Then in the evening I set 3 traps & this morning discovered I had caught 3 moles! To have success you have to find the run into their most recent molehill, dig it out & put the trap at the entrance to the hill. When they see the light coming in at the end or top of the trap they run to fill in their run and are caught in the trap.

I have pulled the trap out of the hole so you can see the back end of the mole in the trap.

This is a different, but just as effective trap. It is about 6-8 inches long so you can see the size of the mole. This is a smaller one.

They are squished with the spring around their head or middle when caught in the trap. I hope you can see their teeth and claws.

Move

Murray carefully packing.

On Wednesday, August 22, Murray & the Kerr crew brought the stock trailer to Red Deer and moved our possessions from one house to the other. Many thanks to them & Debbie Letniak who came & helped out and made the day more efficient. So our "stuff" is mostly in the garage of the city house awaiting carpet cleaners and then more help to put everything in place. This week I clean the farm house for renters Sept. 1. Rain on the ranch has Murray anxious to get the combining back under way.

Remembering

On August 15, friend and former highschool classmate, Lorraine (Uniat) Gallagher passed awauy after struggling with cancer for some time. Murray & I were able to attend her funeral in Edmonton Sunday, August 19. A number of our class were there to honor Lorraine's memory. Knowing her faith was strong makes it easier to say " Until we meet again".

Whirlwind August

From August 1-3, my dear friend Sharyl (who came all the way from Portland to help me) & I brain stormed, furniture shopped, chose paint & area rugs & had a ton of fun. Her expertise proved superbly valuable and I will post pics when all the firniture is delivered & put in place. We got an amazing amount done in a short time but I still wish she were closer to help me with the odds & ends. Thanks heaps, Sharyl!

Sharyl taught me how to paint posterboard so you can see more of a paint sample than those impossible tiny squares.

Here is a sample of a few of the things we actually brought home with us. As you can see it is my "red" year! Stay tuned to see what else I ordered in red.

On August 8 I met my Mom, Kim, Yan & Nicholas in Red Deer to show them our new home and then we came out to the ranch. We cuddled Nicholas all we could and think he is the most precious grandson.How does one choose from the zillion pics taken over 10 days but we sure did enjoy Nicholas' smiles so here is one of them.Nicholas found his legs while he was here and enjoyed standing ramrod straight.Here he is standing alone at 4 months. If only he could find his balance he would be walking!!!Scott & Patricia came out on Aug 10 and Amy, Karis & Zachary arrived from Orlando on the 11th so we had a wonderful houseful of young adults & kids. Here Zachary is getting to know his second cousin Nicholas.
Zachary visiting with Scott.

While here Scott was able to to get in the swather (with some strong help) and if you look closely he is in the operator's seat with dad as co-pilot!

Yan enjoyed the big machines and learning about farming.

Zachary getting up close & personal with the bison!

Amy & Kim (first cousins) enjoyed a ride on the quads.

Kim on the hill overlooking Little Gem.

Zachary & Karis. Zach came outfitted with a darling denim jacket so he would fit in at the ranch!

My mom and her 2 great grandsons.

Grandpa telling Nicholas a secret.

Grandma & Nicholas in the rocking chair.

Another one of those precious smiles.

Nicholas & his Mom taking perogy making lessons from Baba!

Unfortunately on August 17 we had to hug & kiss our grandson & his parents good-bye as they headed back west to Courtenay. What a silent empty house. We sure did enjoy the visit from everyone. Can't wait til Christmas!

Where did July go?

July seems like it was a whirlwind of activity beginning with Campmeeting. Now it is nearly over and I hope August is somewhat cooler. Here is a quick recap of my month.

Last week I was fortunate to see some classmates of high school days who were in Red Deer for a Branson Hospital Nursing School Reunion. Pictured here are Grace (Stewart), me, Sandra ( Foulston) and Jean (Booth). Sandra (a former room-mate) is from the Toronto area and Grace & Jean now live in Australia so it was extra special to see them.

Just a few days before, I was invited to Prairie Oasis for a day of fun with the Letniak ladies and their boat. Since it was too hot to do anything at home I gladly accepted. I wasn't as brave as Debbie but once we got going I did have fun skimming over the water on the biscuit.

Debbie making a rooster tail.


At Royal Oak, where Mom lives in Lacombe, residents are able to have a small garden plot. Here is Mom a few weeks ago in front of her beautifully green garden.

Here on the ranch we are burning up with the sustained + 30' C temps and no moisture. Harvest will probably have to begin by weeks end to try and get what is left of the crops.
On a more positive note we have been able to rent our Red Deer farm house beginning Sept. 1 and get the keys to our Red Deer city home tomorrow. I am looking forward to a few fun days of furniture shopping with good friend Sharyl Ashley (an interior decorator) who is flying in to Calgary from the Portland area.

No pics with this post, just an update. I spent all last week bouncing between Campmeeting , Calgary & Red Deer.The time at campmeeting was great, with not enough time to socialize with all my friends! That is besides the spiritual rejuvenation of course.
Thursday evening was Ladies Night to Red Deer when 4 of us went out to dinner & took in the Gospel Music concert at the Centrium. It was so good that Murray & I went back Friday evening.
The week went from wearing socks & an extra quilt to bed in the camper to using the air-conditioner to escape the heat! It is still tooooo hot and the crops are burning up. We arrived home late last night and today it is unpack the camper time and getting caught up in the house & yard. Cousin Audrey & Ron dropped in for a visit on their way home to Millarville from a wedding at Waskasoo, Sask. Our visits with them are always too short.

This weekend we made a quick trip via Westjet to Kelowna. Before we left Calgary we enjoyed a lovely lunch with Scott on the patio of a restaurant in Eau Claire. The walk along the river was fabulous with all the hanging flower baskets and vivid greenery.

In Kelowna we were able to get in on 2 celebrations. Ken turned 60 on July 2 but we celebrated a couple days early. Here are Ev & Ken with Ken's favorite pistachio cake!Murray was able to pick cherries from Ev & Ken's cherry tree. He loves cherries & picking them was a first for him as we have never been able to get to the Okanagan during cherry time before. On the first morning we got up early and raided the tree before Ev & Ken were up, but there always seemed to be more cherries to pick!

They sure were abundant & full of sweet nectar. We even brought some home to share with Scott & Murray's parents.

July first was 2nd celebration when we attended the wedding of Holly (Nelson) and Brad Kay.

The setting was a lovely park in Oyama. Both fathers are ministers so the knot was tied very securely!

They both looked exquisite and Holly's neices & nephews were adorable.

We were also able to vist with Elaine's Aunt Mary & Uncle Paul Babiuk who live in Kelowna. Thanks Ev & Ken for your wonderful hospitality (& the cherries of course!). We had a wonderful time. Also many thanks to Scott & Patricia for taking us to & from the Airport in Calgary.