Jasper Retreat

This weekend we were able to go to Jasper for the annual Alberta Conference Executive Committee Retreat. While Elaine went to meetings Murray enjoyed rest, relaxation and a couple massages. He said the massage therapist actually thanked him for having someone to work on that actually needed a massage!

On Sabbath afternoon we joined the group for a hike up Malign Canyon.

We then drove to Maligne Lake (below) which has a porous bottom so empties in the fall. Here we saw a little snow. We reluctantly returned home Sunday night!

Visitors

Last weekend Scott was home to attend the wedding of and give the toast to the groom for a good friend from High School, Trevor Bousquet. (See pic on Scott's blog). Pictured here are Scott, Delayne Shaffer, and Trevor, three buddies from high school days. My brother Gene, from Portage La Prairie, was also here while Scott was visiting.

Gene, Mom and me.

Thanksgiving

We were pleased to host Thanksgiving Dinner at our Red Deer home on Monday. Murray's Dad couldn't make it due to a funeral for an oldtime friend, but Scott & Patricia came from Calgary, Mom & my brother Gene, Carol and Mother Sankey joined us.

The Tym family came over in the afternoon for dessert & we had a lovely visit.
Laurel with the 2 Grandmas in their matching sweaters!Ann, Carol & Gene.

New Furniture

Our furniture for the Red Deer house has all finally arrived. Window coverings yet to come but it is feeling more like home and echoing less! Below is the living room where the windows face west.

This is the other part of the living room (taken from the dining room).

This is the downstairs family room taken from the stairs.

I haven't had time yet to play with the best furniture placement and there are still more pics to hang. We are looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving dinner there on Monday.

(Thanks a million Sharyl. It all looks great!)

We are rejoicing that we finished harvest on Thursday so we celebrated by going out for our annual harvest dinner this evening to Hanna. The Kerr family & we 4 Sankeys enjoyed a roast beef dinner.

After the frost we had here earlier this week my Amur Maples turned a brilliant red. I am hoping to enjoy them for awhile before the leaves fall.
Unloading canola into the grain cart.

This is our harvest lunch wagon. It goes from field to field & when I bring out a hot dinner it sure beats eating on your lap! Murray bought it for $300, 5 years ago over my protest but it has turned out to be just the niftiest thing. I don't mind it getting dragged out in the dusty fields. This field was 10 miles from home.

Today Murray finished combining our last canola field so he was rejoicing over our last meal in the trailer for 2007. We still have 160 acres of wheat but that field is only 1 1/2 miles from home so it is easier to come in for meals. Hopefully we can get all done harvest early next week.

A couple nights ago I woke up near 4:00 A.M. to close the window because I was cold. After lying there for a long time and not being able to go back to sleep I decided to get up, get dressed and go for my daily walk. It was still dark out so I took a flashlight and started off. My biggest fear was running into a skunk in the dark! After awhile I got to thinking what would I do if my flashlight quit & I was a mile and a half from home? So I turned off the flashlight to see if I could tell where I was going. Surprisingly I could make out the road quite well even without a moon. The stars were shining brightly & I could see many constellations. I only turned the flashlight on occasionally to check for skunks! I wouldn't want the experience every night but I must say it was rather pleasurable to be out there alone with the millions of stars. Made me think of the verse " What is man that thou art mindful of him?"