Janauary 2009

January was an action packed month so here are a few highlights.After spending almost 2 years in braces...........
Murray's smile became more genuine when he had them removed Jan. 9. Now he wears a clear plastic retainer that is still a hassle but is removable for eating at least!

The evening of Jan 10 we flew to Las Vegas. Sunday (11th) we had dinner with Debby & Chuck Schmidt, Stephanie & Robbie , friends who live down there.
Also Sunday evening Ev & Ken flew down from Kelowna & joined us. In 4 days we tried to show them all we have found interesting over the last number of years! Ev said she has never walked so much! Here we are in the atrium of the Bellagio where the decorations were for the Chinese New Year.

We drove out to Red Rock Canyon.

The red rocks formations with the city of Las Vegas in the background.

At Madam Tussauds I had my picture taken with George Cluny.

Murray with Julia Roberts

The four of us in front of some slots. We found the slots very selfish & not giving back even what we put in!

Evelyn learned a little about Roulette.

On Friday Ev & Ken returned home. We had such fun with them. I don't think we have ever holidayed together. We will have to do it again soon.

Also Friday we flew to Fresno to visit with the Piersons.

Sunday Ken & Gloria took us to the coast to see the elephant seals who come ashore there at this time of year to birth.

Here is an elephant seal bull. They have a very unusually shaped head.

All those bumps you see are not rocks but mostly cow & calf seals with some bulls who like to defend their harem! We learned the cow seals come ashore to birth, then nurse on land for 28 days, are bred, leave their young and go back in the ocean . They calves have to learn to swim and survive on their own. Some are crushed by the bull seals when they fight and the mortality rate is high. However they have come back from the brink of being endangered. We were able to get quite close on walkways constructed to keep the public out of danger.

That evening we had dinner at Jeremy & Bibi's house. Bibi sets such a lovely table and her delicious food is a work of art.

Thanks guys for the lovely dinner and visit. Briana is such an affectionate little girl!

The next day we left for home but my camera stayed behind thus the late post! Thanks Ken for sending the memory card with camera to follow when Ron & Connie visit there later this month.

On Sabbath at Ken & Gloria's I was thrilled to reconnect with an old friend from high school days in Saskatoon. Gaylene Soloniuk is now a physician in Visalia. Bob, (Gaylene's husband) Gaylene, me & Murray.

Many Thanks to Ken & Gloria for being such terrific hosts. We always love getting together and they have such neat places to show us.

Christmas 2008

We were a bit worried about getting to Comox for Christmas when we heard all the horror stories about people stranded in airports, but we were only an hour late leaving Calgary Christmas Eve and 2 hours late leaving Comox on Saturday night (Dec 27) to come home so we can't really complain.

Here is the amount of snow that greeted us in Comox.This is Kim & Yan's back yard. Although it rained all Christmas Day night there still was quite a lot of snow when we left - more snow than we have ever seen when we have been there.

Of course Christmas is so special with & for kids & we thoroughly enjoyed Nicholas & his first responsive Christmas. Here he is digging into his stocking, which to him would probably have been plenty!However Santa was much more generous so (with daddy's help) Nicholas enjoyed ripping the wrappings off his presents.

He loves to sweep & vacuum so here he is with his own miniature cleaning set.Kim exploring her bag of presents.
Nicholas got a train set and by the end of 3 days was able to navigate all the way around the track.We had such an enjoyable time playing and interacting with Nicholas. He is such a treasure.He loved his work boots - now all he needs is the coveralls!

We were so pleased we could catch up with Yan about his course in Winnipeg. He will be home again the end of February.

Kim is doing well. She did such a great job of preparing for our visit and the house was so cozy and decorated. Thanks for a great time and can't wait to see you all again.

From us to you - May God abundantly bless in 2009.

December has definitely been colder than usual - we had been so spoiled with a long mild fall. Here is some of Jack Frost's handiwork on the windows in the - 25 -30' C temps.

On Sabbath we had a church fellowship dinner at our house.

L-R Father Sankey, Pastor Streifling and James Letniak.

Ryan Letniak is home for the holiday break. Here he is with Jaren, Kevin Lawrence & Ron.
On Sunday we had the Kerr family over for supper and they gave us this lovely picture for Christmas. You plug it in and it lights up & the waterfall looks like the water is flowing!

Tonight was the annual Hemaruka supper and carole singsong.

Marlene Magill, Angie & I led out.

Trevor & Dayleen Kerr had a trumpet duet.

Landen was the littlest elf!

And of course Santa paid us a visit!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Start of the day

This morning I thought I would go out with Murray for a few chores to see what he does before the bitter cold arrives. So just before daybreak we were out chopping water holes for the bison. Here they are silhouetted on the dawning sky.

On our way back it was a little more light so here they are grazing on the open prairie.A closer view.

Then we went over to where the weaned calves are to check them for illness. After weaning they usually go through a period of various illness from the stress & we have been treating quite a few over the last couple weeks but they are starting to do better.

Many were still sleeping on their straw bed.

These 2 must be "morning" calves as they were all perky and ready for their picture at daybreak!

So that was just the first hour of Murray's day. I didn't tag along much after that but it was an enjoyable start to the day.

Kim & Nic's Visit

Kim & Nic are just concluding 2 action packed days on the ranch. How do you show Nicholas all there is to see & do in between naps?!!!!
We did manage to take him out to "help" with treating some calves and baptized his boots in manure!

He wasn't so sure about this loud machine of Grandpa's.

Grandma read him stories -----

He & Grandpa played horsey -----


And Jaren & Landen came to visit.

Great Grandma even came for a short visit.

Four generations.
Yes Kim did come too & she caught up on her sleep and we all had a great time. All too soon visits end & we look forward to the next time!

Victim Services Fundraiser

Last night Murray & I attended a dinner & fundraiser in Coronation for the Victim Services Unit I volunteer with. We work in conjunction with the RCMP so the evening began with 10 RCMP Officers dressed in their red serge uniforms marching in to bagpipes followed by the singing of Oh Canada. It was a very patriotic moment.

I don't know how she did it but our co-ordinator was able to convince Paul Brandt to come be our headline entertainer and since all volunteers got a VIP pass to meet with Paul himself I was able so spend a few seconds with him. In 1993/94 when Scott was in the Calgary Children's hospital Paul Brandt was one of his nurses! At that time he was selling demo cassettes for $5.00 so I bought one and on a whim had him sign it "in case he was famous someday"!!! I took it along last night & Paul said it definitely is a collector's item now. He had donated a leather jacket to the silent auction that went for $850. I wonder if my tape is worth that much?!!!!

Elaine & Paul BrandtJust Paul & his guitar on stage in the Coronation Hall forabout 1 hr 20 minutes. He is very up front about his committment to the Lord & gives Him the credit for his success. Very refreshing in this day & age.

Murray & I in our finery!

Murray was the successful bidder on an official RCMP blanket. Here with Corporal Val Dennis the contributor.

We had a lovely evening and all in little ol' Coronation!