Steinke Visit

On Thursday/ Friday we had a 24 hour visit from Ev, Ken, Niesha & Jeff. It was Niesha's first visit to Alberta & Jeff said he hasn't been here in the summer since he was 14! It was too short a visit but we were able to show them a few things on the ranch - the bison being the highlight.

Over the years this old wagon has been the backdrop for many pictures with the Steinke's.

This year the men were more daring & used the bison as a backdrop!

Murray, Ken & Jeff.

Jeff, Niesha, Elaine & Murray making a memory.

Sorry Niesha you didn't get to ride a buffalo!!!!

Thanks for coming all the way from N.C. to see us.

July Travels

On July 25 we enjoyed celebrating a special birthday with cousin Cheryl in Calgary

The next day we travelled to Sand Point, ID to celebrate the wedding of Jodi Letniak to Marvin Primero. It was a lovely lake setting and we had a wonderful time.

Murray's dad was with us & on Monday we were in Walla walla, WA. Here is Father with his sister Catherine Chinn.

Most of the Chinn clan. From L to R Steven Sankey, Clarence, Catherine, Michelle, Donna

Back Dale, Trevor & Duane (All Chinn). Dale & Michelle hosted us for dinner & a lovely stay.

Tuesday it was off to Welches, OR to visit another one of Father's sisters Muriel Kline. She fed us a wonderful meal & then we were off to Woodland, WA to the White House!

Father with another sister Pauline White

Pauline & Al White


Murray & cousin Terry White

Terry & Carol in front of their home. Thanks guys for your wonderful hospitality & the comfortable bed.


Cousin Barry, Riley & Haley White


Murray, & his dad with cousin David White whom we met near Boners Ferry, ID where he summers some of his bees. His base of operations is in Woodland, WA. & we were able to visit the rest of his family there.

Cousin Rick White & his secretary at his SWIVLER headquarters

On thursday we drove from Woodland clear across to Kalispel, Montana where we stayed with cousin Jodi, Kurt & Blake and toured Kurt's lovely Dental Office. In the morning it was off to the cottage about 35 miles away.

On the dock
The crew at the lake.

Jared, Lenore(cousin) & Gord Pattison, Father, Murray, Elaine, Kurt, Jodi & Blake Lindemann

What a whirlwind trip but how wonderful to see so much family. Thank you all for your wonderful hospitality and great food. Visiting with you all was a taste of heaven when we will all be together. Our trip went so well without so much as a rock chip in the windshield. (We won't mention the speeding ticket Murray got when we got back to Red Deer!)

We especially enjoyed the use of Donna's pool & David & Lisa's pool since the temps were in the record high range. 111' F in Woodland the day we were there.
We returned to the ranch via Great Falls on Friday night. Dropped father & our stuff off & headed to Red Deer Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon while we were at Glennifer Lake with friends a storm passed through and below is some of the result.

At least 4 trees broke in the wind at our Red Deer farm. This one was a lovely blue spruce. Thankfully no buildings were damaged in the wind & hail there.

On the way home Sunday we saw these 2 fertilizer bins toppled in Veteran. At the ranch we had experienced wind & rain but no hail. In recent days we have received some rain so things are greening up a bit although it is too late for any harvest.

Shower For Jodi

On Sunday a bridal shower for Jodi was held in the Hemaruka Hall.

Guest book table.

The Hall was decorated in green which is Jodi's chosen color for her bridesmaid dresses.

Here is Jodi flanked by 2 of her bridesmaids. L- friend Amy Witherden of Consort

R - cousin Lisa Bell of Lacombe

In the centre of the picture are Debbie and her Mother from Sandpoint, who was able to be at the shower.

Connie serving punch.

The lunch buffet table.

Father's Day Wknd

Once again we made our annual trip to visit Kim, Yan & the boys on Father's Day Wknd.

Proud Grandpa with Lucas. How quickly he has grown even since we saw him a month ago!


Kim, the boys & us.

Lucas smiling for Grandma Murray, Kim & Lucas

We all took a hike up to Comox Lake and the significance of Murray holding the hat -- that is where Nicholas was supposed to have been sitting (wearing his hat) but it is difficult to make a 2 year old sit still for a picture if he doesn't want to!

On Sunday we once again had a wonderful brunch at the Kingfisher Resort and took advantage of the lovely gazebo for pictures.

Once again Nic would only be in the pic if held in place upside down!

Horsing around!

Smelling the lovely roses at the resort

Mom & Son (Kim & Lucas)

Although it was a little cool for a beach day we couldn't go home without spending some time there.

Inspecting a crab

Snack & rest time

How blessed we are with wonderful children & grandchildren. Life would be so dull without them.

For more pics of the wknd see Kim's blog.

I haven't posted for awhile so here are a few pics from the last 2 weeks.

Carina & Jim at Red Deer for their 20th year PAA High school Alumni Reunion June 5-7. (How can that possibly be?!!!!)

Junw 12 was Steven & Peggy's 60th Wedding Anniversary & Steven's 85th birthday. We celebrated with a family dinner at our house with Carol & Neil & Elaine's Mom.

For their anniversary the family gave Steven & Peggy a satellite dish for 3ABN & other religious programing. It was installed on Sunday .

Class of '69 Youngstown School Reunion

Saturday afternoon & evening we went to the Youngstown Class of "69 Reunion. Murray had been a part of the class for 3 years in grades 5,6, & 7 when his mother taught school there so was invited to come.

This is inside the present entrance to the school. Part of the original school burned in 1972 so it has been modernized a great deal.

Those attending gathered on the playground equipment for a photo in the afternoon. A couple more came for the steak supper but unfortunaltely did not get in on the picture. Murray was happy to get to see a couple of his good friends from those days & I was able to become acquainted with some very nice people.

Celebration for Scott & Patricia

On May 24 there was a reception in Calgary celebrating Scott & Patricia's marriage which took place on March 6. They looked radiant & about 160 people joined us for lunch at the Sheraton Cavalier.

Kim, Yan , Nicholas & Lucas were able to be there and we had a lovely wknd together.

At the end of the meal, Elvis put in a surprise appearance! Contrary to all reports, apparently he is not dead as he has aged just like the rest of us!

For those of you who were able to join us, thank you so much for coming & making the day so special.