The Trees Are Green!

Well, they weren't green in Lethbridge on Wednesday when we left our home and went by taxi to the Lethbridge airport.  It took as all day to go from Lethbridge to Calgary to Vancouver to Portland mainly because of a five hour layover in Vancouver.  We flew very close to Mount St. Helens and it was a great view - all covered with snow and sparkling in the sun.

As we left the Portland airport in our rental van I marveled at the green trees, the yellow gorse and the mayday trees in bloom.  We arrived at the Miller home about 9:30 in the evening.

After a good night`s sleep we drove down to the walk along the Columbia River.  Maggie and I didn`t do the whole walk.  We caught the streetcar and went the whole length.  It had been a beautiful morning but in the afternoon it clouded over and there was a cool breeze.  We had lunch in an historic bar and then drove across the Astoria-Metger bridge to Washington and stopped at a park by the seashore and then drove through the Columbia fort.

Thursday we had a relaxing day and walked a bit and saw all the shops downtown.  There were many tourists because of a cruise ship  in town.  There had been one the day before as well.  There was a lot of commotion down at the river last night.  A Search and Rescue Helicopter was doing circuits with a police boat following.  We haven`t yet found out what that was all about.

Today everyone but me went to the Marine shop and then for a walk.  The following pictures are from my camera as we forgot to bring the hook up for Bob`s camera.  We will post some of his pictures when we get back to Lethbridge.

 The Miller Home

(Our Rental Van in front)

View from the Miller Home towards the Columbia River

Inside the house:

The back yard from the deck

The lot next door - it used to have a house on it but the hill slid down

Now only a goat named Ginger lives there

Deer look after the Flowers

No Snow this Week!

We have had strong wind and huge clouds of dust dust blowing from the west.  Today the wind has died down but it is rather dreary looking outside.

Last week we did some visiting teaching and home teaching.  I attended our ward Relief Society meeting on Thursday evening and learned a bit about gardening.  Friday we went off to Calgary to keep Mickey company (and drive her to her swimming practices) while Julie, Jackson and Jeremy were in Texas water skiing.  Unfortunately the furnace gave out while we were there and it was cold.  Fortunately we were able to arrange for a repair man to get it fixed by Saturday evening.  We had supper with Tara and the boys on Saturday (Nathan was in Washington, DC).  Sunday we had  dinner with Edward's family and then drove home.  It had been snowing Saturday and Sunday.

This week I had my club ladies at our house on Thursday evening.  Friday morning we attended Peg Young's funeral.  We had known her since we first moved to Lethbridge in 1968.  We saw many people that we hadn't seen for a long time.   That evening  Nathan and boys came and spent the night and Saturday with us while Tara worked on making chocolates for a fund raising project for the boys' pipe band.  Langley was playing in a basketball tournament here in Lethbridge on Friday and Saturday.  We managed to watch two of her games.  Jeremy and family were here for a bit on Saturday.  They brought Kennedy's furniture to leave while she is home in Calgary for the summer. 

The weeks just keep passing on.  We have now been back in Lethbridge for six months.

Still Spring - Still Snow

On Saturday evening it began to snow and it was still snowing Monday evening.  There still is snow covering the ground because it is too cold for it to melt.

Last week we enjoyed having Jacqueline, Lincoln  and Miranda for a bit on Monday and Sue-anne dropped in on Thursday.  We went out to lunch on Tuesday for Bob's birthday.  Saturday we went to Cardston to the Temple.  On the way back we went through blowing snow, freezing rain and at one point there was several inches of slush on the road.  We were happy to get home.

On Monday evening we had our family home evening group at our house and enjoyed the evening.

There have been too many pictures with snow so no pictures this time.

Just Because it's Spring

Just because it's spring my tulips are up:

Just because it's spring Bob is shoveling snow off the driveway:

 

We have had a very mild winter with only two or three dumps of snow and one period of very cold weather around Christmas time.  However, ever since the first of March we have had snow and mostly cold weather.  We did get a week of good weather the first of April and thought spring was on the way but that was only an April fool trick.

We had a very happy Easter.  Jeremy, Julie and their children came on Good Friday and stayed the week-end (although we had to share them with Julie's family).  Sue-anne, Darryl and family came on the Saturday.  Jacqueline, Miranda and Lincoln stayed overnight on Thursday on their way to Salt Lake.

Today all the Easter holidays and spring breaks are over and the children go back to school.  We  continue on with our less hectic life.

A Joyous Weekend

On our way out of Lethbridge on Friday morning we were driving down Mayor Magrath Drive and Bob said,  "There is Elder Moore".  He was driving a van in the lane next to us so at the next two stop lights we rolled down the window to talk to him.  He had got back from the Halifax mission the day before and was going shopping for "normal" clothes.  It was exciting to see him - he lives in Magrath.

It was foggy and dreary that morning, but as we drove toward Calgary the sun came up and sky started to clear.

That evening we attended the Calgary Temple for the first time along with our three Calgary boys and their wives.
 It was exciting to go in and see the Draysons who had lived in Halifax for part of the time that we were there.  He is going to university in Calgary.

When we came out of the temple we were greeted with snow.

Saturday morning Bob, Edward, Jeremy, Jackson, Bentley, Lincoln, Austen and Miranda went to a car show.  I went over to Nathan and Taras and spent the time there.

He didn't buy it.

At four in the afternoon we attended Miranda's baptism at the Parkland Stake Center.  Four of our children and their families were there.  

A Great Bunch of Grandchildren to Support Miranda

The rest of our time in Calgary was cold and snowy.  This morning I took the C-train downtown for a visit to the US consulate in Calgary.  I'm not too happy about the US attitude about Canadians who were born in the US having to file US taxes and not being able to file without a Social Security # and what a pain it is to get a Social Security #.  I have to send in a document for each year that I have lived in Canada to prove that I lived here.  How many documents will that be?  Also can you believe that my birth certificate is the "old fashioned" kind and I may have to get a more modern one.

Now we are home in Lethbridge once more.

Beautiful Winter

We woke up today to bright blue sky, frost covered trees and the snow sparkling in the sun.  Bob went out and took a few pictures.  Unfortunately it is cold and the streets are icy.  It is the coldest it has been this winter except for a spell at Christmas.

 

We have had a fairly busy week or so.  A week ago Thursday I drove out to Raymond for Club.  Friday evening we watched two basketball games (one of Taylors and one of Courtneys).  Saturday we drove to Cardston and watched Langley play basketball and then took in a Temple session.  It was a beautiful spring day.

Sunday we had quite a snowstorm.  We could hardly see to drive home from church.  The bridges to west Lethbridge were closed for several hours and some roads around Southern Alberta were closed.  It has been cold ever since and we have received more snow.

Monday evening we went to a movie - "Lincoln"  and Tuesday we went to a New West Theatre play - called "An Almost Perfect Thing".  It was a very serious play on the subject of handling loneliness so although it was done well the subject was somewhat depressing.

Wednesday was a very quiet day at home.  Last night was the Relief Society party which was quite enjoyable (ladies only, a dinner and activities).

Chinook Arch

On our way to the Temple this morning we were treated to a beautiful chinook arch.

It has been very quiet since we returned from Hawaii.  We did have visits from Sue-anne, Langley and Carter, Julie and from our home teacher.  There was snow one night, but not too much.  It is a beautiful day today - +5 degrees C.