Goodbye

When we returned from China and decided we needed a Canadian header for our blog,  we chose a picture we took at Lawrence Beach in Nova Scotia. Little did we know that it was a harbinger for 2011 & 2012.  We have received a call to serve in the Halifax Temple for 23 months.  From November 8th to 18th we will be received training in the MTC and Provo Temple in Provo, Utah and from there will travel to Dartmouth.

This past week-end was busy.  After attending the Family History Conference on Friday evening and Saturday morning we traveled to Hanna to the home of my brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Paulette.  My other brother and sister and their spouses, Donald & Diane and Joan and Earl, as well as my Aunt Elsie and Earl's sister, Helen, joined us there for a delicious supper.  Bob and I stayed overnight.

Ross and Paulette Say Good-bye

It was a beautiful fall day when we drove to Hanna, but on Sunday morning we drove through the fog to Calgary and attended church in the Midnapore ward with Julie and Jeremy and family.

Sunday evening at Jeremy and Julie's house we were joined by Edward and his family.  We had a good time there, but parting was very sad for me.

Mickey

Kennedy and Erica

Bentley, Austen, Lincoln, & Jackson

Kennedy and Edward

Jeremy & Julie

Jacqueline

Miranda

There was snow coming down when we left Calgary, but it quit by the time we were half way home.  Although it is bright and sunny here, the warm fall weather has ended and it is cold outside.

Volleyball and Hockey

This week-end Taylor's volleyball team competed in a tournament at Wilson Junior High School.  We watched her play three games on Friday and one today.  In her last game she received the player of the game award probably because of her wicked serves.

 Courtney participated in a tournament at Winston Churchill High School.  We saw two of her games Friday and part of two games today.

 I learned a new word this week-end.  It is libero.  Courtney played libero during one of her games.  For anyone who doesn't know about this position, click on the following link:  http://www.volleyball.org/rules/libero.html

This morning we got up early and went to Coaldale to watch Carter play hockey.  It was a long game - two 28 minute periods and one 42 minute period.  Carter played defence the first period, forward the second period and goalie the third period.  He made many great saves while he was in goal.  He said he didn't find the period he was in goal very long.  Unfortunately, it was too early in the morning for me to remember my camera.

Edmonton and Calgary

On Friday we had a beautiful drive up to Edmonton.  The sky was blue, the leaves were starting to change colour and the rivers and creeks were very blue. The traffic after Calgary was very bad, especially around the Cross Iron Mall and again on the Edmonton ring road. 

We had a good visit with Bob's Uncle and Aunt and cousins.

On Saturday afternoon we drove to Calgary.  Edward, Jacqueline, their children and Jeremy's children took us out for supper to Taco Del Mar and then Jacqueline and I went out to the church to listen to the woman's broadcast.

Early Sunday morning Edward and Jacqueline left for Quebec City.  The rest of us attended church and later went to Julie and Jeremy's for cake.

Lincoln, Miranda, Erica, Bentley & Austen

Lincoln

This morning Bob has been busy chauffeuring.

Nanjing Teachers Reunion

The four couples from the BYU China Teachers program who taught in Nanjing from September 2008 to June 2009 got together from September 6th to September 13, 2010 at Echo Lake, Montana.  (Thank you Julie and Jeremy for graciously letting us stay at your cabin.)

The Slaters took the long way to Echo Lake and came and spent the previous week-end with us.  We went to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, the farmers' market, the horse auction,  to visit the Mosers in Taber and to the water tower restaurant while they were here.

Anne and Connie at Head Smashed In

On Monday morning we did a little shopping and then drove to Echo over the Logan Pass on the Going to the Sun highway.  It had snowed the night before and the pass had been closed  but it opened by eight in the morning.

Snow on the Ridges made a Pretty Picture

By Monday evening all four couple had arrived.

Tuesday morning our group went up to the summit of Logan Pass.  The weather was not perfect, but it was fair.

From the parking lot at the summit the group decided to hike to the Hidden Lake Lookout.

At the Hidden Lake lookout it was a surprise to find two girls from China who were touring around the US after having spent the summer working at the China pavilion in Florida.  Everyone was excited to talk to them

Down at the parking lot a flock of mountain sheep thrilled the tourists by walking by.

Back at the cabin a deer and two fawns were in the next door neighbours yard.

Wednesday turned out to be a bright, sunny day so we spent our time canoeing and kayaking.

Thursday it rained all day.  We drove to Cardston over the Duck Lake road and did a temple session.

Friday we wandered about the shops in Big Fork and then went to Whitefish and ate Mexican food at Dos Amigos.

Saturday most of the group hiked up Jewell Basin.  It was a cool hike.

 

In the evening we chatted, looked at photos and played cards.  We had often got together and played cards in China.

On Sunday after church in Big Fork we wandered down the trail beside the Swan River.  The only picture of our whole group was taken there by a couple from Bainbridge Island in Washington.

Monday morning our friends departed in the morning and Bob and I were alone for three days that were sunny and bright.

Bob's sister and brother-in-law arrived Wednesday evening and for the rest of the week we had cold, cloudy weather.  We drove up to Blacktail ski area but the road was closed when we got there.  Bob and Tom went kayaking one cool day and Bob managed to flip the kayak upside down.

Saturday we returned to Lethbridge over the Logan Pass again.

How do You Get Rid of Bats?

For the past month or so we have had a bat or maybe bats under our carport at night.  They make a mess - right by our front door.

On the internet the only suggestion I could find was to use dog and cat repellent, so tonight I made a visit to Canadian Tire and bought some dog and cat repellent.  If it works it will be well worth the $12 I spent on it.

Bob hosed down the corner and sprayed it.

Below is a picture of Bob in his bat chasing outfit.

Bob's Summer Project

Bob decided to repair and paint the fence.  He replaced part of it and rehung the gate.  This week he had Darryl come and pressure wash the fence and then he started priming it.  It is a big job.  Too bad he didn't have a wife that would help.

Carter and Langley came to help.  They picked raspberries and made cookies.  Below they are cooling off in the spray coming through the fence.

Darryl also pressure washed the driveway.  Bob is supervising.

Will he win a medal in the Olympic fence painting event?

20/31 - Two Days

The Baines reunion was held at Echo Lake from the 25th July to the 2nd August 2010.

First let me say that I heard the following comment a few times, "The only way this reunion could be better would be if Nathan and Darwin were here.".  (Although later in the week Edward changed to "The only way this reunion could be better would be if Jacqueline would make stuffed mushrooms.").  On the last day Jeremy questioned, "What could we do to get Nathan and Darwin here?".

Julie, Kennedy, Jackson and Mickey were already down at the lake.  Edward and family arrived on Saturday the 24th, Sue-anne and all arrived on the 25th, and Jeremy, Bob and Anne arrived on the 28th.  Sue-anne's family left on the 31st and Edward's left on the 1st of August, thus 20 out of the 31 were together two days.

Following are a few pictures taken as we went over the Going to the Sun road.

Because they are rebuilding the road we had two waits to go over the one-lane parts.

Some of the activities were:  Boating

Skiing

Mickey and Langley

and Tubing.