A Sad Week

Linda Shay, whom we visited every month since we arrived in Dartmount (home teachers),  passed away suddenly Friday, April 20th. She underwent surgery at the end of March but seemed to be recovering nicely.  I chatted with her the Sunday before her death and I thought she looked so much better and she said she was doing well.  However an infection developed and she died in her sleep.

The funeral was last Thursday.  Linda and Ralph Giffen, her husband, had lived in Dartmouth for about four years, but the funeral was in Bridgewater where they had previously lived.

We were able to go to Bridgewater for the funeral.

The Past Week

Last week was much quieter than the previous week.  Monday was Bob's birthday and we went for supper at Nathan and Tara's.

Tuesday was usual - district meeting and then we were at Tara's in the afternoon.

Wednesday I left the Temple early so Tara could go to the funeral of Nathan's assistant's husband - rather a sad funeral.  In the evening I went to the Family History Center to look at a couple of films I had come in.

Thursday we were at the Temple in the evening.  Friday morning Tara and the boys dropped in for  few minutes and we went to the Temple in the evening.

Saturday was a busy day at the Temple.  Part of Maine, USA is in our Temple district.  A group left Maine about midnight Friday and arrived at the Temple at 7:30 a.m.Saturday morning.  They stayed until about 11:00 a.m. and then left to go back to Maine.  We also had a group from New Brunswick.

Saturday evening we had our first weiner roast of the season with Nathan and family.  There was a bit of a cool breeze but it was very sunny and warm.

A couple of weeks ago Bob was released as second assistant to the High Priest's Group leader.  Yesterday he was sustained as first assistant to the High Priest's group leader.

 P-Day Excercise

What Happenned to the Easter Bunny?

The howling wind and the blowing snow must have kept the Easter Bunny from visiting us.  Here is a picture of Bob shoveling the snow so we could go to church on Easter morning.

We had a very busy week.  Monday we went to a Family Home Evening group that was having a good-bye party for the Baures, the other missionary couple at the Temple.  They left to go home to Wisconsin this morning.

Tuesday after our district meeting there was another farewell dinner for the Bauers.

Tuesday evening was the RS birthday party.  The RS executive had put in a lot of work and it turned out wonderfully well.

Wednesday morning we were at the temple and in the evening we had supper at Nathan and Tara's and then drove Liam to his band concert.  They had three bands - a grade six band made up of many of the district schools, the Jr. High intermediate band and the Jazz band.  They each played a couple of numbers and ended with the three together doing the 1812 Overture.  Liam was great with the cymbals in the overture.  He played bass drum in the other numbers (I think).

Thursday morning we watched "Live with Kelly" and caught a glimpse of our granddaughter, Erica, in the Calgary Stampede Show Band.  Then we drove to Sackville to inspect a missionary apartment.  In the evening was our usual temple service.

Friday was a special day at the Temple.  They had extra sessions and it was the busiest day of the year.  We were there from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and I can say I was tired by the end.  It was hard to get up and get to the temple on Saturday by 8:00 a.m.

Sunday after church we went to Nathan and Tara's and were able to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt there.  Most of the easter eggs contained a puzzle piece and so we were able to put together a 150 piece puzzle.

Today is Bob's birthday.  He went out walking this morning and took some pictures of the area.  Even with the snow and cold weather the crocus flowers are holding up.

 Four Story House - Tall and Narrow

 The British are Coming

Can You See Halifax?

March is Over and we are into April Already

At the end our short week of summer Bob went out and took pictures of the flowers that were peeking out.  I don't know how they fared this last week.  Although we didn't get as much snow as was forecast, it was cold and windy all week.  At least the dandelions haven't burst out yet.  It is too bad we can't buy Weedex or some such chemical here.

We had a fairly quiet week.  I was happy to sleep in every morning except our usual Wednesday.  The Temple was closed Saturday because of General Conference and we don't get conference here until 1:00 p.m.  That also meant no 9:00 a.m. church.

Tuesday we had our district meeting and I spent a bit of time at Tara's and Bob went out with the Missionaries to teach a lady.  Wednesday evening I served at the Family History Center.  Saturday we were at Tara's all day.  She served a turkey dinner at noon and made sushi for supper.

Today we had three little boys for a couple of hours while lucky Tara went to the dentist.  Bob took Keaton and Lochlan for a walk around the lake.  They saw a few ducks on the lake and played in the mud.  Lochlan came back with a wet shoe and sock.

It looks like we have a very busy week coming up.

just because its Spring

On Monday, the 12th we had a very nice spring day.  The ice was melting on the lake.  Someone decided to take the dog out for a canoe ride.

That was the last nice day for that week.  We had snow, frozen rain, wind and cold weather all week.  There was ice all over the trees.  Pieces of ice would drop from the trees unto out deck and it looked like ice cubes all over the deck.  The ice was so heavy on one tree that the tree snapped right off and blocked our trail to the lake and landed very close to the shed.

However, the good news for the area was that the transit strike ended.  

We have had a busy week.  Monday afternoon we went home teaching and then to Tara's for Matthias's first birthday.  We stayed for family home evening.  Nathan wasn't home; he was in Calgary for the week.

Tuesday we both had appointments with the Dr. and then we had district meeting and spent the afternoon at Taras.  It was a beautiful spring day.  Bob and Keaton went for a walk and Tara and Lochlan walked over to the bulk barn.  I stayed with Matthi.

That evening we had supper at the mission home to meet the new couple coming to the Temple.  Bauers are going home in a couple of weeks and the Edwards have come to take their place in the office.

Too much sun to get a good picture.  This is the Temple president and his wife and all the Temple missionaries.  The Edwards are second from the right.

Wednesday was another beautiful day with temperatures in the twenties.  We had the temple in the morning and I slept all afternoon and then went to the Family History Center in the evening.  It was my fifth and last Wednesday subbing.  It was a very quiet evening - only one patron.

Today is another beautiful day.  It is supposed to get up to 28 degrees C.

Unfortunately this beautiful weather is not supposed to last.  Snow is forecast for next week.

March - Seven More Months to Go

There has been an offshore drilling platform being refurbished on the Dartmouth side of the harbour.  At night it is covered with lights and we have been able to see it from the end of our block.  For months Bob has been planning on taking pictures of it, so yesterday when the temperature rose above zero he decided to drive down to the harbour and take a few photos.  Well lo and behold when he got there the drilling platform was no longer there.

So here are a few pictures of the Canadian Coastguard lifeboat station as they do a practice run.

Here are a few views across the harbour.

Halifax Metro is in the fifth week of a bitter transit strike.  The ferries that cross the harbour are part of the transit system.  Although we don't ride the buses we do use the ferry when we want to go to downtown Halifax.  We don't appreciate the traffic and parking so prefer to leave our car in Dartmouth.  The strike is a great inconvenience to many, many people.  The other day the transit workers endeared themselves further to the transit riders by picketing the snowplows so they couldn't get out as quickly to plow the streets.  What were they thinking?

Lately the flu and colds have been plaguing Maritimers.  We have had sore throats, coughs and colds for over two weeks now and have been very draggy so have stayed inside as much as possible.  Perhaps we will get rid of them soon.

We did get out to a birthday luncheon for Keaton's fifth birthday which was last Thursday.  As well as a luncheon for us, Keaton had a birthday supper with his family and a party for his friends on Saturday.

We attended a missionary training meeting a week ago Tuesday.  Zone Conference was this Wednesday, but we were at the Temple so didn't get to attend.

The wind howled all last night and now we have rain.  

To finish off, here is a picture of the moon over Dartmouth taken on February 26.

Crows at the Temple

Tuesday we noticed that there were crows sitting on Moroni's Trumpet.  I was thinkng that crows meant bad luck, so I looked up some of the superstitions regarding crows.  Some say crows mean bad luck or death.  Here are some of the ones that I like better.

Crows symbolise death but not a negative they are said in olden times to bring back the souls of the dead who have unfinished business.  

Seeing a single crow is very unlucky. Two crows mean good luck!

Counting crows has been a popular method of divination for hundreds of years.

• One Crow — signifies bad luck.
• Two Crows — good luck, change for the better
• Three Crows — a celebration, possibly a wedding or the birth of a girl
• Four Crows — birth of a boy, or an event having to do with a son
• Five Crows — silver, a good transaction
• Six Crows — gold, sometimes a negative transaction
• Seven Crows — a secret
• Eight Crows — a life altering experience
• Nine Crows — passion
• Ten Crows — something overwhelming
• Eleven Crows — uncertainty
• Twelve Crows — fulfillment or completion

  Bob thinks seeing the two crows meant that the statue held heat and the birds were getting warm.

I am going to go with the two crows meaning good luck!

Saturday we had supper at Nathan's house. Sunday we were invited out to supper by a ward member.  Monday we had supper and Family Home evening at Nathan's.

Tuesday we had our district meeting and then went to Tara's and stayed with the boys while she shopped.

Yesterday the temple opened for the first time since February 4th.  In the evening I helped at the Family History Center here.  I am subbing for five Wednesday evenings in a row.

Well, stay tuned and we will let you know when good luck comes our way.