The Dandelions are White Already to Harvest

Last Tuesday morning we drove over to Halifax to visit with Lori Bleaney, who was Bob's secretary many years ago when lawyers had secretaries (not assistants or whatever they are called now).  Lori lives in Cranbrook but was here for her daughter's graduation from Dalhousie.  Lori's parents were also there.  It was raining that morning.

Wednesday we had one of the quietest Wednesdays we have had at the Temple, but Thursday evening was busier than usual.  Friday and Saturday were quiet as well.

Not much has been happening.  We've had some rain and some sun.  Today has been very cold.

A Gorgeous Victoria Day Week-end

The beginning of our week was pretty usual except that we went out for lunch on Tuesday (our 47th wedding anniversary) and on Thursday we inspected a missionary apartment and then went out to lunch with the two Elders from the apartment.  One of them is Ken and Ruth Hudson's grandson (Jim's son) from Raymond.  The Elder whose place he took was Elder Moore from Magrath.  Lots of southern Alberta missionaries in the Halifax,Nova Scotia mission (Elder Redd from Cardston, Elder Proux from Lethbridge, Elder Hill from Medicine Hat).

In striking contrast to last May 24th week-end which was wet, windy and cold,  we had beautiful weather this year.

Saturday we were at the temple until later than usual because of a busload of PEI people, but later Nathan's family came to our house for a weiner roast.  Sunday was great as well, but we didn't go anywhere.

Today we set out about 9:30 a.m. to "The Valley" (Annapolis Valley) to look at the apple trees in bloom.  We followed Nathan's van.  An older member of Nathan's ward has wanted to show Nathan the valley so he was the guide.  The apple orchards weren't what I had envisioned (or Nathan either) so we passed them all waiting to stop and take pictures of the big apple trees totally covered in blossoms, but we found out that all the orchards had small trees with not many branches and so we never got any pictures.

We drove to Aylesford to visit the zoo.  There were tons of people at the zoo.  While there we ran into the Pillings who are leaving this summer to live in Raymond.

I saw a zonkey for the first time.  It is a cross between a donkey and a zebra.  It is the animal on the right in  the following picture.  It looks like a donkey but has a striped back leg.

The two things that impressed me were the tortoises and the panther.  I couldn't get a picture of the tortoises because they moved so fast.  I was surprised.  For some reason I didn't take a picture of the panther.

The boys had a great day, although I did hear the word boring from one of the older ones.

We left the zoo and drove back to New Minas and had dinner and then left the valley and drove towards Chester.  There we visited the Ross Family Farm Museum.  They had all kinds of old style farming equipment, a wood working shop, a cooper shop etc. but the one that most interested me was the blacksmith shop.  My great great grandfather who came to Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1831  was a blacksmith and my great grandfather followed the same trade.  It was surprising to hear that oxen were still brought in to the blacksmith shop for shoes.  There had been one that day that had come from Windsor, but we got there after it had left.  I would have liked to see it.

We drove back by way of Halifax and arrived home about 7:30 p.m.

Busy Busy

A week ago last Wednesday we had a large group of missionaries attend the temple.  The next day the missionaries who were finished their mission and returning home attended again.  There was an extra session that day.

That Saturday we had supper at Nathan and Tara's and then stayed with the boys for a while when Nathan and Tara went out shopping.

Monday we were again at Nathan and Tara's for family home evening and Tuesday afternoon we spent some time there.  I took Matti out for a walk and the two other boys played in the back yard while Tara worked in the flower beds.

Wednesday evening I subbed at the Family History Center and Bob drove Orson and Liam to their piping and drumming practices.

Thursday was Zone Conference.  It was the last Zone Conference for President and Sister Simpson as they leave to go back to Idaho at the end of June. 

Sunday was Mother's Day.  After church on Sunday there was a reception for the Mothers out on the parking lot.  They set up a table and some chairs and served cake.  That afternoon we went to Nathan and Tara's and had turkey dinner.  Tara and I and the little boys went out for a walk while the rest did the dishes.  When we got back Nathan, Orson and Liam played the pipes and drums for us.  Liam, Orson and Bob had a long game of  Risk and at the end all three claimed to be the winner.

 Mother's Day Walk around Russell Lake

Yellow Yellow

 Yellow Car

Forsythia in Blossom

Daffodils at the Temple


Tulips in the Front Flower Bed

Bright Yellow Lawns

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?