Our Trip to Regina

We just returned from our trip to Regina with a must stop at Lake Louise. Oil wells and grain elevators always make an interesting picture. Prairie dogs scooted all over the place, on the prairies that is, and it was so hot even the cows were going into the lake to cool down. I have never seen so many Loones on one lake...the bird type...there were, I would guess several hundred working 'Long Lake' where we stayed with our friends, Berna and Ron, at there cottage. 

Adventure Kayaking

Karen and Weily did a little paddling today while Teo did his first dry land training in the kayak. No one got wet but we had to dock the kayaks when the waterskiers took over the slough. That's me in the top left just after completing my white water adventure over the waterfalls and on my way to my next kayaking challenge. One day in my kayaking adventures I got swamped by a passing BC Ferry. 

Boundary Bay Air Show

Today we went to the air show right here in Delta at the Boundary Bay Airport. I didn't see too much of the show as I was mostly trying to find airplanes in the tiny viewfinder of our camera. I found that if you take enough pictures you usually get a few half decent ones. We got enough to let us remember the show. A fun and interesting day. We'll have to take the 'boys' next year. 

Double Trouble

Tonight we had dinner at Yoko's house, celebrating Karen and Weily's first year anniversary. I think we all took turns with these two guys while also enjoying several delicious dishes Yoko prepared especially for us. Jacob just turned 9 months old and of course Teo is just 6 weeks younger. Both of them are managing to crawl around and get at things that only a short time ago they could only look at. I'm sure we will all be looking back soon and thinking how nice it was when they just stayed sitting or laying in one place.

One Year Later

And baby makes three! Happy Anniversary Karen And Weily.

Shhhhh....Daddy's Sleeping

While daddy is sleeping the boys are trying to get into Grandma's curio cabinet. It's tuff being a daddy.

Canada Day

We celebrated Canada Day at Nat Bailey Stadium, a short walk from Karen and Weilly's, enjoying a Vancouver Canadians baseball game, plenty of excitement, including a baseball player marriage proposal on the pitchers' mound, (and acceptance), and of course a great fireworks display. Teo was only asleep when we arrived and then thoroughly enjoyed all the festivities....a long, late, and loud night for the little guy.

Old Salts

Had a visit with GB Captain Les (Chardonay) and GB Captain Harold (Odin) just prior to their departure for their summer cruise down through Puget Sound. (First mates, Jan and Judy were provisioning the boats). Les makes a great Margarita so we had to stop in and have a sip....Tricia, after several years of begging and threatening, managed to get the recipe from Les so we will try that some day. (need to get the proper and only the proper ingredients....no substitutes!!)

Just Another Day at the Beach!

 

That Was Then...This is Now....41 Years Later

 

41 Years Ago

Isn't it great that even after 40+ years we havn't changed a bit!!! Still smiling. Someone said that I looked like the cat who had just caught the canary. Now the canary says....... 

Our Latest Boat

Last Wednesday we went over to the Island for a visit with our friends, Jim and Marcia. Jim was enduring a short stay in the hospital and is now home and on his road to full recovery! We travelled on this super ferry and, on one of the local Victoria, double decker buses all the way from the ferry terminal to downtown Victoria....quite comfortable and scenic. (takes just over an hour). On our return trip we saw several killer whales, just off the Twassawsen ferry terminal....always an added treat to see the Orcas. 

Golf Tips

Guess who is playing golf? Last week I went out and bought a set of golf clubs ....the whole package, brand new, including woods, irons, putter, bag, and even two of the new hybrids. Now all I need is an electric golf cart!!! I would appreciate any tips you may want to offer....just add them to the comments below. 

Stanley Cup Hockey Champs

Mike's hockey team won the championship! They went on a winning streak just when they needed it and went right on thru the division. Mike being one of the team's leading scorers was always apprecited for his timely goals. I'm not sure whether the winners in this old fellows 'beer' league are the ones who drink the most beer or the ones who drink the least beer. (they didn't let me in the dressing room....but then again, does anyone want to go into a mens dressing room after a hockey game inolving 15 exhausted and sweating hockey players.)

Happy Grandfather's Day

In such a short time our family has expanded substantially. Becoming quite a handsome bunch, if I do say so myself! We had a nice day together and lot's of kind words, cards, and gifts for Grandpa. (not sure why Mike is holding my hand...he's usually not that emotional.) 

Miss Elle

Doug and Michelle held a great little family barbeque/picnic for Father's Day. Miss Elle is Jacob's cousin. Ain't she a cutie! Doug is Judy's brother. Michelle is Shannon's twin sister. Shannon is Shawns brother. Any questions?? 

First Father's Day

 

Test the Metal

Weily once again tested his bike and his bones at the Squamish "Test the Metal", 67km, mountain trail bicycle race. At this rest stop the cramping in his legs and soreness in his back made it virtually impossible for him to smile for the camera. He finished the punishing track in just over 5 hours....yes that's five hours of up and down the BC coastal mountains! Five hours was more than an hour better than last years time but then last year he was in the final stages of getting married. When he was "much younger" he did it in around 4 hours. This race attracts some 800 riders from all over the place and is one of the most popular in North America. I guess if your with 800 other riders we can't quite declare him totally crazy but....67km, hills, five hours? 

Violets

Today I was fooling around, learning, and practising the use of the "macro" feature on our camera....ie. trying to get a nice picture of a small object, up close. This was the best of about 40 shots...some inside with a flash, some outside in natural light. This natural light shot was, I thought, the best. These African Violets were used as table centre pieces at Karen's wedding last July. After 'dying off' last summer, Tricia kept a few and tenderly nursed them through the winter. Two of them have reflowered this spring....we'll have to see if she can get them to continue flowering....they say you have to have a special touch with African Violets and of course always talk kindly to them. My mother had the 'touch' and often had multiple flowering Violets around her house. Of course she had an advantage...her name was "Violet". 

Jacob Gets a Foot Massage

This picture was taken just before they got curious about each others eyeballs. It must be the sparkle that makes them attractive or they have been watching too much WWF! 

World Cup has Started!

Teo can't wait til Japan takes to the field so that he can cheer on his hero, #10, "Nakamura". (note the soccer shoes) 

Can You Hear the Pipes Lad?

Yesterday we went to the Highland Games here in Delta. A lot of interesting competitions for dance and music with two reviews of the mass bands where all the competing bands played as one. No hagis burgers! I have always enjoyed the Scottish Pipe and Drum bands. A favourite memory from when we were cruising was when a piper on another boat played one evening while we were anchoured in a beautiful BC coast inlet. Tricia's mom, Rosie, always said she liked them best when they played "Far, Far, Away"....ie. in Scotland....and she was the only one with some Scottish blood in her??? (maiden name Alexander). What fond memories do you have of the pipes? 

Power to the People

One of Teo's many little characteristics is to hold his fist high in the air....thus his "Power to the People" gesture. Isn't it odd, the power that these little guys do have....like feed me...NOW!!! His 'lefty' Grandma is happy to see him doing it with his left hand. He'll probably overcome that left-handed thing and be normal like the rest of us. 

Mickey Mouse Club

When I found out that I didn't know all the words to the Mickey Mouse Club theme song, Jacob and I had to check them out on the internet. For those of you who may remember the Mickey Mouse Club.....do you remember the words to the song? When we found a Mickey Mouse Club site, there were pictures of Annette....one of my first loves....and every other Mickey Mouse club fan at the time. 

Rose and Ernie

Today would have been Rose and Ernie's 70th wedding anniversary. Although they didn't make it to 70 years they did more than most as they travelled around the world living in England, Australia, and Canada while raising their five children....Jean, Marie, Alun, Tricia, and Colin.