Rain Again

I am getting somewhat tired of the cool damp weather that Big River has been having. We have had only a few days of truly summer weather. The rest of the time has been overcast or raining. Although the cool weather is ideal for working (I don't get overheated) it is not very summery and the trees grow on the slow side. So it is time for some sun and heat. Besides, here we are again, trying to stay awake. What is it about rainy days that make you simply want to curl up on the couch?
There has been much discussion about a family reunion next summer. I imagine we will continue to discuss it via the e-mails since I am sure some people are not coming to this page. I know I had a difficult time - remembering my username, remembering my password, finding the posting setting. It is so true that practice makes perfect, or at least capable.
My news? let me think.... I suppose my news is that I continue to practice my fiddle. I am actually going to a workshop this summer. Three days of instruction. I'm looking forward to it, though I really just want to play it, it don't want to have to learn anything. Not the most realistic expectations, but there you have it.
My other plans for the summer include being there when Meadow's new baby is born, and going to a music festival at Canmore. The line-up for the festival is wonderful (as far as we are concerned). Lots of people we have enjoyed over the years. Here's hoping the two events don't coincide. Some decisions can be extremely difficult.

Life at the lodge

Hi all,

It has now been a couple of weeks since I have arrived at my summer job up in northern BC, working for West Coast Resorts for those of you who don't know . We have a bunch of new employees this year and I must say that it is quite nice to have them around. They offer new stories and ideas which is good although probably a little harder on the people who work with them in their department due to their lack of experience. The massage/acupuncture business has been off to a racing start for me......sore and achy school muscles trying to adjust! It is quite nice to be out of the city and back into the fresh ocean air up here. I have been out for a couple of canoe rides and one fishing adventure since the weather was so nice for the first few weeks upon arrival and I look forward to many more over the summer months. Take care. Rechelle

Hi to all

Well it has been a very long time since I read the family blog and I apologize for not contributing, I hope you haven't given up Carla!
It's been beautiful here in Toronto for the last few days, sun and 20C on the weekend. Managed to get the gardens cleaned out (not hard when they are city sized) and also spent some time just sitting in the sun soaking up the depression fighting rays.
Mike has been home for quite some time as the film industry took a few hits this winter with a new contract and a strike by the actors union. Things should get busy again soon (we hope) but he's kept busy with home fixit projects. Right now, he's hanging off the upper deck with a can of stain and a paint brush! I've been busy at the lab and with my little web business trying to keep a little income flowing in.
Jaime is off to university next fall. Looks like she'll be doing geography (human), some international development and politics at Trent University. This is also where Mike and I graduated from but we didn't influence her at all.........we hope! She's hoping to work for the city as a day camp counsellor for the summer and do city things before she goes off to Peterborough.
Keegan is finishing his first year of high school and has a busy summer planned. After our July 1 canoe trip (this is an annual event for over 10 years with 3 other families), he will be going off to Nikki's farm for a week of hay tossing. When he returns he'll be off to camp for 2 weeks for his final time at this camp as a camper as next year he can be an LIT. Then for a week in August he'll be off with the Venturers (older grouping of scouts) to do trail clearing at the Haliburton Scout Reserve. He'll definately be putting some muscle on his lanky frame this summer.
The highlight for the year has been our trip to Spain last month. We went to Mallorca for about 10 days and then to Barcelona for 3 more days. Mike and I showed the kids all the places we loved so much in Mallorca and we spent time with an old friend we hadn't seen in 20 years. It was a great family trip and I hope that the family will be able to do it again some time. (that will be once we've saved up again and that will be if the film industry ever decides to pick up again :-)
Well, hope everyone is fine and I will make an effort to check back to the blog more frequently.
Love, Sinda

Is ther anybody out there?

Hello all, (or Carla and Garry anyhow!) Hope everyone is well. I was up north this weekend and got to see pictures of Samual that Alan had sent Carla. He's very precious and dainty. It seems like every child is born with a great head of dark hair, but I imagine in his case it will stay that way! Well as I ought to be writing a term paper I'd best quit procrastinating! I hope someone is still actually checking in on this page.... take care

made it also

happy new year everyone;
managed to transfer over to the new blog site without much difficulty - you lucky people with high speed should have it even simpler.
we had one of the greenhouses collapse when we had all the snow at the end of november, so that now becomes my " cann't start holidays yet" project. have a couple of guys doing the clean up and construction, and if the cold weather breaks we should be done by the end of next week, fingers crossed. its almost time to start the planning for the 2007 crop. we have a few more seedlings for this year then last and we still have not heard from the people we grew poplar for last year. it should be a good year. well hope to hear from more of you on this site in the future. take care everyone.
peace...garry

changes in blogging

Hello all,
I guess there is something to managing a blog after all. Turns out Blogspot (whose space we use) has changed the format of the blogs. In order to continue having fairly smooth speeds and deliveries we need to upgrade along with them. I have updated the blog, it will look the same and you can use it about the same. There are a few changes but nothing most of us will notice or use. I did have to start what is called a Google account. This is instead of the Blogger account. You will need to do this also in order to post messages now. It is not difficult. Go to the dashboard and it will show up as an option. I kept my same password, username and the name that shows when I sign a message.
I don't know how much anyone is reading this page so I can only assume that if no one starts posting anything very soon, I will consider letting this die a quiet death.
Happy new year to all. We are enjoying the quiet and peace of January and appreciating the sunshine that comes with cold temperatures.

'Tis the season in Big River

It seems like no matter how hard I try, the cookies aren't getting baked, and the house isn't getting cleaned. I may be procrastinating. However, I am slowly getting presents wrapped and friends visited. All our kids will be home for Christmas along with spouses and children, so I suppose I should get serious about this. Garry's mom may also make it and possibly his brother and wife and one or more children. So we will have a full house. That's good because for the first time ever, I have had to shovel the pathway out to the cars. Usually there is enough foot traffic to keep it under control, or we have little snow. This year -- lots and lots of snow is keeping us busy.
Best wishes to all. I hope to talk to most of you at some point or another.
Relax and enjoy solstice, Christmas and the new year.

A houseful

Well things have been busy around home. Zack is staying with us while he does some snow removal work in Saskatoon, so Krystal and the kids were down last weekend. It was nice to have them around because I actually had some time to hang out with them. Tuesday Claytons parents and Dakota spent the night and tonight Aaron and Dylan are going to stay with us (and don't forget Zack is still there)! Our house has never seen so much action!!! It may not be clean, but at least its well used!