Canim

Here is my favourite camping resort..........and a picture of a super dog and his owner parked beside me on my birthday as I opened up my trailer in the morning.

The family sang their Swiss version of Happy Birthday to me, which translated says, take a drink, take a drink, we toast you on your special day etc. The Dad even yodelled a little, it was really special. They then handed me a small glass of wine, well it was only 9.30AM..........but you know, you can't disappoint people......ha ha ha, so I drank it and then had my Weetabix!!!



This is a view of devastating effects of B.C.'s beetle kill. All the red trees are now dead and have to come down. It is now spreading into neighbouring Alberta. One tiny little black beatle, bores into the tree, undetectable until the tree turns red, by that time it is too late to save them...next year these ones will have the needles fall off onto the forest floor and it will be like toothpicks all over our forests. Environmentally, economically and of course, dry fuel for forest fires, it is a complete disaster.



A couple of sunset shots, so brilliant, but hard to catch on my digital.







This is 19ft Keystone "Springdale Lite" model caravan/trailer, rv. along with my Toyota 4 runner. It is the perfect size for me. I have a shower/small tub and toilet with a door, then a sink and mirror, opposite my permanent double bed at the back of the rv. Then past the bed is a full fridge and counter top and cupboards, the door to outside follows this, and then there is the table and padded bench along the one side. On the other side opposite my bed is the afore mentioned sink, then a tall wardrobe plus drawers, then the stove, double kitchen sinks and long shelf. this shelf holds my tea kettle,toaster oven etc. I have a big window at the table and bench, which is wonderful and is lacking in many trailers/caravans.

The table/benches can collapse to make a 3/4 bed for someone at the other end. Calli slept there a couple of times now. I really should try and take a photo of the inside, as its very roomy looking and light walls, light wooden cupboards with an Aztec design on the curtains and bench seats.

Then there are views from my "spot" looking out towards the marsh, the lake, in between the two rentable cabins. The big tall peaked house is the owners, with an office. The red roofed building is the Lodge with fireplace, sort of a dining/lounging area which we can all use. I could order evening or breakfast if I wish, (expensive), but it is not a restaurant, but it is licensed.

The campers, whether Cdn or European like to cook their fish(mostly rainbow trout and char) over their smoky firepits and then retreat, after their dose of fresh air, smoky fish dinner, complete with mosquitoes, to the Lodge and have a nice relaxing couple of drinks and "shoot the breeze' for a while before back to the campfire, to stare into it for a while before bed.

I can't believe how long I sit and stare into a fire, it is so mesmerizing, (did I spell that right?) I like to sit and watch the sunsets of course, but once that sun falls behind the hills, the bugs come out for about an hour and are really annoying! I usually retreat to my to my cosy nest, drink hot chai and knit or read for the evening.

The marsh and lake are abundant with all kinds of birds, ducks quacking, the bald headed eagles soar, osprey dive and fish, the herons and sandhill cranes make the most awful sounds for such graceful birds, like the baldheaded eagle with its piercing screech and whistle, such a weird sound for such a majestic bird. Grebes, Scaup, Shovellers, Mallards, Gadwalls, Harlequins all kinds of ducks I have seen along with far too many Canada Geese...........sometimes it is quite the cacaphony emitting from that Marsh!

Enough that I had to invest in a new pair of binoculars to watch as I listen!











A beautiful rainbow in an idyllic setting, unfortunately I didn't have my scuba diving gear with me to go and find that pot of gold!



Rudi's white plane, and his son in law's yellow Cessna 180, super cub I think it is called,tied up on the dock.

Yes, certainly a great way to spend a few weeks, I am driving back out there as soon as this blog publishes. Enjoy late summer and talk again soon!

Grandmas birthday

Wow, so long since I blogged. July was a great month with the 90th birthday party of my Mother in Law, Stella being the highlight. The location was at a nephews rented property (we all wanted to buy it, but it is not for sale!)we had lots of room and all the children had fun in the lake etc. and below....

Here is the birthday girl next to her brother Mike, then Ruth from Winnipeg and Aunt Alice from Vancouver. Minnie in Alberta couldn't make it unfortunately, but they did see each other at the big Huska wedding 3 weeks earlier.




A wonderful skit put on by daughters, granddaughter, in-laws and outlaw girls.




That is Angie, Romys eldest sister and Angie's daughter Michelle with hands hiding her face!




Ethan and Castin put on a wonderful Ukrainian dance complete with the high jumping and cossak moves, to the tune of "Rasputin". At most gatherings, we play this music and form a circle clapping, then anyone can go "into the middle" and perform....its great fun and some of the men are pretty sore the next day from "performing" their wild cossak moves!