We're Back

Roger and Val returned to Creston from the long bow shoot in Montana in the afternoon. They said the border was no problem and they had a good trip and enjoyed the event.

The weather was warm, so we ate outside and enjoyed another yummy meal and visit together.

Earthlings vs. Aliens

After dinner there was an encounter between the Earthlings and Aliens.

One of the Martians was inflicting his Vulcan grip on his poor defenceless Earthling, while the rest of us were kept busy trying to decipher what the other Martians were talking about and what language they were speaking.

It was quite funny and we had a good laugh. Pictured here are some of our favourite Martians.

Home From Creston

Another good time and a lot of fun, but we all have to get home to look after our gardens, Roger and Val more so than us as their's is a big project.

The trip home went well and the weather was warm. It has been wierd for weather this year.

We parked the truck and trailer when we got home and Roger and Val unloaded everything and packed up their car ready for the trip home in the morning.

So glad they came. It was a fun filled ten days and we enjoyed ourselves, as did everyone I'm sure.

Old Friends

We managed to track down some old friends we used to work with in Chetwynd.

These are the friends that lent us the dehumidifiers and helped us dry out the 5th wheels when we came back from Nfld. during the tail end of Hurricane Charlie.

We wondered where everybody went. We found out later. We thought we were going to blow over and I'm not kidding.

They came back to BC a few years ago from Cape Breton, but had since moved from the address they were at and we lost touch with them.

Anyway, we saw on facebook they were in the area visiting a daughter so we contacted them and they came for a visit.

They live in the Caribou so we will visit with them again soon when we are in that area.

Fairy Tale

This is the fairy tale that should have been read to you when you were
little:

Once upon a time in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess
happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said: " Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.

One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so. "

That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself:
I don't think so.

Blueberries Already!

Craig surprised me with the first harvest of our blueberries. It seems like we just planted them. He brought four in and I was so thrilled I ate two before I realized I should take a picture.

Cute, aren't they. Tasty too! Lots more to come. They just need a little more ripening. I think I had better get a net rigged up before the birds get more of them than I do.

Blueberry pie coming soon!!! Mmmmmm. I can almost taste it now.

Butler's Night Off

A wealthy couple had planned to go out for the evening. The woman of the house decided to give their butler, Jerves, the rest of the night off. She said they would be home very late, and that he should just enjoy his evening.

As it turned out, however, the wife wasn't having a good time at the party, so she came home early, alone. Her husband had to stay there, as several of his important clients were there.

As the woman walked into her house, she saw Jerves sitting by himself in the dining room. She called for him to follow her, and led him into the master bedroom. She then closed and locked the door.

She looked at him and smiled. "Jerves," she said."Take off my dress." He did this carefully."Jerves," she continued." Take off my stockings and garter." He silently obeyed her. "Jerves," she then said. "Remove my bra and panties." As he did this, the tension continued to mount.

She looked at him and then said, "Jerves, if I ever catch you wearing my clothes again, you're fired!"

Birthday So Long Ago

Today, we have two birthdays in my family. My great niece celebrates her 21st and my youngest grandson is 12 today. Happy Birthday to you both!!!

I remember when I had my 12th birthday. It was not a very happy time. I was very sick with Scarlet Fever, not feeling good and stuck in bed. Pretty much everyone else, including Mom was sick as well. Bad colds, flu, etc. Dad was the only one in our family not sick.

The doctor came to the house and when I was diagnosed with scarlet fever, the public health was notified and our house was quarantined. No one was allowed in or out, I forget for how long, but I think it was a week.

Dad was not allowed to go to work, or grocery shopping, pay bills or do anything where he might come in contact with others. Our groceries were delivered to the front door and then brought in afterwards.

During this time, Dad had a visit from someone at the church that came to collect the tithing (I think that is what it is called). Dad told him he didn't have any money and explained the situation to him. The discussion became somewhat heated.

I don't know all that was said because in those days, family business affairs weren't discussed with the children. But I do know that was the end of any contact with the church after that.

That occurrence has had an influence on my views of the church and still does. My opinion of the Catholic church, because of that and all the other atrocious happenings they are responsible for, is not good.

Now that I'm older I realize how that must have been a very stressful time for Dad, dealing with a sick family, not being able to go to work and all the pressure of making ends meet.

However, we made it through those hard times and there have been other birthdays that were enjoyable. That one sticks in my mind because it was so eventful, but not in a good way.

Identity Uncovered

Well, the snake is not a garter snake. I asked Hal and Jeanette what it was. Hal said it was a bull snake. So I went on the Internet to check out what a bull snake looks like. There are many different looking ones, but none like ours. Same result with garter snakes as well. Finally I checked out snakes in the Okanagan and after looking at many photos of snakes, I found it.

It is a Western Yellow Bellied Racer and they are on the blue list which means endangered. They are not venomous. They can be aggressive if cornered and will defend themselves. They are active during the day as opposed to at night normally for most snakes. They have large eyes with excellent vision and are very fast, hence the name Racer.

They belong to the constrictor family, but do not constrict their prey. They bite it and wrestle it down and eat it as quickly as possible. The juveniles eat bugs like crickets, grasshoppers etc. and the adults hunt mice, voles, frogs and sometimes birds etc. as well as bugs.

The environmental agency requests a report be submitted for any sightings, so we did. We will email a picture today.

Silly Woman?

Boating Blonde

During the late spring one year, a blonde was trying out her new boat. She was unable to have her boat perform, travel through water, or do any maneuvers whatsoever no matter how hard she tried.

After trying for over three days to make it work properly, she decided to seek help. She putted the boat over to the local marina in hopes that someone there could identify her problem.
Workers determined that everything from the engine to the outdrive was working perfectly on the topside of the boat.

So, a puzzled marina employee jumped into the water to check underneath the boat for problems. Because he was laughing so hard, he came up choking on water and gasping for air. Under the boat, still strapped in place securely, was the trailer.

Snake In The Grass?

Craig was checking the air pressure on the trailer tires yesterday when he scared this guy out of hiding.

He was probably trying to get some shade, but he took off when he saw Craig. He is about 2 feet long and I don't know what kind, but probably a garter snake.

No matter!! Good thing I didn't see him, cause I'm sure I would have broke my neck or something else getting out of there.

Craig chased him across the road to the neighbors yard. Hope he stays there!

Remembering Our Fathers

Our Fathers
Our fathers toil with hands and heart
To make our lives complete.
They quietly brave the winter cold,
Endure the summer heat.

Our fathers' lives are busy, but
There's always time for us.
They boldly face the ups and downs
And seldom ever fuss.

Our fathers are the greatest dads.
We know you know this, too.
But thank you for the chance to share
Our love for them with you.

- Author Unknown