What a Weekend!

Courtney (our daughter in law to be), Deni (our son in the background) and Barb, Courtney's mom.

As our readers may recall, we returned from visiting our children and Jeanette's folks in Alberta, last Friday evening.  On Saturday morning, Deni and Courtney flew into Abbotsford Airport to begin the search and preparations for their wedding in Vancouver, next September  21, 2012.

Doug (Barb's friend), Barb, Courtney, Deni and Jeanette - on Saturday morning - just after their arrival to our home.

We hosted a quasi breakfast shortly after they arrived at our home.  They were then leaving to run several errands and to begin the planning for their wedding in just over 12 months from now.

Courtney's maternal grandmother.

Barb invited us to a reception at her home to meet their family and friends.  It was a nice evening.  We  appreciated meeting everyone, well in advance of the wedding day itself.

Small gift opening.

 A bit of background on Deni and Courtney.  They met in Vancouver several years back.  With Deni living in Edmonton, Courtney chose to move there too and works at the Provincial Trauma Centre - The Royal Alexandra Hospital.  She is a trauma trained Registered Nurse.

Looking in on the gift opening.

Although this was not a shower, some folks did bring small gifts along. 

Courtney captured this photo of Deni with Jeanette and I.

Thanks to Barb and Doug for hosting the evening.  It was nice to meet everyone too.

Sunday afternoon at the Granville Island Hotel, Vancouver.

 We got together again on Sunday for the drive out to the Granville Island Hotel in Vancouver.  This is where the wedding party plans to dress before the wedding and reception to be held at the Brock House Society on the waterfront.

Barb and Courtney seemed quite satisfied with this room.

Deni instantly pointed out his dream yacht - a Nordhavn - tug style yacht.

Aside from his business degree and his work in business in Edmonton, Alberta, Deni is an accomplished pilot and also thrills at the sight of his dream yacht.  He completed sailing lessons at a young age too. Welcome to Nordhavn.com - Power Thats Oceans Apart

Reality quickly set in and we continued our walk in search of some lunch at the Granville Island Market.  The yacht  will have to wait for a few years....but it is still in his bucket list.

One view of the floating homes on the south side of False Creek in Vancouver.

These floating homes are beautiful and very well maintained.

 But, back to the agenda of the day, choosing a facility for the wedding!

These are the grounds of Brock House in Vancouver.  It's here that Courtney and Deni wish to hold their wedding.  It's certainly a great view of English Bay and the city of West Vancouver across the way.

We were invited to walk the grounds prior to a scheduled wedding.  Nice table settings!

The food room - under glass - also serves as the dance floor after dinner is served.

Front entrance to Brock House.  This grand old building began life as a private residence and was then taken over by the RCMP.  It was handed over to the Brock House Society and has remained in its control since.

Although you get the feel of an outdoor setting, there is plenty of cover in the event of rain or wind.

There are heaters and the sides of the outdoor eating area drop down when required.

Although our group would prefer a different location (facing the bay rather than the trees) this gave us a pretty good idea about the grounds and the potential seating arrangements.

I know that Deni's thoughts were back to this Nordhavn...but his reality is more about this below!!!

1. Choosing the wedding venue

2. Determining the number of invitees, choosing a menu, etc....

3. Completing the wedding planning.

Courtney and Deni were busy on Monday with more wedding planning and spending some time with Courtney's mom and grandmother.  We knew we would not see them before their flight so Jeanette and I opted for a great ride to one of our favourite spots in the Provincial Park on the east side of Harrison Hot Springs.  With lunch, drinks and books in hand, we enjoyed a quiet day near the water.

Harrison Hot Springs - where we enjoyed several hours on Labour Day Monday.

Another view.

So that was our weekend.  We trust yours was a good one too.

Thanks for dropping by.

Mishmash - Part Deux

A family photo with Jeanette's mom and dad.  John celebrated his 88th birthday.

 L-R Deni, me, Jeanette, Trevor, Ginette, John and Mary.

One of the many lakes that jot out of the prairie landscape.

Although I do have a substantive amount of photos and many stories to write, I seem to have little time to spend at the computer.  We are busy people, so it seems, and unless I am up really early, I do not get enough keyboard time to post more often. That, I believe, can be a good problem too.

In any event, the following is why I titled this blog as `Mishmash - Part Deux.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had the opportunity to take several motorcycle rides while Jeanette was busy with family business.  I rode well over 600 km during the several days spent in the countryside.

This is but one of the numerous photos I took of oil and gas exploration and production in the Province.

So many producing grain fields are dotted with oil and gas activities.  It`s a common site in this area.  Photos like the one above are more about gas production than oil.  For oil production, one can best see present day evidence of it by driving another three hours north to the Fort McMurray area.

This gas well - and the drilling rig- were left unattended.  While riding on Highway 41 south, I thought to get closer to get a better photo.  I stopped the bike at the entrance gate and while taking this photo, a water truck (they service gas well sites) going by quickly put the brakes on and began backing up.  I thought that the driver may have missed the turn off to this site but that was not the case.  The driver got suspicious when he noticed a motorcycle on site with a dark helmeted alien looking man with a camera in hand and wearing a leather jacket.  It felt odd that he was backing up but he did not seem intent on driving onto the site.  I quickly grasped the fact that he was suspicious of my being there. 

I understood his actions because there have been some unscrupulous activities at gas sites in the recent past.  With only two photos taken, I hoped back on my iron horse and rode off....waving as I went by.

What is the significance of this sign?

About 40 minutes later, I came to this tiny little hamlet of St. Edouard. This is where my mother went to school as a young girl.  I had not been to this area for well over 15 years and it was a magnet for me to stop in again.  My mother use to joke that she would have to cross country ski to school, every day in the depths of winter, up hill both ways, from their farm not far away.

Other than a few homes, the old church is gone - replaced with this 'Catholic Renewal Centre'.

I rode by my mother's childhood farm.  The old house burned down several years ago but I have an oil painting of it.  While still standing, this grand old home drew the attention of a local painter who put brush to canvas and replicated the house on canvas.  My mother had purchased the oil painting and it now dots one of the walls in our home.

My sister Paulette's home - south of my boyhood town of St. Paul, Alberta

Before I had left on my long ride, I had called my sister Paulette, who - with her husband Rick - operate a cow/calf operation near beautiful Lac Bellevue, about 20 minutes south from the town of St. Paul.  It is a lovely country setting and I always enjoy riding through that country.  Rick was busy making hay on another quarter but I did get to enjoy a coffee and chat with my sister for a few hours.

Hmm, I wonder if Paulette wants to take it for a ride.

Paulette's grand daughter Shania (middle)  dropped by to deliver a freshly baked pie she and her friend had baked.

Paulette and I chatted and enjoyed our coffee and then a phone call from Shania and subject of a  fresh baked pie took centre stage.  Shania and her friend dropped by to visit and to leave a pie behind too.  How nice that was. The girls were taking advantage of the very last day before the start of their Grade 12 school year.

Evening scene on the prairies.

The next day I called my brother who lives in the town of St. Paul.  It's about a 45 minute drive from Jeanette's parents' farm.  I do not have any photos of our visit.  I guess we were too busy with chat and lunch.  The photo below was taken at their winter abode in sunny Yuma, Arizona.  They have been regular winter snowbirds in Yuma these past ten years or so.

Brother Bernie (middle) and his wife Rita on the right in their home in Yuma, AZ.

Once Jeanette had finished with her family oriented chores and tasks, we loaded the motorcycle and made our way back to Edmonton for one more visit with our children before driving  back to the coast.

During my motorcycle rides, I took an interest in taking photos of the numerous churches that dot the prairie landscape. The following are some examples of the many taken.

A small Catholic Church...left in disrepair.

A Ukrainian Catholic Church....still in use and very well maintained

Another Ukrainian Catholic Church

The Ukrainian Orthodox church that Jeanette's maternal grandparents were members of.

Kaleland Ukrainian Orthodox Church - where Jeanette and I were married.

Another view of the little country stone church where we exchanged our vows in 1975.

I recall that there were so many people in attendance that several had to stand outdoors during the Ukrainian ceremony.  It is a tiny stone church built nearly 100 years ago.

Well, I've pretty well given you the mishmash of late....so I better sign off before Google impose limits on photos and story telling.

Thanks for dropping by.

A Mishmash of Activities!

Back in Edmonton...following several days in the country - without Internet access.

Jeanette and I are preparing to drive back to the west coast today.  Being awake and up really early and - with the fact that we are now back in the city and with Internet access - I was able to write this blog before we get rolling on our 12 hour drive back. There is no Internet access at Jeanette's familial farm in the country, east of Edmonton.  Internet service is available but her folks - in their late eighties - are not computer users.  I was able to access email and text messages with my iPhone though....but forget about using a computer anywhere near their farm.

My nephew is the Superintendent at this prestigious golf course on the outskirts of Edmonton.

I managed to take several motorcycle rides while in the province of Alberta.  One day I rode east of the city and one of the many places I ventured to included this Northern Bear Golf and Country Club. 

The clubhouse @ Northern Bear GC.

Any golf course named "Bear" is due to an agreement with one of the world's greatest golfers, Jack Nicklaus.   Search Open for Play Courses - Results of Search
Click on the URL and you will see a list of Jack Nicklaus designed Canadian golf courses.

Daughter Ginette is busy keeping the yard trimmed and neat.

The weather has been great since our arrival in Alberta.  It was a spontaneous decision, one evening,  to pack a picnic and head to one of the many local parks for an outdoor bar-b-q.

Son in law Trevor - in silhouette - on one of the many walking bridges that cross the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton. 

Following our picnic one warm evening, we took a nice walk along the North Saskatchewan River.  We speculate that the city must have sprayed the park because we were not once bothered by pesky mosquitoes. 

Ginette and Trevor on the foot and bicycle bridge over the river.

Walking trails in one of the numerous Edmonton City parks.

Following a few days in Edmonton with our family we headed further east into the country where Jeanette's parents live.  That will be the subject of another blog because we are now packed and ready to leave Edmonton on our drive back home.

It's now 5:40 am - Mountain Time in Edmonton (4:30 am on the Pacific coast).

Thanks for dropping in.