Sun, Home Improvement and Fun

With the sun shinning, it was the call to get outdoors and change up the house trim from salmon colour to charcoal.

With all of the trim edges taped up with painter's tape, the first coat of charcoal paint was applied.

The bench at the front entrance was showing a bit of wear and tear so a coat of melamine outdoor paint worked wonders too.

Trim colour before the change.

The look after one coat. This melamine paint requires a full 8 hours of curing time (unlike regular paint with 2-4 hours) before applying the second coat.  That was done early afternoon, yesterday - Sunday.

Our desert style garden is greening up quite nicely.

Jeanette was attending a wedding shower while I worked on the second coat.  There was the promise to take a late afternoon motorcycle ride once she returned home and I had completed my home improvement job.

With Jeanette's approval on the new trim paint, we geared up and headed off.

Late Sunday afternoon and there was little to no traffic at the Aldergrove Border Crossing heading into the USA.  Coming into Canada proved to be a very long line and an equally long wait.

The Vancouver Zoo seemed to have a good draw. 

We were following our son's dream car - One of Enzo Ferrari's great sports cars.

The Ferrari trailed off westward toward Vancouver while we headed north and east toward Matsqui.

We found another of the numerous paved back roads with large green canopied trees.  Really a beautiful ride, and very peaceful too.

We found our way up towards one of the mountains east of Abbotsford.  The Fraser River is swollen and very wide for this time of the year.

Lonesome rail line.

We took a break at the Matsqui Trail Head - along the Fraser River.

Back home before sun down, Jeanette took one last shot of the new trim paint.  We do like the contrast.

And that was pretty well tells the story of our weekend.  I did motorcycle out to our regular 'Open Mike' coffee session at one of the White Rock, BC, Tim Horton's restaurants, early on Sunday morning.  We typically solved all of the world's problems before deciding to line up a Father's Day Golf game for the 19th.  Looking forward to that golf round.  Our regular men's mid-week golf is well underway.  Always a nice way to break up the week with a Wednesday afternoon regular golf round.

We're expecting some company later this month and we've been approached to possibly head to the west coast of Vancouver Island for some Sockeye salmon fishing.  We're waiting on one of our RV winter colleagues to place the call once the fish start running.  

That pretty well covers the activities here these past few days.

Thanks for dropping in.

Back on the coast....following our Alberta trip.

Jeanette's parents - Mary and John - in their mid to late 80's

After we said our good byes to Jeanette's mom and dad, Jeanette and I drove 85 minutes east from their farm to Edmonton, Alberta, for a visit with our children.

Our son Deni, took a quick break from fence building to fire up the smoker.

Deni's back yard.  Together with his neighbour, they were building a brand new fence.

With the new fence completed - the neighbours at the left, Deni in the middle, Courtney to the right and Jeanette looking on - we enjoyed some fine dinner served outdoors.

Great job on the fence, Deni.

Our daughter Ginette and husband Trevor dropped by to say hello.

Courtney busy watering these lovely flower baskets.

Unloaded the motorcycle from the trailer @ Ginette and Trevor's house.

We spent a couple of days in Edmonton.  I called my nephew Brad and we organized an evening motorcycle ride to the City of Camrose, Alberta....the evening the Canucks were brutally beaten 8-1 by the Boston Bruins.  Sure glad I was riding over watching that hockey slaughter.

Heading out to meet Brad.

Jeanette took this photo but I rode off forgetting to take the camera with me.  Our ride to Camrose - through  the back country - was quite nice. Brad and I talked about organizing our 2nd annual motorcycle ride.  Our plan is to meet in early July in Radium Hot Springs, head south through Cranbrook, BC, and into Washington State.  More on that ride later.

Deni's workplace showroom @ Top Shelf in Edmonton

Jeanette and I dropped in at Deni's workplace to see his new office and explore the brand new showroom At Top Shelf.  The company caters to large developers and custom builders in Edmonton and area.

Group shot with our son.

Highway 16 (The Yellowhead Highway) Jasper National Park entrance.

 The next day Jeanette and I were on the road for the 12 hour drive back to the west coast.

Wildlife along the route.

Traffic was relatively light.  A most pleasurable drive.

Leaving the province of Alberta and entering British Columbia.

Still a fair bit of snow to melt....and the river and lake waters are very high.

The weather was quite pleasant and we enjoyed our scenic drive back through the Rocky Mountains to our home on the coast.

Now back at home, the truck, trailer and motorcycle were in serious need of a good washing.

Almost done.

Well that pretty well paints a picture of our last few days in Edmonton and area.  We are quickly returning to our routine (and normalcy) here in Langley, BC.

Thanks for dropping by.

Playing Farmer for a Day

Grain elevator -  Star, Alberta (approx. 40 minutes east of Edmonton, Alberta)

So, what is with this story, you wonder?  Well,  I had to play farmer for a day to help my father in law haul some No. 1 wheat to the grain elevator.  Above is a photo of his grain truck parked near the exit after we dumped the load.

This is where we started.  We moved the grain auger into place.

Jeanette checks in on her dad.

They examine the quality - No. 1 wheat it is!!!

Once we had the grain auger near the granary, the wheat inspected, and the way cleared, we began the process of backing up the grain truck, adjusting the auger and setting it in place, getting shovels at the ready, and beginning the loading process.

There are easier methods to load grain but this system sure makes life easier.

The man in orange - with the shovel - is me.

With the truck loaded and the tarp secured we prepared for the one hour drive to the grain elevator.

Because my father in law no longer farms (he rents the land to other farmers nearby), he had wanted to sell the last bit of No. 1 seed wheat in one of his old granaries.  That's where I came in.  He needed someone to shovel wheat, place the auger, place the tarp and drive the truck.

Following a bite of lunch, we hopped into the truck and headed off.

I'm the driver but the boss chose to come along to provide direction and guidance.

Once arrived at the grain elevator, I jumped out of the truck, stepped into the office and immediately admitted that I was a 'newbie'.  Once the laughter had abated, two good fellas gave me the scoop on what to do.

You can see the truck in the depths of the elevator.  We're soon to dump the load.  I had to do a quick run to get this photo.

Once unloaded I drove the truck out while my father in law went to the office to collect his winnings.....ah.... I mean his cheque.  The wheat was graded and because it was 'seed wheat', he got the best price per bushel.  He was a very happy farmer that day.

 

 

With the cheque in hand, we were ready to head back to his farm.

This is quite likely the last time Jeanette's dad, John, will take a load of grain to an elevator.  At age 86, he no longer seeds or harvests his land.  It's rented now.

 Come to think of it, this is the first and, quite likely, the last time I will load, shovel and unload wheat in my lifetime.

John provides directions to leave the grain elevator and directs me to the highway of choice for the return drive back to his farm.

Nearing his farm.  I wonder if John got nervous when I held the truck steering wheel with one hand while taking this photo with the other hand.  If he was nervous it didn't show.

Just a nice country road adjoining the farm.

So, that's how I got to play farmer for one day....well....more or less for 2/3rds of one day.

I kind of wanted to say something about the sorry excuse for an NHL Hockey Game last evening but what is there to say that hasn't been said!!!!  I sure hope the Canucks come to play this Wednesday night in Boston.

Thanks for dropping by.