Port Townsend

We took a day trip to Port Townsend in Washington State. This is a 2 hour drive from Karen and Andrews in Mission B.C. A half hour ferry ride across Puget Sound and you are in a very turn of the century town. It was the hope of the then community that they would become the capital, and seaport of the State. Somehow Seattle got the seaport, and Olympia became the capital. It has languished over the years, for us to now enjoy its architure, and its victorian charm. Shops were full, great to browse through, did not buy anything. It was a fun day!

Lutefisk

Brother Ted serving the delicacy to Karen.

In Sweden they call it Lutfisk, In Denmark Ludefisk, in Norway Lutefisk!

What is it? It's Codfish, caught in the spring of the year, headed, cleaned of the insides and hung to dry in the fresh air of Norway, where the wind and the sun turn this fish into something resembling dry wood. Now, it can be reconstituted soaking it in water for weeks on end, this is done in Spain and Portugal, and made into a stew with tomatoes and potatoes, but trust the Vikings to discover something unique! They soak it, still not palatable, so they soak it for days in a 'Lye" or "Lut" solution , afterwhich it is rinsed and soaked repeatily til all the lye or lut solution is rinsed away. You are left with a spongy grey matter, when boiled, shakes like jelly and is served with melted butter and allspice, boiled potatoes and flat bread. Goes well with Aquavit!

Last Saturday we were treated to such a dinner by my brother, you either like it or abhor it. I like it!

Song for a winter night

Heard this song on CTV song by John McDermot, it is beautiful. so looked it up in the internet and found that the lyrics and music are by no other than Gordon Ligthtfoot and sung by Sarah McLachlan. Try downloading from the internet.

Winter here is rain, lots of it. Karen and I have both come down with colds, so our trip to the island is off. What does one do when feeling miserable? You make soup and watch TV. Last night the original 'White Christmas' with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney (she is the aunt of George Clooney). and 'Narnia, the witch and the wardrobe'. As well went to the movies to see 'Morning Glory' a comedy with Harrison Ford.

Dec. 9

RAIN


Karen and Andrew's back yard, which looks down into a gully, bears and coyotes are known to be seen. Bears go after seed in feeders. I took this picture from their balcony.

Tuesday attended Maple Ridge Secondary School's annual Christmas Concert. This is a fund raising for their Music Department. Apparently the province does not fund music programs in schools. The program included the orchestra and the junior and senior choirs. During intermission coffee and dainties were served. A silent auction of some 100 items all donated by local merchants took place. I bid on three items and came home with three items! I now have stocking stuffers and a gift certificate for The Keg! Karen and Andrew were also successful!

The west coast is now experiencing bad weather RAIN.

December 8th in Mission

The Lepp Market in Abbotsford. they make cold meats, sausages with no additives, breads, fresh vegetables and fruits, many from their own gardens. Deli foods, need quick dinner stop by, many choices, be it pasta, pizza , salads and even soup!

View of mountains! The big one is Mount Baker in the US. this was taken on Sunday, a beautiful sunny day!

Greetings from Mission!

When I arranged my flight plan to Abbotsford, (no direct flight to Abbotsford) I chose the Winnipeg, Edmonton Abbotsford route, as it had only a 30 minute wait in Edmonton , arrived Edmonton to hear my connecting flight was late, 2 hours to be exact. Arrived Abbotsford , one lost piece of luggage! which they found the next day, they gave me a nice reduction on my next flight with Westjet.
Daughter Karen and I attended the Leonard Cohen concert on Dec. 2nd. We left her house at 4:00 p.m. drove for 2 hours to the Lonsdale Quay, parked her car where she works. Had dinner, took the sea bus, then the sky train to the Rodgers Center and arrived in ample time for the show. The show was sold out, but why do some people arrive late for shows. Oh well, parking is difficult in downtown Vancouver. The show was awesome! This guy is 76 years old, he has a backup group of three women who are great harmonisers, plus guitar, sax, keyboard, drum, organ it was 3 hours of fabulous music Friday night we were in downtown Mission to watch the annual Candlelight Parade, one and a half hours long! Marching bands, floats were all lit up with lights, fire trucks, train, scouts, choirs, horses, nativity parade with real donkeys. Temperature was around 0 and no rain! Karen has been busy cramming for an exam she is writing on Tuesday, on Automobile Insurance. So Andrew and I disappeared so she could study. Yesterday went to IKEA, and then visited my brother in Burnaby. The sun was shining and we had a good view of Mount Baker, and the snow capped coast mountains
to the north I will send pictures later, writing this on Karen's computer.
Grandma Al

Nov 29th!

My back yard, this was the first snowfall of the winterit is now knee deep out there.

Tomorrow I am off to Vancouver for Christmas! Karen and Andrew are treating me to a Leonard Cohen Concert on Thursday! My Christmas Present. I love to travel but I abhor packing so its been hectic. WE have snow! Too much, I hired a fellow to shovel the stuff off my roof . My driveway was done by a neighbor, who has a tractor with a scoop on the front so it goes fast. No shoveling! After the wet summer and now this snow, spring flooding is a possiblity.With the blowing snow roads have been bad, people insist on driving, and so you have a lot of accidents and fatalities.

Daughter Cathie and I have been busy making Christmas Puddings and Vinetarte which we sell as our fundraiser for our little church. The towns around hold Bazaars, selling crafts and home baking. We did very well!

Chickens!

Last summer, Glenn my son in law, acquired some 20 chickens and two roosters, one big RED and a lttle Black They are great at waking you up at dawn! They are good layers. big brown eggs. Two of his hens went broody, and have hatched out seven chicks, one is black, so we know who the father is. Last week Cathie went to close up the chicken house and guess who she met up with? Another skunk!

Called in the militia. one more dead skunk, and all the chickens are fine!

Remembrance Day Nov 14

Our little church marked Remembrance Day on Sunday. St. Helen's has served the native and the white community since 1842. Men and women from both communities , served their country in the two world wars. Yesterday they were remembered twenty six of us, gathered to stand in silence, place a wreath on the cairn, recite "In Flanders Field" a prayer was said and then we went inside. Two plaques list the men and women from our area who served in those wars. Their names were read. Familiar names, their descendants are here. One elderly man reminds us his late father's name is on the plaque from the first world war. The veteran who recited the poem is 85 years old, there aren't many of them left We remember two from our community who paid the sacrifice, one was a young 20 year old who wanted adventure and joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers, it took him to Hong Kong ! A road is named in his memory.
The other man was 27 years old died on D Day! I went to school with his sister and brother and remember their grief. "They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old" And so we gathered to remember them!

November 13

Sunrise in my back yard! We have had a beautiful warm fall. It has been pleasant to be outdoors with only a light jacket. Many a year we have had snow before this. Tuesday Cath and I went to Winnipeg stayed over till Wednesday had dinner with friends and then did some shopping. We usually just go for the day, it was nice to have two days, it was a pleasant break.

We arrived home before the rain started and the next day we had rain . Watched the Remembrance Day Service from Ottawa, it is always so impressive. There was a servic e at the local legion. Tomorrow, we will have a service at our church. The two minute silence will be observed, Singing of O Canada, and God Save the Queen, names on the two plaques will be read. I remember a local boy who was killed on D Day and how sad it was for the family. When will have peace?

A herd of elk, they are raised here for market. Snow Geese, with hay bales in background

Part of the scene on our Sunday Drive.

Tis November!

A friend of my son in law is building this

1600 sq ft cottage! This is Steep Rock Cottage Development, gone are the rustic summer cottages of yesteryear, now people are constructing retirement homes. They were sheating the house in preparation for the snows of winter Can you see the lake , the picture below is the view facing the lake.

The weather here has been changeable We experienced a weather bomb back in October-three days of rain and high winds. It played havoc with Lake Winnipeg, the strong north winds caused erosion and flooding along the south shores. Six to eight foot waves crashing onto houses along the shore taking away dikes, sand dunes, boardwalks My yard was a lake, my house an island , and my sidewalk became a causeway! I had watered and fertilized my spruce trees in preparation for winter, which you are supposed to do, if I had known we were to get all that rain, oh well! Since than the weather has been summer like, here it is November sixth and a forecast of 11 deg today.

Cattle roundup!

No horses, only big trucks . The cattle were moved from their summer pasture to the home ranch. The mothers are separated from their calves. and you should have heard the bawling, but by the end of the day all were united. In the meantime they were processed through the contraption on the left, shots given, dehorned, ear tagged and counted and then let go!

Migration

Autumn in Hilbre, Snow and Canada Geese stop for feeding on their way south. This year our leaves turned color quickly, and strong winds blew them away. We have had a very warm fall, with summer temps. Shorts weather, barbecues and even wading at the beach. After the terrible rainy summer this was a treat!

Time for much needed yard work, I did attempt digging but oh this old back said forget it! My aches and pains came back. Had the same problem last spring when I was doing some much needed refinishing of my kitchen cupboards and an old kitchen table. So now hired a young native fellow from Fairford. My yard is beginning to look like a park and I am happy!
Grannie Al

This is brother Ted with the 20 lb Spring Salmon he helped reel in. I was sent home with

a small cooler of sockeye salmon! which we barbecued in alum. foil, with butter and olive oil, lemon juice and white wine, dill, salt and pepper and served with new potatoes, and cucumber, delicious! I now have to fill that cooler with pickerel (walleye) fillets and bring on my next trip west, which could be at Christmas.

Salmon spawning in river
at Valemount. This year saw one of the biggest runs of Sockeye Salmon on the Fraser River. Andrew has a freezer full. You were allowed two sockeye a day plus on spring salmon.

Mount Robson, is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. clouds hide the peak.

More tomorrow. Al

Edmonton

Left the kitchen in the big house, Old Farm Machines. A trappers cabin dates from the 1930's.
I have family and friends all through western Canada. Flew here to attend a surprise 60th wedding anniversary for old friends, who had relocated to this city to be near family. Their one complaint was 'we miss old friends', sadly so many have died, in care homes, too old to travel. That is what happens when we become octogenarians! We spent a pleasant evening mainly reminiscing and enjoying great food, which included porogies and cabbage rolls. Their nephew from Winnipeg presented then with a loaf of Rye Bread, and a ring of Garlic Sausage, made in Winnipeg of course and to all folk from that city is the best in the world. You can't find good rye bread in either Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Winnipeg Air Port has a stall which sells Rye Bread to departing visitors.

Today Tuesday the 28th , I finally figured out how to edit a blog! you push post, then check your blog and the edit button and here I am. Where are my grandchildren when I need them? More about my trip west, my brother has a small motor home so off on our trip to Green Lake, which took us two days, most people could make it in one day, but at our age what is the rush. Stopped at Mount Robson and the peak was covered in cloud, and at Vale mount we saw salmon spawning

My three brothers and their wives and I gathered at Brother Ted's cabin on the shore of Green Lake. It was a fun time, a little cool with rain, but no complaints! We visited the 108 mile Heritage Museum. (70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, are towns so named being that distance from the starting point of Lilliout ) These places were situated at these points on the old Caribou Trail, and were rest stops for the many seeking a fortune during the Caribou Gold Rush of the 1860's. see pictures. We toured some of the back country, split rail fences, cattle, swamp, all ranch country, saw white tail deer.

This part of British Columbia has been devastated by the Pine Beetle , vast areas of trees are dead and dying. They have found a use for these pine trees, the lumber turns a shade of blue when sawn, now known as 'denium' and is used in the manufacturing of certain lines of furniture.

Pictures

Sunny and Sam Cat

Boomer on left

Sept. 17 I am home!

Spent the last month in Alberta and British Columbia. Now I am home! More chicken news! They (daughter and son in law) had a skunk in the henhouse, who killed 9 hens before he was sighted in broad daylight with one squaky hen in his mouth. The racket called attention to the neighbor who dispatched Peppy La Poo to skunk heaven and saved the rest of he flock. He had stockpiled the dead chickens in his den under a garden shed. A black bear was also spotted in MY BACK YARD!

Now that is a little too close for comfort, no walking after dark.

I am dogsitting C&G little dog sonny (shitzu) and catsitting their cat Boomer at my house plus Mrs Kat who stays at home and I have Sam Cat.

Tuesday eve!

Carry on with my Winnipeg trip. We had lunch and a boat ride on the Paddlewheel Queen, which took us up the Red River. Very scenic, with views of the city, the river is prone to flooding so buildings are set back from the river bank. The attached pictures are all taken from the ship.

Al

Tuesday Aug 17

What changeable weather, last week hot and temp in the 30's. then came the weekend, rain and cool, my yard is a lake. The farmers are having a tough time putting up hay. Wednesday, last week went on an overnight excursion to Winnipeg. Folklarama was on. Over a 2 week period 45 various etnic groups played host to the public with a display of their culture, food, music and dance. We visited three pavillions Greece, Scandinavia, and Israel.

To the right one of the hostesess in a Greek costume. Greek food was served here greek salad, sovlaki, The dancers wore costumes on loan from Greece. Above left, St. Demeterious Greek Orthodox Catholic Church.

We then went to the Scandinavia Pavillion, five nordic countries share this building (I am a member here of the Norwegian Club.) We were entertained by the Scandia Dancers and the Abba Singers. The Dancers are upper right. The Israel pavillion was our last stop, here we watched a very professional dance group, excellent as well as folk songs, one problem the sound was too loud. Why they turn the speakers up to full blast I don't understand,some of our group used ear plugs ! That was our day back to the hotel, which has a gambling casino, some of our group went, I was too tired.

Al

Friday

I didn't finish my last blog. Started to tell about our wet summer, too much rain! This past week has been dry and the gardens need to be watered. The ground is almost as hard as cement and I am not going to hoe or rototill. Daughter Cathie and husband are way so I am in charge of picking the raspberries, and peas, and getting them ready for freezer.

We still don't know what attacked the chickens, so still a mystery. My neighbor has a yard sale going, lots of good stuff. And cheap, I bought a blue jug, bathroom scale and a notebook for a loonie. Today I painted the back deck, took two and half hours to do. I may put another coat on tomorrow.

Wednesday

Computer was down. Lighting! We had a real banger on Monday evening with rain, A cow belonging to a neighbor was killed by a lighting strike. Cathie and husband arrived home Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the middle of the thunder storm. They left BC on Sunday morning and some 2800 kilometers later were home.

Hilbre Murder Mystery!

Twelve bodies have been found, heads decapitated and gone! Nothing was amiss at 7.00 am. when a neighbor checked the chicken coop. The owner returned later to find the gory sight! But who, why, and when did the murder happen? Do we have aliens around, and why take only the heads? It happened in broad daylight, no witnesses, we have elimated weasels, foxes and skunks, they are nocturnal. Suspicion has it that a hawk or an owl done the deed. Animals would have taken the bodies as well. There are now a dozen less for their freezer.
This summer has been wet,

I am home!

a

Flew in from Abbotsford on Monday July 19th. Had a window seat, so was able to view the snow capped Rockies glistening in the sunshine. The prairies were something else, cloud, and much evidence of soggy fields I don't think those puddles were lakes! They have very few in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The worst think about travelling is the packing and unpacking. First you never know what the weather is going to be so one packs for all eventualities. Anyway I over packed and as well couldn't resist the bargains at Freddie Meyers in Wenachee! So borrowed a bag from daughter! The picture above is typical of the scenery of the area. We travelled the Northern Pass through the Cascade Mountains, very scenic, but pulling a thirty foot trailer, and seeing the deep ravines below was a little scary, consequently we came home using an easier route. That is daughter and son in law by the trailer, plus thir dog.

Al

Back home

Our week was up at Winthrop, the campground was fully booked for the weekend. Reason: A Blues Festival is on, people reserve spots here from year to year. So we found a space for 2 nights at the Wenachee County Campground. Which turned out to be very nice, spacious, close by a river, railroad track and a busy highway. The noise did not bother us. Saturday we visited the town of Levanworth. A town that transformed it self, situated in a very scenic valley, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains It was settled in early part of the last century. The railway moved its headquarters. and the sawmills closed. In the 1960's the town folk decided if they were to survive something had to be done, so they transformed their town, using a Bavarian theme. It reminded me of Oberammergad in Germany. If you like shopping and browsing go for it. Christmas Store with all kinds of Christmas stuff. The restaurants serve german food , as a side line you also have other choices. We had a southern scramble for breakfast, diced potato, tomato, red pepper bacon or sausage and egg all scrambled together, served with hot salsa and tortillas. You can take a ride in a horse drawn buggy see above, listen to an oompah band , buy taffy candy, ice cream, Anyway enough for today Al

The changing weather!

Two sunny days in Vancouver and you take advantage of it. One day drove through Stanley Park. The terrible windstorm of several years ago which ruined so many of the old trees, has left beautiful vistas of English Bay. Years ago Gord and I walked the seawall around the park, all seven miles of it. Another 41.00day drove out to Steveston for Fish and Chips, and has this area expanded. Fishing boats still line the harbor and offer for sale, salmon. shrimp, black cod, sidewalk cafes, and always an ice cream parlor. On Friday the 9th, we drove the five hours it took to come to Winthrop, in Washington State. We drove over the Pass (5700 ft ) of the Cascade Mountains, and are now camped at the KOA in Winthrop. This is western (cowboy) country. The little town has slowly evolved, buildings and all with an old west look. This of course attracts the tourists, and they offer the usual items for sale. Wooden sidewalks take you around the townsite there are benches outside for the use of those husbands who aren't up to browsing through every shop like us ladies. The weather here has been hot 35 deg. and last night turned cool, down to 20deg. Took a drive to Wenatchee some 90 miles south of here. This is south of the Canadian Okanagan Valley. Arid foothills covered with sagebrush, the Columbia River meanders along. the fertile lowlands with its many orchards. Apple of course is King and the area claims they are the 'Apple Capital' of the world. The fruit stands offer cherries and apricots for sale. Cherries at $1.00 a pound. and they are good! Yesterday was very windy, we saw smoke in the hills ahead of us. The dry brush was in flame, and watched a helicopter dropping water on the area. The Freddy Meyer Store had great sales, and daughter and I took advantage of same. Today cool, finished a book "Her Little Majesty" story of Queen Victoria. The description of life in London in the 1860,s and 70,s was not pleasant, and could be one reason for the Drewe family to migrate to Canada. Cherrio for now.

Canada Day!

Watched the celebrations feom Ottawa Very Good. The Queen amazes me, especially walking up and down stairs. I am certain she has had a knee replacement, my knees aren't as old and I do stairs one at a time. Daughter decided being Canada Day they should plant a tree, so off to the garden centre we went. What a selection, when you live in this climate, anthing grows. They bought a Spartan Apple Tree a meter and half in height and it has one apple on it, and are now busy planting. They also have a flat of Snap Dragons and Purple Sage. This is late for here but they too have had a cool spring. Here the weather is cool and a bit of rain.

Yesterday was a nice partly sunny day. Daughter and husband live in Mission, BC which is a good hours drive from here. Drove into Vancouver last evening, you wouldn't believe the traffic coming out, three lanes wide stretching for miles and not moving! Had dinner and then went for a drive. We dove up (with many switch backs) Mount Seymour in North Vancouver. A first for all of us. The temperature dropped as we climbed. Stopped at a viewpoint to take pictures, and encountered black flies. Mount Baker, Vancouver city, and even Vancouver Island was visible.

Never did finish that last blog-re Sorrento. What a beautful area, lakes, valley surrounded by the far away mountains. The area my son lives in is called "Notch Hill". So named for the 'notch' one sees in the mountains. We are also told because of the grade going up here (The worst in all of BC) the engineers on the steam trains had to drop down to the lowest "notch" to make the grade. The railway had 'pusher' locomotors to push the trains up over the steep grade. With the advent of the Diesel Locomotors, the little pushers became redundant. The new highway was built which goes north through Sorrento, and so the community of Notch Hill, is one in name only. The local folk with help from "The New Horizon Programof Health & Welfare Canada" compiled a history book on the area "Memories of Notch Hill". I love these local histories, they paint a similiar story whether its the east, the prairies or the west. The one roomed school, the railway, the store, the settlers all have a story. Our Canada, My Canada!

Grandma l