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.