Monday Jan. 4, 2010

Happy New Year everyone. So where did 2009 go and how quickly it went past. They say time flies when you are having fun. We must have had fun right? Well here it is 2010 and I never thought that I would be around to see it. Like my friend Bill says (If I had known that I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself).
We have had a lot of fun this past year and met a lot of nice people. I really enjoyed building our sun room and thanks God for giving me good health so I could complete it. We have had our up's and down's but there were more up's than down for sure. Some of our downs could be called up's if we look at them properly. Are you confused yet ??? I am. sigh.
Last year my son in law Bob's grandpa passed away and it brought him home here in July and then Kristy flew home for a few weeks so though it was sad for Bob we did get to see him and Kristy because of it, so out of something bad came something good. Then one of our best friends, Dagmar Tjart in Edmonton passed away. We went to Edmonton for her memorial service and while we were there we got to meet many old friends that we hadn't seen in a long time who came to the service. So again out of something sad something good came because of it. A lot of people will surely miss her and her pleasant smile. I pray daily for her husband Dave as he continues life with out her.
Our daughter Mandy and her husband Jorge and their little son Josiah moved back in with us in early summer. That gave us a bit of time to spend with them until Jorge got a job as a Pastor in Yumbel Chile. They are expecting a new little one in April.
We got a new addition to ur family 3 months ago when our little grand daughter Sophia came. What a blessing and a cutie she is to the Lister family and ours.
We started going to the E-Free Church right here in Picture Butte and are really enjoying it. We have met and become friends with so many nice people. I have been playing on the worship team for the past couple of months and that is a lot of fun.
I have been playing harmonica with my friend Barry Kreick. I really enjoy playing with him. He calls us The Runaway Rascals. This has kept me pretty busy and like I said I am really enjoying it.
We had a great summer and a few great BBQ's with all of us getting together. We have made some real good improvements in our flower garden with Jorge's help. I have enjoyed mowing our lawns with my new garden tractor with the 42 inch mower. Wendy bought me a 48" snow blade and tire chains for it and they should be in next week. Then I will be able to move some of this silly snow away eh? We got to go camping,fishing and took a trip to Halifax Nova Scotia and stayed with our good friends Bob and Lynne Dorland who we haven't seen in about 5 years. We had a great time with them for 3 weeks. What a wonderful couple they are and it was so good to spend time with them.
Well I pray that God will Bless you all this new year (2010) and may it be a wonderful year for you all.

Dec. 28,2009

Well we had a great Christmas with Tanya,Tom and the kids. They all came over Christmas eve and stayed until Saturday evening. Tom had to play on the worship team at UDAC. The kids enjoyed it and we had a ball. I got a nice pair of driving gloves and I needed them and I got 2 boxes of Chocolate covered Cherries and 2 pkgs of gum drops and some other candy. The kids had a ball opening up the presents. We have our Christmas tree in our new sun room and it was fun just to watch the looks on the kid's faces when they opened the presents. They sure are a cute bunch.
Adriana is getting to be such a beautiful young lady. She is taller than her mom already. They each have their own way about them and they try to help each other but sometime they try to help too much especially when it comes to opening presents. ha ha. Wendy got a book and I think a CD. We had a big turkey and all the trimmings and as usual I ate too much.
After the kids went home we cleaned up the house and got ready for bed.
Sunday I had to go to church at 9:30 because I played on the worship team. Then we had Berry and his wife Gwen over for supper. We had roast beef, potatoe salad, mash potatoes and I made a vegee plater and after dinner we had Cherry and Blue berry cheese pie that Wendy made.
It is more like a cheese cake but it is a pie. Not sure what all goes into it but it is really good.
Well today I went for coffee and then a friend came over and visited for a while. After he left Wendy and I hung around the house and we watched a bit of LOST before she went to work this afternoon.
Well God bless you all and have a great day.

Dec.16,2009

Wow only 9 more days until Christmas. This year is sure coming to an end fast. Maybe it just seems fast when we stay busy eh?? I have been busy playing my Harmonica with Barry (The Runaway Rascals)that's what he calls us. He used to call himself (Runaway) and now that I have joined him he calls us the Runaway Rascals. We played at Claresholm on Saturday and last night we played at Golden Acres and tonight we play at The Heritage House in Lethbridge. On Friday we play at Tabor and hopefully that's the end for this year.
Tanya ,Tom and the kids are coming over for a sleepover on Christmas eve so that should be lots of fun. Sounds like we will have a busy household for a few days eh? It is always good to have family around the holidays. Guess I had better go shopping for a big turkey and everything else we will need for the dinner. Wendy is off this year so that will be good.
Kristy and Bob will be celebrating Christmas in South Africa and Mandy and Jorge and little Josiah will be celebrating their Christmas with Jorge family in Chile this year.
We will be at our church Christmas Eve for the service. We are attending The E-Free Church here in Picture Butte and we are really enjoying it. The church family is just a great group of people. Wendy and I are really looking forward to this coming year and hopefully becoming more involved at the church.
Our weather is warming up and that's a good thing. The minus 35's and 40's are the pits. When it is that cold it is really not fun out. Nothing wants to work at that temperature including me. Truck didn't start and the trip on my garage door broke(only plastic) must have been a little ice under the door I guess so I'll have to get that fixed so I can open the door.
It sure is quiet around here since the kids went back to Chile. We had a couple of the grand-kids over for a sleep over the other day and that was fun. With Wendy working 12 hour shifts and just me and the dog here (and she don't talk) it is really quiet.
Well today Wendy has to work at 11 am, I should go for coffee with the guys and then I have a chair that our pastor brought over that needs fixing. That should keep me busy until I go play tonight.

Well that's my story and I am sticking to it. God Bless you all and have a great day.
Love you all.

Tuesday evening.

Here it is Tuesday evening already. Where does the time go eh?? Today was a bit of a busy day as usual with a bit of a cold touch to it. This morning when I got up about 6:30am it was -39C outside with a -51C chill factor. Not exactly what you would call warm eh? My poor truck wouldn't start yesterday and it was only -36C sigh. I think the battery is old and near dead. Oh well another $100 for sure. I plugged in the block heater today but didn't bother to try it. Let it set as it's to cold to go anywhere anyway.
Today after coffee I came home and put the little heater I have in the garage on and put some tools in my tool box for this afternoon. Mum was sleeping so I tried to be as quiet as I could. Then at 1pm I went to the United Church and got my H1N1 flu shot. Then went to our church and unloaded the tools.Then came home and changed coat and ripped a couple of pieces of flooring and then walked back to the church and we fixed a couple of doorways. I have to go back tomorrow and finish them up but had to wait until the glue dried before we can put the top part on. Wendy went and got her shot too. At first we were thinking not to get the H1N1 but then Wendy and I decided to do it because of the grand kids. So far my arm isn't even sore. Well we will have to see what tomorrow brings. It has been really too cold to do anything outside. The warmest it got today was -26C. Even the poor dog doesn't want to go out and if she does it ain't for long and she is back at the door.
Wendy and I had supper and then thought that we should watch the last episode of LOST. Wendy ordered the new season. While we were watching we got a phone call from Mryia and she called to tell us the our old friend Bob Cook passed away today about 6 pm.Not sure just how old he was but I think in the middle 80's. We just saw him a couple of weeks ago when we were in Edmonton at Dagmar Tjarts service and we had breakfast with the seniors and Bob and Phyllis were there at A&W and we chatted for a while.
Yesterday I shoveled a bit of snow off of my truck and Pete our Pastor came and helped me. I opened the garage door and when it closed it must have had a bit of ice under it and the trip catch broke off so I'll have to get that fixed. Right now it won't open but it is too cold to open it any way. I should have know better. When it is -36C nothing want to work anyway. Oh well it shouldn't cost to much it is only a small plastic part. I just have to find out where I have to go to get the part.
Wendy made bread yesterday before she went to work so we have lots of bread in our freeze again. This afternoon she made a real good stew. It is always good to have a good big bowl of hot stew after being outside in this kind of weather.
Today I was praying for our daughter Kristy in South Africa . She was graduating tonight at her Bible school at the YWAM. Well it time to hit the old hay so they say. Have a good night.
God Bless you all.

Dec. 1,2009

Well here I am again blogging. Yesterday was a busy day for me as usual. When Wendy is working I go for coffee at about 8:30 am. I went to Home Hardware and bought a piece of glass and some bird feed. Came home and built a bird feeder. It came out right nice if I must say so myself. About 12:00 I made some lunch and then cleaned up the mess I made in the garage. At 2 pm. I went to the Curling rink and Curled with the guys until 4:00pm. After curling we all go upstairs at the rink and have coffee again. I rushed home at 4:30pm. showered and changed my clothes and loaded my Harmonicas and stand in the truck and headed to Coadale . It was snowing a bit so I had to drive a bit slow. I met Barry in Coldale and then put my equipment in his van and we headed to Tabor. That is about 40 minutes from Coldale. We had to drive pretty slow as the snow was really coming down. I was praying that it would stop snowing while we were playing and it did just that. We played for about 55 to 60 people and they all seemed to enjoy it. Many of them took the time to shake our hands and tell us that they enjoyed the music.They were all curious about the Chromatic and most of them have never heard the Chromatic played. They all expected me to play one of the diatonic harmonicas( the small ones) We finished and we drove back to Coldale and then I drove home to Picture Butte. The roads were not the greatest and I could only go about 60klms.as the snow had stopped but the roads were a bit wet and it was freezing and they were really slippery.I got home about 10:30. and I watched the end of a movie that Wendy was watching. Then it was off to bed.
This morning I had tea and breakfast at home with Wendy and then went to UFA and dropped off a check and then went to the Seniors center and as I was supposed to help a fellow move some chairs and table around. I don't know why they asked me to help because some else had already moved them.sigh. I had to pick up 2 tickets for the Seniors Christmas party on the 4th.(This coming Friday). This will be the second time we went to this. They serve a full course sit down Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and they have a band that will be playing music. They really do it up nice.
I came home and put the plates on the Mandy and Jorge's Van and we went into Lethbridge as we had to drive the van in to show a fellow who is interested in buying it. He is going to talk to his wife and call us tomorrow.(We Hope). Then we went shopping at Wall-mart and then drove over to Tanya and visited with her and the kids. Tom was at work. We brought Adriana and Erylin home with us and they are staying over tonight. Wendy made supper and then we all went over to the church as they were decorating for Christmas. Wendy and the girls were busy decorating a tree and they didn't seem to need me so I came home and did the supper dishes.
Well that's all for today.
God Bless you all.

Friday November 27, 2009

Well here it is the 27th. of November and the weather is about to turn to winter by the looks of it and according to the weather channel on TV. It is snowing very lightly right now.
Yesterday was a real busy day for me.Wendy was up about 5:30am. and left for work about 6:20. She had to be there by 7 am. After she left I took out the garbage and some stuff that Wendy and Tanya had put at the bottom of our stairs. They were busy the day before cleaning and sorting downstairs. Some of the stuff is going to good will. Mandy had left some that she couldn't take or didn't want so Tanya and Wendy put it into containers .
I went over to our Pastor house and put his garbage out on the sidewalk because they have gone away for the week. Then I went for coffee at the Cactus Restaurant and after that a friend and I went over to Eddies Restaurant and had Tea. I was coffeed out. Then I came home and went into the shop and planed down a couple of 1x6 board and made 3 shelves and painted them for Wendy. Wendy wants them put up in our bathroom. Then I went out back and took some of the branches that were blown off of our willow tree out to the back by the gate. Then I moved Mandy's Van and turned it around so the signs would show. Put the Saturn in front of the house. Did the dishes and had lunch. Then went back out into the shop (garage) and found our old fake Christmas tree that was up on a high shelf and put it by the garage door. Wendy has given it to the ladies at the church. Then I went back and cleaned up the garage and put some more of Jorge tools together on a new shelf I put up in the garage.
Then I came inside and brought my amp , mike stand and Harmonica case down stairs and sat it all up. I practiced for about an hour. Then it was time for supper and after supper I sat and watched a bit of TV. At 7:15 Wendy got home and I left to go to the seniors club to their once a month birthday evening. They keep tract of who has a birthday in the month and they had a group of singer (men) that sang for about an hour. Then they served sandwiches and Cake and Ice Cream. I got home about 9:30 and after watching the Friday Night Fights on TV I went to bed about 11:15pm.

This morning I went again for coffee and then had to go to the drug store and then cleaned up a bit more in the shop. After lunch I had to go play at Pyami Lodge here in Picture from 2:30 to 4pm.

Tonight is midnight madness in Picture Butte. They keep all the stores open until midnight and have lots of sales and things going on around town. Not sure if Wendy is going to be up for that as she worked today from 7am to 7pm . It is a long day for her. Tanya and Tom and their family are on their way to Edmonton to see Toms family and she just called and asked if I would pray for them as they have been in a traffic jam for the last 3 hours and with 6 kids in a car they are all tired of traveling and just want to get to Edmonton. They have close off highway 2 and rerouted everyone going north. They left Lefthbridge about noon. sigh. They are not to Reddeer yet so they still have a bit to go.about 1 1/2 more hours from Edmonton.


Well I have to finish this and go let my dog in.
God Bless you all and have a great day.

November 25th.

Wow here it is November 25th. and still no snow.We might even have a brown Christmas this year. It is windy but really mild outside. The lake has a little bit of ice on it but after today I think it should be gone.They say that it will get up to 13C tomorrow.
Yesterday was a bit of a sad day for Wendy and I as we took Mandy and Little Josiah to the airport. It is never easy to say goodbye to our kids. A month ago we took Jorge there and yesterday Mandy and Josiah. We were excited for them but our house is awful quiet now. sigh.
Today we have spent most of the time packing up Mandy and Jorge's stuff that they left behind and putting it into boxes to store for them.Guess I will bring my amps and stand back down here and set it up so I can use this area for my music. I have a keyboard that I haven't used in a long time and will probably spend a bit more time on the computer again.
Yesterday after I got back from the airport at 6pm. I changed my clothes grabbed my amp and Harmonicas and ran to Lethbridge to The Golden Acres Seniors home and played until 8:15pm. It was fun and the people really seemed to like it. It is so nice when people like what your doing. After we finished they all came up and shook our hands and told us how much they enjoyed our music. It is nice to see the seniors smile and be happy.
Well guess I had better get back to helping Tanya and Wendy finish packing.
God bless you all and have a great day.

Tuesday November 17th,2009

Wow where did the year go???
Lots of things happening around here, almost to much. Mandy is packing or trying to. She has a big job ahead of her trying to decide what to take, what to leave, what she might need or what she does need. Glad it's not me. And she has to get whatever she is taking in 4 suit cases.ahahahhhhhhhh. Not sure how she is going to be able to get through the airports with 4 large suit cases, a carry on or 2 and a little boy that wants to run and play. I think she need a lot of prayer for sure. Also please pray that her Van will sell before she goes so they can buy another car in Chile.
Well yesterday I curled for the first time this year. They charge us Seniors $70 for the year. Nov. to March and we can curl on Monday's, Wed. and Friday. Yesterday only 7 guys showed up but I am sure that we will get about 14 guys once we get going.The weather was really nice yesterday so I think that kept a lot of guys out doing other things. I threw some really good rocks. Surprised myself.
Today Mandy and Wendy went to Lethbridge to do some last minute shopping I guess and get some things that Mandy needs before she leaves. It sure is going to be hard to see them go.We will be back to just the 2 of us and the dog in this big old house.Guess it wasn't big enough eh? We added a 14x14 sun-room. ha ha.
We are going back to Edmonton on Saturday morning to go to the memorial for Dagmar Tjart. We will probably leave about 5:30 am. go to the church and then right after the service head back here. We want to spend as much time with Mandy and Josiah as we can.
Today we have the Pastor(Peter)and his wife (Mary) and their new little baby boy coming for dinner at about 5pm. We have a roast that I am going to put in the oven about 2.Well guess I should get going and bake a cake and it is getting late. We had Tanya, Tom and the kids over on Sunday for supper and Adriana stayed over and went back home yesterday.She is such a sweetie.
Got a fried that just called and said he is going to stop in aroun 1 so I had better end this .
Well got to go . Bless you all and have a great day.

Well it is Wednesday and I am not feeling that great. Wendy and Mandy and Josiah just left to go to Tanya's. Just talked to Jorge in Yumbel on MSN for a few minutes.
We had a great weekend in Edmonton. We saw lots of friends and relatives. We stayed with Wendy's sister Cynthia and her family.We saw Bill and Phyllis Pendergast and we did stop in to see Dagmar Tjart at the General Hospital.
We went to the first service at Beulah on Sunday and then met and talked to a lot of people after the service. We didn't leave there until almost 1:30. Then we went to Ed and Betty's and had lunch with them and Kim and her kids. We had a great time visiting with Aunty C and her kids.They are all grown up even little Bethany. Myria and Justin and their kids came and we had a great time visiting with them. We took Amelie with us and I think she really enjoyed seeing everyone.
The roads were really good - no snow or rain, just a bit windy at times.
On Monday morning before we left we went to the A&W for breakfast with all the seniors. They sure are a great bunch and we always enjoy getting to talk to them all. They are all so interested in what our kids are doing and of course we have no problem telling them all about them. They were all happy to see Mandy and Josiah there.
We got home about 6:30pm. and it was kind of nice to be back home here in Picture Butte. This is home now.

October 23, 2009

Hi everyone! Guess it is about time I blogged a bit eh? Well where do I start. Well I haven't blogged since June so I guess there is a lot to tell.
I had a project going with our sun room and that is now complete except for the stairs off the big door. It took me a long time but I really enjoyed doing it. Tom helped me put up the heavy beams and he also helped me with the windows and doors. Jorge and Mandy moved back into our basement and Jorge helped me with the shingles, drywall and painting. It really came out beautiful and Wendy just loves it.
We went the Maritimes for 13 days . We stayed with Bob and Lynne Dorland. There were so kind and showed us most of the area. They even gave us their car and sent us off on our own for 3 days to Cape Briton. We really had lots of fun with Bob and Lynne. They are a lovely couple and always had something for us to do or go see. They live in a little town called Wittenburg and have a have beautiful home and a large lot. We were there just when the fall colors were really pretty.
We had really nice weather all the time we were there but coming home was something else. sigh.
Jorge picked us up at the airport and it was a bit rainey and dark of course. Our plane was a bit late so by the time we got out of the airport it was about 11:30pm. Then it stopped raining and it turned to snow. You could not see the road for about 1/2 an hour. I really felt bad for Jorge and it was a bit scary. Then it stopped and we were ok until we got past Claresholm and then it started to snow again. You couldn't drive more that 50 klms and hour because you just couldn't see. We finally got home save and sound thanks to Jorge good driving. God was watching over us for sure.

Well we have been home for 2 weeks now and slowly getting back into the old grove.
Mandy and Jorge left today for Calgary and I met Wendy at her work and we went out for Supper at The Keg. Wendy had to go back and work for a couple of hours for someone that need a couple of hours off so she should be home soon.
Mandy and Jorge are going back to Chile soon. In fact Jorge is leaving on the 27th. and Mandy and Josiah are going in Nov. Jorge was offered a Pastors job and has accepted it so they will be living in Yumbel Chile for a while.Who knows how long.We sure will miss them when they go.

Wendy and I have started going to the E-Free Church just down the street from us. They have a new pastor and the people seem really friendly. I think this is where God wants us right now anyway.
Well i have been feeling pretty good but I am also doing everything at a slower pace. Getting old is a real bummer but what can you do. The doctor told me that if I slowed down I would probably feel better and I guess he knows what he is talking about. God must still have something for me to do so guess I should try to listen eh??? Sunday I am playing my Harmonicas with the worship team and Jorge is play the drums for the last time before he goes to Chile.

Oh I have found a fellow or he found me not sure which but I am playing with a band called Runaway Rascals. Not much of a band because there is only 2 of us. I play with Barry Kreick and he plays guitar,the keyboard and sings. He used to call himself The Runaway but now he calls us The Runaway Rascals. Barry is a real nice guy and I enjoy playing with him. We have played out about 12 time and I am really enjoying it.Our next gig is on Halloween at Claresholm.Well I think my sweetie just got home from work so I had better sign off for now .

Oh I almost forgot that on September 22 our new little granddaughter Sophia arrived and she is just a beautiful little baby girl. She looks a lot like the rest of her sisters and brother but she has dark hair. She is the only one that is not a blond.
God Bless you all.

Tuesday June 23,2009

Today is looking like it is going to be a beautiful day. We had a real good rain yesterday. It rained all day and the ground really needed it. We haven't had rain in a long time. Just walked out back and looked at my garden and it has really grown in the last few day. Guess the rain helped.

I have been keeping busy in a slow sort of way taking apart our sun room. Day before yesterday I filled in the holes for the footing and leveled that off and I put up a 2x10x14 foot beam with Wendy's help. Today I am going to try to get the rest of the wall down and put up a 2x8 beam to hold up the 2x4's on the roof. I don't want to put a post in the center.

Wendy has been busy if you read her blog hoeing the garden and did a really nice job. She has a couple of blisters on her thumbs to prove it. I think she really enjoys our back yard and garden. Our flowers are beautiful and she has planted some more nice plants in our rock garden. She is such a sweetie and is always busy doing something to make it look nice. Thanks babe.

Our son in-law Bob got home last Wed. His grandfather passed away so he flew home for the funeral. He had to leave Kristy there to finish the DST. She is flying home here on July 7th. Can't wait to see her, it has been over a year since she left. Well almost a year I guess.

Still not feeling great but am able to do a little at a time. Got to learn to pace myself I guess. I am playing Harmonica with a fellow (Barry) and am really enjoying that. Trying to learn his style and some new song's but am really enjoying it.
We had Adriana and Erylin over for a sleep over and that was fun. They are growing up so fast. Guess we will have Amelie and Kellen over next week. Little Isabelle is still a bit young for a sleepover but soon I think.

I have really enjoyed my new garden tractor and mower. Sure makes mowing the grass easy and I am not even tired when I finish. I mow all 4 lawns in half the time it used to take me.

I went to the cancer doctor on Thursday and my PSA was a bit high but he said that he wasn't to concerned and hopefully it will go back down in the next 6 months.

Still haven't seen the heart doctor yet but am going to call today and see what is happening with that. Not sure if I should change doctors now but this guy is a bit slow. Well as long as I take it easy I guess I'll be ok for a while.
Well I ain't getting anything done sitting here at this silly old computer so guess I should get going.

Have a great day and God Bless you all.

May 30.2009

Where did the month of May go?? They saw April showers bring May flowers but we didn't have any showers in April. We didn't have much rain in May either so guess in order to bring out the June flowers I have to get out my sprinkler eh? Our back yard is still looking pretty nice and the Iris flowers are all starting to bloom. The trees are all getting their leaves and things are really looking green. We planted lots of plants in our flower boxes and they are growing well. I have our garden all planted now thanks to Tanya and the kids. Taom came over the other day and doug doen two holes we need for the footing on our new sun room. He got down to 3 foot on one and almost 2 foot in the other. Lot of root in the one . I went out and bought a post hole digger so when or if he comes back we can hopefully dig down to the 4 foot that we have to go. Poor Tom's hand were getting blisters on them from the shovel handle. He did a great job. Sorry I couldn't help him. I feel terrible just sitting and watching but if I try I get pains in my chest so guess I shouldn't until I get that taken care of. I go for more test on Monday so hopefully that will tell us something. Not sure this doctor knows. I still think it is a blockage but he thinks it is my lungs. Sigh. If he doesn't come up with some good answers soon I think I'll have to call the doctor I had back in Edmonton.
I have been playing a bit on the Harmonica this past week with Barry Kreicks. We played Monday evening at the Garden View Seniors center and then again on Thursday at the Sunrise Village and then last night at Bluesky Lodge. It was fun and I really enjoyed it. Barry seems a real nice guy and lots of fun to play with. He has a lot more confidence in me than I do and just plays any song that comes into his head and says, ok I think you'll know this one it's quite simple. ha ha. Some that he played I have never heard of before but found myself following along. I'll have to get used to his style. He is a really tallented fellow. He plays the keyboard and the guitar and sings. He is coming over and we are going to practice some of his music this weekend. He has a gig in Clarsholm and another in Tabor this coming week.
Wendy is working today 7 to 7 . She has been working out in our back yard and planting lots of new flowers and putting down cedar wood chips. It is good to see her out there enjoying our big back yard.Tonight if it is nice out I am going to lite a fire in one of our pits or our little screened in fire box that Bob and Kristy bought us when we were out at the lake. We haven't had a fire in it yet since we moved down here.
Well I think I will walk down to the Sports center here and see what the 4H kids are doing. There is lots of calves and cows there so guess I'll go (check or cheque) it out. Guess in Canada it is cheque right???
Have a great day and God Bless you all.

Wow it's been a long time since I have posted on here so guess I should eh?
Well today was a nice warm day and Wendy and I went to the senior center and then we were taken to a beautiful cabin in coulees. The owner of the Home Hardware store here in Picture Butte also owns this little island here. It is a beautiful place and they took about 30 seniors to visit. On the Island is a beautiful cabin complete with a glassed in deck. The cabin has solar power for light. The fridge is gas as the kitchen stove. They have a wood stove for heat.
They have built a beautiful Tree house that is built between 6 trees about 25 feet in the air. They are in the process of building a games room not to far from the house. They served us all lunch.It was an enjoyable time. Wendy and I walked along some of the paths that go around the island. Wendy took lots of photos.
Then about 2 pm. we got home and I mowed our 4 lawns with my new tractor. Sure didn't take long. We had supper about 6pm. and then drove into Lethbridge to Tanya and Tom 's and we all went out to the Dairy Queen for Ice cream. The kids enjoyed that as well as us adults.
Yesterday Barry Kriats brought over his keyboard and guitar and we jammed from 7:30pm. to 10:30pm. He seems like a real nice guy and very talented.He plays both the guitar and the keyboard and has lots of musics that he has pre recorded on his keyboard. He normally plays gigs by him self but has invited me to play with him. This was our second practice or get together. He has invited me to play a couple of gigs with him. Our sounds blend together really will and he also sings. It was fun to get back into playing my harmonica's.
Tomorrow it is supposed to be nice again and I hope to get our garden in or some of it anyway. I also want to mark out where the foundation for our new sun room is going to be. I have to dig down 4 feet for the footing. They want it below the frost line. Yesterday we got our permit in the mail to build it so it is a go. I only need 2 holes 2 foot square and 4 feet deep. Talked to Tom tonight and he said he will give me a hand digging them. Tomorrow night I am going with Tom and 4 or 5 guys from the church to the movies in Lethbridge. I not a big fan of movies but it is fun getting together with Tom and the guys.
Well it is about 11:20 pm. and I think that I should get to bed. Hope and pray you all have a great night and a great day tomorrow. God Bless you all.

April 26,2009

This morning I went to church by my self because Wendy had worked last night and was sleeping when I left. I stopped by Tanya's and picked up Kellen and Adriana because Tom had gone to church early as he was playing on the worship team so he went in early and took Erylin with him. Tanya had little Amelie home sick with a fever so they didn't go. After church I took Kellen home and chatted with Tanya for a bit and then Adriana came home with me and we had lunch. Wendy made a Sheppards pie for supper at the church tonight. We had a pot luck supper at the church and a couple and their family who are missionaries in Russia (St Petersburge) spoke after supper. There was lots of good food and fellowship there for sure. We had a great time.
Wendy has to work in the morning and I have a doctors appointment at 10am. So we will probably hit the sack early.
On Thursday Wendy and I went to the senior center. They meet once a month and celebrate all the birthdays for the month of April. They have cake and coffee and usually have some sort of entertainment. They had a fellow who had a key board and he played a guitar with the music he had recorded on the keyboard. I talked to him after and mentioned that I play the Harmonica and he said we should get together and jam a bit and see if we could put something together as he don't like playing by himself. We are getting together this coming weekend. So who knows maybe I will be playing with him if we can make it work. He also sings. He plays a lot of the old songs and I know most of what he plays. Who knows maybe it will be the bigining of something eh? I am really looking forward to next weekend. It has been a year since we left Edmonton and I really miss the music. I practice at home some times but it is not the same and not much fun by yourself. We bought a new keyboard and I have to learn how to play that. It has a pre programed rythem section and I can record on it also. Hopefully I'm not to old to learn how to play it a bit eh? I think it will be fun learning.
Well that's all for now folks so until next time I pray that you will all have a great day and God Bless you all.

April 23,2009

Yesterday was a bit windy but a warm day. I took 2 loads of tree branches and stuff that I raked up off the lawns to the dump. It was nice and warm and it was fun to be outside. Today we woke up to a real dump of snow and -3 temperature. It started about 7 pm. last night. The wind blew really hard all night and it snow until this morning. We had about 4 to 5 inches on the ground and about 14 inches on top of my truck where it blew off the garage roof and onto the truck. Right now it is about 6C and the snow is melting. Hopefully it will all melt. Yesterday I mowed the front and the back lawn with my new tractor. It didn't take long with the 42" mower. Guess I'll have to wait a couple of days before I try to mow the other 2 lawns. The snow should be good for the ground as it is really wet and heavy. A lot of the plants were starting to come up so I hope the snow don't freeze them off.
We had Clayton , Amanda and their 2 little girls over for supper last night and had a great time visiting. Wendy made a beautiful garlic chicken dinner and a trifle to go with it. They had to leave early as it was snowing pretty hard and the roads were starting to get bad.
Today we didn't do much just sort of hung around the house, watched a bit of Tv and then had lunch. I went to the town office here in Picture Butte and applied for a building permit to add about 8 foot to our back room. We want to put some big windows in it so we can sit out there and see the back yard and all the pretty flowers in the summer and the snow in the winter. ha ha. Right now it is just a 6 foot by 14 foot room and the windows are really small and high. Not really a place you would want to sit at the moment.
Wow, here it is 4:25 pm already and it seems like I have done nothing all day. Maybe I should practice my music a bit or try to learn a bit on our new keyboard.

Have a great day and God Bless you all.

Today is Easter Monday or the day after Easter. Yesterday Wendy wasn't able to go to church as her leg is still real bad. Mandy, Jorge,Josiah and I went to the 10:30 am. service at UDAC. Tanya, Tom and the kids were there. After the service we all came home here and we had dinner. I had a ham in the oven. I always enjoy having the family here for dinners. After dinner about 3:30pm. everyone went home and now it's just Wendy and I and the dog. Wendy is still having problems with the leg and is going to the doctor tomorrow. It doesn't seem to be getting better.
The other day on Derricks blog I encouraged him to post a recent photo. So I guess I should put a recent photo on my blog.. Derrick looked really good at 60 and I can only look back at 6o as I passed it many years ago. Derrick really looked good with a beard so I thought that I would try one. What do you think Derrick ? Should I keep it?Well have a great day and God Bless you all.

Good Friday????

Ok lets try this again.Just lost the whole thing. so here we go again
Last night Wendy was having lots of pain in her left hip and knee. The right one is her bad one or it has been up to now. They have told her that she will have to have it operated on soon. I think that she has been favoring the right one and is now putting to much pressure on the left one. Any way yesterday we went for a walk with Mandy and Josiah at Henderson park and maybe it was just too much for her. Last night she didn't sleep at all because of the pain.This morning at 9 am we went to the Lethbridge hospital. They finally took her in at 10:30 and took x rays of both the knee and the hip. They found that she has arthritis in the knee and is causing all the pain that goes from her hip to just below the knee and the fact that she is favoring the other hip doesn't really help either. They gave her a prescription and that seems to help a lot. So about 2:30 we got home and had some lunch. Wendy doesn't complain much so when she says I think we should go to the hospital I know she is really hurting bad.
Well we are trying to keep her off the legs for the moment, not sure how long that will last. ha ha.
Mandy has been down since Sunday and Jorge came down on Thursday evening. They are planning on going home on Sunday after church.
It was a beautiful day here today and after we came home from the hospital we had lunch out in the back and enjoyed the sunshine.
Please pray for Kristy and Bob as they were not able to get all the visa for the students so the Mexico trip is on hold. I believe that Kristy has blogged about it so if you go to her blog that will explain it all there.
Please pray for Wendy that the pain will go away and she will fell better. With Wendy and her both hips giving her trouble and me with my heart we are not a very healthy family at the moment. I am sure that God has it all in control and will show us what will happen next.Please Pray for my daughter Jeanne in New York as she has been ill and is running back and forth to the doctors and there it is very expensive. As most of you know Tanya and Tom are expecting and Tanya hasn't been feel so great so please pray for them also. Well I guess that will keep you busy praying for our family for a while. Sorry about that but we know that pray works and we thank you for that. Have a great day and God Bless you all.
Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

March 21,2009

Today was a bit of a busy day. This morning after breakfast Wendy and I started painting our bathroom ceiling. I am terrible at cutting in the edges so Wendy did that then I went in with the roller and painted the ceiling. She does such a good job. We had to go get another quart of paint and a good brush. Then we talked to Kristy for about an hour on MSN. It was so clear. It is always good to chat with her and fine out what her and Bob have been doing. Then I put some coat hook on a board for Tanya. I will deliver that tomorrow and install it so all the little's can hang up their coats. They have a closet but of course it is to high for the little ones to reach.
Then this afternoon I sat and watched a bit of a race on TV. Then we watched a bit of CSI. Wendy had to go to work so I cooked myself some supper and now here I am at the old computer. It is raining outside so maybe spring is coming.
Guess I might practice a bit on my harmonica's and maybe practice a bit on our new keyboard and then call it a night. Well that all for today. Have a great evening and God bless you all.

St. Patricks Day

Well here it is St Patrick's day and I wonder how many people are dress in green. I do have a green shirt on today. Just by chance. ha ha.I have been just puttering around the house most of the day. Oh I did put up a new thermometer. Yesterday we bought an indoor outdoor thermometer so I had to put the transmitter up out side by our front door. It seems to work well so far. Oh and I took down the rest of our Christmas light that we had on the front of our house. I had to wait until the ice melted off our sidewalk so I could put the ladder up. Good excuse eh?? Yesterday Wendy and I went to Lethbridge and we bought a new flat top stove. They are delivering it tomorrow .The one we have is only 4 years old but it was not a flat top. We had a flat top in our old house and we both just loved it.
We looked at lawn tractors but they are a bit big for what I need. Maybe I should be just looking at a self propelled lawn mower. I probably need to walk more anyway.
We are looking at adding on to our back room and making it larger. I have been trying to figure out about how much that will cost. The room we have now is nice but it really would be nicer if you could sit out there and see the back yard. We have big ideas and who knows just maybe we will be able to do it this year. I might have to hire some body to dig the ground out for the footing's and then I could lay the block and do the carpentry work over the summer. Maybe I could talk a couple of my son in laws into doing a bit of digging for me eh? Oh well it gives us something to look forward to. The room now is about 6ft. by 14ft. so I would only need about 8ftt by 14ft addition. That would make it about 14 ft. square and put glass onthe back wall and the one side.
Well Wendy is off today and tomorrow so maybe I should get going and see what she wants to do. Bye for now and God Bless you all.

Wednesday evening.

Well we are packing and getting ready to head to Lacombe tomorrow. I think I have every thing I need packed. We hope to leave about 7:30 am. tomorrow morning. We have to drop the dog off at 8am. and then we will continue north. They are saying that we are going to get some more snow overnight. I just hope the road are good tomorrow. Oh well we'll just have to make the best of it I guess. We are going to stop in Lacombe and spend most of the day with Mandy, Jorge and Josiah and then go to Edmonton early in the evening. We are going to Cynthia's. Wendy is off for a few days so we don't have to rush back.
The wedding is Saturday so we have a little time before that . I think they have a rehearsal on Friday afternoon but we are not in the wedding party so I don't think we have to be there for that. We are going for dinner after the rehearsal I guess.
It should be a lot of fun and hanging out with the kids and Cynthia. That will be good for sure. Ya it's been a while since we were there. Chynthis has a really nice house on the north side of the city.
Well we are off to Edmonton in the morning and we will be back on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Wendy has to work Wednesday morning next week.

Good bye for a few day's. God bless you all .

Saturday Morning and so far all is well?

Well can you believe it? 6 years ago today I retired from Superior Lumber. Feb.28 was my last day in 2003. Wow how time does fly. It was 7 years ago today that I gave them my notice that I was going to retire in one year.
Ok enough about that I guess. Today I am home alone AGAIN. Wendy is in Medicine Hat with 3 other girls from Lethbridge taking a course for the Lethbridge Police department on dispatching. She will be home Sunday evening sometime.
It is about (-7 ) outside and the sun is out. Hope it melts some of our snow and ice. My front step is one patch of ice. I just went out in my garage and started the heaters. I have a few things that I want to do there today.
Yesterday I didn't do much. Never went out of the house. Sat here on this stupid computer and looked at garden tractors, keyboards and drum machines. Practice my harmonicas a bit and checked my e-mails and that was my day except for cooking a few things to eat.
Today there is lots of things that I could be doing but not sure how much will get done. So far I have checked my e-mail, checked face book, watched a short video of Josiah that Mandy posted and called my brother in Florida. Oh I did call my wife at 7:30 this morning to tell her I love her. I haven't checked the TV yet today but I'm guessing that there is a race on for sure. I do enjoy the car races. Well if I don't get off this old computer I won't get the few little things I want to do done and I won't get to watch the TV. I think I'll eat out today but not sure Lunch or Supper. I hate eating out by myself. Oh well the grand kids have a birthday party at the church maybe I'll stop in there about 3:30 this afternoon. I hear they are having cup cakes and Erie said I could come and have one. She was making them last night. She is such a cutie.
Well that is it for today. I pray that you will all have a great day and God Bless you all..

Tuesday and it's still snowing.

Yes it is still snowing and they say we are going to get about 15c. or more. Not sure we need it but looks like we are going to get it anyway.
Well today the roads are not the greatest but guess I'll head into Lethbridge and do a little something at the church. Guess I might be good for something today. Not much to do around here. It is one of them days when you just don't feel like doing much. Having a few of them days lately. Getting old sucks big time. Don't feel like typing but here I am. Oh well here I set and complaining. Better get my dead end out of this silly old chair and get going. I sure hope everyone don't feel like me today. Have a great day and who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Monday Morning Feb.9,2009

Well I am up and feel great. That's a good start anyway. Today Mandy, Jorge and little Josiah are going to head home. Pray for them as it is a long time for a little one to be on a plane. About 11 hours I think. It been a long 2 months for us and miss them very much. Wendy just got home from a 12 hour night shift and is off to bed so I can't make a lot of noise. I had planned to start making some drawer for our cabinets but I'm afraid that it might be to loud and wake her up. She needs her sleep as she works tonight also. I think I can find some things to do like get some breakfast and then go to Eddies for coffee with the guys. Then later this afternoon I'll start on the drawers. No big rush on them anyway.
Well I am back and it is real nice outside. Feels like spring. After coffee I walked to the post office and then stopped and got a new license tag for our dog. I didn't have to pay because of my age not the dogs. ha ha. Dog licenses are free to seniors. I think this afternoon I will clean out the back of my pickup and load the change table in that I built for the church.
Tomorrow morning there is a seniors breakfast at the seniors club at 8am. I have to help move all the tables afterward then I will deliver the table to the church. If I feel as good as I do now maybe I'll do a little work around the church. I'm sure there is lots of things that need doing.
I have lots of e-mails that I should write and send to people. I have been a little laxed in doing that lately. Well can't think of much else to write about so guess I end it here and try to blog again tomorrow sometime. Have a great day and may God bless you all.

Friday evening and all is well

Hi guess it is about time I wrote on here again. Well after we got back from our holidays I really wasn't feeling great and went to the doctors on Friday and they did some blood work and got my prescriptions filled and a spray bottle of nitro. On Monday he called me in and he said that I had a rise in white cells in my blood and he was a bit concerned because that usually shows up when there is and infection of some sort. Then he had me do another blood test on Tuesday and then I went back on Thursday and found that the infection seems to be going away. The white cell count was better but still showing a bit. However I have been feeling a lot better in the past few days and almost feel like my old self. Yesterday Wendy and I went to Lethbridge because she had an interview for a dispatch job that she thought she wanted at her work. Then we went to Home depot and bought 3 new light fixtures for our house. I have them all installed with Wendys help and a new dimmer switch in the dining room.Today Wendy had to go back to work so I went for coffee and then went and bought a few things at the store that we needed. When I got home I had lunch and then went into the shop and put a coat of Urathane on the change table I built for the church. Tomorrow I will put a second coat on it and then deliver it when it is dry, probably on Tuesday as I usually go in and fix some things at the church.
Wendy called today from work all excited that she got the job. I am excited for her.With all the job cut that are happening it probably won't be easy for me to pick up a part time job for the summer but you just never know what God has in store for us eh? Maybe I can fine some odd jobs here in Picture Butte.Maybe I should do a bit of advertising and let people know that I am a bit handy and have a nice garage(shop). I guess you can tell that I am feeling better because here I am talking about a summer job already.haha. This afternoon I even came downstairs and practiced on my harmonica's for about and hour and enjoyed it. The lady at our church asked me to play with the worship team on Sunday the 15th. That should be fun and I am really looking forward to it. Tomorrow I am going to start building some drawers for our kitchen cabinets. We bought the hardware the other day.That will make Wendy happy and it will be easier to reach things in our cabinets too.
Well I guess thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Have a great day and may God bless you all.

Back from Florida and all is well???????

Hi. Well we are back from Florida and we had a wonderful time visiting family and friends.Funny how it works? It is nice to go on holidays but also nice when you come home to.
Well let me tell you about our holidays. We had a good trip to Calgary and left the car at a park and ride place at the airport.We had plenty of time and finely got on the plane and headed East. When we went thru customs in Toronto the officer asked us where we were going and we told him Florida and he laughed and asked if we had read the weather report lately. sigh He said they were getting cold weather.We got to Florida and my sister met us at the airport and took us to her house. They weather was cool but we thought it was nice. Everyone in Florida thought it was terrible. The first day my sister went to work and gave us her car. We came home and went swimming in the pool at her place and guess what? We were the only ones there. One guy walked by stopped, looked, shook his head and walked on. It was a bit cool but the water was beautiful.We went back the next day and really enjoyed it. After that it got really cool and temperature's dropped down to 28 F in the morning but was still a lot warmer then Picture Butte.We kept telling our selves this .
We stayed with Sis for 4 days and had a great time talking about old times and finding out what was happening in her and Renee's life.Then we drove to my brother and sister in-laws home in Beverly Hills. They have a beautiful home with pool and all. Sis stayed for 4 days and then she had to go back to work.We visited my aunt Wayna who I haven't seen in 12 years. She is 82 and lives with her daughter Linda and her husband John. They also have a beautiful home with a pool but because of the weather we didn't get to swim after Sisters pool. Sigh.
My brother David and his wife flew down from Dover Planes so we had almost all the family there.
It really was a fantastic time for me. One day we all met at my sister in-laws sister house and had like a Hugh party,cook out, BBQ or what ever you call it. Aunt Lorries 2 sister were there and it was lots of fun getting to know them all. Again another beautiful home with a beautiful pool.We stayed with my brother Merlin and his wife Betty until the 26th. then went back and stayed with Sis for the last couple of days.
It seemed every time we got off a plane I felt bad. Short of breath, couldn't walk to fast and a bit of tightness in my chest. I couldn't carry anything.I felt bad for Wendy as she carried both carry ons at the airports.Not sure if it was the altitude or what but had the same problem coming home. I have been feeling a little bad before we left and I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow for blood work and then on Monday I go see him about this. Before we left I felt bad but blamed it on the new med's I'm taking.( Lipitor).
Anyway we did have a great time down there. It was almost like a family reunion. 2 Brothers, a sister, 2 sister in laws, a niece,an aunt and her daughter (my cousin) and her husband.We also met 2 of my sister in-laws sisters and my sister friend Libby and her 2 daughters.While we were there some old friends Bob Tabor and Nancy and Adrian came over to see us.
Well I should probably get to bed it is 4:10 am and I have a busy day today and Wendy has to go to work at this morning. Guess we are back to the old schedule eh?
God has blessed us again with a great holliday and I just got and e-mail that our old friend Dave Tjart is home after a tripple by pass operation. Oh and this morning I got a call from a friend and I am going with him and some other guys to a bible study camp tonight at 6pm.
Well God Bless you all and thats my story and I am sticking to it. Love ya all

Jan .5 ,2009 And it is still COLD

Hi everyone. Yup it is still cold here but today not so bad. Right now it is -4 C, and the wind is only blowing just a little. I just got home from curling. Wendy is still at work and won't be home until about 7:30pm. tonight. I have a 6 foot snow drift in my back yard. I can't even see my back fence.Good thing I don't need to go out there for anything. haha. Guess I don't have to worry about anyone coming into our yard through my back gate.Wendy had to shovel the snow that was piled up by our garage door this morning about 3foot high so she could get the car out.Everyone around here says that we have more snow here this year than they have had in a long time. Go figure. I move in the weather goes goofy.
Hey I think it is about time for a nap.so you all have a great day. God Bless you all.

Jan. 1,2009

Well I hope you all had a great year last year (2008). It for sure was a year that we won't forget soon.I was just reading last years blog(2007), about all the UP's and Downs, remember that? I didn't until I went back and read it. Wow what a crazy year that was and now looking back on 2008 what a crazy year that has been for us too. Our lives have changed so much with the move and all. I still miss all our friends. I talk to some on the phone and some on Face book but it just ain't the same eh? I still haven't recovered fully from that cancer operation but I'm getting better all the time. At least I think I am anyway and that helps me get through the days.
Well lets see what can I tell you about that you don't already know. Ok guess that's it bye. Okay, okay I go on, just kidding. Well Kristy and Bob are still in South Africa and they won't be home until a year from July or that's what I think their plans are. It sure sound's like a long time. Mandy and Jorge and little Josiah are in Chile but will be home sometime in February. Then Jorge plans to go to school for a couple of years and then back to Chile.Tom is on his way to Chile for 2 weeks just checking things out and Jorge and Mandy are going to give him a tour of the Youth With a Mission Base and show him some of Chile.Tom has never been out of the country before so this will be all new for him.Hope he don't come home and decide to move . ha ha
It could happen but I guess he will go where ever God sends him and who knows if we will follow or not.I'm sure God has a plan for us he just hasn't shown us yet. ha ha.
Oh I am applying for a hearing aid that hopefully will make Wendy and the kids happy. Hope it makes me happy to. Well have to see about that.
Tanya and Tom and the kids came over for lunch. We had a good time and it was snowing again. Another 1/2" so that ain't too bad. Just enough to make the roads slippery again.Wendy is going over tonight and stay so Tanya and Adriana can take Tom to the airport early in the morning. Just me and the dog home again.sigh.Well happy New Year to you all. God Bless you .

December 29,2008

Where did 2008 go? Only 2 more days and then 2009. Time flies weather your having fun or not. Well this year has been a good year but a challenging one too. As you all know 2008 brought many changes in my life. Some good and some not so good. All in all I think more good than not so good.
I have been able to visit and have fun with my 5 grand children here in Lethbridge. They are growing up so fast. Little Isabella is walking now. She just turned 1 and what a cutie she is. Little Amelie is 4 and such a sweetheart. Kellen is 3 and is as big as Amelie and a bit of a wild one at times. He likes to play with the dolls when the girls play but he is all boy for sure and keeps mom and dad busy a lot. Erylin is 7 and is a Gram's girl for sure. Sticks to her like glue. Then there is Adriana. She is 11 and is as tall as her mother and growing taller everyday it seems. She is still a Papa's girl but has a bit of competition now with the other 4. Tanya and Tom are so blessed with the 5 of them. What a lovely family. We spend lots of time with them and it is fun. Wendy and I spend lots of time with them and just enjoy them so much.
As most of you know Kristy and Bob are in South Africa. They left in July and I sure do miss them.I do talk to them on MSN or Skype but that is a long ways away. Mandy, Jorge and Little Josiah are in Chile now and they left here on Dec. 9th I believe. They will be there for 2 months and then are coming home to Lacombe until Jorge starts school.I believe that is in September some time. Not sure when that is but he is looking forward to that. We are missing them a lot. Even through Lacombe is 4 hours away we often got to go see them or they would drive down to see us.
Well the sunny south ain't so sunny right now but they say it is going to get better soon. I really hope so because I am tired of winter already. Well I hate to tell you this but is has started to snow again. Maybe it is not going to get better raight away. ha ha.
We are planning to go to Flordia in the new year for a couple of weeks. We are going to Tampa to see my sister Betty and Renea first and then we are going to Beverly Hills to see Merlin and his wife Betty. Sis is going with us and stay a few days if she can get the time off.I hope she can.Wendy is looking forward to going. She hasn't see my sister in about 20 years. I am hopeing to visit my aunt Wayna whie we are down there. I thinkk she lives about and hour and half from Merlin. She lives with her daughter Linda and her husband but I don't know what town they live in.
I am hoping that this spring I will be able to find something to do and make a little money so I can buy a small garden tractor with a mower and maybe a tiller.i found last year that our 4 lawns takes the wind out of my sails and it takes me so long to spade up the garden. I hate this getting old thing but ain't no way to stop it eh? It happens to all of us I guess.
Today I called an old friend of mine Dwayne Thomas and we had a good chatt. Dwayne use to work for Loewen Window and was their sales manager for the south area. He moved to Calgary and shortly after that the company downsized and he was one of the unfortunate one and was let go.He is only 63 and I'm sure he will be able to find something to keep him busy.
Wendy and I are meeting more people thru the Seniors center.The have been very warm toward us and I am sure we will have many friends once we get to know the people around here. A lot of the seniors around here are gone from November to March. They head south when it starts getting cold and I don't blame them.I guess we are getting settled in here in Picture Butte and I kind a like the small town living. It is different but think I am going to continue to like it more as time goes on.
I haven't built any Piano Benches since we moved. Maybe they don't use them anymore eh? Of course I haven't persueded it maybe I should get off my hands a make a few phone call eh? It woould be nice if I could fine something to make a bit of spending money on now that I have my garage all set up and a heater so it will be nice and warm. Any body got any good ideas what I could build or anybody need something built? My phone number is easy to remember. 403-732-4444. Even if you don't need something built call and we could chat anyway. I seem to have a bit of time on my hands now.
I am doing a bit of stuff around the University Alliance Church but I still would like to get into a mens bible study of some kind. I think that would be fun.I really miss our old Mens group. We met for many years and that seems to be a gap in my live now. Oh well like I say time marches on and things change.
Well may God richley Bless you all in this new year.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Love you all.

Wednesday Morning Dec.10,2008

Well I guess it is about time I blogged eh? Ya it has been a while.Not to much going on in my life now I guess. Just the usual getting up in the morning and going for coffee. At my age life is not to exciting and they say don't get to excited, it's bad for you heart. ha ha. If your read Wendy's blog she told you about our weekend ao I don't have a lot to add. It was good to see that she enjoyed it.
I just finished building a change table for the nursery at our church. I really enjoyed building it and it felt good working with wood again. It was so nice to work in my garage. I have a heater and it works just great. Most of the time I spend in the garage I have to take my coat off as it gets pretty warm in there. Now all I have to do is a light sanding and then I have to put a stain or something on it. Guess I should go fine out what color they want it.
We got a little snow the other day but yesterday we got a nice warm wind and it is almost all gone. I guess we are getting use to the small town and making sure we go to the store before 8pm. if we need something.It is kind of quiet and I don't mind the traffic. (OH sorry what traffic??)
I have started playing my harmonica's on a daily bases. Maybe one of these day s I will fine someone to jam with. Who know what the Lord has in store.
It seems like I am spending more and more time on face book and not sure that is a good thing but I don't seem to have a lot of time for TV lately and I think that is a good thing.
Well God Bless you all and have a great day.

November 20,2008

Ya Ya I know it's about time but for some reason I have trouble blogging lately. It used to be fun but now it sems that it is hard to write anything that might be exciting to other people. Maybe I shouldn't worry about that eh? Oh well, lets see what has been happening in my life? I am still staying pretty busy most days. I am doing a little fixing at the church and do a little bit at the seniors hall, I am now curling 3 times a week and that is fun. I just have to learn the rules and learn to throw the rocks at the right speed. It is surprising how you can make that rock turn(curl in one direction or the other. They call it( in turn or out turn) makes since eh?
The night before last Wendy and I walked up to the lake and there must have been thousands of geese already on the lake and they kept coming but the hundreds. I never saw so many geese. They say that next year there will be 4 time as many because they usually have 5 to 8 little ones every year. Quite a sight and they are noisy too.
Today I have to take back some scaffold back to a fellow I borrowed it from and get it out of my nice clean garage. It is kind of neat to able to walk around and do things in a nice clean garage. My old one was so small and cluttered it was hard to walk around and never could get a car in that one either. Last night Wendy put her car in there.
Well I guess I should go into Lethbridge and see what I can find for Wendy for Christmas. Anyone got any Ideas? We are having our Christmas on November 29th. with Mandy and Jorge and Josiah,Tanya and Tom and the kids and Cassy and Mario. Guess I had better buy a good size turkey because I am doing the cooking that day. Mandy and Jorge are going back to Chile the early part of December for 2 months so that's why we are doing it early. Seems funny having a Christmas tree up now but it sure is pretty. However I didn't see anything under it with my name on it. Hope they didn't forget me eh? Oh well I'm sure that somebody will remember the old fellow that falls asleep on the couch. Hey I'm not the only one that does that RIGHT Tom? ha ha
We are excited about meeting Cassy future husband Mario who just flew in to Canada yesterday from Brazil.
Well I have lots of things to do so I had better get going and at least buy a turkey eh?
I pray that you wll will have a great day and that God will Bless you all.

Tuesday evening

Well here it is Tuesday and I have had a busy day. Boy how the time does fly weather your having fun or not. sigh. Today I got up had breakfast and headed to the Cactus for coffee. The I went over to the Senior's Club and helped Dwayne move all the table and put the chairs against the wall. Then I came home and went in the garage and moved things to the side because I took down all the shelves I had up so I can put the ceiling up when Jorge comes. Then I drove to Lethbridge and went to Tanya and Tom's for Tea and measured up the change table she wanted me to look at. Then I came home and picked up some branches and took them to the back. I was going to rake some leaves but the wind was blowing too hard. We have a big Willow tree in our back yard and when the wind blows hard a lot of branches blow off the tree. Some are about 1/2" in diameter. I pick up from that stupid tree almost every day. You would think that they would stop breaking off. They must grow back fast. Then I cooked supper for Wendy and I.

Yesterday I curled for the first time and it was fun. I think it will take a bit of time to get good at that game but I am going to try. Now I have to go buy shoes and a broom. Then I will have to learn to yell HARRRRRRRRRRRRRD. Just when the other guys are sweeping eh?? I guess I am the youngest guy there. One of the fellows is 87 and he throws a mean rock. Hope I am that good at 87. Actually hope I can at least go watch at 87. ha ha. I was surprised that it is pretty cheap to curl for the Seniors. Well We might go over top Tanya and Toms again tonight so guess I am out of here for now. Hope and pray that you all have a great day and God bless you all.

Wednesday October 15, 2008

Today was a real busy day for me. After checking my e-mail and of course face book and reading all that stuff I decided to go out side and trim some branches off a pine tree we have in the front of our house. The telephone wires were rubbing on some of the branches. With winter coming I thought that maybe today would be a good time to do it. There were more branches than I had figured and it took me until about 12:30. Then I went down to the Cactus restaurant for lunch. They have a Wednesday special (Stake sandwich and french onion soup). I don't go to often but I really enjoyed it today. I just might have to go again next Wednesday.
After lunch I loaded my pickup with branches and some garbage I had in the garage and went to the dump. They told me at the dump that I couldn't bring anymore tree branches today because the bin was full. They said I could bring more on Saturday. I came home and decided to trim the tree at the back of the house that was touching our roof. A bigger job than it looked. So up on the roof I went with saw's in hand. I had to cut about 7 branches and they were quite large. Then I decided to clean the eve's while I was up on the roof. About 4:30pm. I came down and put the saws and ladder away. Then I went out back and drug most of the branches that I cut off down to the back gate. I probably have about 3 or 4 loads to take to the dump but I have to cut them into pieces not larger than 4 feet. While I was dragging them down I slip and hurt my back a bit but I don't think it will be to bad. It does hurt a bit but I'm tough right? Tomorrow I'll drag the rest of them down to the gate, cut them in to pieces and then I probably should rake the lawn next to the house and clean that up. I also have to dump all the fountian out and put them away for the winter before it gets too cold. They had ice in them this morning. Then Friday I should rake off the back 2 lawns and clean the garden up. Guess I have my work cut out for me for a few days eh? Good thing that I don't have a job eh?? I don't think I would have time for a job. ha ha.
Well tomorrow is another day. I thank God that I am able to do all this stuff. God Bless you all ahd have a great day. Love you all.

Oct. 14, 2008

This morning I went to a Seniors breakfast here in Picture Butte. They do it once a month. There was about 50 people there. I had a free breakfast because last month I won the draw. They draw names for 2 free breakfast every month. Then I took Mandy and Josiah to Lethbridge and Mandy picked up her car from Canadian Tire.Mandy and Josiah are staying with us for the rest of the week. He sure is a cute little man. After dropping them off I went to Totem's then to Home Depot and Wall- Mart looking for a Silicone spray but had no luck. Wendy has a roll top desk and I thought that I could spray it with Silicone it would work better but can't find it down here. Maybe when we go to Edmonton I will stop at Superior Lumber and buy some.
Then this after noon I went outside and blew the water lines out with the air compressor so they won't freeze this winter. The wind has been blowing real hard for the last couple of days and has blown most of the leaves away. I have to make a trip to the dump with some tree branches and some grass cuttings that were left here by the people we bought from.Sometime in the next couple of day I have to trim some branches from the tree out front of our yard because they are rubbing on the phone lines that come into our house. Guess I should do that before I go to the dump with the other branches. If is is nice tomorrow I am going to do that.
Wendy is happy that Mandy and the little guy are here. It's nice to have them for a week. Jorge had to work so he had to go back on Monday afternoon. I'm hoping it will be nice tomorrow and I can get some of the stuff done outside before it really gets cold.
Well God Bless you and have a great week. Love you all.
Oh maybe you could just pray that maybe Wendy and I could find a small group. I feel we should get into one for sure. Thanks.

Wednesday has been quite a day so far.

Hi everyone. Well this morning at about 2:30 we received a phone call from a lady in South Africa saying our daughter Kristy had been in an accident but was okay. Then she put Kristy on the phone who was still hysterical and really shook up. The van they were in hit a patch of water from a flash flood and went into the ditch full of water upside down. Both her and the driver were trapped in their seats with the belts and couldn't release them. Their heads were under water. I guess a person that stopped saw it and had a knife and cut the seat belts and freed them. It must have been a scary few minutes. Kristy said she thought she was going to die on her birthday. God is so good they only have a few bumps and bruises and one fellow who was also in the van had a few stitches but nothing real bad. Thank you Lord. I can't imagine hanging upside with my head under water and not be able to get the belt off. Thank you Lord for sending an angel (angle)there with a knife to cut them free. They were all taken to a hospital and released after the one fellow got some stitches. He was able to crawl out of the van because he didn't have a seat belt on. Makes you wonder eh? They maybe could have been hurt worse if they hadn't had them on. I just thank God that they are alright.
God has been working in our lives for the pass few days. Wendy had a lump come up in her neck about a week ago but they found out that it is just a small cyst on her Thyroid and told us that it is nothing to worry about for now. I had and appointment with the cancer doctor and he said that (I will live until I die) things look real good and I have to go back in 6 months for a check up.

Well then this morning we got an e-mail from Wendy's uncle in England telling her that her aunt Joyce had gone to meet the Lord. I think she was about 92.

We have 2 of our grandchildren that stayed over night with us for the first time last night. Amelie is 4 and Kellen is 3. We had to go to the bakery this morning and get doughnuts and before they go home we have to go get slurpies. It's kind of important to a 3 and a 4 year old eh? How come I never got a slurpee when I went to my grandfathers. I guess because they didn't make them back then eh? Sigh. Well that's my story and I am sticking to it. Love you all and God Bless you.

A Happy Birthday to Kristy in South Africa

I know I'm a little early but when your reading blogs I am usually fast asleep.
Hi Babe. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Kristy , Happy Birthday to you. I sure do miss you. I love you sooooooooooooooooo much. How did Daddy's little girl get so grown up and so far away? I thank God for you every day. You are such a Blessing to us. It is so good to see God working in your life.
God sure has given us some great times together :-) . I love to hear you laugh :-D . I used to have fun hiding little sticky notes O:-) . I remember putting you to bed when you were little. Not sure which one of us went to sleep first. ha ha :-[ . I think I slept in the bottom bunk bed more than anybody. ;-). We sure had lots of fun camping :-P . Never did hear the story Mum was reading. sigh :-( . When you were real little I used to hide in the bedroom and you would come down the hall and I would jump out. You laughed so hard. :-D . You were always quick to share everything that you had with your sisters :-) . You were always quick to show you sisters and your Mum how much you loved them :-) . I think you cried more when they were hurt than they did. :'( . I love you Kristy with all my heart and I pray that this will be a great Birthday. You will always be Daddy's little girl. :-* . I look forward to reading what you have written in my day timer every day.

Happy Birthday Babe. Love you Dad

Oct. 4,.2008

Well this is way over due. Where do I start. We have been busy and with the great weather that seem to make things a little busier. Not a whole lot exciting has been happening. I caught a cold and that put me down for a few days. Wendy has been working quite often lately so I have just been doing things around here that need doing and that never seems to end. I ran out of wire and had to go get some more underground wire for the bird baths. I put 3/4" pipe into the ground behind each bath and ran underground wire to each one. Now I can just plug the wire into the outlet in the garage and I have power to each bird bath with out running extension cords all over. Digging the wire in was not a fun job with all the tree roots but with the axe and a good spade I got it in. I finished insulating the garage ceiling and now am just waiting for help to put the OSB board on the ceiling. Jorge and Tom are coming for Thanksgiving dinner maybe after dinner I can get them to help me put it up. The garage is about 13 1/2 ft. high so I really can't do it myself. Wendy and I have been walkng a bit lately. We have been walking around our lake here and it is just beautiful now.
Wendy's car overheated yesterday and weI got up at 5:45 this morning and drove to her job and we took the car to Fountain Tire and they are going to look at it on Monday. Not sure what that will cost but it has to be fixed. Good thing we have the third car's eh? She took the Saturn to work tonight. Tomorrow is her birthday so I baked a cake this afternoon. You probably didn't know that I am a baker too.
It sure has been quiet here since the kids moved. For the last 2 weeks we have gone to a Baptist church here in Lethbridge. Park Meadows I believe it is.

Tomorrow Tanya is going to run the 5 klms. for the Brest Cancer fund. I am going to meet them tomorrow morning about 9 and go watch and cheer her on and hopefully get a couple of pictures. Wendy's birthday is tomorrow and then on Monday our little Kellen is going to turn 3 and then on the 8th. it is Kristy birthday. So we have lots of birthday this month.
We still haven't got into a small group yet. We did go to 3 Seniors lunches. One with the Alliance Drive seniors, one with the Park Meadows Baptist and one with the seniors here in Picture Butte. I have been eating well anyway eh?
I still haven't found a music group yet but haven't looked to hard. Well I guess that about it for today. God Bless each one of you and have a great day.

September 22,2008

Well I have been busy for the last week doing gardening with the kids and putting things together here at the house. We bought a new TV center from ika.
Lets see first I think it was Friday, Wendy and I drove first thing in the morning to Calgary and went to ika to buy an entertainment center. We had it all planned and knew just what we were going to buy. We had been looking at this unit in Edmonton when we were up to see Cynthia and the kids. We measured it all up when we came home and decided to go buy it. As we left we stopped here in Picture Butte at Gas King and gassed up. Wendy asked if we should call before we went just to make sure they had them in stock but then it would mean driving 2 minutes back home and trying to phone that would probably take and hour if we could even get someone to talk to eh? So we decided to just go and hope that they had it in stock. Well we got there and went right up to the area where the TV centers were and as I was remeasuring Wendy said (Oh no! I don't think you want to hear this) and then she just pointed to a big Temporary Out of Stock sign hanging on the left side of the display. We both just looked at each other and laughed. Sigh. But we weren't going to let this make us mad. We said well we will just have to design our own TV center. They have lots of options so for the next hour or 2 we picked out different types of shelf's and bases and decided to make it work for us. Then we went for lunch and right after lunch we went back upstairs and doubled chequed to make sure what we were going to buy would work and we decided that it would. So then we grabbed a couple of carts and down we went to the warehouse to get the goods. We had about half of the stuff loaded and Wendy went over to look at the Temporary out of stock item and yup you guessed it, they had lots in stock. Again we just looked at each other and laughed. We just wasted 2 1/2 hours figuring this whole thing out and they had them in stock all the time. So! do we unload all this stuff or do we take what we had loaded and go with it. We took another few minutes and talked about it and decided that we would go with what he had just worked out. It was a bit more money but it is a bigger unit and might look better. Those units are heavy and it took us a while to get them in the truck. We couldn't close the back of the canopy door( I got a Ford Ranger, remember?)but put some string on it and home we went.When we got home we just put everything in the garage and decided we would put it together another day.
It was still a beautiful day out so we decided to go dig up some of the carrots and beets that we have in the garden. We didn't realize how many carrots we had as we only dug up one row and had a wheelbarrow full. We cleaned, cut and sliced and froze 14 bags of carrots and decided to wait on the beets. That's a lot of work doing that.
Then Saturday I put a couple of the shelves together and then Tanya, Tom and the kids came over and we dug up another row of carrots and a row of beets. 2 wheelbarrows full this time. We ate lunch outside as it was another beautiful day. We spent almost all day working at it but we did get about 20 bags of carrots and not sure about 7 or 8 jars of pickled carrots. Tanya and the kids came back on Sunday and we finished them off. It was fun and I think the kids really enjoyed it to. Kellen wanted to know why we were doing all this but he only asked about 100 times . ha ha.
I'm sure sometimes 3 year old wonder why we do lots of thing eh? It was fun doing it with Tanya and we had a good visit too. The kids played and watched some videos and played barbe's in the new play room we made, while we worked. I really enjoyed it.
Then today I went for coffee at 8:30 am with the guys and Wendy went to lethbridge. She had some errands to do and things to buy for her canning and I put the rest of the TV center together. It looks real nice and I am glad that we did it this way. Wendy is happy with it so it was all worth it eh? Well that's my story for today and I am going to stick to it. God Bless you all and have a great day.

Tuesday morning and all is well.

Well last night Wendy, Adriana and I went to the Starfield Concert at the Victory Church in Lethbridge with Shamus and his wife Amanda. What an awesome couple. Shamus works at the radio station CKVN 98.1. We had dinner that was catered by the Guest house restaurant at the station that was really great and then we went to the Starfield Concert at the church. When we arrived at the church we were given Tee shirts and CD's. This was part of the winning the contest thing I guess. The concert was a bit loud as we were in the front row by the speakers but it really was a great concert and I enjoyed it. There was and Irish band on first and then after Starfield, Will Graham spoke. He sounded a lot like his Grandfather Billy. Gave a real simple but to the point talk and then had and alter call and lots of people went forward.
After the concert we got to go back stage and meet them all. Wendy has some of the pictures on face book.
Well today I should finish putting the underground wire in for the fountains. I only have about 25 ft to go. Our back yard still is beautiful but some of the leaves on the trees are starting to tun colors. That's a good sign that fall is on the way but it is supposed to be hot for the next few days. Well I ain't getting to much done sitting here at this silly old computer eh? God Bless you all and have a great day. Oh well at least they got the halo in the right place eh?

Friday afternoon. It has been a good day.

Wow it's been a long time since I blogged. Well today was a real special day for me. I was up on a scaffold insulating my garage ceiling when I got a phone call from CKVN (Shamus ) telling me that I won the Starfield tickets to the concert. So Wendy and I are going to the Guest house for dinner with Shamus and then to the Starfield concert. Sure sounds like fun eh? Last Sunday Adriana came to my house after church and said we should take a picture for the Starfield concert contest that Shamus was doing on CKVN. When we have the radio on in the house or in my garage or in the truck it is always on CKVN- 98.1. I really enjoy the music they play. So my sweetie and I are going to the concert on Monday at 5:30pm. with Shamus. I met Shamus at a church BBQ about a month ago. Not sure he'll remember me. I really enjoy the music he plays every day. Wendy just came home from Calgary and it is good to have her home. I really missed her for the 3 days she was gone. When I'm home alone I find myself talking to the dog alot and I'm not sure that is good. haha. She never says much so I answer for her. She is a good old dog. She sure misses the kids now that they have moved.
Mandy, Jorge and little Josiah are on their way down her for the weekend. We sure do miss them around here. We are all going to celebrate Tanya and Isabella's birthday. Tanya is -- and Isabella is 1. If you want to know how old Tanya you'll have to ask her. She is not very old for sure. Tanya's birthday was on Tuesday.
Well I finished insulating my garage and then I went out and mowed our 4 lawns then went back in a straightened up the garage. Now I have to get Tom or Jorge to help me put up some OSB board on the ceiling. I can't do that by myself. We I probably could but then I have to build a dead man and it still wouldn't be easy as the garage is over 12 feet high.Oh a dead man is a stick that looks like a tee but using it on a scaffold is not easy and i would have to work of a ladder because the scaffold is only 8 feet long. It can be done but is a bit dangerous for an old man like me.
Tomorrow morning Wendy and I are going with the Alliance Church Seniors on an outing . I think we are going to Gault Museum and then to a lunch at a golf course somewheres. It should be fun and it will be the first one with the seniors since we moved down here. Hopefully we well meet lots of new people. Ok I think this is getting to long. Have a great day and God Bless all of you.

Wednesday morning

Well I just finished blogging and just lost the whole thing. So Now I'll try to remember what I wrote. sigh.

On Tuesday evening we were getting ready to pack so we could leave on Wed. morning and Wendy went down to the furnace room to get a suitcase and noticed water on the floor from the hot water heater. We have been going to replace it but haven't yet. I called a fellow that Tom had recommended and because it was like 8:30pm. he just said that there was nothing he could do for us until next Wednesday. He told me to shut the gas and the water off and just leave until we get back from Edmonton next Wed. So that's just what we did. Wednesday morning about 5:30 am. we left for Lacombe to see Mandy, Jorge and little Josiah. We had to take Madison to Red Deer to the kennels as they we all full her in Lethbridge for the long weekend. We stayed there for 2 days and then headed to Edmonton to Wendy's sister Cynthia and her family. We helped her get her new house in order. We put beds,dressers and bookcases together. We also helped them put an old couch down in the basement. That was a bit of a chore but we did it. Poor Andrew worked really hard. He helped me put all those things together. We also put up curtain rods in most of the house and put new legs on the dining room table and put a TV stand together. Wendy and the girls put stuff in closets and got things all put away nice and neat. They seemed to be having lots of fun while they were doing it all. Sunday morning Wendy and I went to Beulah Alliance church and the after lunch we were invited to a BBQ with Ray and Shelia and some other Beulah people.We had a great time but I am not sure Shelia wanted us there as she tried to feed us Maple Leaf brand Hot dogs. You know the recall stuff. Friend ??? Maybe she really is a blond. What do you think?

After the BBQ we went to Leduc to visit some friends that Wendy used to work with. They served us a beautiful dinner. Shawn is a real good cook. Tammy and her husband were there and the another friend and his wife showed up. They all had lots of laughs and told stories about things that happened when they all worked together. Wendy was so pleased to see them all. It's really hard to leave all your friends when you move. That the one thing about moving is you can't take all your friends with you. Sigh. Well then on Monday morning we went to breakfast with the seinors at A&W. It sure was fun visiting with tehm all and finding out what they have been doing and thier kids of course. I really miss going to breakfast with them all. They are such nice people and God has bless us for many years with them. Thank you Lord for friends like that.

Well they put the new water heater in this morning and I guess it is about time I went outside and mowed all our 4 lawns. After being away a week they really need it. We must have had a pretty good frost as the leaves on the melons and Cucumber really look bad. I still have to pick the last of the beans and we have lot of Beets, Carrots,Corn and Onions yet to get. Well I ain't getting much done sitting here at this silly old computer. I just pray that you all are having a great day and may God Bless each one of you.