happy 50th and water bombers

As the kids say, my "BFF" enjoyed her 50th birthday last evening with a wonderful backyard BBQ. You were to bring an appetizer, your lawnchair and your drink(s). A few family and friends gave some lovely touching speeches, with not too much roasting! She did however have to model and wear a special outfit with some incredible shoes to match. With our unusual heat spell in the valley and the province, there were big clouds building in the sky, which made it a little more bearable for sitting outside. Those clouds did bring lightening strikes in the far distance and in no time, we saw the spotter plane going overhead and then a few trips back and forth of a couple of the water bombers. Pretty nice when nature provides the fireworks display for the party - now if only those water bombers could tow a Happy Birthday banner behind them! So D - here are your modelling pictures - you're a looker! Happy 50th!.

summer birthdays

Donald called late afternoon yesterday and he was on his way past Calgary. Oh I want to be on the road with my best friend! Just a couple of years till I'm retired and on the road full time. Like Al and Kelly, ( the Bayfield Bunch ) we are evaluating that date and circumstances all the time, but not to be longer than the scheduled date. Tonight I will gather with the Hardwall gang to celebrate a 50th birthday. She and I are one day apart ( and a couple of years though ). It will be great fun. Speaking of birthdays, this picture is of Donald, his sisters and his mother, celebrating her 90th bithday at the cottage. Lil is 92 now, still living in her own apartment, driving her car and is now awaiting the arrival of everyone at the cottage. Have a great time guys - wish I was there!

long drives in the summer heat

I tried to wait till later in the evening when it was cool, but it never did cool off - I had lots and lots of Saskatoon berries to pick off our tree. The berries went straight to the deep freeze and I will do some more tonight as well as the raspberries. Donald called in the evening to let me know that he had the rv all in place for when I arrive back in the Shuswaps, except for hooking up the sewer stuff. No problem. It was a scorcher there, so setting up took all day - you move a little, then have to go into the AC to cool off, then back to doing, etc. I think Gatorgirl stayed in the AC the whole time. Today he is off to Saskatchewan to our family cottage near the Manitoba border. The picture is our oldest son putting up a big shade tent in the front yard of the cottage. Another long drive for Donald to get there. We are putting on the km's this summer!

smoky hot at the lot

Donald says it is extremely hot at the lot and very smoky. Our neighbour says that there is a small forest fire at the north end of Adam's Lake and the smoke is drifting down. That is not very close to the lot, so we are ok. Here in the north of the province, it is hot, but clear skies. The plants at the lot survived without us and enjoyed the new watering system. ( whew! ) I am posting some more pictures of Kispiox in the next few days, so bear with me! ( no, no we didn't see any bears ). We did see an adult eagle fishing the river when some of the guys were fishing. There were big steelhead jumping in the river, but nothing was caught by our gang. Just the fun of fishing for an hour or so. This week is a busy week - 50th birthday of one of us ( she is standing in the river supervising )on Thursday, then perhaps up to Terrace for Riverboat Days on the weekend. Then one more week till I meet up with Donald back at the lot.

Last night I went to Safeway grocery shopping - you know it is hot out when you spend extra time in the freezer aisles and ponder the meat section a little longer than usual. Donald called to say he was on Highway 24 near Little Fort, BC about 10:00 pm and had pulled over to spend the night. That's a long haul for one day ( 12 hours ).