roots and blues

Roots and Blues in Salmon Arm - great festival. Wonderful friendly volunteers - about 900 run the festival. Great highlights: Dr. John and the Lower 911; Johnny Winter; Kries ( from Croatia ). Do not ever pay to see: Chad VanGaalen. It was not a hot day, with some cloudy cover so that really saved our skin! The festival is held on the fairgrounds and there is not much shade cover. Lots of food vendors, and homemade craft/art vendors. Six stages of music and a very big childrens area. A very long day though- 45 minute drive each way - and we left the rv lot about 8:00 am and got home after midnight. We left before the last act was finished, so we may have beat much of the traffic leaving. The festival notes that they enjoy about 25,000 people. Now the weather is turning to hot and sunny again ( 32 C ) and we look forward to maybe some boating with friends, reading some books in the shade and relaxing.

Yellow things - like yellow birds/hate yellowjacket wasps

every time I have vacation, it seems to rain - hence we are sitting in Scotch Creek having coffee under cover and I am able to access the WIFI here. THe drive down to the lot was without any problems and we have been puttering bringing flowers back to life after a very dry month. Our sprinkler system did not catch all the plants, so some were rather sickly. We had a wonderful visit from friends in the north, with their RV, as they were on their way to Kelowna and UBC
( Okanagan). Their daughter is trying out for the soccer team and going to attend first year there. We spent one day at the beach and they enjoyed their brand new kayaks - a 50th Birthday present! The wasps are numerous and most of the time, you cannot eat outside. I was stung on Thursday and it appears I may be allergic to some degree, as my leg is all swollen and hard at the sting site. So, we may or may not go to the Roots and Blues Festival tomorrow in Salmon Arm. We have been enjoying our bird feeder area and the "wilson's warblers" - yellow birds. I hope that is what they are.

and we're off

On Thursday, Donald drove from the Manitoba border where the cottage is to ??. He called when he crossed the Alberta border, hoping to stay at a nephew's in Calgary, and then onto the Shuswaps today. After I finish work today I will finish my packing tonight and then be off early in the morning to meet up with him. While cutting the front lawn last evening, at least 6 DC 10's came in and out - fire bombers. When they are loaded and heading back out, they fly really low and the windows in the house rattle. Our province needs rain. So, the internet is sporadic for us down in the Shuswaps - we will try to post regularly, but it might be every couple of days. On another note, your kids keep you on your toes - the youngest lives now for the fish and the oldest
( 23) called to say he bought a new bike ( Suzuki TLR 1000 ). Says he is going to give me a ride when we get to Victoria and his wedding in September. Not likely. :)

our youngest son abducted by fish

I suppose that living here in the land of huge Steelhead ( called Kings in the U.S.) and Salmon, it would only be expected that one of our two sons would get the fishing bug. Our twenty year old
( and still at home ) has really been hit, including spending a good portion of his paycheque on fish gear. He was fishing yesterday ( he can walk to a preferred fishing hole ) and then reading fishing books till late at night. He will be home tonight for supper ( " as long as its' a fast supper") and then back out to the spot after supper. He is learning about tags, what to catch and release ( Steelhead ) and what the rules are for each river and time of year - The Skeena River, the Morice River, the Babine, and the Bulkley River. When I came home from work yesterday, I wondered where supper was.... he said he saw a huge salmon swimming 2 feet away from him and he received " tons!" of hits, but alas, no supper. He is yet to clean a fish ( or bonk it on the head?) so who knows - all his fish may be catch and release very gently. He tells me things like " Coho next week, Mom! " and I am supposed to know what he is talking about.
We have fisherpersons come to our town and area from all over the world to do exactly what he is doing, and they pay thousands. What a wonderful hobby for a young person. Just leave me a " out fishin' " note, buddy - when you're going to be late for supper. I wonder if his mum can sneak up to him down at the river to take his picture??

Digital water

If you spend some of your hard earned pocket money on annuals and perennials every year, you hate to lose them when the weather turns warm. We have lost a number of annuals in our backyard of the house here in the north, and managed to save the ones in the front yard from the relentless heat and lack of rain. However, we were in a dilemma as to how we were going to manage not losing the new perennials on the RV lot in the Shuswaps. There was a nifty digital timer set up we found in the RONA store in Scotch Creek just before we left in July. It can manage four hoses/spigots and for all different times. Donald was very studious at reading the instructions, and hooray, it seems to have worked while we were away. When Donald dropped off the RV last week, all the plants were doing ok, and our neighbour Hal told us the sprinkler came on just fine over the septic field grass. Phew! That is grand. Now, I just have to drench the Smithers plants before I leave this weekend and leave instructions for the 20 year old to water for the next couple of weeks. I know what you're thinking - he'll forget. Normally I don't worry - he is fairly responsible about that - however - stay tuned for tomorrow's post as a story is coming about why he may be distracted this year!