Holiday Time

Holidays are going really well. We got to Ryan & Tammy's about supper time local time. We had wonderful travelling weather, barring heavy rain just as we were leaving Calgary, but it didn't last that long. We had no construction etc till about 45 mins from Ryan. Heard that there had been an accident on the road and we had to WAIT while they cleared the highway.

Monday we went down to the states to a little beach area, Birch Bay. Rawley dug in the sand and played in the water. (okay, we all did). We stayed there for awhile and then went to Bellingham and went shopping in a mall, Bellis Fair. We decided to come across the border at the Peace Arch and to our pleasant surprise the wait wasn't that long.

Tuesday Ryan worked so we just hung out in Abbotsford. Tammy and Rawley came with us and we hit two small malls and Walmart. Went to Red Robin for lunch and it was very good. We don't have those at home.

Wednesday we went into Vancouver. We took the Skytrain in and then travelled by buses and the sea bus. It was fun as the skytrain and the seabus were all new to us. We went to Stanley Park and took the trolley ride around and heard about all the sights. Then we went to Gastown, took the Sea Bus over to another place and walked the malls etc. Came back and caught the sky train to Metrotown and walked around that mall and had supper. It was a long day, but a fun day!

Today Gary, Ryan and Crystal are away golfing, Tammy is at work so I am just hanging out at the apartment till they get home from golf. When they get back we are going to a couple of places, hopefully the lys here. Tonight we are going to the movies as Ryan works tonight and Tammy works till 8.

Tomorrow it will be time for us to head home. The visit went so fast. It was so nice to meet Tammy & Rawley and spend time with them. Tammy is a very nice girl and Rawley is a very active, but cute 3 year old. He was shy with us at the very beginning, but warmed up quickly. I think he quite likes Crystal and won't call her by name, just refers to her as Pretty Girl*S* We are planning on meeting up with Sandra & Al for lunch and I am really looking forward to that! Will be so good to see her again!

Holidays Here We Come

Naturally today has been dragging as it is the last day before holidays start. Last night Gary and I packed our suitcase and got things loaded in the car. We wanted to see how things were going to fit, as we have to take a couple of things out for Ryan as well. I think we have it all figured out and most of it will fit in the trunk and Crystal won't be crowded in the backseat. We are wanting to be on the road tomorrow morning by 7, will make a quick stop at my dad's to drop off the dog and then hit the road.

Will post when I get home, and hopefully will have some good pics to put up *S*

Countdown

The countdown till holidays is starting. I am actually surprised how fast this week really is going, I thought it would drag.

Haven't really been doing very much exciting other than getting last minute things done before we leave. Our neighbour is looking after our house for us and my dad is looking after the dog so should be all set.

Our plans are to leave her early Saturday morning and get to Calgary the first night and then to Abbotsford on Sunday. We will stay with Ryan & Tammy till Friday morning. They have a few things planned that they want to do while we are there, go to a beach across the border, into Vancouver to some fireworks display and a few touristy things as well. We will leave Friday morning and are planning to meet Sandra & Al for lunch and a visit! I am really happy that this worked out and we can get together even if it is just for a short time. We will then drive to Golden where we will stay the night. Saturday we are planning to make Moose Jaw and then home on Sunday. We will pick up our puppy and head to Brandon, probably do a couple of loads of laundry, do up anything that needs done here and then head to the trailer for the rest of our holiday. Gary said last night, that he wouldn't mind running into Winnipeg for a day. He realizes that he would probably not get in to see Darrell but he said even if we could see Rose and maybe take her out for lunch or something just to get her out of the hospital for a wee bit.

Speaking of Darrell, Rose phoned the shop yesterday to say that Darrell was undergoing more surgery yesterday afternoon. The person who answered the phone didn't ask any questions about it, so they don't know what type of surgery he is having. It could be he stabalized enough that they were fixing broken bones, or it could be going into to releive pressure on his brain, or suppose it could be something totally different.

On the knitting front, still not getting a whole lot done. I will most likely finish up a pair of socks today. Then I will pack my knitting bags for the trip. I have the yarn for 2 wonderful wallabye's and will take sock yarn for sure. Not sure what else I will put in there. This year, travelling in the car versus last year in the van I can't take as much as I did last year that is for sure.

Quiet Day

Saturday night just as we were going to bed a thunderstorm blew in and it started to rain. I couldn't believe that we got just over the inch of rain!!! Thankfully our basement stayed dry but I wondered about the people who are still pumping water!

Yesterday was actually a pretty quiet day here. We did sort of sleep in and when we did get up we had breakfast and then tidied up from the party putting tables and chairs away etc.

Crystal had seen an ad for a computer she wanted to check out at Futureshop so her and her dad headed out and did that. I ran to superstore quick to pick up the new Harry Potter book and that was about the extent of our day. When they got home from Futureshop they started to set up her computer and get it all going. We aren't really impressed with Futureshop at all. When they went in they asked all kinds of questions about what the computer came with etc. When they got it all set up they noticed that one programs she was told that she got on her computer was only a 60 day free trial! She wasn't very happy about that because they never said anything about a free trial. And then she had asked if her recovery disks etc were in the box and they told her yes. As it turns out you have to make your own disks. Also she paid them $40 to, what they told her was load all her software, when really the computer came with all the software loaded they just had to activate it all. Gary phoned them back and told them how dissatisfied that Crystal was and how they both felt that she had been very misled! She is keeping the computer because really she got a pretty nice computer etc for the money she paid, it is just frustrating that they weren't forthcoming with her. She really wanted to make her recovery disks yesterday, but the weather was so bad her yesterday and the storm clouds kept blowing in and she didn't want to get it started and then have to shut down so she is hoping to do that today.

Supper was so easy last night because it was all leftovers from the party, I love leftovers! In the evening Crystal and I watched a couple of shows we had taped and Gary tinkered around with our old Nintendo game making sure it works. Ryan asked if we would mind bringing it out with us. He thinks that Rawley might have fun playing with it.

Over the whole weekend I really didn't get much knitting done at all, but did manage to finish up one sock and cast on the second one.

The Party is over

Friday night Gary and I finished up getting ready to host his workplace's summer party. Since we were planning on being downstairs for the most part we needed to move daycare out of that room.

Saturday morning Gary did a few things around the house and I started getting the food ready and then washed and waxed my kitchen floor. Really wasn't much sense in doing it before I did the food as I can be sloppy in the kitchen*S* Made a quick trip to get last minute things like ice and then we were ready. We just nicely got home and were having a bun and meat when it started to rain. Thankfully it didn't last long and we didn't get any big amounts so we were still able to golf.

We got to the golf course and all the guys were gungho and the women were sort of like... and we are here why! We did have a good time and it really was just for fun. Since we were having the party we got to go out as the first group. We were paired with Gary's boss Kent and his wife Evie. We had a lot of fun and laughs. We got sprinkled on a time or two but nothing to serious. Came home and got the munchies ready and waited for people to arrive. We were planning on sitting outside for at least a bit but the weather didn't cooperate and it was raining a bit so we just stayed inside.

All in all the evening was good. We had a couple of drinks and our munchies, Al handed out the prizes and then Gary started BBQing. He did an excellent job of it too...the steaks were done perfectly! The rest of the evening was just visiting and much laughing. It really wasn't a late night, which was kind of good as I was tired.

After everyone left we did the clean up that had to be done up and then turned in and wouldn't you know it.... as soon as I got in bed it started to thunder and lightning and rain! It started out just a light sprinkle but then picked up, and the wind got up too! In the end we got just over an inch of rain, and so far the basement has stayed dry*S* They are saying that we are suppose to get showers most of the day today, hope all it is is showers!

Friday Friday

Oh my, I am so ready for holidays, not sure that I will make it another week! I am sure that next week will just drag and drag. I am so looking forward to seeing Ryan, Tammy, & Rawley, but not looking forward to that long drive! Oh well, lots of knitting time. *S*

Have spent the week getting the nooks and crannies of my house all tidied up. We are hosting the Ackland's summer party on Saturday. We are all suppose to go golfing at 3:00 and then hopefully they will give me about 1/2 hour to get home, grab a quick shower (it is suppose to be hot and mosquito infested out there)and get myself back together and a few things out. They will come over and have a couple of drinks and a few munchies and then will start to BBQ. Am doing a veggie tray and dip for the snackies, also a few chips. For supper we are having BBQ steak, baked potatoes with all the fixings, garlic bread, fried mushrooms, salad and for dessert amaratto cheese cake. Afterwards we will just sit around a visit and have a couple more drinks. It would be nice if we would be able to sit outside but the mosquitos are just so bad not sure that that will happen.

There has been a damper on the party spirit for the weekend though. Yesterday one of the salesmen that work with Gary was involved in a very serious accident. He pulled out to pass a travel trailer before it was safe to do so and was involved in a head on collision. The picture of his car was on the front page of the paper today and it makes you wonder how he survived! Either a family friend or relative phoned the shop yesterday to let them know about the accident and said that Darrell had been airlifted to Winnipeg in critical condition! That is all they know so far. I sure hope that someone calls them today to let them know how Darrell is doing, what his injuries were and just what he is facing. I feel so badly for his wife, the stress and agony she must be going through.

Another hot dry day!

Last night we managed to escape the threats of thunderstorms once again. We had another HOT and HUMID day yesterday and today is suppose to be even hotter and more humid. Of course with that sort of weather they are saying there is the possiblity of thunderstorms popping up late afternoon or evening.

I made a decision today to do up a little bit of laundry. A person can only go so long without doing at least some. I am doing up a couple of small loads and using the least amount of water I can and the shortest cyle, so hopefully that will be fine.

Last night Gary worked on some areas of the yard that have been rather neglected for awhile. I really think that we should host one of his work parties every couple of months! He sure has been getting things done up around here. LOL!!!

Crystal showed me a site that has some amazing picture of the storm on Thursday night. Naturally they do mean more to someone who lives here as we know the areas and can tell just how much water is in some of those places. Some of the picutres depict all the different colors the sky was that night! It really was amazing. If you are interested in taking a peek at the pictures they are at http://www.ebrandon.ca/photos.aspx

Did I see the sun?

Yesterday we had a day of sunshine and not rain! YIPPEE!! They are saying we have 60% chance of rain today again though. I hope that it doesn't really amount to much if anything at all.

We are still under water restrictions. The sewer system is continuing to work at capacity and the city is asking for cooperation for it's citizens. They want us to use no unnecessary water. It has really been an eye openner for me, I realize how we take water for granted and how little we really can get away with. Over the weekend I did the dishes by hand, but yesterday I did them in the dishwasher. Think that by loading it up with breakfast, morning snack, dinner, afteroon snack and supper dishes that it used less water using the dishwasher than by hand. I also use the lightest setting so that helps to. I do have laundry that I would like to do, but so far nothing cruicial. I do wonder though if it would be better to do a load here and there, rather than wait for them to lift the restriction and then everyone trying to catch up...that just might overload the system again.

With our storm of the century(that is what they are now calling what hit us) and all I have been doing very little knitting. On Sunday I did make myself sit down and work on a hat. Found that I just couldn't concentrate on it, was always watching they sky for clouds etc. Yesterday I did cast on a pair of opal socks and worked on them a wee bit while kids were playing.

Not again!

Poor Gary has been working his butt off since he got home from work last night. He dug a big hole down the side of the house (finished at about 10:30 last night), found the crack in the foundation, went out this morning and bought the stuff to fix it, and has been working out there at fixing the crack. It is on the east side of the house and he has been in the sun all day, the shade is just getting there now. He is throwing the dirt back in now. I have been out helping a little bit, but just don't last long in this heat. I don't know how he has been doing it! The guy down the street told him to let all this stuff dry for 72 hours...but we just don't have 72 hours leeway. Enviroment Canada is saying that all the atromosperic conditions are adding up for a repeat of Thursday for Manitoba. We can only pray that Brandon isn't hit like it was on Thursday. I don't think the storm/sewer system could handle it again so soon. Well, I guess my break is over so I should head back out and move a bit more dirt! This was such a bad weekend to have to do all of this, because the neighbours who we are really good friends with are all at the lake this weekend so he can't really call on anyone to help him. Not that you really want to ask people to help you with such back breaking work.

This is what Gary is busy doing, digging down beside the foundation. He has found a crack so is going right down to the footings and then will repair it tomorrow we hope 

Can you believe that this is a street and a parking lot! 

water water every where 

Here are some pictures from the storm last night.  

WOW!!!

That is about all I can say about last night's weather!!!!!

The day was pretty much a normal day. We went out in the morning because they were calling for HIGH humidex in the afternoon, which we did get. On the news at supper time they said we were in a severe thunderstorm watch and that there had been sightings of tornados around the Sask. border. Gary and I had a couple of errands to do so we headed out right after we ate. Went to Walmart to pick up a couple of things and when we came out it was getting dark. We went to Safeway to get groceries and when we came out it was pitch black out and pouring rain. We drove home carefully as all the intersections were flooded! When we got home we saw that the storm drains just were not keeping up and the water was backing up onto our lawn. I ran into the house and Gary went and cleared away a bunch of silt and leaves etc from the drain so they could run better.

Crystal and I were keeping a close eye on the basement as we knew that if things didn't let up we would have water down there. Sure enough we saw that it was starting to come in. Gary got the shop vac going and I had the carpet cleaner and we were sucking up water as fast as we could. It just didn't seem like we were getting ahead at all, so Crystal called a neighbour and he brought his down and helped out for a bit and then he left Crystal sucking water and he went and cleared drains again. After a long while we could see that maybe we were getting a bit ahead of the water. Crystal ran and looked and said the rain was letting up a wee bit. With Gary and I sucking up water in the workshop and Crystal working in the den, we were able to keep the carpet from getting too wet. When it was all over we had in excess of 4 inches of rain in approx 2 1/2 - 3 hours, winds clocked at 100 km/h! We started sucking up water at about 8 p.m. and it was after 11 before we were done. Sometime through the evening, Gary phoned daycare parents and let them know that I would be closed till at least noon today. I ended up just closing the whole day.

Through everything I was feeling angry, mad and sad that this was happening, and that we were getting this water in our basement etc etc etc. Then on the news at noon today they showed pictured of some other houses in Brandon and surrounding area. Waist high water in their basements, everything just floating around in the water, pure devastation. So I guess no matter how bad you think you have it, someone always has it worse off. We were very lucky to be able to stay ahead of the water and it didn't do any major damages!

I just hope that there isn't any major rains in our near future as the ground is just saturated and there is no place for it to go at all!

Never Happy

When it comes to the weather I guess we are just never happy. We are either complaining it is too cold, or too wet and now that it is too hot! Today is really quite warm and very humid out. The kids and I went for a walk this morning before it got too hot out and then went back out after afternoon snack. Going to have to get a bit more organized and get some crafts planned for those days when it is too hot to go out in the early afternoon.

Yesterday I finished up Alexis's WW, plus did a pair of mittens to match a hat that I will give to the mitten tree. Today I cast on Alexis's matching hat for her WW. Monday night I went out and got enough yarn for Jordyn's WW, so I have the colors for her's and for Kenzie's. Still have to decide on what colors to do Joleen, Dayne's, Cory's and Justin's.

When Gary came home for lunch today he told me that he might be getting sent up north for a couple of days next week. WHAT!!!! He is suppose to be getting things done up around here because we are having the Ackland's summer party here on Saturday night. Guess he is going to have to put it in overdrive so he gets things all finished up. If he has to go he will more than likely drive up Tuesday evening, work there on Wednesday and part of Thursday and then drive home.

Talked to Ryan for a bit last night and he was saying that there are fireworks in Vancouver on the Wednesday that we will be there. He said that he would like to see them so have made sort of plans to Vancouver for the better part of the day and then go to the fireworks and come home. The only problem with that is that our plan was to get up early Thursday morning and head for home, but if we aren't going to get home till late Wednesday night we won't want to get up EARLY. So now are tenative plans are to maybe leave a little bit later on Thursday and maybe stay in Kelowna and if everything works out get to have a visit with Sandra and Al! Would be fine to be able to go to Summerland and see their house and all and then maybe have supper together somewhere or something like that.*S*

Happy Canada Day

This past weekend was our long weekend for Canada Day, and we spent it at the trailer. We had quite a mixture of weather that is for sure. Thursday night we got out to the trailer a bit later than usual and just sat out around the fire for a bit and then went in to bed. Friday Gary golfed, Dad came out for a bit, and in the evening we went and sat around Chuck & Judy's fire and visited with them. It sprinkled on us off and on, but never enough to go under the awning.

Saturday Gary golfed again, then we went into town to run some errands and then to Dad's to take his dehumidifer downstairs for him and to see his new a/c. The ductless a/c is really quite neat and I think he will be very happy with it, especially this week if we get what they say we are suppose to. We are suppose to have high temps with the humidex in the high 30's. When we got back from town we went down to the bocce ball tourney that they were having. I had never played before and it was really fun!

Sunday we pretty much just hung out at the trailer. We had rain, downpours, sunshine, and hot all in the same day. Did some rearranging at the trailer, some day we just might get things the way we want inside the trailer. Ended up cooking supper in the oven as right about the time that Gary would of been BBQing it started a downpour.

Today was back to the old grind. I had fewer kids today, just 4 so that was nice. The day started out overcast, but then the sun came out and it was quite nice. If only there weren't so many mosquitos out, they really do make it miserable out there!