| Grandmas! |
Having fun at Paulette's 50th Birthday Party.
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| Neighbours |
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Early in the new year, we went on a Skidoo ride with our neighbours Ron and Viv Grue, and some of their friends. What we thought was going to be a morning run, turned into a full day, and was an expensive one for me. First we went to Donalda for lunch. That was interesting because they had been so busy the night before, that they had run out of food. Then we headed for Ferintosh.
Mid-way there, the steering column on my Summit broke off, so I was stranded and had to call Spencer to come and get me. About that time, Laura's Ovation started to make a clickety clack noise - not good. The group headed on, and about 5:00, in total darkness, and about 2km out of Ferintosh, Louise's MXZ died. They towed her into Ferintosh, where everyone had supper.
I borrowed Ron's truck and trailer (again) and drove to Ferintosh, where we first had supper, and then loaded both Laura and Louise's machines onto the trailer. We drove home and got there about 10:00 pm. Quite a day. Fortunately for me, another neighbour, Dennis, runs a machine and welding company, and volunteered to fix my steering column. I helped him do it one Saturday morning and now it is stronger then ever. The MXZ was more costly. It turned out an engine mount had broken (probably before I owned it), and that caused one of the side housings to crack, which exposed the magnito. Bottom line -- $1500 to fix and lucky it hadn't wreak the engine.
The "Clickety Clack" Ovation, which is my oldest machine and the only one to keep on ticking, just needed a drive belt. All in all a fun day - just more than we bargained for. |
Our neighbour Dennis, enjoys skidooing, hunting, and the occasional beer or rum. He and his sons built this "Man Cave" on a friend's land about 15km south of us.
It is equipped with a wood stove, so is quite comfortable in the winter.
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The Man Cave!
We enjoy meeting Dennis and his sons in the Man Cave for a cool one on a cold day. |
| Las Brisas Friends |
Our good friend Bob with our Las Brisas friends Javier and Omar.
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Omar with his Motorbike! We can't wait for our next Las Brisas holiday in January. |
| Nitinat Friends |
For years (maybe 15) our family used to visit Nitinat Lake on Vancouver Island for two or three weeks each summer to windsurf. Over the years, we became very good friends with many of the other windsurfing families. Great holidays and great memories.
What
we thought was an annual tradition which would go on forever, ended abruptly when both Laura and Spencer took on summer jobs. It has been five years since we have been back.
While we keep in touch on facebook and the occasional email, it is rare that we get to see each other. This year, while attending back-to-back conferences in Victoria and Vancouver, I was able to re-connect with a few of our friends.
How wonderful to visit.
I can't believe how the kids have grown!
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Owen, Toni, Mark (tweezer butt) and Jonathon in Victoria. |
Robin, Maya, Judy and Zoe |
Toni, Mark's sister Joanna, and Mark - while I am touring their software company at the Victoria Airport. |
I finally got to meet Stella, the famous company cook, who would always make more food than necessary for the staff, so Toni would bring some home for the family. We were all very envious! |
Mark is learning to fly is father's Yak. A very interesting Aircraft. |
While in Vancouver, I also got to visit with Tim and Val, and their boys Quinn (on left) and Colin, (lying on mom's lap) |
| Windsurf Friends |
I go windsurfing with friends to Oregon twice a year. Coffee at Bette's is a daily tradition! |
Blaine buying a sail from Dale Cook. Dale and his boss Bruce Peterson, are long time friends who live in Hood River.
It is very cool to talk to these guys who are regularly featured in the windsurfing magazines. |
The Sailworks shop is a regular hangout for us. Bruce, a Canadian, runs Sailworks. They design and manufactur sails for the world market. |
Gerry, Blaine, Rene, Lazelle and Brad, enjoying a cool one after a days sailing. |
| Other Friends |
Carla, Vern, Rhonda, Ben, Jolee, and Ted
I have been playing Volleyball with Vern, his wife Rhonda, and Carla for about 20 years. This year we also have Vern and Rhonda's daughter, Jolee, on the team - as well as one of Spencer's friends, Ben. |
My friend Liam, taking Spencer and Tara for a ride in his Cessna 180. |
My Senior Games badminton partner, Mike |
I have been playing Badminton with Ed (left) for more than 20 years. He is over 75 and also participated in the Senior Games with his doubles partner, along with Mike and I, although in a different age category. |
| Family - Yuma |
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Louise and her mom, enjoying a glass of wine in Yuma
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Carmen, Bernie and Louise in the Motorhome in Yuma
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Visiting with Ina and Ray Gillespie while visiting Bernie and Carmen in Yuma.
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Our rental BMW in the desert...
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| Family - Grandma's Concert |
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Grandma has been singing with the Saint Alberta Singers for more than 25 years,
and with Patty for more than 15.
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Practices are every Tuesday Night. We always enjoy going to watch the perfornances!
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Micky, Grandma and Patty.
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Patty enjoys these special times with mom/Grandma
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After 25 years, Grandma has now retired from the Saint Albert Singers. This is a video of their final song.
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| Just Family |
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Devon
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Paulette turns 50!
More photos of the surprise Birthday Party here.
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Paulette was surprised!
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Memere with Chili
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Bernie
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Laura with her "Home away from home" while performing in Rosebud.
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Carter
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Lynne and Paulette
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Carmen and Louise at Amy's Bridal Shower.
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Amy at her Bridal shower
More photos of Amy's wedding here
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Sean and his buddy Chili
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Spencer, Laura and Mom.
Getting ready for the Family Photo...
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| In Memory |
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We lost two very good friends this year. Both will be missed by all who knew them.
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Howard Bouck was a very good friend of mine, whom I met when I first moved to Camrose in 1980. He is the one who encouraged me to apply for the position with the City of Camrose. I worked with Howard until he retired about five years ago.
He was badly burned when his garden tractor fuel system blew up. After several months in intensive care, he succumed to an infection that couldn't be controlled.
Family and the Church were extremely important to Howard. He loved to help people. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He left behind his wife Phyllis, two sons, Travis and Tyler, and four grandsons. My favourite memories of Howard are from our City Ski Trips.
Obituary
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Ingrid Plaudis-Bowie, was a good friend and sister of Kathy O' Connell. Ingrid lost a long battle with cancer this summer.
She left behind her husband Shane, and daughter Alanna.
Ingrid along with her husband Shane, managed a farm near Red Deer. She also loved Photography.
I got to know Ingrid as part of Liam and Kathy's larger family.
Some favorite memories of Ingrid are from the annual Airshow Barbeques that Liam and Kathy would host, and the water fights with Spencer and some of the other kids.
Obituary.
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Howard at Sunshine 2004
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Spencer - chasing Ingrid with his water pistol.
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Roland, Howard, Mitch and Rod - Sunshine 2004
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Waterfight 1997 Airshow Party at Liam's.
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Howard and Arnie - riding the Gondola
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Kathy, Spencer and Ingrid
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