Minnesota and Fall Outing

It was high time for us to make it out to Prinsburg again. What better way than to combine a journey all the way there with our fall outing.


It was definitely fall weather, with quite a bit of rain, even more dismay for the local farmers who were wanting to get their sugar beet, and corn and beans off the fields.

But it was superb weather for enjoying a very relaxing time at home with Marlene. We got to wave hello to lots of the local folks who drove by, a fine and true local tradition.


We were able to worship at the new URC in the school library and had a great Sunday dinner with Eric and Sara's family over. But Eric and Sara's clan also were busy with sore throats which cut in on the fun somewhat.

Later we traveled down to Luverne to Bruce and Kristi and their clan. We even got a sneak preview at their new home out in the country which they'll move into in November. Even carved a couple of pumpkins. And.... we managed to hit a deer (missed the other 2 in the herd) on the way home from visting them, but only a basketball-sized ding in Marlene's car hood.

It was super relaxing and laid-back. Wonderful meals and easy-going fun, including a trip to the local thrift store, and stopping to watch the amazing line of trucks getting unloaded of their sugar beets into monstrous piles in a drop-off area.

On the way home we traveled part of the way down the east shore of the Mississippi River.

 

 

A wonderful week!

An October Visit with Mom V.

Joanne planned a visit from California. that became a great nucleus around which to make Mom's birthday gathering some weeks later, so that she could join in.

Wendy and Cheryl made it out so we had a great gathering.

And Mom was in great spirits, enjoying our company the whole time.

She now has a wonderful new place at Shalom Manor in Grimsby.

We brought various items including chocolates and clothing.

We sang, we played harmonica, performed some charades for Mom.

And afterward made our traditional visit to a local Swiss (Chicken) Chalet.

God bless you Mom!

2 Weeks at Restoule - Summer Waited for Us!

After a very cool summer we arrived at Restoule, where, after some light rain Saturday overnight, we had two glorious weeks of weather, the best of the whole summer. It was hard to believe it was the first two week of September! We met our fine Christian friends, the J's who live out there, and where we later dined on Blair's amazing fish.

Wonderful times of canoeing, hiking, canoeing, reading, canoeing, renewing friendships, canoeing, and relaxing in sunny, low and mid 20's days. Sunrises and sunsets, both visible from the park's small peninsula beach. Oh yes, and we sure enjoyed our time canoeing too.

Ah, Sundays, Corner Gospel Church, a lovely group of people whom we appreciate more each year, so that our Sundays, worshiping with them, at the chapel in the morning, and at someone's home in the evening, makes our Sundays up north highlights of themselves.

As a former school mate once remarked, about camping... "here we are again at our voluntary slum living..." Well, with the comforts of our tent trailer, now with a working fridge, a comfortable bed, couches, and bug screens, fine vehicles for both highway and water. Oh my, how much clutter we live in.

The Blogger editor insists that our vacation was backward from how I told it. So I won't try and describe the pictures since there is no rhyme or reason where they'll land up... they are now owned by Blogger, which knows better.

So, just a clump of disjointed shots, but it will give an impression of what we did, or saw.

Ah, but the solitude and peace and the beauty. Just looking around it is exceedingly baffling that not everyone who's spent some time vacationing here with even slightly open eyes would not immediately want to pursue getting to know the amazing God Who has created it all!

Our New Bike Track

Dan and Jolene's Joshua and Nathan came to visit Thursday. After supper we went to the new Bike Park at McLennan Park (Mt. Trashmore).

There are about 4 or 5 tracks, 2 with shorter bumps and 2 others with longer runs (adjacent to the toboggan slope)

While an emergency crew took away a seriously injured biker from a more advanced track (a regular event), we let the boys try the bikes out on a small circular track near the bottom of the hill. Needless to say, they had a great time.

Within a very short time both seemed to feel quite at ease as you'll see on the video, like it's just the natural thing to do. (certainly easier than working with this horrible, free Blogspot software which totally has a mind of its own as to where it decides to put text and pictures - unreal!)

Kevin's already been out here too with his mountain bike, but we have no pictures. Even I have been on another part of the track's smallest bumps with my big-wheeled hybrid - scary!

In retrospect, we hope this has not whetted appetites for a dangerous new interest ....

Some grandparents.... sigh!

(The video comes from our old Kodak camera - so apologies for the flickering quality)

A Gift for Steve & Nicole (temporary post)

Grandma explains it all in her video...

We're giving the gift along with Auntie Etta, who is coming to visit Laurie and Steve soon! 

The Wedding - Dream Week .... Mountaintop...

Well... the wedding week came and went, flashed by like a dream...

Started with Kevin and Greg leaving early on Monday for a 50 hour Miata trip from Kitchener to Sedro Woolley....

Mary & I, plus Mom, Margaret, and Marlene were hosted by Gord and Carol... amazing... low stress... fantastic food... wonderful company.... like a B&B vacation... thank you... thank you... thank you... thank you!!!!!!!!

The rehearsal, the wedding... other than a rainy Saturday, and Holly being ill, went wonderfully well..... WELCOME NICOLE to our clan!!!

And our clan was all there... including 2 privileged grandsons, Joshua and Nathan, not to mention Grandma E., Aunt Margaret, and other dear ones from California, Minnesota, Ontario, Illinois, BC, Washington..... wow!

We were on an emotional mountain top (plus a great day trip to Mt. Erie) the whole time! What a week!

But the title of our bedside book by Max Lucado reminded us... "It's Not About Me". And indeed ... to God be the Glory!

Our Vacation Place

And here's our favourite vacation destination, just spent 10 days here - Restoule...
(check out the panorama full-size! sigh...)