Happy 80th!

Friends, relatives and lots of sunshine descended upon the Flying G ranch today as Uncle Ed celebrated his 80th.

Big sister Clara was on hand to offer congratulations.

Sr. Ping provided a great musical tribute.

Best wishes from all of us Uncle Ed, and for many more to come!

Given the Boot!

I dare say that most of Raymondo's friends and acquaintances would not readily associate my behaviour as that which would get me thrown out of bars.

Guess what's coming?

An opportunity for bonding with my granddaughter turned out badly yesterday, as we both got tossed from Tony Roma's lounge.  Not having been caught with underage women in bars for a few years has evidently dulled my sense of precaution and adventure.

I was to meet a friend of mine for lunch in our usual watering hole.  Giving no thought to Alberta's outdated liquor laws, I invited my 11 year old granddaughter, Alliye to join us.  We arrived first and seated ourselves only to be approached by a somewhat anxious server who informed us we absolutely could not remain there any longer and must leave forthwith.  (That's not exactly the word she used, but her meaning was unmistakable).

So, not wanting you to hear any worrisome rumours of some depraved grandfather corrupting young Lloydminster women, I make a full confession here.  At least, Alliye and I will be able to have some future chuckles about our "bonding" experience!

Prodigal Son?

After wandering in the desert for so many weeks, it was not Moses who returned to visit his Mom but Sr. Ping!  We enjoyed the delights of Pasta Tuesday at Boston Pizza in NB on, you guessed it, Tuesday!

They Are Back!

Our backyard was once again graced by dozens of robins this morning.  They were drinking from the water fountain and the fish pond, enjoying some (slightly) fermented crab apples, and just generally horsing around.  If you look back at my blogs from earlier this year you will see where they came through our yard in a springtime snowfall on their way north.  Now they are headed back on their southward migration.

If you look carefully, I'm pretty sure that this guy on the bottom is the SAME ONE that was in the mountain ash tree in April!  He has the same white eye ring, yellow beak, and stripes on the throat.  He does have a few more gray feathers, but that is what one gets after raising a family.

The New Fence gets a final coat!

The weather has been holding nicely so Roni and I recently ventured back to N.B. to give the new fence a final coat of paint. Ted, Colleen, Wanda, Roni and I built the fence on the July 1st weekend.

I hope everyone likes it as well as we do.

A New Fence!

This past weekend saw some furious activity at Grandma C's house. In between golf and card games, a new fence rose from the ashes of the old. Thanks to Ted, Colleen, Wanda, Roni and Ray, the southern boundary of 1292 is now more defined. All decked out in 'Rider green, this new fence is sure to turn heads! One more coat of paint should do it .... maybe with gold posts?

Grandma C admires her new fence.

Thank Goodness for Mothers and Brothers.

Thank goodness for mothers!

Almost every time we visit North Battleford we bring a few little extras back home with us. Last time, it was a bread bag partially filled with Grandma Clara's sugar cookies. The time before, it was some freshly baked buns. We've also enjoyed Nanking cherries, rhubarb, loaves of porridge bread, and, well, you get the idea. More often than not, when I've forgotten to make a dessert on my cooking days, I'll check the freezer and pull out a few of those cookies and presto, dessert is served! Thank goodness for mothers!

Thank goodness for brothers too. As I sit here this a.m., enjoying a fresh coffee and admiring a bouquet of our tulips, I am clad in a pair of brother Doug's short pants and a new Tortilla Flats t-shirt! Upstairs, I also have two more pairs of shorts, and two more t-shirts. Seems that some sizes fit me better than he, and so I am the lucky benefactor. I figure that I'm pretty much set for the summer season, clothing wise. Thank goodness for brothers!

Actually, in somewhat of a reversal, perhaps this is what may have occurred many years ago when we were kids. When the older brother outgrew his clothes they were passed along to the younger ones. I doubt that my hand-me-downs were in as good shape as those that I have most recently inherited though.

As an aside, I wonder if there are any other items out there that may not fit anymore? I'm running a bit short on casual shirts these days. As you can see from my previous blog, my "new" shirt is now at least three years old. Jackets are always good too.... leftover liquor,...... old gold......!