I've spent the last three days unpacking boxes, still not done, and doing laundry. Tonight the last hour or so has been getting the posting done from before. I leave tomorrow to meet up with Joseph and Salvador. Of course, Jacquelynn and Victoria will be there to share the laughs and good times. Vikki has been exercising to get ready for Hawaii; I have been eating. I think I have gained back at least the 10 pounds I lost before I left. Oh well, exercise when I come back, just a bit more tanned.
Good night.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday- July 26th Home
This is the original message I wrote for Tuesday, but was unable to post.
This morning is Tuesday, and the clouds have cleared here in Orem, Utah. I have to say the hotel stay went from bad to worse, just my luck. I opted to skip the hotel breakfast and cross the parking lot to eat at IHop. Entering began simply enough, but once I was ready to be seated, I turned and ran into a former colleague - Celleste Tally, from Helmers. Wow! Small world! Pancakes and updating emails then on the road. It was a LONG day of driving!!!! I had rain storms most of the way, so the top was up most of the day. Just outside of Las Vegas, the sun came out and the temperature was near 100, so the convertible went down! It was a relatively quick drive - texting before crossing into Victorville assured me we were all in town for tacos - 6:30 PM La Cabana. It's good to be home. :-)
Vegas from the freeway, as I was driving - not so good, one handed.
Monday - July 25th Montana - Wyoming - then Utah
This was the original message I wrote Monday evening when trying to update.
NO PICTURES - I'M TIRED!!! It's Monday, and I'm heading south. I was in Great Falls, Montana this morning. After sleeping in until 7:30 AM, I was up and out to get coffee. No Tim Hortons in the area, butI did find a Starbucks. With great gas mileage on my Mini i had enough fuel to make it all the way down just south of Butte. Montana. I did make a bit stop in Helena, To visit the bakery that I found on my way up. It was great, almond biscotti - yummy. I couldn't resist the fresh bread, so I bought bouelle? I'm taking it home, so I hope Joseph and Vikki will be there to help eat it. Once I navigated out of Helena, it was easier than I had thought; I was back on the 15 heading south.
Just outside of Twin Falls, along the Missouri Rover, in Dearborn, Montana, there were dream houses! I couldn' believe the views of the river and the surrounding mountains. While there weren't large evergreens or pines, there were shrubs, and it wasn't completely brown - like home. As much as I like the ranch houses, I couldn't help but admire the log cabins, quaint and homey. It looked like these people get regular visits from not only the bunnies butte deer as well. There was fencing, maybe 5' high surrounding the gardens. These were gardens that were as big as a garage, bet Donna would love them!
I stopped just as I was dropping into Butte., Montana to see the scenic views - wow! I can only imagine the settlers coming into this valley and thinking God had sent them specifically to it. The view is breathtaking! interesting fact that Butte began as a gold mining town, but is kown for the million sof dollars worth of copper coming out of the area. After strip mining and big hole? mining became the method of choice, BUtte struggled to compete. It is however a national landmark and is a small town area.
Navigating from the gas stations back on to the freeway can be a bear with all of the construction! Wow! Dump trucks everywhere!!! I guess this confirms the thought that the work force is based on construction- public roads. Sadly, I saw a beautiful doe foraging for food in the broad daylight, way too close to the freeway. :-( I haven't seen any deer today, other than the 1 I saw this morning. Strange -
Once I left Butte,it's been drive- drive- drive. I has stopped in Idaho Falls, Idaho for a real meal. Since I have left Barb and her family in Canada, I have had coffee and junk food- Dad's Cookies. Maybe the starvation ride back will help me shed the excessive pounds I am sure too have put back on this trip?And I still have another 2 days here and 8 in Hawaii -eek!!! The road is long and borin, even worse going it solo. Luckily, periodic reception permits me to check email and text messages from friends at home. Lun-Din as Samantha called it, is nearly doner here at Olive Garden, another favorite of hers. I'll have spaghetti for dinner once I settle tonight.
I wish the rest of the evening would have gone as well as the rest of the trip. I managed to request a room this morning, at the Hampton Inn, so I thought. Using their book, and contacting their number in Ogden, Utah, my reservation was sent to some town further south. Well, I have finally arrived after rain delay and more road work. I'm waiting for a microwave to be brought up, so I can heat my dinner. Yuck!
Well, like my boys say, after some sleep, tomorrow will be better.
Sunday - July 24th
I didn't get up as early as I had hoped; Barb beat me up. Add to that, she had to drive along side of me down to the main road beside her aunt and uncle's house or I was sure to be delayed by another hour or so.
I said my good-byes and headed south, towards home.
Barb's dad, George gave me detailed directions and she colored the map for me, so I was to reach Great Falls by evening. I did really well with time, until I had to navigate through both Edmonton and then Calgary. Both times I had to stop for a cup of coffee and a look at the map, oh - and a few inquiries with the work crews who were great at redirecting me the correct detours.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday - July 23rd Last day in Goodsoil
The rest of the blog will have to be updated tomorrow. I'm home and was lucky enough to meet with friends tonight for tacos. It's good to be back in Acton. :-)
I'm finally getting these last few entires done, as I am leaving tomorrow to meet up with my boys in Hawaii. Its good to be home in Acton!!!
I'm finally getting these last few entires done, as I am leaving tomorrow to meet up with my boys in Hawaii. Its good to be home in Acton!!!
I was busy TRYING to catch a fish. I hate fish, so luckily, I just threw the line and lure, but caught nothing. I did get a few large jerks, which I recall meant there was fish watching the line.
Friday - July 22nd in Goodsoil
Today's Friday and it's raining. While it's been raining off and on for a few days, we've been able to get out and do things when it's stopped. Today we worked on the garage flooring before it began to rain. We've been shoveling dirt put to level the floor and then Barb's dad, George, is going to have sand delivered and spread. I'm not sure when the walls go up, but it should look great. I asked for a picture of the finished project - maybe Spring?
After passing through the town, we headed out to the lake for our lunch. We found a cute eatery, right at the dock. It was designed with retro things, great things we laughed about and remembered with smiles
After passing through the town, we headed out to the lake for our lunch. We found a cute eatery, right at the dock. It was designed with retro things, great things we laughed about and remembered with smiles. Part of the lunch was Poutine, a traditional snack. It was yummy!!!! calories for sure. It included french friers covered with a thin layer of brown gravy and cheddar cheese.
Because it was so cold, we went for the soup, and that was great, too. A short walk along the dock to check out the teperature of the water was next and ultimately, a stop into a gift shop there that was beautiful. The houses along the shore front were adorable cottages that served as bed and breakfast businesses, and looked out on to the lake. We learned that the lake does actually freeze during the winter, closest to March, when it hits negative 40 degrees. I've decided this is NOT a place for me to live during the winter.
Back to Goodsoil and some down time there at George's house before the call came to remind us about "steak Night," in town. At the restaurant/ bar where Drew works, they have steaks for dinner on Friday night. We hadn't arrived back early enough to beat the oil guys in, but we managed to get a table and space to cook our steaks, too. It seems you order steaks and Drew gives you your raw, Alberta beef steaks and garlic bread. You take it back to the grill and cook it how you like. While you wait, you can help yourself to salads and bake potato with the toppings. Dinner was great.
Just before we left, Drew showed up with his computer,so I borrowed it for a few mintues to check email. Then we were off to George's place by the lake.
I'm getting a bit better with directions, but I am still not sure I'm going to make it out of here and not get lost! There are very few signs. Luckily, Barb says all I need to do is knock on the closest farm house, and they'll help me. Just as we were turning into the area, we saw a doe and her 2 fawns. The babies had little white spots, just like Bambi.
With the rain still coming down, Barb and I decided to pack it in for the night. A short crocheting lesson was all Barb coulde handle. She was off to read and get some sleep.
Thursday - July 21st in Goodsoil
Once everybody was up, we spent a bit of the morning working on the list of jobs Barb's dad left for us. Yesterday's work was easy! We speckled, sanded and wiped up the dust. Today, on the other hand, required some muscles, which I have very little! We were to remove the soil that filled the inner section of the garage foundation, so there was a 2" clearance. It was a slow start, as grass had started growing in the area since there has been so much rain. We worked for a bit, then we had to take a break and spray bug spray to keep those darn blood sucking bugs away!!!! After Drew paced out the half- way measurement, we decided that was adequate digging for the day.
Inside to clean up and make quick sandwiches, then we were off to the dock. With Barb's help, Drew got us launched and moving, fast! We tooled around the very large lake, discovered a new cove,and even tried our hand at lure fishing. We all had some tugging on the lines, but no fish. Barb assures me that the fish from this lake, Lac des Isles, are great, and don't taste fishy. Drew says some of them are oilier than others. Regardless, I am not eating fish. but I didn't have to worry about anything, no catch.
Once we returned and docked the boat, Barb returned to digging, Drew made dinner, and I knitted. We were honored with dinner Drew had made, which was yummy!!! I learned a new way to make potatoes. Inside a ziplock bag, add cubed potatoes, olive oil generously and then Hidden Ranch dressing powder. Marinade for some time and place in the oven to toast for about 35 minutes. Yummy!!!!
Barb's Aunt Diane hosted Bingo at the community venter, so we went in to play. As I walked in, I decided I would donate anything Might win to Samantha's Memorial Scholarship Fund. I did win and Barb did too. We have another donation to deposit into the scholarship fund. On our way home, we stopped to say hello to Drew, at the restaurant/bar where he works. Barb and I ended the evening with another game of Cribbitch. She won! Off to bed tonight.
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