August 26, 2017 -- Back on the Boat!
Following a 15-hour journey from Calgary to the boat in Marina di Valletta, Malta, we still had enough energy to take off all the covers, prepare the valves, and unpack all our stuff. The four weeks in Canada gave us a full week with each of our daughters and family and beat the 40+ temperatures that hit Malta in our absence. We exited Schengen on the 90th day of our 90 day allotment, and reset our passport for another 90 days.
Below: Hailey and I hiking behind our house in Calgary. Cousins Hailey and Kate in the pool; cousins Dex and Nolan in Saskatchewan; and Hailey and Kate goofin' around.
Following a 15-hour journey from Calgary to the boat in Marina di Valletta, Malta, we still had enough energy to take off all the covers, prepare the valves, and unpack all our stuff. The four weeks in Canada gave us a full week with each of our daughters and family and beat the 40+ temperatures that hit Malta in our absence. We exited Schengen on the 90th day of our 90 day allotment, and reset our passport for another 90 days.
Below: Hailey and I hiking behind our house in Calgary. Cousins Hailey and Kate in the pool; cousins Dex and Nolan in Saskatchewan; and Hailey and Kate goofin' around.
August 19 -- In Alberta
Following a week and a bit with each of our four daughters, their husbands, and our five grand kids, our month in Canada is coming to an end. The house repairs and maintenance are now complete and the next step is for our management company to find new tenants. Ironically, there's not much to report, but our days are filled to exhaustion with the little people in our lives. There's so much love and joy surrounding us.
Following a week and a bit with each of our four daughters, their husbands, and our five grand kids, our month in Canada is coming to an end. The house repairs and maintenance are now complete and the next step is for our management company to find new tenants. Ironically, there's not much to report, but our days are filled to exhaustion with the little people in our lives. There's so much love and joy surrounding us.
August 9, 2017 -- In Alberta
Con and I returned to Canada the end of July to spend a month with our family, but also to take care of a number of things in Calgary. Con's business is taking a new direction and needed attention. Also, the tenant's lease was up in our house, and with the oil and gas industry slowing down in Alberta, they did not renew. Our tenants moved back over the border to the USA where oil and gas business is flourishing. Sadly, the combination of our anti-Alberta, socialist-styled PM Trudeau, the various Canadian environmentalists holding the country at ransom, and those hoping to control our industry through false and bias climate reports and a low-priced competitive world all of which are all having dire affects on business in Canada. But enough about my rant.
While the weather was blistering hot in Malta, we returned to Canada on the 90th day of our 90 days in 180 days we're allowed in Schengen (nearly all of the European countries). We've had the joy of spending every single day with our beautiful and growing grandkids, five of them, aged between nine months to nine years old. In between visits, Con is in business meetings, and together we're managing skilled labour to do minor repairs and upkeep on the house. With so many people leaving our province for oil and gas opportunities over the border, the challenge to rent our place will be tough.
Last week, our daughter Courtney joined hubby Mike in Houston where he is relocating his business (oil and gas) because that country is open for business. In between Astro vs Blue Jays games, Courtney spent the time investigating houses and good schools for Hailey. We had Hailey all to ourselves for four days.
Below, our daughter from Saskatchewan, Brit was in town for grandson and hockey enthusiast Nolan who was participating in a summer hockey camp in Calgary. Nine-month old Amy and big sister, 23-month old Kate joined mom, daughter Lindsey who drove into Calgary from Red Deer (1 1/2 hour drive) for a visit.
Con and I returned to Canada the end of July to spend a month with our family, but also to take care of a number of things in Calgary. Con's business is taking a new direction and needed attention. Also, the tenant's lease was up in our house, and with the oil and gas industry slowing down in Alberta, they did not renew. Our tenants moved back over the border to the USA where oil and gas business is flourishing. Sadly, the combination of our anti-Alberta, socialist-styled PM Trudeau, the various Canadian environmentalists holding the country at ransom, and those hoping to control our industry through false and bias climate reports and a low-priced competitive world all of which are all having dire affects on business in Canada. But enough about my rant.
While the weather was blistering hot in Malta, we returned to Canada on the 90th day of our 90 days in 180 days we're allowed in Schengen (nearly all of the European countries). We've had the joy of spending every single day with our beautiful and growing grandkids, five of them, aged between nine months to nine years old. In between visits, Con is in business meetings, and together we're managing skilled labour to do minor repairs and upkeep on the house. With so many people leaving our province for oil and gas opportunities over the border, the challenge to rent our place will be tough.
Last week, our daughter Courtney joined hubby Mike in Houston where he is relocating his business (oil and gas) because that country is open for business. In between Astro vs Blue Jays games, Courtney spent the time investigating houses and good schools for Hailey. We had Hailey all to ourselves for four days.
Below, our daughter from Saskatchewan, Brit was in town for grandson and hockey enthusiast Nolan who was participating in a summer hockey camp in Calgary. Nine-month old Amy and big sister, 23-month old Kate joined mom, daughter Lindsey who drove into Calgary from Red Deer (1 1/2 hour drive) for a visit.
Above, the one-day old hornet's nest in Lindsey and Les' back yard. They left the next day for 2 1/2 week holiday returning Monday, so we get to see HOW BIG the nest has grown! Hailey and Opa are going up the chair lift (a first for Hailey) and down the luge run in the sled pictured. Super fun for all of us, and they can really fly down the curving hill. Con, his daughters Nick and Brit, hubby Kris and grandsons Dex and Nolan went last week (pictured below). Also, pictured below is Louie, our new family member (the pup) having a fabulous walk behind our house in Nosehill Park. Hailey and I had our hair done. Mine is cool, with the back and sides shaved, top longer, and Hailey received a streak of blue.
Our house: The centre picture was my home office overlooking Nosehill Park, and Con's office was next door on the left below. It's been nostalgic returning to our house remembering when Con and I first started living together there in 2003.
We visited Larry's beautiful site and left sunflowers.
April 2017 in Canada
Con and I returned to Canada from Panama City, Panama following three months living on the 51st floor of the Trump Tower. We arrived to a prolonged Canada winter with snow still falling off and on throughout the month.
We helped Lindsey, Les, Kate and Amy move into their new house, played with Courtney, Mike and Hailey, and visited with Brit, Kris, and Nolan who drove to Calgary from Carrot River staying with Nick and Dex. The cousins got together a few times for fun memories. Easter weekend, everybody gathered at Lindsey and Les' new house for Easter dinner.
Con and I returned to Canada from Panama City, Panama following three months living on the 51st floor of the Trump Tower. We arrived to a prolonged Canada winter with snow still falling off and on throughout the month.
We helped Lindsey, Les, Kate and Amy move into their new house, played with Courtney, Mike and Hailey, and visited with Brit, Kris, and Nolan who drove to Calgary from Carrot River staying with Nick and Dex. The cousins got together a few times for fun memories. Easter weekend, everybody gathered at Lindsey and Les' new house for Easter dinner.
Above, Easter at Lindsey & Les' new digs.
Below, the cousins.
Below, the cousins.
April 21 -- Six of my girlfriends gathered at Ellen's beautiful Okanagan Lake waterfront property for an extra-long weekend. Shirlee flew in from Vancouver, Terry from Saskatoon, and Karen, Nadina, Ellen and I flew in from Calgary. Meeting at the Kelowna airport, we rented two cars and drove an hour to the property. Rain was promised each day, but it didn't come but in a few drizzle drops. Saturday morning, following a delicious breakfast, we piled into one car and drove a short distance to park below the Okanagan Falls. The six of us hiked up to the top to view a spectacular spring waterfall. In the next week or so, it's expected to be much bigger. Upon returning to the property, I was anxious to play in the water. Ellen's garage was filled with water toys, a bit like a candy shop for me. Despite the cold spring lake water, I tried the paddle surfer, and Terry and Ellen took out the paddle boat. Later, Ellen and I took a kayak each and paddled along the shore front.
April 25, 2017 -- Con and I arrived at the Calgary Airport at exactly the same time, Con returning from Vancouver Island where he visited friends and family, while I was in the Okanagan, which is a beautiful lake area in British Columbia. We had a fabulous night at the new Marriott Hotel in the airport enjoying a late check out before boarding our flights to Poland ending our Canada leg of our six-months on land. Visit: Poland for stories and photos.
November, 2017 -- Flew from Cartagena, Spain to Canada to visit family for Christmas
Wrapping up the year with family is the most precious part of life and this November and December was extraordinary. In November, my brother Doug and sister-in-law Merrilee visited us aboard Big Sky for a few weeks and together we toured the Andalusian region of Spain. The day after they left for Toronto, we flew to The Netherlands to spend time with Con's large family. Six of us toured the spectacular medieval town of Amersfoort on a two and a half hour walking tour. We then flew to Calgary, and drove to Red Deer to begin our whirlwind, non-stop play with our five grandkids, aged 1 to 9 years old.
Wrapping up the year with family is the most precious part of life and this November and December was extraordinary. In November, my brother Doug and sister-in-law Merrilee visited us aboard Big Sky for a few weeks and together we toured the Andalusian region of Spain. The day after they left for Toronto, we flew to The Netherlands to spend time with Con's large family. Six of us toured the spectacular medieval town of Amersfoort on a two and a half hour walking tour. We then flew to Calgary, and drove to Red Deer to begin our whirlwind, non-stop play with our five grandkids, aged 1 to 9 years old.
December — Time with our four daughters, seven grandkids (including two step grandkids in Carrot River) and nasty flu bugs.
The flu bug arrives in Alberta in November like clockwork and sticks around until January and sometimes until spring. Living on Big Sky with ample sunlight, fresh air, and fresh foods, we’re isolated from diseases, but the bug bites every fall when we return to Canada. This year, Con had a triple dose and I’ve miraculously side stepped it.
Mid December, we flew to Texas the same day as Courtney, Mike, Hailey, and their white lab Louie. Mike opened up Texas as a growth area for his business and it’s flourishing. While our Canadian government systematically shuts down the oil and gas industry in Alberta using environmental lobbyists, and other tactics, major industry players are sadly heading south. We returned December 19th driving to Red Deer with a major snow storm on our tail. The next day, still out running the storm, we drove 11 hours to Carrot River for Christmas with our oldest daughter and family. Weather in Carrot River this visit has hovered in the -35 to -45 degrees (including wind chill) impossible to go outside... unless you’re a true blue Northern Canadian like our grandson Nolan and daddy Kris, who spent hours outside prepping lumber for the wood-burning stove. It’s used as a back up, and in this case, a supplementary heating system for the house. The propane usually used freezes at -40, so the wood is a necessity.
At the Tisdale ice rink watching Nolan play hockey, Con won the 50-50 cash draw. This was his second win in as many times as he’s purchased tickets.
The flu bug arrives in Alberta in November like clockwork and sticks around until January and sometimes until spring. Living on Big Sky with ample sunlight, fresh air, and fresh foods, we’re isolated from diseases, but the bug bites every fall when we return to Canada. This year, Con had a triple dose and I’ve miraculously side stepped it.
Mid December, we flew to Texas the same day as Courtney, Mike, Hailey, and their white lab Louie. Mike opened up Texas as a growth area for his business and it’s flourishing. While our Canadian government systematically shuts down the oil and gas industry in Alberta using environmental lobbyists, and other tactics, major industry players are sadly heading south. We returned December 19th driving to Red Deer with a major snow storm on our tail. The next day, still out running the storm, we drove 11 hours to Carrot River for Christmas with our oldest daughter and family. Weather in Carrot River this visit has hovered in the -35 to -45 degrees (including wind chill) impossible to go outside... unless you’re a true blue Northern Canadian like our grandson Nolan and daddy Kris, who spent hours outside prepping lumber for the wood-burning stove. It’s used as a back up, and in this case, a supplementary heating system for the house. The propane usually used freezes at -40, so the wood is a necessity.
At the Tisdale ice rink watching Nolan play hockey, Con won the 50-50 cash draw. This was his second win in as many times as he’s purchased tickets.
