More views

This way taken on the way back to Calgary - plenty of cloud cover

Here we are taking off from the Victoria airport - my new favourite airline - Westjet. They have direct flights from Calgary to Victoria so it is just over an hour to get to Victoria. In April, I am going to Montreal for Easter to visit the relatives and Westjet has a direct flight Calgary to Montreal - no stopping in Toronto or Ottawa - that is going to be awesome! Will only take like 4.5 hrs instead of 7hrs as I usually have to do the change plane thing in Toronto.

View from the Skies

Last weekend, I went on a little trip to Vancouver Island to visit a couple of my friends. Unfortunately, it rained the whole time I was there, but it was great to just catch up with Heidi and Kerri. The island atmosphere is so different from Calgary - its one of being laid back and relaxing. Some things have not changed since I lived in Victoria - like all the billboards along the hwy going into the city. The grass was also so lush and green unlike Calgary that is nicely covered with more snow. Above were the only photos I took on my trip this time around - the Rockies. Heading up to Three Hills tonight - it will be great to spend time with more friends too. Definitely blessed in that category.

Just to update you....

Well, the snow keeps on coming. Due to some street parking issues in regards to an one tonne truck, I have been parking on my parking pad that is at the back of the house. Since I have no deck (a temporary thing) there is only one way into the house - front door. With all the snow we have had for the past week, I have been daily shovelling myself a path from the front door to my parking pad and even shovelling the parking pad so it is easy to walk around. It is a bit of a pain at the moment - but Spring is not that far off and hopefully the deck won't be too far behind.

For those I haven't told - I began my casual job at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. With today's technology, they are going forward towards an electronic medical record. My present duty is scanning all the reports that come into the office for the various outpatient clinics. It is two evenings a week for about 4 hours (weekends I still have off for myself). The great thing is the TBCC is attached to FMC where I work, and the "school bus" runs until regularly until 8:20pm and via a cellphone number until midnight. So I go from my full time job to my casual job. There are some familar faces from the other sites, so it is like working at home. It is a nice feeling. Just like Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital, in about 5-6 yrs time, a Cancer hospital with about 110 inpatient beds will be built for Calgary. For my profession, that means they will need coders for both their inpatient and outpatient beds. Now that I work for them, it has my foot in the door for any future professional opportunities.

A funny thing did happen at my new job already - on Friday I met one of the staff members and we got talking - that small talk thing. Next thing we know, my roommate Jessica is actually teaching this lady's two children music!! How bizzare - that her children and my roommate are at the same school. We had a good laugh, while shaking our heads.

This weekend in Alberta, is actually a long weekend as on Monday it is a provincial stat holiday - Family Day. In January I was able to take advantage of Westjet seat sales and will be heading off to Vancouver Island for the weekend. I am looking forward to the break of scenery plus a chance to visit with my sister's friend Kerri Ann in Victoria and my friend Heidi in Sooke. I promise to take photos too.

Well you should be pretty much updated now. Take care - keep warm too!!

Sharon and Evelyn

Sharon making sure the tops of the panels all matched up.

While Evelyn was cutting the bottoms even, Sharon made sure the tops of the panels didn't move on Evelyn.

Evelyn doing the final measurements before cutting off the excess material so the bottom of the panels were all even. We kept Evelyn definitely busy tonight as she went back and forth between the two quilts helping with pinning or helping me get the panels even. She was a great help - plus she had brought a yummy dessert - Thanks Evelyn!!

Proof are in the Pictures

Well, proof are in the pictures - there I am (white shirt) assisting the ladies with pinning and ensuring the panels were even. I was working on the personal quilt of my dad's. We almost got it ready for sewing but our panels weren't quite even so I had to do ripping out seams and repinning so they could be resewed. It should be good to go for next Monday. Here Evelyn and Sharon were helping me out. Oh yes, tonight Linda presented me with my own seam reaper!!! So it is now officical - I am a Reverse Quilter!!!! Very Exciting!

Pinning the Panels

Elsie, Brenda and Evelyn working on the marathon quilt for my dad. They were putting safepins joining the panels to the batting (I hope I spelled that correctly). We had both quilts spread out on the santuary floor as we share the church with Pioneer Club downstairs.

Ada, Evelyn and Elsie continuing to do the pinning of the marathon quilt. It will be ready to sew next Monday.

Ada cheering on Sheryl as she pinned some of the t-shirts that had to be added to ensure all the panels were the same length.

ice sculptures from Lake Louise

more ice sculptures

Animal Art Work

Wolves

Cougar and Sheep Horn

On the way back to the car in Banff we walked passed this fence with 3-D metal animal art work. Here is Barb inbetween two bisons.

Banff Winter Festival

On the way back to Calgary, we stopped into Banff who were having their winter festival. We saw these antlers on the fence and thought it would be a funny picture to take. Can you guess what animal would have these antlers???? After three guesses the park staff told us they belong to Wild Caribou which are indangered and probably will be extincted due to the highways breaking their migation route.

Sitting on my royal ice thrown. It was nice having that extra padding instead of sitting on the ice directly.

Views from Lake Louise

Barb enjoying the view of Chateau Lake Louise on the frozen waters of Lake Lousie

I must admit it was quite fun walking on the Lake. We did see some cracks in the snow, but we put that right out of minds and concentrated on the beautiful scenery around us. It is quite the sight, especially with such a blue sky above us. We are so fortunate to be living in a province like Alberta after an hour drive you are surrounded by nature's wonder.

I got Barb to take a photo of me on the lake with the Queen Victoria Glacier behind me.

Queen Victoria Glacier

With the Lake frozen, Barb and I were able to walk a fair distance to get a better look at the mountain range around Lake Louise.

I took this photo on the way back to the car. Always found a scene like this so beautiful and relaxing too.

Laura and Barb

Open water leading to the ice and snow covered Lake Louise and in the distance you can see the Queen Victoria Glacier

The creek by Chateau Lake Louise with its banks blanketed by freshly fallen snow.

Myself and Barb on the bridge leading to the Chateau. Behind us is Lake Louise and Queen Victoria Glacier. Though it was nippy and we returned to the car with runny noses and rosy cheeks - I am so glad that we were able to go - it was a beautiful day.

Chateau Lake Louise Ice Castle

As it is winter, Lake Louise is covered by snow and ice. They created an Ice Castle built on the frozen lake. There were people skating around the castle as well as inside it too. Typical Canadians, a hockey stick was always around. In the distance you can see glacier named after Queen Victoria. In the summer time, the Lake Louise water is quite the sight with it different shades of blues and greens.

As the ice sculptures were in front of the Chateau Lake Louise, it only was fitting to have an ice plaque. Here I am leaning on it.