The Sleeping Giant

The Sleeping Giant - Thunder Bay's famous landmark - took these during our walk at the Marnia

MAMA MIA!!!

Yesterday, was the day for just my mom and I. We began the morning with an hour plus walk from my mom's house to Intercity and back (about 3 miles). The sun was getting hot but there was a nice breeze coming off the water which was nice. Funny - on the way to Intercity we saw a group of about 10 Canadian geese on the water relaxing, and on our return it multiplied greatly to we estimated 50 geese. My mom and I were shocked to see how many arrived. Along the walk they have a Hope Garden Memorium - they sure have expanded the gardens -they are beautiful. My mom was saying it was my kindergarten teacher - Lana Lang who headed this project. I remembered she made the cover once for Canadian Gardener magazine - you can see why when you see the gardens.

My mom and I then received a manicure - without knowing we choose similar colour nailpolish - a dark burgeondy. Afterwards, we drove to South Gillies where I purchased some Thunder Bay made Gouda cheese - bought some for the gals at the Peter Lougheed site where I will be for the next couple of days.

After a short visit with our dear friends Jan and Gary, we were off to have dinner at the MadHouse - great food - they converted an old CIBC bank into a resturant which is across the street from another popular must in Thunder Bay - The Hoito. We had some time to spare and we went to the Marnia. The city has all these plans for the Marnia so it was nice to see it has I always remembered it as a kid.

We tried to see the early show of Mama Mia but it was sold out (Tuesday is cheap night) so we bought the tickets for the 10pm showing. I enjoyed the movie - found myself tapping my toes and humming along with the songs. Meryl Streep did a great job in her singing - surprised with Pierce Brosnon and Colin Firth though.

Thanks mom for a wonderful day.

An Audience while playing Scrabble

On a beautiful afternoon (there was a nice breeze) my mom and I decided to play a couple of games of Scrabble in the backyard. My mom won both games but they were good scoring games - over 520 points!! (and that is without a 7 letter word). During our games we had some entertainment from a couple of squirrels. They were racing up and down the utility pole for a good 10 minutes. It was cute.

My Mom's Garden

My mom has such an amazing green thumb. I have admired and enjoyed many a summer the backyard and seeing all that she has planted. She shares plants with her friends and her next door neighbour Cathy. My mom usually has tiger lilies and star-gazer lilies in her gardens. She has a special talent. I love the greenery she has near the far shed. She gave me some hints of what I can add to my landscaping next Spring.

Star-Gazer Lilies

When I arrived to Thunder Bay there was only one Star-Gazer Lily that had blossomed. By the 2nd day they had all openned up. The fragrance was wonderful in the backyard patio. My mom always has such a beautiful array of lilies in her backyard garden.

The Falls View across the Bridge

We walked across the bridge (can see it in the 2nd photo) to get another view of Kakabeka Falls. With the slight wind - you were given a spray which was refreshing with the hot sun beating on you. Thunder Bay received quite a large amount of rain earlier in the summer so there was plenty of water rushing over the Falls this summer. I saw a picnic bench by the info centre after you crossed the bridge - so if you had a day like we did - great stopping place for a bite to eat or have a snack.

Kakabeka Falls

At Kakabeka Falls

During my visit to Thunder Bay, my dad and his ladyfriend Christina took me to Kakabeka Falls for lunch as well as to see our "Little Nigara Falls of the North". I was fortunate for my whole visit - it was sunny everyday.

Casendra doing her dance

The night before I left for Thunder Bay - Sara and her 3 kids picked me up so they would be able to drop me off at the airport. We stayed at Grandma Char and Grandpa Andy's place - it was great seeing them all. Well, for whatever reason Casendra was wired - couldn't stay still and definitely had no interest in going down for the night. Here she is doing her little hulla-hoop dance swaying back and forth. It had all of us laughing as it was so cute. Eventually - Casendra (as did the rest of the kids) went down for the night. Sara and I visited and watched Micheal Phelps win one of his 8 gold medal swimming races.

Saying Goodbye to Mark and Susan

I choose the best Sunday to be in Thunder Bay. Today, was the last day the minister at my home church in Thunder Bay. Mark and his wife has been with us for the past 8 years. They will be missed at our church. It was within the first 4 years of their stay here that I had gotten to know especially Mark due to the different church committees I was on, plus as Youth Advisors for our city's Presbyterian churches. I held many a Christian Education Committee meetings in my dining room in which I was chair of. It was during this time, I made the decision to become a member of the Presbyterian church. I just hadn't felt that with our previous ministers at the church. One of the things I had to do was write about my faith as I read our Living Faith which we use for responsive readings during service. After Mark read that we had a wee interview to explain further what I wrote. Well, when the Sunday arrived and I became a member - I don't think their was a dry eye in the church - or that it what I was told. It all became emotional for me - having belonged to First Prebyterian Church since I was like 12 years of age, and the memories of my sister Kathryn. Usually the Session members shake hands with the new member - not with me - first person gave me a hug - so everyone got one.

Mark got quite used to my emotions rising up in church like when we presented a ghetto blaster to the Camp Quality director (Kathryn had attended one in Southern Ontario) - like it was natural Mark just took over in the presentation when I got choked up. Well, this morning, as Mark was talking with the children he got choked up - nice to know that I am not the only one who gets teary eyed at church.

All the best Mark and Susan in Woodstock. Thankfully with the internet we can still stay in touch. Thanks for being their for me during some trials I had to face too.

In Thunder Bay

Didn't get much work done on Wednesday. You can tell I was ready for this vacation time - I was getting excited at work about leaving for TBay (that normally doesn't happen). It has been a rewarding challenge training new staff members in inpatient coding, but it has been 12 solid weeks without a break - so this one week away will be a great time to recharge my batteries for another 5 weeks of training when I get back to Calgary next week.

Sara and the kids drove me to the airport (Funny enough - Andy, Char, and Jon were in TBay and Peter in Africa - so Sara drove down from 3 Hills to bring me to the airport!!). It was great seeing Sara and the kids too. We watched some of the Olympics - Micheal Phelps of the USA adding another gold to his medal count on the Wed night.

Within an hour of arriving to TBay, I met a friend for coffee by the hospital. Then drove home for supper with my mom where I turned around and had dessert and coffee with another friend. Friday morning was an early start - I drove my friend's parents to the airport - had to get up at 4am!!! I remember seeing that Andy and Char were going to be on their same flight, so once Heidi's parents got through the security, I waited to see Andy and Char as they prepared to head back to Calgary. A Happy Surprise for them. After having a quick nap - my mom and I went for coffee at a couple's house who we knew from our Symphony group. It was so good seeing them. In the evening, had dinner and a movie with my friend Inez. I have missed her the last couple of times when I have come through town so it was great catching up.

David and Erin and their children are in TBay visiting family and friends and with them having the van they are able to bring a few items back with them for me. It was great timing - as I was driving up to Erin's mom's place, they were just getting out of the van. I must admit it was great seeing the kids faces as they had just seen me a week earlier in Calgary. I think the best excitment came from Josiah - it was so cute. He was showing me his goody bag from a birthday party they went to at their Uncle Robin's house.

More visiting today and on Tuesday will be mom and me day - getting our manicure done and then go for dinner and a movie. We are going to see Mama Mia - we had seen the play in Toronto so we thought we would see how the portray it in a movie. Since I didn't bring my laptop - any photos I take you will have to wait til I get home for me to post them.

My Sisterhood of Friends

I was curious to know the definition(s) of what Sisterhood meant - here are two definitions - a group of women who have shared goals, experiences, or viewpoints AND the status of a sister or the relationship of sisters.

Last Friday, Amanda and I went to go see the sequel to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. From what I read in the paper, this sequel combined part of the 1st book and the next 3 books for this movie. It jumps to their college years and all that occurred one summer and the pants. Well, for those who know me well - I had my good cry half way through the movie when the rest of the background story of one of the gals - her mom at a young age had commit suicide. Amanda such a great friend offered me kleenex as she heard me sniffling. Love you Amanda!! This movie was a great example of how friends can interwine in your life. Even if you "lose your way" or think "things have changed" - something happens in our life and guess who is first in line to give you a hug or a word of encouragement.

My sister Kathryn will always be with me in my heart and memories, but I am so fortunate to have friends who I can also call my sisters. We have been there for each other sharing in laughs, tears and triumphs as we conquer a fear or challenge.

This October, I am looking forward to a trip to Florida. Amanda and I are heading for a week of adventure to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando with a mini cruise to the Bahamas. The neat thing is we are going to experience many first together as neither of us have been to Florida nor have we gone on a cruise. It should be lots of fun.

Solomon

Solomon the chip monster!!! It was so darn cute - made me smile and chuckle as I watched Solomon beside me eatting his bowl of chips. He was happy as a clam - breaking the larger chips in to smaller pieces and then eatting them. He even shared them with the dog - Ally. He was in his little own world as he didn't seem to notice all the different conversations going on around him.

Having fun on the trampoline

Journey, Ethan and Josiah having fun the trampoline.

Josiah, Journey and Ethan has a special bond too - they were born close together too - Ethan was born in December and Journey then Josiah were born in January. Once the shyness past, they played just like they did before Josiah left for Siberia.

Ethan and Josiah

Have I shrunk??

Here are Peter, David and Garron sitting on the swing and we noticed the contrast - we had such a great laugh as the way David was sitting in the middle he looks so much shorter and smaller compared to Peter and Garron. You did have to be there - but it was funny.

Char with her granddaughters

Emma enjoying the swing with Grandma Char as she hold Casendra

Char with Casendra

Char hold Casendra, on the swing are Sierra, Emma and Char's daughter Amanda