I've Been Busy at Other Things

I guess that four months between blog entries is a long time, but my excuse is that I've been busy. I've spent hours on the computer getting the new website store set up and running; the site went live November )1 for anyone who didn't know. Its quilttemplatesandmore.com and if you haven't visited the site yet, shame on you! Go to the site often, and make comments, read the blogs, and follow them, you can add it on google to the list of blogs you follow. They are pretty good blogs if I don't say so myself. You can reach the blogs at quilttemplatesandmore.com/blog/.  They are well worth the read. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to click the like button for Face book at the bottom of the page.
As I mentioned in my e-mail to all my daughters, get your friends to like the Face book page as well when you get them to check out the website. Start quilting to and buy some templates, you'll all be grandmothers one day and will need a grandmother hobby.

Wouldn't you like to be able to create beautiful quilts like this one, Bev's latest. If any one wants to learn i'm sure Mom would teach you so the quilting art can continue into the next generation.

Picture change

Did anyone notice that I changed the picture about two or so weeks ago? The gazebo wasn't there in the old picture, just the blocks on the gravel bed where it was going to be. Also there are way more flowers now, and the trees are bigger and fuller. So many people have said I haven't done anything on my blog for a while.
Well, we're up in Fort McMurray right now and having a great time. The population here is about 76000 which is only about 10000 less than Lethbridge. It's actually a pretty go to place. Lots of traffic, loads of busses taking workers back and forth to the oil sands plants , lots of parks and recreation centers, and most of the big shopping places. A pretty modern city actually, that has road construction every where you go.
I'll add pictures to the blog after we get home. Mallory and Cody live in a eery nice, fairly new apartment in one of the newer areas of the city.

Trip Home

Well, we made it home. Actually we got to Lethbridge about three this afternoon, and did some errands before coming home. It took about an hour, maybe, longer to get home than the all day marathon last Wednesday going out. We took Jen and Dan's suggestion and followed Hwy. #5, the Coquahalla or whatever Trail. It was a very beautiful drive and we enjoyed it. We had never been that way before, so every place and town etc. was a first for us. We spent last night in Golden, and ate at this restaurant that didn't look all that great, but the food was excellent. We got to Golden about nine last night. We had planned on staying at Kamloops, but we got there at six thirty and figured we could be in Golden before eight, which we did, but eight Vancouver time, as we passed through the time change between Kamloops and Golden and arrived at nine mountain time. We left Golden about nine thirty this morning, and we by-passed Calgary by taking the 22 to Black Diamond and then driving east past Okotoks to High River where we had Dairy Queen for lunch. Hey Coopers, you wouldn't recognize south Okotoks along that highway now. There were huge subdivisions past the Okotoks turnoff, along the north side of the highway, and even a big new mall with all kinds of stores plus a Costco. Amazing, but I guess we haven't been there for a few years now.
We're thinking of heading to Edmonton Thursday night to see the Patricks especially "Little Pete".

Saturday activities

It was a typical Saturday, lots of lazing around, watching tv, and wondering what to do. Madison was gone for about four hours at a stake Activity Girls program, and Clayton was gone all afternoon at a laser tag birthday party. Dan was called into work at the last minute, and was gone all day.
That left Mom, Me, Jen, Mac and Spencer for most of the day. We went shopping at the mall, walked the trails at the salmon hatchery, and walked down to the village and did some grocery shopping and looking around.
Once everyone was home in the evening, we had a nice pork roast supper with all the works, spent some time at a park with all the kids and then had mango ice cream for desert.
The weather was on and off rain and sun, but it never got to awful, just a little damp and cool.We're having lots of fun with the Coopers, and are glad we came!!!

Sunny Day

Well we had a great day Friday!!! It was a little chilly at times, but the sun came out quite a bit and it got fairly warm, about 10 Celsius I think. We went to Lynn Canyon Park where the suspension bridge is, and crossed it (even me who is afraid of heights, this can be done by looking straight down at the bridge decking, and resolutely walking forward). We had to cross it twice actually as the bridge was the only way into and out of the park hiking areas. We went for a hike to the bottomless pool, a hike that goes through the old forest of redwoods, douglas firs etc, and tons of moss and such, it was very tropical almost. Lots of people on the hike too, and four rambunctious kids who kept getting to close to a very fast moving river. We actually had our camera with us and Mom took a few pictures. We went in the visitors center and they had a pretty good display area about the animals and trees and communities in the park area historically. We ate lunch there sitting at a picnic table soaking up the sun.
We left there and then spent several hours at Barnet Park walking along the coast of the bay, looking for shells and just enjoying the view and watching the kids have fun. The tide was in , so there wasn't a lot of beach area, but enough to walk on the sand some. We also watched a fellow crab fishing, and he caught a few smaller crabs. There was also a huge tanker ship being moved through the bay by tug boats, and that was interesting to watch.
Spent the evening chez the Coopers where we had chicken, fries and pizza for supper. A very nice day!!!

First full day in Port Moody

Well, I read Jen's account of our fist day, and I agree that it did rain, especially in the afternoon and early evening......
(You have to remember though that even though it was raining it wasn't cold, so the weather doesn't put an end to all outside activities. Think about the days you've spent at our house when it was snowing all day, or the wind was blowing a hundred miles an hour all day, it's usually so cold and miserable that all outside activities are automatically cancelled, and a long day is spent cooped up in the house.)
Back to our day. We slept in and played the tourists, we got up about 8:30 and found out that the continental breakfast ended at 9:00, so I had to hurry down and get us muffins and orange juice before they locked the doors to the eating area.
We finally left the room about 10:00 or after and went of course to a Home Sense store or something like that. Then we went to Dan and Jens, where we all piled into their van and went to IKEA,(minus Dan who went to work for the morning). Bev got a couple of things there, and Dan joined us about 12:45 and we had lunch at IKEA, hotdogs and pop and cinnamon buns.
The men and boys went home in the van and played Mario on the Wii for a couple of hours (it was raining cats and dogs by then), and the women and Madisson went to Superstore for milk (and an excuse to get away from the menfolk).
We all went to the movies for the matinee at 4:30 and we saw "Rango". Not really what we expected, more of a teenager to adult cartoon movie, I think we were about half the audience.
Had hamburgers and all the fixins for supper at Jen and Dan's, and spent the evening watching tv and the kids going hyper.
All in all a pretty good day with grandkids who seemed thrilled to have us around (it got them out of school), looking forward to Friday!!!!!(Theres no clouds in the sky yet this morning compared to yesterday.....)
Bev thinks I'm writing to much.....

PORT MOODY

We made it here yesterday about 8:00 PM Port Moody time, or 9:00 Welling time, so it took us about 14 hours as we left at 7:00 AM Welling time. We stopped 3 times for gas, once in Crowsnest for only 15 dollars worth to top up before we went into BC, once in some place for 35 dollars worth, and then in Hope for 42 dollars worth, and we got to Port Moody from hope with still 7/8 of a tank left. We got pretty good gas mileage I think.
We stopped at the Subway in Creston for lunch, and one other time in Osoyoos for snacks. I guess about 13 hours of driving, not bad actually. We've been asking ourselves why we haven't come out more often, as it's only about as far as going to Salt Lake.
I guess Fort McMurray isn't as far, but thats another story. (cold and desolate and Mallory says there's so much to do). We'll probably make it up there sometime.....
Of course, it' raining out here, and the forecast is for RAIN all weekend. So much for a warm sunny week away. Should have gone south maybe.....
But we're looking forward to Clayton's baptism on Sunday, that's so exciting.
We're having fun, hope you all are too.

Random Questions by Dad.

1. What time did you go to bed last night and were you alone?
 
I went to bed about 12:30. I fell asleep in the living room after Mom went to bed, and after finishing a couple of late turns on the word game on my I-pod and after doing a crossword puzzle on there too. I'm almost always the last one to hit the sack here.

2. If you could be given ANY gift what would it be? 

Oh I don't know, maybe the gift of knowing that all you kids were financially stable and building beautiful homes, and just really settled for life.

3. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why? 

Actually Mom and I don't go to a lot of movies, but I have gone to some with John and Dave, that we walked out of. One was a terrible movie called The Gangs Of New York or something like that. Dave thought it might be real good. He doesn't make good movie choices.

4. What is your favourite TV show of all time ie you've seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it? 

Two come to mind, although there are probably several I could Name. I really liked and never missed MASH and All in the Family. I guess I've always been a Star Trek fan too.

5. Whats your favourite way to wake up and whats the first thing you do?

Alive, then roll out of bed and head to the Kitchen for some breakfast.

6. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name? 

You don't like Pete or Dad. I don't think I've heard to many names I don't like.

7. If you had to do a bushtucker challenge (you have to eat insects/grubs etc) what would be the worst thing you had to eat? 

This is a crazy question, but I have eaten snails or escargots.

8. Whats the worst/most embarassing CD/Album you've ever owned and do you still have it? 


Vacation in the Sun by the Tijuana Brass. It's actually on cassette tape if anyone remembers them, and yes I still have it. I should play it again one of these days.

11. What characteristics do you dislike in yourself? 

I'm not a game playing type of guy, and sometimes think my grandkids might like me better if I was.  

12. Your favourite item of clothing and why? 

Anything that fits and looks half way decent on me. Jeans especially.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be and who would it be with? 

Mom and I would love to go to England and France.

14. If you could have any animal/creature, What would be your ultimate pet be? 

I kinda like the fish in our pond.


15. What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be? 

I always wanted to be a scientist, but I outgrew that when I realized how much advanced Chemistry you had to take in University.
16. Whats the next planned event you're looking to in your life? 

We're going to Port Moody for Clayton's baptism. Can't hardly wait Clay.
17. What were you doing before you started this? 

We just finished moving all the big furniture items over to the Good Sams in Magrath for Grandma and Grandpa Wilde who are moving in there on Tuesday.


18. What was the last thing you ate that you really shouldnt of ? 

Chocolates at Grandma and Grandpa's.


19. If you were an ice cream flavour what would you be? 

Theres only one kind Pralines and Cream. Or maybe a Skor Blizzard.
20. Who was the last person you spoke to that you didnt want to talk to? 

I love talking to everyone. Ask some of my family who have thought it embarrassing that I would talk to whomever was next to me.

21. What was your favourite toy as a child? 

I loved my bike, and used to go all over on it in England.

22. When was the last time you cried laughing and why? 

I don't remember the last time I cried laughing. Guess I'm not much fun.

23. What is stashed under your bed/mattress? 

Not much, maybe an empty box or two.

24. What did you dream about last night? 

I can never remember my dreams, but I know I dream.

25. What are you really afraid of?


Getting older.

BREAD

Moms newest acquisition bought with airmiles. Mom baked the first loaf in it last night, and we had fresh bread for a treat about 10:30PM. The bread tasted fantastic, but the loaf wasn't pretty as the top was flat and kinda caved in, but the bread itself was very light and airy and delicious. Mom just has to figure out what went wrong. The manual has all sorts of recommendations for that particular outcome, including old yeast, too hot or too cold water etc.
Anyways, she wanted to have soup and fresh bread for super tonight, so she put all the ingredients in and set the controls for delayed start so the bread would be ready about 5:30 or 6:00 PM for supper. Well, something was set wrong and I guess we're having scrambled eggs and toast for supper, as the machine never turned on. It's going now, so there will be fresh bread at about 9:00 PM.
You're welcome to come try it out if you happen to be in the area. There's the cake also you know.

                                                                             

Well, it's been a while since my last blog, but nothing to earth shattering has happened around here lately.

About the picture though, thats the supper that yours truly made last night for Mom and I and for Grandma and Grandpa Wilde. Mom took it over to their house, it's the part that's missing in the pan. Anyways it's Emily's Southwestern Chicken Skillet that she had on her blog a while ago. It was very tasty, and is highly recommended. Unfortunately we didn't have any sour cream, and Mom and I both agreed that sour cream probably would have made it even better. Make sure you follow Em's advice and add the whole jar of salsa though. It might have been to dry with only a cup as called for in the recipe. Now for the cake, it's lemon cake with lemon butter cream icing. It was Steve's birthday, and I had a little time on my hands yesterday afternoon, so I decided Grandma and Grandpa Wilde would enjoy some dessert too, so I ventured into the cake making realm too. Not to say that Mom and I don't appreciate a good dessert once in a while. The cake tastes great also, especially with ice cream. We've got lots of the cake left, so if you're in the area drop in and have a treat. The Chicken dish however is pretty well all gone.

I don't have a clue as to what is going on with the blog today, so I'll just have to live with it centering all the printing. Of course one never knows what the final product will look like until you hit the Publish Post button.

It was -28 again this morning, I really don't know what's going on with the weather. We got probably more than 20 centimeters of snow again over the weekend and yesterday, winter just keeps on giving and giving. A lot of people we know from around here are heading south these days for a week or so in the sun. We had a week in Kalispel, where it was at least a little warmer. Would be nice to go a little further south one year I guess. But then we'd miss all this great weather.

We're luckier than some though. The Quapps who live kitty corner to Lorenzo and Barbara Davies had their house burn down last night. Fortunately they weren't home, so no one was hurt. It was still burning this morning,  and almost totally gone. They added on a year or so ago, and that part is the only part still standing, although I imagine it's a right off too. Hope they had good house insurance. Thats really tragic though, especially during this cold weather.

New Year, not much change.

She had wild and curly hair all week.

How cute.

Couldn't keep track of where these kids were.

We were all i-pod or i-phone crazy.

What can I say.

The grandkids all have beautiful smiles.

Closer inspection needed before approval granted.

I love food on my face.

It's been a while since I wrote anything on the old blog. I guess that nothing much has happened since Christmas, and I haven't been able to think of much to write about. Haven't taken to many blog worthy pictures either. I'll add a few random pictures of the Grandkids from Christmas. And maybe one or two others. Do you know how many times I had to down load those pictures before it worked?  Don't know what I'm doing wrong.
One of the cutest and most interesting evenings of the Christmas week was Christmas day. We were sat in the living room listening to the kids as they were Skypeing their cousins in Port Moody. They were yelling into the computer, showing all their gifts and just having what seemed like fabulous fun. Can't wait till next year!!!!!!!