Home in the Ontario Snow

Well we safely arrived home in Ontario this past Sunday and boy oh boy does Ontario ever have snow! We definately notice it in the city subdivisions where the snow banks are higher than the vehicles, but we love seeing all the snow on the trees. What a beatutiful sight,

We have now spent a few days with family and the fun we are having with our neices and nephews can't be cherished enough. Christmas day will definately be full of excitement. We did some city mall shopping today and it was abit crazy but our 3 yr old neice kept us entertained the whole time. It's hard to "hide" gifts from her and not look like shop lifters :)

This weekend we will be trying to catch up on visits with friends...and we hope the weather cooperates.

Crispy Crunch

No, we are not talking about the chocolate bar, but crispy crunch is the clear sound as we are walking around the camp property these days.
Tonight before the sunset we decided to go for a brief walk. Brief was the outcome because the temperatures here were about -17 degrees, but it was amazing to experience the stillness. (This past week we had talked with some friends and loved ones who are in the midst of job and holiday stress already...making us realize that we do enjoy where we live.) No one else around the 140 acre property, just us. So, we didn't talk we just enjoyed the sound of the crispy crunchy snow.

It is now less than a week before we will be returning to Ontario to visit those we love and we can't wait!!

BBBBRRRRRRRRRRR

Oh it is winter!! The temperatures here in AB have been almost unbearable. All week we have watched it (and felt it) get colder and colder. -18,-26, -38 and then you have to add the windchill all I can say is NOT fun.
I, Sonya have also been sick. Yes, a full blown winter cold and have spent 3 days in bed...wishing I had financial shares in a kleenex company.
Well if we don't freeze we will be back to post again in a day or two.

What a Difference 2 Days Can Make

Well, we knew that winter was bound to arrive in Alberta whether we wanted it to or not, and it is now here! For two days straight we have had flurries and definately everything is covered in snow, which is a wonderful thing when you don't have to move it, but the roads do need to cleared as we have another group of 100 coming this weekend. As you can see in the pictures, two days ago our temperatures were much warmer.
The one thing about being in the country is when you look out the front door you see a huge blanket of snow everywhere...no dirt, sand or salt residue only a few tracks from the little critters that run the property. It is beautiful.

The past week here has been full of activity. David and one of the camp board members gave oversite to a small work crew who were upgrading our outdoor zipline and building a whole new indoor climbing wall. They were long workdays but worth it. Wow, it is exciting to see this change come about here.

A iew from the Front Window

It really is hard to believe that is November! The weather and temperatures here have been so above normal. This is an added bonus when there is still lots of outside work to be done around the camp property. One of these tasks is to "batten down the hatches" and cover all the windows with plastic so that was done today and now we have lost our beautiful view. This picture was taken last night as we watched the beautiful sunset. Another reminder of the beauty in God's creation.

We continue to putter away at the process of moving. Bit by bit we hope to have everything here by this Sunday! Oh how we love boxes..not!

Housewarming Gift

Well we have begun the journey of moving AGAIN.
Our final destination here at camp became available beginning of last week and we grabbed the paint brushes and went crazy. We also decided that two rooms (our bedroom and the scrapbook/workout room) would be getting laminate flooring, so that kept David busy. By the weekend we were ready to begin the march of the boxes. We have downsized so much in the last 3 yrs since moving west but there always still seems to be "stuff" and the current pile in the middle of the room is a true testament to that fact. Now the process is to decide where everything will belong in our new surroundings.

The cats, Charity and Chloe made the transition fairly well although they cried during the ride to the house but this by far has been their shortest car ride! Charity is an old pro when it comes to moving. She has moved 8 times and after she runs through every room she settles in quite nicely. Chloe however is still the skittish one and hides under the bed or runs out of the room if you rustle paper or move too quickly. At night when things are calm she does come out and sit with us.

We also acquired a new outside cat as a housewarming present, since the previous maintenance family couldn't take her with them. "Scotia" is now a camp cat and can regularly be found outside our front door looking for abit of food. She even let us take her picture.

It feels really good to be in a "home" again :)

Beautiful Banff

As we promised....some pics of Banff, AB.

After 3 years out west we FINALLY made it to the mountains!!
We were so blessed to be able to go on this trip as our camp board sent us to a couples conference at the Rundlestone Lodge. It was a wonderful facility and we enjoyed the "cabinish" ambiance and the relaxing hot tub. (Unfortunately the hot springs were closed for renovations.)
We also spent an afternoon walking through all the little shops looking like real tourists and then took a trip up beautiful Sulphur Mountain. This is where we caught the gondola ride up to ``the top of the world``. Now, as breathtaking as it was...half way up the mountain it really took Sonya's breath away and the feeling of panic seemed to hit. (Really, I , Sonya never thought I was afraid of heights...but that is a long way up!!) Once both feet were on the top of the mountain everything was ok again and we enjoyed the sights immensely. Our Creator has given us so much to enjoy!