As Promised

Sometimes i feel that I should almost apologize for the lack of "running away" on here. This blog showcases my life, what we keep busy doing, what is important to me. Im thinking you can easily tell "what" is important to me. Hope you still enjoy it.

Let's carry on...

Before we knew it we were at Thanksgiving. This is our 9th thanksgiving camping trip. We really love it. Yes, it can be chilly and/or raining and/or sunny. You just never know so come prepared!

Since we got rid of our last 17' trailer away went my oven. I had to come up with a creative way to cook my turkey so I bought a propane powered Camp Chef from Amazon. It is absolutely AMAZING. It cooks a 14 lb (+/-) de-boned (the secret) fresh turkey. We have a full thanksgiving meal, thanks to many hands. It started 9 years ago with just us and the White Rock family (plus a few). Since then it has grown to about 20-24. Crazy. Everyone brings something so it's a pot-luck dinner, only while camping. 

We have changed campgrounds a few times in order to accommodate changes in attendance. We are now well settled at Cultus Lake Provincial Park, Maple Bay Campground. It works well because they also have fantastic cabins for rent so it works for some of the family that do not have RV's. It a scant two minute walk across a big field that is behind the campsites. Easily booked through the Discover BC Camping on-line site.

So, off we go....

On the Saturday we get the turkey in the oven and do our swim.  

This year's participants in the annual Stuffing Splash

Dinner's Ready!!

So much food!!

Holden, what a character!

August and Doug's pancake Sunday

Doug says August is so good soon he'll only be supervising

Only about 15 people for pancakes!

Jasper seems to like it!

Kathy and her boys...

That wraps up another epic camping season for us. We couldn't have had more fun. So nice to know we are creating memories for the boys. I hope they always remember these fun times.

View down our hill early in the morning

A wicked 23% grade!

A very special event ocurred on October 12th. Doug's Mom, Helen turned 102 years old. She is pretty darn inspiring.

Happy Birthday Momma Helen!!

We LOVE you SO much!

Out in the Fraser Valley area (about 40 minutes east of White Rock) a small farm, Mann Family Farm, has a great display for all seasons. Here are rows and rows of marigolds. Beautiful.

So tempting to pick "just a few"!

We were barely home and then we headed back to the Kootenay's to see Teagan and Rudy. It was a short visit but we love hanging out with them. Of course, Rudy is in school so our days are pretty short but still we always have fun.

Going through Keromeos and Parsons' Fruit Stand.

They were busy shutting things down but it still looks great!

At last we arrived at Teagan and Rudy's place. It takes about 8 hrs to get here and through a few gnarly mountain passes.

Pumpkin hunt out at the Nordic Centre

Pumpkins were scattered throughout the forest trails 

for the kids to find. Really fun!

Nature lesson...

Love these two crazies!!

And, all too soon, it was time to head home. This time of year the weather changes fast, still there is beauty. You have to have your eye on the weather for any issues.

Somewhere in the interior of BC, heading home.

So what's next for us? Just hanging for the fall and winter. We both dream of a warm time away next late winter but I'm not sure it will happen. We'll certainly be letting you know if we have any plans. It would likely only be for a few weeks, via air. Fingers crossed. Just a few pictures from my walk today.

Happy fall from our duck ponds in White Rock

Peace out friends!

Thought for the Day: The biggest communication problem is that we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.

October already?

I continue to type this crazy blog, although you may have noticed that we don't really "run away" very far. Someday again we hope.

I left you with us getting home from our road trip to Alberta and BC. It was very enjoyable. Plus in that blog was another installment of a family camping trip and a trip to the Kootenay's to see Teagan & Rudy.

Love our pride crosswalks

Went down to the pier for a nice stroll after dinner one night. It is literally a 3 minute drive from our front door to a parking spot along the promenade (malecon). There were loads of people with the same idea. Such a beautiful area we live in.

Looking back at the shops along the promenade. Just behind the closeest lighted arc, you can see two towers. They are just a few blocks to the right of where we live.

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

It is also referred to as "Orange Shirt Day". September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation of the commitment to ensure that everyone matters.

When Phyllis Webstad (nee Jack) turned six, she went to the residential school for the first time. On her first day at school, she wore a shiny orange shirt that her Granny had bought for her, but when she got to the school, it was taken away from her and never returned. This is the true story of Phyllis and her orange shirt. It is also the story of Orange Shirt Day. To Phyllis the colour orange was a symbol that she did not matter. Today she has learned to accept the colour and even have fun with it and now the orange shirt has become a symbol of hope and reconciliation. By wearing an orange shirt on Orange Shirt Day, you make a powerful statement that residential schools were wrong and commit to the concept that EVERY CHILD MATTERS.

Down at the ceremony

Steven Point giving a very informative talk. He is the

28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 2007 to 2012.

Also one of our finest First Nations members.

Stay tuned for our LAST camping trip of the year for Canadian Thanksgiving...in the next blog. 

Peace out friends!

Thought for the Day: Begin each day with a grateful heart