JULY 17

Flags were flying from our pole in the yard as there was a Jays game on Sat. afternoon and a Rider game that night!

Alan's first picture with his new cell phone!

We had a very special weekend with Clare's and Laurel's here for part of Saturday and Sunday.  Greg, Laurel, Dawson, Eric and Ashley drove to Crosby on Saturday morning and got there just in time to watch the parade at the 48th annual Divide County Threshing Bee.  Greg had never been there before so he was fascinated by all the antique tractors and cars.  The parade was an hour and forty minuteslong so involved a large number of tractors and vehicles.  There were also threshing demonstrations and a host of other activities taking place on the grounds.  The weather was perfect, cloudy but no rain and just comfortably warm.  

The crew was here for supper so we had the kids' favourite, M and M chicken strips along with Sandra's macaroni salad, cucumber salad, Bush beans, fresh buns and watermelon.

Some of us made it to 9:00 church service Sun. morning. Later we had pancakes and sausages for brunch with some ice cream sandwiches that Laurel put together with homemade ice cream.  The kids, young and old, got in some playing catch and soon it was time for Diekragers to head for home.  Abbey ended up going out west with Clare to keep him company on the sprayer for a few hours.  Jodi, Alan and I were entertained by rodeo finals from the Calgary stampede - a muddy looking bunch with more rain again.

On my Saturday afternoon walk I stopped to take a picture of the site where Tenold School once stood.  Both Howard and Ardis attended there, barely half a mile south from the Johnson farm.  If you look closely, you can spot a surveyor's stake about in the middle of the picture, just in front of the trees.  That marks the spot for a potential oil well.  Did any of you former students at Tenold ever imagine an oil well in the yard where you spent many a recess playing ball?  Plans are to remove the trees when the site is prepared for drilling.  It seems a shame to get rid of them after standing on guard for all these years, but I guess they have served their purpose and must make room for a new era on that little corner of land.  I will keep you updated on the progress.

We are packing our suitcases for our holiday to the Toombs cousin reunion in Spokane and then our trip to Norway!  It still hardly seems real.  Laurel helped me make some decisions about which clothes to take along so that was a big help.  We will also be bringing gifts for baby Elly Clara as well as for big sister Nora, who will be four years old in September.  Elly Clara spent several days in hospital this past week when she came down with an infection at one week old.  She was on antibiotics and thankfully was due to be discharged today. 

Big sister Nora has been spending time with "Grandma Gunn" in Kristiansund.  She took the bus with Gunn last Wed. and was coming back home today with friends, Rolf and Ruth.  Nora has had many adventures with Gunn - they went to Burger King, fed the ducks in the park and went for a ride on a ferry boat to name just a few things.  It is wonderful for Nora to have an extra "Grandma" who lives much closer than her ones in Canada! Tusen takk, Gunn!

A new outfit from Gunn

Monday morning: I am washing clothes and we have been out weeding and rototilling the garden.  Abbey and Jodi will take over grass cutting duties when we are gone so that is great.  The apple trees are loaded and just about ripe!  I'm going to try making an apple crisp for supper to see if they are ready.

It's now Tuesday morning.  The power was out for almost two hours this morning but thankfully it came on around 7:30.  Alan is busy vacuuming so I better finish getting ready too.  I don't know when my next post will be so your guess is as good as mine!  Until then, please keep us in your prayers as we travel.  We will read Psalm 121 as we go on our way.

With love from Elaine and Alan