AUGUST LONG WEEKEND

Chokecherry picking time!  Love that chokecherry syrup on our pancakes!

Before we get to the long weekend I will backtrack to an important family birthday on July 31, 2007 - the day that Jamie Ava Johnson joined the Kirk and Shauna Johnson family as a little sister for big brother Carter who was coming six and big sister Lindsay who was three.  This year Jamie turned eleven and the Johnson family celebrated at Kenosee where Kirk's and Clare's were camping. Laurel, Dawson, Eric and Ashley got there in the morning and the boys went golfing.  Ashley and Jamie enjoyed activities at the park        and were creative in their morning artwork.  

We joined them in the afternoon at the Fish Creek campground.  It was great to have all seven of the Johnson Canadian grandchildren together as that doesn't happen very often even if they are all within an hour or two drive away.  Here are some pictures:

7 Johnson grandchildren at Kenosee

Jamie's special birthday cake from Carlyle bakery

The Kirk and Shauna Johnson family

Grandma and Alan with 7 grandkids

Carter, Lindsay and Jamie Johnson

We had a great supper - homemade burgers with fresh buns, Caesar salad, beans, sliced potatoes cooked on the BBQ and birthday cake for dessert.  We all decided that meeting at Kenosee should become an annual tradition.  Last year we gathered there for Elly Clara's first birthday when Todd and Kristy's family were here from Norway.  But Laurel and Greg's family was missing as they were in California where Ashley took part in a dance festival. 

Now to the long weekend.  A few weeks ago Alan and Judy said they had tickets to the train ride in Ogema, SK with Rory Allen and wondered if we'd like to join them there on Sunday, Aug. 5.  We were both all for it and they were able to get two more tickets After morning worship at Trinity in Torquay, we drove to Weyburn and had lunch at Joey's Only.  Then we were off to Ogema on highway #13 that has a new coat of asphalt from Weyburn to the junction of #6.  We arrived at the museum in Ogema just ahead of Alan's.  They stopped to pick up the tickets at the train depot.

When they said there was a museum to visit I had pictured a building with numerous displays.  NO!  There were numerous buildings, over thirty, with many many interesting displays.  We spent over two hours and still didn't see them all!

At five o'clock we boarded the train which took us as far as Glasnevin.  Instead of turning the coach around there, the seats turned around! The engine hooked on the other end and back we went, entertained by Rory with his Elvis songs.  At the end of the ride we went to a community hall where we were served a delicious buffet supper.  Rory sang for another hour and then it was time to head for home, a late night for us seniors.  The drive home went well.  We saw several deer by the side of the road and were glad that they didn't venture across in front of us.

Judy and Alan Erickson

Train at the Ogema station

Enjoying the ride in a 1922 coach

Rory entertaining us

Kristy had the adventure of a lifetime this past week when she went on a short trip to Sri Lanka to attend the wedding of a former student at the folk school in Førde, Norway.  In case you are wondering where it is, it's an island at the bottom of India, formerly known as Ceylon, a 16 hour flight from Norway.  It was a new experience for her to travel without any of her family and to leave the girls behind but she had a great trip and arrived home safely on Monday to a warm welcome committee!

Today we have another project on the go - getting new windows on the south side of the house.  The big living-room window is in, thanks to some help from Gerry and Clare.  The old window came out through the outside but the new one went in from the inside.  The frame went in first and then the three sections of glass.  Great work Kelly!  (I was busy swatting flies for awhile with no window in place!)

We have an exciting event this weekend - an afternoon service on Sunday at Salem Lutheran Church just two miles up the road. Everyone is welcome to this informal service with lots of singing, sharing and visiting. There will be a cleaning bee on Friday.  The forecast is for 37ºC that day so I hope we start early!  The Sunday service will be at 2:00 with lots of music and sharing. It will not take the place of our Sunday morning worship which will be at Trinity, Torquay at 9 am  The church is south of Torquay six miles, then two miles west on Township Road 14 which is about half a mile past the bridge over Long Creek.  See you on Sunday!