TRIP TO ALBERTA

My last post left us in Frontier after a great five days of visiting.  But then it was time to move on.  The Bergum cousins were meeting in Rosebud on Friday, November 2 and we were invited to join them as we had done last year.  The occasion was the dinner theatre production of Sherlock Holmes and the Search for Christmas Carol.

Snow had fallen during the night and the temperature was right on  zero at 9 a.m. when we drove out the driveway at Sanford's.  Last year we had put winter tires on the Escape and today we had a chance to try them out on these slushy roads.  We took it easy on the pavement to Claydon and then were glad to be on gravel until we hit #13 highway and then on to #21 south of Maple Creek.  We were wondering how the road would be past Cypress Park but got a surprise when the temp was up to plus 12 in that area!  It cooled down quickly again but the snow ended there and roads were good the rest of the way to Drumheller.  Not so for the cousins from Camrose as there were about four inches of snow there and icy in places.

We got settled in our bed and breakfast,  along with Adrian and Joyce Bergquist from Camrose, Lawrence and Marlene Bergquist from Bawlf, Joel and Sheila Vinge from Cranbrook, BC and Larry and Carol Jasperson from Tilley.  We carpooled to Rosebud and we rode along with Adrian and Joyce, time for a good visit with updates on family.

We had time to check out the shops before our meal.  My most exciting find was rolls of Rum and Butter Lifesavers!  I mentioned to the clerk that I hadn't seen those for a long time and she said they got them from a supplier in Nova Scotia.  I have to have one before I can continue.  Yum!  

As usual, the meal was an excellent buffet with a choice of many tasty desserts.  Singers serenaded us with Christmas songs as we ate.  Then we were off down the street to the opening night of their play for the Christmas season.  We had seats near the front. (Thanks for getting us such good seats Joyce.)  There was an intermission and the time went by quickly with lots of action on stage to hold our attention.  We enjoyed this blending of Dicken's "Christmas Carol" with Sherlock Holmes.  We headed back to Newcastle Inn.  Some of the "nighthawks" stayed up and visited but Alan and I had had enough for one day so saved the visiting time for breakfast at 8:15. Breakfast was super with orange juice, sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee or tea.

Then we were off to Calgary to visit Alan's family.  Nancy and Trevor were first on the list and we spent the rest of Saturday with them.  The sun came out in the afternoon so we were able to try out the cosy sunroom that was added to the east side of their house. A new library opened to the public that day but we didn't attempt to go as lineups were LONG.  Nancy and Holly were privileged to go the day before and Holly was presented with an award from the mayor, a thrill for her.

Nancy told us about DELLOR,a new ice cream shop,which is rolled spelled backwards.  Alan treated us all to this new type of rolled ice cream. We were all impressed and will want to go back next visit too!

On Sunday Derek and Jackie's boys both had hockey games.  Ben's was in a new rink in the very north part of the city and JJ's was in another new rink in the southern part of Calgary.  Both teams won and JJ scored the winning goal in his game.  Now we have been to seven different Calgary rinks to watch the boys play!

We left Calgary by 8:30 Monday morning but that was 9:30 SK time as the rest of the country set their clocks back on Sat. night.  We decided to drive all the way that day as the forecast was not as good for Tuesday.  We stopped at Redcliff for gas and teenburgers at AandW.  Then I drove from there to Swift Current.  We made a  stop in Moose Jaw to have a quick visit with Dawson and drop off some ginger cookies and carmel corn (thanks Joyce!) for him.  We had supper at in Weyburn and were home by seven, so thankful for a safe trip with no troubles.  And everything was fine at home too. (Thanks for checking, Clare.)

It was good to be back at Trinity on Sunday on Remembrance Day.  Nancy's gave us an early Christmas present - a projector that displays five different scenes on a wall.  We got to use it that day as one scene displays poppies.  Alan set it up on the stage in the auditorium and we had our coffee and goodies with poppies moving across the screen at the back of the stage. 

We had our yearly eye checkup on Thursday and we don't need new lenses so that was a good report. 

We are looking forward to the Estevan Comprehensive School's production of "Footloose" at the end of this month and Dec. 1 and 2.  Pews from Salem will be used and I sent some bridesmaid dresses and suits from the basement storage closet so it will be fun to see some of those worn again.  I guess I've kept them for a reason!

There's a Bingo fundraiser for the Torquay Community Centre tonight, Nov. 17, so Alan and I will take that in, although we aren't really Bingo fans.  I always enjoy the silent auction and have some flatbread and ginger cookies to contribute to that.  I better fix some supper as we might get hungry before the midnight lunch!  I think we'll be back home by that time.  Have a good weekend!