tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18959149423152057512024-02-19T04:40:20.822-08:00Summerlove Shelties CanadaSummerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-43149131082551072102012-04-25T05:02:00.000-07:002012-04-25T08:23:22.172-07:00Just checking in<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No,
I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Do not panic. I am fine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
it’s been a while since I last posted and I will regroup and continue where I
left off last fall.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
August I spent a glorious holiday with my husband’s family in New Brunswick.
This beautiful province is perched on Canada’s east coast along the Atlantic
Ocean; which is known as the gateway to the Maritimes and home to the highest
tides in the world. It is an area renowned for Acadian culture and hospitality
– friendly people who know the true meaning of “joie de vivre” love of life.
Favorite moments include the good salmon fishing on the Miramichie river route,
the foot stomping festivals, and the classic Maritime kitchen parties. A must
see is the Chaleur Bay and the Bay of Fundy, known as one of the Marine Wonders
of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My days were spent in
leisure visiting with family and being truly spoiled by good home cooking.
Everyone in the family seems to have a cabin, referred to as ‘camp’, so it was
only fitting to head out into nature and spend some restful days away from
civilization. I have to admit I was unable to sleep in while there, mainly
because the men in the family were busy finishing off the siding on the new
cabin. They seemed to enjoy getting up with the sun. I had the luxury of
wandering back to bed to dose off again or to just lie there enjoying the early
morning birdcalls. My big decision for the day was whether to read my book
“Pillars of the earth”, I wanted to finish reading it while on holiday, or get
up and be the gofer for the workingmen. You guessed it; I got up and made
breakfast. I plan on returning this year to the coast, as family is very
important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
ran out of time for two of our dear dogs. Gracie, only four years old succumbed
to a possible heart attack and Troy my beautiful agility partner left us too
soon. We had to let him go after a short illness as the equilibrium between
good and bad days was tipping in the wrong direction. Sleep in peace dear friends.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">November 14, 2006 – July 6, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">July 27, 1999 – January 20, 2012</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Christmas
came and went whether we were ready or not. Prior to the Advent season our
family got together to bake our traditional cookies and enjoyed the many
musical festivities our city had to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I seemed to have simplified the festive season this year. I still
acquired the family and friends gifts and got them dispatched in a timely
fashion. We had our usual family gatherings. Christmas Eve we spent watching
old movies and Christmas day we had brunch with gift opening and the big turkey
dinner. The entire day consisted of food preparation and consumption.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Off
we lurched into a new year. I’ve added another year to my personal count with
my birthday falling between Christmas and New Year’s Day. There is nothing like
a birthday to make you look back over the year that’s been and ahead to the
year that will be. Looking to new beginnings and to memories in the making, to
a time for reflections and resolutions and to a time of self-assurance of doing
your best.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
January we finally had winter. We’ve plunged from daily highs into classic
Saskatchewan deep freezes with wind shills making it feel like something in the
minus 30. Throw in the heavy snowfalls, and it was instant winter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is one of our Amaryllis. It has come into full bloom and is one of the
prettiest as far as color goes and gave us a boost on long winter days.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am glad we are now in the month of April as I haven’t done a whole lot of
encaustic work this winter, I kept telling myself, if it’s important, I’d do
it. So, many of times the task at hand was left undone. Now that there are so
many signs of the new season I feel somewhat energized and it’s getting hard to
deny that it’s really close at hand although there’s always the possibility
that we could still see snow any time.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
ventured out to the first two dog shows of the year here in Saskatchewan.
Shelties were at their best winning Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show by two
of my friends. I got caught up with people I hadn’t seen all winter, visited
with friends, and encountered a whole new set of dog people that now know I
exist. All in all, both were stellar weekends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-516353214155110862011-10-05T06:38:00.000-07:002011-10-05T06:38:48.138-07:00New Fall Design For Summerlove Shelties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyMUFVjXHcdU4gFfEJkrct4CpRMH9HWR89WSQwtNdnbopYVIpspO1yy54ZD8fdp9RI27Z8bgPQicSLHn-ZZwz7nkVpk8c7xt6CAdFFLR-y6Eq0loemrykZqAXPQMPhpzLbvLOS5nD_TXi/s1600/falldesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyMUFVjXHcdU4gFfEJkrct4CpRMH9HWR89WSQwtNdnbopYVIpspO1yy54ZD8fdp9RI27Z8bgPQicSLHn-ZZwz7nkVpk8c7xt6CAdFFLR-y6Eq0loemrykZqAXPQMPhpzLbvLOS5nD_TXi/s1600/falldesign.jpg" /></a></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-57261310475998340432011-08-20T10:31:00.000-07:002011-08-20T10:31:49.496-07:00An Evening at the Races<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Marques Downs does not resemble the Royal Ascot or the Kentucky Derby because you can come as you are or make a splash with a fabulous hat, it doesn’t matter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The races at the Downs of the thoroughbred horses are extra special events; everyone can enjoy them and create memorable experiences. They invite you to relax, enjoy a flatter, and soak up the atmosphere in the grandstand and in the surroundings as one watches the speed and stamina of the superior equine athlete.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was my first time at the racetrack and the evening races offered the most prestiges and the biggest purses. I had my eye on a maiden race in which the horses usually are two years old and had never won a race making it their first race ever. It was going to be a race of six furlongs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are many factors which influence races such as the weight the horse carries, their proximity to the inside barrier, gender and track surface and distance. My table partner was a retired jockey who shared a wealth of knowledge with me. I still cannot get my head around the size of the “saddle” a jockey sits on when riding the horse - It’s no bigger than a saucer practically sitting on the bare back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sitting in the grandstands dining room overlooking the racecourse, I could see the horses in their stalls and then entering the track for the post parade to the starting gate. As the horses pranced, I glanced nervously at the racing form in my hand. It was the first time I placed a wager – my very first bet. I have to say here that I needed help from my table partner placing this bet not that I was spending a big sum of money. I clutched my ticket as the bell rang and the starting gates sprang open. Like a bullet the horses charged forward, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement and I cheered my horse all the way to the wire. Amazingly my horse won!! It was Peaches a horse my friend owns. There were anxious moments earlier as Lynda had told me that Peaches (the winner) had a good chance of winning this race as she was pretty keyed up. She had questioned her maturity at this point but knew that she had tremendous ability and a tremendous hearth, which of course is a great combination.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The evening was spent celebrating and was a safe bet for fun and excitement and an experience I’ll never forget.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are the pictures of Peaches aka “Marge’s Action” the winner of the Woodland Heritage Sweepstakes and all her friends who came to cheer her on to this tremendous win with her trainer Fern Zdunick and jockey Garfield Gordon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-65091797231253453822011-08-05T08:03:00.000-07:002011-08-05T09:57:52.757-07:00Garden Tour<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gardening seems to be a passion here in the prairies. The most valuable thing gardener’s share is their practical experience growing in Saskatchewan, as the seasons are so short and the winters are so very cold.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Saskatoon Horticultural Society hosted their annual garden tour early in July with six amazing private gardens in our city that are tended to by local gardeners. I can only imagine the flurry of weeding that took place to make things presentable before the actual tour. The tour resulted in an abundant array of beautiful gardens around the city that showed their beauty and individual charm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The day was sunny and thanks to the little golden dragonflies, the pesky mosquitoes that have been such a nuisance this summer had mostly disappeared. It made it an enjoyable afternoon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The gardens were beautiful. Each garden gave the tour participants the gift of inspiration on how to improve their own garden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXweOXjKurK-44zEnRrRnvV1xtRIOXbng7xApV2raYfsv90H5d_Ib1XEvtJwHEcjceZP_pm5zHm6tDikIld-k8qHu41GzjtwBW7daVHcIiHMzYZHJEPdjSihEdX0_UIqZ_uhNFdVjf6q3/s1600/frontgarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXweOXjKurK-44zEnRrRnvV1xtRIOXbng7xApV2raYfsv90H5d_Ib1XEvtJwHEcjceZP_pm5zHm6tDikIld-k8qHu41GzjtwBW7daVHcIiHMzYZHJEPdjSihEdX0_UIqZ_uhNFdVjf6q3/s1600/frontgarden.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first stop was a garden designed with feng shui overtones. There was absolutely no grass. This unique garden was designed to cope with the southern exposure and the owner’s three little dogs. Exquisitely planted garden rooms were designed with different principles creating a tranquil garden space. It was an inspiration to gardeners to look beyond the individual plants and group the plants to create harmony and balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrbBlxEkWfbzfuOYzIW8ZZnWH7tqc6wtuv2I8pw2sTHLPCrrh13OZtG6xB9SmuuKxR7yOd3uPKS15TA2X9rLZDieYXFYJqe7RQahEdfozE_iiswobHk2aQp43MKvn8WUXrlaAJcVF1rsO/s1600/pond1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrbBlxEkWfbzfuOYzIW8ZZnWH7tqc6wtuv2I8pw2sTHLPCrrh13OZtG6xB9SmuuKxR7yOd3uPKS15TA2X9rLZDieYXFYJqe7RQahEdfozE_iiswobHk2aQp43MKvn8WUXrlaAJcVF1rsO/s1600/pond1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDwMMYmsv3Wkk8aMa-BSl5zy68XxL2TMRF16E8sb-DAKyWKU6IQ9eOjnZpCL4u4a_3GLFemdI7hcknaLGcCkc9al5ykoHMlxAunw1O52dVBRLnjPiv-ZXHCj6M3dEQ6SZjoqBLgRk_dKH/s1600/pond2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDwMMYmsv3Wkk8aMa-BSl5zy68XxL2TMRF16E8sb-DAKyWKU6IQ9eOjnZpCL4u4a_3GLFemdI7hcknaLGcCkc9al5ykoHMlxAunw1O52dVBRLnjPiv-ZXHCj6M3dEQ6SZjoqBLgRk_dKH/s1600/pond2.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUluPRPJPxemv_RDXGHzpjOPcbKE0PJqChs9Qcaq6ZX1BxHkoeNE05loqdUVHRxu3PY3Ya0GbIhkXzNXlV__FziqRfqUi30A7WLAw4_CNiIDKx_908KiHvuc4b-6AI2S1BQsysKVb4JaQy/s1600/pond3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUluPRPJPxemv_RDXGHzpjOPcbKE0PJqChs9Qcaq6ZX1BxHkoeNE05loqdUVHRxu3PY3Ya0GbIhkXzNXlV__FziqRfqUi30A7WLAw4_CNiIDKx_908KiHvuc4b-6AI2S1BQsysKVb4JaQy/s1600/pond3.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The naturalistic Koi Pond that the owner partly heats during the winter months.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The second stop was at Oliver Lodge, a special care home were the average age of the gardener is 85 and the oldest is 92. The inspiration here is; one is never too old to grow. The gardens included raised garden beds so that the garden was at the level of the gardener. They were spotless and the enthusiasm of the residents was infectious. Each gardener had their own raised bed, easy for planting their favorite flowers or vegetables and gentle on their backs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnoBRxkMX_x801RNVOi_Ji91IpUGtSRESfXrMwEYhyAkTS-QtWuBPUDN4GqfelqW2Sas6AJnAode8YFPaY9X6496HUDcL_vP3uue-7AP5KgiNUETtL4OSyn61-_2XTlWEdIO8zQP3jFb1/s1600/beds4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnoBRxkMX_x801RNVOi_Ji91IpUGtSRESfXrMwEYhyAkTS-QtWuBPUDN4GqfelqW2Sas6AJnAode8YFPaY9X6496HUDcL_vP3uue-7AP5KgiNUETtL4OSyn61-_2XTlWEdIO8zQP3jFb1/s1600/beds4.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our third stop was a garden in the Riversdale area. It had a unique front yard. A resting place was created under a big spruce tree. Because these trees take all the moisture out of the ground, the owner creatively build a deck that housed potted containers with flowers that love the shade; and lush woodland ferns were planted around the edges. The branches of the tree were cut high enough to add a seating place. The back garden was designed for entertaining and had wonderful specimens that have become focal points for their garden. This is a welcoming, manicured garden full of dramatic places. I admired the creative designs of the outbuildings; while along the fence lines there are clambering vines and mixed perennial beds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFguw-0dwI41nZMNoMB6Gj-OEf1WUHvoP8vCMFnVd-E2eQnkBylttPt8Pcp0KOHmTkxqY8y30t3iTQeB7cBFX6QsZ1xmLTKlw0WVxGuzCmyQf_0aVDIKek4yXVv3OT9zoBhXvJ6CtWM-Dj/s1600/thirdgarden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFguw-0dwI41nZMNoMB6Gj-OEf1WUHvoP8vCMFnVd-E2eQnkBylttPt8Pcp0KOHmTkxqY8y30t3iTQeB7cBFX6QsZ1xmLTKlw0WVxGuzCmyQf_0aVDIKek4yXVv3OT9zoBhXvJ6CtWM-Dj/s1600/thirdgarden1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqQf3X9jVwzgFlAo7EUMhmuc2ia0LdgAAkn7R6oSft8Ie0lL3KxuwDO7uOxIotfZEloErkpJauzqbor8MG22BI_1mT6nyOEwD7ofneeb8xTPz1AxlzqYYJnwf5-YExbxFhQJGXa2j6i4r/s1600/thirgarden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqQf3X9jVwzgFlAo7EUMhmuc2ia0LdgAAkn7R6oSft8Ie0lL3KxuwDO7uOxIotfZEloErkpJauzqbor8MG22BI_1mT6nyOEwD7ofneeb8xTPz1AxlzqYYJnwf5-YExbxFhQJGXa2j6i4r/s1600/thirgarden3.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My favorite garden was the fourth garden. This garden inspires with subtle design detail. You look at the garden and think, “Wow this looks good.” As you start to analyze the garden, you discover sophisticated design principles. One area of the garden uses the principles of repetition. Your eye is gently drawn to the next area of the garden, which features wonderful deeply layered mixed boarders under the sinuous branching of an ancient tree. This gardener is a true artist using a broad pallet of texture, which is used in imaginative combinations. Even when not in full bloom, the flowerbeds were amazing. (I learned to day that this garden received the People’s Choice Award)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANscZ2HYv-D5GbYfux34Mqm7I9_HmQ9pKuHAj7uofdKyeBqSU97aJbgnBXD0n9AgewDD1pONdBwIDba1gNDyBfKIuC7VLpJkcTOL7hXULcDTpYdmUGF_PGr6BjJ43kvOr_VIC2iiYrA4W/s1600/fourthgarden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANscZ2HYv-D5GbYfux34Mqm7I9_HmQ9pKuHAj7uofdKyeBqSU97aJbgnBXD0n9AgewDD1pONdBwIDba1gNDyBfKIuC7VLpJkcTOL7hXULcDTpYdmUGF_PGr6BjJ43kvOr_VIC2iiYrA4W/s1600/fourthgarden1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHcsspG-HU1ddBZFcZ3AMpdlWGdv409hYgvguswW3fn3VCo4vydEbTcipg6IfUZUcRkpGiKmskmUqMpT9DHbiYYLBoArlRTfjkYH8EVrZM2kyDZu4oRFZk_zbIXg8MYHhyphenhyphen6D2wSO_9spJ/s1600/fourthgarden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHcsspG-HU1ddBZFcZ3AMpdlWGdv409hYgvguswW3fn3VCo4vydEbTcipg6IfUZUcRkpGiKmskmUqMpT9DHbiYYLBoArlRTfjkYH8EVrZM2kyDZu4oRFZk_zbIXg8MYHhyphenhyphen6D2wSO_9spJ/s1600/fourthgarden4.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The fifth stop inspired gardeners to be bold. This garden incorporated pieces of art collected by the owners. The pieces were large, but the proportions matched the garden. There was an impish sense of humor and whimsy not only in the pieces of art, but also in their placement in the garden. Heck, you could even sit in a room and watch TV or take a dip in the pool.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The next garden exploded with flowers. An unexpected oasis of rare plants, this garden provides the connoisseur with much to linger over. Each architectural element in this garden is thoughtful and house and garden seamlessly transition from one to another in a unified whole. It was evident that this husband and wife team love to garden. Color combinations were bright and joyful. It was a welcoming and tranquil place to be.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks8mq85fjJYWwrCHV5Noq3b94Qh3ShsfGdaYSjVt90mAf6eR2t6mj7pM4RczwXjqnA3qEhiFstWn-iYgeECdkvx9OfpzeRCT48P5hCRoAPS-kB4paAVudW1gqzNeGT0-atYBrXrNUU2-9/s1600/allflowers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks8mq85fjJYWwrCHV5Noq3b94Qh3ShsfGdaYSjVt90mAf6eR2t6mj7pM4RczwXjqnA3qEhiFstWn-iYgeECdkvx9OfpzeRCT48P5hCRoAPS-kB4paAVudW1gqzNeGT0-atYBrXrNUU2-9/s1600/allflowers1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All good things must come to an end and so did this wonderful afternoon. The hosts shared their love of gardening and at the same time had the tour on schedule, keeping us moving when we would rather linger a little longer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-9017669261168612642011-07-28T08:02:00.000-07:002011-07-28T08:02:50.112-07:00Berry Barn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPsN4PNJ8GlY4bVWd-QjroAVqOaOp8bghkzNCvyb634DKhP5inWDG3h-Hoi8PLKx8ulEfCvOAs09m2truIUIuMuRL2zYyGHjT71_q82lXttObAXfcmmC9w2yKSG__Xj8JBeiy90Kc-Op2/s1600/berrybarnsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPsN4PNJ8GlY4bVWd-QjroAVqOaOp8bghkzNCvyb634DKhP5inWDG3h-Hoi8PLKx8ulEfCvOAs09m2truIUIuMuRL2zYyGHjT71_q82lXttObAXfcmmC9w2yKSG__Xj8JBeiy90Kc-Op2/s1600/berrybarnsign.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To satisfy my occasional craving for Saskatoon Berry Pie I headed out to the old Berry Barn were these decadent desserts are on the menu.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Never heard of a Saskatoon berry? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The berry is native to the Canadian prairies and the berries grow on trees that reach heights of 15 feet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Known for their Saskatoon “MUST HAVES” when visiting, these delectable berries are grown in this area and known world wide for their sweet and distinct flavor. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ689oxkp8QspWI2JNyhz6PxqBnuB6sM-IMjH10XflQzE6_xZZI2kJS-S5O2vKWyuh6KGqUvgeyhwfKZgQ2RnJq7nOGlLjUruni1OpbZXPyZmfEpCyBk8rSoemGw_kGe78wOrQH_vb7Fi/s1600/barn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ689oxkp8QspWI2JNyhz6PxqBnuB6sM-IMjH10XflQzE6_xZZI2kJS-S5O2vKWyuh6KGqUvgeyhwfKZgQ2RnJq7nOGlLjUruni1OpbZXPyZmfEpCyBk8rSoemGw_kGe78wOrQH_vb7Fi/s1600/barn1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2I9Wxsdr6HzBb0cmCMjtQ0rh3j2X7Q9KOND9nNOqzeoqLTKgyuY6YAT7DTYYh9QxNAn5XSBsjA6ydRdRT0zuubk_gWP0t5-dxsAm8CPo2ErB5PC3UQ4hRTy0hSTcFCloJVMwookjRgjb/s1600/barn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2I9Wxsdr6HzBb0cmCMjtQ0rh3j2X7Q9KOND9nNOqzeoqLTKgyuY6YAT7DTYYh9QxNAn5XSBsjA6ydRdRT0zuubk_gWP0t5-dxsAm8CPo2ErB5PC3UQ4hRTy0hSTcFCloJVMwookjRgjb/s1600/barn2.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlMJRph0RYDRAeehNymDK1fOHasr4U_zt7eHP94KAcPTJNzuDIK2ghbfuYFtwYHTzMcD5gpaPFhMJPIeWzqVTKYZ7GRuLKwVqK2RCDDp1MrOvMuZGQi0eeGLJ1u2x_sfsnPmk_3Maw6CL/s1600/barn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlMJRph0RYDRAeehNymDK1fOHasr4U_zt7eHP94KAcPTJNzuDIK2ghbfuYFtwYHTzMcD5gpaPFhMJPIeWzqVTKYZ7GRuLKwVqK2RCDDp1MrOvMuZGQi0eeGLJ1u2x_sfsnPmk_3Maw6CL/s1600/barn3.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tucked away on Valley Road, and located on the beautiful banks of the South Saskatchewan River, this must see destination presents most breathtaking views in the area. Accentuated by its brilliantly landscaped grounds and carefully manicured berry orchards, the Berry Barn is an ideal location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy everything wonderful that this province has to offer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU02-O22GxRQWt4S86AzkW0bk2pffNmfVxuNMTMwIXEXRiqe6Y6tJCvay6Ns-H1KlHN4hoyA2pkVpO54FFu11R-9luB0lHOfmq8L4Pt9uvBAhMI4njO1YkjijptWfCsgMRTnt6oLaYz9NR/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU02-O22GxRQWt4S86AzkW0bk2pffNmfVxuNMTMwIXEXRiqe6Y6tJCvay6Ns-H1KlHN4hoyA2pkVpO54FFu11R-9luB0lHOfmq8L4Pt9uvBAhMI4njO1YkjijptWfCsgMRTnt6oLaYz9NR/s1600/church.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a picture of a little “make shift church’ in the Berry Patch were weddings take place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8kDXEYGSoxbDH6Y934XJpO29EYsWpBCXFaQhErGXiDQYEYzs1Pj_Fjpmc3yZToUR5SdcYu00UJTMkcrDwk651FJhzhKUj-xol31eGaOaBg6iI23j1beIDiOKdxVPNnzjkmiBHZxOHSoU/s1600/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8kDXEYGSoxbDH6Y934XJpO29EYsWpBCXFaQhErGXiDQYEYzs1Pj_Fjpmc3yZToUR5SdcYu00UJTMkcrDwk651FJhzhKUj-xol31eGaOaBg6iI23j1beIDiOKdxVPNnzjkmiBHZxOHSoU/s1600/berries.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Berry Barn grounds play host to a 28 acre Saskatoon berry orchard the oldest in Saskatchewan. It is here that thousands of pounds of these distinctly flavored berries grow, waiting to be used in various desserts and preserves that are made right on site.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the past I used to enjoy an afternoon of picking my own berries in the U-pick area to make my own preserves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqX4QwiprwYNJoBDBE55SQb6nCiAvLKN0YGEuPW7ggaYYSiNfB6OzHEKfiLlf_yPWALJApFKacJ8fb589Qc92jfx0d89d6v5NAiVZxBOH-guKb7cOP-WisCZUDxzSlo7f8liwvHw5u-EH/s1600/field1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqX4QwiprwYNJoBDBE55SQb6nCiAvLKN0YGEuPW7ggaYYSiNfB6OzHEKfiLlf_yPWALJApFKacJ8fb589Qc92jfx0d89d6v5NAiVZxBOH-guKb7cOP-WisCZUDxzSlo7f8liwvHw5u-EH/s1600/field1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am drawn to this area and the river for its historic beauty, its old fashioned hospitality and colorful countryside, were Canola blooms a brilliant yellow in high summer and golden barley shimmers in the sun.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8Xq66zqbqEQywrS8ACyeszgQBCn4MdgJPtlB1Eg-M2T2rXWeJWZrcsLMwBJ7jWnsHzNCwpNuqEsj3HURBsNv0067PkSiYWwieanHiNroc7ztPdERdAYO-36owir6fSICueoXeEfoRPSb/s1600/oldbarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8Xq66zqbqEQywrS8ACyeszgQBCn4MdgJPtlB1Eg-M2T2rXWeJWZrcsLMwBJ7jWnsHzNCwpNuqEsj3HURBsNv0067PkSiYWwieanHiNroc7ztPdERdAYO-36owir6fSICueoXeEfoRPSb/s1600/oldbarn.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve learned the hard way that one should take photos while you can. Here is a picture of the old barn before the new renovation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-10776948517991655542011-07-17T04:09:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:53:02.652-07:00Wanuskewin<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">I treated myself to an afternoon at Wanuskewin, an incredibly beautiful unspoiled natural prairie landscape, to relive the stories and lifestyles of the Northern Plains Indians who have gathered at this one meeting place for over 6.000 years – a place where the original North Americans met newcomers to the continent in a spirit of sharing and hospitality.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRfU7uA6jCD4dvQ7lR-msodGyJPlqwqxxJT4P6oeyZ6fJe_Qoori47s70Gbiz2zC4NQtQkgv6gNUSnGtr_8waad6DKXWTBp0tlbfvdIIvdshcgngnaou_e9XMp0BWDEOqZiUc8_TNJloH/s1600/centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRfU7uA6jCD4dvQ7lR-msodGyJPlqwqxxJT4P6oeyZ6fJe_Qoori47s70Gbiz2zC4NQtQkgv6gNUSnGtr_8waad6DKXWTBp0tlbfvdIIvdshcgngnaou_e9XMp0BWDEOqZiUc8_TNJloH/s1600/centre.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">In the first Nations community it is remembered as a resting place – a place of spiritual renewal were you can find peace of mind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIt74NAfeA-ahm8D9BCoUhnO1jUguDFm9cY1XG1pRBQ2dn-Xd5FGVyrOwE5zxHiszsSf7_kpjLC-ce4SQea399Yw1f3Ijgqdeu8rpJhnxuB8MqNEU_qr-_NbyTKjz-luFPNAXaRLsVog14/s1600/centre2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIt74NAfeA-ahm8D9BCoUhnO1jUguDFm9cY1XG1pRBQ2dn-Xd5FGVyrOwE5zxHiszsSf7_kpjLC-ce4SQea399Yw1f3Ijgqdeu8rpJhnxuB8MqNEU_qr-_NbyTKjz-luFPNAXaRLsVog14/s1600/centre2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXPlyEm78LvpbNMefoU1lMW0oGjbylGkd8ULYaSFJCgYt7TUg2xSLAvhfjSN9-E4LFkHbNyThfCH5asBC6k2_aPIKwtaxoSg4RdvgyrqnY9j7ESAxQ-vFwxXudxZ2v0FgZpWYX20WDuEb/s1600/lowertrail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXPlyEm78LvpbNMefoU1lMW0oGjbylGkd8ULYaSFJCgYt7TUg2xSLAvhfjSN9-E4LFkHbNyThfCH5asBC6k2_aPIKwtaxoSg4RdvgyrqnY9j7ESAxQ-vFwxXudxZ2v0FgZpWYX20WDuEb/s1600/lowertrail2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">I walked in places were hunters once stampeded massive buffaloes over cliffs, and stood on the lower grounds were hunters waited to kill the survivors of the fall. I walked on trails were archaeologists found and still unearth a treasure trove of artifacts from 5.000 year old arrowheads to 3.000 year old bison bones that all speak of the history of this valley and make this region the longest running archaeological site in Canada. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-ILojHQJ3eFK3V-L-9iMP6ObL47IsNaz5R1EZnoIXVMlQx4t0z0SMnLQwjPuzGASOBtDdfabBaS41fX-WtKHhwx2LtmI4fp2YN5Egm9qFZOI6C5x-DzuTFKaDGpvObuLaYvG2VhSw8-H/s1600/tipis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-ILojHQJ3eFK3V-L-9iMP6ObL47IsNaz5R1EZnoIXVMlQx4t0z0SMnLQwjPuzGASOBtDdfabBaS41fX-WtKHhwx2LtmI4fp2YN5Egm9qFZOI6C5x-DzuTFKaDGpvObuLaYvG2VhSw8-H/s1600/tipis.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">There is evidence that many generations used this place. Ring of stones show that once tipis stood there. These tipi stones are “tent pegs” of the past used to hold down the edges of their conical skin tents or tipis. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSYhNH8AWi3DnJfXGK1j01SYuZMEj5wuAlmECNt-cbBs-h3UoUDXIAsRWB0flqrRW51ChM-8EQuqeR0CHCDMSZreatresDWH9I71oKBsISxyFkvvF1d7GY8t6IjYnVvtHPH4SG2pfEdIB/s1600/wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSYhNH8AWi3DnJfXGK1j01SYuZMEj5wuAlmECNt-cbBs-h3UoUDXIAsRWB0flqrRW51ChM-8EQuqeR0CHCDMSZreatresDWH9I71oKBsISxyFkvvF1d7GY8t6IjYnVvtHPH4SG2pfEdIB/s1600/wheel.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The Medicine Wheel, a sacred hoop, is one of the most mysterious remains of the nomadic tribes who roamed here. Set amid the prairie grassland on a plateau overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, the wheel is a circular boulder alignment that sits at the end of the circle of the Harmony Trail. It’s one of the last 70 medicine wheels scattered over North America and no two are alike. Some are made up of a single ring, some have double rings, and some are shaped like stars. The wheel is a cairn in the center of a ring of lichen-encrusted limestone boulders, most likely used to conduct ceremonies. The elders believe this is one of the most sacred sites of the northern plains tribes still intact.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">A walk of discovery through the visitor center will answer many questions about the way First Nations people lived and worked and how their way of life focused on respect for the land, animals and other people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">I surrounded myself with first nations art, music and collected works in the fine art gallery, where creations of master artisans with skills attained by tradition and age-old practices, are exhibited.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">This painting is in honor of Metis women’s connection to the horse nation. Historically many Metis woman worked with horses and they were a significant part of Metis culturally life on the prairies. The beautiful pink flower represents Metis woman and the two dancing snakes represent the musical rhythm that the horse nation hooves bring to the earth and all the beings that have the honor of listening to this musical cadence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">I sat in the Amphitheatre were a female dancer in full regalia performed native dances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The circular layout of the theater gave the event the intimacy of a room and offered the open sky as a ceiling. It overlooks the valley in a beautiful setting.</span><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">To day you can take advantage and plan an overnight stay and sleep in one of the tipis in the Opimihaw valley - sit around the fire and listen to traditional stories and learn about first nations traditional living, enjoy a traditional meal of bison stew and bannock, muskeg tea and Saskatoon berry tarts, and take part in the many cultural programs according to once specific interest.</span><br />
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</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-54682306123747136522011-07-01T06:38:00.000-07:002011-07-01T06:38:58.531-07:00Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIk_-bM6z-h-yVWg4Pn5a6hI3fam39F_oaPXYivrhuHE32Q5i-KsPpn7ZZ7_maJtQ9aFFs3ib5rzGzzVsB5__nxzErEzvIQoNtLfiBbAqgOZ0KWs7hHZEd0fZordeehDid4GChyphenhyphenoMvggZ/s1600/summer2page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIk_-bM6z-h-yVWg4Pn5a6hI3fam39F_oaPXYivrhuHE32Q5i-KsPpn7ZZ7_maJtQ9aFFs3ib5rzGzzVsB5__nxzErEzvIQoNtLfiBbAqgOZ0KWs7hHZEd0fZordeehDid4GChyphenhyphenoMvggZ/s1600/summer2page.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
New summer design for Summerlove Shelties</span></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-56580385845152580592011-06-25T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-25T05:00:45.338-07:00Flooding & A Prairie Road Trip<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wildfires, droughts and floods were once seen as freak conditions. But the environmental disasters now striking the province are shocking signs of “global weirding.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Welcome to the climate roller coaster or what is being coined the “new normal” of weather. Our province is caught between fire and water these days. In the north we have forest fires due to drought, and the south seems to be inundated with water overkill. We in the center of the province are managing reasonably well, although the river is very high and very fast due to the upstream overflow. A typical summer flow rate of the river as it passes through the city is 150 cubic meters per second. I read in the local paper that this week it was estimated to be 1,300 cubic meters per second expecting to rise to 2000 cubic meters in some areas. It has created a warning to all residence to be extra diligent when being close to the river. River lookouts are closed to the public and ferries have stopped their service. According to city officials the water treatment plant is experiencing major problems with their filters and mandatory water restrictions have been put into place for the city. Further south, Regina and Moose Jaws water treatment plant has been shut down completely. All due to the high sand loads from the river water resulting in reduced output and major equipment failure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsUpAJuTvbRGdZpXNz-Vh_ARzG-YPVmVDCp7hxhud17_7QLf3qs7trnSupOoWFAk1U3kv8M8ECx1chNU7hr9zAhFnD68n9GZHP175VMsPrPsSyHWHtwd9Xf0HM-0RPotbZVz-oQCP478L/s1600/river3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsUpAJuTvbRGdZpXNz-Vh_ARzG-YPVmVDCp7hxhud17_7QLf3qs7trnSupOoWFAk1U3kv8M8ECx1chNU7hr9zAhFnD68n9GZHP175VMsPrPsSyHWHtwd9Xf0HM-0RPotbZVz-oQCP478L/s1600/river3.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Saskatchewan river as seen at the Berry Barn in Saskatoon. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week I ventured on a road trip to Manitoba to visit my good friend Gail. I traveled on highway 16 as far as Shoal Lake and then headed south. Numerous roads had been damaged and closed as a result of flooding caused by spring run-offs and detours where necessary. Farmers and landowners will continue to be threatened by flooding do to the water release at Gardiner Dam and rising river levels. What crop had been planted might all be lost. I can foresee a rise in the price of wheat and other foods.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyamkKvrgVUv9Y0JMTMBjDZ8txUCISdZEvYKPSSS5n6RCsH6wP8tow7bZ8txJU9TzFwaJYkN7yqDJYAB15864SvFEkhUb0lmGxFA9oFNp9rgGJJR2xtSNeZQ8LIVy3jJODH1mWQ-eIxO7W/s1600/ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyamkKvrgVUv9Y0JMTMBjDZ8txUCISdZEvYKPSSS5n6RCsH6wP8tow7bZ8txJU9TzFwaJYkN7yqDJYAB15864SvFEkhUb0lmGxFA9oFNp9rgGJJR2xtSNeZQ8LIVy3jJODH1mWQ-eIxO7W/s1600/ducks.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ducks sit atop a round hay bail in a flooded farmers field.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I traveled through a migration corridor were over 390 species of birds have been recorded and 287 known to nest. Over 70% of North American waterfowl originate our Canadian Prairies. A late spring has not stopped ducks and geese from arriving in this region, where excellent breeding conditions are predicted. Habitat conditions remain favorable primarily because of the excellent wetland conditions due to the open waters in the marshes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oMXsywROPppovDZP5FviAWSrws8bf_Z4KiJS56UHKERxTxkSjlg8TPLnaapRcsOGpOWEAlpb-qEoNjkTNOE8EHh6AG8-hMWccd5krf4LNNpKH_k46PW_WvoX0TDi1qej7fX6VFdQHPIO/s1600/nest1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oMXsywROPppovDZP5FviAWSrws8bf_Z4KiJS56UHKERxTxkSjlg8TPLnaapRcsOGpOWEAlpb-qEoNjkTNOE8EHh6AG8-hMWccd5krf4LNNpKH_k46PW_WvoX0TDi1qej7fX6VFdQHPIO/s1600/nest1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow-xLjUPQJB0DEyD1_jWtzE2y6Br9pTfa4h6aokKERdOFggyM6O2fLa10d3UQ0U3Y9MqA3Y6m-eNA5USStWKUVSqTIw7stjNHqwW34MNTIUJDwjz9HlEof8Mr9PqktgfY6_0s8QqI2PRw/s1600/nest2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow-xLjUPQJB0DEyD1_jWtzE2y6Br9pTfa4h6aokKERdOFggyM6O2fLa10d3UQ0U3Y9MqA3Y6m-eNA5USStWKUVSqTIw7stjNHqwW34MNTIUJDwjz9HlEof8Mr9PqktgfY6_0s8QqI2PRw/s1600/nest2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A nesting basket for Mallard ducks</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On my way home I stopped at Foam Lake Heritage center managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada for a nature watch and walk. The town of Foam Lake has developed three self-guided areas around the marsh that are great for spotting wildlife. There are boardwalks and viewing mounds that make it a satisfying experience. The boardwalk takes you through a marsh bog and offers resting spots and a chance to enjoy the diversity of nature. A great trail for bird watchers and enthusiasts of both flora and fauna with some spectacular views of the lake along the way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialSPGTYPxGT19eCRTjlRxwOqczZACge5fmuUEh2gARZnouTzja25ebB2nORjSEHjn4GwKhj04U_GEqgFDDlPHOxGvDVjEHeK14-qrO4LXlnAM1LcYQf4b8ea9J1DSSzgBbBdkvVMKazsQ/s1600/Road+Trip+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialSPGTYPxGT19eCRTjlRxwOqczZACge5fmuUEh2gARZnouTzja25ebB2nORjSEHjn4GwKhj04U_GEqgFDDlPHOxGvDVjEHeK14-qrO4LXlnAM1LcYQf4b8ea9J1DSSzgBbBdkvVMKazsQ/s1600/Road+Trip+001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlRvJS_q2VqMImkOmJKGf48X_fJAa8q12eRXs2WqiitqeaJupYkQER1mjx1B8m0xLG3kxQbeHAF6za0rwi9RhDp0WoAC5NVM0v3l-EwQ9faHnS6dmcbQXloos-M0iYZq-XkCgADkU0-FY/s1600/Road+Trip+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlRvJS_q2VqMImkOmJKGf48X_fJAa8q12eRXs2WqiitqeaJupYkQER1mjx1B8m0xLG3kxQbeHAF6za0rwi9RhDp0WoAC5NVM0v3l-EwQ9faHnS6dmcbQXloos-M0iYZq-XkCgADkU0-FY/s1600/Road+Trip+002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Unfortunately the trail was kind of wet and due to the endless bombarding of barn swallows my walk had to be cut short. Here is a picture of Lynda Haverstock receiving a mallard-nesting basket by Foam Lake’s mayor, as seen at the tourist information center.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For a Timmy’s coffee and a gas fill I stopped at Russell and then headed north for a side trip. I stopped at Inglis for its interesting history of the area and with its restored Five-Grain Elevators, which is a national historic site. Some of these old structures vanish rather suddenly, sort of here to day and gone tomorrow and replaced with new buildings build of cement and steel. Once there were many of these old landmarks in the prairies, it’s sad to see the beauty of these old prairie elevators gone forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyWlJSO7c9Fq7Dyq_6vtl75wU1JcgTo6yBxsDbQxA6Q_Da6B120aOE9XGUoXBsohKrfPhlJTQbChalihW4BypiyaQQeN4nKPWQQlztDmOxU8gDNqVS57IS71bvyUI9QVwwa8q8vauPbOi/s1600/elevators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyWlJSO7c9Fq7Dyq_6vtl75wU1JcgTo6yBxsDbQxA6Q_Da6B120aOE9XGUoXBsohKrfPhlJTQbChalihW4BypiyaQQeN4nKPWQQlztDmOxU8gDNqVS57IS71bvyUI9QVwwa8q8vauPbOi/s320/elevators.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The restored elevators in Inglis are one of the last examples known left standing and are an enduring symbol of the prairies agriculture and a way of life once common, but now increasingly difficult to find anymore.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On my return home the dogs were happy to see me, as I am sure my faithful dog sitters had temporarily changed their usual routine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-39066205188466574542011-05-17T03:20:00.000-07:002011-05-17T03:20:05.720-07:00Spring Clean Ups<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s that time again – the time when confusion reigns and it doesn’t look as if everything will possibly get sorted out in time for the real garden season.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">I welcome spring with mixed feelings. I am pleased to see the end of the snow and the cold, but the first few weeks of the season are always related to a lot of work. So much work in fact that it doesn’t seem possible to even contemplate it all. As soon as the snow has melted and it is dry enough in the garden you just want to get out and get your hands dirty. There are a few jobs that need attending and I am trying to convince myself that I actually enjoy them. I imagine how nice the garden will look. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">As I sit on the patio with grand visions of my yard, these thoughts of conquering and beautifying my yard quickly begin to fade as I think of the days I need to accomplish the task. Perhaps I could split the garden up into manageable sections and did a task each day, it wouldn’t be so bad. The lawn needs attending first as leaves and branches fallen during the winter storms need to be removed. Spring also reveals a horrific scene of unwanted weeds from last year that need sending to the trash Trimming back plants and shrubs to prepare them for the new season would follow. The garden however, who is easily ignored until seemingly over night the perennials are peeking through the soil and begin to push their green selves into the air for another year. Sights of tulips and daffodils pushing up like periscopes from the muddy depths are greeting me with fresh vibrant new growth peeking up through the ruins of last year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Then of course there are the dogs who always want to lend a hand with digging in the soil and pulling out the plants They are quite vocal too and have a lot to say, so much in fact, that I better leave them in the house should I get enough energy to actually making my fantasy of a beautiful garden reality. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">So the timing has not been quite right yet, my fantasy that I would putter in my garden has not materialized yet. How easy it could be to keep up with it all! Who am I kidding! It won’t happen. I’ll put it off until I am having people over for coffee, then I’ll fly into a frenzy and get busy attempting to give the impression that my garden is always easy to look after. Or maybe I should just call the gardener to do the task for me, but then again I could not brag that my garden is my labor of my love. I probably wouldn’t have calluses and an aching back and a deep feeling of satisfaction.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">I carry on this procrastination as long as possible and finally cave mostly because I cannot stand the sight of it any longer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnpAcJERe7qQlFhTC6kR7sSERSxWCxgbH7LODN5tnHzr8dxciQm6Z0yW9N758TJOjisJIp3KIzMMrYvsYVFaH7eGG8DBHAIHffc6rtDvQWPUBJxiFUEghuqdnb2qvalOCU8kHUbwE75DW/s1600/Gardens+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnpAcJERe7qQlFhTC6kR7sSERSxWCxgbH7LODN5tnHzr8dxciQm6Z0yW9N758TJOjisJIp3KIzMMrYvsYVFaH7eGG8DBHAIHffc6rtDvQWPUBJxiFUEghuqdnb2qvalOCU8kHUbwE75DW/s1600/Gardens+019.jpg" /></a></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-6329361316413424832011-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:002011-05-03T12:40:16.476-07:00ASSA 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This years ASSA National was in Grey Summit west of St Louis Missouri.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReuFuNMa-CMZqufdUvktV0OMdopDnXZM2LlKXpN3970TGE1yywCh30p7wIlx8D63hay9xOznd7ZVgAOQevHQut5GnFNj0n9BfL0yyF-mYX8sEejep5CXj5tHTcGVL9ADFHWZQ_j6VuzZ5/s1600/ASSA+2011+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReuFuNMa-CMZqufdUvktV0OMdopDnXZM2LlKXpN3970TGE1yywCh30p7wIlx8D63hay9xOznd7ZVgAOQevHQut5GnFNj0n9BfL0yyF-mYX8sEejep5CXj5tHTcGVL9ADFHWZQ_j6VuzZ5/s1600/ASSA+2011+012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The beautiful banner of the 2011 ASSA National<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We arrived Tuesday and the plan was to pick up our rental car at the airport, which is a 30 minutes drive from our hotel, only to find out that all rental cars were leased out. We were quite disappointed and agreed to take a cab that charged us an astronomical price.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our hotel was beautiful. Build in the early 1800 with its 36 inches thick limestone walls offering genuine midwestern hospitality, made for a comfortable stay. We even had a choice of firm or soft pillows, a first for me and a nice touch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-bq3BYcyU5ToPIqBNnwEtfW7yy9XARwP6EM-6P9KNlmEYYWCgvnIDKlDoAIitZT8fZaHXQnbGVtW7XUHvqzTFV2zxBEfmPElyPYGX6pXnEQVIrJQ6MAhq11EX1DpF7403vazMFC4Pmy5/s1600/hotel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-bq3BYcyU5ToPIqBNnwEtfW7yy9XARwP6EM-6P9KNlmEYYWCgvnIDKlDoAIitZT8fZaHXQnbGVtW7XUHvqzTFV2zxBEfmPElyPYGX6pXnEQVIrJQ6MAhq11EX1DpF7403vazMFC4Pmy5/s1600/hotel2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PNCYW8hGDBoKVurTQf8L5HSSssJ-BJ6TU0ZE_DoJH4RfuQrhJA5zI3H6nPccXn99O1-puMmhXlZVXbjS4ZD1TBkhhAHxxxOOoAVnBd31F6Q_ttWTSy8qdGgoVb7mgv8BMe2AfvuC018r/s1600/hotel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PNCYW8hGDBoKVurTQf8L5HSSssJ-BJ6TU0ZE_DoJH4RfuQrhJA5zI3H6nPccXn99O1-puMmhXlZVXbjS4ZD1TBkhhAHxxxOOoAVnBd31F6Q_ttWTSy8qdGgoVb7mgv8BMe2AfvuC018r/s1600/hotel3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The event was at the new Purina Farms Event Center, a perfect location with a new state of the art indoor facility. Bright and large with cushioned flooring for the big ring and lots of grooming space. The surrounding areas of the center had plenty of grassland with picturess scenery.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB_s_53VptafEmwdxsjqfzlrH1whpSHfQmSNt9JCmUFQvDLfjlSPAuYZic2Ft1Pr061bg4frUwAKHfuBkyCNJuNGs8G8ebybmhvKjBtBTErDVnLtNYBy-RBirQ-4SA4uOEm5MsDeQhwKQ/s1600/ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB_s_53VptafEmwdxsjqfzlrH1whpSHfQmSNt9JCmUFQvDLfjlSPAuYZic2Ft1Pr061bg4frUwAKHfuBkyCNJuNGs8G8ebybmhvKjBtBTErDVnLtNYBy-RBirQ-4SA4uOEm5MsDeQhwKQ/s1600/ring.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtPr7gd4N7PAFqucEl0JAgd7y2ezdogVdz3zhN580bJcqF6WATNshq0sJnWd_FmaioDfdf4mUYK5ccyl96xtRl9gZyj4slrnz0Tj8QY6XnzeuS-hxnNQITdj303bFs1HKDTApp9rWtDgP/s1600/ring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtPr7gd4N7PAFqucEl0JAgd7y2ezdogVdz3zhN580bJcqF6WATNshq0sJnWd_FmaioDfdf4mUYK5ccyl96xtRl9gZyj4slrnz0Tj8QY6XnzeuS-hxnNQITdj303bFs1HKDTApp9rWtDgP/s1600/ring1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We did our shopping right away, as the evening was set-aside for the visiting hour. Many beautiful dogs caught my eyes, especially the young puppies that placed so well in their classes and the top quality dogs I had admired from afar.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv79uKchvdNBzeiZsQcK_q4SYeeSplMZR-XIpHLa3J0MAFZMineLgPVS6fOAB19CAMv5MNpqKJzDVWylhFaszz3QGZRD8mtPA_JoKoxjrdyYYOtz42zPKO_0Pg02n_6mPG9DwzkSYGoKAs/s1600/grooming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv79uKchvdNBzeiZsQcK_q4SYeeSplMZR-XIpHLa3J0MAFZMineLgPVS6fOAB19CAMv5MNpqKJzDVWylhFaszz3QGZRD8mtPA_JoKoxjrdyYYOtz42zPKO_0Pg02n_6mPG9DwzkSYGoKAs/s1600/grooming.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3HCSLnTIwsd1UeiRu2yXL-Aac6u5uRrva1CPuaIqqEnBAIIYyOdIwQwcSCaRC-e8fmjVmgb1JR0VdSheKVRz8LSojBOwPhNJD1NVoWdG0wzDyk4ZAHm3JrHlYInsCbIGFn9ObanlmNQH/s1600/grooming1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3HCSLnTIwsd1UeiRu2yXL-Aac6u5uRrva1CPuaIqqEnBAIIYyOdIwQwcSCaRC-e8fmjVmgb1JR0VdSheKVRz8LSojBOwPhNJD1NVoWdG0wzDyk4ZAHm3JrHlYInsCbIGFn9ObanlmNQH/s1600/grooming1.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is a noteworthy, beautiful display.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wednesday was the judging of the boys. For the evening we were lucky to scalp tickets for the BBQ. Our tablemates were from New York State, Manitoba and Missouri. An impromptu educational question and answer hour led by Rick Thompson followed. Many knowledgeable “Old Timers” participated in giving answers. Overall an enjoyable evening.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The remaining week was spent watching our beautiful shelties being judged, socializing, making new friends and visiting with old acquaintances. It was a treat to be on a little holiday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I would have loved to see padded chairs or bleachers all around the ring. Negotiating getting up and down on them and sitting for hours was not easy to take. Many spectators had bought crate pads to sit on which alleviated the uncomfortable seating arrangement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">People working the show worked so very hard and all appreciated it. At the restaurant I had some great meals and of course the cake celebrating the 100-year birthday…was delicious.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was good to sit at ringside to relax, no stress, following the dogs in the catalogue enjoying the beautiful shelties of the day and to pick my winners. The best part of the show was to see so many friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was nice to catch up.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Congratulation to all the winners!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It would be remiss of me not to write about my Friday Adventure to the Harrah’s Casino. Initially we had planned to take a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi river that evening, but as faith would have it, it wasn’t meant to be. Instead we joined a group who was headed to the casino.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am not a gambler and my $20.00 had to last the whole evening. Lady Luck was on my side and I was on a roll when all of a sudden my one arm bandit froze and I could no longer place a bet I could only see a black screen. – No time to think and worry in what to do next. – No time to cash out, as I couldn’t anyway. - No time to place my chair in a tipped position indicating that this place was reserved. – At the same time I saw security personnel rushing into a certain direction when all of a sudden sirens screeched in a loud demanding call making you pay attention. Loudspeakers ordered us to proceed into a secure area of the casino. By this time word had got around that a tornado had touched down. Quickly and orderly we were evacuated into an interior, windowless area of the casino. An elderly man next to me was sitting under a table and by this time my brain was functioning again and I realized the magnitude a tornado could have. I was frightened worrying about my safety. I breathed a sigh of relief as I welcomed the call of the loudspeaker ten minutes later announcing the “ALL CLEAR”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I returned to my one arm bandit were I had left a substantial amount of money earlier only to find a woman in my seat playing with my money. I cautioned her that she was playing with my money and that I wanted it back. Well… I got a nasty look and an even nastier reply. I am not the arguing type and I wasn’t about to argue with the woman who was twice my size. I motioned a supervisor explaining my mishap. He was more than helpful re-acquiring my lost money and then some that by the way was later spend in the casino anyway.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to congratulate the casino staff on their efficiency in handling this situation. It could have been a different outcome but all was well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our drive back to the hotel took a little longer than usual as many highways were closed because of the devastation the tornado had caused. Our GPS had to re-calculate numerous times!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This National will be remembered for the devastating storm that spawned tornadoes across the region as St Louis and area took a big hit from a tornado that destroyed many homes and damaged many others. The best news was that there was no loss of life as a result of the heavy storms that moved through the area. As we were driving to the airport on Sunday we could see the devastation. Unbelievable to see first hand the power of a tornado as anything in its way was flattened or destroyed. Lambert Airport took a big hit as well and the airport was closed indefinitely as the status of the airport was unknown. The C concourse, which was heavily damaged, remained closed, and people were making other travel arrangements, but by Sunday the airport had returned to normal capacity levels. Airlines flew nearly 70% of scheduled flights and I was happy that we were one of the lucky once leaving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There is no place like home!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-18424556740464399482011-04-18T10:08:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:08:21.012-07:00Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eteOdcJkWHY-9d__xkgxBu6L6z7tH5THyLcVN2a0zlbT4mJ8SimRZQlxQFIoUwLUWcqB3n5mmqGouHKJisVVOTES8EZu9JiotkAfbyJWMgRYDqdAj7lLJuXTbDUqJXo3PLRmx1SI1x4b/s1600/spring3top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eteOdcJkWHY-9d__xkgxBu6L6z7tH5THyLcVN2a0zlbT4mJ8SimRZQlxQFIoUwLUWcqB3n5mmqGouHKJisVVOTES8EZu9JiotkAfbyJWMgRYDqdAj7lLJuXTbDUqJXo3PLRmx1SI1x4b/s1600/spring3top.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tineke.biz/Design/Design.html">New Spring Design for Summerlove Shelties</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-1396272398353409472011-04-16T05:43:00.000-07:002011-04-16T05:43:39.361-07:00The Robins are back<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Spring is finally here. The snow is melting and every day we see changes outside and a new bit of growth in the yard. All this is a comfort and a sorely needed bit of cheer for those who have made it through the tough and seemingly endless winter.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With the warmer weather the birds are being busy in the garden rummaging through the leftover seeds on the ground and generally feeling wonderful that the snow is gone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When checking the back yard this morning for more appearances of the snowmelt that had left copious amounts of water in the lower areas of the yard, I saw a flock of American Robins. It is always a welcome sign and truly a sign of spring. The industrious and authoritarian birds were checking out the sights for their summer stay. They tried a dip in the pond, but it must have been to cold as it sits in the shade and traces of ice are still present. It is a real treat to watch their erect stand, beak tilted upwards, to survey their environs. They are a popular sight here. I love their red chests, cheery songs and early appearance at the end of winter. Soon the ground will be warm enough, food will be plentiful and we will see them tugging earthworms out of the ground to feed to their young.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kZnoWpSoZPVhG0YvG4mZAxHTmyQ-GqrXQIB8Flbl5ZnhbC4O-xra6vpxGEuyuKbM7xaxo64yhUwdNzjMrsnpIkl17YYlfdjLRFk98JpS7gHTT-E_VcqO44gkuInB5gkS1TT4c-C5Vydq/s1600/220px-Turdus-migratorius-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kZnoWpSoZPVhG0YvG4mZAxHTmyQ-GqrXQIB8Flbl5ZnhbC4O-xra6vpxGEuyuKbM7xaxo64yhUwdNzjMrsnpIkl17YYlfdjLRFk98JpS7gHTT-E_VcqO44gkuInB5gkS1TT4c-C5Vydq/s1600/220px-Turdus-migratorius-002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am looking forward to hear their early morning and evening calls from their repertoire of songs.</span></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-87738110358645850422011-04-14T09:36:00.000-07:002011-04-14T09:36:53.172-07:00Last week’s happenings<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Braving the cold elements of last week I took my friend to a little side trip to the Western Development Museum’s 1910 Boom Town. It’s exhibiting a full- scale replica of a typical settlement of that era. Along the main street you can go into buildings like the general store, the blacksmith’s shop and the post office; even a one-room school. All are outfitted with antique pieces, which of course would have been the objects of everyday life at the time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLPE-PSvIzZyD8HyVq-GlsrzYRY8w19iMrysLsILbIJ2k5MNFx8tQAO7nNMMq_m-KYFsRpSyAkd8t8JIDUGLFE6m8tVgBTk4W9aUoahrRjcAdVWioiO79ddCkxpkiMgL9KymEXXcaT_fj/s1600/main-street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLPE-PSvIzZyD8HyVq-GlsrzYRY8w19iMrysLsILbIJ2k5MNFx8tQAO7nNMMq_m-KYFsRpSyAkd8t8JIDUGLFE6m8tVgBTk4W9aUoahrRjcAdVWioiO79ddCkxpkiMgL9KymEXXcaT_fj/s1600/main-street.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We were also interested in the exhibition of the “Hunter of the Prairie Sea”. It is a replica of a Tylosaurus fossil found in Saskatchewan. Nicknamed Omaciw, (which means hunter in Cree) and is more than 9.75 meters (32 feet) long making it one of the largest of the marine reptiles. It was discovered along the south shore of lake Diefenbaker in 1994. It is known as a very ferocious hunter of ancient seas, ready to kill just about any smaller creature that crossed its path. You just have to look at its jaws, lined on each side with two rows of pointy, cone shaped teeth. Just real vicious looking not one species I like to meet in the dark. Apparently stomach contents indicated a diet on fish, seabirds and even shark. It’s hard to believe that our flat prairie landscape was once under water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to the Tylosaurus the exhibition introduces one to the marine environment that existed in Saskatchewan million years ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkAhVxb2EpTCetV5LAGSY52di8YiQyNPCmv9_5J2nzdRJrOFh0UEOpFjQR2Zre0Nlgq5SI7H3bk6t3lTa2uNGBTnQZvOdCjc-dFNU7G3usW-QBgyfVm9RrEuY7eou2KZvELOGXrb77Ls1/s1600/omaciw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkAhVxb2EpTCetV5LAGSY52di8YiQyNPCmv9_5J2nzdRJrOFh0UEOpFjQR2Zre0Nlgq5SI7H3bk6t3lTa2uNGBTnQZvOdCjc-dFNU7G3usW-QBgyfVm9RrEuY7eou2KZvELOGXrb77Ls1/s320/omaciw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The massive exhibit of the Tylosaurus can take your breath away and I was glad to get out of the rooms for a more pleasant experience…lunch of course.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t you just love to go to the theater? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We treated ourselves to the play “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire. The play is about how people grief and how they grief in very different ways and what can happen when those differences are at odds with each other and within a family. Grief obviously did not bring the family closer together. Sorrow isolated them. Anything that anyone said was almost guaranteed to be the wrong thing. It is a sad play and tears may easily flow as a family grieves the loss of their four-year-old son who was killed accidentally by a young driver while following his dog onto the street.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was an evening of good performance at our new Persephone Theater.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rummoli anyone?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is that? It is one of our all time favorite games. Last Friday my ladies church group played this entertaining game. We played for big money…pennies that is…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8rX3YuprOx0vKKTtGR9i7kk4rcLQI-M6rkAI7ovPvhPK7AHkvRc-e8cCN42kX1arABh9h3iw7ZVL7qtN06gIvxIIM6T1H6uLPz-hquZuz2QPSNohruBZiSN4nU0JQLAlB8wRHDFs5s1U/s1600/Rommoli+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8rX3YuprOx0vKKTtGR9i7kk4rcLQI-M6rkAI7ovPvhPK7AHkvRc-e8cCN42kX1arABh9h3iw7ZVL7qtN06gIvxIIM6T1H6uLPz-hquZuz2QPSNohruBZiSN4nU0JQLAlB8wRHDFs5s1U/s320/Rommoli+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rummoli is a great game and easy to play. Perfect for rainy days. We often get together, sometimes even for a hearty Pot Luck, which of course is every ones favorite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As a child I used to play it with my family at my grandmothers place. It was a get-together I cherished. Always placing a candle nearby so we could continue playing just in case of power outages.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We like to add up our final penny count and see how much we are in debt or how much we made. Lots of fun to see that you made as many pennies as the player beside you lost.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Always a nice evening when spend with friends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></span>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-80931870219844653502011-04-02T08:20:00.000-07:002011-04-02T08:20:07.516-07:00Maui – a trip to paradise (1)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">I know I hang on endlessly about the weather, but it does rather pre-occupy a person when it is this cold. What better ways to escape the winter, than heading south to a warmer climate. Thinking of lying on a sun soaked beach is enough, you just want to do it and so my family and I ventured out this winter to the beautiful island of Maui in Hawaii.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Our daughter who is a relative organized person took it upon herself to book all the sweeping canvasses of attractions we wanted to experience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">We arrived at Kahului Airport around 9:30 pm Maui time (2:30 am our time) and were bussed to were we picked up our rental van and off we went to our destination, a beautiful resort situated between Kihei and Wailea on the western coast of Maui. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Kahului Airport. Once we’ve settled in we realized how tired we were and that there was not much time till morning.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMdv2oOTbuuGQpKW640eC8W9EvH4WifDrzzQnvlXY-DHK9F0RAN2ZvFqD0lLVNfzZjY0WNsaPkDbYJDch8oZI662T02J0ywuAwqdICC8iDQSDPtFmxPXDSi7-Jbr7I2aMjQnzIIwbZIl/s1600/resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxMdv2oOTbuuGQpKW640eC8W9EvH4WifDrzzQnvlXY-DHK9F0RAN2ZvFqD0lLVNfzZjY0WNsaPkDbYJDch8oZI662T02J0ywuAwqdICC8iDQSDPtFmxPXDSi7-Jbr7I2aMjQnzIIwbZIl/s1600/resort.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">While in Maui we became early risers. The Mynah birds were beckoning with their loud calls and creating quite a ruckus. I ventured out for a morning walk to get a glimpse of these birds but only spotted a lonely heron. Instead I captured these beautiful, vibrantly colored flowers on camera.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US">____________</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsr0dAr8wXAYU7mgLeGh5P7HJy-gK7FcDM3WrJc3MYg0CusDj_N3-f6m0lADw_iNf3DR62iWfwKYPnYgPrzmH4Hkuh-jQ9uRpuwpioo2T2E8I4qxypcIbIdlhAZga9d6Jf_u41gV2vcpp/s1600/kamthree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsr0dAr8wXAYU7mgLeGh5P7HJy-gK7FcDM3WrJc3MYg0CusDj_N3-f6m0lADw_iNf3DR62iWfwKYPnYgPrzmH4Hkuh-jQ9uRpuwpioo2T2E8I4qxypcIbIdlhAZga9d6Jf_u41gV2vcpp/s1600/kamthree2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">The first day was spent shopping and sightseeing around Kihei, driving past bustling farmers markets, sugarcane fields and miles and miles of beaches and a spate of restaurants. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day we ventured out early to Lahaina a bustling historic whaling village and hot spot with many attractions and art galleries. In the early nineteenth century it was the <span lang="EN-US">capitol of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In the mid 1800’s up to 1500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic Moby Dick.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscN3vfhaB6Rmjf8ZZtk50ErwsGIGD42H5EDxgA-g3sBT_UEvp2oAmm6lYL2ovFV-lMzdMWZauMzHzNXRxGJfJpv3-aPU5wTyr58SpXKho3Fe-TMnkblhGmJ026Jf3skwwes_PQwYa6o2_/s1600/harbur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscN3vfhaB6Rmjf8ZZtk50ErwsGIGD42H5EDxgA-g3sBT_UEvp2oAmm6lYL2ovFV-lMzdMWZauMzHzNXRxGJfJpv3-aPU5wTyr58SpXKho3Fe-TMnkblhGmJ026Jf3skwwes_PQwYa6o2_/s1600/harbur.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We had booked a submarine tour this morning leaving from the harbor and were really looking forward to the dive. We were taken by boot to the sub Atlantis. It is good to wear good walking shoes, as we had to descend into the sub downward on a strait ladder and flip-flops just wont do. We each were seated at our own giant porthole so that we could experience the undersea world first hand.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8gUd7HNrNKC6CJldamvPFHDZmKNX1nHACbypB1FDyJ0-e8hpg2PI3W2NqO05HqIM7NlmFTTTHGH4AITKgXkwS6ee1GdDR9_3Uqwlp6XJPAJB4O57JEUmtziuolUF9f-SM8b29Q_f3ylM/s1600/fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8gUd7HNrNKC6CJldamvPFHDZmKNX1nHACbypB1FDyJ0-e8hpg2PI3W2NqO05HqIM7NlmFTTTHGH4AITKgXkwS6ee1GdDR9_3Uqwlp6XJPAJB4O57JEUmtziuolUF9f-SM8b29Q_f3ylM/s1600/fish.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Descending to 130 feet I saw a collage of bright yellow tangs, neon green parrotfish and yawning moray eels. I was in awe as schools of brilliantly colored fish and exotic marine life swam just inches away from me. It’s a fascinating journey into another world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWsaSkT90P5rThGVjGhuHus0BBnrVWlvFDgSCwG4BjIdIrObkormys4xA3VSWhzY5tZn1JfRB4gY2WPBfgIUEKIFED709hjeno2x4SkcAWrYobhcPjHBFiIVS1cJMITuz-ZXdOzDoZ9da/s1600/Picture+of+Carthaginian+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWsaSkT90P5rThGVjGhuHus0BBnrVWlvFDgSCwG4BjIdIrObkormys4xA3VSWhzY5tZn1JfRB4gY2WPBfgIUEKIFED709hjeno2x4SkcAWrYobhcPjHBFiIVS1cJMITuz-ZXdOzDoZ9da/s1600/Picture+of+Carthaginian+002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back in 2005 the Carthaginian, a replica whaling ship, was sunk in an area devoid of coral reef. Secured to the bottom in an upright position 95 feet below the surface, the vessel has become a self-sustaining habitat for schools of tropical fish and other marine life and a new interesting site for scuba divers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lahaina has restored its many historic sites, attracting some of the best restaurants and shops. On most days of the week there’s an endless parade of visitors moving up and down on Front Street enjoying the attractions. The picture was taken from the restaurant were we dined for lunch overlooking the old Pioneer Inn.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI9cKO4SH_ZKjy79nLfHITMAkB7KQ_zlhyphenhyphen2XMu12n1blfIz0I9riAYhvM-wctxyM6PPhOeh5s0EgAy-SfD8wLflDFKJ_tDs2U66ilPPhd7ewgTSB7knRY5Sm_Lxkwc0mczDHj_JuBjgYv/s1600/banyan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI9cKO4SH_ZKjy79nLfHITMAkB7KQ_zlhyphenhyphen2XMu12n1blfIz0I9riAYhvM-wctxyM6PPhOeh5s0EgAy-SfD8wLflDFKJ_tDs2U66ilPPhd7ewgTSB7knRY5Sm_Lxkwc0mczDHj_JuBjgYv/s1600/banyan2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Planted in 1873 in front of the Courthouse and the harbor is this sprawling Banyan tree along Front Street. It is the size of an entire city block and stands 60 feet high. If you need to cool down a bit on hot days just walk under the dangling vines and the sweeping branches of this tree. Usually you find it full of very noisy birds so one needs to be very careful…. It is a real landmark of Lahaina. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGjqsr6EPi6p6IeJJIbhZsdRH7tNbjspA3iknv6Q_oFt-indaX6pD7VKw0_IZAx7DSfk0TrX6MvhBzyytWJvKfh4inPYmRKLmdMRQNLjusm9z-2lrkWXz4I3ILdczw0d93xd1Tpn9eEet/s1600/maui_princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGjqsr6EPi6p6IeJJIbhZsdRH7tNbjspA3iknv6Q_oFt-indaX6pD7VKw0_IZAx7DSfk0TrX6MvhBzyytWJvKfh4inPYmRKLmdMRQNLjusm9z-2lrkWXz4I3ILdczw0d93xd1Tpn9eEet/s1600/maui_princess.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At sunset we treated ourselves to a dinner and dance cruise on the Maui Princess. On the menu was the islands Mahi-mahi fish. When cooked the flesh is white and flaky with a sweet taste, making it an ideal fish for preparation. I did not do any dancing but enjoyed watching a family group who were celebrating sixty years of their parent’s marriage. All dressed in red t-shirts marked with Hawaii <b>Six-0h</b>. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwE-LhzrsSv4FChz-4YkpPMvR1AoCuzrmCXbr6w_qqRMpm0bLlksMDrEDIjLllkBtrPAaSdCjl_VkfIAt90cVXpqsF4FZWh6zo4qqn6Yc_Wdf3pzea6t3RfbmPeJfsGuKhDsKPe8qS-Ss/s1600/crewredshirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwE-LhzrsSv4FChz-4YkpPMvR1AoCuzrmCXbr6w_qqRMpm0bLlksMDrEDIjLllkBtrPAaSdCjl_VkfIAt90cVXpqsF4FZWh6zo4qqn6Yc_Wdf3pzea6t3RfbmPeJfsGuKhDsKPe8qS-Ss/s1600/crewredshirt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCJPXzIB_eF7zme4Iht8GPkzf80WO0A9QwQr5om_IEHP6VxpxD6lAyp51u5f0-ZbwwqzsIK_CZ7hgIphY2gDCgR_NA_BKqTE6wxyF5QX47EOmGGPUxbm6pdvORuEiYuROVrxzG6YnFtoy/s1600/nicoleterry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCJPXzIB_eF7zme4Iht8GPkzf80WO0A9QwQr5om_IEHP6VxpxD6lAyp51u5f0-ZbwwqzsIK_CZ7hgIphY2gDCgR_NA_BKqTE6wxyF5QX47EOmGGPUxbm6pdvORuEiYuROVrxzG6YnFtoy/s1600/nicoleterry.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The musical entertainment by a local artist, good food, on a slightly swaying boat by a gentle breeze under the stars made for an enchanted evening.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTPJWBy01hjUHBdn1aPiYwkhrwi63v2bpQK3TZQDOGTSX0PKYwim84uu15ucLxe7j2YZLHq6Mn9QqZ7s_6oOfzt6rD6YNrVf_ZQzSvgP-IDrA1PEFCQ9LtAN_ecMwyzjJIfuRBmKLMgvc/s1600/banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTPJWBy01hjUHBdn1aPiYwkhrwi63v2bpQK3TZQDOGTSX0PKYwim84uu15ucLxe7j2YZLHq6Mn9QqZ7s_6oOfzt6rD6YNrVf_ZQzSvgP-IDrA1PEFCQ9LtAN_ecMwyzjJIfuRBmKLMgvc/s1600/banner.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Saturday I did some island hopping and I flew to Honolulu to the Sheltie Specialty. I was welcomed into the home of a long time Sheltie breeder. Her house sits on a hill overlooking the dormant Diamond Head crater and Waikiki beach, Honolulu and of course the ocean, a spectacular view especially at night.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0cGfxxdEtP4lqXYfOOYdDk0WZTrG7qTA25mv8mqRJe9XMQZ2LSCDCaaeX9DZEdtsTA2XQ6wlM3ciygrSItuKrdN0v6zvzbuLc29KPvtpAoLjjTyVB9jfxq9Ii1GmNY3xqKedB7HjjfD/s1600/Sunset+over+Honolulu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0cGfxxdEtP4lqXYfOOYdDk0WZTrG7qTA25mv8mqRJe9XMQZ2LSCDCaaeX9DZEdtsTA2XQ6wlM3ciygrSItuKrdN0v6zvzbuLc29KPvtpAoLjjTyVB9jfxq9Ii1GmNY3xqKedB7HjjfD/s320/Sunset+over+Honolulu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-75710503067697719302011-04-02T08:18:00.001-07:002011-04-02T09:33:27.143-07:00Maui – a trip to paradise (2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">She has three gardens for her shelties, the upper, lower and middle garden. As well as an orchid display around her fountain in the front garden. I am so jealous. Among other delectable treats, her dogs ate Avocados and Papayas with their supper as these are grown on big trees around her house. Back home I have to pay a fortune at the Supermarket for these tasteful fruits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Sunday was the Sheltie Specialty in Thomas Square Park, which was judged by Denise Cornelssen. I saw some beautiful shelties in her line-up of winners. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Following the judging, members gathered together for a lunch right in the park. I was encouraged to try Hawaiian made delectables that were prepared by club members. The evening was spend together for a relaxed dinner Hawaiian style. I had chosen fish again, I love seafood and don’t we go on holiday just to eat?</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlk3j1kb7JSlOpVb6rRGn71za-lT1bmgBAhGLmHjR9PEO5OgDcWt4m3DTKKH2__JVzkHqi8bY2bWwgRfBpOA2Tk50vTMAABpBegX1Ghk2ngVSXkErn590nZKQXI277xHvP-nSgY7qUYth/s1600/oceancentre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlk3j1kb7JSlOpVb6rRGn71za-lT1bmgBAhGLmHjR9PEO5OgDcWt4m3DTKKH2__JVzkHqi8bY2bWwgRfBpOA2Tk50vTMAABpBegX1Ghk2ngVSXkErn590nZKQXI277xHvP-nSgY7qUYth/s1600/oceancentre.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">On my return to Maui my group ventured to the Maui Ocean Center. It was a journey of discovery through the extraordinary underwater world that lies beyond Hawaii’s surf-ringed shores, from the complex beauty of the living reefs, to the vast, blue realm of the ocean. All of the marine life at the center is alive and from Hawaii and collected under special permit with the Hawaiian State Department.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcTcWL_CDZ0TAmABfcmx2ZpkqsnIhqKg3IWmk3plbLHKKqH29k7LcfN1THNNkqKgbxCuZn6kQu9nR6zzj59AmfNZQNUA0AzBTOVS_UkP9Fnb3EID2NajNwP3t0vfE5h3mmS8nh5YNvojU/s1600/Scorpion+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcTcWL_CDZ0TAmABfcmx2ZpkqsnIhqKg3IWmk3plbLHKKqH29k7LcfN1THNNkqKgbxCuZn6kQu9nR6zzj59AmfNZQNUA0AzBTOVS_UkP9Fnb3EID2NajNwP3t0vfE5h3mmS8nh5YNvojU/s1600/Scorpion+fish.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">The decoy scorpion fish was one of the many exhibits that attracted my attention. He apparently utilizes a modified lay-in-wait strategy to capture its prey. To attract its prey he sits on the bottom camouflages himself and keeping its body motionless while undulating its dorsal fin in order to mimic a small fish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnr-2QC28qAQ3X7m_o4IZA8t_Oo-pPZwFWuwnbBz-he8axjghEW0onv2NahRxNmAiiK7tzHh5kz9QilLOqspcPlG2xqHvPMRRU1yPpt7DRmw2wi3BgA6y0-OUMMcjyKGH4xRg2XxTaB69/s1600/stonefish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnr-2QC28qAQ3X7m_o4IZA8t_Oo-pPZwFWuwnbBz-he8axjghEW0onv2NahRxNmAiiK7tzHh5kz9QilLOqspcPlG2xqHvPMRRU1yPpt7DRmw2wi3BgA6y0-OUMMcjyKGH4xRg2XxTaB69/s1600/stonefish.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The stonefish is extremely difficult to see because it usually buries most of its body under sand or rubble and only their widely separated eyes show. Often algae and hydroids grow on its back. It has been suggested, that stonefishes exude a white, milky substance over their bodies, which encourages plant growth. Shrimps and other animals have been observed to climb over them. This is the world’s most venomous fish. Their near perfect camouflage and the venomous spines make them a hazard for swimmers, snorkelers and divers in shallow water. Wounds should be treated immediately with hot water or dry heat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hgn_DcAv2BlzjGoMigSJAVdGyzPmhAFQoVFFNbHEi9Nf5RWgeXrIx485GSFmabWg0Lq8EUJ-2OJvx4q7XSD_0gQ8x_qeRqR_L0cw32GGzp2DCBYpY0hD8OcEcOrf_XyNV76FlQnxf4NE/s1600/Reef_Triggerfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hgn_DcAv2BlzjGoMigSJAVdGyzPmhAFQoVFFNbHEi9Nf5RWgeXrIx485GSFmabWg0Lq8EUJ-2OJvx4q7XSD_0gQ8x_qeRqR_L0cw32GGzp2DCBYpY0hD8OcEcOrf_XyNV76FlQnxf4NE/s1600/Reef_Triggerfish.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XuZrqZdNA0aVXpipDRYO20-B_SGEcplhEtZqB7Yt0TL7DzRlxssE7y2fu2KA__L5KAdjGXzY6qs4oLFlcYy-GCNxMf4Bt9sgUlyXt8ftsYIDdCdQ7crdKw2ymq2kLPOMk_J9bLd0d2gX/s1600/-Reef_Triggerfish_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XuZrqZdNA0aVXpipDRYO20-B_SGEcplhEtZqB7Yt0TL7DzRlxssE7y2fu2KA__L5KAdjGXzY6qs4oLFlcYy-GCNxMf4Bt9sgUlyXt8ftsYIDdCdQ7crdKw2ymq2kLPOMk_J9bLd0d2gX/s1600/-Reef_Triggerfish_1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Here is a picture of Hawaii’s National Fish the Reef Trigger fish – or like the Hawaiian people call him – the “humuhumu nukunuku apua’a” -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now say that really fast, bet you are having trouble.</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt-aMU__TnrNl6eoq4TzIZiRMnQsqrKurF6ZSShbKqVhlWDoKwmUZ8ucaZhqef6GmKqNBqpOfs7aBat-LQEdlSgICdeqTqqkhVMJmwpCn8ZPpAF-WQmI8TgRiCnu6fPTcb0_y2mJiGp0s/s1600/Ma%252527alaea_Bay_Harbor_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt-aMU__TnrNl6eoq4TzIZiRMnQsqrKurF6ZSShbKqVhlWDoKwmUZ8ucaZhqef6GmKqNBqpOfs7aBat-LQEdlSgICdeqTqqkhVMJmwpCn8ZPpAF-WQmI8TgRiCnu6fPTcb0_y2mJiGp0s/s1600/Ma%252527alaea_Bay_Harbor_2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For the evening we treated ourselves to a gastronomical five-course dinner at Buzz’s Warf. The restaurant is one of Maui’s oldest and is situated in Maalaea Bay Harbor, a bustling landmark with beautiful views of Mt. Haleakala and the southern coastline of Maui. This is the place were you find some of the best seafoods, freshest fish and biggest prawns. They are to die for! They’re rich and sweet and share many characteristics of lobster, (except for the price.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWZRlTPXnf0ousK3587kz7p_9-fVBSOqcQiHI34j1c10VleUivrBLyRh2Q2FZauiBsAG5kd-cEuvDCi5LWPzDbMINVmGxZ-gGwr958hDNguwHXXZy4gYIM1KQj1Y7taonQU8rUqlG_km4/s1600/buzzwarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWZRlTPXnf0ousK3587kz7p_9-fVBSOqcQiHI34j1c10VleUivrBLyRh2Q2FZauiBsAG5kd-cEuvDCi5LWPzDbMINVmGxZ-gGwr958hDNguwHXXZy4gYIM1KQj1Y7taonQU8rUqlG_km4/s1600/buzzwarf.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We drank far to much wine and spend too much money.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The highlight of my holiday was no doubt the Helicopter flight over the southern part of Maui and the majestic Haleakala Crater, the world’s largest dormant volcano. It measures a dept of over thousand feet and is more than ten miles across.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6uqU8DxV5CSFSYwZC6vts_O9ZdjPZPSVqNuWTAJfHByM33c_07CZ2Cuy15_NyHkmTcQl4KHJL56N3VZKaYCia-OUz25cU1r35TAWOeSs3A2mVy1bkjnIvO-i9RqfOQ6zFgIia74RDvmk/s1600/helicopter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6uqU8DxV5CSFSYwZC6vts_O9ZdjPZPSVqNuWTAJfHByM33c_07CZ2Cuy15_NyHkmTcQl4KHJL56N3VZKaYCia-OUz25cU1r35TAWOeSs3A2mVy1bkjnIvO-i9RqfOQ6zFgIia74RDvmk/s1600/helicopter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbXrXGJyZA1A69UhNLHat1FxTXo2-Hd6TQE1pGE99w66aUsCEAz4in9DyglVdzzgXH65rMfu63SK_he_YukmSPx35gWAYVkKEA8JZ36t4Sf5V5jPKhFBZ4QXpfsEV7fGUOv8eTn9YNkUN/s1600/helicopter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbXrXGJyZA1A69UhNLHat1FxTXo2-Hd6TQE1pGE99w66aUsCEAz4in9DyglVdzzgXH65rMfu63SK_he_YukmSPx35gWAYVkKEA8JZ36t4Sf5V5jPKhFBZ4QXpfsEV7fGUOv8eTn9YNkUN/s1600/helicopter1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Al our pilot narrated the whole tour over the two ways in flight communication system. He educated us about the Hawaiian people, its history and culture, geology and the Hawaiian flora and fauna. The story about the pig and the cow when first imported from Europe to Hawaii was hilarious. Apparently when the cow and the pig were brought ashore the Hawaiians had no native name for them so they called them peepee (cow) and poopoo (pig). A treat was the medley of Hawaiian songs playing softly on his radio. I was completely enthralled with the awe-inspiring tropical beauty and any apprehension I had about a helicopter flight just melted away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAHcUKcdkN4uW_0cIHjxff0ePmNLc4CarMISIMqrKS3ZxVD6YxlifuTC_B0QQLAVzNaB9fS1Y3BeJmvzMqn1HVJJwndZax-8hohpIXCPdE4LQmcAnifZF-248kI6jnEe6Lrj7aqxmy5vY/s1600/road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAHcUKcdkN4uW_0cIHjxff0ePmNLc4CarMISIMqrKS3ZxVD6YxlifuTC_B0QQLAVzNaB9fS1Y3BeJmvzMqn1HVJJwndZax-8hohpIXCPdE4LQmcAnifZF-248kI6jnEe6Lrj7aqxmy5vY/s1600/road.jpg" /></a></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We soared high above Haleakala Crater, experiencing dramatic views of hidden waterfalls and the tropical, pristine rainforest. From an aerial perspective we experienced the road to Hana with its many hairpin curves and watched ocean waves crash against jagged lava rock on the southern coastline of Maui. What an invigorating experience it was as 75% of Maui can only be seen from the air and I was fortunate to see a little piece of Paradise.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-34389249902976780932011-04-02T08:18:00.000-07:002011-04-02T08:18:08.866-07:00Maui – a trip to paradise (3)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What would a Hawaiian holiday be without witnessing a Luau? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Luau experience will take you back in time. Imagine yourself in ancient times were Kings and Queens entertained their guests enjoying a traditional feast under the stars.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We were invited to such an evening of fun and relaxation and just to hang loose Hawaiian style.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Upon arrival we walked through the most beautiful gardens. The air was filled with the sweet tones of the plants and flowers and greeted with a Lei by gracious hostesses, tropical beverages (Mai-Tai) and a sincere ALOHA.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlyq38Xk-0Poc_xUiIu8PjgutqP1srMWA8jhOcoLf7QBKtSx602pMeZz4B0WFzrZ2DZKm66A0PUZEvhKo-YYET2bL_SWT4KR_xqBEHC5gOrpppU8i2V-sYAyQ_mSHxFzISC8OaJVpKnr7/s1600/pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlyq38Xk-0Poc_xUiIu8PjgutqP1srMWA8jhOcoLf7QBKtSx602pMeZz4B0WFzrZ2DZKm66A0PUZEvhKo-YYET2bL_SWT4KR_xqBEHC5gOrpppU8i2V-sYAyQ_mSHxFzISC8OaJVpKnr7/s1600/pig.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The pre-show activities included a coconut cutting demonstration, poi pounding, kappa cloth making, arts and crafts and the ever-popular underground oven ceremony. Everyone was invited to gather for the unearthing of the pig from the traditional Imu, were it had been cooking since early morning. The results were well worth the time. We were then escorted to the eating-house for a satisfying, bountiful buffet of island cuisine.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJnn6I3HdOSzmYtcsRShQVVmPRGKwoJrsCLQQzeWXfS6vJVCMz68laWx9E_cTSy0UmQXuM6CEe9cHfRx7c6-rbDSy-Mdl1CfMyvQ_1-uZZGDr8fEU_hF3Tp0aVKBBDhZLTTLlj-47MXj/s1600/dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXJnn6I3HdOSzmYtcsRShQVVmPRGKwoJrsCLQQzeWXfS6vJVCMz68laWx9E_cTSy0UmQXuM6CEe9cHfRx7c6-rbDSy-Mdl1CfMyvQ_1-uZZGDr8fEU_hF3Tp0aVKBBDhZLTTLlj-47MXj/s1600/dancers.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As we took in the romantic ocean sunset, as views of Lanai and Molokai faded away into a vast star lit sky, the actual show began. Ancient hula dancing and songs captured the essence of old Hawaii. A spectacular display by fire dancers would almost take your breath away, praying that no one would get hurt. Basking in the gentle evening trade winds, as talented musicians and bright young dancers shared their culture with swaying hips and graceful hands, made for an absolutely enchanting evening.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Uz0jazP1PI1tyfDzcKgNR5-dRbUJfX1x4q1sQifLnUptTE-1IKl-UkVFfyUh1vjtftSGR-BZU_mg35FsTaSBZtE4ghs5ef5xeR_h7fay6fwK2WMZCM65SrILKyJsPaMZUzLPSuwlMR_/s1600/grandsunsetw9010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Uz0jazP1PI1tyfDzcKgNR5-dRbUJfX1x4q1sQifLnUptTE-1IKl-UkVFfyUh1vjtftSGR-BZU_mg35FsTaSBZtE4ghs5ef5xeR_h7fay6fwK2WMZCM65SrILKyJsPaMZUzLPSuwlMR_/s1600/grandsunsetw9010.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A Maui holiday would not be complete without experiencing a drive on the famous road to Hana. This drive shows you the enchanting side of Maui, taking you along the winding, low cliffed volcanic coastal road while you see the colored scenery. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd1NHOcwGW5eTW32GLNh0glvCUIwJYjuXWCd5XAeVQ_1etceU0ck6WICfUSHjp5pV5G_-kuhbZORg3IDhi-cK3B5zmnJMkgf0UC2cwNVHGHpYfIfTnUznKLMSJLGMHv8gsIoZOjFb6Ztc/s1600/Bare+feet+in+black+sand+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd1NHOcwGW5eTW32GLNh0glvCUIwJYjuXWCd5XAeVQ_1etceU0ck6WICfUSHjp5pV5G_-kuhbZORg3IDhi-cK3B5zmnJMkgf0UC2cwNVHGHpYfIfTnUznKLMSJLGMHv8gsIoZOjFb6Ztc/s1600/Bare+feet+in+black+sand+001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Keanae Lookout will take your breath away and the black sand beach of Wainapana Park lends to solitude and respite from urban life.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89HgdyivHbV9HClxibGAm1jBfwJGpQfRtARGBDmXygY3AWl7FGM29GbDpTpOaBc0OHlFQ9a94zsOCq_6C2vjRqLGfBjH8Kw6rFAdeHOrS7xsMh6Y1sW-7t3em5Ophf2WNWhbxyCPfRDLA/s1600/Bare+feet+in+black+sand+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89HgdyivHbV9HClxibGAm1jBfwJGpQfRtARGBDmXygY3AWl7FGM29GbDpTpOaBc0OHlFQ9a94zsOCq_6C2vjRqLGfBjH8Kw6rFAdeHOrS7xsMh6Y1sW-7t3em5Ophf2WNWhbxyCPfRDLA/s1600/Bare+feet+in+black+sand+002.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9MPd31ZSVv89RaAgiDIyincwPbs5-YpYIUAIcfvOXBc6KrAJVbn26kKy-Juocw7z_GaPig1LDSxj0clIcrATpW8Mre-8YSc0vK6EfI2f0BKam6mDHB_3c7b3nMlBxY61CDz30KT9qS4n/s1600/birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9MPd31ZSVv89RaAgiDIyincwPbs5-YpYIUAIcfvOXBc6KrAJVbn26kKy-Juocw7z_GaPig1LDSxj0clIcrATpW8Mre-8YSc0vK6EfI2f0BKam6mDHB_3c7b3nMlBxY61CDz30KT9qS4n/s1600/birds.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here is my daughter and son in law (both are avid bird lovers) enjoy having their picture taken on the way to Hana. Don’t you just love all the primary colors of the Parrots?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0Mvg1XHgom4qfmmYWUch16AL-vEgqWPzFXstnglqtuTdW2LMKWpDTYTJ6_lsDkBO1aCv6SyfmrFzjnMR0DbJcXyKpXsnl93h6hNK7Pa9w2CrW7fj2BzOZW8401394W3ECtwd2oiPeRlZ/s1600/diving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0Mvg1XHgom4qfmmYWUch16AL-vEgqWPzFXstnglqtuTdW2LMKWpDTYTJ6_lsDkBO1aCv6SyfmrFzjnMR0DbJcXyKpXsnl93h6hNK7Pa9w2CrW7fj2BzOZW8401394W3ECtwd2oiPeRlZ/s1600/diving.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On the days my daughter and son-in-law went diving I spend most of my mornings at the ocean. Being on the beach, stretching out on smooth, almost silky sand, warmed by the sun rising behind the palms, was heaven, no care in the world. Feeling the warm sand between my toes and the soft caress of a fragrant breeze as I watch the irresistible curl of a perfect wave – tended to push thoughts of serious scientific research to the far right side of my brain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDESGmKhsBd3HFH2mEfTEkROe-gjyHf2JqEyMFE93Yn4AvRuBMV6NQGTGW37sWQlnI723fpOQGV1sYY9mddLoQpHfQc6BA13K12CyH3fTjz13gqUL4g68th3JfAeW1O4IBkIJiqxBJpfD/s1600/sunset4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDESGmKhsBd3HFH2mEfTEkROe-gjyHf2JqEyMFE93Yn4AvRuBMV6NQGTGW37sWQlnI723fpOQGV1sYY9mddLoQpHfQc6BA13K12CyH3fTjz13gqUL4g68th3JfAeW1O4IBkIJiqxBJpfD/s1600/sunset4.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Frankly, I never thought of leaving, but as all good things will come to an end, I had to return home. What a shock it was - arriving to a -40 in Saskatoon and all the snow, I just wanted to turn around and fly back to Maui.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">____________</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-55268463569543962832011-03-30T04:48:00.000-07:002011-03-31T06:10:01.538-07:00Spring ??<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s supposed to be spring, and last week I truly believed that spring was on its way. Temperatures were in the above freezing, the snow was melting and the water was running freely on the streets. But then the weather changed and following was a week of high winds, drifting snow, icy roads, occasional wind-chill in the –25 range, you get my drift. Well, April is within hailing distance so maybe things will start to improve soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOe07nfNcoXo-qqNhZojEzuxm2LSwQYyxVvMzaT_DNeDACY6ge-q389E7EumQP9sxHvfcZctP0FNvOJD9BQeeZp8HIwTeyhNZ_AcZSmJ5Y99Ml9wO7uKViqEG8XoUYZDgmpmUjv5WTvyi/s1600/gardescape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOe07nfNcoXo-qqNhZojEzuxm2LSwQYyxVvMzaT_DNeDACY6ge-q389E7EumQP9sxHvfcZctP0FNvOJD9BQeeZp8HIwTeyhNZ_AcZSmJ5Y99Ml9wO7uKViqEG8XoUYZDgmpmUjv5WTvyi/s1600/gardescape.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the hopeful signs that spring is truly on its way is the annual “Gardenscape” show our city plans around this time of year; focusing on gardening and outdoor living, reminding us that eventually we will be able to grow things outside.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There were a number of artists in attendance as well as the expected plant and garden displays. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I enjoyed chatting with the Metal Man who had captured our CSSA logo for the last National in black metal. Displayed on a white background made for a striking picture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8IVqTpvjjWQjdIv_uAgSOp8XSLx80ndSRsAGvz83mOEYfo_GhSxn0YRNj6SyZ8nfqLrvuFjeFBWEt-za_VrgxCp89DInWZ1gTqj0LQD_xhfDPw5V6GZKK_naMaf0KldmpqQo57TWvy8m/s1600/a_symphonyinT_000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8IVqTpvjjWQjdIv_uAgSOp8XSLx80ndSRsAGvz83mOEYfo_GhSxn0YRNj6SyZ8nfqLrvuFjeFBWEt-za_VrgxCp89DInWZ1gTqj0LQD_xhfDPw5V6GZKK_naMaf0KldmpqQo57TWvy8m/s1600/a_symphonyinT_000.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One other really wonderful display caught my attention. It was the art of Douglas Walker and his waterworks garden sculptures. His works are actually water features for a garden. They are made up of old discarded brass band instruments of various sorts, a really unique idée and one of a- kind.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgethJYFoO_0aSXXVfpVuWsHbXw_nKqWv6SDFbUNCU7DXErGxgsPvykkL4H1QxLAAeu4WY7NW85dz-Isq-Ui-5o3CrS6NBbHTxUyEeAGw6IC1SXSV4P7UujFziSNKG4zKy0vFalEWc-BSwU/s1600/Feature_Garden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgethJYFoO_0aSXXVfpVuWsHbXw_nKqWv6SDFbUNCU7DXErGxgsPvykkL4H1QxLAAeu4WY7NW85dz-Isq-Ui-5o3CrS6NBbHTxUyEeAGw6IC1SXSV4P7UujFziSNKG4zKy0vFalEWc-BSwU/s1600/Feature_Garden2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One other booth that was well received was Rogers and Kris from “Solar Gardens” with a collection of a variety of succulents (Echeverias). These beautiful plants are mainly from Peru and Mexico, they are able to withstand drought because of water stored in their foliage, make for eye-catching displays in pots all during the summer months.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEDPsR0fLCWi1KDbx5VvMD5Bwoju0QSAbSsrNuhYfBy6l85LAEr4jZPOmPlqnnwgMgujXqRtLwy03x7nSI0SpUycfkhXNte20WCV1eGw6G6AXsZfsiaMUlYpcO1iBBP0YHRylepGxZTA1/s1600/Gardens+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEDPsR0fLCWi1KDbx5VvMD5Bwoju0QSAbSsrNuhYfBy6l85LAEr4jZPOmPlqnnwgMgujXqRtLwy03x7nSI0SpUycfkhXNte20WCV1eGw6G6AXsZfsiaMUlYpcO1iBBP0YHRylepGxZTA1/s1600/Gardens+003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It really felt good to escape the winter even if for a little while. To be surrounded with the spring fresh beauty of blooming annuals and lush green grass in colorful gardens, helped to forget the endless winter we probably have to endure a little longer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-29027290101196107672011-03-20T05:04:00.000-07:002011-03-20T05:04:42.791-07:00Saint Patrick’s Day<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On St Patrick’s Day I celebrated an Irish evening at our church featuring Folk singer Eileen Laverty, who over the years has established herself as an International singer-songwriter producing beautiful albums and touring with many well-known artists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The evening began with mass in honor of our patron Saint. Following mass we gathered for an Irish meal consisting of good old Irish stew and bread as well as an assortment of decadent desserts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRmMxKqB01UmomfRbaztgwsC5DMgxhQXL1WaFtUK8jpodKInuhYgZs9BVi932E7RheQmiDZBOtNTF28H9i3qBPX8syPMGHZ58Dn_prdg2_El2eRS4a7WFEwSX30VqAYOurdpOPz6mA2dn/s1600/St+Patricks+Day+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRmMxKqB01UmomfRbaztgwsC5DMgxhQXL1WaFtUK8jpodKInuhYgZs9BVi932E7RheQmiDZBOtNTF28H9i3qBPX8syPMGHZ58Dn_prdg2_El2eRS4a7WFEwSX30VqAYOurdpOPz6mA2dn/s1600/St+Patricks+Day+002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The highlight of the evening no doubt was the entertainment with Eileen and her accompanists. I truly loved her music. Among my favorite songs were “Let It Go”, “State of Mind” and “The Road”. Her rich and pure voice made it a pleasure to listen to.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was an intimate evening and a feast for the soul.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-16984854819276393552011-03-15T09:12:00.000-07:002011-03-15T09:13:51.028-07:00Bohemian Waxwings<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All winter long I faithfully kept the bird feeders filled in hopes that I would ketch the Blue Jays, Chickadees or the Bohemian Waxwings or any other bird wintering in this area on camera. I could hear their happy chirping but was never quite ready to take a picture. Only the Sparrows would linger around the feeders and making quite a mess on the ground. While doing my daily poop patrol I could tell that the dogs had welcomed their messy habits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was just settling in with a book and a cup of tea in the den to day when my eye was caught by something moving through the air. At first I thought it was leaves blowing on the gusting winds, then I realized it was waxwings resting in the Poplars. I grabbed the camera and ventured out into the front yard to get a few shots, being very cautious so as not to scare them off. The noise was something else, deafening my ears. </span></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's been a few years since we had these birds visiting our yard, and I was glad that this time I was ready to capture them before they all flew away in a flash. </span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkMU_8y1sTXuL_L3tLmnqQ5WaazZDXCxaBIMSfj-5mEGFH0ZIlw4WVu2H9w2xTj8wj0TvpZXuDFuQxx-WgDPVK-X2skxcJAeSK55Oy7vgzRm_DLotA_cfFfaGMo0FPisfq3OOCGz57sOP/s1600/cedar+waxwings+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkMU_8y1sTXuL_L3tLmnqQ5WaazZDXCxaBIMSfj-5mEGFH0ZIlw4WVu2H9w2xTj8wj0TvpZXuDFuQxx-WgDPVK-X2skxcJAeSK55Oy7vgzRm_DLotA_cfFfaGMo0FPisfq3OOCGz57sOP/s1600/cedar+waxwings+002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVTw3BEBNQ7J_0nENVMoUMYD9FtMhEleh_FCk85I6Lsuwip8rXvnR023lFGhem7YYVUE5UEZIxvhVlK03Ag9ZJMVSZdOyTquyRB9VVBKMnx2Li3Fn8o1j2vEykhMewUs2gdPE2E3lWcTN/s1600/Bohemian+waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVTw3BEBNQ7J_0nENVMoUMYD9FtMhEleh_FCk85I6Lsuwip8rXvnR023lFGhem7YYVUE5UEZIxvhVlK03Ag9ZJMVSZdOyTquyRB9VVBKMnx2Li3Fn8o1j2vEykhMewUs2gdPE2E3lWcTN/s1600/Bohemian+waxwing.jpg" /></a></div><div></div></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-23411126706528509682011-03-08T04:35:00.000-08:002011-03-08T04:35:24.567-08:00Winters endless perils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KXjQ9DBtHzgvbj6j3gqvIVEVfpGbJPOAGq0c6_-zUv9Ad8pNS9Rf3z7Be9RjYfPrNRZPgBDpinGW3Uf8iDelJkwATgWwPM2AcJca-5rOskc8QiaO8FkFzbg_OV4h9vPL-wcniZEFen7V/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KXjQ9DBtHzgvbj6j3gqvIVEVfpGbJPOAGq0c6_-zUv9Ad8pNS9Rf3z7Be9RjYfPrNRZPgBDpinGW3Uf8iDelJkwATgWwPM2AcJca-5rOskc8QiaO8FkFzbg_OV4h9vPL-wcniZEFen7V/s1600/hotel.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early morning mist of the river and of the Bessborough Hotel picture taken by Greg Pender.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></div><div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driving on snow - covered roads can be tricky. Braving the cold elements this morning, I took the New Years puppies to the Vet for their first health checks. I’ve always been prompt and responsible about Vet care for my animals, both for minor crisis mode and for regular check-ups for their ongoing health. I dreaded the thought of having to take them outside on such a cold day, but it needed to get done and so it did.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saskatchewan isn’t noted for big snowfalls, specializing more as we do in just plain cold and windy weather. But this year has been a good one for snowfalls. The city gets the streets cleared every now and then, that’s if you are on the snow route and complain enough about the ruts. In most cases they just pile up the snow on most streets and leave it until nature takes care of it in spring.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black ice and the new snow made driving a real hazard. There is nothing logical about the rear end of your car trying to get to your destination before the front end of your car, actually preventing the dreaded skid and the sphincter clenching terror that comes with it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you imagine two cars going in the opposite directions on the same set of ruts, you leave a railway crash similar in real life to happen. The physical and mental calculations it takes to swerve out of the tracks at the last minute without over - steering so much that the parked car on your right becomes your next hood ornament – unbelievable.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such are the dilemmas one faces when driving on our roads. Spring cannot come fast enough. Oh, how I wish I were back in Maui.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JFc5Z2tS0gzQPenn99gGRHn-mNtX8Kl3g6f8F69jkHK10hWbniWHHtuVchkg0TLahwCkV2gUBwJcyO9InyCYGPcDcBYTR4Dl_EMZj-TL3pueh44qqBbuIw6bJZ04v5YYh2MveWQHsAo2/s1600/Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JFc5Z2tS0gzQPenn99gGRHn-mNtX8Kl3g6f8F69jkHK10hWbniWHHtuVchkg0TLahwCkV2gUBwJcyO9InyCYGPcDcBYTR4Dl_EMZj-TL3pueh44qqBbuIw6bJZ04v5YYh2MveWQHsAo2/s1600/Street.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This shows our street. We are slowly running out of space in which to pile the snow…and it just keeps snowing.</span></span></div></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"></span>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-53752948113999711062011-02-28T09:45:00.000-08:002011-02-28T09:46:34.268-08:00Winter Delights<span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Again we have a cold day. Temperature this morning is minus 37 Celsius and the weather report says that in some areas it is even colder. That’s the prairie for you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">One of the things we enjoy about winter are the flowers we usually have around the house. At this time of year we have a fair collection of beautiful spring flowers that grace our windowsills so that we can enjoy their beauty. </span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBu0NVF9jXTkZ-vduz_ELYCHlPt5_glZYkovAiox2J1dJtsqZV6BJb_ntcx7SXuGLSnuM4bMUgXkkNInXJcljoAHAJqaW93z7BvE43XRbu4nAHfzQeeMjt0ou9gVdi6-60qsQ2npdx4Wp/s1600/winter+delights+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBu0NVF9jXTkZ-vduz_ELYCHlPt5_glZYkovAiox2J1dJtsqZV6BJb_ntcx7SXuGLSnuM4bMUgXkkNInXJcljoAHAJqaW93z7BvE43XRbu4nAHfzQeeMjt0ou9gVdi6-60qsQ2npdx4Wp/s320/winter+delights+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYJH6KVJJq1kWNXwi0RxeFNTaDJqVo2oV5mxqAMiCWfNne84Ww_HfLbMdTb-iUsw-JzOFmH4WKbFpzrzmM0LLl-7TG4aJB7MMapLlSZ5RS4exXCsbg6LvlFRYZtR4_MlysFyHWVE__iW/s1600/winter+delights+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYJH6KVJJq1kWNXwi0RxeFNTaDJqVo2oV5mxqAMiCWfNne84Ww_HfLbMdTb-iUsw-JzOFmH4WKbFpzrzmM0LLl-7TG4aJB7MMapLlSZ5RS4exXCsbg6LvlFRYZtR4_MlysFyHWVE__iW/s320/winter+delights+001.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US">On this picture, arranged with the Cyclamen you see the beautiful logo we used for the 2010 Canadian Shetland Sheepdog Association’s National. I was the lucky recipient of Gail Pope’s work captured on wood. The designer of the logo was Catherine McMillan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYsueVM7yTt8CKGg9H_xXpa2CC0rw6wDxV9TZWQuhfpTnT3wddBEBHZ2z1OeuH1gZfANzqEKVttwtio7NFU38mSHOZy-uaQGiNicmnmf3P39DDRafLwuoVrNzLpiX9kNEifYkVeZUpBZM/s1600/winter+delights+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYsueVM7yTt8CKGg9H_xXpa2CC0rw6wDxV9TZWQuhfpTnT3wddBEBHZ2z1OeuH1gZfANzqEKVttwtio7NFU38mSHOZy-uaQGiNicmnmf3P39DDRafLwuoVrNzLpiX9kNEifYkVeZUpBZM/s320/winter+delights+004.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US">To brighten our winter months the picture features one of our hyacinths of which we have various colors. Usually we have a nice display of forced amaryllis as well, but we managed to overlook buying the bulbs last fall, so we were out of luck for indoor amaryllis this year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfn4A5V-KvsZesWdCb1ZuvDF-2SNReIISSD8-HD1ysyN8jVzOrDvpdkhQ8K28o_1j07O8hKupWOTI1sqAylpL2USokIFrm-kRYcthvg6LGQOMk_Dk1CSgx-BO99qtwlu9EUX8DcS-T2Gj/s1600/Gardens+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfn4A5V-KvsZesWdCb1ZuvDF-2SNReIISSD8-HD1ysyN8jVzOrDvpdkhQ8K28o_1j07O8hKupWOTI1sqAylpL2USokIFrm-kRYcthvg6LGQOMk_Dk1CSgx-BO99qtwlu9EUX8DcS-T2Gj/s320/Gardens+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US">I have included a picture of a beautiful Clivia that blooms every year for me. The “mother plant” I brought back with me from Germany many, many years ago when smuggling a plant in your coat pocket was no problem. These days that would be impossible so I really treasure it as my mother used to grow these impressive plants. Many of my friends are growing offsets from it blooming as beautiful as the picture shows.</span></div> Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-9898732796610019032011-02-23T12:16:00.000-08:002011-02-23T13:26:46.435-08:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CEltjiXXBw9Hp4G_jp2mSvGAuB3cS7sRWMjgUgkHJFKWZShyosRvR4znQzppJx5IeKxaulv1zPxxga5MhFViXplad8-SE7VCeuf6DZ2FvcfVUjdF89te0BgJcHDTBHQ_1izCq94w5RO1/s1600/sunrise+001.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CEltjiXXBw9Hp4G_jp2mSvGAuB3cS7sRWMjgUgkHJFKWZShyosRvR4znQzppJx5IeKxaulv1zPxxga5MhFViXplad8-SE7VCeuf6DZ2FvcfVUjdF89te0BgJcHDTBHQ_1izCq94w5RO1/s400/sunrise+001.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
This morning the temp. was -27 when I got up with it feeling more like -30 with the wind. Despite the darn cold I needed to get out and do the almost daily snow-shoveling since it had snowed again overnight. I had to stop shoveling, not just to get in the house to warm up but to get my camera to take this lovely picture of the morning sunrise. I still hold to my theory that winter can't have a whole lot left to hit us with, now that March is almost in sight. Oddly, it was really only this past week that I've felt the cold and experienced a little reluctance to venture out to do my normal day to day activities. Up to now, the winter really hasn't had much of an effect on me at all. Go figure.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-92221971083478899002011-02-23T06:30:00.001-08:002011-02-23T06:30:35.017-08:00WinterWhat's on everyone's mind these days is of course the winter weather. When it's so cold that the air itself freezes, winter driving becomes an act of faith. Car exhaust creates a cloud behind the car in front of you and you can only assume that the car ahead of you is moving. So you drive blind right into it.<br />
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Just because the temperature may be cold and the ground may be white, there is no reason to lock ourselves indoors. Dressed in layers and appropriate clothing I headed out the other morning with my four legged friends for a walk, which just proved to be the remedy for the winter doldrums.Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895914942315205751.post-11788064131506672872011-02-23T06:29:00.001-08:002011-02-23T06:29:36.061-08:00New Beginnings"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves"<br />
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A well said word of wisdom written by Edmund Hillary.<br />
I have to overcome the fear of writing. Often using my German background as my clutch, I don't try. This blog will give me a chance to write about the happenings around me and my beloved shelties.Summerlovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01667199582979811853noreply@blogger.com0