Snowshoeing at Shuswap

 The First Snowshoe Trip

Chelsea T and I went to Shuswap for a few health and wellness days. While I had been at the Lake in February over 10 years ago with Arta, I had not been back at this time of year since then. I needed some quiet thinking time so we headed to quiet winter Shuswap.

We brought new snowshoes and walking poles with us and headed out to see what roads and paths would be worthy of our walking skills. 

The best Shuswap view with winter touches.

As we ventured out it was so quiet and the clouds hung low on the mountains. 

Tonia on her way!

I lead the way down the new road to Marcia's lot. We knew the snow would be deep and the views spectacular.

Obligatory Selfie with Bastion Mountain!

Chelsea T and Bastion Mountain

The clouds were perfect and they drew our eyes toward the mountain I am so familiar with, highlighting the roundness of it's shape. 

Chelsea T and our lovely homes.

One More View

Down the steep hill we walked, following the stream that separates the property, down to the beach.

The views of the quiet and serene forest were tall and overwhelming as we took the time to pause and look up. Always look around while in nature as you never know what is behind, above, beside, and around you unless you rest a moment to take it all in. 

We hopped a stream as we made our way along the property. This is the road Greg has been clearing so we can reach the path that leads to Old Sicamous Road. 

Deeper into the wood we go loving the crunch of the snow beneath us.

The Second Snowshoe Trip

Greg and I headed out a few days later for another trip around the property. We walked along the paths across the back lots, then visited several of the front lots. Stunning day with more sun shining down on us.

Greg enjoying the view!

A quick selfie of the snowshoeing duo.

The forest surrounded us.

What a visit and retirement!

Take the time to visit Shuswap in the winter and bring your snowshoes and poles as you can travel into the forest and enjoy a quiet moment of wellness and serenity.

For Father's Day - #2 Adam was a gardener

Doral with Teague, Tonia and Marcia circa 1976
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Doral would tell stories as we would drive along in the car.

Raucous stories about his practical joke playing relatives, stories about jokes play by them on him, stories about jokes played on him by them.

We begged for the stories, naming them by incident: “Tell us about Frank shooting the white horse; tell us about Amanda hiding in the newly dug grave; tell us about the cow pie under the hat, and so he told them over and over again as we would drive.

When he was tired of storytelling he would sing to us:

Adam was a gardener, and Eve she was his souse.
They got the sack for stealing food and went to keeping house.
They lived a very quiet life, and peaceful in the main,
Until they had a baby and started raising Cain.

 And we joined in the chorus

Young folks, old folks, ev’ry body come,
Come and join our Sunday School and have a lot of fun.
Please to check your chewing gum and razor at the door,
And you’ll hear some Bible stories that you’ve never heard before.

Then dad would start on another of the 12 verses,

God made Satan, and Satan made sin,
God made a hot place to put Satan in.
Satan didn’t like it, so he said he wouldn’t stay.
He’s been acting like the devil ever since that sorry day.
And we would join in the chorus --

Doral created a love of religion in me with those songs.

That was the devil in him.

All of the verses of the songs were about transgressions.

I loved what seemed like the transgressive act of singing them.

(#2 of 15, to be continued)

Arta

Charise's Yellow House

(sung to the tune of a yellow submarine)

While Teague and Cheri went to Hawaii for Teague's school band, they left all 5 of their kids with Aunt Charise in her yellow house.

Of course not all their time was spent at the house.

One of the things they wanted to do was go to the CALGARY ZOO.

It was awful weather that morning.

Look at all that snow.

Fluffy fun flakes and freezing.

My back was covered and Lurene didn't like it that much either.

The kids wanted to carry on!

This was one of the things to do on their list while they were here.

There was some difficulty finding indoor places until the snow stopped.

The map was rendered unfit to lead us indoors.

Andrew was freezing under just his coat.

Lurene was nice enough to take him to the gift shop and got him this awesome tiger hoody.

One of the indoors places we found was an explorers's cabin, one of the few places in the zoo where you can find dead animals.

Family Film

Teague and Cheri have been making films with their kids for about 10 years now.  They have been posting them on YouTube for the last  years and we thought we would share them with you.

Here is the most recent one created on the Larch Haven property.  This is a mock-u-filmary of Blues Clues, Sherlock Holmes and Twilight.  Due to the business of the school year, at this time only part one is complete and posted in YouTube.  Here is a link so you can enjoy the creativity, stellar costumers and award winning acting:

Blue Twilight at Scotland Yard

Take and look and let us know here or on YouTube what you think.  Enjoy!

Gabe's Baptism

Here is Gabe, Art and Marcia at Gabriel's Baptism today. There were about 60 people at the baptism, which was from 4:30 to 6:30 today at the Tipton Road Chapel. Wyona and the Bates family, and Brendan Robertson and family, helped with the food and setup.

Nathanial delivered a thoughtful little talk on the holy ghost, likening life to traffic and the holy ghost to your own personal gps, helping you navigate your way successfully.

Gabriel led us in song after the baptism.

While the parents and adults relaxed and had a bite to eat after the service, the children put on their own little play, with Dalton acting as stage manager and the rest acting as actors and directors.

I snapped another photo, of Gabe and several of his cousins sitting at the kid's table and having a snack after the service, but I accidentally deleted the picture. Hopefully there are a couple of others who were taking pictures that can upload those to the blog.

Weekend Watergun Warriors

Here are the Weekend Watergun Warriors: Zachary, Meighan, Gabe, Ceilidh and Dalton. They were in our backyard, getting ready for a watergun battle royale. Afterwards, they came inside and played in the basement, while the rest of us (Marcia, Art, Ron, and Anita and I) sat around chatting and chowing down on wings, veggies, chips and fruit.