Special Moments in the Kootenays

A new little foal in the barnyard. Her name is probably patches (go figure) and she has a great Mom as long as you stay away from her.

Pyper (Mom's name) is big-time attitude and don't mess with my baby.

She is so soft and fuzzy!!! Just thought I'd share this cutie with all.

A beautful saturday afternoon in the Kootenays. How could one live anywhere else? We got to spend an afternoon out in the back country with a new group of friends called the Back Country Horsemen. What a wonderful afternoon!

Mild weather and semi-sunny skies made for a relaxing afternoon outdoors. Follow this up with hot chocolate, coffee,hot dogs and an amazing assortment of goodies. Good people and conversation abounded.

Not too many kids this year though, and it ended up mostly us adults this time. Wish we could share these events with our grandchildren but with everyone long distance it isn't possible. Len's daughter also had to work to, so we'll have to plan another day.

You know I have a hard time imagine living in a big centre anymore when we have so much more here to enjoy. Even got to try out my new snowshoes but the snow was way too wet and heavy for us to go very far. We'll have to try another day. I am sure that will happen as, unfortunately, we are still getting snow and winter is in no hurry to leave.

"Love is a Many Splendored Thing"

Color, 102 min.

Released: August 10, 1955 (20th Century Fox)

Cast: Jennifer Jones (as Han Suyin), William Holden, Torin Thatcher, Isobel Elsom, Murray Matheson, Virginia Gregg.


A few weeks ago I found a treasure in a book table at the Sally Anne. Three little books which included this one "A Many Splendored Thing". This was written by Han Suyin and was the precursor to this romantic war movie. I think of all the movies I watched as a child (I was born in 1954 when all we had was black & white tv) this made the most profound impression on me.

I don't know if it was the romance or the tragedy, perhaps just the first impression of watching a complete film in color and all its beauty but it has stayed with me all these many years. When I saw this little dog-eared set of three novels I had to buy them. My intention is to read this book and finally know the story behind my favorite 50's era film.

Much to my surprise, when I opened the book it had this page from the Broadsheet Review (Circa January, 1954) folded inside of it. Elation!! A little snippet of someone's forgotten history carefully preserved inside. My guess is the person who originally owned this book was also touched by this story and kept these two bits of memorabilia together. I'm quite sure they would be surprised that it would end up in the home of someone for whom it made such an impact or that just a year later,in 1955, it would become a major motion picture.

The story is tragic and based on her own life experience during WW II. The difficulties of being a Eurasian woman on her own in war-time europe. Our daughters have no idea what life was really like for women in this time. Women had definite roles in society and love between the races was most definitely frowned upon and could even lead one to be ostracized from their families and community.

Funny, but it brought out some childhood memories of the war when I started to skim through the article. I had forgotten about the air-raid sirens we used to hear periodically. The City of Winnipeg had huge air sirens mounted on telephone poles around the city that they would test. We had one at the Sinclair Park (children's playground) near our home. The idea being that in the event of a war or some other disaster I guess, we were supposed to all run home and hide in our basements/crawlspaces etc. with our radios on for further instruction. I only remember them till probably the early 60's and don't even know if they are still there now.

The war was a big part of our lives when I was a child because all of our neighbors were discharged soldiers and many emotionally carried the scars of it. I recall always hearing about the war and seeing the difficulties many families struggled with because of it. Our houses were called war-time houses and were built specifically for returning soldiers and their families. All identical and tiny with dirt crawl-spaces for basements. My Dad only rented this home for us and my Mom finally purchased it when he passed away. I think the governement felt sorry for her and didn't want to evict a widow and four kids with no income to support them. I now can only imagine how difficult a time it was for her.

I think that age and nostalgia brought forth this post and my intention now is to document more of these moments for my children and grandchildren to collect. I do believe my daughter will find these little bits of interest to her.

I cannot believe how the time flies between posts!! I have the best of intentions to get back here. Lots to say and then life sends you in another direction.

Here are two of my adorable grandsons, Aden 13 and Sammy whos 15 mths. approx. Love them to bits. Had a great visit two weeks ago with the family down on the island. It just plain went too fast though. The week was spent relaxing, a bit of shopping but not too much outside of the house trips.

Cold and freezing temps kept us housebound and playing scrabble. It was nice to spend time with the boys and I think (according to my daughter) little Sam took quite a shine to me. At least I think when he sees me next he will actually remember I am Gramma. Much more relaxed with me than his bigger brother Kale was at that age. Kale made strange and you couldn't babysit him at all.


This pic was funny because we had been trying to keep Kale from his naps and then he slept really well through the night. One afternoon he asked if he could watch a show and when i went in he was snoozing in a pillow. I took the pic and showed it to him later and his comment was "But I wasn't sleeping my eyes weren't closed" he insisted that he didn't fall asleep. Too cute!

We met up with my girlfriend Madeline several times and even spent the evening out with her friends at a lovely posh new lounge for 2 for 1 appies hour. Roasted garlic and Brie, prawns, kalamari and a few others. It was divine and my daughter felt very spoiled being out with the grownups and no kiddies in tow. It was very relaxing. My intention was to take them out to the keg (Todd included) but we just couldn't pull it all together.

Her fourth baby is due in June and I am planning to be there to help out for a week. Perhaps we can do out evening out then. With a couple of little ones, I do admit that going out is a bit of a challenge.

To all and sundry who follow our blogs, I wish you all the best for a happy new year. May peace and health and love find you all.

I can't close without a new years wish from our Dufus cat. Simon was being camera shy and let's Dufer speak for both of them. Also a little quote I read will xmas card shopping.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

May 2007 be a spectacularly breathless year for us all!

Happy 2007 everybody!

Here are a few of my favorite things from this xmas! The lovely calender and (liquer) chocolates that my daughter sent us this year. One of our bestest gifts. A spring green cardigan from Len's daughter. I do not have a nice sweater and it seems funny that I sent her a khaki green cardigan for xmas also. Great minds think alike.


My little wooden xmas tree that saves us in a pinch every year.

The last year or two we have only put this one up and saved the muss and bother of going out on the great xmas tree hunt!

I painted and put it together about five years ago and if it isn't our main tree it does light up our front hallway. The polar bear was a new addition to my collection (I love polar bears) and came with a new polar bear calender.




There were lots of neat little things that we received or gave each other but the best gift of all was the day spent home and then out for xmas dinner with our friends.

Work was very hectic right to the last minute of xmas eve day and then boxing day was the usual feeding frenzy. I just don't understand why people feel they need to shop till they drop. None of the bargains are worth it anyway. Just more junk to fill up the empty places with. I wish I could afford to take those days off from work but just don't feel I could dump that on my staff. So work we did and survived the mayhem.

I hope all had a lovely, peaceful xmas with their families and wish health, peace and good fortune to all for the new year.

Love to all

It's xmas again in Cranbrook, (everywhere else I might add) and I can sure feel it in the mall. My favorite xmas lites are lit again and I just have to share them with you all.

There is a home here (a B&B I think) called Candelight Crossing that literally has 40,000 or more assorted led lights decorating it. It is truly tastefully, spectacularly done. They even have their little garden tables and chairs (wrought iron style) wrapped in lights and sitting in the snow garden. It is truly lovely and inspirational.

Viewing xmas lites has always been one of my favorite things. When our kids where young we would make at least one trip around our town with them, just viewing all the lovely displays. I still do it with my husband Leonard. One of our few xmas traditions to stay with us.



A second and equally but newer tradition is xmas eve with our friend's Barry & Greta and their family. Every xmas eve we get together, usually at theirs or their mom's house and enjoy treats, rum & egg nog and other assorted beverages. We also play a little game where everyone has to bring a number of wrapped gifts of (questionable?)unusual and reused or new items.

Inexpensive and purchased from dollar stores or silly things that we have saved from garage sales or previous xmas exchanges. We place one shuffled deck of cards in a pile in the center of our coffee table and then a second shuffled deck is then dealt out to everyone there. As a card is turned up the person who has a match gets to pick a gift from the pile. They also have the option of one that someone already has chosen and they then can take it from that said person. It goes around and around with much fun to be had by all. When all cards are turned up everyone opens the gifts that they have managed to hang on to LOL!! The rivalry is pretty funny and let's just say that some of our little goodies turn out to be pretty humourous. Rain hats, little old men ornaments with cactus growing out of their pants. Soaps shaped like little piggies, tins of oysters and the like. I usually wrap a lotto scratch in with my goodies just to make it a little interesting. I must say we all look forward to this silly game and fun is had by all.