Update and Photo Dump

 Haven't posted in a while. Things have been pretty busy. Let's see... we got Mom moved to Alberta. Mark and Sherrilyn came with their truck and trailer and we loaded it to the nuts with Mom's stuff. Here's the load:

We had a riding mower, snowblower, two easy chairs, a freezer, trunks, boxes, bags, I mean this thing was chock o' block full. Then her bed and a giant mirror went in the box of the pick-up. I added my two bags and backpack and off we went April 18th. This April flower pic was 4 days earlier on my birthday.

Didn't do much for my birthday. Mom had a farewell brunch with the gals from her church. She got me a carrot cake. I was just excited to get the move over. I had spent a lot of time in Mom's place, mostly in the basement, and it wasn't action central there let me tell you.

This is a pic of what I did most of the time. My computer was used trying to sell Mom's stuff and/or find employment and for watching TV shows that weren't on Mom's cable. And the TV I used for watching hockey. I didn't manage to sell Mom's stuff or get employment so I mostly wasted time in the basement. I couldn't get wifi and my data tethering hotspot wasn't good enough to do my studying. To be fair, the course was pretty badly done so I probably wouldn't have studied anyway. 

We didn't get far before we decided to stop for a pee and a look around. We had left Montrose and travelled East toward Creston. I think the route is called the Salmo-Creston pass. I could be wrong. I'd never seen the cabin at the summit before. There was STILL a lotta snow up there! But it was warm and sunny. PERFECT conditions for avalanches! Hence, the sign below. This was taken inside the cabin. 

There's also a stove in the cabin in case some folks are trying to drive over the pass and the gates get closed for some reason. Probably avalanches or just a big snow fall. Then you have to drive back to the cabin and start a fire in the stove. There's usually wood piled in there for that purpose. The roads might take days to clear so it's a good idea to bring some food too. Maybe a sleeping bag or two.

Luckily we didn't get stuck at the summit. In fact it was a fun little stop. The lake near the cabin was frozen over and covered with snow and there were blue jays flying around and landing in the trees. We walked up to the cabin on snow that was probably way over our heads if we sunk down to the ground. But even without snowshoes we didn't. You can get a good idea of how much snow falls up there by the depth of the snow on the cabin roof.

Below is the wood stove. No wood but in a pinch a good BC traveler would have a chainsaw and be able to cut down some trees and burn 'em up. I bet the cabin would be right cozy with a roaring fire going. And if you're lucky you could catch something to fry up on top. Fish or squirrel or such. Boy howdy that's some good eatin'! 

So we got some fresh air and Mom went to the outhouses that are there. Lots of people were stopped to stretch legs. Even a few dogs. I had driven over this pass at least 20 times before and never stopped at this cabin that I could remember. It's crazy how easily you can miss some really cool things if you don't take the time to get out and smell the roses. Or the pine trees as it were. 

So we piled back into the truck and kept going. But it wasn't much longer before we got to Creston and yet ANOTHER of the best things in life I missed out on the whole time I had lived in the Kootenays during my childhood. Tim's Fish 'n Chips in Creston. Do yourself a favour... It's a small place but the food is plentiful and it'll stick to yer ribs! And if I do say so myself it is DEE licious! Since we were able to get gravy I think this might have been the best fish 'n chips I ever had in my entire life. 

That's Sherrilyn and Mark. They shared a three-piece fish 'n chips. Mom had the chicken. The two-piece meal with the gravy beside it is mine. MMM-MMM good! I even liked the coleslaw. You can just barely see Mom's onion rings on the right side of the pic. She agreed to pay for the meal although I think she thought it was a bit pricey. I thought it was a pretty good deal given the huge portions. Word to the wise, if you aren't hungry, don't go to Tim's Fish 'n Chips. 

Just look how happy Mom and I look! It was that magnificent meal. I think we were all so satiated we were ready for naps. Mark and SL look a bit happier than me and Mom. Probably cuz they had a little break from the chaos that is home life with their family. You will see them later in this post but I'll tell you their names now just so I can type to the bottom of the last picture... Natalia is the oldest, then Hazel, then Hugo, Elanor, Gwinnie, and E/B. Ernie/Bronson. I usually call him Ernie but he responds to either. There are two other kids both older than Natalia, Hayden and Lexy, who are not currently living in the house. 

So, we got to Mark and SL's place, parked the stuff in the driveway, unloaded Mom's bed, set it up, and crashed. We all stayed there for a while. Can you imagine that? It was chaotic but I kinda liked it. It was nice to get to know my nephews and nieces a little bit better. And it was nice to play cards after they all went to bed too! We even taught a couple of the kids to play Euchre, an Ontario game that nobody plays out west here. During the days we played lots of games with the kids and went out to the ball park to play Cherry or 500-up, or we just played it in the back yard dog trail. 

This was a hike to some caves we took in late April. There was still snow and those waters had fish in them. That's Sherrilyn with Ernie on her back, Mark in the red, Hugo in his soccer clothes (we all went to soccer/walking after), that's Elanor at the water, G-dawg (Gwinnie) in the green, and Hazel in the turquoise out front. I think Natalia was studying at home.

This was Big Hill Springs park. A light hike in early May. Mark was taking the easy way across the crick. 

This is in M &SL's front yard just before doing Hazel's flyer route. The flyers are in the buggy. I think we broke the speed record that day. Doesn't it look like a Sears Catalog pose? 

This was taken at Fish Creek Park. That's not too far from M &SL's house. Gwinnie and one of the Shaw kids (maybe Ivy) on the back of the log, Hazel doing her gymnastic balancing and Elanor running back to the spot where we were chucking rocks into the water to splash each other. By this time SL and Ernie had gone home. Natalia was there just not in the pic. Some Karen came by walking her GREYHOUND don't you know and chastened me by saying, "How did you break your leg while hiking with grampa?" "Screw you lady, I'm just their uncle and if more Canadian kids had so much outside time and so little screen time they might be as good at climbing and balancing as these kids are. But you be satisfied with Jr's participation trophy while these girls are winning the sports," is what I DIDN'T say. 

Elanor's 8th birthday cupcakes with candy floss. Or do you call it cotton candy? Shows how old I am...

I buried Ernie in the playground gravel. We were using our hats as bulldozers too filling them up and pouring them out. He loves vrooms!

G-dog asked me if she could borrow my jacket cuz it was cold in the Superstore. Didn't fit too great. 

Some avuncular lasagna made from the stuff we bought at the Superstore. 

Hazel doing the ninja stuff again. She's really good at gymnastics. She can do flip after flip after flip on the trampoline. 

Hazel jumping the crick to join Natalia. I like the shadow. 

This is my almost useless hand when Mark, Sherrilyn and I were up late playing 9-5-2. I didn't even get a trick with the King if I remember right. 

More log walking. This is with Grampa George too. He came out from Ontario to help with Elanor's baptism. I actually went to church a few times. Once for Easter, once for the baptism, once to game night, and once to do some cleaning.

This is Hugo and Bronson at church one of those times. 

THERE'S Grampa George. He's a whiz at Euchre! Hugo is not quite as impressive as Hazel at working those posts. He got right in the water. Him and Dad both.

By the end of the hike even Ernie got to play in the water. It was a fun day except for the mosquitos. There weren't many but I managed to kill 6 of 'em. Nobody else was bothered much. They love to feast on my blood no matter what country I'm in.

So after the hike we decided to go out for ice cream. It was a real treat!

MacKay's in Cochrine, Alberta. Again, do yourself a favour...

It was a hard choice but I had the Haskap Berry Cheesecake. I'm happy with that choice. Haskap berries taste like a cross between blueberries and raspberries.

Then it was time to move Mom. We didn't stay long at Mark and Sherrilyn's. Mom didn't stay much more than a week I think. Luckily she got into a good place and we were able to move her almost right away. We didn't have to unload any of Mom's stuff. It just sat covered up in M & SL's driveway while we were there. Then on moving day Rob and Terri joined us and Kiera stayed overnight to help too.

Here's Rob looking like most of us felt. Where are we going to put all this stuff?

This is Kiera loading stuff into one of Mom's closets. It was nice of her to help Gramma move. 

And that about covers it. I'm now at Rob's. I sent my final document to Korea today.

If this is sufficient for immigration, my next step is to buy a ticket to Korea and get on over there. I teach my first class on June 2nd I think and I will be starting my final class of my master's degree just over a week later. By August I should be a certified, papered up Master of Education. THEN I'll be dangerous! I haven't yet figured out the financing but I'm working on it. I'm sure you'll read about that later...