New House

This grey wall is in the family room, everyone's fave place! Look how small the big screen looks!

 Fireplace, another of my favourite things.

Kitchen island--thus far, used for everything--homework, eating, visiting, food prep...love it.

The view from the deck--just for the prairie girl I am.

We're here! All moved in but far from unpacked! Looks like settling in will be an all summer job. Delaney's room is done, just looking for a few of her pictures to complete everything. Now on to finishing the kitchen unpacking.

Moving Day

Tomorrow is moving day! And it is exciting to be doing something quite fun. How did we get to this point? The process is interesting, and amazing--to me, anyway. First, a beautiful house is built across the street from Dana. We watch it being built all last summer, Dana always says "mom, go and look at it" and I say "no, it'll be too much money for me". Over the fall, the house is listed, and the price is too hig. But after some time passes, the price drops, and then drops again. I go look at the house, and drag all my family to see it too. With positive comments and affirmations from said family, I make an offer--and voila, house is mine pending the sale of the Cedar Ave. home. I call the agent, and to my surprise, my old house is sold in 3 weeks (annoying process, but--it is really sold). Then after a couple anxious days, my offer is accepted for the Hedley beautiful new house...and a-moving we will go!
Now, to be clear, Delaney is not thrilled leaving her growing up home, and all her memories of her dad. and I still think leaving Dalmeny would not have been terrible. But I did say to Miss D that this move is not all about her, the move is for me. I will have my big house on an small (well, smaller) lot, have lovely new neighbours and very importantly, have my own bathroom!
Since tomorrow is moving day, it really should be bedtime. So off I go to dream about packing boxes, paint colours, and sore knees. Moving story to be continued...

Widow's Voice: Speaking to the Ghost of Christmas Past

Widow's Voice: Speaking to the Ghost of Christmas Past: The day Phil died, my world was irrevocably changed. No amount of crying, wishing, or begging could switch my new reality back to the realit...

Christmas Again

December-how did you get here? Time unmeasurable, heart still broken, life unfathomable. Tears are always at the ready these December days. Dragging the tree up the stairs, tears. Ornaments unpacked, tears. Shopping, tears. Amazingly though, the world has colour. Glitter, sparkle, lovely melodies, lights, beauty. Tears make lovely colours around all the bright objects.

Doug, we love you forever and always.

Birthday #3 Without You

August 4-To Doug,

You would now be 59 years old! Weird at how I'm catching up to you, I'll be 55 and you died at 56. It was always Doug and Deb, Doug 4 years older, the first August birthday, then Tanis's, Ollie's, Channing's , Deb's. This year, we just let the day slip away. Delaney, missing Dad so so much, chose some beautiful Red lilies and we took them to the grave. You would really love the prairie view there, hope the deer come visit.

We spent a couple days at Wakaw Lake, and Delaney caught her first fish, thanks to Ryan and Dan. Dana told her Dad would be proud, and You would have loved the fishing, but not the 74 steps down to their dock!

Hmm, I start these writings with so much to say, and then so few words come out. Anyway, Happy birthday Dougie, we just miss you each and every day.

Father's Day #3 without Doug, and this one was tough. Cried more today than I have for a long time, tears for my kids and their kids. So sad for Delaney that at only 10, she has to deal with this every day, not just the special days. Sad for me for many reasons, nothing new there. So, we cried together, chatted about a few things, and then-went shopping! We even stopped for DQ Blizzards. SO glad this day is done.

Another Autumn Day

My brother-in-law Don wrote this story when I asked for some stories about Doug...

"If you've ever lived on the prairies, you will know the kind of day I'm talking about. Crisp, clean air. Not a cloud in the sky. Wear a sweater if you're out walking, but just a t-shirt if you're in the car as the sun beating through the window will make you feel like a meatball on top of a plate of pasta right off mama's stove.

Anyway...it was a nice day. JC beach (that is where this all takes place) is a municipal park. It has a mad-made lake, picnic areas, trees and gravel roads winding through the forest.

Now..to the story. First let me introduce the characters. There is Doug. He is the main character and without him I would not be telling you this story. There's Deb (Doug's main squeeze) who is probably reading this story to you. And the's Deb's friend, Julie. Okay..before we go any further, it must be said that Doug was not really a big fan of Julie. Not that Julie wasn't a nice person, but Julie could talk and talk. Julie could make a telephone solicitor hang up on her. But that wan't the real problem. The real problem was that wherever Deb was, Julie was. And Doug wanted to spend some time with Deb, without Julie. He had to discourage her from tagging along. But what could he do?

Enter Rick. Without Rick, this story would not be half as funny. Actually it would not be funny at all or make any sense.

Our story begins as Doug, Deb, and Julie are driving along a windy gravel road at JC Beach. Doug had a hot Camaro SS (this was a HOT car!). They are driving along, Julie is talking as usual and then...

Let me explain a few pertinent facts. In Saskatchewan at that time (early 70's) police cars and government cars could be identified by an "X" on the license plate. Rick;s father was a veterinarian for the government and, therefore, had a 4-door sedan with an "X" on the license plate. It looked just like a police ghost car.

Doug has arranged with Rick that he would park on a side road just barely hidden off the road, and that is what he did.

So...here come Doug, Deb and Julie chatting away. They pass Rick and he pulls out behind the. Doug looks in his rear view mirror and states that he thinks there is a cop behind the. Julie stops talking. Then Rick, the guy in the fake cop car, pulls out one of those flashing read lights that you can get from a safety supply shop and places it on the dash of his father's car.

Doug looks in the mirror again and states "*&@*! It is a cop!" and starts to speed up the Camaro. Julie is now freaking out.

After a few laps, Doug declares in a rather loud voice, "That's it!" and slams on the brakes.

Dust flying, Doug reaches into his glove box and pulls out a revolver. He jumps out of the car just as Rick pulls up in a cloud of dust from the gravel road. Doug aims the gun at Rick..."Bam".

And Julie? She is hysterical in the back seat. And then...she fainted. (Deb adds--Julie was dramatic!)

Doug's gun was an air pistol and only the sound was real.

Doug laughed, Rick laughed, Deb...well, you will have to ask her. And Julie? I don't think she ever tagged along again.

*This is the was the story was told to me by Doug himself. It might have been embellished a bit for effect, or perhaps the years have changed some of the true sequence of events and actual truths. I don't know. But knowing Doug...it sounds like something he would have don and every time I think about him, I can see his big grin as he stood there on that autumn day a long time ago.

IMPORTANT!!!!

Kids, this was a long time ago. DO NOT attempt this now! Fake guns, fake cops and fake car chases on sunny autumn days should only be performed by professionals.

Love,

Uncle Don.

Thanks Don...I'll share my version another time!