Visiting Canada & Utah

The original plan was to visit Canada to spend time with David, Shyanne & Isaiah since they couldn't come to Mexico at Christmas time.  I was also going to help Mom sort and discard throughout her house, particularly the basement.  There was a lot to get rid of in preparation for them considering a move from their home in Parkland.  

Well things progressed beyond the 'preparation' stage when Eldon received a good health report, so they started to look at condos.  Within just a few days they put in an offer on a beautiful 3rd floor corner condo in the Bonavista area.    Their own house sold in 36 hours!  At that point, Brian and I rented a U-Haul and took some items to Jennifer from our basement, and the piano from Mom's house.  I returned to Calgary 10 days later to oversee the moving process.  By the time I left another 10 days after that, they were completely settled.  

It was a very busy, and productive trip, but time with family is always a reward.  As well as helping Mom & Eldon, and visiting other family and friends, we enjoyed lots of activities with David, Heather, Jennifer and their families.

Playing at Parks

 

Swinging on Swings

Riding Bikes and Wagons

 

Story Time

 

 

Boys will be Boys

What is it with boys and sticks?

Visiting Nannie M and Papa

My Mom has two traditions that the grandchildren have grown up with when visiting her house.  The first is her crystal candy dish that has an endless supply of treats.  Isaiah is following in his father's footsteps by 'discovering' the dish.  The second tradition involves a special lamp. It is the coal oil lamp that was used at the farm when Mom was a girl.  Whenever the grandchildren slept overnight, she would light the lamp and let them blow it out.  Now the tradition carries on with great grandchildren when they sleep over.  

Isaiah was also helpful on his visits

Picnics & Hikes

One of the best things about summer time is going on picnics.  We spent an afternoon at Sandy Beach Park  along the Elbow River (before the terrible flooding of last week).  

While we were in Utah we hiked up to Timpanogos Caves with Jennifer, Jared & Gavin and our friends Sue & Dave Alexander.  Since Brian and Dave are both geologists we posed beside the big rock.  

Other Outings

Heritage Park with David, Shyanne, Isaiah, Heather & Ryan

Isaiah got stuck in the maze while Ryan tackled his dessert.

Calgary Zoo with David & Isaiah

Pool & Splash  Pad with Gavin

 

Point of the Mountain Farm with Edgels

Some day Brian might get arrested for sleeping on a park bench, but this day he was only harassed by Gavin  who didn't think this was such a good idea.  

Happy Birthday

We celebrated 6 family birthdays in 4 weeks!  

 

 

Unfortunately we didn't get photos of Mom, David or Shyanne, but we did celebrate!  

Just Chillin'

Believe it or not with all of these activities we did find time to relax.

Winding down before bed

It's not time to sleep  yet!

Monte Monte Monte Caballo of course

Jennifer & Gavin both enjoy the new piano

 

Watching a movie with Gavin

David's family

A New Home

The last week was spent moving Mom & Eldon into their new home.  It is a beautiful place with many amenities and it was a good feeling to leave them completely settled.  

Trip to Mismaloya

On April 18th and 25th I went with Xill Fessenden to more villages on the south side of Lake Chapala.  The first day I drove Xill on a scouting trip for the second outing, which was an evening trip to photograph the rising full moon over Lake Chapala.  We stopped at the villages of San Luis Soyotlan (the turnoff to Mazamitla), Tuxcueca, and Mismaloya, further to the east.  They are all fishing villages.

San Luis Soyotlan

Tuxcueca

Whatever you call this tree, Flamboyan in Puerto Rico (where Brian first fell in love with it) and Tabachin in Mexico, its colour is breathtaking!

The local people are just as colourful

This lady is doing her laundry in front of her house

My friend Xill poses with the broom maker in San Luis

We can't resist a stop at the local fruit stand - locally grown raspberries, blackberries & blueberries.  Further on, we stopped at the side of the road where the Dole company (pronounced Dolay in Spanish) had a processing stand and girls were sorting raspberries and filling those tiny plastic containers that sell in grocery stores.  Later we passed a truck filled with cartons of berries heading to the airport and then to stores in Canada or USA.  

In Mismayloya we visited with fishermen and contracted them to take their boats out the following week at sunset to provide silhouettes for our sunset and moon rise shots.   

Unfortunately when we returned in the evening the following week, it was so cloudy that we couldn't see the moon.  Instead these generous fishermen, built a fire and entertained us with stories of the old days.  

More Haciendas

On April 11 the photography group visited two more haciendas in Jalisco.  The first was Estipac, located in the centre of the state.  The existing town was named after the hacienda but the original inhabitants were the Coca Indians.  The name Estipac means 'arid land' in their language.

Estipac

In typical fashion, the impressive front gate opens to a central courtyard filled with trees and flowers.

I'm always fascinated with the traditional kitchens.  I guess that's because I'm a homemaker.

The deteriorating grounds held a quaint charm

Because hacienda owners provided not only employment, but also a community, a church was an integral component of each hacienda.  

Sauceda

I had visited Sauceda before with Brian and Waltons but this time I was able to climb up on the roof for a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.  

 

Inside, I found the tack room.

And no old farm would be complete without a run-down farm truck.  This one doubled as a clothes line!