Feb 08-Mar 31, 2009

It has been a very busy time on the island. Our daughter Melissa and her husband Darren were here during reading week to help get the top of the barge ready. They will be running a small bakery and grill/pub. It was quite a workout stripping all the walls etc from the top of the barge. Melissa stayed an extra week and helped put the new floor in. I rode home with her to Edmonton to keep her company.

Everything has been ripped out and only the shell remains to get ready for the grill/bakery. I painted the floor of the main barge while the upstairs was being done. It was quite a job as I did not have the proper roller and the cement is quite pocked in places. It is done now and ready for stocking. I have also been putting the shelves together.

George had a doctor's appointment in Edmonton on March 23 and he is scheduled for laser surgery on April 17. The piles should be in by then as there will be a new pile driver in the area and he is quite eager to put in our piles. Yeah!! It would only be fine tuning then and we should be open for busy by the end of April.

We have been patiently waiting for spring to arrive. Old man winter just does not want to go away this year. The tulips and daffodils started to poke out in the beginning of March and the primroses were in bloom.

Some mystery flowers appeared, which I found out were Snow Drops. Very pretty flowers.

The sun does decide to poke its nose out once in awhile, and the birds and us really enjoy the warmth it has to offer. George even saw a hummingbird on Saturday, so I rushed to put out the feeders as there are no wildflowers yet. Soon the daffodils will be blooming. Hummingbirds do eat small insects and small spiders, so there is some food for them. The ground seems to be alive with robins and the geese are really trying to nest close to the house but we will not have that. They can graze along the estuary by not by the house. Geese are messy, messy birds. Tomorrow is the 1st of April and George's birthday. A cake is being made and maybe Doug will come and enjoy cake and coffee after he drops off the mail tomorrow.

Brother-in-law Terry is arriving on Sunday and will be staying for a few days. He has not been here for about a year and half and he may notice a difference. He has not seen the barge yet, so may be in for a surprise. Hope he is ready to work, as George can be a slave driver at times.

Feb 04-07, 2009

Well- the truck is done and the tests are over. We can go home now as everything is good. Can't wait to see everything. Two months is too long to be gone from home. Besides, I have to take the Christmas tree down. We are anxious to see if the primroses are starting to bloom. The daffodils will be budding out and the tulips will be poking out of the ground. We are also quite curious to see how everything survived during December as the weather was not nice. Doug had mentioned that there was about a foot of snow at one time and it got as cold as minus 8.

It will be interesting to see what the spring has to offer, especially since there are no cows to contend with. What scavengers these funny looking creatures were. Scottish Highlanders tend to eat everything in site, even rope. We are quite curious to see what else the land has to offer now that it is not being eaten down to the ground.

We will miss all our family and friends but know that we have lots of exciting things happening in the spring. Darren and Melissa will be home shortly - by the end of the week, and lots will be done. Shelves and tables were picked up at Ikea along with a commercial convention oven. How everyone will enjoy the home baked bread. Yum.

Dec 31-Feb 02, 2009

What to say! It has been quite a journey this last month. After being broadsided in the IGA parking lot on Dec 23 we still to not have our truck back. (it is supposed to be done tomorrow, inshahala). Young people should slow down and pay attention when driving on ice!

George has been undergoing medical tests . The last one is on the 5th and we should be able to go home after that. Doug is taking care of everything for us while we are gone and he is such a wonderful friend. George talks to him about twice a week and Doug has been informing us of the weather and things going on. We miss him and being home, especially during the minus 40 weather that Peace River was receiving for quite some time. TALK ABOUT COLD!!

While in Peace River, we have enjoyed visiting with family and friends. We were able to see Kory and Samantha and the kids as well as Chelsea, Clint and baby Cael. We are enjoying the Jets hockey, as George used to coach the team and Ryan plays for them. This is something we both miss at home. I would say we are Ryan's biggest fans! George has re-aquainted with old friends Harold, Bob and John. He goes for coffee and enjoys their friendship. George has also been enjoying his "breakfast" out, usually a MacDonald's breakfast burrito but sometimes with Gary at Smitty's.

Reading week will be quite eventful for us as the kids are coming to help get the top of the barge ready for the pub/restaurant. Since Melissa and Darren are going to be running the pub/restaurant they decided to help get it ready. They were quite helpful in getting the main barge gutted. We are soo looking forward to them being home with us. What do we call the pub/restaurant? Any suggestions?

Quite a bit has to be done in order to be open for business in May. The floor is ready for painting and we will be purchasing shelving at Ikea. We had hoped to have the floor painted before we left for Christmas but the weather did not cooperate. Our order is ready to be sent for the groceries and we just have to order the hardware and gift items.

We should have a pile driver available when we get home. Yee Ha - a busy time getting the docks in place. What excitement!! The weather will be wonderful as well. We Can't Wait!!

Dec 22-Dec 30, 2008

Christmas was a wonderful time spent with family and friends in Peace River, Alberta. The New Year promises to be quite exciting with many things happening on the dock, etc. We hope to be open in May and anticipate a busy summer.

George and I wish each and everyone a safe and happy 2009. May all your dreams come true.