Sometimes, when we’re safely home from our road trip - sitting
peacefully in the cozy living room of the ranch house where I grew up, drinking
coffee, reading books and listening to the wood fire in the kitchen – we wonder
why we ever leave this sumptuous nest to wander. I suppose four straight months
of bucolic relaxation could get old?
This
morning as I sit at Dad’s big desk and watch the rain clouds roll in from the
south I’m content to imagine I see the poplar leaves changing color on the
ridge. More yellow appears, almost by the hour. The grass in the meadow is
still green but a golden tinge forecasts Fall and inevitable Winter. I expect
we’ll wake up to white one of these mornings and it will be time to face eight
months on Maui. What a life! |
| Deanna and Joy |
This
summer has been especially wonderful. We were blessed with visits from good
friends (Robin from Maui, Barnettes from Phoenix, Deanna and Art Scott – she
and I hadn’t seen each other in 59 years! – and Murray and Joyce from Calgary),
accomplished several home-improvement projects (including the biggest and best
– rebuilding our ranch house’s water supply, the spring house over the hill. Huge thanks to Tony for getting this done after all these years; our water is
now pure, clear and delicious.)
Jim has a few new paintings in his studio and even
got in some plein air painting when the wind wasn’t blowing and the bugs
weren’t too bad. I filled a suitcase with my own creations: bags, aprons,
ReTies and some patchwork that will turn into hats in my Maui studio. And the
fishing wasn’t bad at all. We enjoyed time with Tony and Debbie this summer; it
seemed to be quieter than previous years although Chimney Rock Bed &
Breakfast <chimneyrockbandb.com> is keeping them busy. Shane and Peter
went for their own drive-about in August so we didn’t see them for almost 6
weeks until it was time to celebrate our 18th anniversary at the Calgary Tower. My how time flies when you’re doing exactly what you want to do, eh?
 |
| Celebration at Calgary Tower |
Mom
is doing so well it’s hard to believe that 10 months ago she was expected to
pass away at any moment. She’s happy and enjoying life in the Willow Creek care
center in Claresholm and loves seeing her family and friends when they drop by.
Just shows you what a mashed banana can do when administered at the right time,
eh? Family and friends gathered here at the ranch to celebrate her 94th
birthday and mark the 3rd anniversary of Dad’s passing.
 |
| Funnel cloud over Lyle's Hill |
We
have seen our share of summer storms including a funnel cloud twisting and
squirming beyond the hill to the north of us. Hail, lightning, thunder and rain
followed along but nothing too serious.
We’ve also seen the Southern Alberta
rendition of Northern Lights on two consecutive nights – dancing streams of
greenish banners traveling the night sky from east to far north and high above.
And oh my, the evening sun, earlier now but still sending long shadows through
the grass and gilding the tips of fir trees.
Two
averted disasters occurred this summer. One you already know about if you read
previous blogs – the on-again, off-again hotel reservations in Churchill, which
ended in a marvelous stay at the Blue Sky Bed & Sled. The other was a
too-close encounter my brother had with a grizzly bear. Let’s just say the bear
lost, Tony left the scene unscathed and was vindicated by the fish and wildlife
folks. Instant reflexes and a loaded rifle saved him. I still shudder at the
alternative outcome.
So
my summer travel blog now comes to an end. But no worries, I’ll let you know when
I hit the “publish” button next year, sometime around the beginning of June
when we’ll be back this way and plotting another road trip. In the meantime, if
you’d like to stay up-to-date on our Maui life, I’d love to see you at my other
blog <joyofrecycling.blogspot.com>.
Postscript: We made it safely back to Maui and are now
adjusting to warm breezes, nightly rain showers and ubiquitous bugs. See you in
Summer of 2017!
