Summer’s End

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 94^th birthday and mark the 3^rd 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!