A Long Awaited Job Done!

 So finally, finally, the years of tearing down old chimneys, going all over the country to pick-up old free bricks from farm yards and where ever we could get them and cleaning them and stacking and saving them all - have paid off.  Just over a month ago, our house was tarped in with insulated tarps and we put scaffolding up underneath it and a heater inside, and Fred started laying the bricks.  I'm so proud of him - it was not easy working underneath the tarp, not much room and not very bright.  But he persisted and Thursday, he removed the tarp - and voila!  The result is above.  I just love his signature specials that he added, and the klinkers look so special (they sure were hard to clean - hello!)  I don't mean to brag - but I feel like I'm living in a castle.  But alas, there is much left to do - we are going to move the scaffolding and tarps to the west side so we can keep going.  Fred wants to brick the whole house this winter if at all possible.  So we take it one day at a time - because we do like to finish the addition inside as well this winter, so never a dull moment here.

 This is the addition - don't mind the mess infront, that is all going be moved soon to the west side.

 This is the top of the addition - he bricked a sawblade in the circle.

This is the old, original part of the house - The upstairs dormers are going to be bricked in the spring.

Winter Has Arrived

 Winter has arrived in Northern Alberta along with it's beauty!  So I added some beauty of our own - an old pair of skates on the fence.

 Not that I'm going anywhere on my bike so might as well decorate it for the season.

Betty's Back

Betty surprised us by coming home for a holiday - it is so grand to have her home for a few weeks!!!!!!!!!  Thank you Lord for making this possible!  So lots of visiting with her sisters and sister-in-law and nephews and nieces are enjoying her company as well.   And of course, her dad, is really enjoying her home again for a few weeks, helping with the bricks again!!!!!  Just like old times. 

Our Winter Project

 So.......we hoarded in the south side of our house, and have begun to lay bricks (used bricks that we have collected over the years and cleaned) - to give our home a new look.  I was so excited...........but what a pile of work, and here I thought the winter was for relaxing.

 A sneak preview of what it looks like under the tarp.

The expert, my honey, at work!!!!!!!!!  He's got too much energy!

A Hobby for Spare Time

 Since winter has arrived, I have a few moments a day of spare time.  I know, I know, you probably think, ja right - you can't be that busy - but I am.  I will show you what we are busy with.  So in my spare time, I have decided to do some crocheting - nothing too large, just something fun and that doesn't take so long.  And these hats are the result.  You like?   I got the patterns off the internet - lots of opportunities there, unreal!

Winter Has Arrived

Winter has finally arrived and look at the beauty God has brought with it - it looks stunning once again. So the outside rock work has come to a standstill - Pap and I finished the last job this past Thursday, just in time.

Doesn't it look marvelous? So peaceful and still.

So this is the beginning of the new winter project - under these tarps we are laying bricks on the outside of the house. We do have a heater in there, so it isn't too bad, the first four layers are laid. Very thankful that we were so busy all summer, and lots of work already lined up for next year - we have indeed been very blessed.

More River Pictures and Antiques

As we were driving down the path to our weiner roast, we suddenly came upon a bear - who checked us out and then sauntered into the bush! Was quite a sight!

YUM! Nothing like eating in the bush!

The horse-drawn breaking plow Freek bought at an auction sale - still in excellent condition! The little boys think so too!

The old seed drill w/wooden wheels - a striking piece!

Supper Across the River

The men are pretty relaxed by the fire - it was such a beautiful evening - we had a weiner roast - the kiddies had a ball!

Even posing for a picture - Fred still has to talk - unbelievable!

Opa and Oma posing with the grandchildren from 2 of our daughters, Angela & Wally and Karen & Gerry - don't they all look gorgeous (the kids of course).

God's awesome creation - the colours are stunning! We are so blessed to live in such freedom in such a great country!

A view from the top of the hill by the fire tower - dazzling, isn't it.

(I know it was a little hazy - but it is remarkable)

My Garden

I'm so thankful for the wonderful weather we have been having this summer - for my garden. I get so excited when the garden turns out - I'm a gardener - I love gardening - I just love love gardening - get the drift? And I love the fence too - I just love summer!

Some of the produce - leek, corn, and flowers from Australia.

Isn't it beautiful? Doesn't matter is you don't think so, because I sure do!

Our beans are delicious and the potatoes are scrumptious!

Sunflowers - can't have a garden without sunflowers!

Here's my scarecrow - ya, scarecrow, to scare the birds away so they don't eat all the strawberries. They are loaded - so no use feeding them to the birds - that's why this old lady is out there protecting them. If she has the time, maybe she'll pick some for me!!!!!

A Day at the Zoo!!!!with the children and grandchildren!

Oh Hope, you just fit into that little train cart - you don't care if you don't know anybody else in the cart - you're on the train..........and that's all that matters, right?

Watching the bird show - eagles, owls and others, was sure neat!

Is this the next young couple? Have to keep track of this for later!!!!!!!!!

Everybody needed a pet!

Having lunch before we ventured into the zoo - busy busy busy, lots of kids to keep track of!

Swimming Lessons

Freddie didn't have swimming lessons but he had fun playing in the playcentre with other children.

Iris concentrating on her teacher - great swimming potential here.

Jayda having fun - she did well too!

Summer Beauty

This is part of the new fence - pap bought 6 bundles of ceder rail fencing at an auction sale and we rented a post hole digger and have quite a bit of the fence up already - all the posts are precut including the holes where the rails fit in. It is fun to do, because as you dig the hole you can put the fence together right away and VOILA - done!

Another picture of the rail around our house, had to put flowers there right away to dress it up.

Another auction find - an old bike in perfect condition except that it has two flat tires - nowhere to ride a bike here anyway, not for an old girl like me anyway. So since flowers and plants are my passion, I filled the carriers with............flowers.

These are flowers I grew from the seeds I received from Margaret (Vanderveen in Australia) - just wanted to show that they will grow here too, sorry about the colour, they are actually gorgeous, I'm so proud of them.

This is an arrangement on the cement pad behind our house, the two stone pots are also a find from an auction sale.

Summer Flowers
Just wanted to post some pictures of the flowers on the yard this year, they are doing so well, we have received rain and sun from our Father above, who provides for us all, and the result is beautiful, don't you think?