Christmas 2011

 Christmas 2011 - seems like such a while ago already - there was still a bit of snow then and it was a bit chilly but sunny - gorgeous Christmas weather.  Paul and Tracy and the four boys were out for Christmas - we had a very very nice time together, we are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for making this all possible.  Above, the grandsons are all geared up to go on a hiking, hunting trip with Opa across the creek in the bush.  I had prepared a little lunch for them, some hotdogs and buns and drinks.  While they were in the bush, the boys gathered some sticks and Opa started a fire and they had a weiner roast out there.  That made up for the fact that they didn't see any wildlife - too bad.  But they were all rosy and happy when they were home again!!!!!!!!

 Here is Freddy - he wanted to be a lion just like his Opa - hair all over!!!!  Not a bad match eh!

More renovations in our house - here Gerry has a 21" x 8" beam on his back along with Paul and Pap - getting it into place.  I was in the backround - hesitant about it all and not sure if he could hold it.  But the beam was indeed put in place - so proud of our guys!!!! 

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.