Happy New Year!

It's about 12 hours to go until we reach 2008.
Today we worked our last shift at the paper for this year and we finish these papers beginning New Year's Day night at midnight.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This past week we were busy attending memorials; first Ruth and I attended one in Clyde, and Then Jake and I attended another memorial for a long-time friend of his; Sandy drove us.

Today the weather is beautiful blue sky and hoar frost not only on the trees but on wires, fences, and many other things. It is also cold.

Today's Quote:
What I am doing today is important
because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

On December 24 I went to Clyde to the lovely candle-lit service at Clyde.
A lot of people attended and we sang many Christmas Carols and had a message by Chris Lantz. Two of our young men announced their engagements, one on Sunday and one last night before the candle lit service.
The country roads running north and south were quite drifted--I had no idea until I left home.
I had an amount of trouble getting anything posted and this piece about the service was omitted and also the picture of Christmas here on my first attempt.

This was the scene in our living room December 24th late night--with all presents and decorations on and up.

Peter added a few more gifts today.

What Christmas looked like here

A few days ago we had this beautiful hoarfrost--Jake asked me to bring the camera. I got a couple of shots. These trees are in our driveway

Last Sunday Ruth and I were greeters at church. This is one of the food items we took.

I have been bogged down so I couldn't BLOG. Christmas is almost here and everyone is trying to get ready for it. That meant some cleaning, a bit late, but some as we had to do 2 papers last week. Fortunately some good Samaritans came to help us.

Tonight Ruth and I went to Westlock where we took in the Teddy Bear Christmas at the libary. Here we sang 3 carols, and the ladies there read 3 stories about Bears and Bear's Christmas. We had hot chocolate, cookies and got to take home a few discarded books. They had a donation jar. I took a few pictures. Then we looked around a couple of stores for an hour or close to that. A big dump of snow had come and it felt sticky and our road is quite deep in places.

We received several cards today in the mail including this 65th card for my Birthday made by Ginet. I think other card-makers would like to see it. Thanks Ginet, that looks like a lot of work.

The picture below was taken by Kevin Berger shortly before 2 a.m. as Ruth and I were presented with a lovely carrot cake by our staff on December 4th. We also received cards and certificates. Thanks Kevin for taking this picture. It took a week to figure out how to get it from his camera through our system so I could put this picture here. I have blocked out the first aid kit which was behind my head in the picture.

Pictured here are Ruth, Judy and LX Sandra at the Christmas Party December 7th, 2007.
Ruth and Judy were also 65 today, and were honoured for 20 years with Great West. The name of the Company has changed several times in 20 years.

Wow! Someone moved into our house today, and she wears a red hat and purple feathers. Sandy says, she is sophisticated. He also noticed that she can sing. She sang "Girls Jusst Want to have Fun" --he says it is Cindy Lopper 's song. For those who might wonder why this stranger moved in, she was a gift from Ruth for my very special BD. I know it's a day early but tomorrow we will be very busy.

I got to church Sunday to find it all decorated for Christmas; from fall last week to Christmas this week. It is the 3rd week I drove alone cross-country because of snows on Sunday.

However, since then we really got a large dump of snow. Have to be careful now not to get stuck.

Today was a busy day at home. I cleaned enough space to set up the tree and some ornaments, got the tree down and set up; the stand was still covered from last year (it's a CD wooden box), and decorated the tree.
Then we made supper together and after supper was over I wrapped gifts for 2-3 more parcels. Two at least going to one house as the gifts are too bulky for one parcel. While Jake was starting to wash the dishes I then opened up Ted and Liza's parcel and Tammy's so those gifts were the first to go onto our newly decorated tree. It is different this year; I still never found all the decorations that were lost 2 years ago, but I "found" some silver bows--so I used them on the tree--those are new this year, and also put on the beautiful snowflake with blue ribbon that came in Tammy's parcel from Texas. Christmas will be here before we know it!

Well we had a great shopping trip today, heading to Westlock on our way to St. Albert and Edmonton. Got the mail and found the box crammed to the gills. Then on to the bright lights and the city, putting in photos at Walmart first, and then taking a peak over at Save on Foods.
I saw many nice displays in the store, two of which I photographed and posted here.
We had a great trip as we spent plenty. Had our supper late at Boston Pizza and got home at 1 a.m. There was a cold wind in our yard but shopping today was not bad--no snow and not much wind. And the stores were not totally crowded. So I was happy with this trip.

S

Today I spent most of my time working on Christmas cards and preparing them for mailing.
Also a parcel. Sandy and I plan a trip to the city tomorrow weather permitting. See picture of mail going out Thursday. Two parcels are in here already, so it's time to get the tree up!

Today being Saturday I got up late. The weather was snow or drizzle of some kind. It was dull all day. My project for today was to wash walls in the kitchen hopefully with Sandy's help--this would include the fridge, stove, microwave, etc.
Before this happened Ruth phoned and she wanted me to make a special wedding card. I am going to try making a scan of it but have to do it on the large computer as I cant load the scanner to this, my disc is lost. I have also posted e-bey to try to get me a disc.
It was about 4:30 or later by the time Sandy appeared and we were ready to start the walls, actually I went ahead and started a few minutes before he agreed to help. The kitchen is now a few shades cleaner. Nothing would make it better now other than a paint job.

Not a whole lot happening today; first day off after working 4 nights. So I needed to rest up. Went to town and returned some CDs that I had not ordered. Cost me about $11 to send back one packet, the other I sealed up and returned in original pack. I also bought some stamps for the Christmas mailing. And exchanged some money into my American $ account, it was almost par today (just made .02cents on $25).
It has been a bit colder the last 2 days but still not bad for November.

Today is Saturday and we will be going to work at 5pm, about an hour from now.
Sandy and I had an awesome day in the city. First we went to CU and withdrew a few funds.
Then we decided it was time to head to the memorial service for Ted Guest.
I had made a map from Map Quest and it showed going along 107 Avenue and then down 26 but when we went there 107 Avenue did not continue so we ended up going north again and across 112St. trying to get maybe to another piece of 107 Avenue. None of this worked! We drove around for an hour or so and I stopped and asked an old lady who was out raking leaves--this was around 108 Avenue--these streets seem to start and stop and continue in another part of the city and this was after we had got away out to 17th street with no 26 Street in sight.
And she told me about 5 different streets and directions to go on--so we started off with only 30 minutes to spare. I navigated the way she said and finally got onto the Manning Fort Freeway.
We continued on here but came out to a barren looking place and I decided this did not look right so whipped around and back down the other side of the freeway and made a turn and stopoped at A & W. And asked a male patron with 2 children how to get to Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
He said to get back on the Ft-Manning freeway and go north to 167 street and that we would then see signs. We had to go 2 blocks in the wrong way to get across a meridian and I then whipped a U turn in a driveway of parking lot, and got back, then turn onto the Ft-Manning Freeway and head back to the desolate looking area we had come from. Before we got to 167St however Sandy spotted a small sign saying "Fort Road" so we ripped off there and down that road. It was a narrow country style road. No houses, no other vehicles!
We drove about a mile or more and came to the burial ground and a building and I drove in there and then over to the chapel and we crashed in after Sandy put on his jacket and shoes and arrived about one minute before the service started.
Lots of people attended. Two hymns, one was Amazing Grace. The other: I Come to the Garden Alone.
We saw many people we knew at the service. A bus ran out from Westlock for the Seniors who are in the Drop-in Centre.

After this we went on our way and did a marathon shopping trip. Walmart was open late so we stayed longer than usual and had our supper very late and then went in to Westlock to get our mail. We got home around 1:30 a.m.
We worked last night but our server was down so we could not print the labels that we need for the paper next week. A shift is being run tonight and hopefully we will have the server up and running.
I had hoped to get a picture but we were too late to take pictures in the chapel.

Today is a beautiful sunny day, fall is lasting! and I agree with that! :)
The sun is shining beautifully and I am actually preparing for a trip
to the city tomorrow.

Sandy and I will go for a shopping trip; Ruth won't be well enough to go yet--and while in the city we will take in a memorial on the Ft. Road at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
The memorial will be at 2 pm. for a man from our church.
Sandy and I were plannning to go to the city Thursday anyway.
It's just a matter of planning our clothes for the memorial service.
I hope the weather will be as good as it is today.

At the service today Bible readings included Psalm 23, and Ecclesiates 3: 1-8, and a message by our own minister, Chris Lantz. We also sang Faith of Our Fathers.

We will remember them.
Today our service at the church started one hour early so that we could join the Legion Remembrance Day Service at the hall.
After a short church service with Ron Fraser speaking we all walked over to the hall. They had to set up more chairs for us.
After the service we all walked 2 blocks down the road to the cenotaph where they placed several wreaths after a 2 min silence and trumpet sound.
Then we walked back to the church to finish our service and to serve potluck to our guests and congregation.
After the meeting I left and went back to the cenotaph to take pictures of the wreaths to post here; I found that they had all been removed. I will try to get a difference picture.

Today, November 11th was the 2nd day of the Missions Fair at Clyde Christian Bible Church.

Pictured below is the Display for Healing Hearts, Regina.

In the morning today was a man's breakfast, at 12:30 pm. a ladies luncheon. Here, we heard 2 good speakers tell about their missions work.

In the evening at 7pm. a busy meeting--8 speakers or other representing Mission groups or individuals that could not attend.

EMBRACE THE WORLD is our theme for the coming year.

Tomorrow pledges will be collected for support of these missions and missionaries.

Ruth and I left for work early tonight and stopped by the Art Club
at six pm. or shortly after. It is the Westlock Art Club's 50th anniversary.
They are holding a show and sale this weekend.
As well as art, there were crafts and Ukranian CDs (fiddle and accordian)
music, and some Ukranian vocal. We left there for work arriving about
30 min. earlier than usual.
The picture and that display flower in vase, and red leaves made
from a red velvet drape turned out a bit dark. The lady spent hours
making these large leaves that hung from the ceiling.

We worked today at carving up a large pumpkin--it was hard to cut up. Jake cut it all up in large pieces and then we both cut off the skin and I cut into much smaller pieces for the 3 cooking pots.

It cooked while we ate supper.

This would be a good time for the neighbours to visit--pumpkin pie.

November 7, 2007

Today Sandy and I took "BEAR" to the vet.
Another male cat had come here and beat up "BEAR"
several times. He received damage to his leg, and it was
not healing totally.

"BEAR" will have an operation tomorrow morning
on his leg,
He should be able to come home by 4:30 pm.
tomorrow, Thursday, November 8th.
I hope to post a picture of "Bear" when he comes home
His treatment will consist of being a "housecat" until
his leg improves.

Today, November 5th, I just wanted to see how
much quicker it would be to post using high speed
at work--boy! this is tons better!
I need highspeed MEGA.

Today's Quote That they may have a little peace, even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally.-William Feather

Sunday October 28th was a very beautiful warm
sunny day! Unbelivable for Prairie Alberta.
Back to reality today *Tuesday, October 30th*
a cold north wind blew.

Went to Refills after work today and got my favourite
French Vanilla Coffee. On display was the large
pumpkin I gave Leslie a few weeks ago--it was now
carved by a young lad who was anxious to do it for
her. It will be lit tomorrow--she is open from
7am.-4pm. 107 Street if you want to try her
speciality coffees! yummy good.

http://silverappl.surveyis.hop.clickbank.net

Jake and Judy shown in the picture--taken at the Butchart Garden's
on September lst 2005.

Our farm is located near Westlock.
We have lived here since 1969.
Family consists of 4 sons, Sandy, Ted, Chuck and Peter John.

Sandy and Peter J. live in this area, Ted and his wife Liza live
in Beverly Hills, CA., while Chuck and his wife, Michelle live in Beaumont.

We rent the farm out and Judy, Sandy and Peter work at the newspaper in
Westlock, which is owned by Great West in St. Albert.

Sunflower from 2007 Garden