Day Tripping

Elaine enjoying vegetation (potentila, bluebells, groundcover) on Corkscrew Mountain
Helge posing for photo on Corkscrew Mountain
Ram Falls
Ram Falls - a closer view
Mountain sheep at Ram Falls

Butterfly at Ram Falls

Though this summer has been cool and wet, I have enjoyed having time at home. I finally have a vision for my ornamental garden so am excited by that. Helge and I have attended two birthday parties in Caroline in July: one for Ernestine Stang who turned 100 years, and one for Yvonne Evans, who turned 50 years. Ernestine is one of the early pioneers in this district, having immigrated from Germany. She has many descendants in this area. She looked great for her celebration, appeared to enjoy her day, and had a surprising amount of energy for all the activity. Helge used to work with Yvonne as a volunteer firefighter. She continues to volunteer for the fire department and the ambulance. She and her husband have several cleaning contracts in Caroline. She is one of the most fit 50-year olds I know!

I started swimming twice a week after work in July. I find the water so enjoyable and relaxing. I'm on holiday for the last week of July and the first week of August. Once I return to work, I plan to continue swimming.

Sonja has been home a couple of times in July so we have enjoyed her company. We saw Jarl, Rebecca, Spencer and Parker briefly at the beginning of the week. Jarl has started his own surveying company, Geospark. ("Spark" is named for Spencer and Parker.) Rebecca plans to look after the books for their company. Madison stayed with us last night. I took her back to her Mom in Drayton Valley today. Aina and Trevor's plans have changed since Trevor has been offered a major promotion in his job. He will continue to live in Drayton. Aina will be renting a condo in Red Deer and completing her articling with Meyers Norris Penny. It will be nice for Aina and Trevor not to be so far apart, and we are certainly looking forward to having her and Madison in Red Deer once again. They will be in Red Deer in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow I am on my way to spend some time in Edmonton with Sonja and Kai, and to attend the Edmonton Folk Festival. On Sunday Helge and I will both go to Camrose for Lloyd and Mildred's 60th Wedding Anniversary. I am looking forward to spending time with some of my Bjorgum relatives.

I have travel ambitions. Helge enjoys being at home. We have surprisingly come up with a compromise that pleases us both. We have decided to go on regular day trips. Last Thursday we took a trip that I had always wanted to take. We drove west of Caroline, stopped to have a peak at Phyliss Lake as I had never been there, continued up the Corkscrew Mountain, stopped at Ram Falls, and then continued to follow the Forestry Trunk Road to Nordegg. From Nordegg we drove to Rocky Mountain House where we had supper at the Tamarack Inn (one of my Dad's favorite stops), and then returned to Caroline. It was nice to have some quality time together. We both enjoyed our day!

Musical discovery: Vitamin String Quartet Tribute albums released by Vitamin Records. Chelsie and Twitch danced to Vitamin String Quartet cover of Janet Jackson's "Control" on "So You Think You Can Dance." They were both attired as conductors in black-and-white tuxedos fighting for control of the conductor's stick. It was a delightful routine.