News Update

Another week has passed and we've moved on. Today, we left the shore of Lake Wascana, and drove over to the banks of the Vermillion River in Dauphin. We've enjoyed 2.5 months on the prairies, along with a side-trip to BC, but we are finally headed for home. We spent most of our Saskatchewan time at Erin and Kristian's place—thanks guys! We also enjoyed time at Bern, Alicia, Logan and Dad's place, and another week at Eric/A's. So, it's been a good summer, and it's not over yet! This weekend, we're at Kent & Paula's place, enjoying their hospitality. Thanks! We've had a good week in Regina, clearing up as many projects as possible. Wendy has done the patching and painting in Kristian's room, so it's ready for baseboards. I got the floating shelves built and installed in his room. 

Floating Shelf

I did some more development on Logan's bass box, so he's about ready to finish that. We took the Santa Fe in for a recall repair; it will be running out of warranty on the way home, so were glad to have that done. The markets have continued their volatile ways. The TSX is up less than 1% so far this year, so I'm falling well short of my quota. I had a green week, but not up to what I'm planning for. The Jays have been using a lot of new players and prospects, but they're playing better, too. The Riders gave us a tremendous surprise on Sunday as they knocked off the undefeated Stampeders. We feared they may suffer a let down tonight at BC, and indeed it was quite a bit tighter game than it should have been, but we'll take the win. Go Riders, Go! 

The Bailey's began the week in Estevan celebrating the life of Eric's uncle, Bill Muirhead. It was a wonderful time of memories, stories and music. They enjoyed being able to reconnect with family! They stopped in Regina to celebrate Erin's 40th birthday with my patented peanut butter ice cream cake, along with a lot of additional great food! This is Liam's last week at home this summer. He has been working on the second bedroom, finishing the flooring and working on the walls. He's also working on his plans for his Moose Jaw residence, looking for furnishings, and trying to decide what to bring from home. Haaken reports that everything is fine in Victoria! Erica is facing planning pressure as she's off for her next surgery in another month. 

Erin had a full week at work with their annual BBQ fundraiser closing off the week. Now she's on holidays for the next week. We're thankful for our accommodations there over the summer. 

Travis and Joanna are getting ready for the relief yard people to arrive home! We hope to get back on Monday. We are certainly thankful for their care of the place. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairies. We spent most of the week on the shore of the South Saskatchewan River in Prince Albert, but we returned to Erin's place in Regina on Friday. Today was her birthday, and we spent the day celebrating her, and her birthday. It was a good time. Shawn, Astrid and Liam were here. Eric, Erica and Liam were here. And we were here along with Kristian. Wendy spent most of the last couple of days preparing the menu and the food. I built another of my hallmark ice cream cakes. I took Erin for a game of golf. We even used a power cart! I had the PA announcer primed to announce, "Now on the tee, celebrating her twenty-third birthday—Erin Ulrich!" We had a good time golfing. Good times for sure. Up in PA, we worked on Liam's bedroom. I repaired the existing wiring and added some outlets for the room. Wendy spent a lot of time cleaning up the demolition mess, and also the construction mess! Liam did the vapour barrier and we got styrofoam and drywall installed on part of the room. Eric had the morning off on Thursday, so he was my able assistant that day. Erica was working out of town most of the week. We had to tear up part of the hardwood floor, but they're able to reinstall that now. We had Kristian with us in PA, so, while Grandpa and Liam were busy, Wendy and Kristian went to see Transylvania3 one day, and to the swimming pool another. While at the pool, Wendy slipped on a painted patch of concrete and took a fall. She cut her knee and jammed her arm, so she had to get patched up. At the encouragement of the pool staff, she also filed an incident report on those painted spots. Another old friend, Bill Muirhead, passed on this week; we're planning to head down to Estevan on Monday for the funeral. It seems we're saying farewell to too many friends these days. The markets continue to be volatile with multi-hundred point swings from one day to the next. I'm thankful to be able to report achieving quota this week. The Jays continue to play more and more new and younger players as they build and look to the future. I am relieved that they've formally announced the termination of Gibbons! The Riders have made a few changes as they prepare to play the league-leading Stamps on Sunday. Go Riders, Go! 

Golfing with Erin on her 40th!

Erin tees off—the coyote keeps the geese away!

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew continue to hold down the fort in Thunder Bay. We look forward to getting back there in another week. We are scheduled for some recall work on the Santa Fe on Tuesday or Wednesday,  and then we'll be ready to head east. I hope to get in a round of golf in Winnipeg, so we're looking to make it a leisurely drive home. 

And that's about enough for this week. 

News Update

We've had a hot week on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairies. The hot weather reached its apex today with a temperature of 42, but we spent much of the week indoors in air-conditioned comfort. We're expecting a bit of a break in the next few days, and the garden certainly could use the break! We've spent this week at Dad's, thank you! I got out golfing at Avonlea on Monday. One of my students from Earl Grey days looked me up, and took me out there. It was a tough, tight course, and I was not hitting the ball well enough to overcome its challenges. Logan and I have been building a woodworking project for his sound system. We managed some progress on that, when it got cool in the evenings so we could work in the shop. The markets were showing signs of green early in the week, but then Trump renewed the trade war rhetoric with tariffs against Turkey, and investors started to worry once again. Both the TSX and the DOW are red so far this month. I'm in the green, but far behind quota. Hockey has opened again with the under 18 world championships. Canada advanced to the medal round, and was able to advance to the gold medal game thanks to a goal given to them by the officials. They faced Sweden in the final tonight, and managed to win that one in regulation time. The Blue Jays are playing out the string, and about the only thing the fans are looking forward to is the impending call up of Vladdy Jr. The Riders have the bye this week; I hope they're preparing well to face Calgary next Sunday! 

Eric and Erica took a road trip on their bikes this week through Drumheller to Calgary. Then, on the way home, they stopped by Vulcan (namesake for their bikes!) to pay homage at the Star Trek centre there!

Live Long, and Prosper!

To boldly go...

Liam has been pushing forward on the bedroom project in Prince Albert. We plan to head that way tomorrow or Monday.

Erin and Kristian have also retreated indoors this hot week. Kristian got out a couple of times with Grandma, to go bowling one day, and to the natural history museum another. Her small garden is suffering in the heat as well, but we hope the break in the temperatures will allow the tomatoes and strawberries to continue to produce. 

Travis, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are enjoying much more comfortable temperatures in Thunder Bay, but it's still hot, and they're glad to make use of the air conditioning in their home and at the office. 

That's about it for this week. 

News Update

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the middle of the prairies. The weather has been favourable, and we've enjoyed a good week. We have worked on a couple of more projects at Erin's condo: drop leaves for her island, and flooring in Kristian's room. Wendy also applied another coat of paint to Kristian's room to get it ready for the flooring. Shawn and I did the flooring on Friday evening with artistic assistance from Erin to prevent a pattern from appearing!

Shawn and I laying flooring.

Kristian's new floor!

Kristian and I got out to practice golf on Wednesday. I went golfing with Dale on Friday and shot an encouraging 84 at Tor Hill. Then, Erin, Kristian and I went golfing this morning and that was fun as well.

Golfing—many years ago!

Golfing—updated!

Trump's continuing trade war rhetoric led to a bad start to the week for the markets, but we managed a recovery toward the end of the week, so I was in the green at least. The Riders played in Edmonton on Thursday evening, and put up a good showing despite falling short of the win. The Jays are having a good series in Seattle this weekend; they are working new players into the lineup to replace those who have been traded away. My old team in Earl Grey advanced to the medal round, but then lost out in the provincial playoffs. It was fun to get out there, catch up with many old friends and enjoy some good ball games. 

Haaken was home this week, and while it was great having everyone together—Erica had to leave! She had a couple of days in Edmonton training accountants on revenue recognition. Eric and Liam have been working on plans to put the second bedroom back together. Liam has started looking for work and an apartment so he can return to Caronport at the end of August. He's had a couple of leads on both issues, so we're hoping and praying that something will work out. Haaken is on his way back to Victoria this weekend. 

As noted, our activity this week has been mostly at Erin's place. She has more projects in mind, but we're heading over to Dad's this weekend, and planning to spend the next week there. Of course, it's not far, so we could get back to continue things here. 

Trav, Joanna, Gemma and Andrew are carrying on with things in Thunder Bay. We feel a bit bad about leaving them to take care of the yard during the busiest times of the growing season, and then leaving them again to take care of the driveway during the snowiest parts of the winter! We are grateful for their efforts on our behalf. Joanna has been down to southern Ontario on family concerns for part of the week. 

And that's about enough for this week.