Passages!

Verner Ivar Ulrich  1943-2024

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown, while we have encountered many passages this week. We departed Thunder Bay on Monday morning, and enjoyed an uneventful drive to Winnipeg where we were hosted by Tom & Mariette—thank you very much! Early Tuesday morning, while we were having breakfast, Tom got a phone call informing us that our brother Verner had passed away during the night. These things are always a shock! Later, Tom and I went golfing, and I managed my first 18 holes of walking golf in two seasons. It wasn't great, but it was wonderful! I was pretty tired by the 14th hole, but my back held up well, and I continue to be pleased with the improvement since my surgery in January. On Wednesday, we drove on to Regina where we moved in with Erin & Kristian—thanks folks!

Kristian with his teachers

Thursday featured a major passage for Kristian as he walked the stage at Conexus Arts Centre to receive his diploma marking the completion of high school—we are so proud of him, and of Erin! Finally, today, we drove to Saskatoon where we celebrated with Bailey family and friends on Sheena's passage of 90 years! The family put on a lovely come-and-go-tea to catch up with the widely dispersed family and acknowledge her long and still healthy life. The markets are volatile, and TSX had a poor month while the USA indices hit new record highs, sigh! The Oilers failed to take the final step, losing game 7 in Florida, so it's "next year" country for them. The Riders have the bye week. The Jays up and down season continues—they are seven games out in the playoff race. 

Happy 90th

Erica writes, "This is Haaken’s last week with us at home. We’ve enjoyed a few days visiting with the rest of the Victoria Baileys. We also spent time ironing out last minute details for Sheena’s 90th which took place today. Haaken will fly back to Victoria tomorrow. It has been really nice to have him home. Liam and Mercedes have a performance in Yorkton this weekend. We also got some photos from Greg and Kiersten’s wedding. It has been  a busy June and I’m looking forward to Monday off!"

Erin-Kristian-Wendy

It has been a big week for Erin and Kristian, and we have enjoyed sharing some of it with them. He really prizes his new Apple Watch!

Traditional Grad Gift from mom

Travis and Joanna continue to grieve the loss of their little dog. This week, they enjoyed the arrival home of Gemma and Jonas after the completion of their school year in Vancouver. 

And that's enough for this week. 

Moving Along!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. We've been cleaning up some issues around the house and yard as we prepare to head west next week. I picked another batch of rhubarb and we have more bags of that in the freezer. I have a lawn problem. It looks like a chemical burn, but I'm treating it as a chinch bug infestation. I gave that area of the lawn a couple of treatments, and also watered the driveway weeds to slow them down over the time we're away. The YouTube of our Spring Concert is now available—we hope you enjoy it. Last Sunday was Fathers' Day, and I enjoyed the extra attention from my children—thanks guys! Along with the usual greetings, I was funded with some money for golf! And, I got some special individual items as well. I was gifted a special hammer built by Kristian in his shop class.

If I had a Hammer!

I got a focaccia starter set from Trav & Joanna!

Flour, Yeast, Oil, Pan... good to go!

And my #1 child provided a reassuring book! 

High Praise, indeed!

So, I am well set for another good year! I did a bit more clean up in the yard and shop, packed up some tools I may need over the summer, and we're pretty much ready to go. Wendy has been busy all week clearing away Sweet Adelines business, and cleaning the house since we won't be here for some time! I have started my dental work under the new government dental program—thank you, Mr. Singh. It will take some time to catch up on my dental needs, but at least we're started. The markets have continued to search for a consistent way forward, but they failed again this week. Cooling retail sales should have teased rate cut bets and encouraged buying, but investors remained reluctant even as USA indices hit record highs once again. Blue Jays continued to flounder through the first half of the season; if they don't get it together very soon, they won't be together as management will be selling at the trade deadline. Riders continued to impress and win in the early season—keep it going Riders! But the big news is my Oilers who have rebounded from an 0-3 hole to win three straight and force a deciding game seven in the Stanley Cup playoffs! 

Eric and Erica are having a quieter week in Prince Albert. Erica is enjoying the first few shows with her girl band. 

Erin and Kristian are getting ready for grad next week. We plan to be there for that. 

Travis celebrated Joanna on Tuesday for her birthday. Of course, he celebrates her every day anyway! We provided some flowers. 

Joanna loves Gerbera Daisies

This evening, they, along with Andrew & Rosie, joined us for a farewell BBQ! We'll be missing them over the next while. They also shared sad news this evening as Minnie has passed away. We'll all miss that furry little rascal! 

Fond Farewell Minnie

And that's enough for this week. 

Leaking Oil!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has remained mixed with frequent showers and thunder showers.

So fragrant!

The lawns and flower beds are flourishing. Rhubarb is passed ready for another picking—maybe tomorrow! The lilacs are ending their floral run, bleeding hearts, peonies and lilies prepare to take their turn. I've managed a bit more work on various projects, and a few trips to the driving range for golf practice. Results are very inconsistent and my back tires quickly. I guess it will take a bit more time to regain strength. I played 9 holes today—perfect results: 9 over par for 9 holes, sigh! The USA markets have continued their strong performance, but we're suffering through a red month here—c'mon man! Worst of all the Oilers are leaking! It's been a disappointing first three games against Florida. They broke out with an 8-1 win tonight, but they're still in a deep hole. Blue Jays remain a couple of games below .500—not nearly good enough. 

Erica writes, "I headed up north to Stony Rapids to work for the week. It was very reminiscent of Yellowknife days—sandy roads, rock and water, and expensive produce. A box of KD was almost $3. A pint of strawberries was $10. Back home for the weekend, Haaken, Eric and I are taking in a local music festival. We haven’t heard much from Liam, Greg and Kiersten this week, but we believe they are still doing well."

Erin and Kristian finally have a solid answer on his graduation exercises. The school was having trouble trying to decide when to hold the program, but they have finally determined it will be on the 27th, so we're able to set our travel plans as well. Kristian is continuing with the preliminary work for the possible drug testing trial. 

Travis and Joanna keep busy with their various work assignments. We planned to have a family trip to Grand Marais on Wednesday with them, along with Andrew & Rosie, but a severe thunder storm rolled in and we decided to wait for a better day. Tonight, they hosted us for a celebratory pizza and cards! Good times! We're scheduled for a Father's Day event tomorrow evening—thanks guys! 

And that's enough for this week. 

Rainy Weather!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has become rainy, and I hurt my back last weekend, so, it's been an inactive week for me! I don't know what caused it, but I woke up Monday morning with a sore back. The only things I can recall doing differently are the stretches the physiotherapist suggested, and lawn mowing. I'm thinking it was the lawn mowing—in my impatience, I was pushing the mower across the lawn, and then pulling it back with one hand. I can see how that would put a strain on the lower back. I won't do that next time. In the meantime, a couple of nights required T3s to get through the night; I've since backed off (see what I did there!) to Extra Strength Tylenol. It's getting better, but there was no golf this week. Wendy has been pruning the cedars in the backyard. I've been encouraging her to cut more off—she demurs. Wendy bought me a new whipper-snipper, so the edges can continue to be trimmed. The markets were buoyed by the Canadian and European central banks cutting their respective prime rates early in the week, but then the USA came in with blow-away jobs data, and investors turned to selling. Still, the strong USA economy allowed those three indices to turn in new all time records this week, while the TSX and I turned to the red, sigh! In hockey, the Oilers won game 6 over Dallas and advanced to the Stanley Cup final series which opened this evening in Florida with a loss. Vegas has picked Florida to win the Cup, so Oilers are facing their third straight series as underdogs—c'mon Oilers! They played okay, and I am not discouraged with one road loss! Football opened the regular season this week with Riders taking on the Elks in Edmonton. After last year's dismal season, it won't take much to show improvement, but we would like to be a contender—go Riders! They didn't have a great game today, and the O-line is still not creating running room, but, hey, they won! The Blue Jays are playing a bit better, but are still below .500, so they are not in contention for anything at this point. 

Erica writes, "This weekend is another episode in our Saskadventures. We are heading to the south west corner to see the Mysterious Rocks of Cypress Hills. Haaken is staying with us this month, so he is along for the ride. Our friends Tina and Guido, Marina and Lorne are with us. Eric finished his teaching gig at University of Lethbridge and just has to grade papers. I’m coming to the end of our busiest time at work. So, life is beginning to lighten up a bit. I joked the other day, that I finally had time to make a to-do list!"

Erin and Kristian are continuing through the process to see if he can qualify for the drug trial. He has to file reports regularly, and complete a number of tests and a lot of blood work at the hospital. We hope the trial goes well whether he's on the active side or the placebo side, and that we get one step closer to a solution to his long term eczema issues. We hope to have an answer on whether he's included in the trial by the end of the month. 

Travis and Joanna remain busy. We're all hoping to get away for a day trip to Grand Marais next week, so Wendy and Joanna have been consulting on that! Wendy has a business meeting one evening which is adding a complication to the mix. Andrew and Rosie would like to come along. We hope it all works out. The scheduled arrival of their new furniture failed, and they're now waiting until the end of the month for their new living room stuff. Travis got the new TV mounted on the living room wall, including some construction to hide the cords. We checked it out one evening—good work! 

And that's enough for this week! 

And what is so rare...?

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been beautiful and we have spent much time in the yard—wonderful! I harvested the first picking of rhubarb for the season; it is now in the freezer. I got out several times to practice golf, but no games this week—I do enjoy practicing! The yard is looking good. Lilacs are in bloom. All the perennials are developing nicely, and the dandelions are thriving! Our whipper-snipper has died, but we were able to borrow Trav's to clean up the lawn borders. This week, we're looking at the costs of driveway replacement, but as those bids came in, we've started thinking that maybe the furnace will be the end of renos for this year. The markets have been troubled again this week, but after the Trump convictions, we enjoyed the best day of gains of the entire year on Friday. I guess folks like being assured that the system sometimes takes down the big guys, too. The preseason has come to an end in football; we look forward to a better season from our beloved Roughriders—although that's a low bar after last year! Their first game is next Saturday. The Jays continue to flounder their way along in baseball with injuries adding to their woeful record. In hockey, my Oilers have taken a 3-2 lead in their series with Dallas. I hope they can finish it off tomorrow. In the East, the Rangers faced elimination tonight down in Florida, and that's the end of my faint hopes for them, sigh! 

Greg & Kiersten Wedding Party

Wedding Kiss

Erica writes, "This weekend, we are all together in Kenora, Ontario for Greg’s wedding. We met Kiersten over a year ago and she is a great match for Greg. Eric is performing the ceremony, and I am a witness. The event is out at Silver Birch Camp—it’s a beautiful site for a small wedding. The trip has brought back many memories. We drove around Kenora and Keewatin, revisiting old haunts. We hope to catch up with some more friends on Sunday at church." [Editorial note: KENORA was named in recognition of the founding communities of Keewatin, Norman and Rat Portage] 

Cat under the chair

Erin and Kristian are fully into Graduation planning. We're looking forward to taking part in that at the end of the month. Erin enjoys her patio-living area, and so do her cats! The garden boxes are ready to go again, with irrigation lines intact. 

Travis and Joanna keep busy with work and also with renovations inside and outside of their house. Today, Trav installed the cabling inside the wall for a clean-looking TV installation—nice. Next week, they expect to take shipment of their new couches. We enjoyed a pleasant evening on their deck with them and the dogs. Andrew and Rosie stopped by as well. 

And that's enough for this week.