Turning up the Heat!

Another hot week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the centre of the prairies. We began the week with mid-twenties, but the thermometer was gradually turned higher each day and we ended the week at 32°. I got out for a round of golf with Kristian and Dale on Monday. Kristian is continuing to grow his game, and he outdrove me at least three times—much to his delight! Of course, I'm not hitting as far, but I might never do that again, while his golf lays mostly in front of him. I scored +16 which seems to be about the norm for me in my comeback. Otherwise, as the heat turned up, we retreated to indoor work. Wendy is making slow progress on her paint preparations. Kristian and I have the cat tree ready to move indoors, but that has to wait until Wendy completes the painting. The new closet area is taking shape with shelves and a towel-hook bar. Now, I need to tackle rounded corner bead for the first time—hello, Mr. YouTube! The markets continued to roar forward at the start of the week, but faltered badly for the final three market days—c'mon guys! MLB was off most of the week for the All-Star break, but Jays managed to add to their winless streak all the same—sigh! The Riders hosted the Bombers last night, and came away with a convincing win—yay Riders! Today, we joined with the family and friends of Russell Knutson to celebrate his life. 

Eric wrote: "This week we played host to Liam and Mercedes. The week started with Erica’s band playing two sets. Liam and Mercedes arrived later that day. We have been educating Mercedes on Harry Potter, watching all eight movies. We attended a Rattlers game where we won upgrades and Liam and Mercedes watched the game courtside. The court action came right at them one time.

On Saturday, we are seeing the crooked trees and the Cochin lighthouse. Sunday, we are providing the music for church together, and Liam is presenting his RU plans for the church to consider. We have started making Christmas plans with Greg & Kiersten. Haaken is hopefully doing all right this week."

They bought new kayaks—now they need a storage shed! 

Erin and Kristian continue their hosting assignment. This week we made a special occasion Fuddruckers lunch meeting—that was a blast from the past. Erin, Wendy and I had taco salads. Kristian suffered another appointment in his drug trial. There were about ten blood samples taken, then he got his injection. He has been out driving most days, and ended the last tour with a successful parallel parking test! He now has an appointment for this driving test—Aug 15th. Erin got her first picking of strawberries today. 

Travis and Joanna got another part of their new living room furniture.

It appears that when the new furnishings are all installed they may have solved their flooring needs as well! At least the boys seem to approve! 

And that's enough for this week. 

A Hot Week!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Wascana in the centre of the prairies. The weather has turned from summer-like to scorching! I got out for a round of golf with Garnet on Wednesday, but in the heat, we opted for a cart. The game went okay, and the experience was great, especially as we retired to their place in Southey for supper afterwards. Kristian and I got out to the driving range again today as we have a tee-time booked for Monday. Kristian, Wendy and I have been working on the projects, visiting friends and entertaining Taylor cousins who arrived from BC. We suffered another loss this week as an old friend, Russell Knutson, succumbed to the most recent health assault on Friday. He has been in hospital care for the last month or so, but was unable to rally out of it. We are grateful that we got a chance to visit with him these last weeks.

VW Coffee Mugs

Wendy and I posed for Erin's new advertising program courtesy of the lovely YETI coffee cups she got us for our anniversary—thanks! The markets are just flying, so I had a good month there this week! DOW settled over 40K for the first time ever! The Jays continue their struggle, and it appears they will be selling players later this month, sigh! The Riders played a road game in BC in a battle of first place clubs. We're still limited to our backup QB. They put up a good fight, but it turned into their first loss of the season. 

Erica writes, "Eric and I headed to The Big Smoke, aka Toronto, for a friend’s wedding. It is our first full Indian wedding ceremony and it was quite the event. We enjoyed the cultural immersion without the heat of India. The reception was especially fun, with all the family members getting their own introduction and cheer from the crowd. The bridal couple got the addition of towel waving and fireworks. Eric and I also got the chance to do an Indian dance in 360 degrees. What fun! We will get back on Sunday and Liam will be joining us for a visit on Monday. I’ve also been getting ready for a gig with my band, Mystery Train, at Mr Mikes on July 15th." 

Erin and Kristian continue to host us—thanks! The projects are slowly moving forward. Wendy is applying the mud to wall imperfections in the downstairs.

Kristian cut open the wall

Kristian cut out the gyproc, and I am building a storage closet in the hallway. The cat tree is mostly assembled, but a lot of details remain to be added in the form of platforms, scratching rope, and toys. We have also decided to add cardboard scratching surface to the foundation box. Kristian drives me everywhere, and is doing well. I'm expecting him to take his first test soon. Erin continues to acclimate to her new role and assignment—she's doing well, also. 

Gardening in planters

Wendy picked up plants, Erin got them planted, and I got the drip irrigation up and running once again.

Travis and Joanna are managing in the not so torrid temperatures of Thunder Bay. Along with their work, they get out for walks with the boys, and are gradually adjusting to life without Minnie. We text and chat regularly, but it's not the same. 

Anyway, that's it for this week. 

Moving Forward!

Moving along into our 55th year!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown—but we're not there! We are now ensconced at Erin's place on the shore of Lake Wascana in the centre of the prairies. We have begun work on her projects. Dave and I cut the Cat Tree to size, so it's as ready as possible for installation once the painting is done. Kristian and I got out for some golf practice today, and he also drove me around town for driving practice, and I think he's ready to try the test. At the very least, it will give him a more directed practice routine. On Wednesday evening, Tom set up a pair Zoom conferences so we could commiserate and share stories about our departed brother, Verner—thanks Tom! And thanks to my siblings and connections for sharing in that time. On Thursday, Wendy and I completed 54 years of marriage—it has been quite a ride! We celebrated the occasion with work on the Cat Tree, trimming the hedges at 55 Laird, and an evening meal out in a quiet restaurant—lovely! The markets had a shortened week with holidays both sides of the border, but we made good progress all the same. The Riders continued their winning ways as the back-up QB started and won his first game. Elsewhere the Jays continued their losing ways—sigh! 

Erica writes, "The beginning of the week brought an unexpected visitor. Aura’s WestJet flight was cancelled so we had the opportunity to visit a bit longer until her new flight on Air Canada took her home on Tuesday. We also got to enjoy a nice lunch at Denny’s before she left.  Then, on Wednesday, Eric took his niece Marina to the doctor who confirmed that she had broken her ankle a few weeks ago—youch!  Andrew returned this weekend to return Marina’s vehicle and we got in some more visiting. It was also very warm so we tried to enjoy the deck, but ended up back in the air conditioned house. On Friday, I enjoyed a day at the 15th green. MNP sponsored a hole at the Mont St Joseph gold classic and we gave out candy and golf balls to the teams as they came through. That’s not too bad a way to spend a day at work! Eric has been contracted to teach at the university of Saskatchewan again this fall. And this coming week we will make a quick trip to Ontario for a friend’s wedding. Liam is heading up to Saskatoon tomorrow to visit Gramma Bailey. Haaken got locked in his room and had to escape through the window. The door is now fixed. And Greg and Kiersten tested out their wedding gift from us!" 

Erin and Kristian are hosting us royally. Kristian has taken the role of my hired man and chauffeur! Wendy is very busy with paint preparations, and finding out there is a lot of work to do. We need to reorganize the family room so we can more easily do the patching. Tonight, we enjoyed a wonderful meal of chicken and veggie kabobs. 

Travis and Joanna observed the two weeks since Minnie's passing as they continue to grieve the loss of their little dog. Gemma & Jonas were home for a while, but their strategy of booking WestJet and waiting for the inevitable cancellation did not work out and they're now back in Vancouver. 

And that's about it for this week. 

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. 

Rehab Complete!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been variable with a big rain all day on Wednesday dumping about 30 mm on us. That should help our local streams, rivers and lakes which are running low after the meagre winter snowfall. Otherwise the days have been mostly sunny, but Thursday and Friday were cool. I got out for golf on Tuesday, and that went okay. I had 2 pars and 7 bogies. I had two drives over 200, with my best at 223. And better news, I felt no worse for wear the next day. I have spent most of my spare time this week working on Travis's lawnmower. It has been refusing to begin the new season after he ended last year on a stump. Anyway, I figured the first problem would be timing, and an inspection of the flywheel confirmed that. Once I got that reset, it would fire and run for a few seconds, but then die. I ended up cleaning the carb three times before becoming convinced the fuel supply was the second issue! So, fresh non-ethanol fuel, and one more carb cleaning et voilà, we have it back in operation. I had my final physio session on Friday, and I've been discharged on my own recognizance. Our choral practices are over for the summer, but Wendy continues with her Sweet Adelines practices and business. The markets have been mixed all week, but continue to push to new record highs on the strength of the USA economy—thanks Uncle Joe! The Blue Jays continue to struggle and there are rumblings of players being traded! C'mon Jays! Let's play ball! In the NHL playoffs, my Oilers managed to eke out a game seven win and move on to the next round. They're playing Dallas this round and are holding their own despite Dallas being favoured to win it. In the East, the Rangers are in quite a battle with the favoured Florida team. I don't like the Panther style of hockey, so I'm cheering for the Rangers and hoping for the upset there as well. 

Erica writes, "It’s the Prince Albert Rotary’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser this weekend. So I’m busy with setting up, last minute duties, and attending the event. Liam and his girlfriend Mercedes is coming up for the event. It will be a fun evening! Eric has finished his teaching duties with the University of Lethbridge and is now taking a short course on play therapy. It’s almost like he enjoys learning! Greg is doing better, which is good because his wedding is next weekend! We will be picking up Haaken and Liam and driving out to Kenora for the celebration."

Erin and Kristian are mostly in regular activities this week. They did have one special night out for a film by the Deaf Crows Collective. They got to visit with a lot of his teachers from over the years. Then, on Thursday night, Kristian had bowling with the Glen Elm youth group—the windup activity for the school year. 

Travis and Joanna remain busy with their work. The renos are mostly complete and some of the new furnishings are in place. They are still waiting on the arrival of a new sofa set. We celebrated the May Long weekend at their place with a barbecue supper and a few games of Fast Track on Monday evening. This also allowed us to break in their new dining set. 

And that's about it for this week. 

May Long!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has remained nice with several rain showers and a couple of thunderstorms to spice things up. I've managed some golf practice and am hoping to get my other prescribed round in this weekend. My physio appointment is next Thursday, so I have some time left to get it played. In the meantime, I've puttered away at some projects in the shop and yard. I'm planning to rebuild the side fence this summer and probably cut it down a bit since we no longer have a pool. The rhubarb is ready for the first picking of the season. Wendy has been busy in the flower beds, and they're looking good as the peonies, hostas, day lilies, bleeding hearts, irises, and some shrubbery are developing. She is gradually improving with her cough/cold. This week, she is taking allergy relief pills as well which seems to be giving some benefit. The markets ran nicely this week as the USA inflation data came in better than expected. All USA indices and the TSX are in record high territory, thus I am already at my monthly quota. Can I hang on?! The Blue Jays continue to struggle as the season is almost one fourth complete. The pitching is generally good, but the batting has been very sporadic. Each game seems to hang on whether they can find a new way to lose! The second round of the NHL playoffs is nearly completed. As I predicted, the Rangers and Panthers advanced to the Eastern finals. In the West, my picks are not doing so well. The Stars knocked off Colorado to advance, and my Oilers are struggling mightily against the Canucks! They'll be playing game 7, in Vancouver, on Monday. Anyway, I'm picking Rangers versus either Oilers or Canucks in the Cup final series. 

Erica writes, "It was another busy week. Eric is teaching an online class for the University of Lethbridge. That keeps him busy Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I am on the Lobsterfest organizing committee for Rotary and we are a week away, so that keeps me busy, on top of busy season at work. So, in case you didn’t catch it, it’s busy. And it’s good. Eric’s good friend and brother from another mother, Mike Koops stopped by on Friday. We had a late night of visiting. He’s heading up to hike to Grey Owl’s cabin this weekend. Our former pastor and good friend Mike Engbers passed through on Thursday with his family. Eric got to catch up with him for breakfast on Friday morning. Greg was flown to Thunder Bay on Tuesday for some tests on his heart. They discovered reduced flow and put in a stent. Then, they flew him back to Kenora. It boggles my mind that was all done in one day. He’s home now and feeling better. It’s only two weeks until his wedding! Liam and Haaken appear to be doing fine. Liam is planning for another year at Briercrest and working with RU. He is also considering a future mission trip. We are praying for guidance and direction for him." 

Erin and Kristian are enjoying the week in Regina while preparing Kristian to take part in an experimental treatment study for his skin issues. Of course, he won't know if he's in the active drug part, or the placebo, but we're hoping the drug proves successful and he can benefit in the long run at least. Erin is thriving in her new assignment at VW/Audi; her Jays? Not so much!! Erin seems to have picked up a flu this week, so she's planning a quiet long weekend. The Egg has been relocated to the patio, so she can veg back there! 

Travis and Joanna are busy with work and renovations. Their lawnmower has suffered a mishap, so it's over here now. He hit a stump, so as expected, the timing was messed up. I got the flywheel back in place, so it will run, but now it seems to be lacking lubrication, so it runs a few seconds and then stalls. It's a 4-stroke, so I'm wondering whether something is messed up on the oil delivery system. Right now, I've added oil to the gasoline, and it runs as a 2-stroke, but still seems to get too hot. 

And that's enough for this week. 

Golf!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has remained beautiful and we have been out regularly on our bikes, and to the golf course. I walked my first 9-hole game today—my back got tired, but functioned as expected and without pain. That's quite an improvement from last year when the best I managed was three holes! Wendy is back from her competition in Rochester MN. Here's a link that may let you see their performance there. 

Sounds of Superior - 2024

She has been suffering a Spring cold this week, and has also suffered the Buckley's Mixture antidote! It was another big week in music for us as Silver Sound had our concert last night. It went well, and our guest soloist was spectacular. I have managed a bit more work in the shop, and have another project nearing the finish line. The markets flipped back to the green side this month, and that has carried us to some nice gains. The NHL playoffs continue. Stars advanced as I predicted, so just Winnipeg let me down in Round 1. Now, I have Oilers, AVs, Rangers and Panthers in Round 2, so we'll see how that plays out. 

Erica writes: "I’ve spent half the week trying to get better and the other half muddling through a Spring cold. Fun times—not! Eric has been learning some chords and songs on the mandolin. Pretty soon we will need to schedule a hootenanny at 55 Laird if Uncle Dave will host us. We also got word that Greg is in the hospital. Some tests indicate heart trouble and others indicate no such thing. So, we wait for more tests to be held in Thunder Bay. We pray that he is okay. No word from Liam or Haaken this week. Eric is hoping his Canucks get through this next round of the playoffs, however if the sportscasters (and my dad) are to be believed, the Oilers are the heavy favourites!" 

Erin and Kristian are enjoying the change of seasons in Regina. While Kristian responded well in recovery from the staph infection of a couple of weeks ago, his longer term skin issues remain, so they are considering taking part in an experimental regime targeted on that issue. Erin had her first solo monthend at VW/Audi; it was a big learning experience, but she's feeling great about how it went. 

Travis and Joanna are back to their usual work protocols, but are also remaining quite busy. They are in the process of replacing some furniture, and while some of the pieces have vacated, they are taking advantage of the clearance to do some repainting. 

And that's enough for this week. 

May the Fourth Be With You!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. It has been a busy week and with the showery weather I only got over to the range twice. I had physiotherapy on Monday; he was well-pleased with my progress and prescribed a few trips to the driving range, and two rounds of golf before my next appointment—gotta love that! Wendy has been taking care of Minnie while Travis & Joanna are away. She is also very busy with Sweet Adelines chorus practices and preparation as they headed south on Thursday for a competition and performance in Rochester MN. I expect her back on Sunday evening. They won the trophy in their division again this year! 

with the Trophy! 

We are also both in final rehearsals for our Silver Sound concert scheduled for next Friday evening. I have managed a bit of project work in the shop this week. The lawns are ready for their first cut; the rhubarb and other perennials are developing nicely. The markets closed off a losing month of April, but have begun May with nice green days. USA jobs data was weaker than expected so investors have raised their expectations of a rate cut, and increased the equity buying. The first round of NHL playoffs is nearing completion, with just one series remaining to be decided. I have only lost one of my first round picks so far. I hope the Stars can win their game 7 tomorrow. It's time to consider the four second-round series. I'm seeing my Oilers advancing again to face the AVs in the Western final. I'm looking for Panthers and Rangers to move on to the Eastern final. The Blue Jays are not flying well, now one month into the baseball season. Starting pitching is going well, but the bullpen and the hitting are failing us. 

Happy Birthday, Eric!

Erica writes, "Eric’s appointment on Monday provided us with a plan for his eye. He will get a treatment with vitamin D to harden the lens; then, they will do lasik to shave down the cone to reshape the eye. After all that he will need to get a new prescription for his glasses. I don’t know why they can’t just fix that at the same time. We followed up the appointment with a visit to the music store and Eric picked up another instrument for his birthday gift—a mandolin. I’m fighting a cold."

Erin and Kristian returned from Florida on the weekend, and got back into their Regina routines. Kristian reports that his infection is now behind him and that he's doing well. He has an appointment with the dermatologist next week to consider a new drug trial for his chronic skin problems. 

Travis and Joanna spent the week in Tampa Bay. They enjoyed this week with Lorraine and Pamela, and have now returned to Toronto. We expect them back tomorrow evening. They sold their dining room set this week; Max and I assisted by dismantling it and helping the new owner load it up. 

And that's about it for this week. 

Travelling!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. We spent most of the week down at Minneapolis at a Jesus Collective conference. We drove down there on Tuesday and returned this afternoon. The days were very busy, too busy for us, and we were certainly tired by the end of each day, and as we returned home. We travelled with our friends Steve & Rhonda from our church here; it was great to spend the time with them. With our return this afternoon, Wendy has picked up Minnie; we plan to spend the next week hosting her as Travis and Joanna continue their vacation in Tampa Bay. The markets have continued in turmoil between issues of inflation, a booming USA economy and the possibility of rate cuts. Fortunately, I have been able to achieve some gains, but the month as a whole projects to be a loser as we only have two market days left. In the world of sports the NHL playoffs have begun in earnest and World Curling events have completed. Our senior men and women both secured gold medals, but our mixed doubles team advanced to the playoff round, but failed to secure a medal. Some of the hockey playoffs have not proceeded as I hoped or expected. The Oilers are doing well, but the Leafs are in trouble against Boston. Of course, my Leaf pick was more hope than expectation, but some of my real picks are also struggling—looking at you Jets and Stars! 

Eric & Erica experienced a surprising and unwelcome return to wintry weather. Of course, the slow-release moisture is welcomed for the forests and fields. Erica writes, "It’s been another busy week at work, but this weekend, we get to have a bit of fun. Saturday is the Doctors' Gala and we get to go to represent MNP. Sunday is Eric’s birthday and we have planned an afternoon and evening of fun in Saskatoon. Liam had been travelling with RU through Alberta, BC, and the northwest US. They had an issue with their van at the first stop and thought they might have to cancel the rest of the trip. But donations came in and a mechanic happened to be on hand with a temporary fix that will get them through the rest of their trip until they can replace the transmission at home—God-incidence perhaps? Nothing to add from Greg and Haaken."

The Golfers!

Erin and Kristian enjoyed the week in Tampa Bay with Travis and Joanna. They returned to Canada this morning and to Regina this evening. 

Day/Week ending in Tampa

Travis and Joanna enjoyed hosting them at the time-share in Tampa, and are now embarking on a second week there with more family in attendance. 

And that's about it for this week. 

Travellers!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been somewhat cooler, but we've still managed to get out for our walks and bike rides. Spring construction projects in the area sometimes provide the extra impetus to wander over and supervise! This week, we're watching a neighbour's installation of a recycled asphalt driveway. We had not heard of that before, but with the reduced cost both to the environment and the pocketbook, we're interested in seeing how it turns out! Our own driveway is deteriorating over time with the uneven support of the muskeg under it, so we're thinking it will need repair or replacement some year soon. Our big project this year is the replacement of the furnace, so I've been collecting bids for that job.

Focaccia

I made my first batch of focaccia bread this week following Joanna's recipe—it turned out great, but it stuck to the pan a bit. Modified plans are in place for my next try!

Florida Travellers

Travis and Joanna, along with Erin and Kristian are off to Florida today. They met up in Toronto and arrived in Tampa Bay this afternoon. We have their cars in our driveway, and are caring for one dog (Minnie) for part of the time they're away. I have my outside lights working as planned on an automatic schedule matched with sunset times here. Wendy is still wanting an outlet added to the closet by the side entry—I have it planned! My back is doing great, I work my golf swing each day and have raised my walking/cycling goal to 20 km per week. I found the weight/twist exercises to raise some aches and discomfort, so I've reduced that until I meet with the physiotherapist next week. Wendy keeps very busy with her choral work, and we also have the Silver Sound choir rehearsals as we prepare for our Spring Concert on May 10th. The markets were dismal again this week with the USA economy leading the world. This strengthens the USA dollar which serves as a bit of a brake on the economy, but also lessens the likelihood of rate cuts—we market-players want rate cuts! The regular season in the NHL has come to an end, and sadly, the Penguins fell one game short of making the playoffs. Leafs enter their series against Boston with a lot of trepidation! My Oilers take on Los Angeles in their first round series. I'm sticking with the favourites in most series, but since there always seems to be an upset—why can't it be on behalf of the longsuffering Leaf fans?! So, that's my set: Canes, Leafs, Panthers, Rangers in the east. Jets, Oilers, Canucks, Stars in the west. The Blue Jays are doing just okay in the early season action of baseball. Starting pitching is looking good, hitting is not meeting my expectations! The Players' Championship ended on Sunday with Tirinzoni and Gushue winning the respective sides. Now, curling is into the off-season and already we're seeing some drama as one of the top teams in the world (#4-Bottcher) fired their skip and replaced him with Brad Jacobs from the #11 team! There are more brooms to fall on this story! 

Erica writes, "We received a large dump of snow this week and are now looking forward to second spring. We are hoping to make some progress on a garage. We have a quote and are waiting for a second. Other than that, it’s just been a busy week."

Erin and Kristian had a difficult week as Kristian's skin issues erupted and he needed a trip to Emergency followed up by a visit with his skin specialist. The new meds worked effectively, and his symptoms improved quickly. They were able to head out for a week in Florida beginning today. 

Travis has been enjoying extra Bucket Decal orders from Lacrosse an Baseball teams. This is good, but it was a bit of extra pressure getting things out the door so they were ready to take two weeks vacation in Florida. 

And that's enough for this week! 

Beautiful Weather!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. The weather has been great, and we've been getting out regularly for bike rides. I've also been working on my exercises and my golf swing. The driving ranges and some golf courses have opened here, but I'm not quite ready for that. I had another meeting with my physiotherapist this week, and he has raised my lift limit to 10 kg, and placed no other restrictions on my activity. I have been working on electrical improvements in the house and garage. Wendy is very busy with chorus management for the Sweet Adelines as they have an international competition coming up in Rochester MN. The major USA jobs production met with an increase in inflation this week, and that combined to convince investors that rate cuts were not in the offing, and may not happen this year at all. This led to a massive sell-off in the markets and all indices are in the red for the first half of this month. The NHL is down to the last few regular season games. My Oilers are in a battle for first place in their division but with the loss to the first place Canucks tonight that's likely over. Leafs are playing out the string as they have their playoff position pretty much locked in. Pens are in a battle to make the playoffs and are currently sitting in the final spot. My main attention this week has been on the Players Championship being played in Toronto, involving the top 12 teams in the world on both the men's and women's sides. My teams, #10-Kevin Koe and #7-Kerri Einarson, both failed to qualify for the playoff round, but I'm enjoying some great curling all the same. It'll be #2-Silvana Tirinzoni vs #9-Isabella Wranå in the women's final. #4-Brad Gushue plays #1-Joel Retornaz in the men's final. 

With the arrival of Spring, Eric and Erica are reawakening work on the development of the back yard. They would like to have a storage shed installed, so they are checking on costs for that. We will follow any progress with interest as the city has shown great reluctance to allow any improvements back there. Erica is pleased to report that Eric has returned from his Family Therapists' conference. It was a very positive learning experience last weekend and through the week. After fulfilling some other requirements, he will be able to add a new credential to his lengthy list! 

Kristian has been having only half days at school, so we're glad to see the government back to the negotiation table, and a return of his support worker in the afternoons. Yesterday, Kristian had a flare-up of some skin issues on his arms, so Erin has taken him to emergency to see if he can get some relief. They felt it was just some further irritation from his eczema, and advised the use of lotions. We hope they are correct! 

Travis keeps busy with the steady work on Bucket Decals orders.

Here's one he's fulfilling for a Florida team call the Iguanas! Gives you an idea of the kind of work he does with that aspect of his business. Joanna is busy with work, and she produced another bread recipe this week as well. Last week, we enjoyed the focaccia bread she made for our Easter feast. 

And that's enough for this week. 

Spring has Returned!

The Gathering!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my home town. The wintry weather of last week has given way to sunshine and warm weather so the snow has disappeared once again. We've been enjoying getting out for bike rides as the trails have dried up again. Wendy prepared a roast turkey with all the trimmings for our Easter Feast, but that was delayed until Travis recovered from his bout with Covid. Our regular schedules were revised by Easter Monday, so Wendy's choir practice was on Wednesday evening, and then we both had choir practice on Thursday morning. It's only a month until our Spring Concert, so rehearsals are taking on an extra urgency, but we're also having a lot of fun with it. I had another physio appointment on Tuesday, and he was well-pleased with my development. He increased my workouts, and set the next follow-up as three weeks ahead. I am pretty much restriction-free except for lifting heavy stuff. It is very encouraging. The markets were not so encouraging as strong economic data in the USA led some FED speakers to muse about the possibility of no rate cuts this year! However, when the USA jobs came in with a big beat, investors could no longer deny the reality of economic strength and they bought strongly to end the week—thanks Uncle Joe. Our jobs data was dismal—c'mon Justin, get things going! At least with our economic circumstances, we should get a rate cut! The world of sports remains busy this time of year. MLB has begun their regular season. Jays started on the road and are doing okay at about .500, but with a noticeable lack of hitting. NHL is down to the final handful of games in the regular season. Leafs and Oilers have nailed down playoff spots, and Penguins are refusing to die—they're tied for the final playoff spot themselves! In World Curling, the Gushue team had a great week, and have advanced to the Gold medal game tomorrow against Sweden's Edin. 

Turkey ready for the oven!

Erica writes, "We are into busy season, so longer days are the norm. Eric finished teaching his class at the University of Saskatchewan, and only has the exam left. This weekend, he is in Kelowna speaking at the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy AGM and conference and next week he is in Saskatoon getting trained on Eye Movement Desensitization. I’m batching it for the week, so today I got a large pizza and that should last me for awhile. I’m also going to try to get taxes done while he’s gone. On Monday, Haaken and I have a meeting with Community Living British Columbia."

Erin and Kristian are welcoming Spring to Regina. Kristian had the week off school due to Easter holidays, and reports staying up too late, and sleeping in! However, he did keep up with his chores, so all was not lost. He had a dermatologist's appointment, and is being recommended for a new drug therapy that may (hopefully will) alleviate his skin issues. Erin had her first month-end at Volkswagen which was a good learning session. She also helped back at Toyota as her replacement works through month-end there. 

Travis has been recovering from Covid most of the week. He finally tested clear on Wednesday, and we enjoyed having a belated Easter feast with them this evening. Andrew, Rosie and Max joined in as well. Trav is celebrating the resurgence of his Penguins into the playoff race—another Peng-Win! Joanna has had a busy week with her sick boy at home along with her usual duties. It was good to see them all this evening. 

And that's enough for this week. 

He is Risen, Indeed!

Another week has passed on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. March appears to be exiting like a lamb just as it entered some weeks ago. However, the first few days of this week were far from lamb-like! A Colorado low moved through the region in leisurely fashion, unleashing high winds and a great deal of snow upon our previously dry landscape. I left for Winnipeg on Monday morning, so I missed out on some of the storm, but I surveyed the changed circumstances on the highway there and back, and on our driveway and lawns when I got back on Wednesday evening. We are glad to have the snow for the forests and lakes here in northern Ontario. Wendy was not nearly so glad to have the snow on our driveway! She cleared it before we left on Monday, and then multiple times more before we returned to a clean driveway on Wednesday. She even phoned to get instructions on operating the snowblower! Travis had previously got us tickets to see Connor McDavid in Minnesota when the Oilers played the Wild, but Connor was injured and did not play that game, so, for Christmas, he bought tickets to the Oilers game in Winnipeg which took place on Tuesday. We drove up through the storm on Monday, breaking out of the snowy conditions near Dryden. It was snowy all the way on Wednesday as we returned home. We were hosted graciously during our sojourn by Tom & Mariette, even though Mariette has not been feeling well for the last week or so! Thanks folks!

Connor McDavid

Connor was there this time, and played great in the Oiler win! Thanks Travis for this memory! It was another good week in the markets to close off a great month and great first quarter of the year. In the world of sports, Rachel Homan completed the World Championships with the gold medal for Canada. Today, the Men's World Championships began with Brad Gushue representing us; he is one of the favourites. In the NHL, the Oilers and Leafs are doing well, as both are on winning streaks, but it may be too late for the Pens. March Madness continues with the usual wild games, upsets and thrilling finishes. I have transferred my cheering since the Jayhawks lost out, and I am now aligned behind UConn. 

Erica writes, "It has been a busy week with work and evening meetings. We are glad for the long weekend. Eric and I both had doctor appointments. I got the prescription to get a pneumatic pump! Eric has been informed he is officially old. He has arthritis in his hand and gout in his toe, adding in his eye problems and I am thinking I should send him in for some warranty work. Today, I ran out to get last minute groceries for Easter Dinner—potatoes and yams, and experienced an interesting pop in my calf muscle. A quick call to Dr. Erin and we have tentatively diagnosed it as a minor tear. I’m resting it and letting it experience frozen riced cauliflower. Haaken has an appointment with BC Community Living in a week. We hope that the programming now includes support for higher level job opportunities. There is nothing to add from Liam or Greg."

Erin and Kristian survived a snowstorm in Regina as well, although it was a different system than the one that hit us. Kristian has received notification about graduation, so he's getting ready for that. Erin is enjoying her new work at VW; she's currently moving into her first month end there, so that's a bit extra on the learning curve. She had a flat on her RAV4, so that was another hassle, HOWEVER, everything takes a back seat because the Baseball Season has begun, and her beloved Jays are on TV! 

Joanna has been busy at work all week while Travis and I were gallivanting to Winnipeg. Travis fell ill after we got back, and a test yesterday revealed that he has covid. We don't have a very good idea where he may have contracted it. Wendy and I tested today and were relieved with a negative test. It's still too early to know for sure, so we'll continue to monitor the situation. And, we're hoping to get together for an Easter feast at some point over the next week! 

And that's enough for this week! 

Spring!

Another week has passed and Spring has officially arrived on the shore of Lake Superior in my hometown. However, the weather has taken a turn for the worse, and we haven't felt comfortable making bike rides for most of this week! Now, they're threatening us with snow! I have continued with my exercise program and am able to complete that without discomfort. I'm considering exchanging my resistance band for a higher rating. We enjoy our choir rehearsals with Silver Sound, and Wendy keeps very busy with the management of the Sweet Adelines group.

The doubly lucky lady!

This week, the children conspired to provide her a new iPad for her birthday and Mother's Day. It has considerably more room for her photo collection! I have puttered around a bit with some electrical projects in the house. I am in the midst of exchanging and programming some switches to manage the outdoor lights. It is not going according to plan as the first switch is not responding as promised! I am in communication with the manufacturer, and they are even able to find my switch on-line, but they can't get it to perform either! We are working our way through their procedures to try to get it working, or at least to determine what is wrong, and whether they should be replacing it! The markets were upbeat this week, and the month is going well for me. The FED announced that, yes, indeed, they are looking to make three rate cuts this year, and the Swiss surprised the markets by actually making a rate cut! The ever elusive soft landing is starting to find believers. My sporting world has focused all week on the Women's World championships. Our team, Homan, has played great and secured first place in the standings as they move into the playoffs. They played Korea, this evening, in the semi-final, and have moved on to the medal game tomorrow. March Madness erupted on Thursday, with the first round games featuring their plague of upsets. Fortunately, my #4-Jayhawks survived and moved to the round of 32 today, but that was the end of the line. The gutsy play, the upsets, the surges of momentum combine to make this a special feature of the sporting calendar for me. In hockey, my Oilers continue to thrive. The Leafs are doing well, also, while the Pens are nearing elimination from playoff contention. 

Erica has been ill for part of the week, but is starting to feel better now. Eric is consulting over his eye issues and also about gout! I told you this getting old is a challenging enterprise! Other than that, life and work continues much as per usual. Erica greatly enjoyed the celebrations surrounding her 50th Birthday, and acknowledged it officially on Monday. 

Kristian had another day off school during the week as the Teachers Federation struggles to get the government to the bargaining table. He's suffering from a headache this weekend, and he's not even old, yet! Erin is working and learning at Volkswagen. This week, the lady she is replacing was away, so she got to work through things on her own, which was very helpful—it's going well. 

Travis make a quick trip to Toronto to take in another AEW event. I did check out a bit of the video, but didn't find him in the crowd or the ring! Joanna continues with work as per usual. They came over for supper and FastTrack on Tuesday night—as they say fun and games! Travis and I are finalizing our plans for a trip to Winnipeg next week to see the Oilers play the Jets. 

And that's about enough for this week.