More Old Friends

Relaxing by the fire, waiting for Sue and Lora to arrive.



Sue reading a story to Stuart and Mary



Lora and Lucas checking out pictures





Former members of the spinsters club

Old Friends

While Alan went to Saskatoon, I stayed at Brightsand and hung out with two old friends, Lora and Susie, and their kids. We usually get together once or twice a year (we call it the spinster club reunions - ask me about it some time). This year was special since both Lora and Susie turned 40, and we figured we would try it with kids! Susie has 4 children: Stuart, Annie, Mary and Sam. Lora has 1: Lucas.

Mental note: kids should be almost self sufficient before trying this yourself!

The weather was on the cool side, not one beach day! The weather pattern was to rain overnight starting at about 5pm, clear up to a beautiful blue sky in the early morning while the wind blew the grass dry. Dry enough to go outside at about noon as it clouded over again...

While some frustrations were occasionally evident, I really enjoyed hanging out with Susie, Lora and their kids. I got re-aquainted with Stuart and Annie and got to know Mary, Lucas and Sam. And I got to see my friends as Moms. It is amazing when friends turn out to be the types of Mom you always figured they would be.

Alan got back to the cabin Friday night, Saturday morning Lora and Susie packed up and headed home. Alan followed Susie home to pick up some good Matthews beef and I cleaned the cabin up. We headed out that afternoon.

Thanks PEVE for letting us use your cabin!

Saskatoon

The rain we drove through Monday was part of a horrible storm that produced 200mm of rain in an hour out here. Flooded basements, etc. Part of the Yellowhead Highway was flooded and down to one lane. The water eroded the roadbed and the highway buckled. It will take them a month to fix it.

Just read in the Star-Phoenix this morning, this is on pace to be the coldest August in Saskatoon ever. There were frost warnings all over the country last night.

Man! Who misses that flipping hot July?

So back in my hometown - what is that weird feeling? Not quite nostalgia, not quite nausea. Driving in and starting to see the familiar sights, you get flashbacks to strange places that you thought had long been purged. And then to go to those places one of two things happen, either the place is gone or it hasn't changed a bit.

But things are changing. Saskatoon is busy. Drove into a couple of traffic jams that don't quite match the Glenmore mess but are close. Do I want to move back here...?

More Sask

"Dead Weight Guy" lends a hand.

Brightsands Lake, Saskatchewan

Well, after swimming across Alberta we splashed down at Shar's bro's cabin. There was a terrific rainbow Monday night.



In good Saskatchewan fashion they put us to work right away. We had to bring our own tools, food, and house, of course.

Rain

Lloydminster - worst rain in years. Blah. I'm evolving gills.

Vegging in Vegerville