Summertime blooms displaying God's glory here in our front flower bed. There were eleven buds yet to open!



A weekend of fishing and hooking daddy into doing all of mommy's tasks :) while she celebrated her sister's birthday.


....then reptiles! Courageous but ready to have this one removed.

And even touching it! Yes mommy wore one too - they're really smooth...hence the sales of snake skin shoes, purses....


Celebrating Joan's birthday (guess what her favourite veggie is - I think it's the best excuse for eating salt and butter:)
We drove hours, then up a logging road and hiked partially down the mountainside to reach this oasis of hot springs. Great for soothing aches and pains of work, cherry picking....

Gideon felt it was a little hot!


Thankfully the river was available to cool off in.

Art History Camp

Meghan graciously offered the Art History Camp at our home while visiting with her family. James, Andrew and Peter enjoyed the time together which ended with an Art Exhibit for family members.
A sampling of Peter's works from the Greeks to Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Van Eyck, Michelangelo and Mondrian paintings.

Snow & Sasquatch in June

June came in with a flurry and disappeared with the Sasquatch know in these parts.
On June 10th Albert was 5 hours north in 17 degree sunshine! Yes that's snow on the mountain here.

Celebrating the 150th birthday of the province the Steam Engine arrived in Town with whistle and a drizzle.What a blessing from God to receive Jack and Marina in our home for a few days. God's ways are trustworthy always. "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it". Prov. 10:32.Junior officers assisting in the arrest of the Sasquatch attempting to disappear with...

...a case of beer!

Exterior renovations

The castle has seen some drastic, necessary and positive improvements during the past year.

The exterior renovations included removal of the awnings, parging the chimney, painting the stucco (thanks dad) and wood siding, restoring two rose bushes and adding another, expanding the front flower bed from 12" to a5' kidney shaped bed with a stepping stone pathway meandering beside it. The front door is often mistaken for a new wood door but is a steel door painted with Potter's Clay colour. We also have time to water the lawn. The porch will be completed in August -stay tuned.

At the rear, a new lower deck was added off the covered porch. Here are the contractors!






























A contractor from back home also helped us out.






In early July, we were able to enjoy our labours and new lounge furniture with our dear friends Michael and Deani and their children (that's Gideon not Kenton:)

Soccer

Peter's Youth Soccer team mates.

Sir Gideon charmed the soccer coaches during his week long soccer camp in June.Thick in the action!


Knight Peter joined the Italian forces for the final game at his Soccer Camp. Thanks to Vince's tips in years past he did well.Peter's team mates and coaches who kept saying "Good job, mate!"

White Sturgeon Release

White Sturgeon Fish release into Kootenay River, April28th. The fish were marked with a laser chip, then registered prior to release. Peter and Gideon received a card to be able to track the fish and its growth in future years.
Peter releasing his white sturgeon.

Great to be Eight!

The morning of the birthday party, we awoke to snow! Military weaponry from his brother quickly changed the focus before breakfast.

Excitement pre-party is evident.

The race car was the requested birthday cake and mom raced through this creation with help from Playmobil! (no sleep lost over this creation:)

Birthday celebration with (L to R) Noah, mom, Jake, Marcus, Peter, Briggs, Gideon

Stress free entertainment - Bowling!
Cheered on by his friends and family. On Peter's birthday, he was delighted to receive many gifts to his liking. "A hundred thank you's for the rollerblades" was heard. (where's the tape recorder!) The two biographies (Jim Elliot and William Wilberforce) have already been read, but we haven't replaced the batteries on the remote control car yet :) Plans are underway for 'The Drawing Studio".