Thanksgiving 2008

Chris and Julaine.

Me and my bestest bud, nephew Jon!

Ashley & Sarah had lots of good laughs & time to catch up on things.

Sometimes a picture is just too cute for words!!

My niece, Kendra, with her doll. Cherubic cheeks :-)

Chris, Rod, my dad & Ken enjoying an awesome meal. At least 4 different pies, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, & a variety of salads. Mmmm. Makes me hungry just thinking about it!

For Thanksgiving we went to my brother Ken's house. As usual he and his wife went all out and decorated their garage for the occasion. There was 38 of us this year, and of course lots and lots of food. We all made a 'Memory' or 'Thankful' picture page to put on the wall, and then into a book.

Arena Cross November 2008

Well, Arena Cross is done again. Maybe life will get back to normal now...if that's possible around here! After two weekends, and 5 guys riding/racing we are greatful to say there were no injuries. Some bumps and sore muscles and maybe wounded pride, but no broken bones or stitches. Dustin placed 5th on the 15th. Nephew Dan placed 3rd a time or two, Tom took 1st in one race, and I think Mike also placed in the top 5.
Friday the 14th I did the Mom thing and took pictures instead. Saturday the 15th I didn't even show up! Shame, huh? But we had an anniversary party to go to in the afternoon and I had to catch up at home. Unfortunately I need to spend more time studying my camera to figure out the settings for action shots combined with a speed flash. I was very disappointed with my pictures, but I'll post some anyway.

And The Wall Came Tumbling Down!

I woke up to a clear blue sky this morning. Well, ok..when I got up the first time it was pretty dark outside. 4:38 a.m. and Anthony Westeringh was at the door to pick up Joel & the camper. They wanted to get a VERY early start as they had to get through Vancouver before rush hour and all the way up to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. This week they are working way out at Bowen Island. I'm embarassed to say I'm not really sure where that is. But they were unable to find a motel out there so they took the camper. The job? I think I heard them mention something about hand-framing a roof on a very large house. Eric from Epic Truss had asked Anthony if they could do it as this home owner was unable to find anyone else. Anthony said it worked great as they have a week of 'in-between-time' as they wait for another crew to do their thing at Muxlow's. (Two miles from here, where they've been building a couple barns.)

Speaking of those barns, last week Monday Joel called and said 'Mom, if you have a minute...grab your camera and come over here. We just lost a wall...8' high by 340' long!'

Another crew had set up the walls. The concrete truck came, set his jacks down to brace up the truck to extend his boom and with the vibration of that and the pressure from the jacks on the ground near the wall bracing....the wall collapsed in dominoe style! The walls were being pumped full of concrete at the time and Joel & Anthony were standing on the wall when it started to buckle. Fortunately they were able to jump clear! But what a mess! The next day, the clean up process began. Time to clean up and start over!

Oh, What a Mess!

The rain we've had the last two weeks is ... well...let's just say I'm hoping we're getting our winter's worth all in these two weeks! Wow! Huge puddles in fields; lakes that used to be corn fields. Yesterday on a Bellingham radio station they said there were flood warnings for Whatcom & Skagit County.
It's been dark & dreary; starting to wear on our Alberta racers. 'Does it ALWAYS rain this much in BC? Ugh!!'
Yesterday afternoon the wind started picking up speed and by this morning it was quite gusty. (Maybe all my leaves will blow away??? Sure would save me a pile of raking!) Since the wind is from the south-west it is quite balmy, around 50 F.
I started fall cleaning my office. What a good feeling...but a little discouraging to find out what a sloppy packrat I've become! So therapeutic to be filling my 2nd garbage bag! lol

I can see I'm falling behind on my diary. November 5 the ArenaCross crew arrived. Dan, Mike & Tom Indenbosch drove over from Alberta for the motorbike racing Nov. 7 & 8, and Nov. 14 15. The next morning their friend, Daniel Feyter and his girlfriend Jacinta Leeuwenbergh flew in to Abbotsford. All the guys are staying in the cabin at the other place. Jacinta slept in the spare room here. Thursday night, Nov.6, they went to Heritage Park (where the races are held) and did a few practice runs. Friday everyone was there bright and early. We borrowed Uncle Dick's huge trailer to haul the bikes there and the guys were able to get a spot inside the barn to park the trailer for the race days. Dustin was also able to rent a tent from Big Top PowerSports (his home away from home!!) and had that set up in front of the trailer as a type of advertising.
I wasn't able to get many pictures as I was a medic out on the track all day Friday and again Saturday night from 7-11. Hopefully this coming weekend I'll be able to get some good shots.
The races went quite well the 7th & 8th. Dustin got 2nd place Saturday night and was quite happy about that!
Daniel and Jacinta flew home again on Monday morning.
In the middle of all this, John flew out to Alberta on the 6th to the 12th to check on the Alberta projects and to be there for his mom's 75th birthday.

Zach at Rest...or on Guard?

Zach, our black lab/rottweiller sitting on my straw bales on the front porch. Not sure if she's resting or guarding the place. She doesn't like the camera so I had to take this shot through the office window.