It has, yet again, been a busy few days.  We did get to spend 2 nights away from the farm, though.  Our friend and neighbour down the road, Kim, was kind enough to take over dog and sheep duty for 2 days which allowed us the luxury of being away together for the first time in ages.  We left Wednesday morning.  The roads were excellent, which is a bonus this time of year.  I was booked for my stomach scope on Thursday at noon and for my CT scan the following Monday.  As soon as we arrived in Prince George we went straight to the hospital and up to the CT booking desk.  I asked if they could put me on the wait list for Friday due to the 3 1/2 hr drive each way to the hospital.  They were excellent and gave me an appointment for 11:00 a.m. on Friday!  I was so happy that I did not have to make the long trip back again on Monday.  So we checked in to our lovely room at the Coast Inn of the North then did some shopping.  We had a great supper at the Shogun restaurant in the hotel.  After that it was fasting for me until after the procedure.  Dennis picked me up from the hospital at around 4:30 Thursday afternoon.  By 6:30 I was starving and ready for a meal. Then it was fasting again for me after supper in preparation for the CT scan.  I was done by noon on Friday.

We met our friend Lois for lunch then went to hospice to visit her dad.  He is such an interesting fellow.  We talked about him growing up on the prairies in the 30's.  He said that when the war started things were starting to improve after the depression.  They finally got rain for the crops, but since all the able bodied young men were off to war, he, at 12 years old, was expected to drive the team of horses with the mower, rake, etc.  It was interesting to compare his young life with that of this generation.  He said there was just no question about working hard - you just did it.  If you did not work you did not eat.  It was as simple as that.  He was not complaining about it nor glorifying it.  He just said that was the way it was.  I believe his life prepared him for facing his death.  There he is, his mind as sharp as a tack, but his body failing.  He said there is no point worrying about nor fighting the inevitable.  We all have to go there one day.  He just wants to have as little pain as possible, which is certainly a reasonable request.  It really is a treat to visit Bill, to listen to him talk about his life, and to marvel at his ability to face his impending death.  He is an exceptional man. 

The sun is rising later now.  A week ago it rose above the hill across the lake at 8:15 a.m.  I did not notice when it rose today, but at solstice I know it rises after 9:00.  It is a beautiful day today, blue sky, sun and about -3 C.  A good day to relax and enjoy the sun.  Yesterday was spent on the road.  I drove in to Burns Lake, picked up 13 boxes of Rancho Vignola dried fruit and nuts (we have a group of us that orders and I coordinate it), then off to Greyhound to pick up a box of Epicure products, then off to Telkwa (2 hrs from Burns lake) to pick up our 8 lambs that were cut and wrapped at the butcher there.  Then it was back to Houston to deliver 2 lambs, back to Colleymount to deliver 4 more, then back home to get my own into the freezer.  It was 8:00 pm before I was home again.

Dennis is curling in a bonspiel this weekend.  So far they have lost 1 game so are in the C event.  He should be home in time to watch the Grey Cup. 

Today I will be sorting the Rancho Vignola stuff for our group and just puttering around.  Happy Grey Cup day everyone!  I love Canadian football!  I remember going to Empire Stadium with my dad when BC played Hamilton.  BC lost.  The only players I remember was Willie Flemming for the Lions and Angelo Moska (sp?) for Hamilton.  It was so exciting to be there! 

These pictures show the evening sunset looking East (top and bottom) and looking West (middle).  These are taken along the lakeshore in front of our house.  They were taken in January 2009.  The lake had not yet frozen but does every year.

 

 

Ok, bye for now.