TexMexReMix

Leaving Alberta

2008-12-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

After our meeting on Monday, I returned to Bill & Donna Smith's. Nice to get a visit with Jessica, she was home from studying in Toronto. Tuesday morning, on the way to lunch at Lemongrass, a Vietnamese restuarant, we stopped at the grave of Breanne Thue. Breanne died in August in a car accident. This wreath at her graveside is made from strips of her dresses. It was nice to have time with her parents early in my trip. A very sobering stop but the bright colors of the wreath somehow seemed very joyous in all the white bleakness of the fallen snow.

Downtown Calgary from the air. The Bow River flows from the distant mountains past downtown Calgary and eastward in the bottom right corner of the picture. The Calgary Tower is the red dot just to the left of the tall buildings. The Saddledome is in the lower left corner. An American would call it the Pringle Dome from the air.

Goodbye Alberta.

Light Traveler Award

2008-12-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

And the Light Traveler award goes to....
Audrey Robbins opens the envelope.
Nancy Downs is the winner.

Of course, she couldn't take the trophy as it took up too much space in her suitcase.

Allen & Wright

2008-12-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

We might as well end the trip with a good taste in our mouths, shouldn't we?
An Uncle Burger (Sirloin) from A&W. A 5oz. sirloin patty, a pile of hot fries and root beer in a frosty mug. As A&W Canada is a completely separate company than A&W USA, their menu is different. Canada is home to the Burger Family and Uncle is the newest relative.

If you'd like a really nice picture of an Uncle Burger to be the Background of your computer. Follow this link.
http://www.aw.ca/publicinfo.nsf/UncleBurger

More Funny Signs

2008-12-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

A very multi-cultural church on Centre St had this very profound announcement.
Coming Soon ...Jesus.
I'm not sure how long they've been a Christian church, but better late than never, eh?

What a steal, eh? Heated. Underground. And only $2.
Sweet news for the locals. They're accustomed to chinooks and it's only been below 0F temps for two weeks.

W.A. Gough - Violin Maker & Restorer

2008-12-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

Allan Gough in his workshop. The shop as approxiamately 450 violins inside plus cellos. Al makes them as well as restores. He now has an apprentice. An 84 year old man.

Allan said playing a violin is a disease and it can strike as early as age three. His shop is as unique from the outside as it is inside. These are a few of the 450 violins just hanging around waiting for owners to pick them up or buy them.

Sign Posted in Store:
All violins, cellos, and bows sold here are guaranteed to be Y2K compliant. We are not sure about the violas...
-- The Management.

Car Wash

2008-12-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

Now, how often do car washes in Texas have doors? Freeze warnings? I mean, Texans have to use ice water just so it doesn't boil the paint off. At any rate, here in Canada, sloppy, snowy roads mean messy cars and salted roads mean corrosion. Hence the need for car washes at a minus 20.

Jason Pearman washing the Toyota.

More Banffffff.

2008-12-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

View Eastward from the Bow River Falls area below the Banff Springs Hotel.

It was calm by the river, but a high upper wind was blowing the snow off the peaks as recorded here.

The Three Sisters above Canmore, Alberta. Not a bad sight to have outside the window for two days.

Canadian Rockies

2008-12-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Canadian Rockies from Hwy 1 between Banff and Lake Louise.

The stream leaving a now-frozen Lake Louise.

A Winter Wonderland in the Canadian Rockies.

Dog Sledding

2008-12-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

On our way to Lake Louise, we passed two pickups and lots of dogs in a roadside turnoff. Tourists can pay $300/person for a 2-hour ride in a dog sled. Each sled is pulled by 10 dogs. The sleds held two adults seated inside plus the driver standing behind. This is the last of four sleds that took off. And at a very good clip too.

There were extra dogs that didn't go on the trip and they stayed behind in the trucks' cages. The sound of 50+ dogs barking was tremendous. But as soon as the dogs started off with the sleds, they grew silent. However, this is the mournful sound of those who stayed behind. Weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Three Blind Mice

2008-12-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

Cheryl Lumley playing "Three Blind Mice". Heather Hansen (CA) and Michael Moulson (AB) enjoy the show along with many others. This rendition is the "Singing Lady from London." The jump and jolt on the keyboard are the "mouse" scaring the singing lady. She screamed "a mouse" but you can't hear it over the laughter.

Maligne Canyon

2008-12-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

Maligne Canyon is a deep narrow gorge in Jasper National Park. It's depth ranges from 50-160 feet, but it's width in most places being only 5-20' at most. Water from Medicine Lake enters an extensive cave system. It's not known where all the water reappears despite various tests with dies. Some comes above ground at Maligne Canyon, about 10 miles from Medicine Lake. The creek merges with several large springs and finally joins the Athabasca River.

Giant icicles from a spring entering Maligne Canyon.

View of Bridge 5 and the Canadian Rockies.

Jasper National Park

2008-12-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday, eight of us went to Jasper National Park. On the frozen lake we saw two animals crossing over. They were far enough away we still haven't had an expert answer on them being coyotes or wolves. Evidently an adult coyote and a young wolf are nearly identical. On the far bank of the lake are a herd of elk. A little hard to spot. Two wolves were spotted further up the road, but gone before we could turn around. On the way back, Garry Bailey spotted a bald eagle sitting high up in a tree, but I never could spot it's location. Too far away for a picture at any rate.

Mr. Stone Ram blowing kisses to his sweetie.

Bull elk taking a break by the road. Just a young fellow but he was the only male we could see in the crowd.

Shining Bank Lake

2008-12-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Kristy Goodsman's sheep dog.

Shiningbank Lake, Alberta at sunset. Frozen over and a few ice fishermen already out. Man worked all morning getting his hole cut in the ice. Went in for lunch and his wife asked him if he'd caught anything. "Caught anything?! I just got a hole big enough to put the boat in."

Don't ask me what they are, but they were pretty with the snow and golden light of sunset.

Another view of shining bank lake from Goodsman's.

Minor Mishaps

2008-12-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

LaDon Loyek hit a deer. The Santa Fe wasn't too harmed. No one hurt. Glad no one hit a moose. They're as tall as a horse, but in the dark, their hair and eyes have no reflection like other animals. You don't see them until you hit them.

David Jury checking out his broken rocking chair. We were enjoying a little piano music and company by a toasty fire when he reclined just a bit too much. Front legs pulled out of the gliders and gave him a jolt.

Funny Signs Part 2

2008-12-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

"Skate Sharpening" Not usually seen in Texas.

Guess the staff at Tim Horton's can't hear your order over the diesel's rumble.

Valleyview Victory Christian Church, A Rip & Stich Place and A Buck or More. All in the same building and DON'T park illegally or you'll be towed.

Tiny Tractors

2008-12-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is Bill Ives' latest project. Not quite finished, but a to-scale replica. Only one piece of this tractor was bought, Bill made the rest in his basement machine shop.

His first project, a John Deere D. Yes, he made every part but the rubber tires.

Bill has many tractors and hundreds of engines he's built. All in his basement.

Peace River. AB

2008-12-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Doreen Read reminds me of Aunt Pearl. She and Dorothy Anderson live at Heritage Towers. Doreen enjoys sitting by the front door, tho she must now share her vantage spot with Santa Claus. Santa will dance but Doreen is nearly deaf so pays no mind to the obnoxious music playing over and over.

Boot Boy at the door of Heritage Towers. He'll wipe your shoes for you.

Dorothy Anderson and her good friend Teddy. She thinks he looks like a bear tho he's a hamster. He won first prize at the Halloween costume party. Dorothy went as a farmer. She would never tell his character, but I suspect he must have gone as one of the three blind mice (as he has no tail.)

There's more than one way to have peace around this house, woman.

East Pine

2008-12-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Duncan & Caleb Farrow (and little Amber) overlook the Pine River. It flows north into the Peace River. The white seen in the picture is ice, it will eventually freeze solid. They say it runs quite full in the summer and is plagued by ice jams in the spring. NOTE to Texans: ice jam is not something you put on a biscuit.

We had a Bible study at 8am, a hike at 9 (after the sun comes up) and a heap of blueberry pancakes and whipped cream at 11am. This Texan taught them how to eat canteloupe with salt and black pepper.

Railroad tressle over the Pine River. The Farrow's driveway passes under the bridge in the center portion of the picture

The vicious East Pine spider awaiting at the bottom of the sausage bowl.

Poor Ranger suffers separation anxiety from wife Amber.
They're wanting to start another family, but their owners think it'd be better to wait for spring showers.

Fort St. John, BC

2008-12-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Due to teenage crime, the gas station limits 4 students at a time to enter. The town is considering a 10pm curfew also.

Moose FM - the local radio station raising funds at the Winter Lights display.

Coats and Boots. Prior to entering the special meeting hall, most coats and footwear are left in the front foyer. The Americans found this very interesting and the Canadians said, "Well, what do you do?" Doesn't get cold enough for that many coats, doesn't get that wet for messy boots and, besides, facilities don't have a coat closet in the foyer. Hard to imagine a climate not your own and all the indirect things it affects.

Thanksgiving 2008.

2008-11-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Wade Cusack's place was home to Thanksgiving Dinner. The local Wainwrights have California roots so hosted a turkey supper. MC was a 30lb salmon.

Brett Frederickson gets his fingernails clean afterwards.

Back: Nancy Downs, Brett, Merlin Affleck, Darren, Willip Propp, Audrey Robbins.
Front: LaDon Loyek, Heather Hansen, Corri Pearman, Adrienne Sinclair, Heather Darley.

Surprise Party.

2008-11-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

What should come out the door?

But Nancy Down's birthday cake.

Alaska Highway

2008-11-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, we visited the Mile Zero museum in Dawson Creek. PBS produced a short documentary explaining the building of the Alaska Highway. This bridge exhibit is in the museum.
This is the bridge in "real life." It's curved as can be noted in the museum exhibit. Must have been a jolt to realize you have 1500 miles of road to build and 15 miles after starting you have to stop and cross a canyon like this and they had no idea how many more rivers they'd encounter before reaching Fairbanks.

Can you see it? Deep in the Heart of Texas 3600-->

Dawson Creek

2008-11-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dawson Creek, BC - Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.

Map of the Alaska Highway. Starts in Dawson Creek and ends in Fairbanks, Alaska. 1,500 miles long and built in 8 months. 20,000 troops and all built from scratch.

The Mile 0 marker. Usually in the middle of the street but moved for the annual Christmas tree.

On the Road Northwest.

2008-11-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

Convention home at Hythe, Alberta.

Grain elevators in Hythe, hometown of Merlin Howlett.

At the AB/BC border. Not a trig issue.

Willis Propp and I on the British Columbia side.

Phil & Renita Thue:

2008-11-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Let's play "Count The Animals."
I counted remains from 36...

Black bear, brown bear, cougar. Deer, antelope, badger, moose, coyote, fox and several I didn't recognize.

Sleep well, Jed.

Bullwinkle says hi.

An Early Thanksgiving - in Canada.

2008-11-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday was morning meeting at Phil & Renita Thue's.

Gospel meeting was at 3:30 in Braggs Creek with Nancy Downs and me having the "honor." About 300 present.

Afterwards was American Thanksgiving at Bill & Donna Smith's. Canada, Mexico and the USA all represented plus Australia. They didn't seem to balk at Turkey and the Works. The Canadian Thanksgiving is in October and not nearly the event it is in the States.

Lori Good, Maria Hoover, and Nancy Downs.

Cheyanne, Renita & Phil Thue.
Colton Good in the foreground.
All watching Bill carve Mr. Turkey.
25lbs worth.

Bill provided the night's entertainment. He concluded the evening by blowing out the "pumpkin" candles. He blew wax across the entire width of the just-cleaned stove.

Hockey

2008-11-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday Morning was 7:30 hockey with the guys. The young fellows meet up for a little puck play at SAIT - Southern Alberta Institue of Technology. The rink is $200/hour so they only play for an hour. But they use all 60 minutes.

This short video captures the mob. Watch for the non-uniformed fellow go flying at the end. Tyson is #46 in blue.

That wasn't me, I just skated on the sidelines.

As Tyson took me to Phil & Renita Thue's, he pointed out the "shinook arch" The strong winds blow over the Rockies from the Pacific. In the picture it's the thin blue sky between the clouds overhead and the clouds over the mountains.

They usually warm things up. I couldn't tell it.

Good Sledding

2008-11-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

I spent Thursday and Friday nights with Tyson & Lori Hottell Good. Lori treated us to homemade tortillas and tacos on Thursday night. And Dr. Pepper.

We left his framing job about noon Friday as they kids were off school. Tyson used the Bobcat to build two snow forts and this starting slope for sledding. The above is Rebecca sliding with Tyson helping her.

Here is Tyson on the dirt bike pulling Colton. Note: You'll need to hit the play button on the left.

More Tex-Cans.

2008-11-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday noon, Donna & I met Lori Hottell Good and little John at Lina's Italian Market. Can't spell what I ate, but it was good. Dessert was tiramisu and a latte. John didn't care for the tiramisu but liked his pizza and especially the hot cocoa.

Friday morning I joined Tyson Good and his helpers Mike and Duncan. They're framing up this house near the site of the Winter Olympics. Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican Bobsled Team got their start here in Calgary. The ski jump and bobsled track are just on the west edge of the city.

Helly Hansen

2008-11-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

How to look Canadian -- The Matrix meets snow gear. I'm only missing the black, square-rimmed glasses and black turtleneck.

Just for you, Miguel. Merry Thanksgiving and a Happy New Year!

Canadian Rockies

2008-11-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

These bridges are NOT for traffic, but for wildlife. Rather than than get hit, they can take the scenic route. And evidently have learned to do so.

Banff National Park. A textbook version of plate tectonics at work or play. Razor sharp edges.
Can you see the frozen waterfall in the center of the picture? The little green spots above it and to the left are small forests of 40' pine trees. Gives you an idea of the size of these "hills."

Light cloud cover rolling into the Powder River Valley upon our return to Calgary. A setting sun -- at 4pm.

Lake Louise II

2008-11-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Another view of Lake Louise. Several tourists there. I thought I heard a little Spanish so asked the young ladies where they were from. One was from Mexico City and the other from Michoacan. Both quite happy to find a Spanish speaker and someone from "close to home." They were on a four day tour of the Rockies. A wee bit colder than southern Mexico.

This is one of three giant lights at the chateau beside Lake Louise. Three maidens are holding up antlers holding up lights. You really can't see their faces from this perspective, but I found it interesting.
A view from the restaurant inside the Chateau. They were serving "tea" but we didn't partake.

Lake Louise

2008-11-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

Interesting peak along Canada's Hwy 1. The main cross-country road. In some places on two lanes.

Louise and I. Lake Louise that is. Just beginning to freeze over. A nippy 10F. Not quite the awesome green of the summer pictures but an incredible sight. The remains of the glacier that formed it are over my right shoulder. It it about 5 miles back to the Victoria Glacier.

Banff National Park

2008-11-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

Wednesday noon was at Banff National Park. These mountains are sharp and beautiful.
The Banff Springs Hotel opened in the late 1800's. Massive but well designed.
The view off the Hotel's back patio. The Powder River flows through the golf course and towards Calgary (about 60 miles to the east.) Back in the 1920's, motel patrons would spend three months in the summer. For a measily $50,000.

Unique Sign

2008-11-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Not sure if you can make out this sign from the Wal-Mart parking lot.
"Expectant mothers and parents with small children" It was up front next to the handicap spaces. Canadians take off their shoes once inside the house, so I needed a pair of slippers and found some flannel pj's too.

From here we at the Crying Tiger (sirloin and chile peppers), Pad Thai and the Coconut Trout for supper!

Bill & Donna Smith's

2008-11-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

My first three nights in Alberta I spent with Bill & Donna Smith. Long-time friends
from Colorado and later Tomball, TX. We had lunch Tuesday at the River Cafe.
Buffalo Brisket with Saskatoon berry sauce, chickpea fries and creamed kale. Apricot
sorbet for dessert. This was my abode for the three nights.

A Warm Welcome.

2008-11-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tim Horton's -- A Warm Welcome to Alberta!

I had a good flight from Albuquerque. Arrived to overcast skies and light snow cover. Jack Reddekopp and Donna Smith met my flight. The customs agent said, "Happy, Texas! That's a neat town to be from." And waved me on through. We had a cup of Canada's favorite joe and then headed through rush hour to the west side of Calgary.