Thursday, January 28, 2010
On the Mend
Can you tell he's feeling better today? A little bit of good ol' Spencer mischief written all over his face....
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Not a Nice Invitation!
Somewhere along the way, we have invited the ickies to stay and play today! Spencer has been up on and off all night. He's a very sick little boy right now.
We have adopted a couch, pillow and blankie and are taking it easy today. He's currently curled up with Panda bear and I'm hoping he gets more fluids in him and some much needed rest.
We have adopted a couch, pillow and blankie and are taking it easy today. He's currently curled up with Panda bear and I'm hoping he gets more fluids in him and some much needed rest.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Only Once in a Lifetime!
Today is Day 86 of the 2010 Olympic Torch relay across Canada and we had the great honour of the torch coming to our very own little community! And why do you ask would they venture to the middle of no where to a tiny town like Elkford? Well we think it has a little something to do with the fact that Elkford possesses 3 of the 5 mines that are run by Teck. Teck is one of the providers of the raw materials that the Olympic medals are made of. Todd works for Teck. You can read more about the medals here.
Spencer and I got up at 5am this morning knowing that we would see the Olympic flame come to our very own sleepy little town.
We met up with what seemed half the town of Elkford this morning at our local community center. We grabbed some official 2010 Olympic flags and some candles to light the path of the torch.
Outside the community center the local fire department had parked the fire engine with a huge Canadian flag hanging from the ladder.
We watched eagerly as the official Olympic torch vehicles began to assemble in the parking lot in front of us.
The fire crew lit a mock torch and stood on top of the engine.
And from behind us amid the crowd, the official flame emerged! AMAZING site! This was the first official runner for Day 86 of the relay.
We watched as she ran off into the darkness of the night carrying the beautiful flame! Truly a wonderful and once in lifetime site.
The town had arranged a cool fireworks display at the end of the street marking Elkford on the Olympic torch relay map.
Once the torch had left the town, we gathered in the community hall for a pancake breakfast. The first 3 runners of the day arrived not too long after, holding each of their torches. What I didn't realize is that each runner was able to keep their respective torch. What an amazing piece of memorabilia to keep and cherish!
Spencer and I had our picture taken with this morning's runner #2, Mark.
Here's a few close ups of the beautiful flags we were given as part of the festivities...
This one even says Elkford on it!
This is our third runner of the day, gladly sporting her torch...
Spencer even got a chance to try it out!
And of course... I couldn't resist either! I can honestly say I have held an actual Olympic torch!!!
After a FREE sticky pancake, egg and sausage breakfast, we drove home to have Todd arrive only a few minutes after us. We wish he could have come along with us but he was still on night shift when everything happened.
A once in a lifetime experience for sure! I'm glad that I had the opportunity to experience it!
Spencer and I got up at 5am this morning knowing that we would see the Olympic flame come to our very own sleepy little town.
We met up with what seemed half the town of Elkford this morning at our local community center. We grabbed some official 2010 Olympic flags and some candles to light the path of the torch.
Outside the community center the local fire department had parked the fire engine with a huge Canadian flag hanging from the ladder.
We watched eagerly as the official Olympic torch vehicles began to assemble in the parking lot in front of us.
The fire crew lit a mock torch and stood on top of the engine.
And from behind us amid the crowd, the official flame emerged! AMAZING site! This was the first official runner for Day 86 of the relay.
We watched as she ran off into the darkness of the night carrying the beautiful flame! Truly a wonderful and once in lifetime site.
The town had arranged a cool fireworks display at the end of the street marking Elkford on the Olympic torch relay map.
Once the torch had left the town, we gathered in the community hall for a pancake breakfast. The first 3 runners of the day arrived not too long after, holding each of their torches. What I didn't realize is that each runner was able to keep their respective torch. What an amazing piece of memorabilia to keep and cherish!Spencer and I had our picture taken with this morning's runner #2, Mark.
Here's a few close ups of the beautiful flags we were given as part of the festivities...
This one even says Elkford on it!
This is our third runner of the day, gladly sporting her torch...
Spencer even got a chance to try it out!
And of course... I couldn't resist either! I can honestly say I have held an actual Olympic torch!!!
After a FREE sticky pancake, egg and sausage breakfast, we drove home to have Todd arrive only a few minutes after us. We wish he could have come along with us but he was still on night shift when everything happened.
A once in a lifetime experience for sure! I'm glad that I had the opportunity to experience it!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Silly Hat Day!
Today was Silly Hat Day at school for Spencer. I spent this morning creating this fun hat for him to wear to class this afternoon. I made a fun-foam head band with an elastic band back to use as my hat's base.
The froggie actually bongs up and down on a spring and the dragon fly is also wired to the hat to appear as if flying in mid air.
Here's a close up my froggie.
On a sad note, our little town of Elkford is in mourning today. We lost a 21 year old man to a scuba diving accident on Grave Lake (just down the road) yesterday morning. He and his best friend were out on the ice covered lake testing out their new diving gear and something happened and one man lost his life. It's all the town is talking about today. I feel for his family and his best friend. So young... so sad...
The froggie actually bongs up and down on a spring and the dragon fly is also wired to the hat to appear as if flying in mid air.
Here's a close up my froggie.
On a sad note, our little town of Elkford is in mourning today. We lost a 21 year old man to a scuba diving accident on Grave Lake (just down the road) yesterday morning. He and his best friend were out on the ice covered lake testing out their new diving gear and something happened and one man lost his life. It's all the town is talking about today. I feel for his family and his best friend. So young... so sad...
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Dog Sledding... Elkford Style
This weekend we have a 3 day dog sledding event here right in town. There are all kinds of events for all ages ranges including a 14 and under age range for mushing.
Spencer, Todd and I decided to go down and see what it was all about.
Some of the teams were harnessed to their owners trucks.
One of the first teams that we saw come in from a race was a women and her dog team.
We talked to a few mushers included this guy below. His team was a young team. His dogs were only about 1.5 years old and were all very eager to get out to run.
And off they go... 10km out and 10km back I believe this race was.
I just happened to see this little fella being carried around in a lady's jacket. He's about 8 weeks old... friggin' adorable!
All the teams arrived in customized boxes on their owners trucks. These guys looked like they wanted out! Todd and were both surprised at all the different breeds of dogs we saw running teams. It wasn't all huskies and malamutes.
As part of the event, they were offering a target shooting course for all ages to try. So Spencer strapped on pair of snowshoes to try it out.
He had 3 targets to aim at along the course. Here's Daddy helping him handle the air gun at the second target.
He was one of the youngest kids to try. Only two 4 years and one 3 year old had tried. He even got 5 points for shooting a target. There's prizes throughout the weekend for each of the target categories.
We had fun!
Spencer, Todd and I decided to go down and see what it was all about.
Some of the teams were harnessed to their owners trucks.
One of the first teams that we saw come in from a race was a women and her dog team.
We talked to a few mushers included this guy below. His team was a young team. His dogs were only about 1.5 years old and were all very eager to get out to run.
And off they go... 10km out and 10km back I believe this race was.
I just happened to see this little fella being carried around in a lady's jacket. He's about 8 weeks old... friggin' adorable!
All the teams arrived in customized boxes on their owners trucks. These guys looked like they wanted out! Todd and were both surprised at all the different breeds of dogs we saw running teams. It wasn't all huskies and malamutes.
As part of the event, they were offering a target shooting course for all ages to try. So Spencer strapped on pair of snowshoes to try it out.
He had 3 targets to aim at along the course. Here's Daddy helping him handle the air gun at the second target.
He was one of the youngest kids to try. Only two 4 years and one 3 year old had tried. He even got 5 points for shooting a target. There's prizes throughout the weekend for each of the target categories.
We had fun!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Wildness Fun!
We had decided that since today, we were all at home (no one was working) that we would head out for a day together to have some fun.
We packed up some snacks, hot chocolate, crackers and munchies and some snow equipment in the Jeep and off we headed North of Elkford to spend the afternoon together. We first stopped to wash the Jeep since it was so filthy and needed to get all the salt on it removed. Then we stopped at the grocery store to get carrots for our wildness snowman (which never happened!).
We drove up the Elk Lakes road from Elkford to mile marker 120 and stopped at Blue Lake. We piled out of the truck and decided to grab the sled for Spencer to try out the short slope towards the Lake.
Climbing up the hill away from the snow covered lake was not fun in the 3 foot deep snow!
Mr. King of the Hill and the "vroom" behind the sled!
Trying out the steeper slope this time...
A nice clean Jeep in the wilds of the BC wildness...
After Blue Lake we ventured up the back road to mile 144, to Weary Creek where we like to stop by the user maintained campsite there. Typically the road up to Elk Lakes is not plowed (or maintained) during the winter but we found that it was plowed to at least the 144 mile marker... a nice surprise!
We got out and walked over the bridge at Weary Creek and back again then stopped to get a few shots...
The two giggly guys...
Mommy and Spencer...
Driving back to Elkford with the sun setting over the mountain range in front of us...
We had a nice day out in the wilderness today!
We packed up some snacks, hot chocolate, crackers and munchies and some snow equipment in the Jeep and off we headed North of Elkford to spend the afternoon together. We first stopped to wash the Jeep since it was so filthy and needed to get all the salt on it removed. Then we stopped at the grocery store to get carrots for our wildness snowman (which never happened!).
We drove up the Elk Lakes road from Elkford to mile marker 120 and stopped at Blue Lake. We piled out of the truck and decided to grab the sled for Spencer to try out the short slope towards the Lake.
Climbing up the hill away from the snow covered lake was not fun in the 3 foot deep snow!
Mr. King of the Hill and the "vroom" behind the sled!
Trying out the steeper slope this time...
A nice clean Jeep in the wilds of the BC wildness...
After Blue Lake we ventured up the back road to mile 144, to Weary Creek where we like to stop by the user maintained campsite there. Typically the road up to Elk Lakes is not plowed (or maintained) during the winter but we found that it was plowed to at least the 144 mile marker... a nice surprise!
We got out and walked over the bridge at Weary Creek and back again then stopped to get a few shots...
The two giggly guys...
Mommy and Spencer...
Driving back to Elkford with the sun setting over the mountain range in front of us...
We had a nice day out in the wilderness today!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Carrots & Celery and Let There be LIGHT!
Yesterday I happen to catch a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye out in the yard. I looked up to see a momma deer and baby in our yard and another 5 deer behind the neighbours fence.
I grabbed my camera and off to the deck I ventured. There are 3 deer in the photo below. One adult (foreground) and 2 of this year's babies. The one baby in the middle was limping... poor thing. Hard to get around when your leg is injured and the snow is touching your belly.
I started to talk "pretty" to the momma deer in the yard as she was walking away with her fawn and she turned around and walked towards me.
She walked up and stood right below me from the deck (about 3 feet from me). I love all the snow on her; especially on her chin... hehehe!
Spencer ended up joining me outside and we ended up feeding them carrots and celery from the deck.
Since we live between two sets of mountains, the sun doesn't hit the yard until quite some time in the morning as it rises above the mountain range to the East.... and then all of sudden there is light! This is just seconds after the sun popped up from the mountain this morning...
The sky is SO clear and BLUE this morning! It's -23 degrees out though... BRRRR!
We have gotten another fresh foot of snow in the last 24 hours. I actually had to shovel the driveway (at least the end of it & close to the house) for the first time. Typically the Jeep is more than high enough off of the ground so we just 4x4 through the deeper snow but the Cat (yes... a HUGE Caterpillar) plowed the culdasac and dumped about 3 feet of snow at the end of the driveway. The normal plow can't move the amount of snow we seem to get at this end of the street, so they have to plow the end of our street with a huge Cat. (picture below taken in Oct. 27th '09)
Since we took the picture above, we have had snow ever since. The Cat actually pushes all of the excess snow up a small roadway right across the street. You can now park about 3 cars in the area he's plowed but the snow is 3.5 feet ABOVE the roof of your car on both sides!!!
Be thankfully you live in tropical Ontario everyone!
I grabbed my camera and off to the deck I ventured. There are 3 deer in the photo below. One adult (foreground) and 2 of this year's babies. The one baby in the middle was limping... poor thing. Hard to get around when your leg is injured and the snow is touching your belly.
I started to talk "pretty" to the momma deer in the yard as she was walking away with her fawn and she turned around and walked towards me.
She walked up and stood right below me from the deck (about 3 feet from me). I love all the snow on her; especially on her chin... hehehe!
Spencer ended up joining me outside and we ended up feeding them carrots and celery from the deck.Since we live between two sets of mountains, the sun doesn't hit the yard until quite some time in the morning as it rises above the mountain range to the East.... and then all of sudden there is light! This is just seconds after the sun popped up from the mountain this morning...
The sky is SO clear and BLUE this morning! It's -23 degrees out though... BRRRR!
We have gotten another fresh foot of snow in the last 24 hours. I actually had to shovel the driveway (at least the end of it & close to the house) for the first time. Typically the Jeep is more than high enough off of the ground so we just 4x4 through the deeper snow but the Cat (yes... a HUGE Caterpillar) plowed the culdasac and dumped about 3 feet of snow at the end of the driveway. The normal plow can't move the amount of snow we seem to get at this end of the street, so they have to plow the end of our street with a huge Cat. (picture below taken in Oct. 27th '09)
Since we took the picture above, we have had snow ever since. The Cat actually pushes all of the excess snow up a small roadway right across the street. You can now park about 3 cars in the area he's plowed but the snow is 3.5 feet ABOVE the roof of your car on both sides!!!
Be thankfully you live in tropical Ontario everyone!
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