A Trip to the Lake

We can't go to Prince George without heading out to the lake. It's 2 1/2 acres on West Lake that's been in the family forever. If I lived closer I think I'd spend every weekend there during the summer. We only have two neighbours and they have very large plots of land so it's very secluded. The kids have a blast playing in the water and searching for agots. (Credit to Kerry for the photo of the year for this year's calendar.)

Every year I go I try to do a bit of clean up and improvements to the beach area. The drift wood feeds the fire and the bigger pieces get turned into erosion control. The one that Kerry is sitting on got added a few years ago and hasn't moved since I put it in. This year I added a few more on the right hand side. One day I'd like to do something a bit more permanent but I'm not sure what's legal. I'm thinking just a low rock wall far enough up the beach to help prevent erosion but not so close that it would get damaged with the ice each year.

Carter and I took a short hike up the beach to the Hornsby cabin. I'm not entirely sure of the history but at one point it was on land we owned. We used to own a lot more but the taxes got to be too high so much was sold off or donated to the boy scouts. This cabin is apparently from around 1917 and has been unoccupied for as long as I've been alive. (With the exception of the squirrels that make it their home each winter.) I'll make a note in my calendar to celebrate the 100th anniversary.

Canada Day in PG

We typically head to Cloverdale for Canada Day but this year we decided to spend the first week of July in Prince George since it fit better with our other trips we've got planned for the summer. Callie had a birthday party to go to on the Saturday so we spent the first half of Sunday travelling. We left around 5:30a and arrived in PG around 2:00p. We headed straight to the park since the weather in Prince George has been just as wet as in Surrey and it was looking like rain. I had hoped we'd finally get to ride on the train at Fort George park since they've been working to repair it for the past few years. Unfortunately there was some sort of steam ticket that they didn't get in time so all they could do was light the fire and sound the whistle once in a while. Maybe next year.

One of the things I like about Prince George on Canada Day is all the different food. From Bannock to Samosa's there were probably 30 different food vendors. In my view Canada day is about multiculturalism and we should have more options than burgers and mini-donuts. (Unfortunately we arrived in between meals and had no cash so no food this year.) The kids had a blast playing on the fire engine. It's been there since before I was born and used to be just the full fire engine buried in the sand. They recently refurbished it with the back half being brand new and the front half from the original engine. Fun to see the kids doing the same things I remember when I was young.

Father's Day

I almost forgot to blog about Father's day this year. We didn't really go anywhere but it was still a special day. It started with Carter presenting me with various gifts. He handed me a card that he had made at daycare along with some sort of paper weight. Note to daycare providers. A rubber glove filled with sand is not really a gift I'll be able to keep for very long. Kerry then told him to go get my other gift off the dining room table. He didn't see the wrapped up gift and instead brought me a bag of plastic bowls. He was convinced this was the gift he was meant to give me and even called them my 'Daddy Bowls'. Once I did get the real gift I opened it to find four boxes of women's golf balls. He was hell bent on giving me golf balls for Father's Day and since I don't golf very often, Kerry wrapped up some of hers rather than going out and buying new ones. Very thrifty.

Callie made me a very nice card filled with all the things she likes to do with me. She's usually quite anti-daddy and pro-mommy but apparently I do get one day of the year.  (I should also mention a story from a few days before Father's Day. Kerry was attempting to plan the day and mentioned making breakfast for me as well as my favourite meal. Callie replied by saying "But Mommy. You always do those things. I guess everyday is Father's Day.") We did go out on one field trip during the day. To Port Kells to get me an apple tree. I also got a mini disc golf set for playing in the back yard which we are all enjoying.