Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Happy Birthday Kara
Kara turns 4! Wow! We all hope you had a great birthday and a yummy cake. Happy Birthday!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 3
On Monday we travelled to the Canadian War Cemetary in Groesbeek for a memorial service. It is one of the largest war cemeteries in Europe, with the graves of approximately 2600 Canadians.
Queen Beatrix and Princess Margriet were in attendance. It is interesting to remember that the Dutch Royal family stayed in Ottawa during World War II, and that Princess Margriet was born In an Ottawa hospital room that was temporarily proclaimed to be part of the Netherlands. Grandma's expert photography caught a picture of the Queen as she mingled with some of the veterans.
Dinner on the way back was a fabulous Indonesian buffet, in the Royal Military Home Bronbeek, a former palace.
Tuesday, May 4th, was the National Memorial Day in the Netherlands. We were up bright and early and headed to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. One will never forget the way the Dutch people had their homes and properties decorated with Canadian and The Netherlands flags.
Princess Margriet was here as well, and the memorial service included a fly over by 3 World War II vintage fighter planes, and a helicopter dropping poppies. The Holten school children are very active at this cemetery, placing flowers on all the graves during the memorial service. They also place 24 hour lighted candles on every grave each Christmas.
After the service, as I was wandering through the cemetery looking at graves, I got quite a shock to run smack in a couple of my neighbours from home. Tanya's grade one teacher, Hilda Gilles, and the older kids former piano teacher, Ruth Ganong. Small world, huh. I was so surprised, I forgot to take their picture.
On the way home, we stopped at the town of Gorssel, near the place where the Canadians crossed the River Ijssel. This was a very important turning point in the war. The OSA pipe band that we travelled most everywhere with, did a short parade through town to the monument.
Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a wonderful supper.
Queen Beatrix and Princess Margriet were in attendance. It is interesting to remember that the Dutch Royal family stayed in Ottawa during World War II, and that Princess Margriet was born In an Ottawa hospital room that was temporarily proclaimed to be part of the Netherlands. Grandma's expert photography caught a picture of the Queen as she mingled with some of the veterans.
Dinner on the way back was a fabulous Indonesian buffet, in the Royal Military Home Bronbeek, a former palace.
Tuesday, May 4th, was the National Memorial Day in the Netherlands. We were up bright and early and headed to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. One will never forget the way the Dutch people had their homes and properties decorated with Canadian and The Netherlands flags.
Princess Margriet was here as well, and the memorial service included a fly over by 3 World War II vintage fighter planes, and a helicopter dropping poppies. The Holten school children are very active at this cemetery, placing flowers on all the graves during the memorial service. They also place 24 hour lighted candles on every grave each Christmas.
After the service, as I was wandering through the cemetery looking at graves, I got quite a shock to run smack in a couple of my neighbours from home. Tanya's grade one teacher, Hilda Gilles, and the older kids former piano teacher, Ruth Ganong. Small world, huh. I was so surprised, I forgot to take their picture.
On the way home, we stopped at the town of Gorssel, near the place where the Canadians crossed the River Ijssel. This was a very important turning point in the war. The OSA pipe band that we travelled most everywhere with, did a short parade through town to the monument.
Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a wonderful supper.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Holland
I'm back! It is hard to believe it has only been 23 days since my last post. A very busy 23 days, and I'm happy to say that it included our 10 day trip to Holland, but also since we've been home we have got most of our spring work done. Jesse and Roma did a good job holding the farm together in our absence. Jesse even got some manure out and did some harrowing, and got some heifers out in the pasture he and I finished fencing about an hour before we left for the airport. Jesse picked us up at the airport in Saint John on the Tuesday before last, and he and I spent the rest of that week spreading manure and ash, and harrowing it in. Sarah, Christina, and Roma helped us tidy up, and Sarah and Christina started school tours, with one on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We dug the corn planter out of the shed last weekend, and I planted corn almost everyday this week, for the 5 farms I plant for. Only a couple small fields left at home here. Jesse got some forage seeded down and the one day this week that it rained, Jesse and and I fenced and we got another group of dry cows out, and all the cows. So that explains why I haven't been posting here, or on Skype at night!
Enough farm stuff, you want to hear about the trip! Jesse drove us to the airport on Friday the 30th. We flew to Toronto and stayed there overnight. Guess where? A Best Western! My new Platinum Best Western Card was flashed on check in, and it didn't even raise an eyebrow... except a laugh when I enquired about my free room upgrade. We were up early the next morning in anticipation of our trip, but had several hours to kill. Maybe a walk? We tried that, but there were no sidewalks, so I hit the exercise room while Sarah and Grandma went back to the room and bonded. I'm not sure who was more successful. A Saturday afternoon flight got us into Schiphol airport in Amsterdam on Sunday morning. A 2 hour bus ride to Deventer, and then it was so good to see Fia and Jaap waiting for us at the "Canadian Club". We also met the lady we would be staying with, Riet Kleis. And we all got flowers! I'll say it now, and try not to mention it again, that it made you so proud to be Canadian, the way we were treated by the Dutch people. We then headed to Bathmen, and were impressed with the way the town was decorated for our arrival, and for the anniversay of the Liberation.
This is the building where Fia and Jaap now live, a very nice place. Theirs is the one with the flag.
Grandma stayed with Fia and Japp, we had our meals there but stayed with Riet. It was great. There was a rooster next door that you could hear when you woke up in the morning. Cock a doodle doo!!
Sunday night, after a short nap, we headed back to the Canadian Club for a wonderful reception and supper. It was great to meet and mingle with the Dutch hosts and Canadian war veterans. It was also free beer, wine, and whiskey. But you had to pay for pop. Here is a picture of Fia and Riet.
And here is Jaap. Nice hat, huh? Oh, that's not a hat...
Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a night cap (which none of us needed).
Night all! Stay tuned...
Enough farm stuff, you want to hear about the trip! Jesse drove us to the airport on Friday the 30th. We flew to Toronto and stayed there overnight. Guess where? A Best Western! My new Platinum Best Western Card was flashed on check in, and it didn't even raise an eyebrow... except a laugh when I enquired about my free room upgrade. We were up early the next morning in anticipation of our trip, but had several hours to kill. Maybe a walk? We tried that, but there were no sidewalks, so I hit the exercise room while Sarah and Grandma went back to the room and bonded. I'm not sure who was more successful. A Saturday afternoon flight got us into Schiphol airport in Amsterdam on Sunday morning. A 2 hour bus ride to Deventer, and then it was so good to see Fia and Jaap waiting for us at the "Canadian Club". We also met the lady we would be staying with, Riet Kleis. And we all got flowers! I'll say it now, and try not to mention it again, that it made you so proud to be Canadian, the way we were treated by the Dutch people. We then headed to Bathmen, and were impressed with the way the town was decorated for our arrival, and for the anniversay of the Liberation.
This is the building where Fia and Jaap now live, a very nice place. Theirs is the one with the flag.
Grandma stayed with Fia and Japp, we had our meals there but stayed with Riet. It was great. There was a rooster next door that you could hear when you woke up in the morning. Cock a doodle doo!!
Sunday night, after a short nap, we headed back to the Canadian Club for a wonderful reception and supper. It was great to meet and mingle with the Dutch hosts and Canadian war veterans. It was also free beer, wine, and whiskey. But you had to pay for pop. Here is a picture of Fia and Riet.
And here is Jaap. Nice hat, huh? Oh, that's not a hat...
Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a night cap (which none of us needed).
Night all! Stay tuned...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Happy Birthday Emma
Another birthday in the month of April, last one I think... Happy Birthday Emma!! Have a great birthday party, make sure you have lots of kids come to it, and lots of boys...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Carrie is Home!
The Quebec exchange finished this past weekend, and we picked Carrie up at the airport in Saint John on Saturday. We are glad to have her home. This is the last of 4 exchanges that our girls have all participated in. Here she is with Danielle, a fellow student that was at a different school in Quebec.
Jessica and Jennifer came with us to pick up Carrie, and Carrie wanted her first stop to be MacDonalds, as she hadn't been to one since leaving NB. Carrie learned healthy choices in Quebec, so she went in to buy a water and chicken snack wrap. Carrie forgot healthy choices quickly, and came out with a Big Mac meal.
Tanya and Stacy were hosting a baby shower at the house Saturday night too. Stacy had made dresses for the girls. They all looked so cute dressed alike.
Bradford needs a vest or something, and Hailey figured there was no sense waking up for the picture as she didn't have a matching dress.
Seeing as we all were away on Easter, the Easter bunny must have waited for us, and we got to have an Easter Egg hunt Sunday morning.
Jessica and Jennifer came with us to pick up Carrie, and Carrie wanted her first stop to be MacDonalds, as she hadn't been to one since leaving NB. Carrie learned healthy choices in Quebec, so she went in to buy a water and chicken snack wrap. Carrie forgot healthy choices quickly, and came out with a Big Mac meal.
Tanya and Stacy were hosting a baby shower at the house Saturday night too. Stacy had made dresses for the girls. They all looked so cute dressed alike.
Bradford needs a vest or something, and Hailey figured there was no sense waking up for the picture as she didn't have a matching dress.
Seeing as we all were away on Easter, the Easter bunny must have waited for us, and we got to have an Easter Egg hunt Sunday morning.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Party at My Place Tonight
Ok..We bottled some wine. Maria only wants 60 bottles of white for her wedding and there are 150 here. So the more we drink the less we have to cork. Hic. So let's get corked. Hic. And then go gather eggs. Hic.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Hailey's First Visit
Victoria and Brad brought Hailey down for a visit today, and Stacy brought Kara and Bradford over to meet her. They were pretty excited to see their new cousin.
Kara got to hold her.
And so did Bradford, with some help from his Mom.
Everyone stayed for supper, then like all good grandchildren, they went home. A nice day.
We also did herd health today, Jesse's golden arm got 6 more cows pregnant, so that went well. I got the manure pit pretty much mixed up, this must be the earliest in years.
The snowmobile club is having its landowner appreciation breakfast tomorrow morning, so there goes the diet for another day.
Kara got to hold her.
And so did Bradford, with some help from his Mom.
Everyone stayed for supper, then like all good grandchildren, they went home. A nice day.
We also did herd health today, Jesse's golden arm got 6 more cows pregnant, so that went well. I got the manure pit pretty much mixed up, this must be the earliest in years.
The snowmobile club is having its landowner appreciation breakfast tomorrow morning, so there goes the diet for another day.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hailey Lynn
We stopped on our way home, and yes, it is true, we did have a new grand daughter... Congratulations to proud parents, Victoria and Brad, from your proud Grandparents!
For the record, we logged 18,109 kilometers. The farm is still standing, and although I was expecting a big stack of mail after 32 days, I surely wasn't expecting it to be neatly sorted and stacked. Thank you Jesse, for allowing us this terrific chance to drive across this great country of ours. I still can't believe that the weather allowed us such an enjoyable drive as it did. Oh, Sarah was happy to see the cats!!
For the record, we logged 18,109 kilometers. The farm is still standing, and although I was expecting a big stack of mail after 32 days, I surely wasn't expecting it to be neatly sorted and stacked. Thank you Jesse, for allowing us this terrific chance to drive across this great country of ours. I still can't believe that the weather allowed us such an enjoyable drive as it did. Oh, Sarah was happy to see the cats!!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Almost Home
I was told that it was important to drive on Daytona Beach, so before we left Friday morning we turned in there. There was a booth and the attendant wanted 5 bucks, but I not only talked him out of that, I also got him to take our picture.
We then found Route 95 for our long journey north.
We found our college friends, Pat and Glenda, in Prosperity, South Carolina. We spent 2 nights with them, and had a great time catching up, and also enjoyed a wonderful cruise on the lake behind their house. It was here that we were all awoken in the middle of the night, by Tanya, to hear about the birth of Victoria's daughter, Hailey! I knew as soon as I heard the phone ring in the middle of the night that it was one of my children.
Leaving there on Sunday, we headed north again, and although it was not our intentions, our GPS decided that we should see downtown Washington, DC. It was great, as we saw the Pentagon, The Capital Building and Washington monument etc.
And then we got to drive on the beautiful Washington-Baltimore Parkway, and enjoy some nice traffic.
Tomorrow we should be home, to see if all the animals are as small as this one that Jesse sent a picture of.
But first we will try and stop and visit Victoria and Brad, and of course Hailey Lynn.
We then found Route 95 for our long journey north.
We found our college friends, Pat and Glenda, in Prosperity, South Carolina. We spent 2 nights with them, and had a great time catching up, and also enjoyed a wonderful cruise on the lake behind their house. It was here that we were all awoken in the middle of the night, by Tanya, to hear about the birth of Victoria's daughter, Hailey! I knew as soon as I heard the phone ring in the middle of the night that it was one of my children.
Leaving there on Sunday, we headed north again, and although it was not our intentions, our GPS decided that we should see downtown Washington, DC. It was great, as we saw the Pentagon, The Capital Building and Washington monument etc.
And then we got to drive on the beautiful Washington-Baltimore Parkway, and enjoy some nice traffic.
Tomorrow we should be home, to see if all the animals are as small as this one that Jesse sent a picture of.
But first we will try and stop and visit Victoria and Brad, and of course Hailey Lynn.
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