2007

 

Our condo was on the third floor, this corner. Our view was a bit obscured by tree untill they trimmed them. Then it was perfect!

Moving day

May

Pam and Brian's Wedding

People danced and drank and...

Donna and Dave were here for a quick overnight visit.

June

Bev's Family's Picnic

A whole bunch of us got together at Spruce Woods

Al & Ninas Visit

We toured the Interlake and Hecla Island with them...

July 

Tim and Deb were here for July 1 we watched the fireworks from our deck. They had dropped by once before with some of Debbie's students on a Sunday afternoon.

Dale and Cari's Wedding

Regina (Balgonie) July 27...

Ben & Kristin's Wedding

Brandon, July 7...

Gwenda & Dennis Visit

We all enjoyed the beach...

Joan & Karl Visit

Unexpected company forced us to spend more time at the beach

August

Gwenda and Dennis Visit (Again!)

Family Reunion Scrapbook

Jonah Visits (Aug14-17)

Donna and Dave Visit

August Long Weekend - We took in some of the Icelandic Festival and toured the Lake Winnipeg Research Vessel...

Jerry, Ben & Kristin Visit

Aug 1 - We walked (and walked) but we also had time for dessert at Amma's and a beer on our balcony...

September

On Sept. 19 we left on a week-long "work"  tour through Dauphin, Swan River, The Pas, Roblin, Rocanville etc.  We visited 13 Heritage Sites.  


We've found that taking a short (km or two) walk south is worth it for the view and the beach.

October

We took advantage of a few nice fall days to see nearby sites such as Pine Dock, Selkirk and points in between.

Mom was here for a few days. We had Thanksgiving supper at Linda and Ron's farm.

November

  I contributed to a recent edition of Manitoba History, thereby reaching an audience numbering in the dozens. No talk of a movie deal.  The article is now online.

Bev started her third new job - this one at Gimli Physiotherapy. 

December

 My work was  nearly complete, and I had time to take on a few small contracts, creating and maintaining web sites, and to work on ongoing history projects.

Donna and Dave were here again! They get the prize for the most visits!  (3?) They've always brought beer, so they continue to be welcome.

 Jonah was able to come to Gimli for a few days. We visited Linda's family out at the farm on the 26th.


2008



At Ron and Linda's farm



June

On Sunday, June 29, we had TWO  family gatherings!

Cousin Diana & her son,  Simon Reis from Toronto were holidaying in Wpg.  & were responsible for suggesting a Family Runion be organized at Assiniboine Park . Unfortuantely, Bev's family had planned a shower for Miranda & Nick & a Family Day at Cynthia & Wayne's for the same day. Linda, Bev, & I managed to squeeze in a short visit at the Park,  too, and it was good to catch a little visit with them plus, Mike, Wanda, Mark , & their families & Betty-Lynn, & Aunt Joyce.

July

Tim, Debbie, Natasha and Darius visited on July 26

Dave and Donna visited on July 22 - 24, and the Bombers won a game. Coincidence?

We made a few work-related trips, one to Gladstone where we met Jake and Ann Doell, and their daughter Eileen Clarke. Bev visited her Great Aunt Alice and cousins Heloise. 

My work documenting Designated Heritage Sites for the Historic Places Initiative was coming to and end. I had personally contributed over 150 reports.  The Historic Resources Branch began developing a new initiative based on Inventories of Heritage Sites.  It became known as "Special Places" and I was selected to pilot it in five Manitoba communities.

To start the process, I  travelled to several meetings with David Butterfield, introducing the concept.

Bev and Linda visted Al and Nina in Regina from July 16-19. They camped. Jerry visited me for a bit on the 17th and 18th.

The 10th Annual Family Reunion was a great success (if you don't factor in the weather... and we don't). This year we were at Smokey Hollow Resort in Onanole.. One highlight was the list of memories generated. That and pictures are posted on the website.

On July 6, Pam, Brian and some some of their friends visited Gimli, and dropped by for a bit.

Gwen and Marty visited on the 29th. Marty was working in the Gimli area for the week.

August

On August 30th Jonah, we went to Regina. We had a nice visit with Dad, Nina, & Carolyn  Sat. & Sun night. Geoff & Lyndsey came on the 31st for Tara & Adam's wedding. We all met a Perkins for breakfast on the Monday. Jonah went back with Geoff, while we spent another 2 nights,  also visiting Grant & Carol one night. We worked in Birtle on the return trip, staying overnight in Neepawa & working in Carberry the next day before finally coming home on the 4th.

We worked in Gladstone on August 27 and stopped to take a good look at the piers near Matlock.  Each year they erect several of these wooden structures,  and they have become a bit of a "thing."



More Photos...

Gwenda and Dennis were here for a few nights. (Aug 20,21,22) We got some beach weather,  ate a whole bunch, and visited the Maritime Museum at Selkirk.

Cynthia and Renna came up for the day(Aug 10th) . It turned out to be a great beach day.

We took a work trip to Carberry and Gladstone, staying overnight at Donna and Dave's on August 1.  The next day we brought Jonah back with us for the weekend. Jonah got to see the world's largest mosquito!  He was enthralled.




.Jonah came back with us for a week's holiday the next week. On the way home we had a nice supper at Geoff's then Jonah, Geoff,  Bev & I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the MTS Centre.   They are long-time favorites of ours,  and it was a great show - the only chance we'd  had to see them.to that point.  We also took in a Def Leppard concert and a Blue Bomber game the next day!



Paul, Tina and the kids dropped by on the long weekend.

I  spent several days on the road doing preliminary meetings with local councils etc. and work on the Heritage Inventory project is well under way.

September

We did quite a bit of field work in September, trying to get it all done while the weather was good. On Saturday, September 13 we set out for Boissevain, staying overnight at Linda and Ron's.  On Sunday we stopped at Baldur and Belmont before viewing some historic locations south of Boissevain and beginning our survey in the town. By Tuesday at noon we had finished Boissevain and set out for Virden, spending the night with Gwenda and Dennis after getting a start on Virden. We then took a much needed!!! break and spent a few days with Donna and Dave at their time-share at Riding Mountain Park before heading home on Saturday.



Clear Lake

On Wednesday of the next week we set out again to complete the work in Virden. That took until late Friday and we were just able to catch the Bomber game and some leftover pizza at Jerry's. On Saturday we had brunch with Mom and Jonah,  did a bit of work in the Carberry area, then headed to Winnipeg for the Sheryl Crow concert. We had supper with Geoff and Ryan.


October

The views of late fall sunrises from our balcony were good this year.

I was teaching another round of the Para-Educator Certificate courses at Selkirk, starting October 6. That kept me busy on-and-off until mid- January. The field work for the Heritage Inventory Project was done and Bev & I  were working away at the paperwork in their spare time.

On Oct.1 we hiked along the beach at Camp Morton. We made a quick tour of the Interlake on October 2, with the goal being Steep Rock on Lake Manitoba. On October 5 we were able to get a few pictures of the Kiteboarders.



November

Nice storm on Nov. 6 & 7. Nice that is if you don't have to go anywhere! Also, nice sunrises during the freeze-up this year.

December (08)

Christmas was quiet this year. Jonah visited us for a few days, then on the 25th we took him back to Brandon where we stayed  at the Royal Oak Inn. We had breakfast on Boxing Day with Grant, Carol and Mum before heading home.

Bev started a new job at the local Sears Store, which she enjoyed. I was a bit busier than expected, having taken on some extra work for Red River College, and having already started on a second contract with the Heritage Resources Dept.

My 60th Birthday was celebrated in style. Geoff and came out and stayed over, then Jerry, Donna, Dave, Tim, Debbie and Mom made a surprise visit. My thanks to everyone. It was a special and memorable birthday weekend.