Sunday, March 20, 2011

Inukshuk

Inuit people for centuries have erected stone inukshuk in the tundra to mark the "roads" or safe passages between places, and to welcome others to their lands. They also mark lands of tribes. Some are erected to honor or revere great people.

This one, made of packed snow from a shoveled driveway, was made by Samuel to welcome Michelle and I home from an out of town trip. It was really cool to see what the boys had done. Joseph shoveled our friends driveway, and made one inukshuk, but he toppled over. So Samuel pitched in. What a cool thing to see on your return.




Cupcakes from our next door neighbor. She is 14 and hand decorated each of these to look like flowers, which are still months away from appearing in Fort Mac. As we heard in Stake Conference today, it may be the first day of Spring, but it is not the first Spring Day, yet, still...

Channelling Don Aguilar in Fort Mac, at our home evening

Samuel and his friend Bailey singing a duet at our Second Annual Ward Variety Show.

"The reason the Nintendo game cube sold so poorly upon its release to the public was that it was not made out of meat. A meat game cube would have saved the game cube, and changed the history of gaming forever." - Samuel

Bannock Burgers for dinner - courtesy of Chef Boy-Are-These-Good.

Samuel posing with his "graduation" quilt from his grandmother. This pattern is a Carpenter's Star. One of the green fabrics is called Halloween. It has tiny pumpkins, witches, ghouls, etc. in the print. Granna has made all the children a quilt.

Joseph with his double Celtic chain from Granna. She drove from Albuquerque to Mesa to see Alan last week to give him these beautiful handmade quilts for the boys. She is a wonderful grandmother - almost as good as the wonderful mother she is.

Samuel with his new rocker board. He saved all hos money to buy the new board, and really like the ease with which it spins and jumps and does tricks before it ejects him to the snow in a heap. (just kidding about that last little part.) He is really good on the slopes, even if his friends call him slow.

Teaching the next generation to pass the rugby ball.

Chef-Boy-Are-These-Good trying his hand at enchiladas for the first time. Michelle was his sous chef, chopping and prepping. The chef assembled a delicious meal that we shared with the missionaries and a new member of our Ward from Puebla, Mexico. He will not starve as a college student, or missionary. His companions and roommates will appreciate his skills (which are way better than his bow staff skills, BTW)
to be continued...

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Winter Play

This last week, all the school teachers in Alberta have been at the annual Teacher's Convention, so, as the saying goes, the mice have played. One day they went to the ski hill for $5 day. $5 lift tickets, $5 rentals on equipment, $5 tube hill pass, $5 hot dogs (just kidding on the last one)

Another day they went to see the ice sculptures (Joseph took a date!)

Today, they went to Heritage day.

Before they got stuck to the sign.

Making old fashioned maple snow taffey. You start with fresh 100% pure maple syrup, add nothing, heat to 232 F, pour on well packed snow, freeze for 25 seconds, roll on Popsicle stick, eat. It helps if the outside temp is below freezing too, but it is not required.

Near the finish of the ice track. similar to a luge track, but the youth and children use magic carpets, not sleds.

Our new car. 6 dog power, convertible. No radio to distract the young drivers.

The dog harness. The ribbons are more than decoration. They also help identify the team and musher. This musher is Native from Fort Chipewan (about 400 km north of here) He competed in a 3 day race earlier in the week from Fort Mac to Fort Chip.

It was a tight fit. About as much leg room as the back seat of a 911.

Getting ready for rugby season. The boys are really looking forward to the snow melting this year. They play indoor touch right now, and are hoping to get the team together for a Sevens tournament in Jasper this spring.

On the way to practice.

It is that time of year again. Presenting the 23rd annual German Chocolate Cake to celebrate a certain cumpleanos. We will alert the fire department tomorrow night before we light the candles. (just kidding) You should come on over for a bite of cake after church tomorrow. Monday will be too late to get a bite. We'll miss you.
Hugs and Kisses,
to be continued...