Tag: marriage

60th

Our family and where we grew up.

A very eventful weekend. All of the kids came home to celebrate Lisa’s Mom and Dad’s 60th wedding anniversary. As well, Friday night was the opening of an exhibit at Pynelogs Cultural Centre that I have several photos on display.

Dave and Florence, Mom and Dad, have been married 60 years. Incredible! They are wonderful loving roll models in our family. They demonstrate daily how to treat each other with respect, how to work hard and how important family is. We are all as proud of them as they are of us. To be all together to celebrate such a special occasion was significant for each of us. We took pictures, had a BBQ with plenty of food, laughed, watched the dogs play and cried happy tears, knowing how special these times are.

The art show was great. Plenty of familiar faces that put me at ease. Deb, Kurt and Brian provided the fantastic music which also eased my mind. It was so good to have my Sister and Brother there to share their musical gift. 

None of the weekend would have been possible for me without Lisa’s encouragement and constant optimism, who I thank and love. With luck and good health, maybe someday we will celebrate our 60th. 

meteor, snow, fox, shopping, driving

The Lyrids fly tonight, unfortunately it is socked in with clouds. The Lyrids Meteor Shower can be a good one. Although not known for large numbers, about 20 an hour, the meteors can be bright and stretch across the sky. I saw one a few years ago that lit up the trees around me, an amazing sight in the dark of night.

A quick trip into and back from the city today. The Trans Canada highway has been diverted through Kootenay National Park while work is being done on the #1 near Golden. Lisa counted 65 semi trucks going the opposite way between Radium and Castle Junction (approx. 100km). This was at 5:30 in the morning. On the way home at 7pm on the same stretch she counted 145.

We saw a lot of precipitation, snow, sleet, rain. When we arrived in Calgary the flakes were as big as silver dollars. I had to put the truck in 4 wheel just to get around the parking lots.

A remarkable site on the way in, near Hector’s Gorge, a Red Fox, beautiful in the morning light, a full tail as long as the rest of its body. Remarkable, because this area has never had foxes, however, sightings have started to become common. This is the first fox Lisa and I have seen. They will have to get along with the Coyotes and Wolves. From what I understand they won’t attack dogs so Willow won’t have to worry.

No trip to the big city is complete without a trip to Costco, or as I like to refer to it the 10th level of hell. Parking, crowds, gluttony, anger. My goal is to get in and out as fast as I can. Lisa gives me a list, she has her own, mine is garbage bags, fruit, parmesan cheese and toilet paper. I am in and out like a wedding dink, back in the truck trying to figure a way out of the parking lot.

Back home we noticed we did not get much moisture.

Everything is getting faster while we slow down. I demanded Lisa turn off Siri giving directions, because it was confusing me. That was a mistake and costed us some time.

Lisa ribbed me. Even asked if I wanted her to drive. Jesus!

Early April

Scarlett helping with the seedlings.

Grey days, typical for April. Lisa and I wondered the creek both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. It was good to be out.

We don’t get as much done on the weekend as we used to, but I like to think we take care of the important stuff.

Willow makes the best of her time on the trail beside the creek.

The kids came over yesterday. Scarlett hasn’t been feeling well. It was good to see she was feeling better. She and Cooper helped me take the seedlings from their starter trays and put them in individual pots. Not my favourite part of gardening. I only start plants I can’t get at the nursery. It is a necessary annoyance. Keeping plants alive until they are ready to be planted in the garden is a chore. I am depended on for water, heat and the right light. The plants should realize like everyone else in my life, I just ain’t that dependable!

Cooper helps with planting.

Haven’t found any wood ticks yet. The garden is waiting to be turned over. The ice is off the small part of the lake. Sap is in the spruce needles and smell good when squeezed between your fingers.

An Eagle, tail feathers in the sun and head in the shade, hunting the fields. Lisa had to be quick to get this shot.

Lisa and I had an argument coming out of the mountains.

Lisa said, You saw a chickadee in the trees beside the creek, coming up, maybe it will be there again.

I said, No it was a chicken.

Lisa said, You said chickadee.

I said, I know what I saw. It was a chicken, a grouse to be exact.

Lisa said, You said chickadee. I was looking for a chickadee.

I answered adamant, No I didn’t. Why would I even point out a chickadee?

Lisa said, Well that’s what you said… maybe you’re starting to stutter.

It is impossible to win an argument with Lisa.

Very fine weekend.

Willow will jump into Lisa’s arms when she asks.

Proposal

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Damn good hike. I’m not used to hiking with so many people, but it was worth it. The dogs got along, that’s important. We headed where I left a coffee cup, used for booze, a few years before. It’s not like me to leave anything behind.

The hills are steep, they always will be.. The snow, hard from the slide, unforgiving, slippery if not careful.

Hunter had it planned. Bree’s Mom and Dad, sister and husband were along. Lisa and I played dumb. Not hard for me.

I was up the week before to check the trail. The snow was hanging on. I figured right, it would be mostly gone by Canada Day, I always think it wouldn’t take many years of chilly weather before the glaciers grew back. It’s too bad we measure everything in lifetimes.

When the time was right Hunter asked his soul mate to spend the rest of their lives together.

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Lisa said from the first time she met Bree she knew her and Hunter would be together forever.

To be able to share such a special day was wonderful.

late July wedding

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Smokey skies but nothing like last year at this time. There s a few fires burning close by. The garden is bone dry and I’m up late trying to get some water on it with a hose and antique cast sprinkler. It is low and does a good job.

Lisa and I photographed a wedding today. It has been awhile since we have done one. We used to do a lot. We were very good at it. We both like doing them. Some photographers dislike doing them, thinking they should be shooting for National Geographic instead. I always felt we were documenting the start of the Bride and Grooms family history. Someday the pictures would be looked at by their grandkids. We wanted them to see the day as it was. The love, the awkwardness at times, the heat or cold and their friends and family. We also wanted to show their connection to the land and each other.

Like I said it’s been awhile but it was like riding a bike. Lisa didn’t miss a shot during the ceremony and moved things along during the portraits making sure the kids and elderly were done first so they could seek shade.

It all came back in a hurry. The beautiful couple with their two small kids was dearly in love. We were honoured to document and share their day. The endeared themselves to Lisa and I when they confessed their rings cost $13 each on Etsy.

Talking about being in love. Hunter and Bree are out from Calgary. I cooked a few steaks on the BBQ with fresh potatoes, carrots and squash from the garden. It was a feast. It is good to have them out.

The valley is busy. Plenty of traffic. Crazy drivers. All in a hurry to have fun. Ambulances going out all day and medic helicopters coming in to take the wounded back to Calgary.

I am getting used to it as I get older. There was a time everything about the crowds burned my ass. Now I’m glad they stay shopping in the valley bottom. There is still plenty of room on the backroads.

The moon is bright same as mars. Very fine day.