Grandma's Glasses

My granddaughter has always loved to wear my reading glasses...

She still does!

(I'm constantly misplacing them, so I have a lot lying around!!)

New Neighborhood Cat

There's a new cat in our neighborhood -"Levi."

He likes to hunt birds!

I stood in shock watching him go after two that barely escaped... or maybe one didn't! They both limped away.

So fast... and skillful!

A reminder that - if you're an animal - it's a jungle out there!

Bathroom Signage

I  love these bathroom signs I came across at a small coffee shop with two private bathrooms...

So cute!

Yes! The two most important things: Feel safe - this is for everyone ... And don't forget to wash your hands!

Saying "Goodbye"

It was time to say goodbye to the mountains...

Goodbye to the carefully tended flowers...

And the sleeping neighborhood... (5 am!)

Goodbye to our hospitable relatives! We had so much fun here!

Thank you for inviting us!

Thank you for the wonderful time!

Celebration!

My aunt and uncle were celebrating 65 years of marriage...

Their party was held in the dining room of a summer camp - in a new building, part of which was still under construction. 

My uncle had wanted to have the event here, because it was a lovely venue. Also because his father - a carpenter - had been part of the original building team 70 years ago.

I had attended summer camp there as a child, sleeping on a mattress filled with straw in those early cabins. And at least one of my cousins had also attended camp there in later years.

The event was a sentimental reunion on many levels. 

A joyful event for many family and friends who came to celebrate! So glad I was able to come!

I wonder how many of us had attended the ORIGINAL EVENT... the wedding! I was there, as was my uncle Bob, Ron's younger brother.  We may have been the only two on Ron's side of the family - though a lot of nieces and nephews (whose parents were at the wedding) attended this anniversary celebration as well.

Park Playground

The "heart" of downtown Kelowna is the city park on the lake.

It's a large place, where people can play tennis or simply stroll near the water.

My grandkids enjoyed climbing on the play structures, while my cousin  Elizabeth looked on... 

Later we posed for a family picture on this "bear family" statue. (Thanks to Elizabeth for taking it!)

Being here brought back memories of my teenage years: lyng on the "hot sands" beach to "tan"; attending the annual high school spring track meet at a running track near the bridge. 

We didn't walk far enough to see if the track is still there... The day was hot and sunny.

So many memories! It was great to be back.

Mountain Neighborhood

It's always fun to return to the city where I spent my teenage years - where my parents continued to live into their 80's...

My parents always lived in the older, central part of town... in the valley.

The aunt and uncle we stayed with on this visit live on a mountain...

The views are spectacular!

I could sit here and admire them for hours!

Childhood Homes

On our recent trip to Kelowna, I revisited the homes where my family used to live...

My parents bought this house when we first moved to Kelowna in 1958. It was newly built at the time... but a long walk to the downtown school I attended. I can't remember if my brother walked to school as well. He would have been in grade 5 and his walk would have been just as far as mine.

When we lived there, the attached garage was an open carport. My family planted numerous trees - was this red maple planted by my dad?! I don't remember!

The second house we lived in was older - but only a block from our schools.Two of my cousins wanted to see it again, too. All three of us had our own fond memories of this home - which was painted white when my parents lived there.

We then went to see another former family home. My mother's older sister and her family were the first to move from Edmonton to Kelowna in the late 1940's. Others in the family followed in the 1950's. In her later years, my aunt lived in this house near the downtown city park. The house was sold over 20 years ago, when she died. The next owners renovated it...

When we arrived, we discovered that a Hallmark Christmas movie was being filmed on her street. In fact, her house was being used for filming the day we arrived!! 

We wandered around taking pictures...

What fun!

"I Can Do Anything"...

I was always happy that none of my kids were risk-takers...

Especially when friends' kids broke arms or legs while white-water rafting or rock climbing.

But now Jericho shouts: Grandma, I can do anything! - as he crosses an ornamental waterfall in my aunt and uncle's garden.

Fortunately the water isn't deep - but I would hate to have waterfall or boy sustain any injuries, especially on my watch.

Be careful! I yell at Jericho. Don't fall off the ledge!

Falling doesn't hurt, my uncle adds. 

But landing on the stones might!

Baby Deer

The first day we arrived in British Columbia, my cousin Cathy discovered a young fawn curled up in her yard...

Not something we see everyday - so we were both curious and hesitant...

Was it alive? Was the mother nearby or had she abandoned the fawn? Should we call the SPCA or the city?

I wanted to take a picture. My granddaughter was concerned that the baby was dying.

What to do?!

A deer watched us, then hid when we approached. Was this the mother?!

The next morning, the fawn was curled up in a different place in the yard - so we knew it was able to move. By the third day, it was gone... 

(But there were plenty of others around!) It was definitely deer country!

Flying Out West

A few weeks ago, I flew to British Columbia with my grandkids and their parents for a family celebration.

We were planning to join cousins from Alberta and the Vancouver area as we celebrated an uncle and aunt's 65th wedding anniversary.

It's always fun to fly over the Rockies.

It was also fun to return to the Okanogan Valley, where I spent my high school years.

Terry doesn't enjoy flying - so he stayed home.

Great Idea!

Don't know if it's true - but HEY! It must be! I saw it online!

Do they - or did they - really build "cat ladders" onto walls of apartment buildings in Switzerland?! I don't know. But it looks like a great idea! (Here in Canada, raccoons would be using them too...)

I did see pulleys for hoisting bulky furniture through windows in some old buildings in Amsterdam.

People have come up with some interesting ideas!