Canada Day

Sylvia and I spent part of Canada Day up in Clearwater at an event where we sold some of our stuff.  I made $48 selling my cards... and spend $35 on a dark chocolate box filled with chocolates!! YUM! (I have only part of the box left... Wim is helping me eat it.)

It was clear in Barriere when we left in the morning for Clearwater, but overcast in Clearwater and a little chilly.  By the time we left it was finally starting to clear up and warm up.  Oh well, as least we sold enough to make the trip worth while... and it was fun.

Dress Like a Scarecrow Day, Aug 26, 2010

Thursday was Dress Like a Scarecrow Day in Barriere, BC. The Labour Day weekend brings the 61st Annual North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo and the whole town is gearing up for this big event. The Fair brings around 10,000 people into Barriere for the weekend and is the single biggest event every year for the municipality... and a whole lot of fun!

Thursday was a perfect chance for me to wear my tie outfit. I made the skirt years ago, and Sylvia just recently finished off the top. (I had sewn the ties together into panels and then gotten stuck on how to turn it into a top.)

Until further notice, this will be the picture for my blog.

Loretta, you may recognize the crow scarecrow on my hat... it's the one you gave me attached to a present a year or two ago.

Celebration of the Arts

At the Celebration of the Arts, June 5th & 6th, Sylvia and I shared a tent. I sold my cards - and sold $137.00 of them over the 2 days! Sylvia sold aprons, blankets, hats and all sorts of ladies accessories. She sold over $200.00 worth!

stormy weather

The last few nights there have been lightning storms here in Barriere. Monday evening in particular, the storm blew in around 5:30-ish. We were sitting down at the kitchen table finishing dinner, when the trees by the driveway started waving like crazy. Moments later it started pelting down rain and then the thunder started. Just after 6:00 or so there was one particularly loud and rumbly roar of thunder.
...
Then I went to the District Council meeting at 6:45 and heard that a lightning strike took out all the electrical equipment at the pumphouse. The pumphouse is where the water is pumped out of the wells and/or reservoir into the Barriere water system. Until all the damaged electronics get replaced, they will have someone there 24/7 to do everything manually.

Olympic Torch Relay in Barriere BC

WOW!

What an event!




This was exciting and exhilarating and... every other good adverb you can think of!

I took 228 pictures plus the above posted 5 minute video clip. My apologies that the clip is a bit jiggly, but it was hard to keep steady in the crowd. There must have been around 500 people just around the stage area itself.

While there was a rumour that there would be protesters there, none showed up that I could see (thank goodness). With it happening right across the street from the Elementary school, all the kids were out to join in the fun. Unfortunately for the Secondary students, this was the day for Provincial Exams and they had to stay in class.

First, at about 8:40, some native drummers did a song for us (very cool!); then a native elder (I missed getting her name) said a prayer in simpc; then the Pastor of St Paul's United Church lead a prayer. There was the usual intro of VIP's. Then the TORCH came and everyone sang O Canada! (Halfway through I got a severe case of WOW and couldn't sing for a bit.)

Afterward lots of games for the kids.

Lunch at the Seniors Hall - excellent food! Thank you Station House Restaurant! YUM!

At 1pm at the Elementary school there was an assembly and the awarding of tons of gold, silver, and bronze medals.

For any family members reading this - I have burnt several CD's with all the pics & the video clip - let me know if you want one.

Little Fort Ferry Slip on January 1st 2010

On January 1st 2010, I had to cover the Polar Bear Swim for the Star Journal (the newspaper I write for), and while I was there anyways, I took some scenery pictures, too.

This first one is of the Ferry.

These next two are the best of the rest of the scenery pictures. I just love the old dead tree sticking up out over the river, all covered in snow.
The close up is even better, I think.

About the Polar Bear Swim - 25 insane people took the plunge. My photos and write up made front page news, though, so I'm pleased!

(These Canadians are crazy, eh!)

Foresters Christmas Dinner & Train Ride

On December 13th, Wim, dad & I went to the Foresters Christmas Event. It started with a train ride (with Santa, Scrooge, and a bunch of mischievous elves)... here are a few pics of the train and a very short video clip of it.

It was a very cold night - and windy (which of course made it that much colder). We started out all crammed in together inside a lovely large tent. They had a group singing Christmas carols - you can just see them in the far corner in this picture - and they served hot chocolate and tea to keep everyone warm.
We had to wait a bit for a freight train to pass, before we could board.


Getting dad on and off the train went pretty well, just the first step getting on, and the last step getting off was tricky.

When I mentioned above that the elves were mischievous - I meant it! One in particular really liked Wim's beard - said it reminded her of Santa - and advised him to keep himself nice & warm and pulled his toque down over his eyes!


Wim got her back though! When he spotted her coming back down the isle, he pulled the toque back down. When she saw it, she laughed and pulled it back up for him and said - she just wanted him to keep warm and not to look silly!

After the train ride, we went to "Storms" - a restaurant - for a buffet dinner. Very yummy food!
I didn't take many pictures inside the train - the lighting was a bit weird - I'll just post the one....

And Still More Community Garden

More Community Garden

Community Garden Flowers

These are photos of flowers growing in Barriere's Community Garden.

I'm a member of the Garden Club and on nice days we have the meetings at the communtiy garden.

These were taken about 2 weeks ago.

Aren't they lovely!