Home Again

Gas in Edmonton was 69.9 per litre.  Ours is 94.9 but I'm not complaining.  In fact, I filled up!

Temperature in Edmonton was 10 degrees Celcius.  In Whitehorse it was hovering around the 0 degree mark until I arrived home.  Then it dropped.  Was around -33 C with the wind chill but we did have beautiful blue skies and should stay at around -20 C for the next week (not counting wind chill).  Oh well, we do have warm houses and warm clothes.  That's what the north is about.

While I was gone it did snow and snow and snow.  Thanks to Seven (my neighbour) my driveway was cleared of snow when I returned.  The roads were full of snow though.  A few days after my arrival the snow ploughs came to clear the road.  They started before 8 AM to move the snow.

By 10 AM the piles were getting pretty high and continued through the day to pile up.  By the next day, all that snow was trucked away.  Good job City!

Edmonton

Then it was off to Edmonton to visit little Jenny and her family.  Even though she was in the midst of packing in order to quickly move to a new house once they found one that suited them, she opened her doors for her old aunt and welcomed me for a few days.

           

We  visited a few shops (including Costco ... yeah) crossed a few bridges - what would Edmonton be without crossing a few bridges?? - and made it as close as Whyte Ave to the actual downtown.

As I was not in need of anything in particular, the downtown was not a necessity.  I just wanted to spend time with Jenn and her family, which I did, had excellent meals, a comfy bed and good company.  Exactly what I desired.

Daws, who is now in Grade 9, actually had the Friday (my last day there) off.  It was great to see them and I am so glad I stopped along my way home.

Visit with Merv

We left Ancaster, SR dropped me off at an airport hotel, then they drove to the airport, boarded a plane and flew west.  I stayed in Toronto and met up with another 'ol bud, Merv!   She picked me up and off we drove.  We visited her mother at her new (new to me anyway) apartment.

Me and Merv's mom.

Merv and her mom.

We drove and visited 10 Spencely Court, my home from 1960 to 1971 and my parents' home to 2000!  It still looks the same today as it did when I lived there.

Then on to Westmount Park Road.  Dear Andrea's house.  Oh the parties we had there!

Our first school when I moved to Weston (now Etobicoke) - Valleyfield Junior School.  I was there for Grade 3, one year only then moved to Green Meadows Public School which was a bit closer to our house.  Merv and I both had Miss Carroll.  She was so nice and pretty.

Then we drove on to 30 Feltham Avenue.  I lived there from 2-1/2 years of age to 9 years of age.  A garage has been added as had awnings and the houses on both sides have been torn down and much bigger houses build, but the old abode looks much the same.

We then broke bread together (in a manner of speaking as I am wheat free and therefore bread free) then said our good byes for the time being.  It was great to visit with my high school friend.  Thanks Merv!

Still Ancaster

Just had to add the Kate photos.  First she received new moccasins, which she apparently loved.  (They did look great on her)

Then she focussed on the babies.  And especially Alanna.  She followed Alanna all over the house and Alanna was enthralled with Kate.  She smiled at Kate all night long.  In fact, Kate asked if the twins could sleep overnight at her house when they were 5 or 6 years old.

Four Generations

And finally, I think it was my friend Michele who suggested this photo.  FOUR GENERATIONS:
Mom, me, SR, Twins.  Thanks Michele!

Ancaster - once more

A few more group photos.  Sister Deb took holidays so she could spend time with us as did Sister Teri.  It is always great to spend time with them, just like the old days.  Will thought he was going to shock me with nose and ear piercings but I liked them, then he took them off - they were fake!

Little Shaun grew up and is now bigger than Aunt Debbie.  

And we usually get a photo of a couch full of people.  Age range in this one:  15 to 91!!

Ancaster

Ancaster

We flew into Toronto but our final destination was Ancaster, an hour away.  This trip was really to meet the twins.  So first,  baby photos.  

Sister Teri, being the excellent host she was, Kijiji'd two saucers which turned out to be a godsend!  The twins loved loved loved them and the adults loved loved loved putting the twins someplace they were happy.  It was so great for all.  Thanks Sis-Ter!

A big meet 'n greet was arranged and Aunt Liz meets Emerson (above).  The old and the new together was great to see.

Above is Alanna, all happy in her saucer as is Emerson, below.

I thought the babies would be spoiled forever as they always had arms to pick them up as soon as they squawked!  Oh, they deserve to be spoiled sometimes and it WAS a busy bustling environment for them, something they are not quite accustomed to.

Kristin came home from Ottawa to meet the twins, so we put her to work - a lot.

To January 15, 2015

Hi, 'n HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I'm finally back.  Here's the scoop.  As you may or may not know I was sort of crippled after my foot surgery.  I could not drive with a huge air cast on my right foot, but after about a month I thought my foot felt good enough to attempt to drive.  I couldn't do it with a huge cast on my right foot so I had to figure out how to drive - wear air cast to driver's seat in car, take off air cast and put on a moccasin {I know you cannot drive in bare feet in Canada but haven't seen any ruling for a moccasin}, drive carefully as my foot is still quite sore, arrive at destination, take off moccasin and put on air cast, walk to wherever I am going and back to car, take off my air cast, put on my moccasin, drive carefully ..... -  it was all very tiring and very disillusioning.  Consequently, I did as little as possible.  Then SR talked me into travelling to Toronto with his family, departing on the 15th of January.  The paperwork I had from the hospital re recuperation stated the air cast could be removed on the 15th of January.  All right!!!!  Then my surgeon said to keep it on till the 15th of February.  In any case, my foot was feeling pretty good, I could walk quite well with the cast on so off I went.  And, wearing an air cast at the airport is a good thing.  People help you, move out of your way, give you lots of room etc etc.  (I may keep it for future travel).  

So down to YVR to connect to the flight SR and family were taking (the red-eye!!).  As I had time between flights I contacted my 'ol friend Bev.  She met me and we dined at the White Spot in the airport - yes all you White Spot lovers, there is now one in Vancouver Airport!!  We had an excellent meal and a good chat to catch up with one another.  

Then it was off to wait for SR.  Bev stayed to see SR and to meet the twins and Brooke.  I lost SR et al when passing through Security at the airport.  They went into the fast lane with the babies and all their paraphernalia and I was in the slow line with all the other people trying to get through to their gates.  I met up with them on the way to our gate.  

SR had a chat with another man who also had twins while Emerson was relaxing in his new stroller.

The flight went well, both babies slept for most of the flight and we arrived in Toronto at 6AM the next morning.