Our Youngest.

Ashley on the left and Kelsey on the right. Ashley is now 13 and in grade 8 an honor student with A's & B's, she's a bit of a fire ball with more energy than the rest of us and especially Don and I! A great kid, thoughtful and caring.

Kelsey is 15 in grade 10, also an honor student with A's & B's. Laid back and easy going. A real big help to me. She is the major helper around here.

Both these girls are a total joy in our lives and it's been fun getting a second kick at the cat at raising up two more children, now that I know a little bit more!

What's so good about winter!!

It's not the snow. It's not -30c. brrrrr cold. Not the power going out when it's -30c and your water pump freezes up and your hot water pipes under the house freeze up. It's definately not the packing water twice a day to the mule and chickens. But I have to admit, it sure is pretty.

FAMILY GATHERING 2009

On the long weekend in August, that's July 31, August 1, 2 & 3 2009 we will be holding a family gathering here at the farm.

Camping: A section of our field will be prepared for those with campers, trailers and motorhomes, another for those tenting it. Close to water and outhouse (it's super clean!)

Things to do: Fishing at Dunn Lake, Star Lake, Thompson, Raft & Clearwater rivers. Hiking at the different falls or right behind our place. Swimming at Dutch Lake. Viewing at the three different falls (see pictures at one of my other posts). We also have a creek through our place.

Food for sharing: if each family were to bring for sharing; 1 dozen pop or juice, bag of chips or something in that catagory, 1 dozen cookies or squares, a box of crackers of some sort and some kind of cheese. Our water is great. Nice cold well water.

Dishes: each family will need whatever kind of dishes for the weekend for all meals.

Food: each family will need to bring Friday dinner, Saturday & Monday breakfast and lunch for Saturday.

Pot Luck: We'll be providing the pig for roasting over the open fire for Saturday dinner, we could use a variety of salads and goodies/munchies. We'll also be providing a huge turkey for Sunday dinner also cooked over the fire and Breakfast on Sunday. What salads we don't use on Saturday will work for this meal. Left overs for Lunches and those heading out on the road. I'll also provide buns.

Music: There will be a stage of sorts set up for the musicians among us. So bring your instruments.

Sports: Baseball area will be cleared, croquet, boche ball, badminton, horseshoe pitch and a good old water balloon fight.

Church: as there are many of you who participate in church activities, perhaps a non-denominational service held here.

Activities for young ones: The littler ones need things to do as well, I'd really appreciate if a few of you younger moms would step up to the plate and organize a few things, wheelbarrow races, etc. craft table, a table loaded with colouring books, crayons and paper. If you have scraps of stuff that the kids could use for creating that would be great. Just e-mail me those of you that wish to volunteer for this possition so that I can get you all together via e-mail and here.

So pencil this event on your calendars and lets have some fun.





These pictures are from our gathering in 2005.

Well's Gray Park

It was a rainy day but pictures of the falls still turned out nice.

Spahats Fall

Dawson Falls

Helmcken Falls

Life on the Farm

Here's the critters we currently have, besides the kids! Kelsey and Ashley are holding my cat Archie.

Ashley with her kitten Shadow.

Kelsey with her kitten Tommy.

Now this is truly life on the farm!

Turkey chicks, bronze, they'll look like the wild

turkey's.

Our nephew Robert with the pigs.

Violin

Don has been teaching himself to play the violin. This gives the song "I'm in the Jailhouse now." a whole new set of lyrics!

Sevec French Exchange Program

Kelsey went to St.Ceasar Quebec in early May on an exchange program called Sevec, this was done through her French class at school and several of the kids participated. Then last week Laurieanne and her classmates came to Clearwater, as Kelsey spent her week at Laurieanne's house she spent her week at ours on the farm. They had a great time in both Quebec and BC. Quite an experience for Kelsey who is quite shy but is coming out of it, so when she said she would like to take this trip we made it possible, that was a big step for her. Then when the Quebec students were here they got to go to Jasper for a couple of days and see lots of sites there as well as here.

NorthThompson Driving School

After spending 3 weeks in Vancouver taking the driving instructor course, I passed and Don and I are now both instructing for our school.

I was quite proud of my certificate. These pictures are of our truck.

Ophelia Jane Kenyon

Ophelia Jane Kenyon was born March 5, 2008 and is the newest child for Mike and Nikki. As you can see, big sister Kaya and big brother Keidis are pretty pleased with their new baby sister.

Still Got What It Takes!!

93 and still can lay on the charm! These two young ladies thought a lot of my Dad and really enjoyed being in his company. Allison on the left and April on the right.

Flowers and plants.....

Friends in Mexico

Over the years we have met many people in Melaque. Everyone enjoys re-uniting every year at Vista Hermosa Hotel. Here are some of our friends.

Dad with Donna Sweeny, Donna and husband Jim have been coming to Vista Herosa for 20 years.

Liela Boss-Taylor is one of Dad's oldest friends from Vista Hermosa, Leila and her late husband Joe started coming to Vista Hermosa 38 years ago, Mom and Dad started 36 years ago.

Dad, Avelina (pronounced Abelina), son Marc-Antonio (Marco), husband Marc-Antonio and her aunt Maria. When Avelina's mother was expecting her, Mom predicted a girl, when this actually occured she made Mom and Dad the godparents of Avelina, she is now 27 years old and studying to be a Marine Biologist, she graduates this June then will continue for two years on her Masters. Maria has been a maid here at Vista Hermosa for about 40 years as was her mother and Avelina's mother. We have become good friends and almost family to this family.

Heather and Don Sprout from Sayward BC on Vancouver Island have also been coming to Vista Hermosa for many years. To the right is the youngest daughter of the owner, Anna-Paula standing beside her is her husband Jared.

Left to right: Isabelle (Wife of the owner of Vista Hermosa), Anna long time visitor to the hotel, Leila and Barbara (also a very long time visitor)

Constitution Day Parade

Constitution Day

Today is Constitution Day in Mexico which is similar to our Canada Day. Here in Melaque they had a small perade that was actually pretty good. See pictures in the slide show.
Was sick for a few days but seem to be on the mend. Have discovered a fantastic massage lady and have been twice now. She is really good. I feel so pampered!!
Temperatures are now constantly around 82f. and up to about 86f. some days, a cool wind comes up around 3pm and it is chilly in the mornings, enough for me to wear a sweater.

Sun Rises and Sun Sets

Sun Rises and Sun Sets

I never tire of the beautiful sunrises. I am up every morning watching the sun come up over the hills. It is a bright pink when it first peeks over the hills then changes to orange then yellow. Sometimes the sky line is a soft pink/lilac colour then a mist sets in over the water that gives the appearance of a black and white photo then the pink again as the sun begins to peek.
Sun sets are beautiful here too but I have not yet seen a spectacular one like they do have. It stays light out now about 7:30 the sun comes up about 7:30 in the morning.

Chief Of The Kenyon Clan

Albert Kenyon was born December 4, 1914 in Preston, Lancashire, England. Since the age of 2 years he has been living in Ladysmith, BC. These pictures were taken in Melaque today Jan. 27, 2008. The one on the left he is standing in front of the palm tree he planted himself in 2002 from a seed. Dad is 5'8" so you can see how well it has done since he planted that tiny seed. On the right he is enjoying his 4pm cocktail, one daily is what he allows himself! Sometimes it stretches to two!!