Me and Some Friends of Mine

At Ptarmigan on the Highwood Pass

Maggie going on 30.



Endless wrestling, these two were deserted by their mother and have ingratiated themselves into the human domain.
Couldnt be becaused they are so darned cute.

He looks so much like my Ginger.

A day with the Girls

It was a sunny hot day and apparently the hat was essential

Until the new skirt appeared and hat was off

This series of pictures cracked me up. She was watching her first Disney Winnie the Pooh and Tiger movie. I am glad no one photographs me when I am watching a movie. So much emotion,,



The trestle bridge

Quite a wonder trip. The weather is wonderful and sunny

Tonight we may get lucky and see the stars on our eay back to Melfort. Right now we are at Bennys bistro in Nipawin. Wow are we impressed. Fantastic food. B is eating baby back ribs and enjoying himself so much he wont look up from his grub.

Our wonderful city on a summer night

I have never before had a camera that would take pictures as amazing as these from the distance that I was from the event and through the hazy moist light conditions that I shot them. It was just a a simple Point and Shoot Nikon Coolpix S9100.
The event was the Calgary Stampede Fireworks show which this year was coordinated with music and lit from 5 locations across the city providing a view to every resident. Well sort of. If you didn't have a deck or a window facing the right way then you had to drive somewhere that did. However we did and from the distance of Heritage Park to Douglasdale and a lucky break between the trees I had this view on 22x Zoom. Amazing. The only thing I had to do is move my finger at lightning speed.

yahoo bull riding

Both definitions of the word 'yahoo' apply.

1. 'Yahoos'--- Drunk fake cowboys attending the bull riding contest held at the Ranchmans' saloon parking lot behind their building which to our good fortune adjoins our office building. Dangling from the structure of the bleachers, rowdy enebriated office drones leered at the women and roared at the bulls and drank way too much beer. We watched the event from our rooftop. I could only stand so much before I left.
2. 'Yahoo'--The only word that doesn't sound slurred when the speaker is drunk.

Serious cowboys. The winners of this event will go to Las Vegas  for the National Bull Riders events after the Stampede.

This is the 100th year of the Calgary Stampede. My family have been going to it for over 90 of those years according to my aunt. Not consecutively but on and off since it began. Both for entertainment and for agricultural shows.

The best score I heard before I left was 84.5

They cynched this bull too tight and his front ankles buckled. They took the ropes off and fooled around with him but he was taking the night off. Eventually the gate was opened and he watched the event for a while lying down and when his friend bucked off a rider, Animal or lazy bones got up and sauntered out with him.

Under a tree

No birds visit for a drink. But maybe the rabbits and squirrels will

Whale watching

Off of the point in Yachats Oregon. We had just had a lovely Italian meal at Heidi's and while walking the dog we spied a whale. Camera shy as all whales are it was hard to get her on film but she obliged somewhat.

Later at our very quaint mid century motor lodge on the water, we shared a beer and a glass of wine some snacks and some sharp cold wind. In our room there was a very quaint metal efficiency kitchen. I thought it was really cute and charming. Louise thought it reminded her of the tiny little kitchen her mother turned out the family meals from in Holland. One picture is the kitchen closed and then the next open to reveal a fridge, stove, cook top, sink, and storage. I think this is where Fisher price got the idea. Even the round glass shower was retro and very mid centry. Built in 1947 and hardly changed. The horse shoe pit and outdoor bowling lane awaits. Great location on the ocean. A fabulous beach.