Luckybeans

Kootenay Lake

So. Last month when we disappeared? We were busy doing stuff. Fun stuff. Lots of it. So much fun stuff that I have had a backlog of photos and am only just getting around to posting it. 

We went up to Kootenay Lake. Simon's Uncle has his childhood cabin up there, and is an idyllic spot for a gathering of family. I could go on and on, but that isn't really the point here. The point is to throw up a bunch of snapshots (some of which I didn't even take, and can't remember who did) and hopefully remember what a grand time we had.

A lot of time was spent puttering and playing in the water. The lake was record high, and absolutely freezing. Didn't deter the cousins at all-- even the Zambian ones.

Uncle Rick et al built Ray rafts.

Everyone loved the kayaks.

Grown up types were more wary of the water, so spent more time chatting. Although the children managed a bit of hanging out themselves.

And of course there were croquet games that ended, as often as not, in tears; and lawn mowing escapades that did not.

It rained. Enough to keep a woodfire going to dry laundry, huddle up under the overhang, spend a bit of time crafting, learn new card games from Auntie Sue, and watch far too many terrible vieos with Cousin Michael. But not enough to dampen spirits.

One day saw all of the cousins and a lot of us adults trek up to the Kokanee glacier. Such good little hikers, fuelled by Miss Vickie's.

And worth it to play with snow in tshirts!

Somebody also had a birthday.

It was a real party, with balloons and sparklers (aka magic wands) and hot dogs and special presents like harmonicas, rocket launchers and books written just for (and about) you.

It was really a rather splendid place to be. 

 

 

It's Been a While

...since our last bubblegum blowing contest. The last one was, if I recall correctly, at least six years ago and Bella was the one spitting out gum wads instead of bubbles (HA! found it in the archives here! Although it was only five and a half years ago). 

Anyway, that's one to check off the summer wall "to do" list.

Also, sorry to those of you who follow me on instagram. That was a lot of bubbles (and I now realise I really should have used the same filter for all of them. Live and learn, I suppose). And Ana took one of the photos. In case you were wondering. I'll leave it to you to determine which one.

We went camping.

We set up a tent on the banks of a river.

We sat by fires, read a lot, knitted, whittled, said morning prayers by the river, chopped firewood to the best of our abilities, stayed snuggled into our sleeping bags until the air had warmed significantly, then huddled over tea and porridge.

We were situated close to Camp Sherman, which meant plenty of ice cream runs and smelling the ponderosa pines.

We spent a lot of time on trails that led us to magical, mystical places like this:

Some of us also spent a lot of time doing things like this:

Or this:

It all went smoothly and well despite nighttime temperatures dipping perilously close to freezing, and the repacking of the tent. On our way home we stopped by the Powderhouse trail.

It was lovely. All of it (minus the repacking the tent bit. Although Asher may have learned some choice new vocabulary).