The Canadian Turtles

Niagara Falls

2008-03-12T10:43:00.003-04:00

Niagara Falls Ontario Canada

Rainbow over The Falls

Churning Waters Below Falls

Chad, Rebekah, Chase & Grace

Karen all bundled up

Water above the falls filled with
chunks of ice.

Trees covered with ice, in the background,
from the mist of the falls

Chase loves the snow (or snowballs, as he called it)

Rainbow

Grampa trying to stay warm

On The Slopes

2008-03-12T10:25:00.006-04:00

On the slopes

Grampa & Chase ready to go down.

Gramma & Chase coming up the hill

Rebekah & Chase going down

Chad & Chase ready to go down

It is like sitting on the beach,

Just a little colder,

A few more clothes,

It is white and melts in your hands.

Chase having a blast

Gramma going down the slope

Gramma crashed!

Little Grace all bundled up

Mother & Son on her back going down

and...........

......crashed

Family Time

2008-03-12T10:04:00.004-04:00

Chad wanted snow when he got to
Canada. His philosophy is that if it is
going to be cold, it might as well be
really cold and lots of snow.

So, instead of digging in warm sand, he
got to blow lots of cold white snow.

I think that he actually enjoyed it.

That's one way to get your cheeks pinched.
I don't know what is the other!

Aunt Kim & Grace.

Uncle Dave & Chase

Chase exercising

Great Cousin Rebecca & Grace

Gramma sees potential.
She says; Chase got the touch

Aren't these boots a little big?

Uncle Dennis, Aunt Sue, Rebekah & Grace

Aunt Kathie & Grace

Great Grandmothers

2008-03-12T09:52:00.004-04:00

Here are a few pics with the Great Grandmothers
with their Great GrandChildren

Greatgrandmother S & Grace

Greatgrandmother B & Grace

Greatgrandmother B, Rebekah,
Chase & Grace

In Canada in the Snow

2008-03-11T18:45:00.004-04:00

From one extreme to the other

From warm Beach to cold Snow

Grampa & Chase
Rebekah & Grace & Chase
Chase almost buried

Great Grandma with Grace

Also in picture our one-of-a-kind Sister-in-law.

Chad and daughter

Final day at the Beach

2008-03-11T18:39:00.005-04:00

Our last opportunity this winter to be
at the beach.

at the ocean
building a sand slide
here he goes
let`s try it again

Chase at Grampa & Gramma Home

2008-03-11T18:25:00.004-04:00

Staying with Grampa & Gramma

help Grampa Fix something
Blowing up the ball
Kicking the ball to Gramma
Gramma & Chase on scooter
Chase and tricycle
an exausted little boy

and what about Gramma

Driving the truck

2008-03-11T18:20:00.002-04:00

All round boy!

He likes the outside shower.

In The Park

2008-03-11T18:10:00.002-04:00

A day in the park

on the swing
and swing
and climb
and ride
and slide
and keeping up ........

.....with the Chases

funny "bampa"

worn out

Chase loves blocks

2008-03-11T17:49:00.004-04:00

He piles them up

and piles them higher

and higher

and then with a fast and furious

twist and a big grin, he kicks, or

knocks the block tower over.

Biking with Chase

2008-03-11T17:30:00.005-04:00

Chase and Gramma under Palm Tree

Chase checking out the Pine Cones

"Poppo" & Chase

Chase loves bike riding!
"Gampa" & Chase

or riding on Gramma's bike with Grampa

He also loves the hammock

....and so does Karen

At The Beach

2008-03-11T17:09:00.005-04:00

We spent part of a saturday on the beach

in Jupiter Inlet.

Chase at bottom of sandhill

Chase climbing up sandhill

Chase on top of sandhill

Gramma & Grace
Beach Boy Chase

Karen on beach

Gramma & Chase

Fun with Chase

2008-03-11T16:51:00.004-04:00

Chase loves playing with blocks.

His favorite: "come bampa & poppo"..."p(l)ay"!

Chase other favorite is eating.

He loves fruits. Grampa peeling a banana.
He loves swinging in the hammock
Gramma's turn to play with the blocks

Chase is entertaining Gramma.

.....and eat some more.

Martin County Fair

2008-03-11T16:38:00.003-04:00

Gramma & Grace
Martin County Fair
Did Chase get his dad's keys?

Finally Independent
I will give u a ride, ma'm
Rebekah & Grace

Chad & Chase

Chase at 2 years old

Back on the East

2008-03-11T16:26:00.004-04:00

Back on the East Side of Florida
with our children and grandchildren.

Karen
Ghi's head

We thoroughly enjoy our little
camping spot very close to our
children (.9 mi)

St. Pete's and Tampa

2008-03-11T16:07:00.010-04:00

We spent a couple of weeks in St. Pete's, Fla.
During this time, Karen flew back home for a week to
take care of our elderly mothers,
and make sure that they were allright.

Here a few shots from the roof of the
parking area of Tampa International Airport

Southwest, the blue plane
with the orange tail was Karen's flight
Shuttle rail between main building and
flight terminal
Tampa Bay in background

In St. Petersburg, I volunteered a little time with some
maintenance at Camp Freedom. It was a hot day when
new sidewalks were installed.

Our First Meeting with Grace

2008-03-11T15:37:00.011-04:00

Soon after the first of the year,we headed south to Florida.
This time, no diddle-daddling. No stopping &
visiting. We wanted to see the new addition to the family.
...Our new granddaughter Grace.

We also wanted to catch up with our grandson, Chase, to see what
he is upto now. We had a blast. One thing that we did find out is
why one has children when you are young.

Well, we consider it exercise as well.

It was also great to spend some time with our son and daughter-in-law.

Our First Meeting

and......we enjoyed every minute of it.

Gramma & Grace

Chase with Boogieboard
Family B'Day Party

Grampa & Gramma & Chase at MacDonalds

Chase loving the MacDonald Playground

Grampa not remembering his age & agility

2007 At A Glance

2008-01-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007 at a glance

Here is a bit of an overview and see
some of the things tat have happened
in our life this past year.

Jan 01,2007 Family Dinner

at The Blue Star Restaurant

You can see some of the "gang"

Chase 1 year old on Jan 24/07

Jan 27/07 Chase Family Birthday Party in Ohio

St. Pete's, Fl.
Camp Freedom Jan 2007

Florida Feb 2007

Chase watching his Dad

play baseball

At Grampa & Gramma Canada mobile cottage

Karen & Shelley
Can you tell...they are related?
March 2007 Florida

Karen relaxing

View from bedroom window

At the Beach

Grampa and Chase March 2007

at the beach

March 2007 at Chad & Rebekah's home

March 2007 Amish in Sarasota FL

Karen blends

right Part Mural...part building

in this wall mural

Amish Winter Community

At the Gulf Coast

March 2007 Florida near Sarasota

Andy

Delicious pizza!

March 2007

Alabama

Julie

Great Looks, Andy!

March 2007

Geoff & Janna unwrapping Christmas

gifts from Chad & Rebekah

April 2007 back home

Spring has Sprung

Backyard coming to life

Helleboris Blooming

Quess Who?

tickling the ivories!

Little extra color in the house

June 2007 Janna & Geoff

Proud In-Laws

Two Woodpeckers

July 2007

August 2007 Ohio Chad & Chase

Gramma & Chase

Chase in small pool

Gramma Karen practising on

Rebekah's sisters newborn

Haven't lost your touch yet!

August 11, 2007 Kentucky

Chase at Michael &

Michelle wedding

check out this picture...love the grin!

Michael & Michelle Wedding

Congrats, you two lovebirds!

Chase after the party

Andy & Julie (good shot)

Piano coming down!

August 2007 Geoff & Janna moving West

Packing the moving truck

All Packed

Ready to Go

Car is packed

ready to leave

Geoff & Janna

....and

a final wave....they're off

Me in limegreen jacket

Doing my motorcycle test

September 2007

London, Ontario Camping

Playing tennis with Ronald

Camping with Ronald & Kathie

Eating

Campfire

Karen......reflections in the dark

Enjoying a relaxing evening

The white lines is the

traffic on the 401 highway

taken from our campsite

September 2007

Dinner at Granny's with

Ma B, Charles & Marga

Me and my scooterbike

September Fall Festival

at the store

West Greenhouse

Parking Lot

Store Checkout

October 2007

Evening Service with

HSBC on Line

Alberta, Canada

October 2007 Alberta

Mexican Restaurant

With Geoff & Janna

on Geoff's Birthday

Calgary AB

Rocky Mountains

Lake Louise

My Karen

along Trans Canada Highway

in the Rocky Mountains

near BC border

Two Beauties in

West Edmonton Mall

Edmonton AB

Dinner after the

mall experience

Calgary AB

Geoff in their house

Janna in their house

Geoff BBQ'ing (grilling)

Karen

Queenston ON Niagara River

November 2007

Store ready for Christmas

Karen & Santa

at our store

1st snowfall Dec 16/07

Our New Granddaughter
Grace Victoria Beth

Christmas at our house

Extended Family Christmas

at Conservation Hall

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008

Christmas 2007 at our place

2008-01-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

Christmas Morning at our place
with Geoff & Janna
and both Grandmothers

You always find Karen under the tree

Geoff & stocking

Janna unwrapping

Karen very curious!

Ma B checking it all out

Ma S checking hers out!

What you will find under the tree

Karen relaxing

Geoff making crepes

Smelling really good!

Tasting extremely good...Hmm!

Mothers playing cards

Proud Gramparents Again

2007-12-26T20:45:00.000-05:00

Our second grandchild born Dec 19/07

Grace Victoria Beth

Mom showing Chase
his new little sister

Dad, Chase and Grace

These pics were borrowed, since

we have not had the opportunity

to see our new grandchild yet.

But we can hardly wait.

Family Christmas 2007

2007-12-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

This year the family board decided to have the family Christmas Gathering
in a hall. It was a great idea and worked out really well.
We had lots of room...enough room to sit around a group of tables
set up in a square. This way everyone could see eachother and have a
conversation together. We were able to move around easy, had a seperate table
set up for the food.
We missed those who could not be there, but understand why.

hall & table setup

family in conversation

another view

2 nieces Julie & Liz

Jason, Geoff & Janna

Nephew Jason

sister-in-law Faye

view of kitchen

niece Jen

view of buffet table

nephew Derrick

sitting at the table

nephew Brad & Krystin

Grandma S with Grandchildren

Spouses and friends

Ma S

Ma B

Ma S with children & spouses

brother & sister-in-law

Dennis & Sue & family

& spouses

brother & sister-in-law

Ronald & Kathie & family

& spouses

Nephen Rev Michael & Michelle M.

niece Julie & Andy

brother & sister-in-law

David & Kim & family

Ma B with us (Ghi & Karen)

son Geoff &

daughter-in-law Janna

nephew Darryl & Miranda

Ronald & Kathie

Rev Dave & Kim

nieces Jen & Rebecca

Ma looking at her gifts

Jen - Liz & Andrew

niece Liz & fiance Andrew

playing games

Snowstorm Dec 2007

2007-12-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

This is what Sunday Dec 16/07 looks like in the morning.

Our House in the Snow Our Driveway with Snow

View into Backyard covered with Snow

Backyard in Snow & Frozen Snowcovered Pond

This am we went to Hobe Sound Internet Church.

We loved the sermon. A very good message, BUT.........

it is not very nice to hear those comments about the hot temps

and watch people fanning themselves.

We have our heaters going and watch the snow coming down.

I did go out for a bit to see what it was like.

Here are some pics from the road.

Maybe looking at these may make you feel a little cooler. haha!

Don't look at the time on the pics, it is incorrect.

Hwy # 3 heading West Nobody on the road and Not even plowed

Holloway Bay Road South in Sherkston

Sherkston Road East Michener Road East

Acting Like Kids Again

2007-12-16T15:01:00.000-05:00

Ma and Santa

Santa at the store

Pa and Santa

Santa Claus Parade

2007-11-25T18:06:00.001-05:00

Saturday November 24, 2007

Fort Erie Santa Claus Parade

Company Christmas Dinner

2007-11-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

Friday November 23, 2007

Here are some pics from our Company

Christmas Dinner & retirement Party

at Bridgewater Golf and Country Club

presentation of plaque

to mvh
presentation of plaque

to ms

Christmas Store Pics

2007-11-12T19:36:00.000-05:00

OUR CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE ON SAT NOV 10/07

AT THE STORE

STORE VIEW FROM OFFICE
HONEY VENDOR

BAKED GOODS & LEAF STAMPED CONCRETE

CRAFTS

JEWELRY & SWEET GIFTS

WEST GREENHOUSE WITH VENDORS

A LITTLE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS

CHECK-OUT AREA

ENTRANCE AREA

SNOWBEAR OUTSIDE

ANOTHER LITTLE NOOK

TRAIN & COLLECTIBLES

LIT CHRISTMAS TREES

CHECK-OUT AREA LIT UP

CHECK-OUT AREA

BREEZEWAY

A little lunch & A little tour

2007-10-27T19:15:00.000-04:00

Sunday October 21, 2007 was a beautiful day.

After church, we prepared a little lunch.

Ma in the kitchen

Pa at the BQ (Grill)

We ate on the back deck

Then Ma hopped on the scooter

for this picture

Ma on scooter

xxxx

We made a lovely little tour for a few hours

along the Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls.

OUR TRIP TO CALGARY AB

2007-10-21T18:07:00.000-04:00

Albert - Wild Rose Country

City of Calgary, Alberta

Karen and I spent a week in Calgary. We wanted to see how Geoff and Janna were doing, where they lived, worked, and what life is like in Calgary.

We flew in from Hamilton ON with Westjet on Oct 09, 07 and arrived in Calgary at 9:30 Alberta Time.

The weather was great all week and we had a super time.

The Bow River runs through Calgary
It originates in the Rockies

We explored the countryside,
which is absolutely beautiful.

We took a trip to Banff and Lake Louise.

The Rockies are awesome.

You can see them from Calgary and

they seem to be very closeby.

It takes about an hour to get there.

Rockies, taken from BC

Lake Louise

We also took a side trip to Edmonton with Geoff and Janna. It is about a three hour drive from Calgary. The purpose was to see the West Edmonton Mall. This is a great place, especially if you have children. You can go swimming, skating, bowling, golfing, or go to the amusement section with many rollercoasters, or just spend your money in restaurants and eatery's and go shopping in as many as 1000 stores. Here are some pics.

Fountain Display lined

with Palm trees and bridges.

Rollercoaster

with Geoff and Janna

in front seat.

Huge Waterpark

with Waves,

Waterslides,

Beach area

Skating Rink

Deep Sea Adventure

with large Bridge,

Pirate Ship,
and bumper boats

There are different streets in the mall:

Chinatown, Bourbon Street,
West & East Main Street,
And the picture is of Europa Boulevard

.........and there are Flamingos in the Mall

Karen and I enjoyed our stay in Calgary

and our time with Geoff & Janna

They showed us around, went for walks,

enjoyed the spectacular views of Calgary and

the Rockies. We enjoyed a few restaurants dinners,

as well as the dinners at their home.

They have a neat place and very centrally located.

Following are some pics from our stay.

Geoff's Birthday Celebration

Janna getting ready for

another week of teaching.

Another view point in G/J's home

Geoff on the phone with

his brother in Florida

Mother is being lazy

Geoff BQing on back deck

Karen in Janna's kitchen

Another great meal

The first thing, we noticed when we arrived in Calgary is that the people are very friendly and very courteous on the road. It is rare that someone is on your tail pushing or trying to go faster than the traffic. When there are lane changes due to construction, the traffic flows right through, alternating cars from each lane without trying to sneak in or preventing someone else to go ahead. It is a real neat experience, especially when you are not used to that kind of courtousy on the road in Ontario.

The other thing we noticed, especially after coming back to Ontario, is that the air is very dry. The temp was the same in Calgary as back at home the day we came back. In Calgary we felt warm and at home we had to turn the heat on because of the dampness.

Everywhere we went in Calgary, as well as in Edmonton, there are "Help Wanted" signs on every store, or place of business. All kinds of jobs available: managers, ass. managers, store clerks, welders, millwrights, truck drivers, machinists, fork lift operators, etc, etc. Several stores had signs of reduced days or hours, because of staff shortages. Some stores were even closed due to lack of staff.

It is definately a nice place to visit and live. We will go back again sometime!

2007 Honda Silverwing

2007-10-18T21:18:00.001-04:00

It is a 2007 Honda Silverwing & We're Lovin It.

It is a scooter, but also a motorbike...It's both....It's Fun!

It has lots of Get up 'n Go. It takes both of us plus some loads. It is cheap on fuel.

It is a 2007 Honda Silverwing.

STORE PICS

2007-04-30T22:04:00.000-04:00

Duck Display

Leisure Display

Our New Thru Passage to the East
The New Hard Surface Walk Way

Flower Display

Indonesian Teak Furniture

Our Train Thru the Dessert
Always a Popular Attraction
A Cozy Little Nook

New Display Units

Fragrances

Our Breezeway with real dried Framed Flowers

Entrance Area

Breeze Way Walk Thru

Spring has Sprung

2007-04-29T06:41:00.000-04:00

Our Newly Renovated Store

Inspite of the bad weather, we had a very busy day at the store. It was drizzly, rainy, and damp, BUT Spring has finally sprung.

Flowering Daffodils in our Garden

Daffs are blooming and my helleborus (Lenten Rose) has been flowering for a while. If you have the right location and soil conditions, than this is an excellent plant to have in your garden. They come in different colors, ranging from white to purple, red and pink.

Helleborus (Lentenrose)

Last nite we took Granny to the Pines Restaurant. This place is pretty good and reasonable. It is only open during the season and closed during the winter. It is always busy in there.

Granny at 82

I am probably thinking that she'd kill me, if she knew her picture was on display. So just have a look, but don't say anything....Ha,Ha.

Today, Sunday at 6:30 am. Guesss what! The sun is shining. It looks like a nice day is coming up.

Have a great day, y'all.

Geoff & Janna to Calgary

2007-04-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Janna, our daughter-in-law accepted a teaching position in Calgary, Alberta.

This is a long way awaay, but it is very exciting for them as well as these two old turtles.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Geoff, our youngest son is an electrician. He, too, past his exam. CONGRATS as well.

We are proud of you both for your accomplishments. (i think it is ok for parents to be proud, i hope anyway.)

Quess What! These two old turtles are coming to visit for sure.

US TWO AND KNOW MORE

2007-04-24T03:29:00.001-04:00

April 24, 2007

When my daughter-in-law started a blog and informed us about it, I got excited.
You must realize that for an old ghizer like me, growing up with a Chinese adding machine and evolving into the computer age is somewhat intimidating, but yet challenging and exciting.
Since we are now empty nesters, this is really a great way for our kids and other family members to keep in touch and see their parents aging.

In January of 2006, our first grandchild was borne.
We were priviliged to be close by and see him several hours after his entry in this big world. we are in Ontario, Canada and our son (Chad), daughter-in-law (Rebekah), and grandson )Chase) are in Florida.

We enjoyed several visits and meets back and forth during 2006. as well as the large stream of monthly pics Rebekah emails us. We are very blessed to have two wonderful daughter-in-laws.

This past winter, January-March 2007, we were back in Florida. A portion of that time we spend with our kids and grandson.
We really enjoyed our time in St. Pete's helping and relaxing at Camp freedom as well as time on the East Coast with Chad, Rebekah and Chase.
We relaxed, got up late, walked, rode our bikes, went to the beach, shopped, etc, etc.

We came back in March to the cold weather in Canada.
Now we are back in the grind of life; working for a livin'!