Our Trip to the Great White North, Part I

Well hello everyone! I really didn’t mean to be absent for so long. We’ve been doing some travelling lately – Michigan & Canada. “In the winter,” you say?  Yes, we sure did.

We went to our dear friend’s daughter’s wedding in Michigan and had a lovely time.  The bride made her own dress. I am so impressed!

We were home for a few days and then it was off to Canada! Specifically Manitoba where we spent 10 wonderful days.

Audrey had to go outside on the morning after our arrival and about froze because she wasn’t properly dressed for the weather. I thought it was quite funny that instead of a ball this dogs plays with pieces of wood.  Maybe because its owner builds furniture?

I’ve seen and heard about Tim Horton’s coffee for years but this was the first time I ever tried it. And since I’m not a coffee lover at this point in my life, I ordered a cappuccino and yes, it was so so good! Much better than anything I’ve ever tasted at Starbucks.

We arrived at Russell’s sisters house and were greeted with a warm welcome.

Every Friday, they all head for the ice skating rink where the guys play hockey.  I thought they looked like they belonged to the NHL but they assured me I was quite wrong about that.

They play hockey on about 3/4 of the ice and the rest is for those who just want to skate. It was quite hilarious because there’s nobody monitoring the rink so they all do whatever they want.  On the end where they typically just skate, everyone may be going different directions, playing a small game of hockey, pushing strollers or pushing a chair if they are learning to skate. And nobody cares. They all just have a good time.

The kids loved playing in the snow.

The people are so hospitable. We had supper at a different person’s house every night except for one – which meant we had a lot of big meals and which also means we are going to have to lose those extra pounds we managed to put on. Oh, the agony of that thought!!!

My little Anne of Green Gables.

Because there isn’t much for work in the small town, most everyone we know operates their own business.  One of them has a cattle ranch and the cows were just starting to calve.

My brother-in-law’s family owns a commercial fishing operation where all the different fisherman bring the fish they catch whereupon they are sorted, weighed and shipped to the big city.

In the peak season they ship out a semi load every day which is 40,000 pounds.

The local cafe where everyone knows you.

The day we went as couples on the snowmobile was beautiful! I had never ridden a snowmobile before and it was definitely an enjoyable experience.  Canada has snowmobile trails across the whole country and they are all marked by signs and they even have some cabins along the way that you can stop in to get warm.  They call them warm-up shacks. Nobody manages them, so you’re on your own but it is a warm dry place.

It was a gorgeous ride – moving through the snow amongst the poplars and then out onto the frozen lake – Lake Manitoba – where we got to see a bald eagle. They are starting to come back to the area for nesting.

Then there are those who trap.  Nathan, the same cousin that Seth minnows with in the fall, traps during the winter.

The beaver pelt is interesting in how it’s so round.

Time was always found to play a few games….

…everywhere we went.

More pictures coming. There are so many things to share!