Spruce Woods Prov. Park

Some of our friends were camped at Spruce Woods prov. Park so one day we drove out there to visit them, see the park and take a canoe trip. Our first intention was to canoe on the Assinoboine River which follows through the park. When we arrived at the friend's camp site it was very hot so we decided to do a little sight seeing with them and save the canoe trip for the evening when it would be a little cooler. We went to A overlook place where you can see where the ferry used to cross the river in years gone by. They also told us that the current in the river is about 4 miles per hour which seemed a little fast for out style of canoeing so they took us to Marsh lake in the park where we canoed in the evening - saw this bird - we think it was a Merganzer and two beaver - you can just see their heads in my picture.

The "PATIO" & Helmut's Moth collection

Just a couple of the photos of Helmut's moths. He was trying to take pictures of a collection of moths around our back entrance one day in July.

This is how our "patio" looked when I first set it up in July. I need to take an updated picture of how it looks now with the new table.

Take note Andrea.

We're Off

Just to let you know that we are off for a couple of days. The plan is to go to the west shore of Lake Winnipeg, stay in a cabin and have some fun at the beach, on the lake and touring a provincial park that is located about and hour north of where the cabin is. Long report some time after our return. Weather is beautiful.

Work & Relaxation Aug. 12 to 15

Tues. Aug. 12 it was very rainy in Winnipeg and we really wondered if we should even be attempting this trip. However, Hanna desired to go ahead as the roofing material had been ordered and was expected to be delivered to the marina dock where she keeps her boat. So Helmut and I left home very early to first pick up his nephew, Nick, Hanna's son and then to get Hanna. I guess it was about 7:30 when we finally left Winnipeg headed east to ON. The cabin is about 2 1/2 hour drive and then a 10 to 15 minute boat trip to the island.

When we arrived at the marina the materials had not been delivered and when Hanna contacted the company they gave her a real run around. However, after some talking she got a promise from them that they would deliver in an hour and a half. So we loaded all our cargo in her boats and went over to the cabin to get settled and to make lunch.

After lunch Nick & Helmut started doing some of the prep work on the roof. Then a little later the boy from the marina showed up with some of the packages of shingles and Nick took their own boat over to collect the shipment - I think it took him two or three trips. I should have been more on the ball and taken pictures of Nick & Helmut hauling the shingles up the hill from the dock - a very heavy job.

Tues. afternoon and evening Nick & Helmut were able to strip the old roofing off of the north portion of the roof that needed to be redone and put on all the new shingles.

Hanna & I had a paddle around the island at sunset - lots of fun.

Wed. was spent stripping and re-shingling the south side which was a little larger than the north side. Hanna and I bagged all the old stuff in construction weight plastic bags and Hanna hauled by dragging most of them down hill to the dock.

Everyone was good and tired that night and I had a severe back ache that kept me from sleeping until I finally took some pain killers. I was much better by morning.

Thurs. morning Hanna, Nick & Helmut loaded all the old stuff up took it to our big van at the marina and transported it to the dumping place in Kenora - I almost wondered if they got lost it took so long. Abby and I just stayed around the cabin and relaxed. I didn't try any water activities while I was there alone. I can't handle a canoe alone and I didn't want to swim inn a place i wasn't familiar with all on my own. You have a very isolated feeling on an island even when there are other cabins there but they are very distant from one another and some of them were not occupied.

Thurs. afternoon Helmut felt like resting. We took Abby on some long for her walks on the trails. Also I did the trail once alone it takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Fri. morning Helmut & I went canoeing and swimming and it was really fun and relaxing.

Hanna came home with us on Fri. evening. Nick was staying out and his guy friends were joining him for a bachelor party as he is getting married in Sept.

Trip Continued - Aug. 7

This Grandma liked it so much in ON that she decided to stay for a while. So on Mon. morning after a good night's sleep in Val & Dennis' home ( not the jungle house) we all parted company - Pat joined the Eastons to go to Bancroft for several days and Helmut & I headed towards NY state to see Uncle Horst & Aunt Magdalena.

Our first major stop along the way was Elora, ON, not too far from Guelph. The photo is one of the main streets in the business district of Elora. We have a dear retired missionary friend living there. H. called him up once we were in Elora where we could find his phone number in the directory. Bro. Jose invited us over for a visit and at lunch time we took him out to his favorite eatery - an Italian place.

In the afternoon we went on our way to H & M's. We got some supper in a Subway in a place about 45 minutes north of them. U. H. was home when we finally arrived in the mid evening. Aunt M. arrived with Ken & Monika a little while later as they had attended a Gideon's picnic/monthly meeting.

Open House - Continued

Val in the kitchen.






Dennis at the stove that they used for heating and cooking.


























Val and Dennis' house with the yellow curtains.


















One of the other families' house.














Jean , Pat and L. crossing the bridge to the lower camp site.







All these pictures were supposed to be in the first post but for some reason I lost them so had to make a second post. I hope i haven't repeated some of the pictures.

Open House at New Tribes Mission Jungle Camp

On July 5 & 6 e visited Val & Dennis at jungle camp. Most of my readers have seen Val's pictures and explanations already so I'm not going to explain at great length. We were welcomed heartily by our family and all the other residents at the jungle camp. during the first morning of our visit we had a tour of a large part of the camp and met several of the families and observed the various ways that they had made their houses and were living in the "jungle" or ON "wilderness" about a twenty minute walk from their normal residences at NTM in Durham, ON

Two of V. & D.'s girls were happy to demonstrate how to use the kid size chair that their Dad had made them.

























V. and the girls pose with two of the instructors in front of the staff house.





U. H. does what he loves - playing with the kids.








V. shows us how the washing machine works.




V. & D. and girls with U. H. in front of their house.




Some of the boys had made their own fort and were happy to show it off to L. & A.