Pioneer Days

Pioneer Days held at one of the most beautiful spots on earth.  

Every July 24, we celebrate the entry of the pioneers into the Salt Lake valley.  It's funny, because other than the SL area, I don't think it's celebrate much.  Except in central BC, where we recognize the pioneers with gusto! Really, everyone should do it. It's so much fun!  I think one year we had frog races, and floating around somewhere is a photo of me and a friend kissing frogs. 

Obiously we were both still single. 

But I digress.

This year, there was a little handcart pull, pioneery games, and yummy food cooked in dutch ovens.

Of course I didn't get releases for everyone that I took photos of, so I'm only posting shots where people can't be recognized too much. 

Except for my little whippersnappers.

And other family members!  Where's Adam? He's in the pic.  Look carefully!

A few days back, when it wasn't pouring for a few seconds...

My mud-spattered Julia girl at the lake.  She's wearing her jacket because it was COLD out there.  Why black and white?  Because no matter what I did, I couldn't make the colours look right!  Adjusted white balance, sliders all over the place, and it either looked too orange, too green, too blue, or too dull.  So black and white it is.  But you just thought it was artistic and that's what I wanted, right?  

 Whey aren't there pics of Adam, you ask?  Because even though it was chilly, he was wearing just his unders and his imagination. 

Love these trees.  I always thought they were aspens, but just now when I tried to find out for sure I found thatt what I always called a poplar tree is actually a trembling aspen, and that poplar is just another word for it.  So now I have to find out what these are.  They have pretty frilly leaves and make teensy weensy little pine cone-like seeds.

Looking west from Mom's shore.

whoa--uh-oh

Why a foto of feet, you ask?

Because of the riding boots.

And they're encasing MY feet.

The thing is...

I don't ride.

Oh help.

"Who is this lump of potatoes on my back? 

They seriously do NOT pay me enough to put up with this kind of ineptitude, really."

"Well, OK then..."

Poor Hank.  I really felt for him, but by the end we were getting along, if not famously, at least well enough to have a really nice morning. 

I think he's reserving judgement.

Which is exceedingly good hearted.

There's something suspect in any activity that requires a helmet, don't you agree?

And no, I'm not pregnant. I have a bottle of much needed bug spray in my jacket pocket.

But thanks for noticing.

Hank's sister was more than interested in my camera.

Doesn't Hannah have a sweet nose?

Thanks, Sis, for taking the shots of the girlie and me, and for taking us out today.  If not for you, there would never be proof that I ever sat on a horse.  

I wouldn't say that I actually rode dear Hank. 

Chances are, he'd agree.

 

What can I say? Everywhere is a photo-op!

More fishing...

ice cream!

Done the most delicious way.

The sorer the arms at the end the better-er the ice cream tastes.

Butter pecan.  Yum.

Where we took the girls fishing last week.

See the road?

Yeah...we stopped here.  Not that it looked much different from the road we were on, but since the lake was right here, and we weren't up for getting stuck in the mud and being chased by a bear, it seemed the prudent, albeit less thrilling, choice.

Just another day part 2

One of the beautiful symbols of the woodlands and lakes of British Columbia.

Just another day in Beautiful British Columbia part 1

Fox den at Uncle Larry's place.

Mighty fisher of...fish

Fun on a Wednesday night

Sis brought her fiddle and the dancing was hot!

Even the dog got in on the action:

Limbo technique of choice:

So fun to see the new fam together having such a great time.  Too bad the goodbyes started the next day.  Sigh.