Newgate

BC's South Country is gorgeous! Sand dunes, beaches, water and lots of room to roam. I'm hoping next summer will provide a bit more time for me to explore down there.

After taking in the Remembrance Day ceremonies here in town, Duane and I headed south with Tyler and Alisha for an afternoon of exploring and skeet shooting! It was absolutely gorgeous out and we didn't want to waste our day off inside. It turned out to be a little chilly by the time we got to Newgate, but we were still excited to shoot. It's been awhile since I've picked up a gun, so my aim was pretty terrible. I do think I actually hit a couple clay pigeons though! Since I don't really want to take the blame for such terrible luck, however, I think I'll blame it on my eyes. My vision seems to be pretty wonky these days. Them's the breaks for getting old, I suppose. Or something.



~K~

Halloween Hiatus

Duane and I went out quadding with our friend Tyler this past weekend. I was like a kid in a candy store, I was so giddy! I think I probably grinned the ENTIRE time...even when then wind was whipping my bare face. I forgot my sunglasses, but I pretty much didn't care :) It was all good, and it was a GREAT way to avoid all the halloween hubbub in town.

Things got even better once we hit snow. I LOVED being up in the snow and the fact that my toes were frozen didn't matter much. It was absolutely gorgeous, and I actually feel sorta bad that Duane had to drive the whole time and I got to look around and take pictures. He didn't seem to mind too much, and he did a wonderful job driving! I can't wait for winter!

Here are a bunch of the pictures I took while we were out. If you want to see them bigger, just click on the picture!

~K~

Ok...this is getting annoying!

Can we just talk about how obnoxious this is??? I post a new post, and the thing cuts off my last picture!!

So here's the last one it cut off of me and Duane at the waterfall...

And, because I had to do another post anyway, here's a shot of our freezer starting to fill up with deer! We now also have elk on top of all this!

~K~

Fall Features

It seems Picasa now only lets me post 4 at a time, so I had to skip the collage of my freezer full of venison (and now elk!).

I thought I'd post a few pictures to show you how I've been spending my Fall days.

Walking to work on cold, fresh snow mornings!

Going for random backroads drives with the hubby.

Lots of walks with cute kidlets! Yes, she's wearing a toque and it was only mid-Sept!

Visiting local nature spots with the hubby. Ooohh preeetty!!!

~K~

The Extra Picture...

These are the pictures from our loooong walk up at Island Lake. What a lovely day it was for such a nice hike! I think you can click on the collage so you can see the individual pictures a little better.

~K~

A Family Visit

It's taken me awhile to get to this post, but here it is!

Almost a month ago, Duane and I headed up to Calgary for a week of wedding prep and family visits! Mom and Dad Clemens and Mike, Carol and Rachael were in town, along with MANY other family members. I also finally met some of Duane's aunts and uncles that I'd heard about, but had never met. It was a week of BBQs, get togethers, and fun family time. There was a lot going on and it did get a bit overwhelming sometimes, but I'm glad we were able to be there! Karen and Steve were wonderful about opening up their home during this time, and even spent a night or two in their tent in their own backyard so guests could sleep in their house! Duane and I also took up residence in our tent in the backyard. I only slept there one night, as I decided it'd be nice to have a bed, shower, and full access to a mirror the night before the wedding...so I slept at my dear cousin's house :) Thanks Mel and Dan!!

The wedding went off without a hitch, and it was lovely!

I was able to spend some extra time in Calgary visiting with friends and family, as well as visiting our church family there. I love it when I have the chance to do that. Makes my heart happy. Oh how I miss WSFMC!!

I headed home Sunday evening, and awaited the arrival of the family down to our corner of the province. We had a great time with the family here, and the weather was wonderful! We were able to do a long hike up at Island Lake with them as well as a visit to a park during an evening walk.

It was great to see everyone again! See you at Christmas!

Here are a few collages I made up of our time together.

Pre-wedding playtime with Auntie Karyn

The ceremony at the Naturbahn Tea House at Canada Olympic Park

Rachel hangs out with Uncle Duane & Auntie Karyn

Ridgemont Park

There's one more collage, but for some reason, it won't load from Picasa. It's got all the shots from Island Lake. I guess I'll just have to make another post so I can add it :)

~K~

Garden Tidbits

As I sit here reeking of freshly mowed grass (which isn't such a bad thing, though I should probably shower), I thought I should post a few shots I took last week of the progress of our garden and of things around the yard. I figure the parentals would appreciate it :)

I should mention that neither Duane or I had any say in the matter, nor any part in the undertakings. Apparently we have our own personal gardeners? I shan't complain!

We have apples! (but they're rotten and full of worms)

This apple didn't fall far from the tree. Only about 2 feet :)

The new bed of bushes.

The new hostas. Sad day when they took out my lily of the valley to put them there :(

These are growing all along one side of the shed, along with the sunflowers. Not sure what they are.

These smell really pretty!

Hard at work!

A rare shot of this visitor!


My favorite visitor :) Hung around for most of the afternoon!
He likes the apples...he can have 'em!

Duane got me flowers!

~K~

Accidentally...

UPDATE:
~~~
Turns out I really only biked 32km. Duane figured out the mapping thing properly, and according to what he figured out I'd actually mapped that I rode home, then turned around and got back on the highway and rode all the way to Morrissey again, which is where my trip apparently ended. Which I SO didn't. 32km certainly doesn't seem quite as impressive, but it's still FAR more than was intended, so I say good for me.
~~~
So tonight's nice, easy bike ride out to Cokato turned into a grueling 40-something kilometer long-distance endurance ride. Oops.

The intent was to go do something simple since I haven't been on my bike since the incident last week. It also happened to be really nice out and I wanted to do something outside.
Once I got as far as my employer's house I planned to turn around...then I thought, "hey, it's really not that much further to Morrissey Road...maybe I'll just quickly do that instead of turning around." Quickly my @(#$)*!! There was nothing quick, or enjoyable for that matter, about it. It quickly turned into "come on, Karyn, it's just up the hill and around the next corner..." Right. It never was. Clearly I haven't driven out that way often enough to have anything in my memory bank about it. Anyway, being the stubborn soul I am, I pushed myself to keep going...and going...and going. And going.
It took me just over 2 hours, but I'm home, alive, and rather sweaty :) I will also forever regret not putting on my biking shorts. My girlie parts will also never let me forget.

Here are some pictures I took before I turned into the long-distance biking psycho.

Yes, those are shoes on the powerline...I didn't notice them until now. They're a trail marker, and they also kind of ruin this shot. Oh well.

Out on Cokato Road looking back towards town...I think those mountains are part of the Lizard Range.


I had to get the cliche Red Barn picture that almost every visitor to Fernie has taken.


It's a really cool barn. I also think every photographer who shoots weddings around here has used this for a backdrop. Duane has.

Another look back towards town. There's Mt. Fernie and the 3 Sisters.

And here's a link to the route I took (minus the random loop at the end...couldn't get rid of it).
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1292+5+Avenue,+Fernie,+BC&daddr=1+Ave+to:10+St+to:2+Ave+to:Pine+Ave+to:Pine+Ave+to:Cokato+Rd+to:Morrissey+Rd+to:Crowsnest+Hwy%2FBC-3+E+to:Crowsnest+Hwy%2FManitou+Rd%2FBC-3+E+to:13+St+to:13+St+to:49.510066,-115.062668+to:Morrissey,+BC&hl=en&geocode=FXV68wIdOVkk-SnNLiCdjGtlUzH0Wus8BJW_5A%3BFQJv8wIdBWUk-Q%3BFVhr8wIdmlwk-Q%3BFXBl8wIdylYk-Q%3BFY5U8wId2k0k-Q%3BFTlF8wIdL0Qk-Q%3BFRoi8wId-jck-Q%3BFWyl8QIddeQk-Q%3BFTcS8gIdOJsk-Q%3BFWtF8wIdiAIk-Q%3BFbd68wIdLVkk-Q%3BFah68wIdUlkk-Q%3B%3BFc2r8QId_gUl-Sk3WdmO3XJlUzGAuHXiIMNOrw&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=12&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12&sll=49.510344,-115.064664&sspn=0.007008,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=49.451164,-115.040588&spn=0.112266,0.308647&t=h&z=12

Well, that's a long and random link...whatever...too lazy and can't be bothered to change it. I really need a shower :)
Anywhooo...thought I'd let you all know I'm alive and well...but I probably won't be tomorrow.

~K~