Sunday April 2nd – I was just starting my day when I received a surprise phone call from my Sister. “Guess where I am?” Laughing she told me she had just arrived (from Texas) a couple of hours ago, and was now with our friend.  The two of them were planning to spend the day going to Grouse Mountain, North of Vancouver, and hoping to have dinner there too – would I like to join them? You Bet!!! The three of us had had such a good time together on my to trip to Calif, and I knew we would enjoy the day. Also, it had been many years since I had gone up that mountain, and it had been Summer then. Within ther hour, I was picked up. Giving Elmer a hug and telling him he would be on his own, off we went on our adventure.
How happy I was that the day was beautiful, just perfect for this too. To get to the top, we had to take the ski lift – over 3,000ft of climb to the top! And what a change when we got there. Major snow! The play area they have created was like a scene from a movie.

This is Renee and Dot posing for me at the entrance to the play section 

Snow boarding, skiing, rides, skating rink, and just snow fun for everyone.
We had booked reservations at their main restaurant – the Observation Room – for 5pm, so still had lots of time to explore and enjoy the beautiful scenery (I will be putting all the pics into an album later to share)
They had a movie theatre, which shoed 1/2 movies of BC every hour, so we took advantage of that and watched two of them. Beautiful. Wandered through their store section, but I did not buy anything. Went into another bar/restaurant, where I orderd delicious hot chocolate and we shared a flowerless Brownie – yummy!
The main meal was pure indulgence on our parts. something I would never normaly do, but this was our adventure. We were treated like someone special, sat next to the windows and just absorbed the spectacular view while we ate leisurely.

     My plate of food – roasted Quail

  Renee’s haddock seafood plate

Afterwards, we looked around a bit more then decided to leave and go to New Westminster on the way home to have a look at the Paddleboat Casino they have on the Fraser River there. Another place I had never been to.

It was fun exploring this and watching everyone gamble – even got to see a woman win $800.00 (even though she said she spent $400.00 to do this LOL) It was getting wuite dark by now, and we still had a long ways to get home again. (None of us had remembered to put on a watch, so had to guess at times all day) By the time I did get home, I discovered it was almost 10pm, quite content with my wonderful day!

My Son and his son (my Grandson)were able to spend quite a few days with us during this time. I see him so seldom, so this was very special for me. As we got to visit after everyone else had returned home, we started to talk about different things that had happened over time. One of the things he asked about was Teddy. Teddy was my constant companion during my childhood, poor Teddy, like any other beloved child’s toy, was used well. I was given him when I was 1 years old – before the 2nd WWar, so he is a great age now.
When Eugene was little, he became the one that adored this fellow, and he too used him as a constant companion, so I told him Teddy was now his for prosperity. When we moved, Teddy came with me. Daughter Sheilagh eventually became the keeper of this loved bear – all these years, stored in a trunk, never coming out. Now Eugene wanted to see if he was still here as he has so many fond memories of him. Yes!! Out he came for all of us to touch and hold once more. To my delight, his music box tummy still worked! Now once again he is stored away safely, but Oh did this bring back some loving feelings for all of us.

Imagine – You visit your Mother, she is sleeping comfortably. Knowing how hard it has been to breathe the last couple of days, you are happy to see the quiet breaths for a change. Daughter takes over in the afternoon and reports she was awake, played with the dog, seemed so much there and alert. An hour later we get a call from the Extended Care Unit – they have found her gone between their last check-up and Angela leaving.
So many times we have been alerted to her going, so many times has she pulled through. Even knowing it was just a matter of time, this still came as a huge shock to the system. Now comes the getting hold of all our far flung family members to let them know. Days of phone calls, Emails. The telephone barely off the hook wen another call comes in. Basicly I am on my own for this one, though angela did do some of the phoning. I need my Brother to come from Calif as he is supposed to be in charge. I have contacted the Funeral home, only to find nothing was set up – surprise! this was all supposed to have been handled months ago. Oh dear, brother cannot come right now – would I please do everything and organize a funeral service etc. By the way, he cannot make it this week so how about doing it on my birthday the following weekend? I ma so upsett, everything is now on hold I cannot think past all that has to be done and try to work a way to do this so that as many as possible can make it, but it is NOT going to be on my birthday!
So we will hold it on the next weekend – oops, not a viable time, has to be on a weekday, otherwise double pay for the services. I have been given only X amount of $$ to work with. Flowers, Minister, Reception, Photos to gather and scan in so Grandkids, who have offered to help, can make a power point presentation for the service, Elmer helps out to getting rooms and Motorhome ready to take in as many as we can from out of town. Now I am working on a daily basis with the Funeral director and Minister on each of the different steps – what hymns or music do we want? What do we need to bring to the reception? what are the next steps I need to do to move along> What kind of equipment is needed fro the powerpoint? How long should we make it? Have I been able to contact enough of her friends from the town she lived in for so many years? I do not know most of them and have so few phone numbers – I got lucky on this one and just happened to contact the two people that knew the others and let them know for me. The list just seemd to continue. All this while I just wanted to curl up and grieve – no time for that.
Brother coming early, but cancels at last minute, arriving the next week. Sister arriving early too. I had my hair cut the other day, and the hairdresser said – you must live a happy life with no stress at all, your hair is so lovely, with only a touch of grey in the sideburn hair  – Oh my, I just laughed. Stress seems to be my middle name!
I cannot tell all the ups and downs that have been going on this last month. In one way it seemed to just go on forever – a time out of time. It was wonderful to have so many family members around me, even if it was not for the best of reasons. Many could not make it at all, but there still was almost 40 by the time we all gathered together for a Dinner I insisted on having from Mom the day before the Memorial.

Unfortunately Elmer was too stressed out by all the company. He did his best, but I could tell his blood pressure was rising and in the end, the day of the Memorial, he woke up to another stroke episode. Speech and hand affected again. He was so happy when I told him to just stay home for it, and have a quiet day. He is good again, but I was so worried at the time – I did not need to have him take a bad turn with everything that was going on.

Myself, Brother and Sister at the Memorial Reception

Me with my 3 children

Mom’s Descendants through me – including her picture – 4 generations (Angela’s 3 boys not here)

Needless to say, it all worked out well in the end. We had a great celebration of Mom’s life at the Memorial. Two days later everyone left for home and life has become very quiet again. I still have a few things to do – clearing up her possesions that have been left in my care, not too many, and what the family does not want will be donated. Just have to make sure everyone has had a chance to look it over (which is just about done now) I was just too exhausted and drained for the rest of the week to do anything but sleep on and off most of the day and early nights for me. March has been quite a Month!

Sorry I have not been able to post here for far longer than I like.
First I do want to sincerely thank all who have left messages for me during this time.

I would like to give all of you this card

http://www3.telus.net/public/a7a55952/friendship-puzzle/friendship-puzzle.htm

Our surprise snow storm today. It will not stay long, but had to record it.

I would like to thank all of you who have left messages for me in the last week. It has been very hectic. I was not able to do much more than concentrate on pulling a Memorial service together – still will be doing it for next week, so my mind constantly keeps going over what to do next, who to call (hope I have phoned or contacted everyone now) We will be holding it on Monday 20th, and there is so much to do to get it together. Family are arriving from all over the States and Canada for this event, starting this coming Monday. We are trying to make sure we can put as many of them up in our homes as possible, and so far this seems to be going OK. I have had Elmer making sure the Motorhome is all in working condition and cleaned, so that we can have sleeping quarters for some. Angela has been my mainstay. Such a wonderful daughter, she has put so much into supporting me and being with me when I have had to go to the Funeral home to work with the counselor there in this process. We still have an apt. to see the Minister and with her help put a lovely service together. So far I have also been going through the many photos trying to get them organized for a power point and showing – this has brought on the crying jags, but is so good to do too. Otherwise, I am now doing very well. Just not quite able to fully get back into giving my best attention to all my online friends and contacts yet. I would imagine once it is all over I will be doing this and catching up with everyone’s news and postings.

Catherine G. Wood
May 13th 1911 – Feb. 27h 2006

(thank you Ronnie for this framed photo)

She was Feisty and mischievious
Stubborn and sometimes contrary
She had such a zest for life
And lived to the fullest
Enjoying all and any adventure
that came her way
she was beautiful and loving
Generous and giving
Special to all who met her
Priceless to her family

Oh Mom you have also suffered
These last few years have been so hard
Angels and loved ones who went before you
Surrounded you in your last moments
Of this I am sure
You are at peace now
Looking at us as we grieve
Know that we love you
and will miss you dreadfully

Frances.

As I look back at the last week or so, I see there have been quite a few things going on, even if I felt like life has been extra quiet.

 Here is my Gdaughter Jamie.
She came over to show me she had broken her arm while snowboarding on her trip to Whistler on the 9th of Feb.

On Thursday Mom suddenly took a major turn for the worse and I have been going to sit with my her daily. As she has come back so many times, I hesitate to say she is going this time. Only time will tell, but she is not good at all.

Friday night, my GSon Grant was involved in a car accident – a semi driver did not look as he changed lanes and rammed into him. The car was rolled and totalled. Luckily Grant was not outwardly injured and able to get out and walk away. Since then, though, he is slowly starting to feel the effects and hurting. Will be going back to the Dr. to see if there is anything they might have missed the first time.

This is his Grad pic from June.

And last night we joined son John to help him celebrate his 50th

Most of the family were there. It was a great get together, with some good food.
This time he wanted to try a different restaurant than the usual chinese, so we all went to a small snitchzel place – the waitress was such a sweetheart, and really got into the party act with us too.

This is what I had – it was delicious, and the best snitchzel I have ever eaten. Way too much food for me, but John was delighted to help out and share some of it with me I love it when there are big eaters around who are happy to help me out

Quiet life lately. I have not been in the mood to do very much, and so little to say as nothing of import has been going on around me for a while.
Except for one little item

If any of you ever check Exlog (Elmer) he put in a pic I took of him with his new toy! I was so tired of listening to his complaints about our latest vacuum, and just happenend to say – Sears always seemed to have good ones – an hour later he asked if I would like to go with him to check out what they were doing. OK.  They just had their top of  the line one on a good sale. The sales lady let him try out all the different brushes (including a little power head for stairs) and he wanted it! I think the saleslady was a bit surprised as we bought it right then. He could hardly get it home fast enough to put it together and try it out. Good to see him happy with something so simple (Now to find a home for the almost new ones we still have he did not like) Hope this is the last one we buy!

He did not know I took this one.

Judi/Jassmine wrote a blog on the benifits of these so called garden weeds.  I was fascinated with what she had to share and interested enough to look further and see what was on the web. Came across this article, where it really is big business in the grocery dept. of some stores.

Quote:- “Besides the trace minerals, dandelions contain more beta-carotene than carrots, more potassium than bananas, more lecithin than soybeans, more iron than spinach, and loads of Vitamins A, C, E, thiamin and riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. All these nutrients, even without the other substances contained in dandelions, are enough to explain the reputation they have as a liver tonic, blood purifier, anemia arrester, vision improver, reducer of cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and a host of other things. Its scientific name, Taraxacum officinale, translated from Latin, means “official remedy for disorders.”

Also check out their link on the left side of the page for Cooking Tips which also tells when and how to harvest them.

Look what is flowering in our front flower beds! Amazing what a couple of days of sunshine can bring out. They look so pretty and colorful. somehow I do no think the cold snap we are going through right now is going to hurt them at all, even if the temp gets below freezing during the night. They predicted some snow too – but all we had was about an hour of the tiniest flurries coming down, swirling all over the place with the wind – actually pretty to watch – and then it was gone. Now I wonder how long it is going to be colder or if the storm front is going to bypass or move quickly away from us.

I just want to let all those I subscribe to I do read all you post – comes in my mail, and while it may take me a week to get to everything I do read it all. Just do not always get to comment on every post. Sometimes, but not often I go into the group link to see what is going on with others I do not subscribe to – I have a feeling a lot here do only that – so many different ways of keeping up with everyone.