More work done at the church

 It's been some time since we've updated the 'new look' of the church building. There's been some new windows for the auditorium which includes new drywall and new outside stucco. The inside of the sanctuary has been painted and was given a second coat today. It looks good.

 The south side with new windows and new stucco.

 The north side (the side by the front entrance)

 The east side (back of the church)

Again, the north side by the new entrance. Excellent craftsmanship and a job well done! It looks like a totally new building! May the Lord use it for His glory for many many years!

Last night's sunset

Fishing!

 This afternoon Mr. V took us fishing!  We've only every been an "off the end of the dock at the cottage" or "by the bridge at camping" fisher-family.  And we could probably count on 2 hands how many fish we've caught.  So when Mr. V told us about his fishing adventures, we got excited.  And when he offered to take us, we got even more excited!  So, off we Lockport we went......

 I was the only one who caught 2 fish at once!  Mr. V uses a pickerel rig which has 2 staggered hooks on at one time.  I was proud.

 Caleb loved it!  Mr. V taught him what to do, and he took to it like.....well, like a fish to water ;)

 And fishing is a great time to chat, too, which is an added bonus in any situation.  In my humble opinion.

 Yvetta though the height of fishing fashion was to have one sock up over her pant leg and her boot showing. But only on one leg.  Why?  B/c she couldn't take the time to do it with both.  If it had been easy, both legs would have looked like that.  I love her :)

 Corin split his time between watching Caleb, holding my rod with me, and throwing rocks.  Which sometimes hit us.  What can I say?  He's a 7 year-old boy.

 Rich caught the biggest one.  But only one.  He didn't catch 2 at a time.  Like someone else did.......

 And I waxed brave and picked up the fish (it fell on the ground when I tried to get the hook out....and I squealed like a girl....) and put it in the basket!

 Here's our basket of fish!

 Even the serious fishermen couldn't resist breaking their concentration to smile at a little girl helping her daddy haul the day's catch :)

And supper.  Yum!  Filleted by the expert Mr.V and ready for a fish fry tomorrow night.  Can't wait!

You Are God Alone-Phillips, Craig, & Dean

Lately.......

 I've been burdened lately.  Burdened with the desire to blog, but not really wanting to go back all the way to the last post and catch up.  I just can't do it.  It's like when I sit down to write a catch-up e-mail to family and I get bogged down after the "dear family" b/c there's just too much to say.  So, I'm just gonna tell you about today.  Our picnic lunch in town :)

 The little town we live just outside of is barely a town - just a handful of shops and restaurants and a picturesque gravel pit turned walking trail.  It's a man-made little lake with a built up pathway that goes right through it.  And the surrounding hills are perfect for winter sledding.  But we aren't talking about winter.  Not for a long time yet.

 We've talked about coming here ever since we moved in, but somehow never got around to it.  But it was brought back onto our radar when Laura and Caleb starting doing some exploring by bike and told us it was a perfect spot for a picnic.  So, after promising Corin for a few days that we'd "do the picnic today", we finally did it.  And wondered why we'd never ventured out here before.

 It's a gorgeous spot!  The trees are just turning their autumn yellow, the air is getting cooler but the sun is still warm.  I threw together some cheese sandwiches, drinking boxes (nothing fancy.....) and Caleb brought along the mint chocolates he'd made as a surprise for me :)

 I love walking hand-in-hand with Rich, just watching our kids as they interact together.  I love how Luke and Caleb are almost the same height now, how the littles do all the running ahead, and how Laura goes between Rich and I and her brothers to talk.

 This has always been my favourite time of year - Fall beats all the other seasons in my opinion.  The air is filled with the sounds of geese and the smells are amazing.

                                                            The history of our little town :)

So, can you all be satisfied with this?  No?  Really?  I have to post about camping still and our church picnic?  Well, we'll see.  School's begun, you know, and time is at a premium for me ;)  But some things are worth the time taken, and if Rich has anything to say about it I'll be back with a bit more of the summer doings.  After all, I'm doing this post b/c he made me a deal - he'd go pick up the sewing machine I wanted through kijiji if I blogged :)

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

We spent a part of our vacation at Lake Superior Provincial Park which is along the eastern shores of Lake Superior. I love Lake Superior because its waves and rocky shores. It's almost ocean like. It also has surged up some very powerful storms. It makes us tremble when we think of how powerful God's creation is and that our lives can so quickly be snuffed out....

Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo

Caleb and I heard this at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra a couple of weeks ago along with two other members of our church. It is one of those pieces that makes you feel... drowsy.