At the end of September, we had Charlie for a few days and we decided that a road trip to Elk Creek Fish Pond was in order! And Brooke & Jude were able to join us!
So, we backed the red truck out of the garage, turned it off (hum, why oh why would I bother with this comment? 🤔); then we packed two car seats, two grandkids with Brooke in between them, diaper bags, fishing gear, lunch, chairs, water – everything we needed for the day. Jumped into the truck and… it wouldn’t start! Ugh!!
So, unpacked everything and re-packed the black truck and we were on our way!
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Finding rocks to throw …
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Throwin’ rocks with G’pa Brian …
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Hanging out on the bench …
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Jude’s havin’ fun with G’pa Brian! …
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A walk around the Pond …
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Riding on G’pa Brian’s shoulders! …
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And then it was time for lunch! Oh no!!!! We didn’t get everything transferred over from the red truck afterall!! No lunch!! Good thing Charlie had some “nacks” in her “nack bag” (which was in her diaper bag that did make it into the black truck), and Jude had some “nacks” in his “nack bag” too. Ate ’em all! …
2022-09-28
Turns out the fob for the red truck needed a new battery. But we didn’t figure that out until we got home! Oh well… it just added to the adventure!
We had Charlie with us several times in August, and one of the highlights was going to watch the Sylvan Lake Gulls for the first time. The Sylvan Lake Gulls are part of the WCBL (Western Canadian Baseball League), a Summer collegiate baseball league.
For the entire drive to Sylvan Lake, we followed a storm⛈, and dodged it all the way. The edge of it was hammering the ball diamond when we arrived. So, we waited in the parking lot in the truck for it to pass. Charlie jumped into the front with us and sat on the console, which is now called… The Charlie Seat!
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Sittin’ on Grampa’s lap ….
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She’s ready to start driving! …
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“Let’s go faster, Grampa!” …
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The storm passed (the game had been delayed ½ an hour or so) and we were ready for the game to start! …
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The skies cleared and the sun came out! …
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We had a beautiful sunset in the 8th inning …
2022-08-13
Sadly, the Gulls lost this playoff game, so it was their last of the Season! We’ll be out next year to cheer them on again!
Maggy was an amazing dog, and a fabulous pet and companion!! She loved us and Sundance, Aengus and Katie, but… she was absolutely devoted to Brian!! We loved and enjoyed every moment with her!!
Aengus, aka Black Boy and Classic Little Red Corvette, is a ‘California Boy’, and at 14 weeks old he flew from California to Montana to join our family. We picked him up at Glacier Airport:
2016-09-10
And he met his hunting buddy and cousin, Katie, as soon as we got home …
2016-09-11
Brian “kilting around” and Aengus watching how sushi rolls are made! …
2016-09-16 & 24
Out for a ride in the old truck (a 1951 GMC 9300) …
2016-09-18
Wandering around Redtail Rise, getting to know his home …
2016-09-21 & 23
Hunting adventures with Mark & Katie …
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When he was little, Aengus loved to snuggle with big brother Sundance! …
2016-10-26
And Miss Nala liked to join in! …
2016-10-26
Snow! … Aengus’ first Winter …
2016-12-03
What a beautiful boy! …
2017-01-24 & 2017-07-08
“I don’t want to wear my cone anymore… so I busted the sh*t outta it!!” 🤣
2017-09-14
“On my 2nd birthday!” …
2018-06-04
A couple weeks before his 3rd birthday …
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Aengus loves to dig in the gopher holes! …
2019-08-21
“I’ve got my eye on you!” …
2021-02-07
“I found a bird!” …
2021-04-06
The loveseat in the living room has become “his” bed! …
2021-05-24
Watchin’ for any other 4-legged critters coming into his yard, with big sis Maggy! …
2021-05-29
“Robins are eatin’ the berries in the May Day Tree!” …
2021-08-07
Out for a run in a skiff of October snow! …
2021-10-30
“It’s a lovely November day to be outside, but I won’t look at the camera!”
2021-11-03
All tuckered out, hunkered in and snugglin’ with Dad! …
2021-11-23
“I wish it was warmer out… watchin’ and guardin’ from inside just isn’t the same!” …
2021-12-24
Layin’ in the snow on a sunny Winter day! …
2022-01-22
“Did you call my name, Mom?” …
2022-05-14
“Somethin’ interesting is out there, I’m sure of it! …
2022-05-14
“My 6th birthday was a great day! Now it’s time for bed!”
2022-06-04
Aengus has been a wonderful addition to our family! He has such a great personality; he loves to “talk” and run!; he’s more independent now and doesn’t snuggle with Sundance as much, but once in a while he still does; and he and Maggy play every day!
We picked up Sundance when he was 8 weeks old… big paws, lots of extra skin, and just the cutest puppy!!
2008-06-21
At 9 weeks old, with his big sis Billi, ready for a quad ride …
2008-06-29
At 11 weeks old … What a cutie!!!
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His first Christmas at 8 months old and he was close to full-size! He is a snuggler for sure, and loves his snuggles from his big sisters!
2008-12-24 Brooke & Billi
Brian took Sundance and Maggy to work with him for several years. Sundance looks sorta comfortable in Brian’s hardhat!! 😂
2009-01-18
Sundance loved to fetch sticks when he was younger, and even shared one with Cousin Katie!! 😄
2009-05-03
Out fishing on Ram River, near Ram Falls …
2009-07-26
Left: out getting our Christmas Tree; Center: snuggling with Billi; Right: snuggling with me
2009-12
Standing in the clover! …
2010-07-19
Hanging out with the new Harley!!
2010-09-29
Sundance loved to dig in the gopher holes!!
2011-04-18
And he loves to roll in the snow… and sometimes the mud too! 🤣
2012-04-22
Fishing out west ….
2012-07-21
Chillaxin’ in the front yard …
2013-07-07
Hanging out on the front deck …
2013-09-06
In June 2014 we got a baby crow from a nest. By mid-June, Cuervo was learning to fly … and he sat with Sundance for awhile! …
2014-06-18
Snuggling with Pete!
2014-12-24
And then there were three!! Aengus joined us in September 2016. Aengus immediately snuggled with Sundance whenever he could! …
2016-10-26
And Miss Nala joined in! ..
2016-10-26
On January 3, 2017, the light outside wasn’t all that great for photos, so I played around with some of the lighting settings on the computer photo editor …
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And I tried some different editing on these next two, too! …
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And then there were four! Katie started spending Summers at “Camp Redtail Rise” in 2013, then it was “Redtail Rise Retirement Home” full-time in 2018. Katie’s mom makes these doggie bandanas, so they all showed them off!!
2019-03-20
Enjoying the snow …
2020-02-02
Snuggling some more! …
2020-09-01
And my favorite photo I’ve taken of Sundance! …
2012-07-21
Sundance has been the most amazing dog!! He’s been very laid back, chill, and eager to please! And, while Maggy is a “daddy’s girl”, Sundance is definitely a “momma’s boy”; but he’ll take love and pets and snuggles from everyone and love them right back!! He’s gotten quite grey around the eyes, and as with Maggy, he’s slowed down, but he seems to be very healthy! Every day with him is a blessing!!
Here’s Maggy at 12 weeks, on her first visit to Grandma & Grandpa Gow’s in Calgary! … Left: hangin’ out on the front steps; Right: all tuckered out and sleeping with her dad …
2007-07-12
Left: at 14 weeks, in our backyard; Right: 4 months old and a trip to Whitefish!! In a boat, on Whitefish Lake, with Grandma Gow! Can’t ask for anything better!!
Left 2007-07-27 & Right 2007-08-26
Maggy’s first Christmas …
2007-12
Left: Maggy got to ride Isabella!; Right: Maggy’s first trip up to The Hummingbird, ridin’ on the quad! …
Left 2008-01 & Right 2008-03
At a year old, Maggy got to go to Vancouver!!
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At 14 months old, Maggy welcomes Sundance!! They’ve become the best of friends!!
2008-06-21
Up to the Ram River / Ram Falls area in July 2009! …
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Christmas 2009! …
2009-12
4 Years Old! …
2011-04-18
Hangin’ out together in the shade! …
2011-07-14
Fishin’ with her dad! …
2011-09-23
Both in the driver’s seat! …
2011-10-29
Christmas 2011 with Grandma & Grandpa! …
2011-12-25
Fishing out west! …
2012-07-21
With Dad and Bo and Sundance! …
2012-09-15
Maggy loves to be where Brian is … especially out west, and out fishin’! …
2012-10-01
Maggy at 6 years old …
2013-07
Chillaxin’ with Cousin Katie! … in 2014, Katie came for the Summer to “Camp Redtail Rise”!! Maggy & Sundance loved having her around! So did we!!
2014-08-18
Fishin’ some more! …
2014-10-14
Up at The Hummingbird! …
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Aengus joined us in September 2016 … and then there were three! …
2016-12-03
Our beautiful girl at almost 10 years old! … She’s hardly aged at all! This is my all-time favorite photo I’ve taken of Maggy!!
2017-01-15
Almost 12 years old …
2019-02-24
15!!! And she still looks like a young dog!!!
2022-04-20
Maggy has been an amazing dog, a fabulous pet and companion!! And she’s absolutely devoted to Brian!! She’s slowed down a bit, but seems to be very healthy!! Pretty much deaf as a door-nail, but Brian taught her hand signals, and her vision is still excellent! We enjoy and love every moment with her!!
We helped our neighbours, Kenny & Nancy, move their cows back home just after getting our new Nikon camera. So, these photos are part of the very first batch I took… while learning some of the basics of the camera.
Heading south to get the cows …
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A beautiful sky that day… with a lovely chinook arch! …
In the Summer of 2020, we were very fortunate to be able to buy a holiday trailer… we named it “The Donald Alvin”, or “The D.A.” for short. And, Brooke & Billi had a decal designed and made for it! …
2021-09-20
In 2021, we got out camping several times with great friends, Al & Linda.
Out West in Mid-June
We went out southwest of our place for a couple days to quad and to check out the trailer for the Season, making sure everything was working.
An evening Quad Ride …
2021-06-15
Sun’s still up at 8:45 pm!
2021-06-15
A day of exploring on the quads …
2021-06-16
A little creek on our route …
2021-06-16
We went part-way up Marble Mountain …
2021-06-16
… and got some spectacular views!!…
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Lesser Slave Lake at Summer Solstice
We camped right beside the marina in Joussard …
2021-06-21
We saw this little guy in the creek that flows into Lesser Slave Lake at the marina in Joussard …
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Sun setting at 10:22 pm …
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On the 22nd it was too windy and there were too many whitecaps on the lake, so we went exploring to the east end of Lesser Slave Lake, including the town of Slave Lake. Here, a storm is coming in to Marten Beach …
2021-06-22
Clouds at Joussard in the evening …
2021-06-22
Back fishin’ on the 23rd! …
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Walleye for lunch! YUM-MEE!! …
2021-06-23
Sun setting at 10:27 pm …
2021-06-23
At 10:30 looking northeast …
2021-06-23
More fishin’ on the 24th …
2021-06-24
Walleye Tacos for lunch! YUM!!!!! …
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Brazeau Dam in the Fall
We went northwest of home, out to Brazeau Dam, to spend some time discovering a new area for us! And, we were there for peak Fall colours!!
Looking southeast down the Brazeau Reservoir …
2021-09-22
Out at the Brazeau Reservoir Loops …
2021-09-222021-09-222021-09-22 Photo courtesy Linda Longhurst
We get out to Ya Ha Tinda usually every year, and this year we went in late October. We walked up to the base of Bighorn Falls, drove up towards the Ranch House, where we listened to the bull elk “bugling”. Then we had lunch along the Red Deer River.
And the Gray Jays (Whiskey Jacks / Camp Robbers) were visiting us during our lunch!
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Now, what do you suppose this fellow is looking at???? …
2021-10-24
Bar-b-que chips!!!
2021-10-24
They never got brave enough to take one off of Brian head!
They’d take a chip off this stump 2′ from him, though! …
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I think this is my favorite photo from this day! …
