July, 2020

July started out awesome, with the kids enjoying the boat ( now afloat ) and attacking the Ice Cream vendor. 

Then came a call from the Old Country - my dad was gravely ill. Booked a rush flight and got there on time to have a few nice chats with him, then say a proper goodbye. 

Flying in this Covid time ain't any fun. I do not like flying at the best of times, but the added wait times for health checks etc. made it worse. Not to mention having to wear a face mask, door to door. 

Did get to fly on a Dream Liner, but while the plane was awesome, very quiet and stable, and having upgraded comfort seats, I still could not sleep on board.

Pa's service was awesome. The crematorium looked out on fields, meadows and streams. Could not have asked for a better place for the end of the line. 

The service was well attended by both friends and family as well as being live streamed for those who could not be there. It was a proper send-off.

Did get to spend some time with family in Holland, but sight seeing was pretty much a no-no - other than a quick visit to the beach in Schoorl. 

Trip back was the same - smooth flights, but numerous health forms to fill in, temperature checks, face mask all the way ( for 18 hrs ) etc. just added to the inconvienience of today's travel

And now in a mandatory 2 week isolation at home, so no seeing kids / grand kids. 

So - all in all, July sucked. 

Relevant pictures can be found here: 

July Pix: 

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOhV7qC41WeQWVpqpxEHErW4SjScASY9tkweIw

Holland Trip:

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipMlyd8ehx7IDIoGttfLk79qg0kFSJiSw5XJvSc

June, 2020

June saw us relaxing on the Covid measures.
So, in addition to watching the flowers grow in the back yard, we also had trips to the icecream store. Chloe's in camera dance recitals, cleaning and launching the boat ( after 2 years on shore ) and some serious beach fun.
All in all a good month.

You can watch the visuals here:  June 2020 Highlights

May, 2020

May still had us in the Covid lockdown, however we did manage some socializing.
- had the kids playing in the back yard
- went to watch the Snow Birds flying over Transcona
- went for a walk with the Grandkids in the Transcona Bioreserve
- took pix of the flower plantings in the yard
- watched some cool birds perusing the bird bath

View the pictures here: May, 2020

April, 2020

April was primarily spent in isolation - like everyone else, on account of the Covid-19 thing.

So we did things like lots of baking, watching snow melt, return and then melt again, observing raptors and woodpeckers in the back yard, playing with a macro lens and remote birthday parties. The most notable birthday party was Caleb's, where we decorated cars and had a driveby parade for him. That event was actually broadcast on local TV:
Caleb's Birthday Parade

However, April ended on a positive note - yard has been raked and cleaned, new birdhouses were painted and mounted, Cotton Wood tree got a haircut and a bit of color was addded though a hanging basket of flowers.

A photo memory of April can be viewed here:
April 2020

March, 2020

In March we were looking foreward to a 2 week get-away to Mexico, just to absorb some sun, and relax.
Only planned on one tour to go see Tulum.

While we did get to go to Tulun, during our first week the Canadian Government advised all traveling Canadians to come back to Canada asap. Which we did, cutting our vacation short by a full week. The right decission in hindsight.

Now however 2 weeks in mandatory self isolation (but at least in our own house).

Kids were nice enough to provide us with groceries and a supply of wine.

Pictures  from our first week can be found here:

Mexico, 2020

February, 2020

Mid Winter. My least favourable time of the year.
Spending most of my time indoors, as the old bones have a hard time coping with the cold.
There are a few occasions though that the sunroom heats up to a livable temperature - and on those, my sweety and the cats love it there.

Ongoing pictures of the month can be seen here:

February, 2020

January, 2020

Christmas is over and done with. Now in a typical Manitoba winter. Many real cold days, some a bit warmer.

Getting older, so tend to stay indoors a lot. Break the monotany by having grandkids come and visit.

The first few of those visits are documented in my January, 2020 Album:

January, 2020

2019 Holland Trips

In 2019 Alfred and Theresa made two trips to Holland. The first one was in May. Unexpected - Alfred's mom had a significant operation. Visited her in the hospital, and we were there when she was transferred to a nursing home for further recovery.
Keenan and Chloe insisted we take their favorite dolls for comfort.

That trip, we also went to tour Alkmaar, and celebrated his brother's upcomming retirement.

The second trip was planned - in September.
By that time Alfred's mom was fully recovered, and back in her own home.
This trip included a visit to Zeeland, to attend a Jobse Family Reunion, an opportunity to see the statue of Michiel de Ruyter, walk the boulevard, watch Alfred's uncle play in the Jazz Festival.

Toured the old city of Alkmaar and had the "Offical Retirement Party" for my brother, which included a real live beer tap. A great time was had by all.

The trip back was interesting - flight was cancelled, so we stayed one extra night in an Amsterdam Airport Hotel, and had several re-routes. But, we did make it home, and KLM covered all the costs and payed the delay fees.

You can view the picture album here:
Holland 2019

Las Vegas 2019

Alfred, his sweety and her sister and hubby went for a quick get-away to Las Vegas to try and get some heat.

Went to see Cirque's KA, Hoover Dam, Freemont Street and up the huge Ferries Wheel, and walked the strip there and back again. Had a blast, and - No, did not take any gambeling money home.

We did meet up with Theresa's cousins for a leisurely supper.

Here is a link to the album:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOg3dt3_AVcnYn6cuCFr7FI6RUxXo7zHfMQNT7eoK6W2mY4EjFT4-KxJ4EFYbQ9Uw?key=OU9ZZ1JwT3RqZG5YNmM4azd6WkxRZDVtODBiOXVn
BIGFIFTY

 

Transcona

Alfred lives in a suburb called Transcona - on the eastern edge of Winnipeg. It is in fact it's own community, with a downtown, shopping venues and a flavor all of it's own.

We have a multitude of murals on our buildings:

Transcona Murals

Transcona also has an annual street festival, called: The Hi Neighbour Fest
featuring a parade and a street fair - which the kids absolutely love:

Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival

Birthday Maham in 2019

4 Grand Kids - 4 Birthdays this year.

Caleb ( April ) opted for Glow Bowling. The nice thing is they have a special gizzmo that allows Caleb to roll the bowling ball to the pins. And his friends were more than happy to help him.

Quinn ( Sept ) also wanted to go bowling and everyone got a chance to throw the ball.

Chloe ( Sept ) - wanted to celebrate at Kid City. A great time was had by all.

Keenan ( Nov ) just wanted a fun evening at home with friends.

Memories can be found here:

Birthday Mahem

Incredible French Onion Soup, using the instant pot

The instant pot in this dish is not so much a time saver, but more a flavor enhancer.

Ingredients:
 - about 4 sliced onions
- 4 cups ( 1 litre) of beaf stock - I made mine from 4 heaping tsps of 'better than beef' concentrate, dissolved in 4 cups of boiling water
- 1 tsp of crushed garlic, dash of Frankies hot pepper sauce, ground pepper, table spoon of brown sugar and a bay leaf
- white wine

Saute the onions in butter in the Instant pot, till translucent .
Add wine and scrape off the brownie bits.
Add sugar, pepper garlic, beef stock and bay leaf.

Select soup/broth on the instant pot, close the pressure valve and go. Mine opted for 30 mins, but I cancelled it at 20 mins.
Lightly toast French bread slices, brushed with olive oil in the oven under broil.
Release steam from the instant pot, laddle into oven proof dishes ( I used my original French onion soup bowls), add some French toast and slather with cheese. I used shredded mozza.
Roast for a few mins in the oven.

Serve with garden salad.

2019 High Lights

Alfred wants to dump Facebook and is still looking for a better way to connect with friends and family.

Let's start by providing the link to my Google Photo 2019 album here:

2019 - As Days Go By