The 'S' Word.....

A funny thing happens in Smithers in late August.

One morning you wake up, look out your window and see it.

SNOW.

On the mountain.

In August.

This happens every year so I'm not sure why I almost cry every time it happens. Also, quite interesting (if you live here), all day today, and probably all week, people will see each other and say, 'Have you seen the snow on the mountain?' or 'New snow on the mountain today, can you believe it?'

I can believe it.

I'm looking right at it. (The view from my office window is quite amazing though....)

Gold Rushin...........

I went to Barkerville, BC two days ago....and I did something I never thought I'd do. I squeezed into a Victorian Period dress and paid 71 dollars to get my picture taken.

If you've never been to Barkerville, it's actually quite interesting....we stayed in a B and B right on the main street, the lady managing it was kind of anal about shoes being off and my kids being perfectly perfect but other than that it was a lovely time.

Did you know that Barkerville has the oldest 'Chinatown' in Canada?

Did you know that the first year gold was panned there, they sent the equivalent of 56 million dollars worth to be mined (or whatever it is that they do with gold once they've panned it)?

Did you know that I actually hauled my butt up on a stage coach and rode it around Barkerville?

Had you heard that I ate the WORST...and I mean the WORST meal of my life at the 'diner' in Barkerville? (I won't bore you with the details...just three words. CHICKEN and DUMPLINGS)

Did you know that my girls loved Barkerville?

And last but not least, did you know that I've driven over 6700 kms since June 27th, and I'm officially DONE driving for at least 3 months. (And I say 3 momths b/c there is a wedding in Vernon I'm hoping I'm invited too that we'll probably drive down for!)

Summer Lovin' Happened So Faaaaast....

Props to the musical 'Grease' for my title today.....one of my fav movies of all time!

So, where have I been for 2 months? I went to my cousins wedding in Abbotsford, came home, the girls finished off school and then it was off to Medicine Hat for 3 glorious weeks with my BFF Heather.....so, I'm back now and feel like I have nothing interesting to blog about!

This weekend was supposed to be a big celebration for my family....we were celebrating my Grandparents 60th anniversary....but a week ago my Grandpa decided he would have a heart attack (ok, he didn't 'decide', it just sounds funnier that way!) so he is in Vancouver awaiting a quintuple (yes, I wrote QUINTuple...count 'em people, that's FIVE!) bypass because he has one artery that is 100 percent blocked, and all the others are 80 percent blocked. Oh yes, and just for fun, he has a leaky heart valve, a blood clot, pneumonia and kidney stones. Anyway, party cancelled. Grandma has been moved to the Bulkley Lodge for care and here we sit wondering, waiting and praying.

Isn't getting old fun?

My family has rallied together...that's the cool thing about my family. The community has been really great too....

This weekend was going to be a celebration of a marriage that has stood the test of time...I just hope it's not the celebration of a life lived to the fullest....of a man who has given to God and his family more than I could ever write on my wee little blog....it's selfish I know, but I just want a little more time for some Sunday night frozen pizza and oreo's at Grandpa's (side note.....that might be the reason I struggle with my WEIGHT????), or another story about when Grandpa was in dry dock when the second world war ended.....or maybe just another 'old spice' hug.