Old & New VW Parts ...

Old and new brake drums ... the old ones were too far gone to use ...

It's important to have good working brakes ... !!!

Mike was able to restore the brake backing plate ... sandblasting and painting them ...

It was great to have had a couple nice days to work outside ...

Mike had sandblasted and painted the front axle beam ...

the torsion arms ...

steering gear box and the brake backing plates ...

Once the paint had dried on the control arms ...

it was time to press in the balljoints ...

Mike also assembled and installed the torsion bars ...

Then over the next couple days...

Mike assembled these parts onto the front axle beam ...

including the tie rods ...

getting it ready to install the floor panels ...

next he measured and tack welded the panels onto the car frame ...

 

A Gift From Rosa ...

When I went into town to pick up my batch of frozen Gnocchi ...

I was excited to show her that my Gnocchi board had arrived in the mail ...

but I was the one that was surprised ...

I was given a special gift from Rosa ...

it was her original Gnocchi maker ... a basket that her father made for her ...

58 years ago ...

I feel truly blessed to receive one her treasured items ... !!!

I will continue to cherish it.

I had also ordered a few other items along with the Gnocchi board ...

Finally getting cookware protectors instead of using paper towels ...

between the frying pans ...

Love my kitchen gadgets ... !!!

Working Outside ...

February 20, 2016

We had full intentions on going for another load of logs ...

but when we started to drive along the logging road ... we were in mud and huge puddles ...

half way up the tires ...

It took us travelling on the road awhile to find a place to turn around ...

and head back for home ...

It will be a few more weeks before we can head out again ...

once the frost is out and the roads dry up ...

Mike spent the rest of the afternoon ...

giving the truck and trailer a good wash ... !!!

 

February 21, 2016

Since we were unable to get more wood ...

we decided to move the pile of logs from in front of the shop ...

to the area where the rest of the logs were piled up ...

First of all ... Mike had to plough the snow off the roadway ...

in order for us to drive up ...

Thank goodness for the tractor to load the wood ... into the back of the truck ...

with the last one topping the load which was 24" (61 cm) in diameter ...

We then rolled it into a pile and its new resting place ...

for at least a year to dry ...

until it can be split and stacked ...

It felt great to be outside working ...

the sun did make and appearance for a little while ...

later in the afternoon ...

 

 

Making Gnocchi ...

February 17, 2016

It was an exciting morning for me ...

to head into town to learn how to make Gnocchi ...

from Rosa ... an Italian lady ...

She resides at Joseph Creek Village ...

and was thrilled to teach me how the dough is made ...

and the tools required to form them ...

Rosa taught me the technique with the first sections of dough ...

first rolling them into long thin strips ...

then cutting them into small pieces ...

Picking up the Gnocchi board and rolling them down to form the Gnocchi ...

It was my turn to try it ...

the first few were not very good ...

but with practise I was able to feel how to make them ...

We continued to work together ...

Rose rolling and cutting up the logs ...

while I formed the Gnocchi ...

Placing them on sheets ... to be put into the freezer ...

to freeze before they are packaged up into individual bags ...

(the freezing prevents them from sticking together)

Rosa also cooked a few of the fresh Gnocchi ...

and sprinkled them with freshly grated Parmigiana-Reggiano Cheese ...

Oh my goodness ... !!! "Bellissimo ... Gustoso ... Delizioso"

I placed an order for a Gnocchi Board ...

and it should arrive next week ...

My next lesson will be on ... How to make Ravioli ... !!!

 

 

Birthday Activities ...

February 17, 2016

Mike opened up his birthdays cards after I returned home from town ...

He was so excited to receive a 1-day Fly Fishing adventure ...

and a gift certificate from Nathans' family to purchase fishing tackle ...

like new flies ...

Mike was also pleased to have received numerous phone calls and emails ...

Mike wanted to go into town for dinner ... and a movie ...

we ended up going to the Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant ...

and had a delicious Chinese Buffet dinner ...

He was delighted to receive Birthday wishes from Ian and his family ...

Grandpas' face lit up when Daigen sang Happy Birthday to him ... !!!

After dinner we went to the theatre to see the Zoolander #2 movie ...

as it was the only one worth seeing ...

although it was a rather silly ... humorous movie ...

we had a few good laughs ...

Mike had no idea that I had made him a Sugar-Free Chocolate Pudding Pie ...

while he was on the phone talking with Cindy in the afternoon ...

So ... he was pleasantly surprised when we arrived home from our evening out ...

to be presented with the pie ...

Mike thoroughly enjoyed every bite ... !!!

 

 

Mike's Birthday ...

 

On your birthday ... Mike ...

I've been thinking about ...

all of the wonderful times we've shared together.

I'm thankful for our adventures and all of the things that we've done.

I am looking forward to making many more memories with you.

Have a wonderful day filled with lots of love ... !!!

 

Houston Valentine's Day ...

Ian sent these picture of the boys and said ...

"This is how we do valentines day😍"

The boys were so excited ... Hot Wheels Track ... balloons and a huge chocolate Kiss ...

We also had a great visit on FaceTime with the family ...

catching up on what's happening in their world ...

Daddy setting up the track and playing with the boys ...

then out to the pool area to blow up the balloons with water ...

and the fight was on ...

The family enjoying pizza for dinner ...

and once the boys were settled

Ian & Kendall had a quiet evening ... relaxing ...

some wine with a cheese ... meat and fruit platter ....

 

For All Of You ...

 

Have a wonderful day with your loved ones ...

 

A Couple Good Days ...

Another perfect day to load up some more firewood ...

we ended up going to different area ... where there were many pile of wood ...

We also ended up giving our neighbour a hand ...

with splitting and loading up his truck ...

Our load was brought home ... unloaded and piled up to be split another day ...

A beautiful golden sunset to end a perfect day ....

 

February 11, 2016

We enjoyed a lovely evening with family and friends ...

at Joseph Creeks Valentine's Day Buffet dinner ...

There is always so much to choose from ... with a wide selection of appetizers ...

salads ... side dishes and meats ...

The dessert table is one of our favourite tables ...

 

Early Season Firewood ...

Tuesday was a beautiful ... warm ... sunny day ...

We were informed about some firewood that had already been bucked up ...

and stock piled ... ready to be picked up ...

Hard to believe that it was T-shirt weather in February ... !!!

We decided to take the trailer down to the woodpile ...

instead of hauling the log splitter to split the wood ...

There were quite a few very large pieces ... we were able to drop the ramp ...

and roll these logs onto the trailer ...

to be dealt with when we had more time to split them ...

We had decided we should pile the wood by the woodshed ...

I had asked Mike to check and make sure that we could drive up the back driveway ...

as it was snow covered ... hard packed and icy ...

Mike thought we should be able to make it ...

WELL ...

we didn't ... the truck kept sliding sideways on the ice ... into the snow ...

Mike was stuck ... the load was too heavy on the trailer ...

to gain any traction ... hence digging himself deeper in the snow ...

"Let me out" ... I did not want to slide down the road ... !!!

Mike then set off the trailer ...

and was going to get the tractor ....

Mike started rocking the truck and was able to drive thru the backyard ...

around the pool and down by the outdoor wood furnace ...

to the driveway ...

What a mess in the yard ...

This momma was not happy ... !!!

Mike cleared some snow and was able to lift the trailer up with the bucket ...

to push it back so that he could latch onto it and drive it to the parking area by the shop ...

to unload the logs there ... and be dealt with another day ...

Thank goodness for the ramp ...

we rolled these huge pieces down off the trailer ...

Then Mike scooped up the runaways ...

and dumped them on the pile ...

That was enough for today ... the sun was disappearing and it was getting cold ...

for me ... it was time to hit the hot tub ... !!!

 

 

Action Packed Weekend ...

We decided to go to Alberta ...

leaving around 8:00 in the morning to go watch James hockey games ...

We hoped the weather was going to be good for travelling ...

we encountered a bit of slush and snow covered roads near the border ...

We were surprised when we turned off the #3 highway onto the #22 ...

there we were almost blown off the road with 124 km winds ...

Mike had to have a strong grip on the steering wheel ...

We made it to the arena ... just in time to watch the game ...

James scored the first two goals in that game ...

the kids had a really good game ... !!!

After the hockey game ... I decided to head into Okotoks and go to Costco ...

Craig wanted to come with me ... the rest of them went home ...

we had a fun time shopping and when we were done ...

I wanted to get the Buick washed before heading back to the house ....

It was a sunny day and everyone else had the same idea ...

we ended up having to wait in line for some time ...

So Craig made himself comfortable ... and once we were in the Touchless Car Wash ...

Craig was acting up and making comments ...

as soap and water was covering the car ...

The grandchildren were so excited to receive their gifts from ...

Uncle Ian, Aunt Kendall, Daigen & Nixon ...

money and Pokemon cards ... was perfect ... !!!

Later on we played games ... Grandpa at Twister ...

Grandma in goal playing mini stick hockey with James ...

Family gathering around to watch the UFC fights for part of that evening ...

then venturing over to the next door neighbour to watch the fights with Kyle ...

Kyle had worked for Mike at one time and now is working with Nathan ...

Sunday morning back at the arena to watch another hockey game ...

Ella was busy colouring in the concession area ...

 

Ella had asked me earlier if she could paint my fingernails ... before the Super Bowl game ...

and once we were finished with lunch ...

we cleared the table and she began to paint my nails ...

first with a the pink colour for the base ...

then she proceeded to give each nail an artistic flare ...

with her designs ...

We were all set to watch the Super Bowl game ...

with a few friends that came to have a visit with us as well ...

Lots of Super Bowl finger foods were prepared ...

all set out on the table for everyone to help themselves ...

We were watching the football game ...

while the kids were playing a hockey game behind us ...

It was an exciting game ... there was only 2 of us rooting for Denver ...

the rest of the gang thought that South Carolina would of taken the game ...

We were doing the happy dance when Denver won ... Yippee ... !!!

Mike and I left for home after the game ...

it was a clear night and hardly anyone on the road ...

It was a busy ... fun ... weekend ... !!!

 

More Pictures ...

Enjoying my walk this morning ...

to the neighbours to look after the fish and birds ...

taking a few pictures again with different settings ...

Walking down the driveway ...

I spotted a feather from a Stellar Jay laying in the snow ...

Once again playing with shutter speed, ISO and apertures ...

wanting to see the results once the pictures were downloaded ...

and taking notes ...

Having fun and learning lots ... !!!

 

 

Different Settings Used ...

 

Taking a few pictures ... with my Pentax camera ...

practising after my camera course ...

with the exposures ... and other settings ... in manual mode ...

Hoping to get a better understanding of how my cameras work ...

 

Ski Day ...

It was another gorgeous day ...

perfect for getting out the cross-country skies ...

and head for the trails ... for a few hours of skiing ...

On our way back towards the house ...

I had seen a large snowshoe rabbit hop across the trail ...

of course ... I decided to stop and take a picture of the footprints ...

We had a great day ... !!!