Christmas in Mayook ...

December 18, 2016

A beautiful evening with family and friends ...

celebrating an old fashioned country Christmas in Mayook ...

Thank you to Van ... for playing his guitar ...

accompanying us in our song of Christmas Carols ...

It is always heart warming to see the children come forward ...

and sing their favourites songs ...

 

Santa had heard the children singing ... "Here Comes Santa Claus" ...

and made his way into the School House ...

bringing gifts ... mandarins and candy canes for each and every child ...

and a few adults as well ...

The hall is a buzz with excitement of the children ...

After Santa had delivered the presents ... we continued to sing and visit with our friends ...

and of course indulging in all the wonderful assortment of appetizers ... Christmas baking ...

and hot and cold refreshments ...

 

It was time to sing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" ...

a delight for everyone ...

the room was divided up into groups ... each of them taking one of the days ...

It was a challenge to get everyone singing the right verse ... when it was their turn ...

I usually end up helping out with cueing the groups ...

and it seems that the group that sings "Five Gold Rings" ...

always drag it out and act up ...

This time Allan and Don ... with their operatic voices ...

were in competition on who could hold the note the longest before continuing on ...

We had so much fun with it ...

The evenings last song to be sung ... is always "Silent Night ...

The lights were dimmed ...

then Van called on everyone to be silent ...

before we began ...

It is the most angelic atmosphere ... with all the voices singing ...

This is the beginning of the Christmas season for most of us ...

in this community ... and what a beautiful way for it to begin ...

We continued to visit for a few more hours ...

cleaned up the hall ...

and wished everyone a very Merry Christmas ...

 

 

An Early Birthday Surprise ...

September 2, 2016

The Knight family finally arrived ...

they were so excited ... because the boys knew we were going to celebrate ...

Ella's birthday early ...

After lighting 9 candles and singing "Happy Birthday"

it was time to open her gifts ...

Ella was so excited ... she was wishing for a Mermaid Tail ...

and was totally surprised when she opened up the package ...

Ella couldn't wait to try it on ...

she really wanted to go out and jump in the pool ...

but it was almost 10:00 and the nights were getting cool ...

so it was decided that she would go swimming in the morning ...

Grandpa was busy stoking the wood furnace to heat up the pool water ...

The boys couldn't wait to show their friend Mason ...

their Great-great Grandfather's mechanical toy ...

of the bartender shaking up a Martini ...

taking a sip of it ...

and then watching his face turn red ...

while smoke was coming out of his ears ... as the drink was too strong for him ...

The kids watched him over and over again ...

and then finally made their way out to the shop ...

but not before everyone had some Birthday cake ... !!!

 

Dagmar

Ella's Concert ...

May 9, 2016

The timing was perfect to head to Alberta ... to pick up a few things ...

and take in an evening of song at Ella's Spring Choir Concert ...

She has a beautiful voice ... Hope she continues to sing ...

After the concert ...

we went out for dinner at a new restaurant in Okotokes ...

Bradley's Grill House ...

The food and atmosphere were fabulous ...

we will go back when we head that way again ...

 

 

In The Paper ...

This was the article written in the Golden Star newspaper ...

prior to our concert ...

For easier reading ... I have copied the text ...

Joel Tansey

reporter@thegoldenstar.net "The Cranbrook based Bisset Singers formed with a handful of singing hopefuls and one voice teacher with an extensive performance history. “They came to me in a group and said...’we’re all afraid to sing by ourselves, so would you teach a vocal class’, so that was the beginning ,” Bisset said. He taught them for two or three years, and the group began to grow and evolve. “We began with easier music to sing...now we do a whole variety of music and we do a lot of stuff that's very challenging,” he said. “I’m really pleased to see how they've done.” The group’s members have changed over the years as folks have come and gone, but their director has remained a constant. The ensemble is just a small part of what Bisset does, as he spends much of his time teaching voice classes around the Kootenays in Cranbrook, Invermere and Creston, travelling in excess of 400 kilo-metres on a given week. He’s also open to the idea of bringing his talents to Golden if he feels there is some local interest. “If there’s enough interest I have another day where I could come to another place,” Bisset said. Currently, the choir comprises members of all ages, from pre-teen sopranos to senior citizen baritones, making this a group with a truly diverse age range. Rather than pianoor other instrumental accompaniments,the Bisset Singers work off sound-tracks, performing a selection of songs that is every bit as diverse as the group itself, from James Bond Soundtracks to jazz numbers. The Singers will be performing in Golden on Feb. 27 at the Civic Centre. The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door."

 

Our Concert in Golden ...

February 27, 2016

We arrived in Golden, BC ... for a two hour rehearsal for our concert ...

A few of us made our way to the Greek Restaurant ...

just down the road from the Civic Centre ...

for a break to relax and enjoy a delicious Greek dinner ...

Friends from Sarnia, Ontario ... moved out West around the same time we did ...

met us at the Civic Centre for the concert ...

The Bisset Singers had a great time ... performing for the audience ...

After the concert we headed back to Brenda and John's ...

enjoying an afterglow get together ...

with wine ... nachos and other snacks ...

Reminiscing about old times spent together during our time in Sarnia ...

Brenda was Mike's next door neighbour thru their childhood ...

until Mike moved away from home ... in 1972 ...

they have been friends for over 60 years ...

We were grateful to be able to spend the night with them ...

Tammy ... Barb ... and myself decided that we would supply breakfast ...

Barb making a "Wife Saver French Toasts" dish ...

Tammy cooking up sausages and I brought an assortment of fruit ...

Brenda also cooked up some scrambled eggs to add to the feast ...

We had a beautiful mountain view all around us ...

sitting at the table ...

enjoying our delicious breakfast ...

Once we had finished breakfast ... we packed up and headed for home ...

It was wonderful that Brenda was joining us for this trip ...

as she was going to travel to the coast ... to visit her daughter ...

getting a fight from the Cranbrook airport ...

 

Schoolhouse Christmas ...

December 20, 2015

Once again ... Christmas in Mayook at the schoolhouse ...

was a wonderful event ...

with lots of music ... singing and children ...

It was unbelievable when Santa and his elf arrived ...

the noise level rose so much ...

poor Santa could not be heard ... calling out the names of the children ... young and older ...

with all their excitement ... squealing and laughing ... !!!

There is always a house full ...

and a table full of goodies to munch on ...

When Santa was finished with giving gifts ...

and the Elf handing out mandarins and candy canes ...

the music continued for a few more hours ...

It was a delightful evening ...

starting the first of our Christmas festivities ...

 

Celebrating My Birthday ...

I received my new iPad Pro early for my birthday ...

Nathan picked it up from the Apple Store ...

and delivered it when he came for Oma's birthday party ... !!!

Yipeeeeee ... !!! So excited ... !!!

We travelled to Alberta on November 29th ...

to watch the Grey Cup game with the kids ...

Getting up early the next day to spend the day shopping ...

and meeting up with friends for lunch ...

then continued with more shopping ... !!

Finishing up just in time to go see Ella ...

perform in her Christmas Concert with the Okotoks Children's Choir ...

I was wonderful seeing and listening to her and the choir sing ...

It was a special evening ... !!!

After the concert ...

we went out for a late dinner ...

and I was surprised with my cards and gift from Nathan and the family ...

along with the singing of Happy Birthday ...

when receiving a large warm cookie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce ...

I was grateful that everyone helped me out in devouring this dessert ...!!!

The next morning ... the day of birthday ...

Mike and I headed back into town to go to Cora's Breakfast restaurant ...

I ended up ordering and crepe filled with fruit and custard sauce for my breakfast ...

Oh boy was it yummy ... I ate the whole thing ... !!!

I was surprised to get a little swan carved out from an apple ...

and a rendition of Happy Birthday sung to me once again ...

A few others joined in as well ... !!!

After waddling out of the restaurant Mike and I still had a couple stores ...

to stop in before heading home ...

On our way home we decided to stop and visit friends in Lundbreck ...

we had not seen them in years ...

we had a great visit ... and hoping to get together more often in the future ...

As we drove thru the area back to the highway ...

Mike stopped at the Lundbreck Falls ...

It was a beautiful site ... seeing the frozen water over the falls ... !!!

Finally made our way home ...

I gathered up all my treasures ... I am so spoiled ... to take a few pictures ...

Thank you Mike for my new iPad and a few other goodies ...

Thank you to mom for the Poinsettia plant, her card and a little something inside ...

so I could pick up items for my new iPad ... (a Smart Cover and Decalgirl Skin) ...

and bringing lunch (thank you Joe) out to the house for a visit ...

Thank you to Dagmar, my dear friend for making a special cover (for travelling) ...

for my new iPad Pro ...

I was so thankful to have seen Ian and his family on Skype earlier in the week ...

and talking to them on my birthday ... !!!

I was thrilled to hear Daigen singing Happy Birthday to me ...

it meant so much ... !!!

It was Nixon's turn to say Happy Birthday ... it was so cute ...

but he said he wasn't going to sing ...

there's just something about talking on the phone with Grandma ...

that makes him go a little kooky ...

he just giggles and laughs and can hardly talk ... !!!

Thank you to all those that sent cards, emails and called for my special day ... !!!

It was great receiving a FaceTime call from my cousins ...

Klaus and Resi ... from Austria ... !!!

I am grateful for my family and friends ...

I am truly blessed ... !!!

 

Special Evenings of Song ...

November 6, 2015

The Bisset Singers travelled to Invermere for their concert ...

voices from Invermere, Cranbrook, Kimberley, and Quesnel ...

We enjoyed singing a variety of songs ... jazz ... swing ... Big Band ... etc.

Chuck Bisset, our choir director ... was proud to have his daughter ...

Savannah Bisset ... Operatic Soprano ... here from New York ... as our guest artist ...

 

November 7, 2015

We performed in Cranbrook Saturday night ...

The church was full of friends and family ... It was an exquisite evening again ...

with The Bisset Singers singing ... "Hit Me With a Hot Note"... "Dream" ...

"Peace Like a River" ...

"I've Got the World on a String" ... "Skyfall" ...

Duke Ellington Medley ... "Take the "A" Train ..."Mood Indigo" ..."Satin Doll" ...

and "It Don't Mean a Thing" ...

Then ending our program with a Christmas carol ...

"Christmas Time is Here"

Savannah Bisset ... captivated us with her operatic voice ...

in the second half of the program ...

with repertoire of opera pieces in the time frame of an hour ...

It was a wonderful evening ... !!!

Click here for the article ... in the local newspaper of Savannah's interview ...

Some members of the choir went to the Hideout Restaurant and Brewhouse ...

for a get together to have a bit of fun and relax ...

after our performances ... !!!

 

A Special Birthday Dinner ...

July 13, 2015

It was another beautiful day ...

we were going to have another fish fry dinner ...

Burk & Rose were going to join us today ...

it was the first time for them to see the new deck ...

Mike also built new ramps to accommodate the wheelchair ...

Vern & Ellen ... who were traveling thru the area ...

also joined us for a couple of days to visit with our company ...

Let the party begin ... !!!

Burk treated us with his accordion playing ...

the whole group enjoying the German & Austrian music ...

Mike & I were busy cooking up ...

grilled potatoes, vegetables, corn ... and Halibut ...

Later on ... we headed into the house ...

sitting around the table (with a few sociables) ... chatting ... laughing ...

then surprising Joe ...

as we started singing Happy Birthday ...

and

presenting him with an ice-cream cake ...

and many birthday wishes ...

 

We all had a great time ... !!!

 

Off To Sing ...

April 18, 2015

This was our big weekend for singing ...

in Yakima, Washington for the ...

International Choral Festival ...

We had a beautiful drive down to this unique city ...

We rehearsed in the exquisite "Green Room" ...

where many actors, singers, entertainers 

and bands have performed ...

  We were excited to be singing on the stage of the old ...

"Capital Theatre" 

In our seats ... waiting for the show to begin ...

American and Canadian Choirs ...

along with the guest group ...

the Yakima Nation Black Lodge Singers ...

they are a northern style family drumming group ...

that performs traditional Blackfeet ...

and contemporary-style pow wow music ...

They are an amazing family ...

and it was quite the experience ...

After our performance ...

we continued to enjoy the evening with a beautiful dinner ...

and entertainment by a few of the choir groups ...

plus breaking out in chorus  ...

to songs being played ... !!!

A few of us went for a quick bite t o eat before the show ...

we ended up going to "Mel's Diner" ...

a neat, fun place with car seats from old cars as benches ...

and good old hamburgers and more ...

Some of the scenery on our trip ...

stopping to take pictures of the Columbia River ...

Columbia River, a North American river flowing

into the Pacific Ocean.

It is one of the world's greatest sources of hydroelectric power.

From its source at Columbia Lake in

the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada,

the river flows 1,243 miles (2,000 km)

and empties into the Pacific near Astoria,

northwest of Portland, Oregon.

The Columbia forms about two-thirds

of the Washington-Oregon border.

Its chief tributaries include the Kootenay, Pend Oreille,

Spokane, Okanogan, Yakima, Snake, John Day,

 Deschutes, and Willamette.

We had a wonderful time ... !!!

Looking forward to next near ...

where it will be held in Trail, BC 

Early Gifts ...

December 22 & 23, 2014

We headed into town to do the last of our Christmas shopping ...

and to pick up a parcel from the bus depot ...

We have been discussing getting a new utility trailer ...

so on our way out of town we stopped at the dealership ...

and drove home with a new trailer ...

It will be perfect and easy for us to haul the quads ...  

to go Huckleberry picking ... or fishing in the small mountain lakes ...!!!

Mike received an early Christmas gift ...

 a bottle of Tullibardine 20 year old Scotch ...

pouring himself a shot ...

and savouring every sip ... 

MMMMMMM ... smooth ...  !!!

 We went to the neighbours for their yearly Christmas party ... on December 23rd ...

gathering together enjoying an evening of carolling ...

visiting with friends ... 

and munching on delicious varieties of festive appetizers ...

while waiting for Santa to arrive ...

It was a wonderful evening ... plus we were going to have a White Christmas ...

 as it had started to SNOW ... !!!