So Heidi shows up at the door with a bunch of folks from the Leadership Development Program... and they came with a trailer full of treasures.


They filled the basement and spread throughout the rest of the house!!
Sooo... being the host ... I suggested they go to camp !! and take all their stuff.... and guess what ... they did!



After a beautiful walk in .... over the trails and lake... only about 2 klm. they filled the yard with camping gear!!



Eddie and I thought we should head back to town .... our hosting done... we headed home to a warm house...

Before we left ... the crew were piling snow... and hoping to make a warm shelter out of snow. Good thing the temperature was only -16 when I got back to the truck!





I'm sure we will have more shots tomorrow when they return to the land of electric everything.... but for now they seemed to be enjoying the land of snow, silence, and cold! I must admit that I might have stayed with them, but Eddie wanted more food! I'll blame it on him. It was a great walk though and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the pictures and hear of the adventure. It will also be nice to have company back at Bruce Mines again to enjoy the surroundings!

After all was said and done... Sam was happy to stay up a little longer and help Poppa assembly his Christmas gift... a bird house... Sam ...I'll help start the nail.... Sam .... if I hold the nail.... I will help start it......" Okay Poppa!"


With good intensity, and persistence all the glue was applied, nails were driven, and all parts assembled.


With concentration, Sam was able to drive the nails home and was more than willing to paint it that night... Mom, however, thought that might be a good project for another night!! Wise Mommy!! I have had a report that the house has been painted and is ready to be installed this spring!



Heidi and Poppa were kept busy trying to clear the rink.... be helped by Sam, and to answer the multitude of questions that flowed from his mind! Amazing what that boy thinks about!!

My little pal Ben was just not feeling well at all. That was really too bad 'cuz he really wanted to be on the tractor, and in the snow... but he just couldn't find the get and go to sustain much activity!

Baby Luke was crusin' around the house ... happy as could be while he was mobile... of course he did voice a few complaints with management when he was left to sit on his own!!

Sam on the other hand was ready to get out there and do something!!! Anything!!

Sam, can you see where we are going.... I hope so ... 'cuz somewhere around here is a Silverado... Burgundy... and not real small...

... but definitely undercover tonight!!

Naomi and "her" boys...... later in the week this comment would come back as we left her at home with 2 of the three.... Sam's comment..." have fun with your boys Mommy"

Okay Sam, looks like this guy is ready to watch over the yard for us...

"But Poppa... what is his name? " Luigi.... perhaps!!

Sam, let's walk back up to the house... there might be something warm for us to drink....

Poppa... I think I need more marshmallows... 'cuz ... ' 'cuz the others are all gone now!!

Where did they go Sam?.... I think they melted... and I ate some of them... but not all of them....

Okay.... the cake is here.... and that name looks familiar... it must be true ... the cake says so! Can it really be that 30 years has passed here at GM...??


Okay Shirley, You and I are here... are there other coming or will we be eating cake for the next month?



Well Harry Stein managed to come through with a few words of encouragement and appreciation. Harry was my first manager when I moved from IPC warranty analysis to Supplier Quality. The best years of my time at GM were during this time!!



And then... the chance to say Thank-you and Farewell! I'm sure there will be more to write about this new stage of life .... stay tuned!


So Ron get one last moment of time to lecture at GM... the instructor just needs a crowd ... and then one can "wax elephants" or wax eloquent just for fun!!

But what people really want to hear.... "Let them eat cake!!"


But they waited patiently ... mostly.... Dave, are you in a hurry to get somewhere , or have you heard this all before?



And the best part... getting to chat with all the folks that made life a GM bearable!!

Greetings All,
Since it has been so long between posts...I thought I would start with a little picture of "Wilson..." Well, you see he got a little too close to a passing porcupine... now they don't look bad in the first shot but when you get a closer look ... you have some seriously sharp points to deal with. Especially since the ball is a basket-ball and not just soft rubber. Oh and by the way ... the ball simply rolled into the porky... it was presented forcefully to him!!



More to follow...

Okay, now for the star of the show.... Master Luke Buehrle!!


Who me.... cries Luke with a look of glee!!


Of course, periodically, a lip appears .... and then shortly after the lip.... come real tears and a sound of disappointment!!


But .... Poppa seemed to be able to deal with that and Matt and I had a great day looking after the three boys ... while Mom went to work.


Ben .... is such a cool little guy.... pretty laid back .... and has a grin that just warms you up!!


Ben likes to look out for Luke and does come over on a regular basis to check on him and give him a little pat !! Gently of course!!


Okay Sam... I want to see bubbles.... more bubbles!!!

Luke at time does not need the bubble stick to blow bubbles .... but he does keep the fun going through the day!

Sam has his corner for play .... and keeps himself busy. Of course he also keeps Mom and Dad busy .... just keeping the whole crew on track!



Thanksgiving weekend was warm and beautiful.... with rain, sun & summer temperatures.

Lots of colour.... in some places and still green in others.

Pull Heidi .... we need it out of the water!!

This little falls was found right close to home.... across the lake.... not often does it flow like this though!!


More colours and kid picture to choose from.... but this is a start!

Heidi, Esther & Drew, planning the afternoon's activity!! Well, anticipating the activity ... they had the plan... and they executed it very well. It was a treat to see them in action with a school group.
Okay, teachers... Sarah, Chris & Deb ... they had a terrific group of young people from their school... and we enjoyed sharing a little time and of course the facilitator's with them!


And the facilitator's... another day done... time to plan for tomorrow!
More pictures of a visit to Medeba.... later.




So as I go through the other camera... and find pictures from the near past .... I thought some should be posted... Dad looks just a bit pleased with the newest of his Great Grandsons!! And Luke... well he just settled in for nap with Great Grandpa!!






Francis was good enough to bring Dad down for a visit... and we had a good time and a good dinner! Not bad for two folks that bring over a century and a half of life experience! 176 years... to be precise!!



Okay, great grandpa... I'll just lay here while you rub my back.... it has been a long day and I am just beat!




At the other end of the spectrum... here is Eddie as he makes friends with the postal worker. She brings treats for him and then takes a moment to say Hi to Phoebe!!