Panama Canal Tour -2026

Our six hour tour started from the Flaminco Marina on the Amador Causeway. From there we took about an hour bus ride to Gatun Lake where we boarded the Pacific Queen to go through three locks. The Panama Canal, which is about 80 km from end to end, was started by the French in 1881Continue reading “Panama Canal Tour -2026”

The Mango House – January 2026

Two years ago Daryl bought a house that was referred to as ‘the pink house’. Well, it may have been pink at one time but was so faded it looked mostly white. Before anything could be done on the outside, the inside had to be gutted down to the bare walls, actually even inside theContinue reading “The Mango House – January 2026”

Christmas Parade Pedasi 2025

A couple of nights ago Daryl and I went to watch the Christmas parade. It was scheduled to start at 6 PM, just as it is starting to get dark. As it is not unusual for start times to be delayed, Daryl and I ambled to town about 6:30. There were not many people outContinue reading “Christmas Parade Pedasi 2025”

DIY Kitchen Stools

A couple of years ago I needed something to do when it was too hot to be out and about, and gave woodworking a try. Daryl and I went to a lumber yard, ‘a guy’ cut six pieces of wood off a log for us and I went to work on them. After a lotContinue reading “DIY Kitchen Stools”

Not a jungle yet

A year ago there was nothing in the yard except one massive tree in a corner. Daryl chopped off a lot of the branches as they were falling on the roof….the brand new roof. But ‘things’ grow here, sometimes whether you want them too or not! We have a big stump on the side ofContinue reading “Not a jungle yet”

DIY Dining Table – Corotu Wood

Three years ago a neighbour had a large corotu tree fall down in his back yard. It was massive, the diameter of the trunk was taller than me. Our neighbour had a guy, with a six foot chain saw blade, come by and slice up the tree. It made some very nice slabs of wood.Continue reading “DIY Dining Table – Corotu Wood”

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

I wouldn’t want to fall over the edge of that cliff, especially if there were hundreds of buffalo behind me. But when you had to get through Alberta’s long cold winters, and nature provided, you did what you had to do. On our way back from Lethbridge, we stopped at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Run, which wasContinue reading “Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump”

Japanese dance competition

Lethbridge, Alberta held the first ever North American International Yosakoi Festival at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in September 2025. It was well worth the trip. I had no idea what Yosakoi was until we arrived and started watching this energetic, synchronized group dance. There were teams from Japan, USA and Canada. Teams ranged fromContinue reading “Japanese dance competition”

A little wood bench – DIY

Way back in the summer of 2021 when we started clearing the property west of the city, there were dozens of trees that had to be cut down, both dead and alive. We have been calling this little summer get away El Parque. Daryl has been busy with that chainsaw. Spring of 2022 we returnedContinue reading “A little wood bench – DIY”

Grey Canal Trail, Vernon, BC

What a great way to start the day. My walking buddy and I have been walking sections of the Grey Canal Trail for the last several mornings. According to google, the Grey Canal area was part of a 50 kilometer gravity fed irrigation system, built between 1906 -1914. This was quite an accomplishment and suppliedContinue reading “Grey Canal Trail, Vernon, BC”