Vacation Part 1

I have been terribly slack getting to this blog.  The summer seemed to just zoom by then there were internet problems.....

We had a wonderful vacation!  We left home July 8th and arrived in Amsterdam early evening.  We were picked up at the airport by our wonderful hosts Hans and Suus Monster.  They were extremely gracious and had us touring all over the countryside.  Although the weather was quite cool, especially after the very hot weather we had left back home, enjoyed our stay tremendously!  We were to late for tulips but I have never seen such beautiful vibrant Hydrangeas as I did there.

Our arrival at the airport greeted by Hans and Suus Monster

Touring the old Windmills

A bit of refreshment after some serious shopping!

Don't let the pic fool you.  They just had not been served yet!

Isn't this just postcard perfect!

A dinner out before we set sail

 

 

 

 

 

 

All good things must come to an end but other good things were about to start.  We departed Amsterdam on our River Cruise July 15th.  I will continue in another post.

MAY NEWS

We arrived home on Easter Sunday.  Trip was uneventful accept for the crazy cab drive we had from the Aboutown office to home!  Since then after a cool couple of weeks, we have been enjoying some lovely spring weather.

Don has been busy playing tennis.  He and another Don have entered the senior games in London.  The tennis is on May 28th so they have been busy practicing  for that.

I have spent two weeks up north in Iqaluit working.  I arrived up there April 25th.  There was lots of snow when I first arrived but with the very long days, even with temps hovering around 0C, the snow had mostly melted by the time I left.

This is a pic of the airport.  I actually took this last fall when I was there.  Being my second trip, I neglected to take pictures this time.  I am heading back later this week for another two week stint so I will add some more pics to this post when I come back..

These are two pics I took from the plane after take off.  Give you some idea of what the terrain is surrounding the town.

SPRING NEWS

It has been awhile since my last post mainly because I have not been home much.  We arrived back to our summer home on Easter Sunday.  I left again April 25th to work in Iqaluit and returned  May 12th.  I was able to enjoy some lovely spring weather and some time with hubby then I headed back north again May 24th to return June 10th.  On my first trip up I was welcomed by a fresh layer of snow. Very pretty and clean.  That was followed by daytime melting and nightime freezing.  Everything became very messy and I wished that I had taken some rubber boots!  By the time I left, most of the snow was gone.  Second trip up was mostly dry and mostly daytime.  Not easy to sleep when you could read a book outdoors at 3am!  I was able to get out and do more walking this time and take some pictures.  Glad I got out when I could as the last two days I was there there was snow again!

I am attaching a few pictures that I took one Sunday when I was out for a long hike.  They give you a bit of a view of the town from the hill.

The yellow building is the airport terminal

 

Here is a pic of the hospital. It was actually taken on my first trip up last September.

  

Thought I should include at least one pic of me just to prove I was really there! 

I arrived home to some very hot weather.  Took a but to become adjusted after the cold weather!  

Since then we have been to Woodbine to the races for a couple of days.  We had perfect weather, enjoyed the races but came home without any big winnings.

I have tried several times over the years to grow Clematis without much success.  Finally this year I have a lovely Jackmani Clematis growing.  Thought I would share a pic with you. 

July 8th we will be leaving for our trip to Europe.  First we spend several days with friends in Amsterdam then on to a 14 day river cruise to Budapest where we will spend 3 days and fly home August 1st.  Oh I can hardly wait!

I will try to send a post while we are away and include some pics.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

HEADING HOME

We will very soon be heading to our home in Canada.  We have had a lovely winter but it is time to go... I thought I would include some pics of our park in this  post, just so you get a bit of a look.

First I would like you to see our beautiful Bocce ball courts.  They were completed early in the fall.  Shortly after, the lovely seating area was completed.  We have made much use of this area for happy hours, birthday parties and even two wedding receptions this past season!

 

Right next to these courts are the shuffleboard courts.  They are not new but are constantly being worked on to keep them in top shape for the season.

Just south of these are the pools and hot tubs.

The park started a model railroad section.  I think it has been going about 4 years now.  Every Thursday during country store they will get it running for you.  Every year it becomes larger and larger.  These photos are just showing a part of it.

 

Of course there is our ball diamond.  We have, I believe, 6 different teams that play out of our park.

And last but not least are our tennis courts.  Sadly as I was there late in the day, there are no players on the court.

I have not included our pickleball courts.  They were just completed in February.  This summer the park plans to do a wonderful area similar to the bocce ball courts.  I will send pics next season when that is competed.

This is just a mere sampling of all the activities at the park.  We also have a huge ballroom with entertainment usually twice a week of one form or other.  Also there is line dancing, round dancing, square dancing each week and a dance on Saturday nights.  Every week we have "country store" held in the park with, oh I am not sure, maybe 50 vendors?  Some are in the ballroom and some are outside.

I also did not take pics of euchre night, or stitchers  and crafters or busy fingers.  Those are the 3 other activities I make it to weekly.

There is also numerous other activities that I have not made it to yet.  Lapidary, stain glass, silversmith, pottery, basket weaving (that is with pine needles), poker, bridge, 500, Mexican train, crib, oh I could go on and on.

Bottom line, if you are bored here, it is your own fault!

So the next time I blog, I will be back in Canada  and will have lots to post from there as well!    I will be able to spend some time with my children, Don can see his grandchildren and we both will spend time with our friends.


 

SO MUCH TO SAY

I think I will start at the present and work back.  Today was a lovely day, warm and sunny.  It was a extra lovely day as Don and I attended the wedding reception of two friends here in the park.  The met at the tennis courts a couple of years ago, a widow and widower.  Love blossomed.  They were married yesterday  at a church south of here.  Small private ceremony.  Today they held a reception.

Don and Theresa Dalton

Having their cake and eating it too!

 

Yesterday I was busy with two events.  Very early in the morning I played tennis at the Monte Vista invitational.  Just a fun match with a fellow from their park against a gal from their park and a guy from our park.  After that I rushed home to get prettied up for the luncheon/fashion show put on by the parks service club.  This is a great event.  First time I have been able to get tickets as it sells out every year.  Dillards dresses some of the gals in the park in the latest spring fashions and they get to do the walk way.  The park made the lunch, a lovely Thai chicken salad with sorbet for dessert.  

Couple of weeks ago was Mardi Gras.  Our Uke Group, "Tennis after Dark" entered a float.  The theme for this years Mardi Gras was "all the jazz".  We decided to go with a Jamaican Jazz theme.  We had lots of fun practicing our 3 numbers, Iko Iko (with a tennis twist), Jamaica Farewell and Tiny Bubbles with two bubble machines running during that song.  The day of the parade we were out at 9 am finishing up the float.  At noon were were perched on our benches and at 1pm we were heading around the park,  singing and playing for about 45 minutes.  After the parade there is a great party in the park with 3 bands, food, wine and beer as well.  During that time they announced the winners, well our float won first overall!  Much excitement!

That's me in the multi coloured pants and pig tails

Yeah I know, what a crazy bunch of old people!

 

Don and I have both started playing pickleball.  It is a fun sport played on a court similar to a badminton court.  You use a "paddle" which is larger than a table tennis paddle and a large whiffle type ball.  Don was in the Cal Am tournament that was held at Canyon Vista resort, another Cal Am park.  He and his partner Dale went to the semis.  Pretty good considering Don had only been playing about 3 weeks at that point.  No pics of this event I am afraid.

So this is the last week of league tennis for another season.  Hard to believe it is getting near the end of our stay here.  Now start all the year end parties.......we will leave those for another post!

Almost February!

Wow how the time is flying by!  We have been having a great time of it.  Weather has been the best for a January since we started coming down!   Don and I have been playing lots of tennis.  We have also started a bit of pickleball as well.  They are still working on the courts and have just painted 3 of 6.   Play should be in full swing in a couple of weeks.

A couple of weeks ago I go a group together.  We went over to Towerpoint Resort for a fundraiser tennis dance.  The band, the Chauffeurs were great!

 

This past weekend I was in a 3.0 tournament over at Sunland Village East resort.  This is a special tournament just for 3.0 level players.  Francine and I entered.  We were brutalized the first game and slunk home to regroup.  After that it was clear sailing and we manage to win the consolation final.  (The team to beat us went on to win the championship)  Weather was perfect for tennis and it was a fun weekend!

 

I am pleased to say I have finally finished the toppers for the AZ room.  I am not sure if I am completely happy with the way the fringe is laying but they are up and I will think on it awhile before making any changes.

 

So that is about it for now.  This weekend we have the Cal Am tennis tournament.  This is a fun event with all the Cal Am parks participation.  The best part is, VDO is not hosting this year!

Next Friday the whole group is going again to a dance by the Chauffeurs.  This time at Carriage Manor.  It will be the sweetheart dance.  Looking forward to it!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well a new year has begun once again.  What makes New Years Eve special?  To some, it is not.  They just carry on like any other day, then go to bed at a "normal" hour, wake up the next day and so on.  To others, it seems to be a rite of passage.  A new start so to speak.  To others, just another excuse to party.  Don and I are with the last two groups.  Going to bed before midnight, well that would be some sort of crime even though the punishment would be a good nights sleep....

 We had a lovely New Year's Eve.  We went to the dance in the park.  The place was packed.  The band was good and the food was wonderful.  A buffet was set up with multiple anti pasto dishes, cold salmon, chicken satay, wonderful beef tenderloin, shrimp, ah I could go on and on.  Then we come to the desserts,  mmmmm.

The music was by the Main Event Swing Band.  The theme was Jewel of the Nile.  The place was done up like and Egyptian palace.  We even had half time entertainment by a belly dancer.  (The guys liked that a lot!)

Here are our activity directors.  Also done up for the evening!

 

Every year there is an area set up for picture taking.  This year it was King Tuts Throne. 

Our manager, his wife and daughter were there, dressed in theme.  (They seem to like that although I don't know many guys who would be caught dead in that get up let alone go out on new year's eve!) 

Of course getting into the swing of things our "harem" of gals at our table had to go for a photo op.

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 Don and I took our turn as well.

So today is new years day.  A little tennis and a brunch for the 4.0 team and spouses.  Now to take Chrismtas down.....

I will leave you with these words that I found in our local paper:

"Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."

                                                                        -Denis Waitley

Way to go Denis!

May you all have a wonderful 2012!