Summer Plans

This summer, thanks to covid19, we won't be traveling far - or rather, traveling at all. That works well for us as well because Allen still isn't up to much traveling. I decided I'm going to accomplish a lot this summer anyway. I plan to go to the gym each day. I plan to read a lot. I also plan to do an hour of deep cleaning each day. Today I attached the back entry. Now I just want to sit and look at it. It's so wonderful to finally have that closet clean!! I would have taken a before picture, except that it was just so embarrassing!

Week Day Hikes

Jill and Peirce are doing a good job of taking advantage of the summer weather. Today, Peirce was off and Jill didn't work until later in the day so they decided to get up early and head out to Kanaskis. It was a great way to spend a morning!!

Still Celebrating!

Tonight Peirce had another grad party. They called it Grad Stampede....a special grad party since the main event got cancelled, with a twinge of Stampede fun since it also got cancelled!

Mission Friends

Jill was companions with a missionary from Okotoks for a number of months (and I think a number of times too!) She got home from France this week and we all got to go out to Okotoks to welcome her home. Jill is so lucky to have such a good friend from her mission live so close by.

Diploma Pick Up Day

Everything has been so strange this year. Today Peirce was supposed to go to his school and they gave him a gift bag full of things like his diploma, a grad cap and tassle, a water bottle and a few other things. 

Over and out Abe!

Dog Door!

We got a dog door! Chico and Frank aren't too sure about it just yet though.

Sunday Hammocks

This is becoming a fun weekly tradition. Relaxing and beautiful!

Drive Thru Grad

I kind of thought this was a hokey idea. It turned out to be quite a lot of fun!

The drive-thru grad was at the stampede grounds. We tuned into the event on the radio, like you do at a drive-in movie. The MC was a comedian and really did a great job. It wasn't an easy job either! Part way through it started to storm. It didn't last too long, but we had to wait 30 minutes after the last lightening strike so she got to just entertain us during that time. Not an easy job! 

Getting cued up to enter the Stampede grounds.

First stop was the photo booths

Great shoes!

Once we approached the stage the graduate and one more person could get out. Jill got assigned to run back and forth across the front of the stage to take some action shots.

Big screens!

After Peirce crossed we watched the others cross and then there was a bit of a program.

When you're so close to Village how can you not stop there?!

Then of course, pictures on Crescent Road

After, we went out for dinner to Model Milk. Everything was amazing! 

Sophie and Peirce were the guests of honor. We were happy Adrian could join us too!

That evening there were food trucks at the park near the school and a friend of Peirce's had a party. 

It was a super fun day and we're so proud of Peirce!

Protests

Peirce and I were trying to figure out what those little flags were around the lawn. We decided the ants must be protesting.

Rainstorm Repairs

On the weekend we had an incredible rain/hail storm. Allen had been out and was on his way home just as it was starting. There were flash floods all over the place and he ended up driving through a puddle that was way too deep. He made it through (the car did stall....but it started again) but the next morning he realized he had damaged the thing on the bottom of the car that protects his engine on the underside (I'm sure it has a real name....I don't know what it is though!) 

Today Jill helped him get it off. What a girl. She loves doing stuff like that! 

Here's hoping there is no damage to the engine from the puddle. We'll find out next week!

Connecting

One of my goals this month is to call someone each day. During this pandemic, I have enjoyed many aspects of my life at home - but over time I have found that I really miss people. This is one of my ways of addressing that. 

Today, my friend Kim stopped by in the middle of their walk to introduce us to their new puppy. It was so fun to visit! We hung out outside on our front lawn. The kids played. The dogs barked. It was wonderful.

Sunday Pleasures

This was how Jill and Peirce chose to commune with God today. Seems like a beautiful way to spend a Sunday!

Hail Storm Surprise

We had a big bad scary storm last night. In one hour, 50 cm of rain fell! Allen was driving home and he saw manhole covers pop off and fly in the air! Deerfoot was closed down. Houses were really damaged in some parts of the city! You can see pictures here.

Some #Twitter pics from the #abstorm Calgary storm last night. pic.twitter.com/cv9MLxGtKg

— 🅟🅐🅤🅛 🅜🅐🅒🅚🅞 (@paulmacko) June 14, 2020

Chico had a really good solution.