Family Day in Saskatoon
Letters from the Frozen North...Pike Lake, Saskatchewan
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Monday, February 19th was Family Day in Saskatchewan. I’m not exactly clear if this was a Canada wide holiday, but it really didn’t matter as it gave me a chance to spend some time with my children.
A couple months ago, I had made arrangements for them to be in Canada at this time, as it also agreed with their time off from school for Louisiana’s Mardi Gras holidays. After a collective 12 hours of airport waiting and flying 3 legs of US and Canadian airspace, I found myself driving the final 30km from Diefenbaker airport to our home at Pike Lake at 1am in the morning. It was good to be heading home.
We pretty much all slept in that morning, and the coffee pot didn’t get turned on until about 8am, which is just short of incredible for those of you that know me. Even with the late start, it didn’t keep the kids from requesting the typical breakfast fare of bacon, bacon and more bacon. The pork farmers out there certainly must love us.
Collin and Hannah were both quite relieved to look out the window and see that there was still snow on the ground, as they both worried there wouldn’t be any around for sledding. I had reassured them several times earlier in the week that snow wouldn’t be a problem. We’ve had snow on the ground here since November, and it certainly makes me wonder if its EVER is going to leave. I’m sure I remember back in September, there being green grass and actual leaves on trees. I even have the pictures to PROVE that there is, in fact, a time in Saskatchewan when there is no snow. It’s been awhile since we’ve all seen green here and even Kathleen (who’s lived over much of Canada in her life) is ready for winter to be over.
After the kids breathed a collective sigh of relief that there was in fact snow on the ground, we finished up breakfast and got everyone bundled up. It didn’t take long to load up the sleds in the truck and head to Diefenbaker Hill in Saskatoon, for what is probably the best hill in the city for tobogganing. I took the Ruth street exit off of Circle Drive and after a quick right, then left, we were heading into the park.
It occurred to me that most of my friends from Arkansas might not have ever been tobogganing…I certainly hadn’t, so I did the only thing I could do with the equipment I have. I made a short video clip of a sled ride down Diefenbaker Hill. Its certainly not DVD camcorder quality, but for a very old 2 megapixel camera that has a video function, it’s the best I have to work with. The poor sod taking the video is me, and Hannah is in the front along for the ride. So for those of you that have never been sledding...here you go.
And for those of you that haven't seen the kids in awhile, I've taken a few since they've been here. From left to right, Hannah is in the front, then Collin, then Michael. In the back, Kathleen and then me.
Here is the old man and Hannah waiting for downrange to clear before we make a run.
Mike just ready to make a run
And I'll finish off with a couple of pictures of Hannah and Collin when they were up last month.
Spring is just around the corner!!!
Have a good week everyone!!!
Dave,
Pike Lake, Saskatchewan
A couple months ago, I had made arrangements for them to be in Canada at this time, as it also agreed with their time off from school for Louisiana’s Mardi Gras holidays. After a collective 12 hours of airport waiting and flying 3 legs of US and Canadian airspace, I found myself driving the final 30km from Diefenbaker airport to our home at Pike Lake at 1am in the morning. It was good to be heading home.
We pretty much all slept in that morning, and the coffee pot didn’t get turned on until about 8am, which is just short of incredible for those of you that know me. Even with the late start, it didn’t keep the kids from requesting the typical breakfast fare of bacon, bacon and more bacon. The pork farmers out there certainly must love us.
Collin and Hannah were both quite relieved to look out the window and see that there was still snow on the ground, as they both worried there wouldn’t be any around for sledding. I had reassured them several times earlier in the week that snow wouldn’t be a problem. We’ve had snow on the ground here since November, and it certainly makes me wonder if its EVER is going to leave. I’m sure I remember back in September, there being green grass and actual leaves on trees. I even have the pictures to PROVE that there is, in fact, a time in Saskatchewan when there is no snow. It’s been awhile since we’ve all seen green here and even Kathleen (who’s lived over much of Canada in her life) is ready for winter to be over.
After the kids breathed a collective sigh of relief that there was in fact snow on the ground, we finished up breakfast and got everyone bundled up. It didn’t take long to load up the sleds in the truck and head to Diefenbaker Hill in Saskatoon, for what is probably the best hill in the city for tobogganing. I took the Ruth street exit off of Circle Drive and after a quick right, then left, we were heading into the park.
It occurred to me that most of my friends from Arkansas might not have ever been tobogganing…I certainly hadn’t, so I did the only thing I could do with the equipment I have. I made a short video clip of a sled ride down Diefenbaker Hill. Its certainly not DVD camcorder quality, but for a very old 2 megapixel camera that has a video function, it’s the best I have to work with. The poor sod taking the video is me, and Hannah is in the front along for the ride. So for those of you that have never been sledding...here you go.
And for those of you that haven't seen the kids in awhile, I've taken a few since they've been here. From left to right, Hannah is in the front, then Collin, then Michael. In the back, Kathleen and then me.
Here is the old man and Hannah waiting for downrange to clear before we make a run.
Mike just ready to make a run
And I'll finish off with a couple of pictures of Hannah and Collin when they were up last month.
Spring is just around the corner!!!
Have a good week everyone!!!
Dave,
Pike Lake, Saskatchewan
