Landscaping

Our new next door neighbours wanted to make a change to the "jungle" between our two houses.  We got permission from strata to take out the existing non-blooming shrubs.  We asked the landscape company that has the contract in our complex for a quote and their price was huge.  Don next door said "let's do it ourselves".

For the past couple of weeks, Cec and Don have really been busy.  We had a tree that was planted far too close to our house.  It hindered putting up Christmas lights and played havoc with the gutters.  It had purple berries that would fall and stain the sidewalk.  As it was smaller than the 12" trunk width we could remove it without problems from the city.  We got permission from our strata landscaping committee to remove and replace it.  

The stump of this tree was huge.  Thanks to Nik and Wayne who came over with a chain saw, it was gone.  We replaced the tree with a pink dogwood!  

This is the before picture.   When the azaleas bloom next year, they will be visible, not hidden.

Our neighbours want to remove their purple berry tree and replace it with a dogwood too.  They are waiting for permission from strata. Their tree was planted away from the house and the trunk isn't 12".

I planted the barrel!  Thanks to Kathy for picking out the appropriate plants.  The barrel is plastic so it won't rot.  It's sitting on a cement city pipe that's ugly so we covered it with bark mulch.  I didn't even know it existed until we pulled out the jungle.  

Quarantine jokes - look at the funny side

Happy Sunday

I hope everyone is staying safe and keeping well. 

I thought it was time for another song.  This is one of my favorite songs and sung by a wonderful Christian Children's Choir! 

Enjoy!

Independence Day USA

To all my American friends and relatives, Happy July 4th.  I hope you are all healthy and following CDC guidelines, wearing masks, social distancing and staying safe.

Canadians are watching your country with disbelief.  We truly hope you get this virus under control.  

Books in 2020

 

 

Canada Day memories and 2020

Cheryl joined the Richmond Thunderbird Baton and Drum Corps when she was 8.  She stayed with the group until she was 17!  They were in the Steveston Canada Day parade every year.  They travelled throughout western Canada and into the US.  When she was 17, she won the title Canadian Corps Leader in Regina!   

They played at a BC Lions game at Empire Stadium and were in the pregame show at BC Place in the 1983 Grey Cup.  We got free tickets to the game as it hadn't sold out.  Some of the girls didn't want to see the Grey Cup game so I took them to Pacific Center Mall.  The dad's were horrified!

This was at the Canadian Championships in Calgary

This was Lexi's first Canada Day Parade in Steveston

This year was different.  No large gatherings.  However, our townhouse complex organized a Canada Day parade!  

We were at the turnaround point.  It was great fun!

When we moved here 12 years ago, we watched the motor homes drive out in October and saw them drive back again in April.  Now most of our neighbours sold their gas guzzling motor homes and purchased homes in California and Arizona.  This year in mid-March they all came home about the same time.  Because we've been quarantined, we see them when we do our daily walk.  Everyone stops to talk and we've really enjoyed getting to know all the snowbirds.  

It's a great community and we are happy to live here!

Happy Canada Day

I

Here is my list.  BINGO on the top line!!!!!

Slept in a tent - yes but I prefer a four star hotel with a swim up bar.

Eaten Poutine - yes and I think it's disgusting.  Cec loves it!  We had it in Quebec City so it was pretty authentic.

I've been to eight provincial capitals, and Ottawa makes nine.

Yes, I've seen many bears.  Not that I look for them and they scare me!

Yes, we've been north of 60 twice.  Once when we flew to Kotzebu, Alaska and sailed around Iceland.  We have the certificates to prove it.

Seen and sailed the Atlantic Ocean.

Never have we been up the CN Tower.  We were planning on a trip to Eastern Canada this year but unless COVID gets under control in the east, we will have to wait.

I've never played ice hockey but watched many games and love the sport.

Yes, I've experienced -35C quite a few times while visiting Alberta!

Visited many National Parks both in the US and Canada.

I don't remember ever seeing a Grey Jay but I'll have to put that on my list.

Beavertail and Calgary Stampede, I believe both of these in one day.

I've never gone snow shoeing, but I've walked in a lot of snow.

Yes, I've been hissed by a Canada Goose.  Those birds are nasty.

I've seen many whales in the Pacific!

Of course I've had real maple syrup.  It's all I ever buy.  BTW, Costco in the UK carries real Canadian maple syrup.  I wish I knew that after I over packed my luggage.

I've never had a double double.  If you don't know what it is, that's a Tim Horton's coffee with double cream and double sugar.  I drink my coffee black and I love Tim Horton's dark roast coffee.

I've paddled a canoe and seen the Rockies.  

I've never sung the entire anthem in French, but the anthem is sung many times in part English and part French.

If you count a mountain and a lake beach yes, but I don't think that's what they mean.

I'm Canadian, I'm sorry for everything.  

Our neighbourhood social distancing celebrations:

JULY   1

        Sullivan Gate Canada Day Parade                                     

You will see and hear

                                                                         Elephant (s)

RCMP marching band

Miss Sullivan Gate 2020

The SG fire department

Float (s)

And possibly DR  Bonny

 

Grab your cameras, lawn chairs and noisemakers  

and be street side @ 11:45 am

Parade starts at Unit 44 and goes to front gate and back to # 44

PLEASE RESPECT SOCIAL DISTANCING

We encourage you to be nice to the neighbours on your side of the street

And to trash talk the guys across from you!!