How close it got

You might have to click on photo to enlarge it but where the X is, if you look below there are three sky lights on a roof.   That's our house.    Then you can see the burned ground and that's how close we all came on that street. 

Wild Grass can be pretty before a fire

Fire Day 2

So after having gone to bed at 3am and not really sleeping.    The helicopters started at 7am.   Awesome sight and I wish I was closer to the river to have watched them come down and load up the water.   I wish I had had some guts to go to the neighbours and get some photos of them dropping water behind that tree.     But it wasn't to be and if I had driven out of our street I wouldn't have been able to get back in as they had it blocked all off.    I was way too tired to spend the day in town.    Afternoon naps were a must. 

Bush Fires and Evaculation Alerts!!!

So at around 11pm we got a knock on the doors from the neighbours to be told to look out the window.   This is what greeted us.   I took this photo and we are 4 houses up from the house on the left.  That's the Baptist Church on the right.   This is all I got before I realized I was in my pj's without a bra and maybe I should throw some more stuff in the car besides the passports, camera, computers,  birth certificates,  and other important paperwork.  So back into the house for clothes, and more photo albums, etc.   Kids were in the car!!  We eventually had the police come take phone numbers and say we were on 10 minute evacuation alert.   The fire had come about 700 metres near the houses by one point.   That was at 1am.  ( the kids were back in the house in bed as they were complaining a blue streak)   But by 2am one of the firefighters said they had it pretty much dealt with near our houses so we went into the houses to try to get some sleep.  I don't think I slept.  The kids were all in our beds so Eric and I tried the spare bed!!
Now have been woken up to the sounds of aircraft circling and dropping water.    It has apparently burned 50 hectares.   8 hectares is the size of a football field.   (Oh I just missed a perfect shot of the waterbombering going by!!!!)    They said at one point it was burning 3 metres every minute.    Fast.    Well I need a nap and maybe a coke! (I haven't had one for weeks)   Thank God Eric's parents had left Monday and Eric's brothers friend didn't come last night.  
Take care all.......  I'm going to put a movie on because the only one awake is Owen and myself and I can nod on the couch while he watches something. 

Northern Flicker

This poor bird did a huge smack into our window.   We all rushed downstairs to see how the bird was doing.    A little stunned so it just sat on the ground for a few moments before getting up and flying away.    A northern flicker is a type of woodpecker. 

The fisherwomen

Spirit of Kamloops Bill Miner Train Robbery

We all went to the Kamloops Heritage Railway on Friday night to take a train ride and be in the Bill Miner Robbery reinactment.     Was an interesting night and learned  a lot of history of the Kamloops area.

The garden overflowith....

I just got caught up with all the freezing of the cherries.   Then I look over at the raspberry bushes!!!!   I have picked two more of these sized bowls.   Though we have been eating them so I haven't frozen any.   The beans and peas are going nuts as well.   Very yummy too bad not all year round. 

Solitude

I think she's feeling left out.....

So here's one of Ciara for you all.

Just a favourite lately

More weird faces

What's that..........

Okay my kids can't give me a straight face to save their lives lately.  They will be a willing model for about 4 minutes and not one of the photos has them looking at me!!!   Oh well they are still memories.

Popsicles with Friends

                         Owen and Calder enjoying popsicles in the lovely warm weather.

Owen and Nathan enjoying the popsicles as well.    Must get some photos of the girls with their playdates.      They tend to be too  busy playing to just have a quiet moment of allowing me to take photos. 

Grandparents visiting

These are Eric's parents  Jay and Marg.     They are visiting for just over 2 weeks and the kids are having a blast having extra people to entertain them.   It is always great having the grandparents on both side visit as the kids just love more one on one time.     It  is going to be interesting for the 6 weeks after they leave before school starts back to keep them as busy!!!

Australian Fruit

I have been trying to by BC fruit and veg and it isn't too hard in this season.   But the kids are getting sick of cherries and raspberries.   So I was trying to find other things.   Happened upon the pears and couldn't resist getting some Australian produce. 

Hot Married Couple........ NOT!!

Okay had visions of hot married couples at this amazing spot.   So tried the lighting out with Eric and I and well.........   We are no longer hot and young!!   What's with the weird kissing thing and my......... .   Well I  have motivation to get back on the work out wagon.      Now just to find the hot couple to photograph and see my vision come alive.

#20 of faces Challenge

This is Jenny.   She was a stranger that became our babysitter.   Then we have been talking about her becoming a model for me.   So low and behold I went to her prom night to photograph some and we are working on doing a day of this with her friends sometime.   So fun fun fun.   

#19 of Faces Challenge

This is Nicki.   She was a good friend of the girl I was taking prom photos of.   Hopefully I have scammed some models out of this deal.   They are interested in letting me play with them as models so look out for them in the future.

Owen's Outakes

Oh just a little giggle for your day.  I can start to see little bits of all family members in these photos. 

Caber Toss

Hannah getting a little of her Scottish Heritage out.    Maybe we will have to ship to her Great Aunt and Uncle and cousins in the UK to get some serious training in........  Her form was better in her first throw and it actually almost tipped over.     We went down to the Kamloops Highland Games Saturday morning before picking up Grandma and Grandad from the airport.   Gorgeous day and Hannah was feeling her roots.   Wants to do Highland dancing as well as all the tradition Highland games.    Got to love girls in Dresses doing a Caber Toss.   We'll have to get her Tartan done up for next year!!

Lonely......

5 people one photo

So here's another family shot.   5 people in one spot letting me take a photo.    Found a great spot now just need people that aren't my family to play  with the sun a bit more.     It's July summer vacation.  Girls all passed and ready for Septembers  next grades.   People visiting us.    Us exploring.   Temperatures finally reaching the Australian temps we remember.   Should be an interesting month.

Experimenting

Why is it.......

that when you run out of models and haven't gotten out all day to find strangers that you end up going with the food or flower shots?      Well I won't torture you with the 20 lbs of cherries I am pitting.   So I will give you some of the flowers that are surrounding my deck.   I love my deck it is starting to feel like a little tropical paradise with vines and flowers climbing everywhere.

Old Friends

Old friends from Red Lake, Ontario that now live in Norway.   Inez,  Ciara, Owen, Simone, and Hannah.  Let me tell you Norwegian accents on 4 year olds are to die for.   So so cute.   Such an awesome visit.   So miss this family.  

Adventuring for a fishing spot and camping spots for later

So we decide to pack a lunch and head out exploring Johnson's Lake and Adam's Lake for fishing spots and other camping spots to do to later.    Johnson's Lake has this amazing turquoise blue waters with sand bottom for a long way perfect for another time.    The last photo is the Watson family that went with us on our adventure.    Smiles and laughs the whole weekend.

Shuswap Lake Provincial Park

Shuswap Lake is very large.    We camped at the Scotch Creek end of Lake.   With our friends the Watson's.    The kids all had a great time and we just had a good relax.   Well except when the lake monster tried to attack the girls!!!!