LIVIN' LIFE

Don't worry - I'm not even going to try to explain my absence this time!

We finally have something blog worthy to report! The three of us recently took a trip - to somewhere further than Vernon - after - 9 - whole - months! We've been home almost a week now - so it's about time I got my stuff together and got it up - for those of you still hanging here by a thread. I was about to do so when I realized that there would be a HUGE hole in the story if I just started at the end of November. 

So - I'd better start back in October and fill you in what we've been up to since we finished our work here at the park back in mid October. 

It really hasn't been much. What can we say - we went from 60 to 0 fast. One day busy - the next day not. And that's how it's been - nothing to do with no schedule. 

How fun!

 As we've been on the road for the last five years, there have been many things that Canadian kids do each year that Cas has yet to do. So - it was pumpkin carving day!

 

'Sure you can just sit up on the table!'

While Cas and I roasted the seeds we let Derek do the cutting. 

We did go on to make another with the sole surviving pumpkin from our garden.

And of course - Cassia has never been trick or treating! Most of you will not be surprised to see that she wanted to be a dinosaur! Since there aren't any kids in the neighbourhood across from us - we had to reach a bit further. Word on the street was that a neighbourhood 15 minutes north of us is THE place. Lucky for us, our Park Hosts are living there right now so we had someone to visit at the same time. Cas was just thrilled to visit Penny and Kevin's dog Sam.

It was a great night and we all had fun!

Cas was pretty impressed with her haul which actually paled to the days Derek and I recalled with our full pillowcases!

One of the things we continue to do is walk around the park. 

Derek is at 4 walks a day, Cas 2 or 3 and me - well, just 1. What can I say! 

This is the last of the fall pictures of the park - it really went out with a bang!

'The Road' again - one of our most favourite places. 

What a great mid October afternoon. We stopped for some beach fun along our walk. 

Cassia's thing is to bring an apple along to eat during the trip. 

Sometimes we walk to the lake and sometimes, like this night, up to the water tank. 

Who needs playgrounds?!

Cassia is nice enough to share her apple with Rufus - he just has to work for his piece.

'Hey kid - stop playing and give me my apple!'

I realized that I've never shown you the labyrinth that is here at the park - it's by the Manor House.

We do stop by the real playground now and then. 

Cas and Derek spent some time cleaning up the garden. We've left the bulk of it until spring to provide the birds with some odds and ends. 

A family photo down at the lake!

We haven't asked Rufus if he likes staying home better than going to Mexico but we're thinking he's ok with it!

Stormy over Vernon way.....

but still nice over on our side of the lake. 

But not for long.

The remnants of this shed stand in the middle of the park beside the foundation of a house that burned down 30 years or so ago. 

Other than that we've been homebodies - enjoying our cozy little house. Cas and I do a bunch of things each day - some homeschool related and some not. There is a lot you can learn from toothpicks and marshmallows by the way.

Derek was given the task of wood stacking. We've now got three cords of wood. Hopefully that will hold us until spring - if not we'll just get more. Our home has character but with 10 foot ceilings and single pane windows it can get cold - we need to keep the wood stove going all day to keep it warm and toasty. 

And last but not least - I've taken up bread making. Really - I don't know what took me so long. My favourite is the no knead dutch oven kind - I make it every few days. 

I don't see store bought bread in our future ever again!

When I'm feeling a bit more adventurous I go back to the traditional style - this was with the Alpine mix that we picked up at Rogers Flour Mill - one of our new favourite places!

So - there you have six weeks really quick. 

Since we've been enjoying being homebodies so much we still just go to town once a week. 

But after 9 months enough was enough and we headed over to Vancouver Island to visit family and friends for a week. We had a super time although it was a bit of a whirlwind. 

I'll get those pictures up soon!

Teresa

By the way - we'll be looking for Volunteer Park Hosts here at Fintry for the 2016 camping season. The term runs from April 1 to mid October. The hosts need their own RV but are provided with full hook ups. If you are interested or know someone shoot us an email - alifemadesimple3@gmail.com! More info is at Kaloya.

FINTRY IN THE FALL

With the Park being much quieter these last few weeks, I've been able to take my camera with me during my rounds. 

I LOVE fall and couldn't wait to get to this time when the trees are changing colour. If you don't feel that way too this post may be a bit on the boring side for you! I KNOW one photo looks just like the other but they all seem so unique to me. I really had to edit and I still have too many! 

Because Fintry ranges from a pine and fir forest to mainly deciduous it has a lot to offer. Put the rocks, hayfield and beach into that and it's a great place to visit - and photograph. 

These pictures were taken over the last week or so - the second half of our walk from our house to the beach today. Derek and Cassia go there at least once a day after lunch. It was nice to join them for a change. 

It's been pretty grey here lately. I was glad I had my camera with me early one morning last weekend as the sky opened up for a few hours. Here I am down at the boat launch/day use beach at about 8 am.

It's been months since I've walked the beach. During the summer with the high water level it's impossible to walk the beach - it's only this deep in the spring and fall.

A nice way to start the day - we are blessed to live close to a lake. This is Okanagan Lake by the way.

I stumbled upon a maple - we only have a few but they colour so nicely. 

A great thing about Fintry are all the walking trails we have - even better at this time of year.

So quiet without all the campers. Although loop 2 is closed and empty now I can see all the activity and filled sites in my head from the summer. Time for it's winter rest and rejuvenation.

Some days during the summer the boat launch and day use parking lot are so full not one more car will fit - look at it now!

Waiting for next years kids.....

Loop 3 also now closed is one of my favourite places. 

Lots and lots of rose hips in the Park.

The old building behind our house. I waited too long to take this picture.....

Also our back yard....

We had 30 campers in Loop 1 for the Thanksgiving weekend, plus 2 groups in the group sites. It seemed so busy after averaging about 5 - 10 campers per night over the last few weeks. A good crowd though and I think everyone had a good weekend - thankfully the weather was much better than expected. 

The view from the overflow parking towards the historic barn buildings.

The amazing beech tree by the Manor House.

On our way to the lake we pass by barns and outbuildings from Captain Dun-Waters time.

Do you remember this tree lined road from the spring?! I knew it would be amazing in the fall. I'll head back over when it's all yellow for more pics.

And finally to the lake - it's only about a 10 minute walk for us.

A few geese stopping in.

In the 20 minutes that we were there the clouds broke up. Nice to see blue sky again.

Cassia was happy to finally be able to show me her favourite log.

A funny picture I know but I couldn't resist - seems like we are not alone - he was just here. 

Any guesses on what - or who I'm talking about?

Time to head home.

Not exactly sure what type of plant this is but pretty neat looking. Derek is thinking an asparagus.

Cas - always looking for something to climb.

A reminder of the past. This is a piece of Captain Dun-Waters irrigation system. If you can believe all his piping from Shorts Creek was made of wood.

Down at Shorts Creek that comes from the water fall and past our house.

So - that's it.

I hope everyone - in Canada - had a nice Thanksgiving. It's not really something we celebrate since we are - working, don't have family close and well - are usually on the road in the USA at this time of year. It was a nice weekend though and like I said - it looked like a lot of our campers were in family units and had a great time.

Tonight is the last night that the park is open. I registered one campsite. It seemed fitting that the fellow shook my hand - my last registration of 2015. Last year I counted and registered 2,315 campers in 4.5 months - I would imagine that it was well into the 3 or even 4000s for this summer.

Tomorrow we lock the gates at 11:00 am and then Derek and I start with the final clean up and closing down of the park. As these things do, it felt like it took forever to get here until the end.

I have one more topic I've been thinking of posting before Cassia and I head out on an adventure next week. A girls trip down to the Coast and the Island to see Derek's and my family for the rest of the month.

We can't wait! A road trip!

Teresa