Grandkids – Page 6 – Skelton Sketches

Walking on Water at Lake Minnewanka

Posted on April 17, 2017April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

Little by little snow ebbs and spring flows, but we were surprised to find people tromping in the slush on Lake Minnewanka in Banff this weekend. So we joined them and had a picture shoot with our grand young’uns.
Thanks to Jim for the best of this photography!

In fact we got to keep them for two nights and share an early Easter dinner together–

–and a bus ride, and some art galleries, and some watercolor dabbling, and of course the playground..

But I think the best parts were spent around the retelling of the best story ever with the help of our homemade Resurrection Eggs, a Gospel of John video and DeYoung’s colorful The Biggest Story.

I love being a grandmom.

–LS

One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. –Ps.145:4 NASB

2016 in Review

Posted on January 6, 2017April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

I am ready for a New Year. The old one sputtered to a finish with colds and flu that made this the quietest holiday ever—just the two of us commiserating, napping, and idling about hoping to feel better in the morning, for days and weeks… P1220903

So, I am glad to be able to look back to sweeter memories of the old year and thankful for the energetic times we’ve had and the good things God has done for us in it!

We were still living with Jim’s dad in the BC Kootenays last year at this time and loving all the snow and learning to X-country ski in a pristine wooded wilderness. It was amazing!

IMG_20160220_122640123 All through January and February we skiied and I discovered doodling… IMG_20160104_221802890 P1190843

Then came an opportunity to live and work nearer the Calgary kids and the end of March found us exploring Canmore, Alberta.

IMG_20160330_151243778_HDR where Jim became a bicycle mechanic!

April 1 we moved into a sweet little suite…

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with the help of this great moving crew!

7 The Moving Crew roosting

It’s been a dream come true to live just an hour away from them all ( :

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The spring found me hiking with new found acquaintances…

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Finding my first Prairie Crocuses…

Crocus chorus

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…scaling a couple peaks nearest our home with Jim…

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And taking it easy on the neighboring golf course as I recovered from Shingles!

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There has been so much to discover…

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And always the stately Three Sisters providing the backdrop from our doorstep…

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A niece’s summer wedding was the perfect opportunity to return to my childhood home in New Jersey…

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and see family…

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Siblings

and all the wonderful cousins I grew up with!

Weaver Cousins

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This is my sis (could you guess?)

Then back in Alberta there was more hiking—and our first hike in a hail storm!

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And there were visitors, both people and animals…

deer with fuzzy new headgear

And flowers blooming on my doorstep…

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In August our middle daughter married, luring us back to Powell River for the occasion!

Sarah and Jim down the aisle

And we got to meet our newest grandbaby girl for the first time! the latest addition to our family

new grandbaby, Alexis

Then back home to the mountains…

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And hikes with the kids…

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And endless views… IMG_20160901_114248794_HDR

And then it was fall rutting season and the stately elk were back in our yard, plundering my flowers and providing awesome scenery!

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The meadow mellowed…

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And the aspens began to turn…

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And the mountains got their winter powder…

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Leaves turning gave inspiration for art all through September…

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And with October’s coming we had our first dusting of snow in the yard…

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The elk came calling often…

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And the trees out the window made beautiful silhouettes…

Evening falling silhouette

And finally, in October we got to take a trip north to see that new grandbaby in her home ( :

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October had its inspiring moments…

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And November its practice alphabets…

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And the cross-country season opened at the local Nordic Center!

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And holiday time came round again…the most low-key holiday ever and one we gladly leave behind to get on with a new year and a new season in our lives…

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…a cold one! But not without a beauty all its own…

Thanks for joining me for the reminisce! ( :

–LS

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Ps.90:1-2

Christmas is a-coming!

Posted on December 16, 2016April 28, 2017 by lindaskelton

And with it little familiar bits from Christmases past are springing up around the house…

This one is my especial reminder of Powell River, gifted to me by a friend just before we moved away…

Little by little Christmas baking is happening—starting with caramel corn—the best ever recipe!

And humble little ornaments are being created to share…

And we have had the fun of a happy grandkid sleepover. We all had a splendid time! It was a fond reminder of when our house was full of young ‘uns…

The walk to the mailbox has brightened…

And the outdoors has turned into a deep-freeze as we head into our first Alberta winter since Bible School days in Three Hills!

The elk still come by and it’s no longer kids that trample the snow in the yard, but elk….usually by night when we are unawares.

We are discovering new small town traditions. The CP Rail Holiday train passed through this week, stopping at a pedestrian crossing on a cold sub-zero night to throw down a boxcar wall and voila! instant stage for some lively Christmas music. Dancing along kept us all from frostbite, but just barely.

And now, as befits the season, I’m home nursing a cold by the gas fireplace in our cozy little suite, listening to music…

–LS

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14 KJV

Music is one of the best parts of Christmas!