Canada – Day 1

Glenn did a great job organizing each day’s adventure. Today we toured the Depot where all Royal Canadian Mounted Police are trained. The visitor center:

We boarded a people-mover for the tour of Depot. Glenn worked as a carpenter at Depot for over 30 years and volunteers as a people-mover driver.

Beyond the parking area is Depot. No picture-taking allowed.

No trip to Canada would be complete without a stop at Tim Horton’s.

Wheatwyn Church where Glenn went to Sunday school and where both my parents were confirmed. The yellow field is canola, the green is field peas.

Cousin Gordon drove down from Melfort.

Behind the church, the well-tended cemetery.

The graves of my grandparents, Sophia’s great-great-grandparents, Ludwig and Julanna Manz.

Next stop, the Manz family farm now run by cousins Donald and Reg. My mother, the fourth born of 6 children, was the first to be born in the house in 1918. Donald and wife Marcia live here. Glenn brought cinnamon rolls and coffee.

Cousin Gordon drove down from Melfort. Our next stop would be the gray barn in the background, the structure built before the house.

In the loft, many birds chirping, piles of bird droppings.

The sons of Johnny, my mother’s younger brother. Glenn, Gordon, Reg, and Donald, plus Justin. Reg and Donald farm 22 sections of land (about 3500 acres). Some owned by them, others leased. They grow canola, flax, wheat. They also have small herd of cattle. Justin is 3 years younger than Reg and has gone up there to help with the harvest a few times (and loves it), so now he’s sort of like their youngest (adopted) brother.

From there, we drove to Southey

where Glenn’s younger sister lives with her husband Les. We had dinner in their backyard.

Another wonderful family get-together. Thank you Angela and Les! Tammy & Reg, Angela holding grandson Brooks & Les, Marcia & Donald, Gordon, Glenn:

To Canada

On Thursday, Justin & Jennifer, Thais & Sophia, and I drove to San Francisco to fly to …

My cousin Glenn welcomed us at the airport.

We stayed at a really nice rental in the Cathedral District.

Dave and Phyl’s

I will be here for about a week. Dave’s skills are greatly appreciated:

The view from across the street. Part of the Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.

Old US10, the view to the north:

To the south, in 1 mile, you reach the outskirts of downtown Deer Lodge. Population 2935 in 2021.

Hanging by a thread

After dropping off Avery at dodgeball camp and a little break, I picked up Carson at basketball camp.

One of his friends accidentally bumped him in the mouth but not quite enough ..

The “three amigos” as one parent calls them. Zane, Hudson and Carson, always in motion, impatient for the doors to be unlocked.

After games of pick up sticks, tiddly winks, and Chutes and Ladders, it was time for some livingroom baseball. This game was different. Thais came home but had an online meeting. I was sitting on the couch, Thais’ desk is behind me.

They only whispered, kept silent counts, and had no disputes. The only sound was the thwack of the ball on the pillow or bat.

Baseball game

There was some extra celebration because the Brewers were down by several runs but came back in bottom of the 9th inning to win by one run.

Carson got the game ball because in the previous game, he was “hit in the noggin.” By this game, he was ready to play pitcher again (standing beside the pitching machine) and his head only hurt when he raised his eyebrows.

Graduation

Sophia graduated from 8th grade at St Ignatius this morning. Front row: Avery and Carson. Middle row: Thais and Lenin. Third row: Leah, Lauren, Jeff, Rita, Lino.

Sophia was one of 6 valedictorians, was chosen Female Athlete of the Year, and received some scholarship money for Christian Brothers High School.