Archive: July 2007

Lately I have become involved in looking for my ancestors. Not an easy thing to do when you live in Canada and the records are in Holland. And for the longest time, Genlias was pretty much the only source of transcribed records.

The last few months I have come across other sources (including my uncle) that have greatly helped me.

An interesting connection... I made contact with a Dutch man who now lives in Korea, who is a cousin to a 98-year old woman we know, living near us. The Korea-Canada connection... 

About a week ago, I mentioned the Bathfitter renovation that is coming up. What I did not say was that the new tub will have an anti-slip bottom. I could have used that yesterday... The soap was getting away on me during the shower and I made an attempt to hang on to it. In that attempt I made a sudden move and lost my balance. Slipped and fell on my side and popped my head on the edge of the tub. Made a heck of a noise and Cecile came running in to see what was happening.

Fortunately, just bruises and sore spots. Weird that my fall happens a month after Cecile took a dive down some stairs. We must be getting old...

Some facts about accidents:

• More people are injured in their homes than anywhere else.
• The kitchen, stairs and bathrooms are all potentially very dangerous places.
• Many accidents occur in the home from everyday activities such as children playing, preparing food, simply moving about the house and during household repairs.

Watching FIFA U20...

Brasilia vs USA. Why does the USA team have white shirts and the goal keeper green? Like Brasila has yellow for the team and black for the goal keeper. Who the heck is who...

BTW, that first US goal was just perfect...

Defeat is not bitter, unless you swallow it...

From Wednesday night to yesterday have been a marvelous buzz of lily activity. My first attendance at a NALS (North American Lily Society) conference was a blast. It was great to meet so many people I only knew from email over the years.

To top things off, I won 3 "second place" ribbons for 4 stems I entered. Not bad for a first timer, I think.

More information and photos will eventually be on LDIS. 

Started Capital EX great yesterday, with a back pain that would not quit.

Day 2, the back pain was less.

End of day 2, I'm sitting in the backyard watching the beauty of my lilies, and even smelling some of them. I'm glad I have lilies to escape to.

Peking Acrobats, Butterflies, Sip! Fun Town Farm are all big hits

EDMONTON, AB – Northlands was thinking big when it planned Edmonton's Capital EX for 2007, and many of those big programs are big hits.

Attendance figures for the opening weekend showed 275,911 people enjoyed the exhibition over the first four days. That's up from 268,635 from the year prior.

"We've had a great opening weekend," says Ken Knowles, general manager for Northlands, the not-for-profit organization that produces the exhibition on behalf of the community. "We've heard tremendous response to a number of our new programs this year, such as the Peking Acrobats, Explore Butterflies, Finger Eleven at ED Fest, and Sip!"

Andrea Sardinha works at World FM's booth just outside the AgriCom. She says thousands of people a day pass by her booth raving about the Peking Acrobats. "Most said that just this one show alone was well worth the price of admission," comments Sardinha.

Shirley McClelland, Northlands volunteer and former deputy premier and minister of agriculture, is spending five days volunteering at the Fun Town Farm in the nationally-acclaimed Family Fun Town. "It's wonderful to see so many families out enjoying the exhibition. Many had incredible memories from the Fun Town Farm last year and were eager to enjoy it again this year. But for me, it is especially gratifying to see such innovative programming that engages children in the story of agriculture."

Families and children have other favourites this year as well. Explore Butterflies in the Sportex building offers Canada's first experience of having a unique and personal interaction with some of the world's most exotic butterflies in what is a world record-sized exhibit. American butterfly expert and exhibitor David Bohlken notes that the huge butterfly tent is consistently full and he appreciates the welcoming and respectful attitude of his Canadian guests. "What a great experience, and we're only half-way through. This is my first trip to Canada, and it won't be my last."

Just so you understand my concern the past week and a half, a neighbour of mine had a masectomy and she thought she was in the clear and ready to start chemo when they found a growth on her liver. She's waiting for mri results now.

I just wanted to make sure that my unusual back problems were not something mysterious, so I saw my family doctor this afternoon. Don't want to take chances and all that...

Last night we had a major thunder storm over our part of the city. Lots of lights and lots of noise. I was trying to get some lightning shots with the new D200, but I was not organized enough, plus I did not have rain protection for the camera.

Speaking of camera, I truly enjoy the D200. The D100 grew on me but there was a learning curve. This time there is not that much new to learn. After supper, I will put my expensive lens on the camera to try out. Perhaps there will be another light show tonight...