Good Morning and Welcome to Monday the 20th day of August, 2018.
This kept me busy for most of yesterday …..
Welcome to my vacation.
Road trip from Spruce Grove-Edmonton to AIRDRIE, Alberta.
Momma and her daughter.
Take the scenic tour.
Most of the photos were shot as we drove down the highway.
Some poor “bugs” were lost along the way and I was sorry that their lives ended.
My daughter drove all of the way …..
We passed by many a red barn.
Some of the shots were blurry.
Most of those I deleted because why would you want to see those.
Oil digging machines. Big round bales.
Beautiful green countryside.
Even time for a selfie when we were stopped for construction.
Those poor workers out paving the roads in the HEAT.
As my daughter would say ….. “Another photo of a sign”
I thought they would always remind me where we were.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE.
They have had some of the best signs.
Okay perhaps the 7-Eleven sign was over the top.
Pretty flowers ….
Our first stop was CAROLINE. I managed to get a photo of the Town OFFICE.
Disappointed in missing the entrance sign.
A map to show us the way (we had GPS, too).
Dirty windshield.
Sorry poor little bugs.
The trees were absolutely thick, green and glorious.
The highway just stretched out in front of us.
We stopped in SUNDRE for lunch at this local establishment.
The server/cook was amazing.
They had a wall filled with Record Album Covers …. so cool.
We had to have a photo taken in front of it.
When asked us if we wanted dessert?
We hesitated and then said “sure” and she gave us Saskatoon pie for FREE.
We did not have to pay for the pie.
Can you believe it?
Such a nice person.
After lunch we headed over to a book store that my daughter had spotted on our way into the town.
Shout out to “CAMELOT BOOKS.”
Unfortunately per the owner only in business until end of August, 2018.
After all, one can never have too many books, right!
This was a used book store with something to suit everyone’s imagination.
They had some books over 100 years old.
Such treasures.
What a great place to stop and investigate.
I picked up two books of poetry that were printed before I was born.
So I know that there are some things older than me. Ha.
After we spent some time checking out the books and of course leaving some of our holiday money at the bookstore, we were on our way once again
The way to AIRDRIE.
Somehow or OTHER I managed not to get a sign for AIRDRIE.
How did that happen?
Disappointing.
Three hundred and some odd photos and none of our destination, well that just plains SUCKS.
We arrived at AIRDRIE just after 3:30 p.m. and drove straight to the hotel to check in before heading to our REAL DESTINATION.
IT was the antique shop/mall named “WHERE ON EARTH …. DID YOU GET THAT?”
One of my daughter’s friends who lives in Calgary met us at the antique stop/mall for a visit.
She brought her Mother and baby son ….
Now for some reason I did not take any pictures of the store or the SIGN at this time.
What was I thinking?
Perhaps distracted?
After all I am or was almost “61” at the time.
After we hung out at the store for a few hours and it was about to close up, I asked one of the staff for the name of his three favourite restaurants in town?
He gladly gave me the names of them and even wrote them down.
We headed back to the hotel and found my youngest brother hanging out (waiting for us).
We went to a restaurant named “PEPPERCORNS” by the water which is in the background of the following photos.
At first we were wondering where the water was until we opened the blinds at our table and voile, WATER.
It was great.
Snapped a few photos.
Some of the homes lining the water were so pretty and their back yards …. well I was a bit envious.
We found these bushes by the water that were this grey colour with same colour berries. Very cool.
Ducks as there should be in water.
The sun was setting and the smoke gave it an eerie look.
We had a great visit with my youngest brother from Calgary.
The next morning (Wednesday) instead of heading off to “DRUMHELLER” to see the dinosaurs we decided to go to the mountains.
CANMORE.
We could not believe how far out Calgary has grown – almost reaching AIRDIE.
Here are some shots of the ever growing city of Calgary.
HAZY due to smoke and heat.
Police van across the highway keeping everyone safe.
Photos of everything.
I had to get one of the truck hauling LOGS.
On the way to the mountains…..
I see mountains….. yay.
Sign for CANMORE.
We went to this bookstore in CANMORE.
Yup another bookstore.
So very cool.
On one side of the store there were new books and little gifts and on the other side used books and a coffee shop.
We had coffee and goodies …. coffee break.
We took a walk about Canmore and took in some of the local stores.
Vintage store.
We had lunch along the way.
The best CHICKEN and FISH TACOS ever (I am not sure that I have had them before but they were good).
I cannot remember the name of the restaurant. Not a chain.
One of my favourite things was we bought locally made rings to mark our trip.
I shall treasure them forever.
I should have taken a photo of them.
I wear one or both of them every day along with the one that I purchased on our Mother/Daughter Trip to Jasper in 2009.
When we were on our way out of Canmore, we turned down a street and found this walk way by the river. There was not much water in the river but the sights were beautiful.
This was a wonderful find.
Along the way ….. taking in the sights.
On our way back to AIRDRIE.
Shots from the car.
Everyone needs a shot of the big SHOPPING MALL sign.
Designer stuff ..
We laughed all the way about me and my sign obsession
.
Finally the morning we were leaving AIRDRIE and one last stop at our favourite ANTIQUE place.
I decided to take some photos.
Neglected to take a photo of the sign on the store.
But I took some photos of some cool items.
There were so many items that I would have loved to have brought home with me.
Alas not enough room or money.
I desperately wanted one of those wagon wheels for my back garden.
The rusted old water pump would have worked, too.
Just before I left …. five minutes before leaving the store.
On one last look about I found the item that sung to my heart.
THE ROOSTER WEATHER VANE.
Rooster is my Chinese sign.
This was my gift to myself.
It remains in my garage at this time until I find the perfect spot for it.
Likely will wait until spring to display it.
So grateful that I found the most perfect item.
On our way home.
More shots from the car.
Those buildings in the next photos …. store the big round bales.
Very cool.
More photos of logging trucks, not sure why.
Another red barn.
We stopped again in SUNDRE and hit the bookstore one last time.
I found ten more books …. love to read.
Construction ….. trees ….. this truck ahead of us ….. we followed him for over one hour…… we thought he was taking us home.
Cool churches, a tractor.
Electrical tower.
BACK TO SPRUCE GROVE.
Here are some photos of my finds from the Antique Store …. some for me and others for gifts.
Books ….
Teddy and Alvin ….. the day after we arrived home … Teddy came for an overnight stay. We missed him.
So that was our trip.
We had a blast and have vowed to do it again next year.
We only have to convince my daughter’s husband, my son-in-law that it is a good idea.
Just kidding …..
We were gone for two nights – three days but had the best time.
Saw my little brother, the mountains, ate in great places, shopped in book stores and antique shop, and took lots of photos of signs.
What could be better than that.
Oh, spending time with my daughter and my little brother.
Okay ….. done.
Special Hello to: my daughter who is the best travel partner ever, thank you.
Always, Carol & Alvin
PS: just in my office putting the finishing touches on this blog before going to POST. I sat down in my chair and Alvin came up to me and put his paw on my leg. He does this when he is asking “politely for something.” Here he was asking for me to put his blue blanket on the floor as I had forgotten. How cute is that? I love this little guy. Makes my heart sing.
My New Life @ 51 