Far away field trip-Delta Beach, Manitoba, Canada

While we were in Canada this fall, we took the time to drive the 2 hours to visit a place where we made a lot of memories as a family.  Over 10 years ago, my husband was a board member for a conservation organization called Delta Waterfowl.  Mark is a big hunter but he also has a degree in biology and understands that for him to keep hunting, he has to be a part of securing the future of ducks and geese.  

Delta Waterfowl was started back in 1911 by a hunter (James Ford Bell) who decided he would put 3 ducks back for each one he shot.  Later the idea of a waterfowl research facility was born.  In 1938, Hans (Al) Hochbaum arrived at Delta and became the first scientific director.  He and his colleagues pioneered the study of breeding duck ecology and made seminal discoveries on habitat use and behavior.  Today Delta sponsors many graduate and doctorate students in their research studies.  Delta Waterfowl has instituted programs for predator management, alternative land use services, hen houses and adopt-a-pothole.  

Our family would fly to Manitoba each July to hear the students give their research presentations.  We also had the opportunity to go through the research station there at Delta Beach.  This was the first time the girls got to see egg candling.  There were many ducks and geese at all ages and stages.  One summer there was even a big tank that a student used to study diver ducks.  It was because of these first few years and our experiences that the girls and I came to love waterfowl and the beautiful country of Canada.

Since that time the research station has closed at Delta Beach and some of the buildings are gone.  As the girls and I walked around this year, memories came flooding back.  They remember the ducks and geese, the eggs, bonfires with our friends and the students.  So many good times.  It was really nice to go back to a place we hadn't seen in many years and relive those days.

Mary and Grace summer of 2003

Mary, Emma and Grace October 2013

Glorious sunset

I'm continually in awe of God's handiwork!  This is a sunset we saw while in Canada. Amazing!

Canada Trip 2013

Our annual trip to Canada has come and gone.  The girls and I flew into Minot, North Dakota where Mark and all the puppies met us.  We had almost 3 weeks of family time-hunting, playing with the dogs and visiting our friends.  I say it every year, but it's always so bittersweet leaving.  Part of my heart is always left there in this beautiful country with these dear people.

Crossing the border

Grace and me on one of the flights

Emma got sick our first day there!  Her buddy Duke was trying to make her feel better

Me and Emma hanging out in the duck blind!

Our girl Thicket posing with a duck she fetched.

Mary, Emma, our friend Mrs. Phyllis, me and Grace

Emma catching up on some school reading on our drive back from Delta Beach.

Our favorite coffee shop and some of our favorite  people.  Mary, Emma, Mrs.Phyllis, Mr.Henry and Grace.

The one time of year we get to ice skate.  We had the whole rink to ourselves.

Grace and Emma lighting our paper lantern.

Emma got to go to school with her friend Samantha.  It was her first time in public school (she has only been home schooled).  She had a blast!

A Whirl-wind trip!

3600+ miles in 6 days.  8 states and 2 countries!  What in the world was I thinking??
It all started with taking our puppy to camp (dog training) in Brainerd, MN.  We've made this trip a few times-no big deal.  The dog trainer and his family are friends of ours so it's always nice to visit them.

Then little Emma spoke up and said she just had to visit her penpal who lives in southern MN.  We don't get to MN that often, so I added this stop to our list too.

A few days before we were to leave one of my Canadian friends called.  As we chatted she mentioned that she'd be in Winnipeg while I was in MN.  Seriously?  Winnipeg is only 7 hours from Brainerd.  It wouldn't be a problem to hop across the border for the day!

So, our trip went like this:
Day 1 drive from our home to Foristill, MO (about 13 hours)
Day 2 from MO to Brainerd, MN (about 11 hours)  visited and had dinner with our friends and dropped off the puppy at the kennel.
Day 3 drove from MN to Winnipeg, Canada (about 7 hours)-had lunch with my friend and visited for 4 hours) then drove back across the border and spent the night in Fargo, ND.
Day 4 drove from ND back to Brainerd.  Had lunch with our friends and visited our puppy one more time.  Then drove to southern MN.  Had dinner with our other friends and spent the night with them.
Day 5 drove about 10 hours from Lonsdale, MN to Arnold, MO (just south of St. Louis).
Day 6 drove from MO to home sweet home!  (about 11 hours)

To say we were exhausted is such an understatement, but it was all worth it.  Seeing our friends, sweet fellowship, making memories.  That's what it's all about!  Now to rest for a few days and embark on our next girl's road trip!

Early morning driving calls for a stop by Starbucks! (day 3)

We're in Canada again! (day 3)

Me and my sweet buddy Cheryl.  I was so very happy to see her, even if it was for just a little while.

(day 3)

Here's Emma with her friends Kate and Clark.  Their daddy has trained several of our dogs. (day 4)

Our friends in southern MN-Emma and her pen pal Betsy with the rest of our families. (day 4 and 5)

Our road trip north...way north!

For over 10 years now we've been going to Canada.  I've posted about it every year.  Every year I leave totally renewed.  There's always something different, something more, something special.  The people take time to get to know you, to visit, to make you feel special...

The sunsets and sunrise are bigger and more colorful.

The snow...oh the snow!  It's what we wait for! It never disappoints.

This year we happened upon a little coffee/gift shop.  We couldn't wait to go back everyday! Our new friends there were so much fun! (Mr. Mike, me and my Grace)

The whole gang in Rossburn at the coffee shop.

One of our favorite friends finally brought his violin on the last day. He played Ukrainian songs while my girls played their music.

Another favorite stop is Mrs. Marion's store in Olha. She always takes time to visit with us and always has everything we need.  She's more than the 'shopkeeper', she's like family to us.

Here's me and my crazy friend Cheryl. She makes me laugh more than anyone. I love this girl!

The kitchen of the little farm house we rented this year-playing cards with one of our buddies Taras. He's the most kind-hearted, giving person you could know.

Mr. Steve at the Olha store. So shy! he's so kind to pump our gas for us. So many stories to tell. Such a sweet man.

My favorite latte at the coffee shop in Rossburn. Better than Starbucks

Another favorite find.  This one is online too!

A Long Drive

Driving home from Canada this year I had the bright idea that we go back by Mt. Rushmore again  .Because everyone knows that that's a direct shot from Manitoba to the Gulf Coast of Alabama, right??  NOT!!  Driving from our town to Manitoba, Canada was 1900 miles.  Driving home through Rapid City, SD was 2269!  That's almost 400 miles out of our way.  Honestly...it was so worth it and I'd do it all over again.  

 We'd been to Mt. Rushmore about 6 years ago but Emma (our youngest didn't remember it).  The morning we were going to visit this time was so very foggy.  You couldn't see 100yds in front of you.  We had to visit early because we had to get on the road.  After all, we still had whole lot of miles to drive that day (we didn't end up stopping until 3am in Joplin, Missouri).  Before leaving the hotel parking lot, we prayed for our traveling safety and that God would open the clouds so we could see the mountain.  I knew God wouldn't have let us drive this far to not get to see Mt Rushmore-our only reason for going off track.  Even as I parked at the mountain, the fog had not cleared.  I still kept the faith that God would give us a glimpse.  Walking through the corridor of flags to the mountain, the clouds parted and the sun shone down in all it's glory.   Seriously!  It did!   There, ahead of us, was the amazing mountain carved so many years ago.  We had tears in our eyes as we gazed at it.  We stood in awe of this man's gift at carving the stone but more importantly at God's goodness in moving the fog and letting us see it once again.  God is so good and sweet like that!

We stayed longer than we should have, but we wanted to see and experience everything.  I didn't care how late I had to drive.  God had opened the heavens for us to see this and we were going to totally absorb it!  (I failed to mention that the whole time we gazed at the mountain, the fog was still thick as pea  soup behind us.  We literally could not see the car in the parking lot!)

Now we had to drive all the was across South Dakota (it's a really wide state, in case you haven't noticed).  It was such a beautiful drive.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  We went on through Iowa, Missouri, a little bit of Kansas and back into Missouri again to stop.  The next morning we drove on into one of our favorite southern states, Arkansas.  We cannot possibly drive through Arkansas without driving by the Duggar's house.  They are on our favorite reality show.    After stopping there we were energized to drive home.  (we arrived about 1:00am). 

We saw a whole lot of this beautiful country that God has created, felt His protection and watched as He performed a miracle...just to love on us!  One long drive turned into a trip of a lifetime!

Views from Canada

Why do we keep returning to Canada??

Here are just a few reasons why:

I love to watch our dogs 'work'. They are truly amazing animals.

We get to spend quality time as a family with no outside interruptions (TV, computer, phones, etc.)

SNOW!!! We certainly don't get this in south Alabama!

A simpler life. Mrs. Marion runs a small store which is also the post office. She sells home-baked goodies including breads and tarts. Every time we go in she insists the girls pick out something to take as a gift from her. She always has time to visit with us.

The main reason I keep returning is to see my buddy Cheryl. 2 weeks a year is just not long enough to spend with her.

More baskets

Each year when we go to Canada I like to take handmade gifts for my friends. This year I decided to make everyone more of these cute baskets. I found the tutorial on Ayumi's blog. I loved using all the different colors and patterns. Once we arrived in Canada I baked cookies to fill each basket.