Preparation for the Winds of Change

In Costa Rica, we experience the Papagayo winds each November which mark the change from the wet season to the dry season. It is a unique experience for prairie folk such as ourselves as suddenly the gale force winds begin and last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. Unfortunately for us we got the 10 day version this year beginning the night of November 17 and ending on the 27th. I would argue that we still had moderate winds today and we don't know how tonight will go but I can say with assurance that we've had enough already!

The picture of Josue trimming back our palm tree is in preparation for those winds. By making the tree much narrower it survives the onslaught much better. You can see the boys carrying up the fronds to the street level for burning. They're great helpers but they sure weren't keen on all the leaf clean up after the winds. These winds dry the leaves right off many of the trees so they can enter their dormant state; some of which will flower later in the dry season.

There's a picture of Andrew holding one of the flower pods that come off the palm tree that has dried and he has burned our names into using a magnifying glass and the rays of the sun. Ingenious, isn't he?? He made a "ship" for us and each of our neighbours. He's holding the S.S. Gallant and the S.S. Orofino. Austin is peaking out from behind.

My bougainvilleas are starting to bloom again and some other periennial type plants have died off as the season changes. We no longer have to run our dehumidifiers and there are considerably less "biting" bugs although other types seem to take their place but are mostly annoying not itchy!

We still have very cloudy weather but no more rain and we're hoping that the sun will join us full time soon. To all our American friends - Happy Thanksgiving and we'll be thinking of you as we join our American friends for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow evening.

Halloween 2008

Well you can't have Halloween without at least a couple of decorations and a cake and some cookies to mark the celebration. Technically Costa Rica does not celebrate Halloween but rather All Saints Day on November 1st. The Spanish name for Halloween is "la vispera de todos los santos " which literally translates to the day before all saints day.

Austin had seen a picture of a giant pumpkin shaped cake in a magazine and we attempted to make it. Well, it didn't quite turn out the same but not a bad effect for a first try. We got the color pretty good though. The top layer was orange chocolate swirl and the bottom cake was rum pound cake. We didn't hear any complaints at the cookie/cake party we hosted Halloween afternoon so it was a success in the end.

Along with my three garden decorations you can't leave out our Halloween cat, Shadow, so her picture graces our site as well in honor of her holiday. She seems rather unaffected by it all...

Summer/Fall in Canada 2008

Summer in Canada was action packed with the roving Gallant's traversing the province north and south. John and I attended Big Valley Jamboree and from there we stopped in Sylvan Lake to visit the Jackson's. The pictures of us around a campfire are from our visit to Sylvan Lake. The boys along with their son, Joel, went to the waterslides one day as we were having a heat wave!

From there we went onto Drumheller to visit the Holmen's and then onto Pincher Creek where the boys went to summer camp. We saw Deb and Randy (John's sister and husband) and some of their family and even took Grandma Gallant down for a visit to view their spectacular new home. On one of our many trips to Pincher Creek we stopped in Airdrie to visit my second cousin Anne Marie Wood who is 91 and charming as ever.

While the boys were at camp, John and I zipped to Kelowna to visit Brian and Sharon and my friend Deanna. The wineries were terrific as usual and our stay was great fun and wonderful weather.

When in Camrose we stayed with Grandma G. and when in St. Albert we stay with our friend's the Henderson's. See Andrew playing Rockband with their son Glen and a picture of Polly and I. The boys enjoyed Rockband so much we bought them one for Christmas and it made it home safe and sound!

In late August, I spent a week with my sister Polly which allowed me time to have coffee with my previous boss, lunch with the ladies I used to work with and dinner with some HIM colleagues plus some shopping of course. At the end of this week, Polly and I joined my long time friends and colleagues for a summer BBQ at my friend Chris Houston's house.

We visited my Dad and Pat in Bawlf along with my niece Amanda and newphew Brian and his wife Amanda (see picture of Dad, niece Amanda and Brian's wife Amanda). See the picture of their little boys sitting outside at Dad's - very difficult for them to sit still but they tried. After all, they said they were shooting coyotes - lucky break for all of us that they were on the case! Pictured left to right is Marcus, Xander and Josh. Josh and Marcus are Brian and Amanda's two boys and Xander is niece Amanda's little boy.


September saw less traveling around the province but tons of activities. Early in September I got the bug to call my high school classmates and see if we could get together later that month. It all came together and 16 out of 30 met at the ageless Chateau Alice in Camrose for a fun night of tales, drinks and laughs. (Group photo shows the ageless class of '77)

Meanwhile they boys worked for a bit with their uncle Bill on the family farm and John helped with harvest. See the picture of nephew Curtis testing the grain for dryness and a picture of John, the boys, Curtis and sister Debbie out by the barn.

I attended my annual Nait class dinner at the Creperie in Edmonton and although we have tried various other restaurants over the years, we love the Creperie the best.

My sister, Polly, hosted a ladies lunch and graciously invited me as a guest which was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and just in time to be picked up for our evening's festivities at Darren and Shantel's house. Angela was there too which was wonderful as I worked in the past with both Shantel and Angela.


Mid September, John and I attended Rhonda's surprise birthday party on the train to Stettler which was something on my "do do" list. It was a murder mystery, dinner at the hall in Big Valley and train ride to Big Valley and back to Stettler. It was terrific and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't done it before. We had the most spectacular day - 25 degrees C and such gorgeous fall colors. We couldn't have picked a better day.

One of the Sunday's we attended Body World's at the Science center in Edmonton which was absolutely fascinating but understandably not everyone's cup of tea. It was certainly a unique way to have an anatomy lesson though.

We had a wonderful dinner at my friend's Donna and Robert Sired's house along with their two daughters Jennifer and Taylor and surprise guest Wayne.

September also saw the start of school for the boys and we were pleased to learn that Robin Moffatt would be our liason teacher this year so smiles all around the Gallant household.

Before we knew it, it was time to pack those 8 suitcases all right on the 50 pound mark and head on out. The check in personnel were most impressed with my "dead on" suitcase weights. Me too!

We thank everyone who hosted us, fed us sumptuous dinners and general hospitality as we had a myriad of wonderful dinners and visits with friends and family throughout our 10 week stay.

Birthday Bash at Carillo Beach

On July 19, we celebrated Andrew and Austin's 15 and 13th birthdays respectively on Carillo beach. Austin shares his day with Captain Rob so there were dual parties making for a large party. The boys enjoyed their day; playing badminton, boce ball (see the boys with Larry G and George S) and visiting. Everybody brought something to eat and drink and of course we had cake; lots of cake! Captain Rob's cake was especially festive displaying his sport fishing occupation. John, Majic and Mark enjoy the festivities too.

Our friends, Majic, Anna and Daniella, from San Jose joined us for the weekend and gave the boys new shirts. The boys display their new shirts in one of the photos.

Canada Day at Carrillo Beach

Here we are with friends, both Canadian and American, celebrating Canada Day. It was a terrific afternoon with no rain until it got dark, which was perfect timing. Everyone brought a nibbly and drinks plus Larry G. brought his boce ball set and large Canadian flag.

John, dressed in Canadian red and white is with our American neighbour, George Stone and next to George is Bill, from Calgary. Joe, wearing the Canadian umbrella hat and his wife Betsy (Canadian kerchief around her neck) are standing with our latest Canadian additions to the community; Colin and Kathy from BC.

Austin is playing boce ball with the guys (Larry G, Shannon and James) on the beach and both boys are posing with Joe and Betsy and Carol (another Canadian).

Most of us Canadians are in the picture with the flag for a group shot.

Happy Canada Day to all!

Boys Go Deep Sea Fishing with Jack

When our friend Jack Lischka, from Alberta, visited us in June, the boys and John went fishing for a day. Here they are on the open seas in all their fishing splendor (and their catches too)!

Lisbon

We spent the last two days in Lisbon but stayed in a hotel just outside in a small suburb called Loures. The hotel property was filled with citrus trees and we ate our fill of oranges and greatly admired the lemons. We dined in a Chinese restaurant both nights before our departure which was a pleasant change.

On Thursday, we drove into Lisbon and I conducted a walking tour of the Monastery of Jeronimos and the Ajuda Palace. In the Monastery are the graves of Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry, the Navigator. The palace was once the royal palace and now houses the Ajuda library. We didn't know how far the palace was but the hike kept us warm and it was down hill all the way back so much easier going.

We had a picnic lunch in the park where we met a Canadian soldier who was backpacking through Europe. Right across was the River Tejo and the Monument to the Discoveries which was designed to commemorate the Age of Discoveries; the central figure is Prince Henry the Navigator, who founded the Sagres School and was the pioneer of the great discoveries made by Portugal.

Although it was a nice day, 20 degrees Celsius with sun, cloud and rain, we just never warmed up and were first in line the next morning to drop off our rental car and get on that plane home.