I've been busy! A couple of weekends ago I went to Calgary with six of the students from our school, a colleague, and two of the students' parents. I have lots of pictures of that but I think most of you have probably seen a zebra and a giraffe...or at least a picture of one...and there is nothing like being very close to these gorgeous animals to offer a complete appreciation of God's creation. I should say, too, that I enjoyed seeing the baby elephant, but could not get a good picture of him or her...so the photos I am posting are more recent than those from the trip to Calgary Zoo, the Pumphouse Theatre (to see "Helen's Necklace"), the Rothney Observatory (where I heard a couple of very interesting talks on astronomy), and on our return, the Banff Hot Springs (brief, but relaxing). And it was also Happy Birthday to Kelvin, along with Mother's Day. A gala weekend.

For the long weekend, I journeyed to the Kootenays of British Columbia; in other words, the next mountain range over. This entailed driving south from here to Osoyoos, then east on the Number 3 highway, through some of the most spectacular scenery in Western Canada. My hostess, Kari, was driving ahead of me so we went quickly to her home in Grand Forks, and the next morning I arrived early at my destination, Castlegar, BC. Here, at Selkirk College, the Baha'is of the Kootenays (and a few other friends) gathered to study "the Majestic Process". I have posted a group photograph, above. I was delighted to attend sessions, of course, and to be the tourist, but mostly to see a few old friends and make some new ones. After the school was over, I had the opportunity to go with a friend to Nelson, BC, a place about which I had heard a long time ago from my colleague in Fort St. John, Daniel V., whose home town it is. It is indeed quite lovely, and Linda and I enjoyed dinner by the river before I returned to Castlegar for the night. Early the next morning I set off for Summerland again, but this time took lots of pictures along the way, including at a very lovely little town called Greenwood, where I also got lots of books at a "donations only" sidewalk sale. As I came into Osoyoos (there's a lot of climbing to heights and then going down-down-down into valleys on this trip) I took pictures and you will find one of these, above. No photo can do justice to the panorama, however, of descending into the Okanagan Valley from Boundary country, with the mountains in the distance (between us and Vancouver). If you have not toured these areas of Southern British Columbia, I can only echo every travel agent and encourage you to revel in the sheer beauty of the areas. It's truly breathtaking, and not entirely spoiled, at least not yet, by the tourism. I will miss the summer's roadside stands for the plentiful fresh vegetables and fruits of the area (although early asparagus is now available, apparently from the East Kootenays in Creston) and I am sure other delights are soon to follow (including, I am told, early cherries at the end of June). I get to enjoy the blossoms, and I have been bringing great bunches of lilacs into the apartment.

The next couple of weekends are quiet, before Bernie's arrival back here for his last visit before I start the drive east to home, where I will remain, for the time being, in Gatineau. In the meantime, I have classroom teaching to finish up, exams to administer, and some packing to do.

I am grateful, mostly, for the many opportunities that come to me to see new places, meet people, connect with family (I will visit, with my sister Andrea, our parents, while on the journey east), and generally enrich my life with spirit, beauty, and the company of dear and faithful loved ones.