Caching in the 'Zac

To commemorate International Geocaching Day (well actually it was a fluke), our friend Scouter Ron (view his blogs here and here) and the 1st Anzac Scout Group organized the 1st Annual GEOCACHE Community Event aptly named “Caching in the Zac” to take place during Anzac Daze.  Anzac is a hamlet located approximately 50km south of Fort McMurray and has been holding Anzac Daze annually for quite a few years at their community hall.

There were three traditional caches and one bonus multi-cache set up for this event all located within the hamlet.  The first cache was just down a path from the Willow Lake Community Garden, the second one was close to the Gregoire Lake shore, the third was in the Anzac Cemetery.  The multi-cache was located around the Anzac baseball diamonds; we found the coordinates hidden in a tree, when punched into our GPS we were lead into the trees behind the outfield.

Anzac Daze#1 - Anzac Gardens

 

Anzac Daze#2 - Rest in Peace

Anzac Daze#3 - Lakeview

 Anzac Daze#4 - BONUS - Multi Cache

Oops - forgot to take a pic of the cache!

We started at 10am and found them all with one "first to find" by 12pm.   It is super easy and fun for us to strap on Penny and get out of the house on these nice summer days especially when there is such great swag and prizes.  Scouter Ron and the Scout group held a prize draw in the afternoon for those participants who found all the caches.  I guess we showed up late and our prize was given to the kids which is totally fine by us, we got wicked thermoses instead. So in between caching and the prize draw we went down to the Gregoire Lake Anzac day use area and had ourselves a picnic.  We had tuna pitas, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno dip and left over teryaki pork patties....yum. More picnics are definitely in order for the the rest of the summer since it is so simple with a baby. We had a blanket laid out for Mr.Loonie, Penny and I to sit on and Stryker laid next to us like such a good boy.  So thanks to the Scouts for getting the 3Strykes family out to enjoy your community!
Make sure to check out Anzac Daze next year..if geogaching isn't your thang they have lots of other activites to offer such as a kids carnival and bike parade and beer gardens and a dance for the adults.

Ooh and what's really cool is that we got our International Geocaching Day Souvenir today since we logged a found cache today, the Second Annual International Geocaching Day. Yay Team 3Strykes!

The Grayling Tree Swing

I always had a dream of a tree swing in my yard, it just seemed like such a magical thing.  Just some wood, rope and the perfect tree could have made me a very happy little girl.  Unfortunately, the perfect tree didn't exist on any properties where I have lived but........I did find one in the park down the street!! Grayling Terrace has a quiet little park with old trees, the Hangingstone River and the most beautiful view of a tar sandy cliff just within walking distance from all the residences.  I have been eying this one tree...THE tree for a couple of years now and mentioning to Mr.Loonie in passing, "Wouldn't that be the perfect tree.....?".  He would respond with a "Yes, dear" every time.  Well finally I had enough with the "Yes, dear"s, I wanted some action. What actually triggered the feat was finding a roll of rope and the exact size of board needed in my Auntie's shed while she was packing up to move (insert sad face to the moving part).

So after attaching two U-Bolts to the board, googling the right knots to use (we went with a bowline knot) to attach to the branch, using a rock to throw the ropes over the branch and then knotting the ropes to the U-Bolts, we were in business!! We did have to go back a week later after some use and raise the seat, as the rope must have stretched. 

On hot summer days we always end our walks in this park to allow Stryker a dip in the river.  So now while he does his business, I get to swing away with a smile on my face!

The Backyard Flower Bed and Fern Diggin'

Welcome to the backyard.  Our tree is dying and our grass is patchy.  But, every year I am determined to get this little flower bed looking pretty to beautify this place up a little bit.   The area under the tree is tricky, it probably only gets a couple hours of sun a day and trying to find a hole to plant something in between tree roots, it almost next to impossible. 

The ferns, hostas and lillies are prernnials but the coleus I planted this year to fill in some gaps and add a bit of colour. The hostas in the front row were new last summer, the lillies started randomly popping up last year and two summers ago, Mr. Loonie and I planted the ferns in the back row which were collected down by the river. The ferns have struggled to establish themselves since but they are looking good this year so far (as long as Stryker and Bella stay out of there).  I want them to be full and lush one day.  Either I could wait which could take years or head back down to the river for some good ol' fern diggin.

 

The Clearwater River, a 5 minute drive from the house has more ferns than you could ask for.  It was a beautiful day in May, probably the best kind of summer day because the mosquitoes and horseflies are not out in full force yet.
Just off to the right, there is a path leading down to the most perfect little beach (when the river level drops later in the summer).  The path is lined with ferns so you don't even have to bushwhack to start your digging.

 FERNS, FERNS and more FERNS!!

 We tried to collect smaller, shorter ferns with new growth (fiddleheads) rather than ones which have already opened up.  We dug straight down all around and under the root mass; lifted the mass straight out and placed in a bucket to bring home and plant immediately.  Ferns cannot dry out or be exposed to heat for long periods of time, they like a shady and moist environment. 

I will do an update post once everything gets growing!

The "Stink Bomb"

The "Stink Bomb".  WTF is it really? Does it even stink? As kids, when we found these nasty little bundles of fungi spores, it turned out to be a recipe for revenge! You could either try and pick it very carefully to throw at your sibling (fart-sack little brother) or wait until he/she came near to kick it so it explodes and you disappear like a magician!

Mr.Loonie and I found these extra large mutated "bombs" in a field by our house last night, unfortunately we love each other too much and didn't sabotage one another.  We are old and boring, I know.

After many google searches, the real identity of the "Stink Bomb" is still a mystery.  Someone, please help! My inner environmental nerd, is dying to know the species and family they belong to!

It's Spring!!!!

It's everyone's favorite time of year.....the sun is shining, daily temperatures are no longer negative, the sun hangs around for the evening and people just feel good! I look forward to walks with Stryker in our little neighborhood, people are smiling while walking with a friend, working in their yard, washing their car or playing street hockey (those boys have been waiting all winter for this)! Whatever we are all doing, we are just happy to be outside!! All the photos below are taken within a kilometer from our house and I couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting.

Tulips in the window

Bella planning her escape after a long cooped up winter.

Best buds watching the snow melt.

It was a LOOOOOONG winter....we swear he didn't have gray hair in the fall!

28 week baby bump.

Surfing the icebergs on the Hangingstone River.

Hangingstone River melt.

Boys and their street hockey........"CAR!!!"

The park is melting....

Green grass and blue skies.