Around the World with K & M: A Month in Elbow

WE LOVE ELBOW!

June 24, 2006 - July 20, 2006 - ELBOW, SASKATCHEWAN

Tucked away off the main highway is a little gem of a town where Kris is from - Elbow, Saskatchewan, pop. ~300. Some of the biggest topics in town over the last year have concerned a stop sign on main street, a housing boom (The Outlook headline read, "Housing Boom in Elbow: 2 Houses Built), and a fancy new restaurant in town.

One would think that there'd be nothing to do in a place like this, but you'd be surprised! Check out our friend Daryl's entry "Elbow, A Nice Joint" on his blog: http://dksummerblog.blogspot.com/. He came out for about 2 days, and the days were just packed with activity.

It was hard to leave the farm to continue our trek to Mexico. Our daily schedule often went something like this:

8am: Wake up
8:30am: Breakfast & Coffee on the deck
9am - 10:00am: Sitting on the deck drinking more coffee and reading
10am: Coffee break
10:30am: Take a walk around the fields, go for a run, play with Jack & Isaac (our nephews)
11:30am: "Dinner" time (or "lunch", for most people)
12:30pm: Read on the deck, sunbathe, etc.
2pm: Coffee break
3pm: Go to the beach, swim, suntan
6pm: Supper time
7pm: Sit on the deck, sipping on some wine
8pm: Play dominoes
10pm: Relax, sleep

One of Kris' favourite activities: hitting rocks with sticks.
(Notice the "bottomless" gas tanks behind him! Thanks Dad!)

We also went fishing with Grandma & Grandpa - when we weren't busy relaxing!!

Relaxing on the beach

It was definitely difficult to give up that schedule! But don't get us wrong, Kris also helped out on the farm - he shoveled bins, cleaned them out, cultivated, and helped weld a motor on an auger.

The Martens' BEAUTIFUL linola fields

Shoveling bins - Marion helped by being the cheerleader.

Marion was also no slacker... she picked Nanking berries, raspberries, and peas (the latter two were more for selfish reasons - they were very yummy!). She made Nanking jams & jellies, and went with Kris to play bingo, and oh yeah... she got a job too in Elbow!

The boys gardening with (their) Grandma - so that we had yummy peas to eat!

Grandma K and her beautiful garden

Nanking berries (for the info of everyone who got some jam/jelly!)

Marion's collection of homemade jams and jellies

Marion fulfilled one of her two dream jobs this summer - to be a real waitress. And she got her chance by working at the "Boathouse" restaurant, the one the locals describe as "fancy" and "expensive" ($13.95 for Steak & Shrimp special, with soup or salad to start!). It was a ton of fun aside from a few, well, one major flaw - you can ask her for details later! The funny thing was that she didn't tell very many people she started working there, but by Day 3, people in town were stopping her on the street to ask her how work was going. And even people in Saskatoon had heard the rumour, except the information they received was slightly skewed - somehow the rumour had Marion working at the Chinese restaurant... which would be the only logical conclusion, right?!

The Boathouse - the "fancy & expensive" restaurant

Darin & Marie's wedding was another major highlight in our stay. Lots of dancing and she just looked gorgeous. It was wonderful to see old friends again.

Darin & his dad at his Part 1: Quonset/Halo Fest of his stag

Best friends

What party wouldn't be complete without lots of TVs, Xboxes & Halo
(and some crazy guy with wires)?!

A Beautiful Bride

A quote from Jack (Kris' 6 year old nephew):
"Who's that woman with Uncle Kris?"

Can you really have a wedding without Dairy Queen?

Think they might be related?

This is a once in a lifetime shot - Jason Martens dancing up a storm!

And the thunderstorms... we are in awe every single time. Marion spent hours taking photos of lighting and the encroaching storms...

July 10, 2006

July 17, 2006

But the best part of all was spending time with Kris' family. Carley and Jack & Isaac came to visit as well, for pretty much the entire time we were there. And along with his parents, we had a grand ol' time.

Kris & Isaac pretending to sleep

Quality time with Auntie Marion - playing Tamogotchi

What a funny boy - Isaac's nap in a basket

Isaac & Uncle Kris and Canola fields

We'll be back for sure next summer... Marion learned so much - how to make jam, how to check for Diamondbacks in canola, how to pick raspberries, how to shoot a gun :)!, and she met so many more people, and truly felt like she was becoming an "Elbow-ite".