laura bachynski

2 P.Drew Creations

November 24, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Sister day !

On the way to Paula’s, our Edmonton morning skyline

Some of Paula’s wonderful creations

I now own 3 of these objects

One of the happy shoppers

Evening view heading home

I ENJOYED A WHOLE DAY OF HANGING OUT WITH MY SISTER AT HER VERY FIRST ART SALE. BOTH OF OUR HUSBANDS WERE OUT OF TOWN FOR WORK SO IT WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PAULA OUT AND HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF CHATTING TIME TOO.

PAULA DOES THE MOST UNIQUE ARTWORK. CHECK OUT https://www.pdrewcreations.com

HER HOME WAS SET UP BEAUTIFULLY AND THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS ALL WALKED AWAY WITH AT LEAST ONE NEW GIFT ( FOR OTHERS OR THEMSELVES !)

I DID A BIT OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING MYSELF TODAY AND MUST ADMIT I HAD A BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE BY ARRIVING SO EARLY. I BROUGHT OVER THE ‘TIMMIES’ BUT PAULA TREATED ME TO A CROISSANT (WITH CHOCOLATE INSIDE) FOR BREAKFAST . WOAH….DELICIOUS SPLURGE.

IT WAS SO NICE TO RECONNECT WITH MY EDMONTON SISTER AFTER BEING AWAY FOR TWO MONTHS. WE DIDN’T GET ENOUGH TIME TO HEAR ALL OF THE STORIES BUT WE GAVE IT A GOOD TRY. ALSO DURING OUR TIME TODAY I RECEIVED THE MOST GLORIOUS PHONE CALL. I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR MONTHS FOR A DEAR FRIEND OF OURS TO RECEIVE A NEW DONOR LIVER AND SHE CALLED TO SAY THAT SHE WILL BE IN SURGERY TONIGHT FOR THIS LIFE-SAVING OPERATION. WHAT WONDERFUL, HOPEFUL NEWS !

PAULA STILL HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL , ORIGINAL ARTWORK FOR SALE AND THESE WOULD MAKE INCREDIBLE , UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFTS….CHECK OUT HER WEBSITE AND CONNECT WITH HER …TODAY !

0 Endless Is Your Love

November 21, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES YOU EXPERIENCE A ‘LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN ON EARTH’ ?

TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS. I FEEL FULL TO THE BRIM WITH GRATEFULNESS FOR EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE . MY LOVE FOR GOD , FOR FAMILY, FOR FRIENDS IS SO STRONG THAT THE TEARS JUST HAVE TO FLOW.

I AM ALREADY PRINTING OUT PHOTOS FROM OUR TWO MONTH TOUR AND THEY ARE BRINGING BACK SUCH WONDERFUL RECENT MEMORIES OF THE MANY MANY AMAZING PEOPLE WE MET AND BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCES WE HAD.

I WILL NEVER FORGET SOME ON THE INCREDIBLE COMMENTS THAT I RECEIVED FROM OUR 28 AUDIENCES . I HESITATE TO SHARE THEM LEST I SOUND LESS THAN HUMBLE. BUT I AM THRILLED THAT SO MANY OF OUR SONGS TOUCHED JUST THE PEOPLE THEY WERE MEANT TO TOUCH . SONGS THAT BROUGHT CERTAIN FOLKS TO TEARS …EITHER BECAUSE THEY COULD RELATE TO THE TOPIC OR THEY TOUCHED THEIR HEARTS IN SOME WAY. OR , I SUPPOSE BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST CRACKING UP . ( THOSE WOULD BE TERRY’S SONGS…HA HA)

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT OUR ( AGING) BODIES WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE THE HEAVY LIFTING OF SUITCASES IN AND OUT OF 27 HOTELS ( B & B’S, HOMES….) AS WELL AS THE VERY HEAVY SOUND EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS IN AND OUT OF OUR VENUES. AND THE LONG DRIVES TOO…. BUT IT NEVER SEEMED LIKE A HARDSHIP. THERE WAS ALWAYS ANOTHER SHOW, ANOTHER CITY TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND WE WERE ALWAYS REWARDED WITH ANOTHER NEAT PERSONAL STORY OR ANOTHER PERSON TO CALL ‘ FRIEND’ .

AND CANADA. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL COAST TO COAST AS WE ARE. OH! CANADA !

LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH A SONG THAT BROUGHT ME TO BEAUTIFUL TEARS IN A CHARLOTTETOWN CHURCH…..

0 Back in the swing of things…

November 20, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Getting approved for Alberta

Beautiful dawn

View from my doctor’s

WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN THROWN BACK INTO THE BUSY RHYTHM OF OUR ALBERTA LIVES. A DIFFERENT ‘RHYTHM’ FOR SURE THAN PLAYING THE DJEMBÉ…. HA HA….BUT IT DOES FEEL GOOD TO SORT OURSELVES OUT AGAIN.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR WHOLE DAYS OF HOME COOKED MEALS AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE BOTH MISSED SO MUCH. TERRY IS BACK TO THE GYM ( AND SIMULATOR GOLF!) AND I HAVE REJOINED MY FRIENDS AT THE POOL 3 TIMES A WEEK.

FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SORT OUT THE ‘TAKE DOWN’ OF THE SUMMER AND FALL DECOR AND SWAP IT OUT WITH CHRISTMAS DECOR. THIS IS A HUGE JOB ( BECAUSE I LOVE TO DECORATE ) BUT I WANT IT DONE EARLY THIS YEAR SO THAT WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HAVE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS WITH SOME OF OUR VANCOUVER FAMILY WHO CAN’T MAKE IT HOME DUE TO THE IMPENDING BIRTH OF OUR 5TH GRANDSON…WOO HOO !!!!

THE BASEMENT IS ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL ( AFTER THE FLOOD REPAIRS) AND I HAVE SOLD TWO PAINTINGS AND BEEN TO BOOK CLUB.

TODAY IS ONE OF MY LEAST FAVOURITE EXPERIENCES BECAUSE I HAVE STARTED ON ALL OF MY ‘FULL PHYSICAL’ APPOINTMENTS. MY ARM IS A WEE BIT SORE FROM THE FLU SHOT BUT I AM SO HAPPY FOR THIS PREVENTATIVE PROCEDURE. WE’LL SEE WHAT MY ‘REPORT CARD ‘ SAYS IN DECEMBER WHEN I’M DONE BEING POKED AND PRODDED.

AND THIS MORNING WE TOOK OUR BELOVED TOUR VAN IN FOR AN ALBERTA INSPECTION SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY PUT OUR ALBERTA ‘ SPRTLNE’ ( SPIRITLINE) PLATE ON IT AND FIND A SAFE SPACE TO PARK IT FOR THE WINTER.

2 Books. Books. Books.

November 19, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Ready to unpack my books

Shelves ready to be reloaded

Boxes and boxes and boxes of books

Some of the shelves that are full again

MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE THAT AFTER EDMONTON’S CRAZY SUMMER OF RAIN WE WERE ONE OF THE MANY HOMES THAT HAD A FLOODED BASEMENT.

THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DISTRESSING TO ME AS WE HAVE A FAIRLY NEW , COMPLETELY RENOVATED AND DECORATED HOME . AND ALTHOUGH WE HAD FAIRLY DEEP WINDOW WELLS ( WITH TUBES INSIDE TO DRAIN THE WATER) THE DELUGE OF RAIN WAS SO SUDDEN AND SO INTENSE THIS ONE PARTICULAR EVENING THAT THE WINDOW WELLS FILLED UP TOO FAST AND THE WATER CAME IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS.

NOW WE ARE VERY VERY LUCKY THAT THIS FLOOD HAPPENED BEFORE WE WENT AWAY ON TOUR. CAN YOU IMAGINE COMING HOME TO FIND THAT YOUR FLOORS AND FURNITURE AND WALLS HAD BEEN STANDING IN WATER FOR TWO MONTHS?

WE ARE ALSO BLESSED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A SEWAGE BACK UP TYPE OF FLOOD. SOME POOR SOULS DID IN OUR CITY.

SO : BECAUSE WE WERE HOME IN TIME TO MOP UP THE MESS FAIRLY QUICKLY ( WE HAD BEEN OUT THAT PARTICULAR EVENING WITH OUT OF TOWN COMPANY, MY BROTHER J.D. AND HIS WIFE, NANCY, WHO QUICKLY WENT INTO DAMAGE CONTROL MODE AND HELPED US FOR HOURS THAT EVENING) AND BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM , TERRY WAS ABLE TO CONSTRUCT MAKESHIFT WINDOW WELL COVERS THAT PREVENTED FUTURE FLOODING … IT RAINED SO MUCH THIS SUMMER. ( AND NOW WE HAVE PURCHASED NEW COVERS)

OUR FANTASTIC FRIENDS, AQUARIAN RENOVATIONS GROUP …WHO DID OUR ACTUAL RENOS …SAID THAT THEY WOULD FIX OUR WHOLE BASEMENT WHILE WE WERE ON TOUR. MY SISTER, PAULA, SAID THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP ON TOP OF THE CLEAN UP ( SHE IS AN ANGEL!) AND WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO IT WAS LIKE WE NEVER HAD A FLOOD : WALLS REPAIRED & PAINTED, CARPETS CLEANED & STRETCHED AND NEW BOOKSHELVES BUILT AND BACK IN PLACE. WE WERE SO BLESSED TO RECEIVE INSURANCE MONEY TO COVER THESE COSTS TOO.

SO FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS I HAVE BEEN UNPACKING MY BOOKS. I NEVER REALIZED JUST HOW MANY BOOKS WE HAVE SO IT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD CHANCE TO REORGANIZE AND CULL SOME BOOKS FROM THE LOT TOO. BACK BREAKING WORK FOR ME BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD TO HAVE THE JOB ALL DONE NOW AND YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT THERE WAS EVER ANY CHANGE .

SO A HUGE THANK YOU TO PAULA DREW AND AQUARIAN RENOVATIONS FOR THEIR HELP . IT REALLY IS GOOD TO BE HOME .

1 Go Oilers !

November 18, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

G’Oilers !

McDavid ready to go…

Goal !

Happy fans !

Hunter high fives.

FIRST DAY BACK AND WE’RE ALREADY AT A NATIONAL HOCKEY GAME…HA HA.

OF COURSE THIS WAS OUR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON AND WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR EARLY STANDINGS IN THE LEAGUE. AND FOR THE FIRST TWO PERIODS WE OWNED THE GAME AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT … ” MAYBE THIS IS THE YEAR …”

BUT : THIRD PERIOD WAS SUCH A LET DOWN AND IT APPEARED THE OILERS WERE JUST DEFENDING THEIR LEAD . IT ALL BECAME ABOUT DEFENCE AND OF COURSE…WE LOST.

EDMONTON FANS REALLY REALLY WANT TO GET INTO A PLAYOFF SITUATION AGAIN. THEY’VE ONLY QUALIFIED ONCE IN 13 SEASONS. WE STILL HOLD ‘ L’OILTY’ TO OUR TEAM BUT IT HAS BEEN A FRUSTRATING TIME TO STAY POSITIVE WITH SO MANY LOSSES.

THE OILERS ARE ACTUALLY IN FIRST PLACE IN THE PACIFIC DIVISION WITH A TOTAL OF 29 POINTS. THIS IS QUITE THE CHANGE AND WE ARE EVER HOPEFUL.

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW I WAS SUCH A JOCK .

0 The ” World’s Biggest ” in Canada

November 16, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

World’s Biggest Fiddle

World’s Biggest Apple

World’s Biggest Carved Moose

Worlds’s Biggest Moose

World’s Biggest Pysanky

ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF THESE ARE ‘ OFFICIALLY ‘ MARKED WORLD’S BIGGEST….SOME ARE AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE TOOK TIME TO ‘ PLAY TOURIST ‘ ON OCCASION .

AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I DID NOT ‘MAKE’ TERRY POSE FOR THESE. HE OFTEN SOUGHT THEM OUT AND NAVIGATED ME TO LOCATIONS NEAR ( ENOUGH) TO OUR CONCERT VENUES SO THAT HE COULD SURPRISE ME WITH ANOTHER HUGE STATUE.

IT NEVER FAILED TO CRACK US BOTH UP THAT WE WERE TAKING THESE CORNY PICTURES.

TWO OF THE FOUR MOOSE PHOTOS ARE ACTUALLY THE WORLD’S BIGGEST…..

…. IN NIAGARA FALLS WE SAW THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CARVED MOOSE AND IN MOOSE JAW THE GOOD FOLKS THERE ARE IN A BATTLE FOR THE WORLD’S BIGGEST MOOSE WITH NORWAY’S CLAIM TO THE COVETED TITLE. YOU’LL HAVE TO GOOGLE IT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SCULPTURES TO GET YOUR OWN GIGGLE.

0 Home

November 16, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

HOME! JUST SEEING THE ‘WELCOME TO ALBERTA’ SIGN MADE ME FEEL A BIT EMOTIONAL TODAY. ONCE AGAIN WE FELT PROTECTED AS THE ROADS WERE PRETTY DRY AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.

WE STOPPED FOR A NICE LUNCH AT JOEY’S ( LETTUCE WRAPS) WHEN WE GOT TO TOWN AND IT TOOK A LOOOOOONG TIME TO UNPACK THE CAR.

IT TOOK US HOURS TO PUT INSTRUMENTS, ETC. , AWAY AND TO GO THROUGH OUR MAIL. I STILL HAVEN’T UNPACKED MY SUITCASE BUT THAT CAN WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD STILL ENJOY A ‘FRIDAY NIGHT DATE’ SO WE RELAXED FOR AWHILE AND ENJOYED ” THE GOOD LIAR “.

THEN WE HIT THE GROCERY STORE AND RESTOCKED THE MANY BARE SHELVES IN OUR BEAUTIFUL HOME.

MY SISTER, PAULA DREW, HAD THE HOUSE LOOKING IMMACULATE DESPITE RECENT RENOVATIONS AFTER OUR SUMMER FLOOD AND HER OWN BUSY SCHEDULE. SHE IS AN ANGEL AND I CAN’T THANK HER ENOUGH FOR EVEN DOING OUR LAUNDRY ( AFTER COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DRYWALL DUST COVERED EVERY SURFACE ) SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE FRESH SHEETS ON OUR BED TONIGHT. OUR FRIDGE WAS SPOTLESS TOO !

AND SPEAKING OF RENOVATIONS I NEED TO RECOMMEND AQUARIAN RENOVATIONS ONCE AGAIN FOR THE AMAZING JOB THEY DID TO FIX OUR HOME AFTER THE FREAK SUMMER RAINS THAT CAME ON TOO FAST AND OVERFLOWED OUR WINDOW WELLS .

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK HER AND OUR DAUGHTER , EMILY, AND HER PARTNER, GEOFF FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR PLANTS. HOME IS WHERE I WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW. ( FUNNY THAT SOON WE WILL BE CALLED TO LEAVE AGAIN…. AH WELL …SUCH IS LIFE!)

FOR NOW I AM JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO CRAWLING INTO OUR VERY OWN BED FOR PROBABLY THE BEST SLEEP IN TWO MONTHS.

AlbertaSign — **A welcome sign…indeed!**

AlbertaStudentDriver — **Student Driver ?**

0 A Day in Paradise

November 15, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Paradise Hill Grain Elevator

Library AND fire department !

Car Wash

Our Concert Venue

SpiritLine ready for last show

PARADISE HILL IS A WEE TOWN NEAR LLOYDMINSTER.

BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED THIS MORNING THE SUN WAS SHINING AND IT WAS FUN TO CHECK OUT THE AREA AND SEE WHERE WE WOULD BE PERFORMING TONIGHT.

AFTER OUR DAY OF EXPLORING WE HEADED BACK TO OUR HOTEL TO FRESHEN UP AND GET READY FOR OUR 7 PM SHOW.

LATER, WE WERE MET BY AUDREY AND A COUPLE OF OTHER LADY’S OF THE UNITED CHURCH WHO KINDLY HELPED US BRING SOME OF OUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO THE ALTAR WHERE WE WOULD SOON PERFORM OUR 28TH AND LAST SHOW OF THE 2019 CANADIAN TOUR FOR SPIRITLINE.

WE RECEIVED A VERY WARM WELCOME FROM OUR AUDIENCE AND AT BREAK TIME THE LADIES PROVIDED COFFEE, TEA, FRUIT , CHEESE AND CRACKERS AND HOMEMADE COOKIES. WE GOT TO CHAT WITH MANY NICE PEOPLE TOO.

AS TERRY PERFORMED HIS SECOND LAST SONG ( HIS ‘ LOVE SONG FOR HIS BRIDE’ , SHEEP RIVER FALLS ) I SUDDENLY FELT EMOTIONAL AND COULDN’T QUITE FINISH SINGING THE MUSICAL INTERLUDE. IT JUST SUDDENLY STRUCK ME THAT….THIS IS IT . WE ARE SINGING THESE SONGS FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR AND IT BECAME SURREAL.

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THAT ALL THOSE MONTHS OF PLANNING AND DREAMING ACTUALLY WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY AND THE DREAMS BECAME REALITY . I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE WE ARE DONE FOR NOW AND HEADING HOME TOMORROW.

THIS HAS BEEN JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND WE AGREE THAT WE HAVE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THE CHANCE TO DO THIS AND FOR OUR SAFE TRAVELS.

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO OUR DEAR FRIENDS WHO HOSTED US IN THEIR HOMES FOR SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE CONCERTS.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL TO OUR NEW FRIENDS WHO HOSTED US IN ALL THE VARIOUS VENUES …FROM CONDOS TO CHURCHES TO BARS TO COFFEEHOUSES….

AND I AM SO SO GRATEFUL TO TERRY WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE AND INSPIRATION …AND TALENT !

WHAT AN ADVENTURE ! I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WESTERN PART OF THE TOUR NEXT MARCH BUT FOR NOW….THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

0 Last day in Paradise ( part one)

November 15, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Hotel pool workout

Off to explore

Black cattle

Pretty day

John Deere!

Learning about the battle

Exploring the old town

Buchta Brothers

Interesting buildings and tools

Cliff view

WE ENJOYED OUR LAST DAY TOGETHER BACK IN SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORING THE TOWNS NEARBY.

TERRY AND I HAD OUR USUAL WORKOUTS …HE IN THE GYM AND ME…IN THE POOL. IT WAS NICE THAT SO MANY OF OUR HOLIDAY INN STAYS HAD ACCESS TO THESE AMENITIES.

AFTER BREAKFAST WE GRABBED A ‘TIM’S’ AND HEADED OFF TO FIND ANOTHER ‘WORLD’S LARGEST’ STATUE. WE HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF THESE CRAZY THINGS ALL ACROSS CANADA AND I WILL POST THEM ALL SOON.

THIS BROUGHT US TO THE AREA OF FRENCHMAN BUTTE WHICH HAD ITS OWN LITTLE MUSEUM VILLAGE ( LIKE A VERY SMALL ” HERITAGE PARK ” KIND OF PLACE) . WE WALKED AROUND AND TOOK PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE OLD BUILDINGS AND VEHICLES BUT THE COLD SOON PUSHED US BACK INTO OUR WARM CAR. BUT IT IS VERY WELL DONE AND WORTH THE TRIP.

WE ALSO WENT TO PARADISE HILL WHERE WE WOULD BE PERFORMING…… TO BE CONTINUED….

2 Off to Lloydminster on the Saskatchewan/Alberta Border

November 14, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Big Sky

Black cows

Frozen Grasses

Prairie Tower

Red Barn

Grain Elevator

Pretty Farmland

We MADE it !!!!!

WE HAVE NOW DRIVEN 11,500 KMS .

THE PRAYERS FOR OUR SAFETY HAVE BEEN FELT AS WE ( SO FAR) HAVE NEVER FACED ANY REAL DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND TODAY WAS NOT AN EXCEPTION : DRY ROADS AND SUNNY SKIES. ( THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED US GET HERE)

I LOVE TO DRIVE AND WE ARE GOOD IN THE CAR TOGETHER . WE CAN MAKE OURSELVES LAUGH AT PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING SO THE TIME FLIES BY AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE HAVE ARRIVED.

LLOYDMINSTER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ON THE ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN BORDER. IT’S NOT A BIG PLACE BUT WE ONLY NEED A PLACE TO REST OUR HEADS BEFORE OUR VERY LAST SHOW TOMORROW ( OF THIS YEAR’S PART OF THE EASTERN MUSIC TOUR FOR SPIRITLINE) IN PARADISE HILL, SASKATCHEWAN. WE BETTER REMEMBER THE TIME CHANGE FORWARD FOR THE SHOW NEXT EVENING.

THE CLOSER WE GET TO HOME THE MORE EXCITED I AM ABOUT SLEEPING IN MY OWN BED AND SEEING OUR DEAR FRIENDS AGAIN. BUT THIS ADVENTURE HAS TOTALLY BEEN WORTH IT AND WE’LL NEVER FORGET IT OR THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WE HAVE HAD THE HONOUR OF MEETING.

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