1 -- 1955 -- Betty and I tying the knot.

We held our 50th anniversary in 2005.

2 -- 1961 -- bonding.

David. Second born --

with our faithful golden retriever, Dina.

3 -- 1966 -- Michael and David with their fort, at a mountain field station.

4 -- 1967 -- scientists at work. You want concentration. You got it. At their grandpa’s place in Kelowna.

5 -- 1967 -- Michael, David, and a friend, plus dogs

6 -- 1967 -- the boys on a friends pony. Probably named Willie. They’re likely thinking; will’e buck.

( stole that one)

8 -- 1968 -- Michael, Heather, and David on shore of Diane Lake.

9 -- 1968 -- the boys and I left the gals at the cabin and climbed Mt Norman.

10 -- 1968 -- fishing off the docks in Kelowna. It's tough trying to get some work done with women around. Right David.

11 -- 1968 -- the local Conservative party

12 -- 1969 -- in the early -60's, Jim, my outfitter friend, and I bought a small parcel of land with derelict buildings.

13 -- 1969 -- always liked this black and white of young Heather enjoying a bottle of pop and taking in the world around her.

14 -- 1970 -- moving day.

15 -- 1971 -- kids and horses seem a natural mix.

16 -- 1972 -- David and a young foal exchanging secrets. That's mom in the background, with a bird perched on her hip.

18 -- 1973 -- our faithful old black lab, Della.

19 -- 1974 -- airborne. We got a lot of snow that year.

20 -- 1980 -- retirement banquet.

21 -- 1986 -- Goldie.

22 -- 1990 -- Tina.

23 -- 1995 -- winter scene. Our driveway. Good neighbors kept it plowed out.

24 -- 1996 -- a near miss above the farm.

25 -- 1998 -- grandson Jonathan and his pal, Rufus.

26 -- 1998 -- a rare snow snake.

27 -- 2001 -- grandkids checking out grandpa’s saddles.

28 -- 2001 -- exploring a wharf and all the mysterious wiggly things in the water. Son David took this and the next one also.

29 -- 2003 -- kids fishing from the end of the wharf. Mom is with them.

30 -- 2003 -- aerial view of our 80 acre farm.

31 -- 2005 -- every little girl's dream.

32 -- 2005 -- kids no longer. Heather (Phoenix), Michael (Vernon) and David (Lethbridge)

33 -- 2005 -- pretty neat little town, Millet. This is the community hall.

34 -- 2005 -- a familiar sight for us. Leaving our driveway and heading east into town.

35 -- 2006 -- heavy hoar frost one morning. I have a lot of page wire fencing around my small pastures. Those fences were quite a sight.

36 -- 2006 -- young Francis doing the proper thing.

37 -- 2006 -- grandson Jacob and Trapper being formally introduced.

38 -- 2006 – Michael, Jacob, and Mary Anne in our favorite restaurant, Huckleberries.

FAMILY - I always find it hard to sit through a family home video or sift through a family album. Not that affection or interest is lacking but of having to counter a feeling of “been there, done it”

So it is with some trepidation I present these photos. They have been selected to show what kids and people do, not necessarily who they are. Hopefully this is apparent.

Of course I couldn’t resist throwing in some traditional family photo’s, as they do, after all, represent the most important part of any persons life.

Young kids are always busy, in this case getting ready to repel possible invaders.

Setting out from the field station for a distant overnight camping expedition; 200 feet into the bush behind our trailer and they stayed too, despite the spooks, mountain lions, and bears.

7 -- 1968 -- Betty and the kids above Diane Lake.

Using Jim's pack outfit, we took the whole family up into the high country for few days. Jim had a cabin there. Here they have ridden up to a small pass leading down into Kootenay National Park. Mount Norman in the background. I call it fossil mountain.

Jim named the lake after his wife. It is located at the east foot of Mt Norman, Brisco range.

I was back later in the fall and counted three grizzlies in that small valley. Two big three-year-olds together, and an adult, probably their mother, but off by herself. While we were there, the bears must've kept to their side of the valley, as we did to ours.

They were intrigued by the fossil beds. Filled and carried a pack of fossils down to the cabin. Or more correctly I did. Still have some around the place.

The local Conservative party arranged for outfitter Jim Thompson to take ex-Prime Minister John Diefenbaker into the backcountry for a day’s fishing, on the upper Kootenay River.

I went along principally to supply fishing lures. John went through my whole supply. They are probably still hanging from the willows on the far side of the river.

In truth the ex-Prime Minister was a skilled fly fisherman. A very impressive man and a real gentleman. Enthralled us hillbillies with stories from high places.

Leaving Calgary for a home in Devon, near my new workplace in Edmonton. This house was built for us in 1956. Paid under 10K. And 3 bedrooms too. In those days the average new home was under 1000 ft.², and the neighborhoods swarmed with kids. Different today.

While we were in the Town of Devon only a short time, three years, managed to find a place for my horses through the kindness of a local businessman, Harold Saulit.

17 -- 1972 -- this is MY room, and I did it all by myself. Pretty neat eh?

Smart. Gently put down by a vet at the age of 15. One time I had been at the bottom of the farm doing some fencing. Unknown to me my glasses must have slipped from my shirt pocket into the tall grass. When I was returning and opening the last gate into the yard, felt her muzzle pushing at my hand. Then I noticed my glasses were in her mouth. She had found them in the tall grass, picked them up, and gently, being a lab, carried them near a half mile home.

I was fortunate to have worked with a fine group of people. Took early retirement after 32 years. Had other things to do. Counseled my associates, such retirement is a major move. Carefully consider all the factors in your life which will be affected. Take your time. No quick decisions. Ponder. Took me over 25 minutes.

A yellow lab. Killed chasing a grouse through the brush onto a nearby highway. Was only a three year old.

The young teenage driver was crying when he drove with his dad into the yard to tell me. Certainly it was not his fault, as I told him.

Unavoidable.

Tina. Probably the smartest dog we ever had on the place. A little on the aggressive side but not dangerous. My dog, not Betty's. Again, lost on the nearby highway after chasing a trespassing pooch from the yard. She had been well trained not to go down the driveway. But guess she just got carried away by the excitement of the moment.

Age 9.

Safety in numbers they say. One is a number. A big Bouvier. Rufus was Betty's dog. Had to put the old boy down in 2007. Developed cancer in hind right femur. The vet sent him gently to doggie heaven at age 14. Sorely missed.

Dangerous to approach. Indigenous to central Alberta. Not much known of its biology. Only active in the winter. Taxonomists place it in the Constrictor group. Coils around its victims and freezes them to death. Disappears in the spring. Not known where it “over summers”.

Moved here in 1973. Betty loves it. Kids spent only a short time on the school bus: last on in the morning, and first off in the afternoon.

Fortunate, also have the world's best neighbors.

Heather (Phoenix), Michael (Vernon) and David (Lethbridge), surprised us with a 50th anniversary visit. Lady on the right is Johanne, David's better half. The three little munchkins in front belong to them.

The town and county built a large modern sports and convention complex on the outskirts.

Grooming down the horse, Trapper, before putting him away, after giving him a strenuous workout in the arena. Her story.