Arrived Sunday evening in Red Deer - driving a white Corolla - filled with gas @ $1.23 the lowest
price I've seen - I arrive in time for bbq shish kabobs with Roanne and Don.
Monday I visit my house - ah fond memories! Take a short walk around the neighborhood - well, the trees are larger, a few 'reno's' but on average looks familiar!
Happy to say the house is looking good and well cared for - a little 'taken aback' by the number of children (7)- tenant runs a DayHome -- but all within the regulations!!

Tuesday - sunny morning I drive to Sylvan Lake (20min) and have a latte by the water - changes here are impressive and the walkway along the Lake most enjoyable - sunny and bright! Stop in at Sylvan Star Cheese Factory - a large shop with European specialities - I buy marzipan 'potatoes' - and several samples of their cheese - they recently won for 'best gouda' - including one flavoured with celery and nettle!!
Roanne volunteers Tuesday evening at the nearby Hospice - a well planned, administered and funded facility with space for 10.

Wednesday Im back 'on task' with appointments with Accountant - and Financial Advisor -- my head is full of figures/information ......what to do what to do!
Wednesday evening a couple of friends come over for wine/cheese - very pleasant.....although my Doctor friend from Columbia (in Canada 10years) awaits a residency - approximately 20 spaces in
the Province for 200 applicants.

Red Deer is 'doing' very well - this is healthy, go-ahead Alberta!! Nothing but trucks and SUVs on the road - building everywhere - 3years ago population about 85,000 now 93,000 - new schools, new subdivisions - lots of new shopping - although still a little difficult to find an eating place that is not a chain -- there are some small diners offering Indian, Middle Eastern - and even Russian ('Siberia'). Strangely (I think) there is no real bakery - and never was the whole time I lived here --

Thursday I leave for Edmonton - about 1.75hr drive - the new southern 'bypass' road is a joy - I arrive for coffee with Edna - and after a great visit getting caught up on mutual friends and her
children/grandchildren leave very glad I stopped in -- it's a quick jaunt back on the Anthony Henday bypass to Barbara/Patrick and for a few moments their son and oldest grandchild --
they have finished renovations and the house is beautiful, comfortable - they have a knack for choosing 'good bones' and beautifying them!!

Friday and Roanne has taken a day off - we venture out to Lacome (about 20min N) and visit an art gallery we both like - then lunch at Morrison House - a Heritage Home now made into a tea
house/lunch stop -- we are able to sit out on the back porch, lovely. Into RD and must visit the
Dollar store for some items I have seen at Roanne's house and not at my Ottawa Dollar store!!
A last visit to Target - open about 2 wks, no clothing in my size - the store is bright/clean but merchandise not exceptional.

We splurge on Indian dinner takeout - butter chicken, beef curry, vegetable curry, rice and some
very sweet little balls of dough soaked in honey!! - this is new to RD!!

Saturday - off to the farmer's market - good fun - it seems the 'new' thing is cooked HUGE dog bones which sell for an average of $2!! -- search for a Globe/Mail - progress is when the clerk knows you are looking for a newspaper!!

Watch '2 Frogs in the West' a Quebec film of a young Quebec girl who wants to learn english and arrives in Whistler to do just that -- ends up learning more about her sexuality (as did I) than
how to speak english!! 2*
 
Sunday I pack up for Calgary - have coffee on a very sunny deck - and then meet with the 
tenants in my house who are interested in buying, but may not qualify for a mortgage!!
Arrive Calgary about 2pm Debbie meets me at the airport - and we are off shopping for her daughters graduation (BSc-Nursing) gift!  

Monday 8.30am we are on the road to Edmonton (3hr trip) spend the day - I join a family dinner for the graduate and we return home about 11.30pm!!

Internet not easily available at Debbies - so this will likely be my last post from Alberta and photos will have to come later - sorry!!