Integrity Foods

We were introduced to Integrity Foods last year.  (The title is the link to their site.)  I'm already thinking of it as a summer tradition.
Integrity Foods is a wonderful place to have your Friday or Saturday evening supper.  All they serve for dinner is pizza, you bring your own drinks, salads, or whatever else you want.  The pizza is baked in their large outdoor oven that was built for making the spelt, kamut and ancient grains breads that are made and sold there and in shops around Manitoba. 
The setting is the farm.  There are a few animals around for you and your kids enjoyment.  They have picnic tables set in the garden and on the lawn, and you go to the house, order and pay for your pizza, and then wander through the garden or just relax with your family or friends until they call your name.
And yes, we were thrilled to find out that gluten-free crust is available.

July 1

One of the reasons we chose the church we did, was their ministry to international students.  Over the years, we have gotten to know many international students, both through MCC and through International Students Ministries of Canada.  And we are always blessed by them. 
At this time in our lives, though, it seemed to be harder to get as involved as we have in the past.  Maybe it's our location - we're not in the city, so we need to be very deliberate about it; or maybe it's the fact that we are close to our kids and grandkids, and our lives revolve more around them. 
Either way, it was a privilege to be asked to join in with a pre-planned activity and we each took a vehicle with students to Lower Fort Garry on July 1st.  Admission was free that day, and interpreting our history to internationals gave me a new appreciation for it, as well as reminding me of how much I don't know!!  They ask great questions!

 When I mentioned that the petals of the wild rose were edible, there were a few brave students who were willing to try them.

 Spinning wool for use in knitting scarves, mitts, etc.

Ye wanted to see exactly how the woven beading was done.

Taking a break in the shade.

 Lunch was a picnic with whatever food was brought.  Here is a down-side to the gluten free lifestyle... Einar couldn't try any of their food.

 While I always hope to catch some sun, the Chinese students use every means to avoid the sun.  And they all have beautiful skin as a result.

Trying out an old wooden game... I wasn't very successful!  But it got others trying it as well.

 At the Blacksmith shop... where they once would shoe the horses

Saying good bye to my friend Amanda.

Our day wasn't over when we got home around 6 pm... We picked Rachel & Josiah up an hour later to head to Assiniboine Park to see the fireworks.

 First we had to check out the new playground at the park.  It was pretty spectacular, but this was the only place where we could have a wee bit of space of our own... it was very crowded.  That was okay, because Josiah loved these pipes.

This is a very tired boy, but he sure was enjoying himself in spite of that.  We did manage to get him to sleep before the fireworks.

These are taken again without a tripod.  I did remember the tripod.  But the attachment to it was at home in my camera bag.  One day I'll have it all together!!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

More of June

Life has changed in the Sandland household.  Partly because we live near our kids and have grandchildren.  But I also have a very different husband.  Since being diagnosed with Celiac, and going gluten-free, he has so much more energy.  I used to be the one asking if we couldn't go somewhere or do something, and, being the good husband that he is, he would oblige even though far too tired to enjoy himself.  Now he is the one suggesting the outings!
In June we went to the Assiniboine Park and Zoo twice, once on our own and once with my sister, as well as our daughters and grandkids.  We were at the Niverville Fair, and spent time with our kids and grandkids whenever we could. 

 In the spring/early summer, the camels wouldn't win any beauty contests!!

The little princess.  Don't look too closely... I had to catch this shot before she moved her hand, and couldn't wipe her face first!

 Sue came with us... but the zoo isn't recognizable from when we were kids!

 Haley & her bestefar, reading her current favorite...

 Niverville fair.

 Without a tripod, it's hard to get good fireworks shots, but the fireworks in Niverville are worth mentioning... they were great!

 Time with Sue in Gimli.  We wanted to check out the camp (where Sue went for 2 years) as well as M & K's cottage.

 The cabin she believes she was in when she was at Gimli Bible Camp.

 Another June event: Rachel & Sue ran the Manitoba Half-Marathon.  Here are the two very tired, but very proud contestants.

 We took Sue to Morden for her last 2 days in Manitoba, and were able to join in with faspa in the park.  Always a nice afternoon!

June Birthdays

Pictures of Josiah's official First Birthday are here:  https://picasaweb.google.com/edsandland/JosiahSFirstBirthdayParty  (You can click on the title - June Birthdays)

 Birthdays at our place are a funny thing.  Since elementary school, Rachel has been able to celebrate her birthday with others of our adopted family in Calgary... five of the six kids in the three families had their birthdays at the end of March or beginning of April.  So we had one large birthday party.  Kirsten was alone in June.  I never quite figured out who was the lucky one... I suspect Rachel would have said Kirsten, because she got a birthday to herself, and Kirsten would say Rachel, because she was guaranteed to have a celebration.
Even though our celebrations this year were not with our adopted Calgary family, both son-in-laws are also at the end of March, so the tradition continues.  Except that now we can celebrate Kirsten's and Josiah's birthdays together... their birthdays are four days apart. We had another cool day in the park.

 Josiah's sock monkey - made with kneesocks for extra-long legs and arms.

For a very cautious little girl, Haley has a surprising lack of fear for slides and other playground equipment.  As long as water is clean, she'll splash in anything.  Add a blade of grass or a leaf, though, and it is suddenly 'yucky' and unappealing to her!!  And she loves slides!