April 1 Photo: Play - Board Games

April 1 photo of the day. "Play"

I would have had a great opportunity to capture this word if I had gone ahead with my original plan for today and had two special little boys over to my house, but with feeling under the weather last week and hosting Easter dinner yesterday, it just didn't happen.

So instead, as I looked around me for inspiration, I ended up with a picture of just a few of the board games I have stashed in my office closet.

I used to love playing board games. 'Used to' not because I no longer enjoy them but because it has been ages since I played any.

As a kid, I remember playing board games as a family. Probe was one of our favourites. You lay a word out letter by letter in front of you and then take turns guessing letters. A more formal, multi-player kind of Hangman. Pretty simple to play since as long as you knew your letters and how to spell a few words, you could join in. Good for all of us to play together.

Another favourite was a game Mom brought back from Hawaii.  Sunka is a shell game for two that involves taking turns moving the shells around the board to add as many to your "home" as possible. Each round continues until a side of the board is cleared. The shells are then redistributed  from each home base and play continues. Half the fun of this is the feel of scooping up the shells and the clicking sound from dropping them into the bowls.

Sunka by Island Capture Photography on Flickr

Sounds are important when playing games. Whether it is marbles moving around a board or the sound of dice shaken to try to make Yahtzee, I have strong memories of hearing the sounds of games we played with the Rhodes family.  I spent one of my summers living with my grandparents when I worked at Valley Ridge campground and remember listening to my grandmother playing Yahtzee as I fell asleep on the fold-out couch in the adjacent room. Yahtzee is still a favourite with my family.

photo from jking89 on Flickr

Family home evenings always had a game - it was one of the assignments. Lesson, game, treat... all parts of a fun night and even more special when cousins joined us.  Here we are playing Mousie, Mousie made from rolled up newspaper on a string. I can't tell who has the pot lid to trap the mice. Maybe it was me.

Playing our homemade version of Mousie Mousie with the cousins

I had some favourite board games to play with my friends. I remember asking for board games as a birthday or Christmas gift. I remember playing Payday, Careers, Masterpiece and Clue. 

When I went away to University, Trivial Pursuit took board games to a new level. I remember so many fun nights with just a few friends, good food and lots of laughter as we played Trivial Pursuit all evening. I have to admit, playing board games with a guy I was dating was always a good measure  of whether he could be a good sport about the game. I didn't like it if he were too competitive or a sore loser. It's okay to want to win but to get angry, mean or pout after were always signals for me. 

Later, Pictionary was added to the mix and you knew you were at the right house when someone had a white board especially for playing with a group. That ramped up the game to a pseudo professional level!

Back in Calgary, my roommate and I watched Jeopardy every night after work together and this extended next to playing it as a board game. The game was a gift and we had fun re-creating the show. 

And it seems so long ago now but I used to play games a lot when I lived in NW Calgary. Ingrid and I would get together Saturday mornings to play games and do laundry or meet at a coffee shop for breakfast.  Where did I find the time? Saturdays seems so leisurely back then. 

Now it seems like all we play is Phase 10. I travel with Phase 10 cards, I have the app on my iPhone. And if we pull out any game after a big family dinner, it is Phase 10.   I like Phase 10 but I miss board games. I think I need to plan a games night. 

Check out the clip below from Simon and Martina in Korea. There, you can go to a cafe and play board games with friends.  Many young people there can't easily entertain in their homes so they often have to find places to go hangout and this is a great alternative to the many coffee shops that are everywhere. 

Wonderful Adventure Now Korea - Board Game Cafe

Playing the Building - Art Installation by David Byrne. Roundhouse, Camden Town, London.

Posting at 11:57 on April 1st!! I just made it in time!

What games do you like to play? 

April Photo a Day

Image from http://fatmumslim.com.au

Okay - I think I can try to do this again. I had fun with it last year until all my technology decided to let me down. I have a few days to make sure I won't have those issues this year. And to invite anyone else who wants to join me to make your own plans to start. If you click on the photo above, you will go to the post on fatmumslim's blog that explains how to participate. You don't need to have a blog to do this. If you are on Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter,  or Flickr  you can join in as well. And tag your photos with #FMSphotoaday so that your photo can be found by everyone else participating.

I decided I needed to do this again after viewing sessions of RootsTech 2013.  They piloted sharing the conference online this year and it was fantastic. So much to learn and be inspired by.  I went out to the Cochrane church building to attend sessions there. A full house turned out to learn about researching our ancestors from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. Overwhelming in the amount of information shared and on the website you can download all the presentation notes in a zipped file here . And not only the 13 sessions available online but over 100 handouts from presentations not shared remotely. 

One of the keynote speakers, Jyl Pattee of MomItForward Media, spoke of what genealogy looks like today for the generations in the future. How all of the blogs, photos, videos, etc are the digital stories we are creating - not for the next generation but for two generations from now. And how we need to capture all that we can from not our generation but for the two generations before us. Collecting the photos and telling the stories that we can remember and share now. Her example of Banana Cookies was perfect.You can view the presentation here.  (and don't stop there - keep watching - there are some fantastic presentations available at the rootstech.org site.)  And the recipe for Banana Cookies is here. 

I will try to share more stories and information on my Rhodes Family History blog at  http://rhodeshistory.blogspot.ca/  but to also remember that the stories of today and my own life are important to share. Thanks to those others in my family who share in their own blogs or pictures and news on Facebook or emails. I'm convinced that there is value in this despite thinking that the moments are small but together they make the stories of who we are. If anyone else would like to start blogging but you aren't sure how to begin, I'm available to help you get started!!

Ending and Beginning

Elder and Sister Rhodes: Beginning the Journey

Well, the time has come. My dad and step-mom have been waiting to leave on a mission for a while now. Longer if you add in the delays to sending off papers and actually getting the call. They were originally meant to leave at the end of November to start their service in the India New Delhi mission but no visa meant plans were on hold. Because they had rented out their home, I've been lucky enough to put them up for the past 2 months. However, despite not yet receiving their visas, they left on Saturday for their two weeks of training in Provo, Utah and have fingers crossed that their visas will arrive soon.

This is the second time I've had a parent move in with me during a transition time. Mom lived with me in my little apartment in Cambrian Heights while she was waiting to move into the Tuscany house with Janelle and Rob. I really enjoyed the time we had to spend together.  Now it has been a second time with a parent living with me. Dad and Tina have been great roommates - Dad has been finding all kinds of projects that I've neglected and Tina has made things sparkle and had delicious meals ready.  I've enjoyed the routines, coming downstairs each morning to find Dad sitting on the couch in front of the laptop, enjoying an episode of Murder She Wrote with dinner, daily updates on the efforts to secure a visa, wrap up paperwork, going ons in India from the Wiggs and Sackleys blogs and keeping up with the Learys who are also waiting for their visas. I joked with Dad that he wasn't going to get his visa until we had finished organizing the basement but since that may never be finished (he did help me make a great start!!), I'm glad they didn't have to wait that long before starting out on this adventure.

I'm going to miss them but I know they are well prepared and excited to serve. I'm looking forward to following their updates on their blog.

This is something I just made to demo this tool for my class and since I haven't posted in ages, I thought I would add it here so you know I'm still alive!

I'll be adding a look back at 2012 soon!

More of the same

The view

A lovely way to start the day. It feels like a rural address on this side of the I-15. Just minutes from downtown and all that the city offers.

the library - lower basement

My vacation office hence the "more of the same" title.  I spent another full day at this table. Today's discoveries included the fact that William Henry Toone and Hannah Webb were married by Wilford Woodruff, and the sad tale of a civil war veteran (uncle to Lilly Root) who committed suicide in a park near his home.  It did not include any of the information I am still looking for - names to extend my line. Maybe next visit.

my dinner companions

After fighting the rush hour traffic, I made it back to the house for dinner with the sister missionaries. Sister Nethercot and Sister Tufuga. Leslie made a yummy meal. The sisters left a sweet message and spirit behind.

Jordan River Temple

The end of the day. Last session of the evening. Such a beautiful and peaceful way to end the day. The temple is beautiful with lots of crystal and gorgeous art works. I couldn't help but look at all the detail work in the ceiling painting and think of Jason working inside our Calgary temple preparing for its dedication this fall.

My Third Great Grandfather

While shuffling papers  to prepare  for the research I hoped to do on the Rhodes line, I came across a note that gave the address of the last home of Henry Puzey.

Henry is my third great grandfather - his son is Henry William who married Lydia Pollard and their son is Frederick Puzey, and his son is Frederick Elmer Puzey - my mother's father.  Last visit I drove to the original Toone home and also tried to locate the Hunter home but it is no longer standing. I hadn't bothered to look for any Puzeys since I had incorrectly assumed that Henry had been residing with his son in Spring City. I don't know why I thought that since I knew some other details that clearly had him located in Salt Lake City.

Isn't this a beautiful home? It has a large shaded porch that wraps around the south side of the building. It is facing west with the mountains behind it.  It was built in 1890 - 3 years after his son had passed and 6 years before he did. His son Edwin lived in the house after that - I imagine until he died in 1965. It was last renovated in 1985.  Sorry folks, no "For Sale" sign. I wonder if it is still a Puzey living there.  I didn't see any signs of someone being home. 


To see Henry's picture and learn a little about his crossing to Salt Lake City, visit the "Our Pioneer Heritage" wiki.

Salt Lake Temple

After dinner, we visited the Church History Museum to see the Ninth International Art Competition. You can follow the link and view an image gallery of all the art selected to be displayed (198 pieces from over a thousand submissions).  We voted for our two favourites for the Viewer's Choice awards. You can do that too by viewing the pieces online. Let me know what you liked.

After the museum, we walked over to the City Creek mall newly opened across from Temple Square. Great fountains designed by the same people that did the Las Vegas Bellagio fountains.
Then through the flower gardens - even at night, it is worth it to just smell them! The lights and the reflecting pond made a great end to the evening with this photo as the last one I took before getting in our vehicles and calling it a day.

Elephants in Downtown Calgary

Elephants in Downtown Calgary, originally uploaded by whistlepunch.

I know it is traditionally time for there to be a lot of horses in Downtown Calgary but this is is one of my favourite pictures of animals with the "Husky Tower" in the background. This was taken a while ago... and that is me with my cousin Michael and my Grandpa. Did Grandma take the picture? We were attending the Circus! I can't figure out where that would be now.

As an adult, I now know that having elephants in a travelling circus xclearly isn't the best existence for them. Even our Calgary Zoo has decided that they can't serve the needs of the elephants as well as they should. I'm sad that the elephants will be relocated from our zoo but if we can't change the circumstances and provide them a healthy environment that they can thrive in with enough other elephants for their social needs as well, then it is a good move. At least you can see them for the next 4 or 5 years before this will happen. I missed out on the Bathtime with the Elephants program.

I think my love of elephants comes from watching "The Jungle Book" as a kid. My FAVOURITE Disney movie. I even remember collecting the toys from cereal boxes that promoted the movie. Instead of the linking barrel of monkeys, they had linking panthers, Mowglis and snakes. I never found a snake but you can buy one on Ebay!

That movie had such great music (I still think it is the best of all the Disney music - who can go wrong with Louis Prima!!!) and Colonel Hathi's March is just so much fun. What little kid can resist marching around when that scene comes on the DVD!

Wouldn't it be fun to hear one of the bands in the Stampede parade play that as they marched along? A Stampede / Jungle Book mashup! Yee Haw!

Here's a different mashup of the march. Enjoy!

Flickr Friday

Clear Lake, Alberta, originally uploaded by whistlepunch.

Family Reunion Weekend. I wonder how the tree is doing?

Our family reunion has had some ups and downs in terms of attendance and weather. This will be a turning point in determining the future of the reunion. I hope we get a good turn-out and good weather but both are up in the air at this point. My girl's tent tradition is going to be sparse with a number of the girls not attending. For those that do, we'll just have to make it fun! I am just looking forward to being out of the city and disconnected.

Friday Funnies: How to Talk to Your Kids

Danny Boyle directs Frankenstein

Danny Boyle directs Frankenstein, originally uploaded by LaMiradaTheatre.

The National Theatre production with Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC's Sherlock) as the creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein will be broadcast this Saturday. They will be swapping places next week in these two weeks of rebroadcasts at the Cineplex - Chinook Paramount theatre. I'll be there Saturday at 12:30 pm! I love the book and am looking forward to seeing this "smash-hit" production.  It would only make it more perfect for there to be another stormy day for the occasion but that doesn't fit with the Father's Day barbeque we have after the play.

It will be my third time to watch a National Theatre production broadcast this season. I've seen A Comedy of Errors featuring Lenny Henry and One Man, Two Guvnors featuring the Tony award winning James Corden (so deserved even up against the other amazing nominees). So even if I can't afford a trip to London this year, it is a great way to see quality productions such as these. 

Starlite Diner, Bowden, Alberta

Starlite Diner, Bowden, Alberta, originally uploaded by whistlepunch.

Flickr Friday: After hearing John Gilchrist's review of the Starlite Diner in Bowden on CBC radio last Friday, I took advantage of my trip to Red Deer on Saturday to stop in. It's a great diner look with the red vinyl booths and counter stools and a long red counter. You'll find it if you look for the UFO on top. Best reached when traveling south on the QEII.  I wasn't hungry enough to sample the selection of pies they had just brought in - including rhubard, saskatoon and lemon meringue. Maybe next time?

April 25 Photo: Looking Down

After another long day, arrived home just as the sun was setting and saw the first blooms of the year in front of my neighbour's house. And then I played with some new camera apps on my phone. Trippy.

More on my long day to follow - pictures of the Korean Cultural Showcase!

April 24 Photo: Something I Am Grateful For

After a full day of work and a full night of marking... I am grateful for my bed. Actually, I stopped marking at 12:30 a.m. and did some housework for a couple of hours and then I was REALLY grateful for my bed.

___________________________________________________________________________

Note:   I am grateful for many things in my life. I don't mean to trivialize this. But I wasn't with my family and I didn't meet up with any friends. I could have taken a picture of work but maybe today I wasn't as much grateful for it as grateful when it was done. Ask me on a different day. I really do have a good job.

I used to keep a gratitude journal. Remember back in 1995, when Sarah Ban Breathnach shared her ideas about acknowledging daily the things in your life that you are grateful for in her book Simple Abundance? Oprah took up the banner and had women all over North America buying pretty notebooks and making their daily list.  I also read about a teen struggling with depression who kept a  daily photoblog of one thing she was grateful for. It's true that by recognizing all the blessings in your life, you can alter your attitude, and uplift your mood. Someday the blessings are substantial and those essential parts of life that keep you going and give life meaning and other days, it is the small and simple things that sweeten life and remind you of the beauty and joy that surround us if we choose to notice. And today, it was my comfy bed.

April 23 Photo: Vegetable

This picture was taken at one of my many meetings and just to mix it up, tonight this meeting is being held in a restaurant. It felt that little bit less like a meeting and more like a night out even if I still had to take minutes. I had the Mayan Salad with chipotle mango chicken, black beans, cheddar and asiago crisps.Quite the title and a yummy choice. Probably more NON-vegetable ingredients than vegetable. (since the tomato doesn't count either). The word "salad" is what I based the picture on.

Monday Music Break

This came up on my playlist. I really like this band and it is a good toe tapper for a sunny afternoon (and does it make you think that the Stampede is right around the corner and the SuperDogs may be back?)  Enjoy!

And since EVERYTHING must come out in 3D these days, here's the newly released version.
Do you have some 3D glasses somewhere in a drawer to pull out and view this?

World Book and Copyright Day 2012

The New Library of Alexandria, Egypt (2011) built roughly on the site of the ancient library

Today is one of many days to celebrate BOOKS.  Read my whole post on my Page Turner blog. I need to read more so I hope to update that site more.

Did you do something for Earth Day?

Happy Earth Day! Was it something you thought about? This gentleman really wanted to make a statement - I think I would prefer to use cloth bags and recycle any plastic bags I receive.

April 22 Photo: The Last Thing I Bought

The last thing I bought was a bouquet of tulips from the Calgary Farmer's Market. Oranges and Yellows. I love fresh flowers.

Just missing the gelato

Four cheese pizza with honey truffle oil

Sticky Toffee Pudding

After the work week, it was nice to start off the weekend with dinner at Una on 17th Avenue. I had seen someone post pictures of the food on Instagram and since my friend and I wanted to try somewhere new to us, we headed there after work. The pizza was delicious - although the sweet hint of honey may not be to everyone's taste. It reminded me of the pizza I had my first night in Venice. So while the Sticky Toffee Pudding was tasty, I was thinking of how a walk and a gelato would have been a nice way to end the meal. We did fit in the walk as we had some time after dinner and so we headed downtown to check out the newest addition to the city.

Prince's Island (west end)

I like what has been happening with the arts and culture scene in this city. When I travel, I love checking out the unique architecture, structures and public art of a city. This bridge will become something that is featured in photos by visitors from around the world.  I know this was a controversial project --including the length of time taken, the money spent and its location less than 300 metres away from another pedestrian bridge, but now that it is here,  I like the addition of this geometric design to the riverway.

Calgary's Peace Bridge by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava

After our walk, we ended up at Eau Claire Market Cinemas to see the movie "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen". Directed by Lasse Hallström, who directed another favourite of mine, "My Life as a Dog" and written by the screenwriter of "Slumdog Millionaire". 

It is a sweet story about a crazy plan to establish a salmon run in Yemen by a sheik with enough money to make the impossible plausible and the British team of Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt who are charged with helping him.  While it may not be around much longer, add it to your list to watch when the DVD comes out. You can check out the movie trailer below.