March 20 - Ken's Birthday

On the morning of his birthday, Ken had work to do with the tractor.  His farming blood is rising up!
These tractor pictures are taken at A Rocha where we stay.
The A Rocha site in BC is known as Brooksdale.   

Paul and Angela planned a lunch time wiener roast at the back of their place, known as Kingfisher Farm (four miles from Brooksdale).  It has become a family tradition to go to a park on March 20th for a winter wiener roast.  Often in Manitoba there are several feet of snow in later March.  One year we played fox and goose.  2012 of course was a huge exception!

The condiments for the hot dogs included Paul's homemade sauerkraut.
Knowing how much Paul loves to ferment things, we brought him 2 stone crocks. 
That's the advantage of taking the van instead of flying!  

The 3 Neufeld men are having a confab.
Harold Neufeldt is the third one on the picture.  No relation.
Harold comes out a lot to volunteer with the gardening, so over the past few springs we have become acquainted.   

On Kingfisher Farm there are lots of elder - what we call poplar in Manitoba. The elders have to be cut back every year so that they don't take over the pasture.
Here is the official birthday portrait - Ken pretending to be an owl.  The reason that the tree slices are orangey-coloured is because the tree it came from is a red elder.

Lunch dessert was inside because it was quite cool outside. 
We are having a moist rich chocolate cake with a raspberry chocolate glaze.   

This was the the first time in 11 years that Ken could celebrate his birthday with Paul. 

 

Everyone had a homemade gift and card to present.
Simon and Kate gave tiny gift bags containing treasures like rocks and fossils.
Paul and Angela gave freshly made soap with a wonderful spruce scent.

The celebration continued by a family outing for bowling.

Kate found it a challenge to get that ball going.

Simon watches his dad...

A fun day was had by all!  
At 9 pm we had date in White Rock - enjoying tea and chocolate torte in a cute cafe.