The apple fell close to the tree!

And then this happened. I was up early, wrote the blog, gave the dogs a short walk, called an Uber, and soon was at the airport! I know!!! Don't worry - I had at least 20 minutes before the luggage cutoff time.

I see they have new check-in kiosks at the airport, and they are nice. And they WORK!!! So I was able to print my two bag tags with zero problems. Actually, it wasn't the printing of the tags that was an issue in the past; I couldn't get the darn thing to recognize me. But with the little scanner at the front of the machine, I used my electronic boarding pass and soon had what I needed. 

New check-in kiosks

But I learned something yesterday. Of course, I did -- what day do I not learn something? This is a quick trip and sort of work-related, so I have a bag of samples with me. I might as well check my carry-on, since I have to wait for the other bag. I put the tags on my two bags and went to the automated bag drop. The machine said my carry-on was too large. WHAT? I've always used these bags. AHA -- then I clued in -- there's a specific tag for the carry-on, and I had put it on my big suitcase! Yep - not only does that machine weigh your bag and scan the label, but it measures it! 

I whipped over to an agent, and yes -- that was the problem. It was easy enough to switch the tags, and the bags were on their merry way! 

Through the Air Canada app, I received three messages about my bags, telling me that they were accepted (7:50), prepping to load the bags (8:04), and then that they were loaded onto the plane (8:50). All with a timestamp. The bags were unloaded at 10:50 and arrived at the carousel at 11:00. And of course, I knew which carousel to pick them up at! 

Since this flight was booked at the last minute, I was stuck in the middle seat, which was fine. DH had borrowed my office backpack for his trip, and I was OK with that because I wasn't going anywhere. Then I needed to go somewhere, and I had no office backpack! I found this messenger bag that I've had for years and never used. 

My messenger bag

It only has one strap, and with the weight of my laptop, iPad, a bottle of water, and some food, I found it heavy and awkward. 

As I watched people board the plane from my middle seat, I noticed the types of backpacks they had. Hmm - the young person sitting across the aisle from me had an interesting backpack, so as I stood up to let my window seat mate in, I asked this girl what brand it was. Hmmm -- that looks pretty interesting. I NEED an office backpack - a proper one. I don't know why I haven't bought one before. 

When I sat down, my seatmate started to tell me about her backpack. I'm not a talker on a plane, but this young girl and I ended up talking the entire flight, which never happens! She was my daughter's age, and we hit it off like we had been friends for years. 

She's just finishing her Master's in a fascinating field - epidemiology. Now, most of us would think of disease-related, and we would be right. But it also involves prevention, and her thesis was related to school food programs to see if a better diet can prevent future issues. Of course it can! I'm sure I messed up that explanation. Sorry! 

So we chatted about everything under the sun, and I don't think I've ever had a better conversation and for so long in such a long time! It was refreshing to see her attitude. I hope she finds a job as she's just finished school, and now the great job search begins. So, if anyone out there is in the healthcare system and looking for someone to hire! 

Remember those business cards I put in my little pouch? I gave her one! I hope she gets in touch as I would love to hear how it goes. It was great meeting you, Zoe!

Then I got my rental car. The color on the tag is listed as orange, but it basically looks like my car, and then I was off. Yep - I'm in Saskatoon!

I'm in Saskatoon

I stopped at my favorite bookstore - Robinson McNally. AHA -- these little miniature room kits are all the rage these days. They had the biggest selection that I've seen anywhere, and even though I have room in my suitcase, I didn't buy any! 

Miniature room kits

The quilt and craft magazine section is pretty small, but I still found two titles that I like to follow. And some day, my subconscious and I will have a fight about getting rid of them. But not today! The information has moved online, so it's still there - just in a different format. 

Quilt magazine section at the bookstore

The Saskatoon Quilt Guild always had quilts on display, and this was a unique take on the tumbling block quilt. Sorry -- they are hanging on the balcony, and it's hard to get the label information. 

A tumbling block quilt

There was an entire shelf devoted to tidying up your life and home. Needless to say, I did not buy any of those books. 

Tidy up your home books

Shoot --- I spotted this - Nina Prose is going to be at the bookstore TOMORROW, but that day doesn't work for me. It would have been fun to attend her book signing. I have her second book on hold in my book list. 

Book signing alert!

And there was obviously a quilter in the bookstore as I spotted this license plate on the way to my car! 

Do you think a quilter owns this car?

WOW --- there was a lot to see at the bookstore. OH - I did buy one book - an impulse purchase. I didn't take a picture, but I'll share it with you tomorrow. 

Then it was off to the thrift store, where I looked in all the usual places, but I didn't find anything I needed or wanted. Drat - I even have room in the suitcase! But if you want a crocheted afghan, this seems like the place to get one! 

LOTS of afghans up for grabs

Even as my Mom generates more. But the crochet is giving her something to do, so I'm not knocking it. It just seems a shame that so many afghans are waiting here to be loved by someone. 

I was tired because I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before, so I pulled over and took a nap! The weather is quite warm, and I didn't even need a jacket. It was also very windy. 

Does anyone remember this brand? We used to have a store called the Pop Shoppe, and we would take our plastic cartons with the empties back to get more. We didn't drink a lot of pop, but we did have this for a while. 

The Pop Shoppe

And there's the big red bull at the truck stop called The Red Bull. That place has been there forever. It's the equivalent of our big stops on the 400 series highways back home. There used to be a geocache at this location, and we finally found it, but it took us many trips to figure it out. 

The red bull at the Red Bull truck stop

I decided to take a detour and visit the farm, but also stopped at the cemetery as it was on my way. These graves are my grandparents on my Mom's side. 

Family gravesite

And look at those magnificent skies! We just don't get the same view back home, as there are too many houses and trees. It was windy, and the temperature dropped a bit. The dust was blowing like mad when I was in the cemetery, and it was cold, so I didn't stop long, as I had left my jacket in the car. 

The living skies

Oh my -- the farmyard looks so different. There isn't much left, and the yard isn't overgrown, but it used to be bare and is now starting to get covered in grass and weeds. My brother has done a massive job cleaning up everything, and there are just a few things of Dad's that remain. My brother also has a "few" old vehicles that need to be dealt with. 

I got out of the car and walked around, but only for a few steps each time, as I mostly drove the car around the yard. Well, imagine my surprise when I was about 2 KM from the yard and I found this on my neck. ^&&*(*&^^

A TICK!!!!

I did not find any others but those little buggers!!!! And they are hard to kill—you need to slice them open. I just opened the car door and flicked it outside. Thank goodness, I kept my walking to a minimum. 

Then I arrived at the apartment and had a good visit with Mom and Dad. I'm teaching a class today, but I'll be back this evening. 

So Dad "works" at the Western Development Museum. He's actually a volunteer who works on restoring old engines. Yep - before everything had its own motor or power source, equipment was often powered by a stationary engine. I must try to find the YouTube video of one that he's restored. 

He is often the only volunteer on any given day, but he works with the other employees in the shop. There are not many who work there. 

But here's the thing, and the apple did not fall far from the tree on this. One of the volunteers moved to Saskatoon and went to that location of the Museum to volunteer, but it wasn't the same, so he drives from Saskatoon to volunteer here because it's better. What my Dad doesn't get is that they come to this location because of him! My DAD is what makes this volunteer program the best. I tried to explain that to him, but I don't think he gets it. If he weren't there, they wouldn't be doing all that they are doing. 

He is the driving force behind their success. My Dad can still do lathe work and offer suggestions, but can't lift or carry things. But that is what the others do. Dad supervises, and they work as a well-oiled machine to get the work done! I hope he realizes that!!! 

I laugh because I think that is me sometimes. Now Dad doesn't organize anything - he's not that kind of person, but I organize things so they happen! 

Well, I'm off as I need to eat, have a shower, and then hit the road. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!