Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Friday, September 19, 2014

The Best Hike

Mom and TYO. Below: Cascade Pond
If there’s a cute way to say something, kids will find it.
It’s up to the adults to remember . . .
Nearly every year, our family vacationed for a week in Banff, Alberta.
We loved it there.
We had a particular hotel we liked to frequent.
Our kids learned to swim in the pool.
Play kick-the-can in the nearby woods.
Use the workout room for . . . working out.
Climb a neighbouring mountain to breakfast at the top.
Wander through the nearby townsite.
Hike.
Avoid the herds of elk.
Fail miserably at tennis.
Play wall-e-ball in the squash courts.
And sit by the fire in the evenings playing games.
For that one week, we existed in paradise . . .
It is still our favourite destination.
Unfortunately, our little two-bedroom apartment no longer accommodates all of us.
But we arrange for extra rooms and those who can, come.
Now our children are passing their wonderful memories on to the next generation.
Teaching their children in the pool.
Showing them the best places to hike.
And that is where this story is leading.
I do take a while, don’t I?
Moving on . . .
We were doing the ‘little kids’ hike around Cascade Pond.
The easiest one of all.
It is a lovely spot, with trails and bridges in a figure eight around and over a pretty pond.
An opportunity to see nature up close without a too-arduous hike to and from.
The smallest children were with us.
Feeling very important as they participated in their first hike in the wilderness.
Our (then) three-year old granddaughter had stopped with her mother to look at something.
Seeing that the rest of us had moved on without them, she ran to catch up.
It wasn’t far.
Unless you were three.
By the time she caught up to us, she was pressing one small hand to her side. Obviously, someone had developed a stitch.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Oh, my feelings!” she said breathlessly.
What can make a stroll through the beauties of nature just that much better?
A little touch of ‘cute’.
Going hiking?
Take a child.
Yep. Just add 'cute'.

20 comments:

  1. Aw....her 'feelings'....unbearably cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's become a family 'saying'. Used in so many ways . . .

      Delete
  2. What a sweetie you have there!

    Do you think she'd mind if I borrowed that phrase? As I get older and creakier, there are so many times that it would be just right :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm . . . she lets family use it. And you're family . . .

      Delete
    2. Ohhh ... what a lovely gesture ... I seem to be springing a leak in my eye ... I will use it well, never fear!

      Delete
  3. Adorable! How wonderful that your vacation paradise is now the next generation's favorite spot too. The Banff area is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  4. There's nothing that brings a smile to my face like the cuteness of a child.
    I really wish I had been blogging when my kids were little. So many of these stories have gone forgotten.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm the same. Why, oh why didn't they have blogging when my kids were growing up? Now we're stuck with mom's/Gramma's memory. Faulty at best . . .

      Delete
  5. Such a great story! We have hiked with our boys since they were tiny - and I hope we get to continue with our grandchildren someday. I've only been to Banff in the winter - I'd love to visit in another season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love family hikes. They include a whole new (fun) dimension now . . .

      Delete
  6. My folks always took us hiking when we were young. Adorable little girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd like to say she takes after me. But I'd be lying . . . :)

      Delete
  7. What a cutie! She created a whole new phrase in the English language with the expression that summed up so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amazing how those little toddler phrases take over a family's vocabulary!

      Delete
  8. She's just adorable. Her look AND her expression, both. Just sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Spending a rainy day catching up on posts I have missed. This is beautiful and reminds me once again how excited I will be to meet my new grandchildren. I can't wait to have those experiences of taking them camping and hiking and well just about anything they want as I am sure grandpa and I will have them spoiled rotten!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting! Drop by again!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


Grab and Add!

Search This Blog

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?