In early July our family gathered on Galiano Island. This was definitely a major highlight in the lives of all family members. In addition to strengthening the bond of our family that is scattered all over Canada and the world, it was also a celebration of Gertrud’s and my golden anniversary. We spent four glorious days with the finest weather on this beautiful Gulf Island. The participants were our son Richard from Montreal with our three grandchildren Mateo, Azure, and Emeline, Anthony and his partner Lisa from Victoria, Michael and his wife Angie from Vernon, Stefan and his partner Laura from Vancouver. Unfortunately, our eldest son Robert could not attend, as he had just started a new engineering job in Germany. The video below will tell the entire story. Enjoy!
Emeline Klopp
Back on Track
To all my friends and followers I am sending out my apologies for resuming later than promised my blogging activities. As I am relaxing in the sunshine of a glorious late summer day at our favourite Taite Creek campground on our beautiful Arrow Lake, I am typing up the major themes of the Klopp Family blog for the coming fall and winter.
Keeping Company with Blue Herons
Before I delve into that I wish to express my sincere regret front having had the time to read and appreciate our posts during the last couple of weeks. The summer months – normally already very busy with travels, visiting family and friends, and activities away from the computer – turned out to be extremely strenuous and stressful this summer, although the events also brought a lot of joy into our hearts. After our family reunion on Galiano Island, our son Richard, our grandson Mateo, and the two granddaughters Azure and Emeline spent their vacation with us in July and August. Unfortunately, this was also the time of preparation for the removal of our old house to be replaced by a new modular home, which our son Michael ordered for us to be built on the site of the demolished house.
Early Morning Magic at Taite Creek Campground – Photo Credit: Gertrud Klopp
So you know now why I am writing this introductory post at the campsite. For my wife and I are practically homeless for the next couple of weeks and have to make do in our small travel trailer.
For the fall and winter season, I will focus on the following themes:
The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Story (continued)
Revamping and Improving the Family Trees
Fauquier – Nature’s Beauty in the West Kootenays (continued)
Fauquier – Its History (continued)
Aunt Anna – Baroness of Von Waldenfels
Local Enterprises and Cottage Industries
Contributions by Family Members in German
Family Review of Summer 2016
Without home access to the Internet I will publish at the beginning just one or two posts per week. I am looking forward to read again all your posts and am really excited to find out what is going on in your part of the world.
Last Summer’s Family Reunion in Videos – Part II
Squirt Gun Battles in the Lake
Taking it Easy on Floating Toys and Rubber Boats
Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline
Last Day of their Visit at the Grandparents
Today was a rainy day and was ideal to do some indoor activities. I was very eager to make a video recording of Azure practicing her violin. Also, I always wanted to read to Azure from the French children’s book ‘Le Petit Nicolas’. We were fortunate this morning that we found Azure completely cooperative. I admit though that I made use of a little bribery by offering a piece of chocolate as a reward. When she was done with the performance she was so proud of her success that she almost forgot to collect her prize. In the afternoon there was a little break in the weather and we went down to the beach to give the kids a chance to catch some fresh air and play in the sand.
The time went so fast. Tomorrow morning Richard and his sweet little daughters are heading back to Kelowna to catch the plane back to Montreal. We are a little sad, but there will always be a next, God willing.
Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline
Day 4
In spite of threatening rain clouds, we journeyed to Taite Creek Camp Site to spend the afternoon at the beautiful Arrow Lake. Richard and Azure went swimming in the ice-cold waters and received a lot of cheers for their daring plunge. Later we warmed up at the campfire and the children had fun singing, dancing and listening to Opa’s melodies he played on the harmonica. It is all recorded on the one-minute video below.
Our Son Richard and Granddaughters Azure and Emeline
Day 3
Today Richard was very tired. Last night after he had settled down Azure and Emeline and got them to sleep, he sat down at his laptop to do some important work for his college in Montreal. This morning he went down to the lake to provide some strenuous exercise for his kids. As it turned, when they came back, he was very tired and his daughters were not. He had hoped that the little ones would have a long afternoon nap to give him a chance to recover.
Richard, Azure and Emeline ready to go to the Fauquier Boat Dock
While I was napping in the front room, I heard some noises coming from the living room, which were getting louder by the minute. I concluded that Papa had fallen asleep and the girls had slipped out and were beginning to make their presence known by playing the toy piano. So I decided to interrupt my precious nap time and supervise the little ones, while Richard was sleeping. I turned out to be quite a bit of fun watching them dance and pose for me for quite a few nice pictures. Besides I learned quite a few new French words that Azure taught me while we were playing.
Whatever else of importance is going to happen today, I will publish it in tomorrow’s post.
The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Family 