Michael Klopp

The Splendour of the Arrow Lake

/ Peter Klopp / 44 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

Mountain Adventure with Michael

With the wildfires still raging in many parts of BC our son Michael invited me to a trip on his ATV to a nearby mountain range between Burton and Nakusp. Apart from the magnificent scenery we also for a few hours escaped the dense smoke down in the valley and breathed in the clean and invigorating mountain air. Now less than a week later the long expected rain has finally come to the Arrow Lake region and brought much needed relief from the smoky conditions. Enjoy the video.

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P. Klopp Family Reunion July 2016

/ Peter Klopp / 8 Comments

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!

Back on Track

/ Peter Klopp / 10 Comments

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.

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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.

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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.

Adding Meaning to Thanksgiving

/ Peter Klopp / 2 Comments

Michael and Angie Helping Gathering Firewood

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On the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend our son Michael and daughter-in-law Angie dropped in on a surprise visit. And what a surprise it was! They came to help  to get some firewood out of the Taite Creek area. While my foot had healed quite well over the past eight weeks, our family doctor insisted that I should not yet go into the woods picking mushrooms or cutting firewood. So the following photo essay will express our joy and appreciation for what Michael and Angie have done for us.

After Michael's truck was loaded with logs from a large pine tree, Michael cut down a larch for my small trailer.After Michael’s truck is loaded with logs from a large pine tree, Michael cuts down a larch for my small trailer.
Still having to be careful with my right foot, I cut the fallen tree into small pieces, while Michael carried them to the trailer,Still having to be careful with my right foot, I cut the fallen tree into small pieces, while Michael carries them to the trailer.
When there was still room for more logs on the trailer, Michael cut down another pine tree.Because there is still room for more logs on the trailer, Michael cuts down another pine tree.
Since the fallen pine tree was blocking the road, Michael cut the middle section out of the tree.Since the fallen pine tree is blocking the road, Michael cuts the middle section out of the tree.
05He expertly accomplishes this task by two undercuts and then proudly presents himself with the chainsaw for the photo above.
Then it was my turn to cut the large section into logs that Michael carried to the trailer.Then it is my turn to cut the large section into logs that Michael then carries to the trailer.
07Standing behind our trailer, I am looking thankfully at the load of pine and larch firewood.
08With a truck full of precious firewood, we are thankful and all smiles. Even Piper, the miniature Australian shepherd, appears to make a happy face.
09In the meantime Biene and Angie had been scouring the woods for those elusive pine mushrooms and are showing off their loot.
11Now it is time to bring home the treasure to keep us warm this coming winter season.
12While I am taking pictures, Michael and Angie are unloading the truck. What a joy in a father’s heart!

After all this hard work, we all sat down for an early Thanksgiving dinner that Biene had so lovingly prepared before our outing into the woods.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

 

 

Last Summer’s Family Reunion in Videos – Part I

/ Peter Klopp / 1 Comment

Even though I have fully embraced computer and digital technology, I have two problems with both. It has to do with their miniature size. On the cameras I find it often difficult to use the tiny buttons with which to control the settings. On the small SD cards fit thousands of images. If you happen to misplace the card or worse you accidentally erase the files, the loss of these visual treasures could cause a lot of pain. This almost happened to me, when my precious video files from last summer went missing and I had almost given up of ever finding the SD card again. As it turned out, I had put it in a “safe” place, a special card holder not much larger than a Canadian dollar coin. Recently I rummaged through my camera bag. Guess what, I found the card. The result is the video report of our family reunion 2014.

Introducing the Family on the Plank

Having Fun on the Paddle Boards

 

Son Richard and our Granddaughters Azure and Emeline Arrived

/ Peter Klopp / 2 Comments

Today I drove over the Monashee Pass to Vernon to pick up our son Richard and our little granddaughters. They were exhausted from traveling such a long distance. After spending the afternoon at the Aspengrove Riding School at our daughter-in-law’s ranch and a snack at our son Michael’s place we were heading east to our home in Fauquier. The little girls were overtired and fell asleep soon after we started our trip. So Richard and I were able to exchange the latest family news, while I was driving.

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Tired, but very Happy, Richard and Emeline

Azure Showing off her Gap in the Front Teeth

Azure Showing off her Gap in the Front Teeth

Richard, Emeline, and Michael

Richard, Emeline, and Michael

Azure and Emeline Sound Asleep upon Arrival in Fauquier

Azure and Emeline Sound Asleep upon Arrival in Fauquier