One (Giant) Red Paperclip

It already feels like forever since we left our trip, and here I am finally posting – right before we leave on the next one this weekend.

Our trip out west was whirlwind, like usual, but relaxing enough that we could stop, sit and really enjoy ourselves. We flew out in the wee hours hoping Miss Jaia wouldn’t notice we were ripping her from her warm bed and taking her on an airplane. We were wrong. Waking a sleeping baby at 4am is never a good time, but once she was in the car and we were on our way, she was a happy campstove. And it didn’t stop.

She was a peach on the airplane, playing quietly and nibbling Cheerios. I think I was more anxious to get out of that plane than she was. The drive out to Wiseton from Saskatoon was much of the same. She made no complaint about sitting in the 45 year old (or so it seemed) car seat we rented and went from either growling, chirping and singing to happily nodding off throughout the 1.5 hour drive.

The weekend surrounded by all of Dan’s family was beyond wonderful. It was the first time almost everyone had met Jaia, and she loved every second of being passed around from new face to new face. There was no making strange at all. Being the first grandchild and great-grandchild, she was quite the attraction. And lucky us, she wasn’t the only one being spoiled. There’s nothing like home cooked meals and we ate beyond well at every meal (thanks, Aunt Ellen).

As with past trips to Saskatchewan, we did a ton of driving. Thankfully it was harvest time, and that meant there was a lot for me to see…and make Dan stop the car for me to take pictures of. I’m a pain like that. And he was expecting it. But the pictures, some hanging in our house, are worth the stop.

We left Wiseton to drive the 4 hours to Kipling, the last town that Dan lived in before going off to university and then heading to Ottawa to find me. 😉 It’s a lovely town. I always enjoy myself there, and as with the other small SK towns I’ve visited, I have this strange feeling that everyone knows I’m not from around those parts. And no, it’s not that I stand out in any particular way, it’s just that everybody knows everybody else, and my face is just…new. But it’s still kind of Twlight Zone-ish for a city girl like me.

Kipling is a funny little town. Named after Rudyard Kipling, the town boasts a population of 1140 and is a healthy, thriving community. If the name sounds familiar, it might be because Kipling has made headlines in the last couple of years. Most notably, when the town traded Kyle MacDonald, of One Red Paperclip fame, a house for a role in a Corben Bernson movie. Kipling residents embraced the spotlight and have since erected a giant red paperclip (the largest in the world) in the town square. We stopped by to take pictures, just like real tourists. Again, worth it.

The last part of our trip was also amazing. We were again spoiled by Dan’s mom with most of Dan’s chilhood favourite meals (all delish) which, on the last night, included some Saskatoon Berry pie, now a favourite of mine. Homemade Saskatoon berry pie. Mmmmmm.

I love visiting Saskatchewan. I may be biased, but everyone I tend to meet from there has the same down-to-earth quality about them. I am always made to feel at home and was considered part of the family from the first hug on our first trip over 4 years ago. I find it sad that our visits tend to happen only once a year and that the next time we see everyone Jaia will be walking and talking and will have magically transformed into a little girl from the baby they met this summer. She may have even grown enough hair for pig tails by then. It just reminds us how important family is and how, because of distance, you have to appreciate the quality of each visit rather than how frequently they happen.