It wasn’t the May 2-4 long weekend that we expected, but it was the one we had (and enjoyed!).

Jeff’s truck is in the shop, so we couldn’t go camping with our new camper! (It needs a new DEF fluid pump.) But there were plenty of other things to do. First up on Saturday morning, we went to the annual Gold Show and despite thinking I wouldn’t buy *any* plants this year, but I’m hoping to be away for most of 3 months (sabbatical!), I did buy a few! I won’t have any hanging baskets though this year, so I don’t have to burden Jeff to water them while I’m gone, or Bunny when she housesits for a month.

Half of the vendors were outside in the warming sun, but those poor vendors inside the arena, where it is always cold, were freezing! Which is pretty normal for May. You could still see your breath in there, even with the ice gone!

I entered a few draws, but didn’t even take a free pen! Jeff got some caramel kettle corn somewhere though! It was amusing that half of the people knew Jeff from his day job, and there were others who know him as the “gun guy” because he teaches all the firearm safety courses for the community. I work from home, so not many people know me! But I think there is yet another non-profit I was chatting with in the arena that would like some WordPress help, so I’ll follow up there and give them some guidance.

After that, we participated in the annual Parks Canada Doors Open Dawson! They open a few old historical buildings on this Saturday every year to let you see and explore, for free. We’ve been mostly everywhere, but we found two that we hadn’t!

First, I’d never been backstage in the Palace Grand theatre. This theatre is so historical. It was built in 1899 by Arizona Charlie Meadows! It was dismantled and restored in the 60’s. We didn’t get to see Arizona Charlie’s apartment, or that of his favourite dancer, but we’ll go back for a guided tour soon to see that. But we did get to go on the stage, and backstage. All the rigging was fascinating!

You can click on any of these photos and then browse through them, one by one, full screen, if you like!

The little dressing rooms were full of historical signatures—pretty cool! My friend tells me this building is very haunted, so that’s always fascinating to think about too! Oh, the events, shows, and dances that have been held here!

We’ll be back in this theatre again this week to see Mary Walsh’s comedy show when she comes to town!

Next, we went to the Dawson Daily News. It’s beside the post office, so despite walking by it often, I’d never been inside!

The old printing presses are still in, and even the letters used to make the print! There is an annual arts festival that uses this facility. Think about all the decades of news that were printed inside these walls! (and I think a wood stove got a little too hot in that far back corner once – looks like there was a fire!)

There was a visitor from Australia in the building who was giving Freddy, the Parks Canada employee, a lesson on how to use some of the machines. He used one decades ago! Here’s a quick video I captured:

Afterwards, because we saw the Grumpy Schnitzel open in the arena, we went back to pick up some lunch! My shrimp allergy has prevented me from having french fries from any of our restaurants, because they fry their shrimp in the same fry oil. But the Grumpy Schnitzel doesn’t serve seafood! He has moved into Gertie’s for the summer, where there isn’t a fryer, but because of the gold show, he was open for a couple of days, from the concession kitchen where he operates in the winter. I couldn’t resist having some of his delicious shoestring fries!

On Sunday morning, Hank barked! Loudly! From our bedroom, where he’s usually hanging out on our bed, sleeping or watching the world go by from the windows. But he doesn’t bark? So I stood up in the living room to investigate and there was a MOOSE! It was startled and ran by the house, down the street, and around the corner towards Minto Park. Just a young bull moose. Nice guard dog Hank! haha!

Later that morning, I offered to walk our friends’ baby around town for 90 minutes while they were doing some outdoor work in their backyard. She’s just a 4.5 month old little baby but she didn’t fuss once and ended up falling asleep! I had no idea how rough our wooden boardwalk sidewalks are on a stroller! Like a corduroy road! So I had her on the streets and back alleys and walked through the park behind the old Commissioner’s residence a few times! I had to keep adjusting her hat, and keep the sun out of her eyes, and put the blanket on and off depending on her body temperature. We had fun! I won’t share her face here, because I think her parents keep her offline, but she is as cute as they get!

When I was walking home from their place, Jeff and Hank were heading out for a walk, so I just kept going with them! That suited my May challenge just perfectly. I’m aiming for a 300,000 step count for May, to win a silly badge in my Garmin app. I’m on track too, even with a couple light days this weekend!

On Sunday evening, we were invited to a BBQ at our friends Ags, Kyle, and Cerys’ house. Jeff made some potato salad to bring, and I made some chocolate chip cookies. After our feast, we had our first outside fire for the season in their yard! And Cerys had us roasting marshmallows!

Ags and I were keen to explore a historical cabin that is near their new house, and what a perfect time, before all the shrubs are full of leaves!

This is the Paul Denhardt Cabin. It was registered as a Municipal Historic Site in 2012. They think it was built in 1900. They’ve nicely secured all the entrances, and they FireSmarted around the area in recent years. The outhouse has fancy pressed tin on the outside!

There was a can dump behind it, and possibly the platform for more cabins (like so much of the hillside behind town).

On Monday, Jeff was debating launching the boat. The river is crazy low right now, so we didn’t, but probably soon! We went out to the camper again, just to daydream about the adventure to come! Jeff’s already cut the lawn!! Not so much because the grass was that long or full, but it was nice to mulch up the fall leaves a bit.

I planted my new plants and left the tomatoes outside for the first night last night. Here’s hoping last week was the last of the frosty nights. It got up to 19°C here on Monday!

Have a great week everyone!