Elkford

Well, we got here in Elkford this past Wednesday. We spent the first day or two going for drives and exploring the area. Our company house is great - it has everything we could need. It backs onto some trails through the forest and literally, about 20 feet from our house there is a sign that reads, "Caution - Agressive Moose in the Area". I think my face must've went a little white reading it because Jared just laughed at me. Ever since living in Lethbridge, I have this irrational fear of being "hoofed-to-death" by a deer or some other seemingly harmless wildlife (I know, I know - go ahead and have a laugh at my expense). I'm sure I'll be forced to abandon that fear quickly though, as there are deer everywhere. They just walk across the road, hang out on people's lawns, etc. It reminds me of Waterton.


The next couple days were filled with house-hunting. We looked at most of the houses for sale in Sparwood and Elkford, and quickly made the decision to buy in Elkford for a few reasons: #1. Jared works near Elkford, so the commute is way shorter living here. #2. Houses are a bit cheaper in Elkford, so we can get more bang for our buck, ya know? #3. Unlike Sparwood, Elkford allows quads and snowmobiles to drive right through town, and is surrounded by miles and miles of trails just for this purpose. We are big on the quad/snowmobile thing.

This little town has been fun. Living in a small town is so much different than living in a big city.

That being said, I have come up with my very own list of "Top 5 Signs You're In a Small Town":

#5. Anytime you pass someone, they smile and wave (Carter keeps asking, "Who's that, Dad?" as if it's a good friend of ours). And, if you happen to be with a resident of said small town, they will proceed to give you a background history of the person who waved, as well as know where they are headed and when they'll be back. And how they're related.

#4. When people give you their phone number, they only say the last 4 digits.

#3. People don't even bother to ask why we moved here. They just ask, "Which mine are you at?" Then, when the find out as much as they can, they proceed to tell others about "the new family in town".

#2. Whenever a siren is heard, it's the talk of the town for the rest of the week.

#1. Believe it or not, the lines at the grocery store take longer than in busy Edmonton stores. Not because there's alot of people shopping, but because each customer has to have a little chat session with the cashier; asking how their Easter weekend was, when Sharon's bringing the kids back up for a visit, and how Aunt Betty's doing these days.

It's hilarious and so different than what we're used to. Stay tuned for a house-hunting update. That is, if I haven't been hoofed to death before then. I guess that's the price you pay for a view like this: