Monday, August 22, 2011 Tidy Scrap room

I think today was the most unproductive day I've had for a long time. I got out of bed to realize it was raining. I know we haven't had much in the way of precipitation lately, but I figured our spring more than made up for it. After wandering around for most of the morning and wondering what to do with myself, I finally decided to haul out all the beads I bought to make the key blingz. I was putting off trying this new craft as I hadn't really done beadwork before and was concerned with how to start. Once I got started it was a cinch. I think I need to buy some more items and I will be off to a good start. Anyone know where I can buy some neat things to hang from the keyring?
So now I will prowl the house looking for something to take a picture of.
Hank finished making me my shelf that I have been waiting for to help tidy my scraproom We brought it upstairs and I spent a little time tidying and sorting so I thought two pictures of my room were perfect for tonights post. Here is my craft room minus a wall of stuff. Mostly stamps so no big deal. I've finished my 100 days of summer posts and I actually think I've done just over that. I kind of like this idea but of course didn't like the running out of things to take a picture of. Melissa sent me an idea and I might do that. It would require 30 days more of postings so I will see if I really want to do it. So until I post again I bid you good bye and thank each and every one of you that followed my blog. Even if you only read a few of them I offer a hearty thank you for coming on my summer journey with me.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The people in the Cottage and the Magnolia checked out today so we had a busy day with cleaning. Hank talked to them about music while they waited and chatted around the table on the deck. They had all come here to go to some jam or concert out in a cornfield here in town. Of course we wanted to know what kind of music they played and sang. Seems to be a lot of the same stuff Hank and his buddies do. We had guitar players, piano players and singers. They loved the garden and spent a lot of their time outside on the deck. Really nice people.
Our guests arrived for the Magnolia tonight and they are great. She asked permission to call me by my first name after I shook hands with them and told my name was Laurie. After telling us how wonderful the room and garden was they also spent most of the evening outside on the deck and in the hot tub. We really have had some awesome guests lately.

This is Peeka playing with her little yellow ball. She bats that thing all over the place and won't even look if it's not that certain kind of ball. Sometimes she carries it to where she wants it. I  only got a picture of her a few times doing it. We often go to sit down and find her yellow ball on the couch. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye. 

Saturday, August 20, 2011 BBQ and Guitar Pickers

I don't really have a photo for today. Well, I have one but it's on my phone camera and I don't know how to get it onto my computer. I think I need a cord of some kind. So we went to a BBQ at a house of one of the Saturday night jam guys. I forgot my camera so thought I could just use my phone and everything would be okay. I might never get the picture off. I did say 100 days of summer and I didn't say which 100 days so I guess it's okay to not have this picture. We had a frantic day of getting groceries, seeing to our guests, and making something for the BBQ. John, the one who did the cooking, must do this all the time. We had ribs that had some awesome sauce on them that I think he made, some kind of pulled beef and some other unidentified meat that was a bit spicy for me. The hosts provided everything except the side dishes. He apparently cooks the meat all day. The ribs just fell apart. Mmmmm good. He plays the big bass and his wife plays the dobro or steel guitar. Wow, she is great. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and maybe I will still be able to retrieve my photos.

Friday, August 19,2011 A Scrapbook page

Another beautiful day in paradise. I love it when I wake up to sunshine streaming in my window. Some people don't like that much, but I do. It wakes me up and tells me to get up and enjoy life. I had such a lazy day today. When I scooted past my scrapbook room it seemed to beckon to me. I did a couple of pages yesterday and now I'm getting that urge to get in their and create. This page was my challenge. A couple of years ago I went to a scrapbook garage sale. We had been every year for the past 3 years and loved it. I was in Bellingham and short of being very ill or having my husband book something else for me that weekend, missing it wasn't an option. The treasures there are unbelievable. So I found a package put out by Close to My Heart and it had a bunch of other packs in it. Each pack had all the papers, embellishments and instructions to complete one double page layout. I picked it up and walked around with it. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but I knew I could use it. I noticed another lady following me and I suspected she wanted them too and was waiting for me put them down so she could pounce. Finally she asked if I was taking them. Yes, I am. She said she really wanted them but she too was hesitant about the price. I found the lady that was selling them and asked if she would come down on the price and she did. I bought them. They have sat in my craft room all this time and I just started to use them earlier this year. This was one of the layouts. I had to add my own little something to it but it really was fast to put together. I changed the layout a bit, added the stamp in the corners and offset the pictures. I also didn't use the hearts that came with it along with some other embellies that I thought wasn't what the pictures were about. I think I only have two more days before my hundred days are done. If I don't find something else to take pictures of, I probably will only post once in a while. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Thursday, August 18, 2011 Little fishes.

Earlier this year we added a few goldfish to our pond. All in all we added about fifty but I think we only have about 14 left. It's hard to count with all the plant cover we have in there. We have some new neighbors and I think one of their three cats has been coming over at night to have a fish dinner. I know I mentioned this before but I really wasn't a happy camper with the needless slaughter of the little fishes. I know the name of these little guys doesn't help when it comes to sealing their fate. When you go in the pet store and ask for some goldfish, they ask if it's "Feeder fish" you want. Really? Well it was, but do they have to call them that? It must give them a complex and set the stage for failure. Why are they at the bottom of the fish ladder? I took a picture of them today because, well I'm running out of things to take pictures of, and I thought how brave and maybe even smart the last 14 of these little guys are. I would crochet them all a medal but they really don't have a chest to pin it on. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope I don't find any floaters tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011, The sunflower.

So I've got about 3 more days of my summer shots. I have to decide if I want to keep doing my blog or maybe just do it once a week. I think I'm really scraping the  bottom of the barrel when it comes to pictures. I've taken more flower pics than I thought I ever would. I don't even know what else in the house I could shoot. I'm hoping my scraproom will be sorted in the next few days so I can take a picture of it all neat and tidy. It's on my to do list. I won't run out of pictures any time soon so I should get a start on putting them in my scrapbooks. Today Hank was trying to help me find a likely candidate for the daily picture. He suggested the glads, the trumpet vine and several other plants. It goes to show that he really isn't following my blog or he would know I already did all those. My shot today is this sunflower. It's not a great shot and I should be editing them but I'm too busy giving myself that pat on the back for hanging in there and getting this done. I wanted to take this picture early in the day but as you know, they follow the sun, and so it just wasn't positioned right. My daughter would have worked magic with is photo. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I go to ponder my blog future. To be or not to be.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 The wedding card

The card is for the daughter of a friend. I can't make it to the wedding but I wanted to make a really nice card for her. That's how I spent my morning. I did clean a room again but the card was on my mind and so it took priority. I got the general idea from Splitcoast Stampers and changed it up so I could incorporate the Once Upon a Time on the front and inside the Happily Ever After.
My departing guests left me with a token of appreciation but it was well earned. Other than cleaning a room and making a card my day was pretty much humdrum. Oh yeah, I did receive a huge parcel. I heard the doorbell ring and went to answer it. There was a delivery guy carrying a huge parcel wrapped in brown paper. I'm thinking that I didn't order anything so maybe Hank was giving me an early anniversary gift. It also ran through my head that I was dreaming if I really thought that. I was giddy with anticipation. He says, " I have this parcel for your neighbor and they aren't home. Can I leave it with you?" . Damn. I smile and say okay. That was the highlight of my day. It's a sad story but true. It's still sitting in my back porch. Lucky neighbor!! So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope tomorrow brings me a big parcel in brown paper.

Monday, August 15, 2011 Angel's Trumpet

This is called Angel's Trumpet or Brugmansia, Melissa bought this for her dad for Father's day a few years ago. It's got more flowers on it than any that we have had before. They are pretty much still in bud but if I think it's worth a picture I will take another shot of it later in the week when all the buds are open. I also have a pink one but it doesn't even have buds on it so I'm not holding my breath waiting for flowers. I think I get the whole feast or famine thing. We are getting our bookings for the bed and breakfast that should  have been coming in earlier in the year. I guess I can't complain even though it' been a whole lot of bed making and toilet cleaning lately. My pictures for the next while will probably be garden related. I'm going to try to get a picture of the huge orange cat from across the street. He or she, comes over to torment Tequila and kill my birds. I also think it might have had a few fish dinners. Today I heard that horrible cat sound that you hear when two cats are squaring off and no one is backing down. Sure enough Tequila and the Garfield nose to nose on my front sidewalk. I tried to spray it with my water gun but I think I scared Tequila more than the orange lurker. Wish me better luck next time. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and remember to be kind to animals. :)

Sunday, August 14, 2011 Bouquet from the garden.

Another day of shopping today. Mostly stuff we needed to do like groceries. We phoned Hank's mom to see if she wanted to go with us but she wasn't home. We left for Wal Mart to see if they had some specials on. While squeezing the fruit and checking for bruises we heard a guy screaming profanities over by the peaches. He was effing this and effing that. At first I thought he was on drugs or something but then noticed a large pallet on the floor in front of him. He bent down and with both hands threw it against the counter and onto the aisle. Still swearing and shouting I gathered that it had either fallen on his foot or he had tripped over it. He must have continued on for at least five more minutes before picking it up and marching madly up the store towards the customer service booth. Glad I wasn't working there. We finished up there and went to see if mom was home yet. Someone must have beaten us to it and taken her out for lunch. After finishing up at Super Store we headed home. Monica came over and we had tea and cookies. I happen to mention to Hank that I would love some flowers out of the garden. I thought maybe I might pick some tomorrow. He came in with a lovely bunch of Hydangeas from the garden. I loved the blue and white together and they are now on my kitchen table. Time for America's Got Talent.
So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I might have said it before, stop and smell the roses.

Saturday, August 13, 2011 Bargain hunters.

I awoke to Hank opening the bedroom door to peek in to see if I was awake yet. He had been up since 5:00 a.m. Yep, dawn. I don't get it. It was around 7:00am  when I heard the door open. He says, "There is a garage sale across the road." Okay, now you have my attention. I dragged myself out of bed and took a look out the window to make sure he wasn't just using a ploy to get me up. Yes, there it was. I got dressed and even skipped my coffee as we headed over to see what bargains awaited. We bought a beautiful solid wood dresser with lots of drawers, fourty bucks. Some other knick knacks like pie plates and casserole dishes for 50 cents each. Monica will get the pie plates. A beautiful battenburg tablecloth for two bucks. We came home and now we were in the bargain hunting mode so decided to go to Abbotsford and do all the second hand stores. We needed end tables and some lights for the wall in the Cottage small bedroom. We found the end tables. Picked up some other neat stuff and leisurely drove home down some back roads and through Yarrow. We spotted an ice cream stand called Mighty Moose ice cream. We stopped and ordered two one scoop in waffle cones. Mmmmm....delish. Good thing we didn't order the double scoop. It was a great day out. Our gladiolus just started blooming. We haven't planted them in years but this year decided to try them again. Neither one of us are fans of plants that you have to dig up but we made exceptions this once. We also bought some dahlias and they have been blooming for a few weeks. I'm so glad we planted them. This gladioli is on our back patio. Pretty isn't it? So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Friday, August 12, Peeka joins facebook.

Today I have two check-in's so made sure the rooms were all okay. One of the guests wanted to know if they could check in early and I said yes. At 10:00 a.m. they arrived and settled in for the day. I already vacuumed (well, I used the Rhumba) so I'm pretty much at a loose end for the rest of the day. Spending time on Facebook is primarily what I did. I just recently started playing Gardens of Time and I have to tell you, it's addicting. I figured it would be good for my mind as it utilizes the memory. I need that. Unfortunately, this game calls for more and more friends if you want to expand your garden. I want a huge garden but I only have a few friends that want to play the game. I already bugged my immediate family into joining even though they don't play it. I really want a big garden. Seeing as how I have availed myself of everyone I could think of to sign up I had to come up with someone else to help me. I only needed one more person to get another grid so as I sat watching my cat I had a brilliant idea. Why can't my cat be my friend?? She doesn't do anything else to earn her keep. She could certainly be of some use to me instead of sleeping all day and wanting pets. So I signed her up for a facebook account. Yes, I lied a little on her application. She didn't really go to Chilliwack Secondary School and she really isn't as old as her birthday indicates. You have to be a certain age to join Facebook and she wouldn't have qualified if I had put the correct birthday on there. Now I just have to keep up with her facebook and mine. If this works out I can see a Facebook page for Tequila (Melissa's cat) and maybe even some pets that have passed to that great animal kingdom in the sky. I really want a bigger garden. Maybe I mentioned that already. So stay tuned for more non existent Facebook friends. They are going to help me get a garden bigger than the one I actually own. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and happy gaming.

Thursday, August 11, 2011 Tea time.

Monica was dropped to visit with us while Jack went fishing. The ritual is always the same when she visits, it's always tea time. I haven't seen her since we went on our holidays and her and Jack did an awesome job looking after the place and watering the plants. So when she came over we chatted about our holidays and she told me they might have to move to Prince George. I know she doesn't want to go, it's too cold there and she is not a fan of cold. Even in the summer she likes a blanket wrapped around her when we are all looking for a fan. I'm not gonna lie to you, I haven't so far so I won't start now, I don't really want her to be that far away. Sometimes you have to set them free and hope they learn to fly. So as upsetting as it is that she might have to move, I think she will be okay and when she comes home for a visit we can still have a pot of tea and chat. That pot of tea seems vital somehow. It is a given. No coffee, always tea. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hold your children close while you can.

Wednesday, August 10, Our trip to Turkeys

This plant that grows proficiently up our plum tree is a Trumpet Vine. It similar to one given to me when my mother died.  I gave one to my friend when her brother died. I love the way it makes the plum tree all flowery and it always reminds me of my mom.  So now the Turkey's story. Susie phoned me one morning to see if I wanted to go to a party store. It was in Aldergrove or somewhere around there. I'm usually up for a shopping spree especially when the money being spent is not mine. We headed out to Aldergrove or Cloverdale or one of those towns down the valley. Susie didn't have the address but she said to just phone information and get the address and phone number from them. I did. I explained very clearly that I was looking for a party store named Turkeys. After we drove around every town in the area we decided to phone and find out where we were going wrong. Personally I think Turkeys is a stupid name for a party store but what can you do? I phoned them to get directions. "Hello," I hear. Then I hear some mumbling that I couldn't quite make out.  I did hear the word turkeys. Excellent!! Okay. "Hi, we are a little lost and need some directions as to where you are located." says I. She gives me directions and we set off. I told her we would be there shortly. Nope...something wasn't right. We were in an area where there are farms and houses and we needed an area where there were stores. Susie had been there before with her brother so she knew this wasn't right. After driving around for a while we decided that Susie had to get home so we abandoned the search.

A few weeks went by and Lurline was visiting. Susie phoned and asked if we wanted to take a ride out again to the famous Turkeys Party Store. Sure. So off we set again. Well we obviously hadn't learned a damn thing from our last time out there. We phoned again. It was easy this time as the number was programmed into her phone. "Hello", I heard. Then again some talking that I couldn't make out. "Hi, we are looking for your place but can't find you." She give me directions again. This time I figured I heard it all right and we knew where it was. Again we ended up in farmland and as we drove down this nice country road I noticed a sign that said, Fresh Turkeys. Oh oh. (Again I ask, who names a party store Turkeys?) Obviously we had a turkey store but not the one we were looking for. I hope she isn't still waiting. This time all three of us were laughing our heads off. I had the exact same conversation with this person twice, didn't find the store, and didn't need a turkey. She is probably wondering why these nice ladies keep telling her they would be right there and never show up.So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Love is like a butterfly.

This gorgeous butterfly was bought in Powell River. The background it's on leaves much to be desired but I was in a hurry so just snapped the picture. It's definitely harder to find something to take a picture of lately. It's also not easy to find something to write about. I'm thinking I might have to relate some little tid bits of my youth. Usually when I relate a story in person, it's somewhat amusing. I think if I write about it, there will be something lacking. One of those, " You had to be there." moments. I am however tempted to tell one and all about Susie and I and our trip in search of Turkeys. It's a long story so maybe I will leave it until tomorrow. I know I have piqued your interest but as funny as this story was I'm not sure I can capture the essence of it here. I will however try to do that in my next blog. It will give everyone a chance to anticipate what is to come. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope I can make the story as funny here as it was when it happened.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Hank's last day at home before he goes back to work again. I have no idea how house work and wash build up when you aren't even at home. All day unpacking and doing wash.  The phone rang off the hook. What up with that. People only just deciding to go on holidays??I'm not complaining, far from it. I guess all it took was a few days of sunshine. I didn't see Hank for most of the day. He was outside trimming, cutting, weeding and who knows what else. Then off to buy some groceries and a quick visit with his mom. He did bring home some awesome Chilliwack corn. There was a steak on the plate too but I was hungry so now there is only the corn. It looks a little lonely but what can I say. It was scrumptious though. I'm thinking Chilliwack grows "THE" best corn ever. Still really exhausted so an early night was in store for both of us.So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope you all have a chance to sample Chilliwack corn.

Sunday, August 7, 2011 Keyblingz

Off today for Gibsons. Ron was up early again today making coffee and toast for us before we left. Anne got up too so she could say good bye to us. They should really be in the hospitality business. Great hosts. We stopped and had a short but nice visit with Jacob and Kath before Jacob had to go to a golf tournament he was participating in. The view from their eating area is really unrivaled. It's gorgeous. So we left there and headed for the ferry hoping to get to Gibsons fairly early. We stopped at a craft fair along the way. Actually looking for a quick bite but found none. We phoned Lorna and after a brief refresher on how to get to her place we sat for a little chat then off to see what goodies her store held for me. She has such lovely things in her store and I only got to try on and buy a couple of tops. We still hadn't eaten so lunch was on the agenda. Lorna took us to a great place overlooking the harbor and we had a quick bite before we headed for the ferry. Apparently George was trying to board and from the conversation it probably wasn't looking good for us as far as getting home early. We only had to wait for two sailings and they had put an extra one on, so that wasn't too bad. We were two really tired people by the time we drove on the yard. Didn't even unpack anything. A quick bite again and then off to bed early. This was the key ring that I love so much. Thanks Anne for all the beads so I can try to make a few of them myself. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and good night.

Saturday, August 6, 2011 The Open Market

Market day!! Anne and Hank were singing at the Open Market today. We met Neil, Debbie, Jacob and Kath there and sat to listen to some old time singing with some old time singers. You know when there is an accordian involved the music is someone dated. Anne sang first with another couple who sings there all the time, and she did an awesome job on her own singing Wild Flowers. Then it was time for Hank and Anne to do some duets. They did some old stuff and I think they ended with "The Dance" which is always a crowd pleaser.  Fabulous job guys. From there we went to a garage sale in the parking lot of Liquidation World and found out that LW is going to be Big Lots very soon. I love Big Lots. I didn't see much at the garage sale and then spotted Kath with probably the only thing worth buying there. She had purchased, and I must say very wisely, a Lava Lamp. We then went over to the Dollarama where Hank bought some sun glasses as he and Ron were going to the driving range with Jacob. Annie and I went for a quick bite at Timmies and then home for another lovely chat in the back yard at Anne's. Another super supper and then Anne and I sat around the table while she waded through her beads and ear ring making stuff. She donated some lovely beads to my stash that I'm collecting  so I can take a shot at making some very interesting key rings when I get home. I know, not another craft. I'm really trying not take on another hobby but these things really caught my fancy and I'm hoping to make some really nice ones when I get home. Tomorrow we head for Gibsons and a visit with the Lovely Lorna. I can hardly wait. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Friday, August 5, 2011 Heart is where the home is.

Hank, as is usual for him, was awake at some awful hour this morning. It took everything short of shackling him to the bed, to stop him from getting up. He heard someone in the kitchen so he was up and gone in a wink of an eye. I got up to a great breakfast made by the chief cook of steak, onions, peppers and eggs. Excellent coffee made with an actual percolator, and you know by now how much I love that. We drove to see the house that Neil was working on and we got the grand tour. What a gorgeous place, right on the beach and fish pond inside with koi. We wandered out onto the deck and saw this heart made up of pine needles and other stuff that had blown onto the deck. It was hidden away under a patio bench. At first I thought someone had put it there, so symmetrical and perfect. It seemed to say something to me, and even though I wasn't sure what the message is or was, I had to capture it for all eternity. Well...maybe not eternity...but definitely for a long while. Neil and Debbie came over for a delish supper and then off we all went to McKinney's Pub for some live music by the Werewolves of Creston. We sat with some of Anne's co-workers and Jacob and Kath joined us a little while later. We didn't get much of a chance for catch up unless the band was on a break. The place was hoppin' and I think I enjoyed people watching even more than the actual band. I must say though, the lead singer was a hoot and as Simon Cowell would say, " He made the songs his own." We walked home and talked and then sat out in the back yard and conversed for another hour or so. It was a great and very fun filled day and I must say, Annie and Ron are fabulous hosts. Damn, I'm sooo very lucky. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and with you family and friends that make you as completely happy as mine make me.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

This is the front of Maureen and Sandy's place. Hank could have sat there all week. Time is a wasting so we set off early from Parksville and thought we would be in Courtney early to visit with my cousin Ted and his wife Barb. After a quick look around the mall for a cord for my camera so I can upload my pictures to my blog, we phoned Ted and he came to get us and show us where he lived. I didn't realize it until I hung up, but I didn't really know if I would recognize him. It's been a while. When he cam across the parking lot I knew. He looks so much like my dad and even some of his speech patterns were the same. We followed him back to his place and spent a couple of hours listening to tales of the Powers family and stories I didn't know anything about. We perused papers that had histories of family members and sat with interest piqued as he related story upon story. I loved that we reconnected. I really wish we lived closer so I could glean more about the history of the Powers family. We left with a ssuitcase full of black and white pictures and a renewed interest in my past. All in all a great visit. We headed for the ferry to Powell River and a three day visit with Hank's side of the family. We visited with Ron and Anne and had a great meal of steak, potato salad, cole slaw and really great cucumber salad. Kudos to the cook. I should get Ron to give me some of his recipes. An evening of catch up and then off to bed so we can be all refreshed for whatever tomorrow may bring. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I know I will sleep well tonight.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Maureen and Sandy

We got up early to head up the Island towards Parksville to see our friends Maureen and Sandy. A nice leisurely drive is what we had in mind as her relatives were arriving and we didn’t want to intrude. So we set off and on our way we stopped at a thrift store in Duncan and went in to see what treasures we could score. The place was a mess. There was no organization at all and boxes of stuff all over the floors and in the aisles. There was a back door so we ventured out to see what was out there. More boxes of stuff. Probably close to a quarter of an acre of stuff all out in the weather in cardboard boxes. It would only take a little bit of rain to ruin just about all of it. Books, clothing and knick-knacks. I asked the only guys working, was there a set price on some of the stuff in the window? No, he says, you have to bring it to me and I will tell you how much it is. We wandered back inside and there were a few other customer in there now. Picked out 10 cd’s out of the hundreds they had there. “How much?” “$1.99 each.”” Any discount for bulk?”” No, they’re cheap enough already.” He snarled. Okay, we’ll take them anyway.

On the way out we noticed some Karaoke discs. We picked up two and I took them up to pay. The guy was outside so I had to wait for him. “I’ll take these two please.” He rang them up without a word and off he went again. We noticed a scrapbook album. Hank said he would take the rest of the stuff out to the can and I went outside to see what the cost would be. I held it up and shouted to him, “ How much?” “ Buck ninety nine” he shouted. I’ll take it. I waited by the till. Finally he meanders in and says…….wait for it…..” You still here?” Really? Really? It’s a thrift store for the town to help with the needy and he thinks he doesn’t have to be civil. “Yep,” I answer. Off we go.

Up to Chemanis to see the murals. Took a look around a craft fair and made two purchases. A hat band for Hank made of pop can tabs. Fabulous at least. A key ring for me with all kinds of beads and funky stuff on it. I love it.

In the evening we went to visit our friends that live right on the beach in Parksville. We had lots to catch up on and I loved sitting looking out over the ocean and enjoying the breeze, company and delicious hamburgers with pineapple on them that Sandy had made.

I’m really missing all my friends that have moved on to better things or at least better places. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I really have to tell you to enjoy your live, your family and your friends while you can.

Monday, August 1, 2011 My garden

Today we finished up some last minute things before we head out tomorrow. Hank is taking a friend to the airport in Vancouver so he and I spent some time in the morning taking new pictures of the yard. This is the award we got from the Rotary when we participated in their annual garden tour. It's kind of disappointing placing second and losing by only 4 votes, but at least we enjoyed doing it and we did get a nice rose bush given to us. The sun is shining today and I'm hoping that it stays that way for our trip to Powell River. Things are looking up. More than a few days of sun. I can hardly believe it. My postings might suffer a bit while I'm gone. Not sure I can get the computer up and running but I'll try to keep up. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I really bid you good bye.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011 Trip to Victoria

Got up bright and early so we could be on the road in plenty of time to make our reservation on the ferry at 10:00am. We left Chilliwack at around 7:00 and were expecting road construction delays and maybe a traffic accident somewhere along the route to slow us down. We decided to cut off at Abbotsford and take the number 10 just in case. Smooth sailing all the way. Got to the ferry and actually boarded the 9:00 sailing. After driving around looking for somewhere to stay we decided on the Sandman. They were running a summer special (which is more than I could say for any hotels in the harbor district) and for an extra five dollars a night they upgraded us to to a room with a king size bed, a sitting area with an extra t.v.and a small kitchette. Hell yes!! We showed him the money and we had a great room. They had the Shark club attached to the hotel so we freshened up and went to have a drinky-poo. Belini's were on special for $2.99 and doubles were an extra $2.00. I'll have a double please and an appetizer. Upstairs for a nap then back down for pizza for $7.00 and two more Belini's. Yum, yum. Off to see the Drysdales. We went with Cynthia and Joel to the Rhodes Academy and had a walk around taking pictures here and there and then home to see Steve. What a perfect visit. Jena was babysitting so our time with her was very limited. I swear that is one great family. Joel is wonderful. Full of energy and always smiling. I love that in a child. It speaks volumes. Cynthia was her wonderful self that makes one want to stay and just talk and Steve is always amusing us with his sharp wit. Cynthia had tests so  studying awaited and we left with the thought in mind that we really want to see more of them. Logistically that won't come to fruition any time soon. I do want to try to make it over again to visit but we don't know when that will be. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and bottoms up.