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.