meal, back road and leaps

1 We enjoy a meal of fruit and nuts. Salad later. Refreshing on a hot autumn day.
2 The back road from Vernon to West Kelowna is winding and on the side of the mountain! It gives a totally different perspective of the area. Some spots are native owned and less maintained, others are in development and then there is the last little area called LaCasa. Good grief! Super fancy houses built on a cliff with what seems like inches between the homes. We speculate on who would want to live there, do they work or just have money to burn.
3 He is making lots of leaps forward. We are so proud of him and how he is looking after himself and his family.

ferry, giddy and gorgeous

1 We wake early and make the ferry with lots of time to spare. On the ferry he says we are on an adventure together and makes a dull ferry ride fun.
2 The restaurant in Hope is full and we expect to wait but we get a table quickly; the food is comes sooner than expected and it is excellent. We each have a coffee to stay awake and our giddiness surprises us both.
3 Their home is gorgeous! Granite counter tops, new cupboards and lots of space. There's even a view of the lake from the living room. Lucky them!

drive, whiteboard and best friend

1 We get an extra day together! Turns out we travel tomorrow. I like it when we drive in tandem. 
2 The whiteboard once again has served its purpose. I love how we can get things written down and how quickly things change when we do.
3  I'm really looking forward to seeing my best friend this coming week. She'll be on the island for 10 days so we plan an overnight visit and maybe even thanksgiving with her family too. I'd better get shopping!

morning, apple and yes

1 They spent the night and this morning it's their last on the island. Today they leave for their new home but I'm grateful we had this morning.
2 She picked the biggest apple on the tree! No holding hands with Grandma; she needs both hands to hold her treasure.
3 We get a lot of things done today. It's two nights at home together. Yes!

timing, groovy ride and holding hands

1 We work like dogs to get it all packed up. I thought they'd said they would catch a later ferry but as I am settling in on the ferry I hear a familiar voice and realize it's Chris. They made the same ferry! Good timing.
2 What to do with an almost 2 year old girl who is playing in the midst of packing boxes and chaos? Simple! You put her into a plastic bin with handles, add her Pooh Bear and tell her to hang on! A mop handle attaches to the handles and we have a groovy ride complete with train noises from Grandma and squeals and shouts of more more, more from Izzy.
3. I am late picking him up from the ferry but he's pleased nonetheless and we hold hands on the way home.

Ooops I missed Saturday...and here's Sundays

1 There is much to do with packing and cleaning and looking after Isabelle. It's busy but productive day.
2 We share some homemade unsweetened applesauce and at first Izzy wrinkles up her nose when she tastes it, but by the third spoonful she's slurping off of the spoon. Love that noise!
3 We also share cashews. As soon as she sees my bag she makes the 'mmmmm' sound and sits on my lap waiting for hers. She is little so she eats half a nut at a time. She must always have one in each hand waiting for the right moment to pop it in.
4 Chris has no time for anything, but he gives his mom a big hug and a thanks. I am lucky to have such a great son. 
5 I like their friend Tyler. He is honest, open, hard working and has a great sense of humor. He's recently married his lady love. I think he will be an amazing husband.
6. Isabelle was so loving to me today. I cried later when I thought about it. She just climbed up on my lap, wrapped her arms around my neck, laid her head on my shoulder then looked up at me an kissed me, then laid her head back down and hugged some more. I tell the story to Nick and he totally gets how much I will miss her. I'm glad I could share this with him.

Tomato and Red Pepper Salsa...for Leonora

1 ½ pounds Bell Peppers, seeded

3 hot Chili Peppers, seeded

2 large red onions

3 cloves garlic

2 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp Sea Salt

1 lb. ripe omatoes

¼ cup chopped fresh Cilantro



- Coarsely chop the peppers and onion. Put them into the food processor along with the garlic, oil, lemon juice, and salt.
- Process until finely chopped. Put the mixture, along with the tomatoes and cilantro, into a pot. Bring contents to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. If it looks too runny add some tomato paste! It will thicken it up quite nicely. If you want it spicier add more peppers or their seeds or even some hot sauce.
- Pour the salsa into sterilized jars and process in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes.

the spot, our role and at last

1 There was a spot. A spot on my camera that was driving me batty. We tried to clean it ourselves, having discussions about where the spot lived; the lens, the mirror, the places inside the camera that NO ONE should ever touch. Today I was in a camera shop and they took a quick look at the camera, got out their handy dandy unbelievably powerful magnifying glass; got the guy with the latex fingers and voila! Fixed. 
2 We have a good conversation and make some tentative plans for their move and the role we (me and the Mr) will play in it. We should have some time to ourselves in the Okanagan before he heads back to prison...aka the mine where he is currently working.
3 At last! The salsa turned out well. I had to cook it longer, added more goodies than the last batch and actually paid attention to what I was doing! At last the salsa is done and it's damn good too.

wondering, another flight and nuts!

1 The open house was Wednesday so I missed the festivities but the office looked great with all the fresh and potted flowers, pictures hung and clutter put away or tossed. I wonder how long it will stay this way?
2 We discover we can use Airmiles to book flights closer to home for him so we book one for part way through his next turnaround. It's only for a few days but super cheap and no ferry trip. Something for him to look forward to.
3 I think I have an addiction problem...to cashews. Seriously,  it has to be the ultimate nut!

salsa, congratulations and warm

1 The salsa turned out runny but still was tasty. The girls at work were kind enough to say it was good tho. I'll have to be sure to add tomato paste to the next batch.
2 He passed his exam! I'm so proud of him. He studied hard and got it done! Congratulations Christopher! xo
3 The clothes dry just in time so I can put on warm jammies for bed. it's a cold a wet night, so it's nice to be warm.

what they do, company and he has plans!

1 She reads and sings to her little one; he studies and listens to Canuck radio. 
2 They wanted my company tonight. We went to their house to check things out, get mail and then headed right back. Just a bit of time together outside of our house. I liked it.
3 He has plans! Some ideas for getting away before his turnarounds. Perhaps we will meet in Kelowna at the kids new place and get a double visit in!

finding a way home, together and distractions

1 His plans seem to change every day. Tonight it's not good news but we are still hopeful we can find a way to get him home.
2 They work well together today. I like the camaraderie, teasing and laughter.
3 The red pepper salsa was easy to make. Turns out I left out a few ingredients so will have to continue with batch #2 and see how I do with that one. Izzy is a great distraction! Photo and recipe to follow....stay tuned!

meow, singing and home

1 Her newest word is 'meow' She repeats it over and over and every time it's just as cute as the time before.
2 We have the grandest time singing Old MacDonald in Costco. I sing the animal sound parts and she sings her own version of EI, EI, Oh!
3 He calls to say he thinks the job might be laying him off sooner than he thought. He tells me he is more than ready to come home. This time he will be home for a few months. 

goodbyes, balloon, better

1 A quick visit with their family, brunch and then off to the airport. We say our goodbyes and everyone is grateful and sad. It was wonderful to have them visit after Nick being away for so long. He hugs me for a long time, knowing it will have to hold him until they take another holiday to 'home'.
2 We travel together on the ferry. Isabelle likes the play room and so we spend the majority of our time there. A little girl asks me to draw her a balloon, which I promptly do. She likes it and tries desperately to pick up the drawn string off of the paper. 
3 I'm feeling quite a bit better. Tummy things really aren't so fun in a car or on a ferry. Glad to be in my own home.

twist, boring, abduction

1 The usual committee meeting ended with a twist. I've been appointed the Lead on one of the Working Groups. I think I will be challenged with this one seeing as I am new to the job and facility and really will need to rely on the staff for feedback. Sure hope I get some help with this one.
2 So nice to come home to nothing unusual. Same old boring is just fine with me.
3 Russ calls today to say he's working 12 hr days and making overtime and not to worry if I need to get a hotel or anything. He says just buy it. Good grief who has abducted my husband?

lemon cucumbers, mini trip and I wonder

1 The lemon cucumbers that B gave to me were amazing. Little lemon shaped cukes with a mellow taste. And best of all they are an adorable flower design when sliced.
2 I'm headed to Vancouver tomorrow. I'll stay a couple of days with my aunt. A quiet dinner with her Thursday, brunch and airport with N and S Friday morning, lazy shopping/beach stuff, and dinner in White Rock in the evening. 
3 A dear friend is coming Saturday for a couple of nights. He's got some business ideas which may or may not be something I have the time or inclination for. I haven't seen him in years. He lived in China for many years but is now back to being Canadian. I wonder how our visit will go after all those years?

notches, in good time and chances

1 It is definitely autumn. The leaves are starting to turn colour, the air is crisp and cool. The tomatoes are ripening at a quicker pace than I can eat them. I'd better kick it up a notch.

2 The floors are vacuumed and ready for a wash. One thing at a time. 
3 The figs are much tastier when shared. Only one staff member really enjoyed them but she did so with such gusto, it made me smile. There was one lone fig left at the end of the afternoon. She was very pleased I gave it to her. I wonder if she shared with her husband. 50/50 chance.

morphing, success so far and sneezing

1 The crickets are morphing. What was one cricket singing solo has become choir practice!
2 We had a success at work. A blank slate with no procedure followed by some brainstorming, creativity and formatting resulted in a workable alternative. The two team leads will present this to staff on Wednesday.
3 After sneezing multiple times on multiple occasions today, I am pleased to report the sneezing has ceased. 

sounds, roses and fruit and fresh figs

1 The tree frog sounds angry or is just very very busy. It sounds like a duck quacking and makes me smile to think of this teeny frog making such a loud noise.
2 The tea roses are struggling in our gardens. Although the blooms are spectacular they are sparse. I think next year I will have to up the "Miracle Grow" quotient.
3 I pick the fruit from two apple trees and two pear trees. Holy what a lot of fruit. What on earth will I do with it all? It felt good to give some to the next door neighbours, Janet and Ed. She says she will share the bucket of apples with her daughter and grand baby. 
4 A special treat of fresh figs. Ripe, succulent, decadent and ready for ingestion!

cotton candy, winner and plumcots

1 The blossom of this evergreen magnolia has opened and is a delightful creamy white. Its' scent is like lemon and sweet sugar, very much like a cotton candy.

2 Minetown Days in Lantzville is a mixture of rides, games,booths and a talent show. A little girl wins the colouring contest and her eyes are as big as saucers when she wins her ribbon.

3 Delicious blueberries and plumcots for an afternoon snack. It would be a nice tree to add to the mini orchard.

restless, music and purging

1 He is restless and works so hard for the time that he's away. Sounds like the  two guys he's sharing a house with now manage to get out and do stuff after work. Checking out the gym, dinner by the lake and  hikes. 

2 I'm sitting out on the patio having my dinner and suddenly I hear a wildlife symphony. Eagles calling to each other, the birds are fighting over the seeds, a tree frog bellows and the crickets are working overtime on their rap song.

3 Is it possible to over purge? I love getting rid of stuff that is no longer useful, beautiful or wanted. 

positive, productivity, double and a new home

1 As I work out in the yard today an odd partially toothless woman stops outside our gate to give me some litter from the road. She's got many tales of woe and appears to have some issues but I listen to her regardless. I feel sorry for her but she's beyond the scope of what I can handle. I'm working on staying positive and end the conversation quickly. I hope she finds a friend. 
1. I have had a productive day. Mowed the lawns, filled the bird feeders, picked some of the fruit from the trees, laundry and some shopping/errands. Yes, I have had a productive day.
3 They call me and text me today. He says that they were planning on coming to surprise me seeing as it was a lazy day with few plans. Too bad I'm not in the Kootenays, but I like that they are thinking of me.
4 The condo they are hoping for looks beautiful. It's smaller than what they are in now. I suspect lots of sorting, packing and selling are in the offing soon. I'm looking forward to seeing them in their new home. 

her words, cats and mozza

1 My sister and I have a long talk today. At first she is a little sharp with me but as we wade through the 'stuff' we have to talk about she has some great insights and I hang up feeling like her words have made an impact on me.
2 The cats are delighted to have me on the patio with them. They weave themselves around my legs, around the chair legs and eventually onto my lap (one at a time please)
3 Soft mozzarella cheese sliced thin with some fresh tomatoes and oregano.  A light, fresh and delicious dinner.

sign, sight and welcome

1 At the mall I run into someone I know and like. This is the first time that's happened since moving here. Is it a sign?
2 My new glasses are amazing. I can see!! I love the details on the frames, thinness of the lenses and the fit and colour is perfect.
3 It's a warm and breezy fall day today. As I walk into the house my feet touch a cool tiled floor, the fan pushes cool air downward and soft music plays on the radio. A nice welcome home. 

Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday

1 I'm always a bit sheepish when I've got to do a catchup blog but really happy that I was too busy doing fun stuff to keep up!

2 We did some very touristy trips with Nick and Sara these past few days. One of my favourites was Cathedral Grove. It's an old growth forest and we take some paths to see roots and trees and gorgeous hanging mosses.

3 Cattails are one of my favourite things. They are so statuesque and seem to grow out of nothing.
4 Sara's first family picnic. We went to a spot on Cameron Lake. 

5 They snuggle together under a blanket to protect themselves from a cool breeze along the shore.
6 Nick comes up with a great solution to get rid of the wasps that come to visit our picnic. He takes the napkins and some of our chicken bones and puts them away from our table under a tree. All the bees head there and leave us be. When we go to leave Russ carefully takes the napkin and a hoard of bees arrive to protect their booty but they're too late.
7 Sara is having a lot of firsts on her trip to Canada. She rides the motorcycle with Russ and the following day is riding on her own. What a girl! 

8 Mini golf turns out to be the 'oldies' against the 'youngins'. It's all in good fun. Losers serve the winners dessert in the hot tub. Nick and Sara win and get ice cream, fresh fruit and fresh chocolate chip cookies!
9 I'm so happy to see Nick and to meet Sara. Russ was home. Christopher, Michie and Isabelle were here. My heart is filled. So much love for them. ♥
10 It's a flurry of activity this morning. Russ left at 5am then the kids stopped by to pick up some things they forgot yesterday at 6:30am. 
11 I go back to sleep and wake to a warm ray of sun on my cheek.
12 I'm thinking of going on holiday this week. It's a maybe, but fun to consider regardless.

half, positive and family

1 Work only lasts half a day for me then it's off for shopping and spa with my two daughters in law. 
2 We have a chance to really talk positively about their move. We both have ideas that will help us visit and stay connected.

3 The family dinner was great! Chris and Sara made us Classy Chicken and we all sat around the table for a meal for the first time in over 3 years. When Nick left for China no one was married or with children. Now our table has grown to include new faces, more laughter and lots of love.

contract, calm and home

1 We delivered the proposal to the committee and the members gave credit to someone else not me. At first I was really angry but then I realized it's just something I can put into my portfolio for when I can charge them double or triple to do the same work when I'm contracting out.
2 As I go for my walk at lunch, I talk to Nick on my cell. He tells me to stay calm if I want the upper hand.
3 The truck and camper arrive home along with a husband. Very happy to have all three at home.